Logical Reasoning

Logical Reasoning (Verbal)

Sample Questions

Question 1

Although most of the fastest growing jobs in today's economy will require a college degree, many of the new jobs being created-from home health aide to desktop publisher-require knowledge other than that gained from earning a degree. For workers in those jobs, good basic skills in reading, communication, and mathematics play an important role in getting a job and developing a career.

From the information given above it can be validly concluded that, in today's economy,

A)  skills in reading, communication, and mathematics play an important role in developing a career as a desktop publisher

B)  the majority of the new jobs being created require knowledge other than that gained from earning a college degree

C)  a job as a home health aide will rely more on communication skills than on basic skills in reading and mathematics

D)  if a job is one of the fastest growing jobs, it will require a college degree

E)  desktop publisher jobs and home health aide jobs are not among the fastest growing jobs

 

Which letter corresponds to the correct response? ________

Question 2

According to the National Agricultural Aviation Society (NAAS), without the use of crop protection products to control insects, weeds, and diseases, crop yields per acre will drop by more than 50 percent. The first aerial application of insecticide occurred in 1921, and it was a huge success. By contrast, in today's economy all aircraft that are classified as aerial applicators do more than just apply insecticide; today, they also spread seed and apply fertilizer.

From the information given above it CANNOT be validly concluded that

A)  in today's economy, if an aerial applicator is used, then it will be able to spread seed and to apply fertilizer

B)  according to the NAAS, if crop yields per acre never drop by more than 50 percent, then crop protection products have been used to control insects, weeds, and diseases

C)  in today's economy, any aircraft that cannot be used to apply fertilizer cannot be classified as an aerial applicator

D)  in 1921, if an aircraft was used for the application of insecticide, then it was not also used to spread seed

E)  according to the NAAS, if crop yields per acre drop by more than 50 percent, then crop protection products have not been used to control insects, weeds, and diseases.

 

Which letter corresponds to the correct response? ________

Question 3

No national productivity measures are available for underground industries that may exist but remain unreported. On the other hand, at least some industries that are run entirely by self-employed industrialists are included in national productivity measures.

From the information given above, it can be validly concluded that

A)  there are at least some industries run entirely by self-employed industrialists that are underground industries

B)  no industries that are run entirely by self-employed industrialists operate underground

C)  there are at least some industries other than those run entirely by self-employed industrialists that are underground industries

D)  there are at least some industries run entirely by self-employed industrialists that are not underground industries

E)  there are at least some underground industries for which national productivity measures are available

 

Which letter corresponds to the correct response? ________

Closing Comments on the Logical Reasoning Part

This type of verbal logical reasoning assessment item is probably somewhat unfamiliar to you. It assesses your skill at drawing correct conclusions by discerning the underlying logical relationships described in the reading passage. Because the item type is unfamiliar, working through the practice items above will be especially helpful.

The important point to identify in answering the question is whether responses follow necessarily from the facts given in the reading passage. You must read the questions carefully and determine which response must necessarily follow logically when you are asked to find the valid response. When you are asked to find the invalid response, your task is to determine which response does not necessarily follow logically from the facts given.

You do not need training in formal logic to do well on this assessment. However, if you want to learn more about logic, you can consult any introductory textbook on the subject available typically in the philosophy or mathematics sections of libraries or bookstores.