Critical Reasoning and Logical Inference Flashcards
6 cards from real Civil Service Verbal Reasoning Test practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Critical Reasoning and Logical Inference flashcards as text
A researcher found that people who own pets live longer on average. She concludes that owning a pet extends lifespan. Which BEST challenges this?
Answer: Healthier and more active people may be more likely to own and care for pets
Healthier people may self-select into pet ownership. Their longer lives could be due to their health status, not the pets. This is a confounding variable / reverse causation issue.
No manager earns less than £35,000. Clare earns £30,000. What MUST be true?
Answer: Clare is not a manager
All managers earn at least £35,000. Clare earns £30,000, which is below that threshold. Therefore Clare cannot be a manager.
A think tank argues: 'Countries with higher income tax rates have better public services. Therefore, raising income tax improves public services.' Which WEAKENS this?
Answer: Both high taxes and good services may result from a strong underlying economy
If a strong economy independently produces both higher tax revenues and better services, the correlation between taxes and services could be spurious — driven by a third factor.
All shortlisted candidates must attend an interview. Ben did not attend an interview. What MUST follow?
Answer: Ben was not shortlisted
Since all shortlisted candidates must attend, and Ben did not attend, he cannot have been shortlisted. The contrapositive is valid.
A politician argues: '80% of people who take our training course find employment within three months. This proves our course is effective.' What WEAKENS this?
Answer: 80% of all job-seekers in that region find work within three months regardless
If 80% of all job-seekers find work in three months regardless of the course, the course offers no advantage. The baseline rate undermines the comparison.
Some politicians are lawyers. Some lawyers are economists. Which MUST be true?
Answer: No definite conclusion can be drawn about politicians and economists
'Some politicians are lawyers' and 'some lawyers are economists' — but the overlapping 'some' groups may not intersect. We cannot conclude any politician is an economist.