Critical Reasoning.pptx for students of final year

Critical Reasoning.pptx for students of final year

1. Critical Reasoning

2. Concept Assumption : It is an unstated premise which cannot be logically derived from any existing information. In other word Assumption , it cannot stand on its own. Assumptions are generally given to present some new information. These can also be part of some beliefs. Inference : It is that piece of information which can be logically deducted from the one or more statements.

3. Concept Now, let’s explore an interesting link between the two: Combination of an assumption (valid/true) and a fact results in an inference (correct/valid). Assumption + Fact → Inference You must be thinking that the difference is pretty simple. Then how does the confusion arise between the two? Well, the confusion arises because of the phrase ‘must be true’ . Since neither the assumption nor the inference is stated explicitly in the arguments, it may be complex to differentiate between the two.

4. Tips to Solve So, let’s first understand some important differences between the two: As discussed above, inference can be logically deduced from any given information. On the other hand, assumption is a new information and can never be logically deduced from any given information. Inference must be true if the given information is true. While assumption must be true for the conclusion/given information to be true. If you see carefully, both follow opposite direction for either to hold ‘true’. Generally, the questions structure of the two varies in the following ways:

5. Tips to Solve If the statements above are true, which of the following must be true? ( Inference ) Select the assumption on which the argument depends? ( Assumption ) As you can see, in the above question, you are basically asked to logically deduce the inference from the given set of statements. That’s the biggest hint of the answer being an inference. In other cases, the same questions may be rewritten in other ways, but the meaning remains the same. An assumption must have a conclusion while an inference is rarely followed by any conclusion. Infact , you can formulate logical inferences from given assumptions .

6. Example : Argument Recently, in the state of ABC, the use of seat belts in cars and other passenger vehicles has been made mandatory. While there is not much difference in the number of accidents, the number of life threatening injuries caused by accidents has gone down with the new rule. What can possibly be the assumptions and inferences in this argument ? Assumption People are wearing their seat belts after the rule has been implemented in the state of ABC. The premise is that the rule has been made mandatory. It is not stated that people are following the rule. This is an assumption that leads the premise to the conclusion about reduced number of injuries. One can also safely assume that using seat belts does not reduce the number of accidents.

7. Examples Inference There can be multiple inferences here. One such inference is that the new rule and its implementation are very effective in reducing the number of life-threatening injuries from car and vehicular accidents in the state of ABC

8. Strategy to handle CR questions: pl 1. Break the CR passage into parts If you are having difficulty in understanding the passage, break the passage into various parts. Identify the conclusion, facts, and assumptions. This will help in understanding of the passage using the structural approach for solving the passage. 2. Beware of answer choices, which are contradictory to the main idea given in the question Always read the question carefully, and be careful of what it is asking. For example, if the question asks which of the following weakens the argument, then definitely there will be one option which will be

9. Strategy to handle CR questions: pl strengthening the argument. Beware of such answers, these are specially written to confuse the students. If you are careful about this trick, you will be able to save yourself from a lot of incorrect answers, and thereby increasing your score. 3. Re-phrase passages into simpler words The language given in critical reasoning passages is always tough and confusing. Hence for your own benefit it is better to simplify the language. That ways you will understand the question better and will also be able to break the question and get rid of the irrelevant data, which might hinder the process of finding the correct answer.

10. Strategy to handle CR questions: pl 4. Understand what is being asked A lot of times, the students get really confused about what is being asked in the question, thus it is imperative to understand the question, because of the lack of understanding, we tend to mark the wrong answer

11. Question: Q01 Answer : D Statement : "If it does not rain throughout this month ,most farmers would be in trouble this year" Assumptions: 1. Timely rain is essential for farming 2. Most farmers are generally dependent on rains Only 1 is true Only 2 is true Either 1 or 2 is true Both 1 and 2 follow

12. Explanation: Q01 It is mentioned that farmers will be in trouble without rain .This means that timely rain is essential.Also,it shows that farmers are dependent on rain. So,both 1 and 2 are true

13. Question: Q0 2 Answer : A Statement: If you are an engineer ,we have a challenging job for you Assumptions: 1. We need an engineer 2. You are an engineer Only 1 is true Only 2 is true Either 1 or 2 is true Neither 1 or 2 is true

14. Explanation: Q02 Clearly job is is offered to an engineer.This means that he is needed.So,1 is true.The word "If" in the statement 2 makes it false

15. Question: Q0 3 Answer : A Statement: The Highway police authority put up large boards at regular intervals indicating the speed limit and dangers of over-speeding on the highways. Assumptions: I. Most of the motorists may drive their vehicles within the speed limit on the highways. II. Motorists generally ignore such cautions and over-speed on the highways. A) If only assumption I is Implicit B) If only assumption II is Implicit C) If either I or II is Implicit D) If both I and II are Implicit

16. Explanation: Q03 The boards have been put with the assumption that they may have a positive impact.

17. Question: Q0 4 Answer : A Statement : The Chairman of the company urged all the employees to refrain from making long personal calls during working hours in order to boost productivity. Assumptions : I. Majority of the employees may respond positively to the Chairman's appeal II. Most of the employees may continue to make long personal calls during working hours. If only assumption I is Implicit If only assumption II is Implicit If either I or II is Implicit If both I and II are Implicit

18. Explanation: Q04 I is implicit: when urge someone to do something, you assume a positive response. For the same reason , II is not implicit.

19. Question: Q0 5 Answer : B Statement: If farmers want to improve their yield, they must use organic fertilizers in place of chemical fertilizers. Assumptions: I. Chemical fertilizers have certain ill effects on health II. Chemical fertilizers do not produce as much yield as the organic fertilizers. If only assumption I is Implicit If only assumption II is Implicit If either I or II is Implicit If both I and II are Implicit

20. Explanation: Q05 I is not implicit because health is not the focus of the statement. II is implicit in the very need for substitution.

21. Question: Q0 6 Answer : C Statement: Manish completes a work in 20 days. After 8 days Sriram joined the work. In how many days will the work be completed ? Statements : I. Sriram takes twice the time than Manish to complete the work. II. Sriram completes half the work in 15 days Statement I alone is sufficient to answer the question Statement II alone is sufficient to answer the question Either the statements I & II is sufficient to answer the question Neither the statements I & II is sufficient to answer the question

22. Explanation: Q06 From statement I, Time taken by Sriram to complete the work = 40 days From statement II, Time taken by Sriram to complete the wok = 30 days So from both either by statement I or statement II we can find the time to complete the work.

23. Question: Q0 7 Answer : C Statement: School students are more influenced by their faculty nowadays Assumption: I. School students consider their faculty as role models II. More time is spent at schools by students Neither I nor II is implicit Only II is implicit Only I is implicit Either I or II is implicit

24. Explanation: Q07 Only I is implicit

25. Question: Q0 8 Answer : E Statement: The Indian High Commission in Antigua and Barbuda had asked the authorities there to stop billionaire diamond trader Mehul Choksi from travelling around the world, sources said on Monday. Inference: I. All billionaire diamond traders should immediately stop travelling to Antigua and Barbuda for the time being. II. Mehul Choksi should seek asylum in some other country to avoid being caught. III. The Indian High Commissioner should himself go and arrest Mehul Choksi. If only I follows If only II follows If both I and II follow If both II and III follow If none of them follow

26. Explanation: Q08 None of the courses of action follow. All of them contain a lot of extraneous information and are impractical solutions.

27. Question: Q0 9 Answer : C Statement: Should concrete roads be built all over the country instead of bitumen roads? Inference : I. Yes, as concrete roads lasts 10 times longer than bitumen roads, saves 20% in terms of fuel burnt by vehicles and is cheaper to lay than bitumen roads. II. No, bitumen is 3 times cheaper, saves 15% of fuel burnt by vehicles and is half as costly to lay than the concrete roads. if only argument I is strong. if only argument II is strong. if either I or II is strong. if neither I nor II is strong. if both I and II are strong.