Critical reasoning Flashcards
How to evaluate if an assumption is the basis for a conclusion?
If the conclusion holds when the assumption is TRUE, and if it doesn’t hold when the assumption is negated
REMEMBER: assumption doesnt need to be true
(BBX french fries example)
What are two things to clarify when in doubt for one or between two alternatives?
Compare the VERB (action) or the NOUN (thing + quality) with the passage and make sure the meaning is the same or very similar
- To encounter tortoises <> to collect
- Current access routes = there are other that aren’t currently used
What did you learn about SUBSETS and SUPERSETS cause and effect with the guitar training question?
If X is the result of Y, then
100% of people with lack of appreciation had flawled training
BUT, only 33% of flawled trainnings lead to lack of appreciation
However, 100% of UNFLAWLED trainings lead to appreciation
What are two things the question about the impact of raise on candidates to judge taught you?
To compare samples: Potential candidates vs. Current members -> two different samples being compared
And to be specific: “absence of effect” is different from “little to no effect”
What did you learn with the question on moisture?
To test assumption questions, use the negation technique:
If mold CREATES moisture, then checking plumbing is irrelevant (
If mold CAN GROW in dry area, them checking plumbing is not sufficient to avoid illness (true, but less strong)
What did you learn with the question on employment rate and major industries?
A statement that shares additional factors that could lead to a conclusion/outcome weakens the conclusion
“an increase in labor costs could adversely affect the employment rate”
What did you learn with the question about most historians of the antebellum period?
The best approach to RC detail questons:
1) visually find the part of the passage that mentions the detail
2) ask yourself the prompt question
3) find the answer
IN MY CASE, the passage explicitly mentioned parties but not women right in the detail part.
“However, most historians have underestimated the extent and significance of women’s political allegiance in the antebellum period. For example, in the presidential election campaigns of the 1840s, the Virginia Whig party strove to win the allegiance of Virginia’s women by inviting them to rallies and speeches. “
What is the general approach to RC and CR? (investment bankers question)
Read the passage+question, evaluate alternatives and discard most obvious ones.
HOWEVER, IF IN SERIOUS DOUBT OR IF IT SEEMS CONFUSING,
1) draw the information scheme
2) translate the statements to simplify (both for simplicity and to portuguese)
i.e.
Raise capital to a company from X investors but send unfavorable reports to Y investors
After more than four decades of research and development, a new type of jet engine is being [tested that could eventually propel aircraft anywhere in the world within two hours or help] boost cargoes into space at significantly lower costs than current methods permit.
Correct: tested that could eventually propel aircraft anywhere in the world within two hours or help
Rationale:
* FULANO is testing an engine THAT COULD EVENTUALLY
* An engine is being tested THAT COULD
(an engine, is being tested, that could)
Wrong, wordy:
tested, and it could eventually have the capability to propel aircraft anywhere in the world within two hours or help
In order to raise revenue, the federal government planned a tax amnesty program that allows tax delinquents to pay all owed tax without added financial penalty. However, economists projected that the federal government would collect a far lower percentage of total tax owed by delinquents than did state governments implementing similar programs.
Which of the following, if true, would most contribute to an explanation of the economists’ projections?
Correct: Unlike most federal tax delinquents, most state tax delinquents fail to pay state tax because of an oversight rather than a decision not to pay.
Rationale: People are motivated to pay state taxes but not federal taxes under similar incentives. Why? Because the reasons to miss payment are different
Incorrect: The state tax rate varies considerably from state to state, but the federal tax is levied according to laws that apply to citizens of all the states.
Now the fourth most important crop worldwide after wheat, rice, and corn, [potatoes are expected to supply even a] larger share of the world’s nutritional requirements in the next century if genetic engineering can increase its immunity to disease and expand its range of growing habitats.
Idiom: an even larger
(even an larger implies coparison, even an larger share than x)
Options tested for potatoes vs. the potato; There an ITS that hints its singulra (increase its immunity system)
All choices used the construction “the crop is expected to supply (…)”, so despite being awkward is ok
Even an larger vs. An even larger?
An even larger
the potato is expected to supply an even larger
(even an larger implies coparison, even an larger share than x)
