Crossover Aptitude Test Verbal Reasoning 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Choose the word that best completes the analogy: AUTHOR : NOVEL :: COMPOSER : ______
- Orchestra
- Instrument
- Symphony (Correct answer)
- Conductor
Correct answer: Symphony
An author creates a novel; a composer creates a symphony — both are creators of their respective works.
Question 2: Which of the following is the best definition of 'AMBIGUOUS'?
- Clearly defined and precise
- Open to more than one interpretation (Correct answer)
- Strongly opinionated
- Lacking any meaning
Correct answer: Open to more than one interpretation
Ambiguous means open to multiple interpretations or having an unclear meaning.
Question 3: Passage: 'The report was thorough but its recommendations were impractical given the budget constraints.' What is the main criticism of the report?
- It lacked sufficient detail.
- Its suggestions cannot realistically be implemented. (Correct answer)
- It was submitted after the deadline.
- It ignored the financial data.
Correct answer: Its suggestions cannot realistically be implemented.
The criticism is that the recommendations are impractical given budget constraints — they can't realistically be carried out.
Question 4: Identify the SYNONYM of 'TENACIOUS'.
- Fragile
- Persistent (Correct answer)
- Timid
- Ambiguous
Correct answer: Persistent
Tenacious means holding firmly to a purpose; persistent is its closest synonym.
Question 5: Which sentence contains a LOGICAL FLAW?
- All birds have wings; penguins are birds; therefore penguins have wings.
- If it rains, the ground gets wet; the ground is wet; therefore it rained. (Correct answer)
- Some cats are black; Felix is a cat; therefore Felix might be black.
- No fish are mammals; a salmon is a fish; therefore a salmon is not a mammal.
Correct answer: If it rains, the ground gets wet; the ground is wet; therefore it rained.
Wet ground can have causes other than rain — this is the logical fallacy of affirming the consequent.
Question 6: What does 'MITIGATE' mean?
- To worsen a situation
- To lessen the severity of something (Correct answer)
- To completely eliminate a problem
- To transfer responsibility
Correct answer: To lessen the severity of something
Mitigate means to make something less severe, serious, or painful.
Question 7: Passage: 'While cost reduction is a priority, cutting the training budget risks lowering employee competency.' The author most likely believes:
- Training has no impact on competency.
- Some costs are more valuable to keep than others. (Correct answer)
- The company should eliminate all budgets.
- Cost reduction is not a real priority.
Correct answer: Some costs are more valuable to keep than others.
By contrasting cost reduction with the risk of lowering competency, the author implies that training is a cost worth maintaining.
Choose the word that best completes the analogy: AUTHOR : NOVEL :: COMPOSER : ______