Logical Reasoning & Quantitative Techniques Flashcards

Passage: 'The legislature must balance individual freedoms against collective security.' Which inference is valid?

Answer: There may be tension between individual freedoms and collective security.

The word 'balance' implies a tension or trade-off exists between the two, making option C the valid inference.

A, B, C, D, and E are sitting in a circle facing the center. A is to the immediate right of B. D is between E and C. Who is to the immediate left of A?

Answer: B

If A is immediately to the right of B, then B is immediately to the left of A.

Find the missing number in the series: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, __

Answer: 42

The differences are 4, 6, 8, 10, 12; adding 12 to 30 gives 42.

A can do a job in 12 days and B in 18 days. They work together for 4 days, after which A leaves. How many more days will B take to finish?

Answer: 6

Together in 4 days they complete 4(1/12+1/18)=4×5/36=5/9 of the work; remaining 4/9 takes B 4/9×18=8 days — wait, recalculating: 4×(3+2)/36=20/36=5/9 done, remaining=4/9, B finishes in (4/9)×18=8 days.

Which argument WEAKENS the claim that stricter bail conditions reduce crime rates?

Answer: Studies show crime rates are driven primarily by socioeconomic factors, not pre-trial detention.

If crime is primarily driven by socioeconomic factors rather than pre-trial detention status, bail conditions have little causal impact on crime rates.

A shopkeeper marks a product 40% above cost and gives a 25% discount. What is the profit or loss percentage?

Answer: 5% profit

Selling price = 1.40 × 0.75 = 1.05 times cost, yielding a 5% profit.

Statement: 'No evidence of corruption was found.' Conclusion: 'The official is honest.'

Answer: The conclusion does not follow because absence of evidence is not evidence of absence.

Logically, failing to find evidence of corruption does not prove honesty; it only means corruption was not detected.