Critical Reasoning Questions with Solutions
Critical reasoning questions test how well you can analyse a short argument. This topic covers strengthening and weakening an argument, identifying the main point or conclusion of a passage, drawing inferences, finding the flaw in reasoning, and paradox resolution. The most important rule is to stay strictly within the information given and avoid bringing in outside knowledge. Start by identifying the main claim and the evidence offered for it. A strengthening option makes the claim more likely to be true, while a weakening option breaks the link between the evidence and the claim. Extreme words such as "only", "always" and "never" often make an option wrong. The classic statement-based question types, such as statement and assumptions, statement and conclusions and cause and effect, are covered on their own Logical Deductions pages. Practise the critical reasoning questions below. Each solution explains why the correct option works and why the others don't.
- Q1.
Which of the following arguments is a "circular argument"?
A. If it rains, the grass gets wet. The grass is wet, so it must have rainedB. Free speech is important because people should be able to say what they wantC. Most people buy this brand, so it must be the best qualityD. He is a good doctor because he graduated from a top universityeasyAsked in NIMCET 2026View solution › - Q2.
Which of the following will be acceptable for establishing a fact?
A. Opinion of a large number of peopleB. Tradition in practice over a long period of timeC. Availability of observable evidenceD. References in ancient literatureeasyAsked in NIMCET 2011View solution › - Q3.
Cars are safer than planes. Fifty percent of plane accidents result in death, while only one percent of car accidents result in death. Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument above?
A. Planes are inspected more often than cars.B. The number of car accidents is several hundred thousand times higher than the number of plane accidents.C. Pilots never fly under the influence of alcohol, while car drivers often do.D. Plane accidents are usually the fault of air traffic controllers, not of pilots.mediumAsked in NIMCET 2009View solution › - Q4.
A city enforced an odd-even rule for private cars for two weeks, and air pollution levels fell during that period. The city administration concluded that the odd-even rule reduced pollution. Which of the following, if true, most weakens the administration's conclusion?
A. Many families in the city own two cars with different number plates.B. Public buses ran more frequently during the two weeks.C. During the same two weeks, strong winds and rain lowered pollution across the whole region, including cities without the rule.D. Pollution in the city is usually highest in winter.mediumView solution › - Q5.
A company claims that its new fertiliser increases wheat yield, because farms that used it this season produced 20% more wheat than they did last season. Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the company's claim?
A. The new fertiliser costs more than other fertilisers.B. Wheat prices rose sharply this season.C. Some farmers also used the fertiliser on their rice crop.D. Neighbouring farms with the same weather and seeds that did not use the fertiliser showed no rise in yield this season.mediumView solution › - Q6.
Choose the correct answer from the options mentioned below.
A. P and QB. Q and RC. R and SD. P and SmediumAsked in MAH LLB 3 Year CET 2026View solution › - Q7.
One New York publisher has estimated that 50,000 to 60,000 people in the United States want an anthology that includes the complete works of William Shakespeare. And what accounts for this renewed interest in Shakespeare? As scholars point out, his psychological insights into both male and female characters are amazing even today. This paragraph best supports the statement that
A. Shakespeare's characters are more interesting than fictional characters todayB. People even today are interested in Shakespeare's work because of the charactersC. Academic scholars are putting together an anthology of Shakespeare's workD. New Yorkers have a renewed interest in the work of ShakespeareeasyAsked in NIMCET 2018View solution › - Q8.
Rajesh will not go to the concert if Rakesh goes. Rakesh will go to the concert if his dog barks three times. Based only on the information above, which of the following must be true?
A. Rakesh will not go to the concert unless Rajesh goes.B. If Rakesh's dog does not bark three times, then Rakesh will not go to the concert.C. If Rakesh's dog barks three times, then Rajesh will not go to the concert.D. If Rajesh doesn't go to the concert, then Rakesh will go.mediumAsked in NIMCET 2024View solution › - Q9.
Which situation below is the best example of an informal gathering?
A. After finding out about his promotion, Jeremy and a few coworkers decide to go out for a quick drink after workB. Whenever she eats at the Italian restaurant, Kamalika seems to run into PeterC. The book club meets on the first Thursday evening of every monthD. Mary sends out 25 invitations for the bridal shower she is giving for her sistereasyAsked in NIMCET 2025View solution › - Q10.
Average Cost (AC) is defined as the sum of Average Fixed Cost (AFC) and Average Variable Cost (AVC), and dumping is defined as selling a product at a price less than AC but more than AVC. A company in India suddenly found that the demand for its product "ZOOM" has fallen to 60% of the output produced in that financial year. As a result, the company must sell 40% of the produced output in a foreign market. If it decides to "dump" 40% of its output in a neighbouring country (by reducing the price by 20%), what would be the objective of its 'dumping strategy', among the following? (The company has set a profit margin of 10% of AC while fixing the price of its product for sale in India.) (a) To minimize losses, (b) to maximize profits, (c) to contribute to the recovery of fixed costs, (d) to contribute to the recovery of variable costs
A. (b) and (c)B. (a) and (b)C. (a) and (c)D. (b) and (d)mediumAsked in NIMCET 2025View solution ›