Logical and Deductive Reasoning Flashcards

A memo states: 'Only department heads may authorize expenditures over $500.' A clerk authorized a $600 purchase. What must be true?

Answer: The clerk violated the policy

Only department heads may authorize amounts over $500; a clerk doing so violates the policy.

Six applicants are numbered 1–6. Odd-numbered applicants are interviewed before even-numbered ones. Within each group, lower numbers go first. Who is interviewed third overall?

Answer: Applicant 5

Odd group order: 1, 3, 5; even group order: 2, 4, 6 — the third interview goes to applicant 5.

Statement: 'Some civil service positions require a written exam. All positions requiring a written exam require a background check.' Which is definitely true?

Answer: Some civil service positions require a background check

Some positions require a written exam, and all of those also require a background check, so some positions require a background check.

If it is true that 'Whenever the mayor's office issues a directive, all agencies must comply within 48 hours,' and Agency B complied 72 hours after a directive, what follows?

Answer: Agency B did not comply within the required period

72 hours exceeds the 48-hour requirement, so Agency B did not comply within the required timeframe.

A ranking of case priorities is: Critical > Urgent > Routine > Informational. A 'Routine' case arrives. Which statement is logically correct?

Answer: It is processed before Informational cases

Routine ranks above Informational in the priority list, so Routine cases are processed before Informational ones.

A rule states: 'Reports filed after 5 PM are processed the next business day.' A report is filed at 4:58 PM on Friday. When is it processed?

Answer: Monday

4:58 PM is before the 5 PM cutoff, so it is processed same day — but Friday's business day closes at 5 PM, and it is processed on the next business day, Monday.

Argument: 'Every officer who filed a complaint was reassigned. Officer Torres was not reassigned.' What can be deduced about Officer Torres?

Answer: Torres did not file a complaint

By contrapositive, if Torres was not reassigned, Torres did not file a complaint.