CCAT - Criteria Cognitive Aptitude Reading Comprehension Questions and Answers Flashcards

Passage: 'The report concluded that expanding the highway would reduce commute times by an average of 14 minutes. Critics argued that induced demand would eventually negate these gains within five years.' What is the critics' main concern?

Answer: New traffic generated by the expansion will eliminate time savings

Induced demand refers to new traffic created by increased road capacity, which critics say will cancel out the time savings.

Passage: 'All applicants must hold a bachelor's degree in a related field OR have a minimum of five years of relevant work experience. Candidates with both qualifications will be given priority consideration.' Which applicant does NOT meet the minimum requirements?

Answer: An applicant with four years of relevant experience and no degree

Four years of experience falls short of the five-year minimum, and no degree is mentioned, so this applicant meets neither requirement.

Passage: 'The author contends that modern journalism prioritizes speed over accuracy. She cites multiple incidents where outlets published unverified claims that were later retracted.' The author's argument is primarily supported by:

Answer: Specific documented examples of publication errors

The author 'cites multiple incidents' — specific documented examples — as evidence for her claim.

Passage: 'Membership fees fund 60% of the organization's operating budget. Donations account for 30%, and the remaining 10% comes from merchandise sales.' If the total operating budget is $500,000, how much comes from donations?

Answer: $150,000

30% of $500,000 = $150,000 in donations.

Passage: 'The factory switched from coal to natural gas, reducing its carbon emissions by 40%. Despite this improvement, the facility remains one of the top ten highest-emitting plants in the region.' What can be inferred about regional emissions?

Answer: Regional emissions overall are quite high

If this plant, after a 40% reduction, still ranks in the top ten highest emitters, the region's total emissions must be substantial.

Passage: 'The lease agreement states that tenants must provide 60 days' written notice before vacating. Failure to do so results in forfeiture of the security deposit.' A tenant who gives only 30 days' notice should expect:

Answer: Loss of their security deposit

The passage explicitly states that insufficient notice results in 'forfeiture of the security deposit.'

Passage: 'While proponents claim the supplement boosts cognitive function, the three studies cited used self-reported measures and lacked control groups. Independent replication has not been achieved.' What is the passage's implicit argument about the supplement's effectiveness?

Answer: The existing evidence is insufficient to support effectiveness claims

The methodological flaws (self-reporting, no control groups, no independent replication) indicate the evidence base is weak and inconclusive.