Korn Ferry Assessment Verbal and Logical Reasoning 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Choose the word most SIMILAR in meaning to 'Prolific'.
- Scarce
- Productive (Correct answer)
- Cautious
- Selective
Correct answer: Productive
'Prolific' means producing a large amount of output; 'productive' is its closest synonym.
Question 2: A policy states: 'Employees may work remotely if they meet their performance targets.' Jess did not meet her performance targets. What can be concluded?
- Jess must work in the office.
- Jess may not work remotely under this policy. (Correct answer)
- Jess will be fired.
- Jess met a different condition for remote work.
Correct answer: Jess may not work remotely under this policy.
The policy allows remote work only when targets are met; since Jess did not meet targets, she does not qualify under this policy.
Question 3: Which statement, if true, most weakens the claim: 'Our new onboarding program is responsible for the 20% drop in first-year turnover'?
- The onboarding program was well-received by participants.
- Industry-wide first-year turnover dropped 22% during the same period. (Correct answer)
- The program cost less than projected.
- HR staff reported higher job satisfaction this year.
Correct answer: Industry-wide first-year turnover dropped 22% during the same period.
If industry-wide turnover dropped even more during the same period, the new program may not be responsible — a broader trend explains the drop.
Question 4: A text reads: 'Delegation is not abdication; effective leaders remain accountable even when tasks are assigned to others.' What is the central message?
- Leaders should avoid delegating to maintain control.
- Delegating tasks transfers full responsibility to the delegate.
- Leaders stay accountable for outcomes regardless of who performs the task. (Correct answer)
- Abdication is an acceptable leadership strategy in some contexts.
Correct answer: Leaders stay accountable for outcomes regardless of who performs the task.
The passage explicitly distinguishes delegation from abdication and states that leaders retain accountability — option C captures this directly.
Question 5: Which word correctly fills the blank? 'The board was ___ about approving the merger, requesting three additional studies before deciding.'
- Impulsive
- Circumspect (Correct answer)
- Negligent
- Indifferent
Correct answer: Circumspect
'Circumspect' means cautious and considering all circumstances before acting, which fits the board's careful, deliberate approach.
Question 6: If no risk-averse investors buy volatile stocks, and Chen buys volatile stocks, what follows?
- Chen is risk-averse.
- Chen is not risk-averse. (Correct answer)
- Chen does not understand volatile stocks.
- Chen will lose money.
Correct answer: Chen is not risk-averse.
Since no risk-averse investors buy volatile stocks and Chen does buy them, Chen cannot be risk-averse.
Question 7: A sequence of numbers: 100, 91, 83, 76, 70, ___. What comes next?
- 63
- 64
- 65 (Correct answer)
- 66
Correct answer: 65
The differences are −9, −8, −7, −6, −5, so the next step is 70 − 5 = 65.
Korn Ferry Assessment Verbal and Logical Reasoning 5
Choose the word most SIMILAR in meaning to 'Prolific'.