Inductive Reasoning Flashcards
6 cards from real NCJOSI2 practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 6 Inductive Reasoning flashcards as text
Look at this series: 4, 5, 7, 10, 14, __. What number should come next?
Answer: 19
The pattern is to add a sequentially increasing number to each term. First, 1 is added (4+1=5), then 2 is added (5+2=7), then 3 is added (7+3=10), and then 4 is added (10+4=14). The next step is to add 5, so 14+5=19.
Over the last six months, an officer has noticed a trend of car break-ins in the mall parking lot. In almost every case, the break-in occurred between 1:00 PM and 4:00 PM on a Saturday, and the stolen items were shopping bags left visible on the car seat. What is the most logical conclusion?
Answer: A specific pattern of theft is targeting shoppers on Saturday afternoons.
The specific details (location, day, time, and target) form a clear pattern. This allows for the general conclusion that one or more thieves are specifically targeting shoppers who leave their purchases visible in their cars during peak shopping hours on Saturdays.
Look at this series: Z, X, U, Q, L, __. What letter should come next?
Answer: F
The pattern is to skip an increasing number of letters in reverse alphabetical order. Z to X skips 1 letter (Y). X to U skips 2 letters (W, V). U to Q skips 3 letters (T, S, R). Q to L skips 4 letters (P, O, N, M). The next step is to skip 5 letters (K, J, I, H, G), which leads to F.
An officer responds to three separate medical calls at a local factory this week. The first was for a worker who fainted, the second for a worker with severe dizziness, and the third for a worker with difficulty breathing. All three were working in the same sealed paint room. What is the most likely conclusion?
Answer: There may be an environmental hazard, like a gas leak, in the paint room.
The common factors are the location (paint room) and the similar respiratory/neurological symptoms (fainting, dizziness, breathing difficulty). This pattern strongly suggests an environmental cause, such as a chemical leak or poor ventilation, affecting the workers in that specific area.
Look at this series: 90, 83, 77, 72, 68, __. What number should come next?
Answer: 65
The pattern is to subtract a sequentially decreasing number from each term. First, 7 is subtracted (90-7=83), then 6 is subtracted (83-6=77), then 5 (77-5=72), then 4 (72-4=68). The next step is to subtract 3, so 68-3=65.
A detective notes that in five recent home burglaries, the suspect only stole prescription medication and small, high-value electronics like phones and tablets. The burglaries all occurred in the early afternoon, and entry was gained by prying open a rear window. Which conclusion is most supported by this pattern?
Answer: The suspect is likely stealing items that are easily pawned or sold for cash.
The specific pattern of items stolen (prescription drugs and small electronics) suggests the suspect is targeting items that are easy to carry and sell quickly, possibly to fund a drug habit. The consistent method of entry and time of day further strengthen the conclusion that the crimes are linked and committed by the same person or group.