The following are a few sample logical reasoning questions to practice your skills.
Sample #1
Restaurant Owner: We recently introduced a new vegan menu in our restaurant. We noticed a significant increase in the number of customers ordering vegan dishes. Based on this observation, we can conclude that the demand for vegan food in our area is high.
The restaurant owner’s reasoning does which one of the following:
A) Makes an inference about a specific event based on a statistical generalization.
B) Uses information about the typical frequency of events of a general kind to draw a conclusion about the probability of a particular event of that kind.
C) Bases a prediction of the intensity of a phenomenon on information about the intensity of that phenomenon’s cause.
D) Infers a generalization about a population on the basis of a statistical sample.
E) Draws a conclusion about a specific event based on an analogous case.
The owner observes a significant increase in the number of customers ordering vegan dishes after introducing a new vegan menu. From this observation, the owner concludes that the demand for vegan food in the area is high. The owner’s reasoning is based on the assumption that the increase in customer orders is representative of the overall demand for vegan food. Therefore, the owner is making an inference about a specific event (increase in customer orders) based on a statistical generalization (demand for vegan food in the area). The correct answer is (a).
Response (b) is incorrect. The owner’s conclusion is not about the probability of a particular event, but rather about the overall demand for vegan food.
Response (c) is incorrect. The owner’s conclusion is not based on a prediction of the intensity of a phenomenon’s cause, but rather on the observed increase in customer orders.
Response (d) is incorrect. The owner does not make a generalization about a population based on a statistical sample. The conclusion is about the overall demand for vegan food in the area.
Response (e) is incorrect. The owner’s conclusion is not based on an analogous case, but rather on the observed increase in customer orders specifically after introducing a new vegan menu.
Sample #2
In the city of Evergreen, a new law was passed that increased the fines for parking violations. The purpose of this law was to deter illegal parking and ensure better traffic flow in the city. After the law was implemented, the number of parking violations decreased significantly, and there was a noticeable improvement in traffic congestion. As a result, the city council concluded that the increased fines have been effective in achieving their goals.
Which one of the following statements can be properly inferred from the passage?
A) The previous fines for parking violations were too lenient, leading to an increase in illegal parking.
B) Evergreen is the only city that has implemented higher fines for parking violations.
C) The decrease in parking violations is the sole reason for the improvement in traffic congestion in Evergreen.
D) The implementation of higher fines is the only method that can effectively deter illegal parking.
E) The city council’s conclusion about the effectiveness of the increased fines is based on the observed decrease in parking violations and improvement in traffic congestion.
The passage states that after the implementation of the law that increased fines for parking violations, there was a significant decrease in parking violations and an improvement in traffic congestion. The city council then concluded that the increased fines were effective in achieving their goals. From this information, it can be inferred that the city council’s conclusion is based on the observed decrease in parking violations and improvement in traffic congestion. Therefore, (E) is the correct response.
Response (A) is incorrect. The passage does not provide any information about the previous fines being too lenient. It only states that the fines were increased to deter illegal parking and improve traffic flow.
Response (B) is incorrect. The passage does not mention anything about other cities implementing higher fines for parking violations. It focuses solely on the implementation and effects of the law in Evergreen.
Response (C) is incorrect. While the passage mentions the improvement in traffic congestion, it does not state that the decrease in parking violations is the sole reason for this improvement. There could be other factors contributing to the improved traffic flow.
Response (D) is incorrect. The passage does not provide evidence that the implementation of higher fines is the only method that can effectively deter illegal parking. Other methods or strategies could also be effective in achieving the same goal.
Therefore, the correct answer is (E), as it accurately reflects the information and inference provided in the passage.
Sample #3
In the year 2020, a major airline company experienced a series of high-profile accidents and safety incidents that led to a significant decline in its reputation and customer trust. As a result, the company implemented a comprehensive safety review and introduced stricter safety protocols for all its flights. The company also invested heavily in advanced technology systems to monitor and detect potential safety risks in real-time.
Which one of the following statements can be properly inferred from the passage?
A) The airline company’s safety protocols were not effective prior to the implementation of stricter measures in 2020, jeopardizing passenger safety.
B) The accidents and safety incidents in 2020 were solely caused by technological failures within the airline company’s systems.
C) The decline in the airline company’s reputation and customer trust was solely due to the accidents and safety incidents in 2020.
D) The comprehensive safety review and stricter safety protocols implemented in 2020 were successful in restoring customer trust and enhancing safety.
E) The advanced technology systems introduced by the airline company in 2020 were the primary factor in preventing future accidents and safety incidents.
The passage states that the airline company implemented a comprehensive safety review, introduced stricter safety protocols, and invested in advanced technology systems after a series of accidents and safety incidents in 2020. It can be inferred that these measures were taken to address the safety concerns highlighted by the incidents and to improve safety overall. The passage also mentions a decline in the company’s reputation and customer trust, implying a negative impact on the company’s image due to the accidents and incidents. Therefore, it can be inferred that the comprehensive safety review and stricter safety protocols implemented in 2020 aimed to restore customer trust and enhance safety. However, the passage does not provide explicit information about the effectiveness of these measures or their direct impact on preventing future accidents. Hence, (D) is the correct response.
Response (A) is incorrect. The passage does not provide evidence to support the claim that the airline company’s safety protocols were ineffective prior to the implementation of stricter measures in 2020. It only suggests that the company took additional steps to enhance safety after the incidents occurred.
Response (B) is incorrect. The passage does not attribute the accidents and safety incidents solely to technological failures within the airline company’s systems. It mentions a series of accidents and incidents without specifying their exact causes.
Response (C) is incorrect. While the passage mentions a decline in the airline company’s reputation and customer trust, it does not explicitly state that this decline was solely due to the accidents and safety incidents in 2020. Other factors could have contributed to the decline as well.
Response (E) is incorrect. The passage mentions that the company invested in advanced technology systems, but it does not provide enough information to conclude that these systems were the primary factor in preventing future accidents and safety incidents. Other measures, such as the comprehensive safety review and stricter protocols, could also have played significant roles in improving safety.