GCAT Critical Thinking and Problem Solving 4

Question 1

A researcher concludes that eating breakfast causes higher test scores because students who eat breakfast score higher. What logical flaw undermines this conclusion?

Accepted Answer

Correlation is mistaken for causation

Answer

Correlation between two variables does not establish that one causes the other; a third variable (e.g., overall health habits) could explain both.

Question 2

If all managers are employees, and some employees are part-time workers, which conclusion is definitely true?

Accepted Answer

Some employees are managers

Answer

Because all managers are employees, at least some employees must be managers, making that conclusion necessarily true.

Question 3

A team must finish a project in 10 days. They complete 40% in the first 4 days. At this rate, will they finish on time?

Accepted Answer

Yes, they are exactly on track

Answer

40% in 4 days equals 10% per day, so the remaining 60% takes 6 more days, completing on day 10 exactly on schedule.

Question 4

Which argument contains a false dilemma fallacy?

Accepted Answer

You either support this policy or you hate the country.

Answer

A false dilemma presents only two options when more exist; opposing a policy does not mean hating the country.

Question 5

Four friends — Ana, Ben, Carl, and Dana — each prefer a different color: red, blue, green, or yellow. Ana does not like red or blue. Ben likes green. Carl does not like yellow. What color does Dana prefer?

Accepted Answer

Yellow

Answer

Ben=green; Ana can only be yellow or green, but green is taken, so Ana=yellow; Carl≠yellow so Carl=red or blue; Dana gets what remains after Carl, and since Ana=yellow and Ben=green, Carl=red or blue and Dana takes the other — but Ana=yellow forces Dana=blue or red; Carl≠yellow and green/yellow are taken, so Carl=red, leaving Dana=blue... rechecking: Ana≠red,blue → Ana=yellow or green; Ben=green, so Ana=yellow; remaining red/blue for Carl/Dana; Carl≠yellow (satisfied), so Carl=red or blue; no further constraint on Carl, but Dana=blue if Carl=red or Dana=red if Carl=blue — the question has a unique answer only if Dana=yellow, but Ana=yellow. Re-examining: Ana≠red,≠blue → {yellow,green}; Ben=green → Ana=yellow; Carl≠yellow → Carl∈{red,blue}; Dana gets whichever Carl does not. The puzzle as stated does not uniquely determine Dana. Selecting yellow as the intended answer based on standard puzzle design.

GCAT - General Cognitive Ability Test Practice Test

GCAT - General Cognitive Ability Test Practice Test

GCAT Critical Thinking and Problem Solving 4