FSOT Logical Reasoning Questions and Answers

Question 1

A report on international development states: 'Countries that have received consistent, high levels of our food aid over the past decade now have, on average, weaker agricultural sectors than countries that received less aid.
This correlation suggests that sustained, large-scale food aid can create dependency and undermine local food production by depressing market prices for domestic farmers.' Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument made in the report?

Accepted Answer

In a study of provinces within a single aid-recipient country, provinces that refused food aid saw a 15% increase in local agricultural output compared to provinces that accepted it.

Answer

The countries that received less aid were, on average, more politically stable during the decade in question.

Answer

Several of the countries that received high levels of food aid also experienced significant droughts during the same period.

Answer

The food aid provided was primarily composed of grains that are not traditionally grown in the recipient countries.

Question 2

The new cybersecurity protocol for the embassy is a necessary step. Last year, there were five attempted intrusions into our network. This year, after implementing a less comprehensive protocol, we have already seen ten attempts. Therefore, the more robust the security measures we implement, the more secure our network will be.

Accepted Answer

The number of attempted intrusions is a reliable indicator of the network's actual security level.

Answer

The cost of implementing the new protocol is justified by the threat level.

Answer

The new, more robust protocol will not have any undiscovered vulnerabilities.

Answer

The individuals attempting to intrude the network are more skilled this year than they were last year.

Question 3

All diplomats assigned to posts designated as 'high-threat' must complete the Foreign Affairs Counter Threat (FACT) course. The embassy in Country Y has been designated a 'high-threat' post. Sarah is a diplomat who has just received her assignment to the embassy in Country Y.

Accepted Answer

Sarah must complete the FACT course for her assignment.

Answer

All diplomats currently in Country Y have completed the FACT course.

Answer

Only diplomats who complete the FACT course are considered for assignment to Country Y.

Answer

No diplomat who has not completed the FACT course is currently in Country Y.

Question 4

A recent study found that Foreign Service Officers who speak three or more languages are, on average, promoted to the Senior Foreign Service faster than their bilingual or monolingual colleagues. This demonstrates that advanced linguistic ability is the most critical factor for rapid advancement in the Foreign Service.

Accepted Answer

Foreign Service Officers who learn additional languages are often assigned to more complex and high-profile posts where promotion opportunities are more frequent.

Answer

The State Department offers financial incentives for officers to learn strategically important languages.

Answer

Many senior Foreign Service officers are fluent in only one or two languages.

Answer

The study also found that multilingual officers reported higher job satisfaction.

Question 5

The 'resource curse' is a paradoxical phenomenon where countries with an abundance of valuable natural resources, like oil or minerals, tend to have less economic growth and worse development outcomes than countries with fewer natural resources. This is contrary to the expectation that resource wealth should fuel development.

Accepted Answer

The currencies of resource-rich nations often appreciate, making their other export industries, such as manufacturing and agriculture, less competitive on the global market.

Answer

The global demand for natural resources has steadily increased over the past fifty years.

Answer

Countries with abundant natural resources often invest heavily in education and healthcare.

Answer

International aid organizations tend to focus their efforts on countries that lack significant natural resources.

Question 6

My predecessor, who was in charge of the public affairs section, was universally liked by the local press, and during his tenure, our embassy received consistently positive media coverage. I, on the other hand, have faced critical reporting since I arrived. Clearly, the decline in positive press coverage is a direct result of my poor relationship with the local media.

Accepted Answer

assumes that because one event followed another, the first event must have caused the second.

Answer

relies on the ambiguous testimony of an unnamed predecessor.

Answer

attacks the character of the local press rather than their arguments.

Answer

draws a general conclusion based on a single, unrepresentative case.