Critical Reasoning

Below is a set of sample critical reasoning (Logical Reasoning) questions that are similar to those found in the verbal section of the GMAT. Due to the relatively small number of questions that we have published here, we strongly recommend that you use these only to augment your GMAT preparation. You need to do a larger number and wider range of exercises than is provided here to actually prepare yourself for the test.

Directions

Each para graphic argument consists of a brief argument followed by a question. The question following each argument is intended to test your ability to break down an argument into its parts, and determine how those parts are related to each other.

Critical Reasoning forms an important part of Verbal section in any competitive exam. This section intends to assess your skills in identifying an argument, evaluating statements, reaching at a conclusion and formulating an appropriate course of action.

Sample Questions

Statement

Stock analyst: "We believe Company A's stock will appreciate at 35% a year for the next 5 to 7 years. Company A just became the leader in its industry and we expect its sales to grow at 8% a year."
Commentator: "But how can the stock's price be expected to grow more quickly than the company's underlying sales?"

Question

Which of the following, if true, would best support the stock analyst's prediction?

1. The company's expenses will be declining over the next 5 to 10 years.
2. The company just won a patent on a new product.
3. Company A's stock is currently overvalued by a significant amount.
4. The 5 to 7 year time frame is too long for anyone to accurately forecast.
5. Company A's industry peer group is expected to experience stock appreciation rates of 30% over the same time horizon.

Statement

Acme brand aspirin claims to be the best headache relief available on the market today. To prove this claim, Acme called 10 people and asked them their thoughts on headache relief products. All 10 of them stated that they unequivocally use Acme brand aspirin on a regular basis and that they believe it to be the best headache relief available on the market today.

Question

Which of the following would most weaken this argument?

1. Acme brand aspirin is highly addictive.
2. The 10 people called were spouses of Acme employees.
3. Most people choose to suffer silently through their headaches and take no medicines whatsoever.
4. The 10 people called own stock in a competing company.
5. The 10 people were selected at random.

Statement

My neighbor's dogs bark and howl every time their owner lets them outside. My CPA told me that dogs tend to bark and howl when they see birds resting in the top branches of their favorite trees. I personally believe they bark and howl because they enjoy disrupting my meditations.

Question

Which of the following conclusions can be properly drawn from the preceding passage?

1. The dogs must be abused by their owners.
2. The dogs' owners do not make efforts to stop the dogs from barking and howling.
3. There are many pedestrians who walk by this neighbor's house, and the dogs are starving for attention.
4. The dogs frequently see birds in the tops of their favorite trees.
5. The dogs will bark and howl at 3 a.m. if they are outside at that time.

Answers:

• 1 : A
• 2 : B
• 3 : E

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