Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Test Critical Reasoning and Logical Inference 2

Question 1

The number of road accidents falls every year that a new speed camera is installed. Therefore, speed cameras reduce accidents. Which statement WEAKENS this argument?

Accepted Answer

Accident rates were already falling before cameras were installed

Answer

If accidents were already falling before cameras were installed, the cameras may not be causing the decline. The trend could be due to other factors.

Question 2

Some architects are also engineers. All engineers understand structural loads. Which conclusion COULD be true?

Accepted Answer

Some architects understand structural loads

Answer

Since some architects are engineers, and all engineers understand structural loads, those architect-engineers must understand structural loads. So some architects do.

Question 3

If a product is recalled, it must have a safety defect. Product X has not been recalled. Which is TRUE?

Accepted Answer

We cannot conclude Product X has no safety defect

Answer

The rule tells us recalled products have defects — but not that all defective products are recalled. A product could have a defect and not yet be recalled.

Question 4

All red cards in the deck are hearts. This card is a heart. Which conclusion is VALID?

Accepted Answer

This card may or may not be red

Answer

The rule says red cards are hearts, not that all hearts are red (some hearts could be black). A heart card may or may not be red.

Question 5

A manager argues: 'Our team's sales increased by 20% after I introduced the new strategy. Therefore my strategy was successful.' Which BEST challenges this?

Accepted Answer

The market as a whole grew by 25% during the same period

Answer

If the whole market grew by 25% and the team only grew by 20%, the strategy may have actually underperformed relative to market conditions.

Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Practice Test

Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Practice Test

Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Test Critical Reasoning and Logical Inference 2