Logical Reasoning

Logical Reasoning (Verbal)

Question Format

Each question in this part of the assessment starts with a reading passage containing the information to be used to choose between correct and incorrect logical conclusions. These conclusions are based on the information in the passage. After this reading passage, you are given a lead-in phrase that tells you to choose from among five different responses. These possible responses are generated by correctly or incorrectly applying logical thought to the information in the passage at the beginning of the question. They can be thought of as different ways of completing a sentence that begins with the lead-in phrase.

Each reading passage is based on actual Bureau of Labor Statistics documents but is not necessarily a completely accurate representation of BLS work. It is important that you accept every fact in the reading passage as true, when you evaluate the response choices offered. You should use only the information in the passage as the basis for accepting or rejecting any response choices. Be careful not to allow any "facts" that are not clearly stated in the reading passage, or any outside knowledge you may have of the "facts", to influence your thinking.

The lead-in phrase following each reading passage prompts you to select from among five response choices, labeled A through E, so that a complete and valid sentence is formed. The lead-in may ask you to select the statement that is a necessary consequence of the facts given, (that is, a conclusion that must be true from the facts given). This lead-in takes the general form:

You should respond here by selecting the alphabetical designator (A-E) of the statement that satisfies the stated condition, that is, a "valid conclusion."

Alternatively, the phrase may ask you to identify a conclusion that is not necessarily true (in that sense, "false,") given the facts contained in the reading passage. This kind of lead-in generally reads as follows:

Here you should choose the letter (A-E) next to the statement that is not adequately supported as necessarily true by reasoning from the facts you were given in the reading passage.

If additional conditions are clearly stated in the sentence-completion instructions, then take them into account when making your answer choice. For example, if the instructions said:

In all cases, there will be a single correct response alternative. None of the questions here (or on the actual assessment) have multiple correct answers.

Test-Taking Tips for Logical Reasoning

Before you try to answer a few sample questions, here are some general test-taking tips that should help you with the Logical Reasoning section.

1. Study the question carefully. A brief explanation of why each choice is correct or incorrect follows each practice question. If you understand this reasoning for the practice items, you will do well on the actual assessment.
   
    
2. NEVER assume or use any information that the question fails to give you. This is NOT an assessment of how much you know about economics in general! Consider ONLY the information given in each reading passage when choosing among the alternative responses.
   
    
3. Read both the factual passage and the sentence completion instruction carefully. Both must be considered in making your choice.
   
    
4. Be sure to read all the response choices carefully before choosing one.
   
    
5. In questions that ask you to select a valid conclusion, always choose the one conclusion that must definitely follow from the information you are given. In questions that ask you to find the invalid alternative, choose the one conclusion that does not definitely follow from the information.
   
    
6. Pay special attention to words like "all," "some," or "none" when you read the factual information each question gives you. Other qualifying words such as "other than," "only" or "unless" are important, too. These words can play a critical part in precisely specifying the facts to be used in your reasoning.
   
    
7. Pay attention to negative prefixes also, such as non-, un-, or dis-. These can be crucial to specifying the basic facts in the paragraph.
   
    
8. "Test-taking" courses or your college instructors may have advised you to avoid any response choices that contain the quantifiers "all" or "none." In both the practice questions here and in the actual economist assessment, these words are NOT signs of incorrect response choices. They will appear in both correct and incorrect response choices.
   
    
9. Pay close attention to the word "ONLY" and to the phrase "IF AND ONLY IF." Saying "The door will open IF AND ONLY IF both keys are used" sets up a highly specific condition that must be met. There is exactly one way to open the door-you must use both keys. By contrast, if the sentence says, "The door will open if the key is used," there may be several ways to open the door besides by using the key.
   
    
10. The questions in the assessment will vary in difficulty level, and difficult questions will be mixed in with easier ones throughout the assessment. When you encounter a question that is difficult for you, try drawing diagrams or other schematic notes on the "scratch" paper provided to support and confirm your thought processes. Also, bear in mind that you can stop working on a difficult question temporarily and return to it later.