CLT Verbal Reasoning 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Read the passage: 'The unexamined life is not worth living.' — Socrates. What is the best interpretation of this claim?
- Only philosophers deserve to live fulfilling lives.
- Reflection and self-knowledge are essential to a meaningful life. (Correct answer)
- Examining others' lives is more important than examining one's own.
- A life of action is superior to a life of contemplation.
Correct answer: Reflection and self-knowledge are essential to a meaningful life.
Socrates argued that critical self-reflection is the foundation of a worthwhile human life.
Question 2: Which word is closest in meaning to 'perspicacious' as used in classical rhetoric?
- Stubborn
- Eloquent
- Shrewd and perceptive (Correct answer)
- Overly cautious
Correct answer: Shrewd and perceptive
'Perspicacious' describes someone with keen insight and the ability to see things clearly.
Question 3: In the sentence 'Her argument was cogent yet tendentious,' what does 'tendentious' mean?
- Logically sound and well-supported
- Promoting a particular point of view in a biased way (Correct answer)
- Overly emotional and dramatic
- Difficult to understand due to complexity
Correct answer: Promoting a particular point of view in a biased way
'Tendentious' means promoting a particular cause or viewpoint, often in a biased manner.
Question 4: Which logical relationship does the word 'albeit' signal in a sentence?
- Cause and effect
- Concession or contrast (Correct answer)
- Sequential order
- Equivalence
Correct answer: Concession or contrast
'Albeit' introduces a concession, acknowledging something true while contrasting it with another point.
Question 5: Read: 'Fortune favors the bold.' Which rhetorical device does this maxim primarily employ?
- Anaphora
- Personification (Correct answer)
- Chiasmus
- Alliteration
Correct answer: Personification
Fortune is personified as an agent capable of choosing to favor certain individuals.
Question 6: A passage states: 'While capitalism generates wealth efficiently, it may concentrate that wealth in few hands.' The author's primary purpose is to:
- Condemn capitalism as an economic system.
- Present a balanced view acknowledging both a strength and a limitation. (Correct answer)
- Argue that wealth concentration is beneficial to society.
- Propose a specific policy to redistribute wealth.
Correct answer: Present a balanced view acknowledging both a strength and a limitation.
The passage uses a contrast structure ('while...may') to acknowledge both an advantage and a drawback without taking a strong stance.
Question 7: Which pair of words are antonyms?
- Verbose / Loquacious
- Laconic / Garrulous (Correct answer)
- Prudent / Circumspect
- Benevolent / Philanthropic
Correct answer: Laconic / Garrulous
'Laconic' means using few words, while 'garrulous' means excessively talkative — they are opposites.
CLT Verbal Reasoning 2
Read the passage: 'The unexamined life is not worth living.' — Socrates.
What is the best interpretation of this claim?