Verbal Reasoning Flashcards

Passage: 'Antibiotic resistance is rising globally. Doctors are prescribing fewer antibiotics.' Which conclusion can be drawn?

Answer: Reduced prescribing alone has not stopped resistance rising

The passage shows resistance is still rising despite fewer prescriptions, so prescribing reduction alone has not reversed the trend. No other conclusion is directly supported.

'Most accidents happen within 5 miles of home.' A driver concludes she is safer driving far from home. What is wrong with this reasoning?

Answer: Most driving also happens near home, so proximity is not the risk factor

The statistic reflects exposure: people drive more near home, so more accidents occur there. Distance from home does not itself increase safety.

A passage claims that a new drug reduced hospital stays by 2 days on average. A critic notes the control group was healthier. This criticism suggests:

Answer: The drug's benefit may be overstated due to confounding

If the control group was healthier, the comparison is unfair — the drug group may have had longer stays for reasons unrelated to the drug, making the 2-day reduction appear greater than it is.

'Either we invest in renewable energy or we face severe climate consequences.' This argument structure is an example of:

Answer: False dilemma

Presenting only two options when more may exist is a false dilemma (false dichotomy). Other energy or policy options might also avert climate consequences.

A passage states vaccination rates fell and measles cases rose. Which additional piece of evidence would most strengthen a causal claim?

Answer: In regions with higher vaccination rates, measles cases remained low

Showing a consistent inverse relationship across multiple regions (dose-response / comparative evidence) greatly strengthens the causal argument between vaccination rates and measles incidence.

Passage: 'The council banned single-use plastics. Litter on beaches fell by 40%.' The author concludes the ban worked. Which weakens this most?

Answer: A major beach clean-up campaign also ran during the same period

A concurrent beach clean-up provides an alternative explanation for the litter reduction, undermining the conclusion that the ban alone caused the improvement.