Critical Reasoning : A Few Tricks of The Trade

So with a few days to go for our End semester examinations at NALSAR, here are a few tips which might help you towards a few questions of CR.

I am now posting a few questions along with the answers and the reasoning behind it such that all of you can get a hang of and understand the method.

So now let’s begin:

1) Statement: Saroj drafted an application to the bank for a loan of Rs. 1,80,000 by
mortgaging her house to the bank and promised to repay the amount within 5
years.

Assumptions:

I. The bank has a practice of granting loans for Rs. 1,00,000 and above.

II. The bank accepts a house as a collateral security against such loans

i) Both are implicit
ii) Only I is implicit
iii) Only II is implicit
iv) None of these

The answer to this question will be i) Both are implicit
Now the technique to solve these questions is very simple.
The first thing that you all have to do is negate the Assumptions given. In this example Assumption I states “The Bank has a practice of Granting loans for Rs.1,00,000 and above.”
The negation will be:
The Bank DOES NOT have a practice of……..”
Now if this is the assumption then the Statement falls, because if the bank does not have a practice of granting loans above Rs. 1 lakh then why has Saroj drafted an application of more.
Hence the author has ASSUMED that a bank has such a practice and has made the statement.
Similarly the negation for Assumption II will be, “The bank DOES NOT accept….”
So if the Bank does not accept houses as collateral security then there is no point of the application for the loan.

The basic point is that after negating the Assumptions if the Statement seems stupid or the statement falls, The positive statement is definitely an assumption.

2) Statement: War begins in the minds of men, and it is in the minds of men that defences against war have to be built.

Assumptions:

I Individuals are responsible for waging war.

II Wars arise because people do not believe in solving matters through peaceful talks.
i) Both are implicit
ii) Only I is implicit
iii) Only II is implicit
iv) None of these

The answer over here is ii) Only I is implicit
If we look at “negated” assumption I  Individuals are NOT responsible for waging war.
If this is so then war cannot begin in the minds of men, as men are individuals.
Hence I is an assumption.
But “negated” assumption II  Wars WILL NOT Arise because people BELIEVE in solving matters through peaceful talks.
Now the NEGATED assumption II falls in line with the statement as if peaceful talks will disallow wars from arising then defences can be built in the minds of men.
Hence the NEGATED statement is an Assumption and not the given one. Hence Assumption II is not Implicit.

Another Type of question that can be asked is as follows:

q.1) Should government officials be transferred from one state to
another?

I Yes, because it will boost national integration.

II No, because more government officials are required in the capital.

i) Both are forceful
ii) Only I is forceful
iii) Only II is
forceful
iv) None of these

Now in such questions you have to use simple logic and to some extent your General Knowledge.
The answer here is iv) None of these
I is not forceful because shifting govt officials does not necessarily boost national integration. Govt. officials have been moving throughout states for years and I think we all know that communal riots still happen. It is a very weak argument
II is not forceful as well. Thinking practically there will be more government officials required in areas where there is no or very low amount of representation ans where there is work required to be done. In capitals which are definitely developed and also people will replace the individuals leaving their post it wont really make that big a difference. Again this is a weak argument. I have shown you two flaws.
There is no such trick to these questions. You Just have to be practical.

I am posting a few questions. Please give them a try and post questions in the ASK US section for any doubts.

1. Statement: In order to implement an efficient and effective administration, party workers demanded the Minister to adhere to ‘one man, one post’.
Assumptions:

I Human beings are incapable of being efficient in more than one sphere in
life.

II A person attending to only administration or party work will be able to do
justice to that post.

i) Both are implicit
ii) Only I is implicit
iii) Only II is implicit
iv) None of these

2. Statement:
The thing that makes you exceptional is inevitably that which must also make you lonely.

Assumptions:

I No person can identify with the crowd if he is exceptional.

II Men who are exceptional are always lonely by nature.

i) Both are implicit
ii) Only I is implicit
iii) Only II is implicit
iv) None of these

3. Should the post of governor be abolished?

I Yes, because the government should do away with unnecessary posts in the
system.

II No, because governors are the agents of the opposition party.

i) Both are forceful
ii) Only I is forceful
iii) Only II is forceful
iv) None of these

4. Should old-age pension be introduced in India?

I Yes, because it is the most important social necessity.

II No, because it will be a very heavy burden on the state.

i) Both are forceful
ii) Only I is forceful
iii) Only II is forceful
iv) None of these

5. Should we have open book system of examinations?

I Yes, because that will eliminate mugging up techniques.

II No, because this is not a true test.

i) Both are forceful
ii) Only I is forceful
iii) Only II is forceful
iv) None of these

6. Should all industries in India be nationalised?

I Yes, because that is the only way to increase production.

II No, because innovations will not be possible.

i) Both are forceful
ii) Only I is forceful
iii) Only II is forceful
iv) None of these

7. Statement: If it does not rain throughout this month, most farmers would be in trouble this year.

Assumptions:

I Timely Rain is essential for farming

II Most farmers are generally dependent on Rains.

i) Only Assumption I is implicit
ii) Only Assumption II is Implicit
iii) Both are Implicit
iv) None are implicit

8. Statement: The school authorities have decided to increase the number of students in each classroom to seventy from the next academic session to bridge the gap between income and expenditure to a large extent

Assumptions:

I The income generated by the fees of additional students will be sufficient enough to bridge the gap.

II The school will get all the additional students in each class from the next academic session

i.) Only I is implicit
ii.) Only II is implicit
iii.) Both are Implicit
iv.) Neither are implicit

9. Statement: “A visit of school children to the forest to widen their knowledge of Natural resources has been arranged.”- A notice in school

Assumptions:

I Forests are full of natural resources

II Children are likely to learn from their interaction with new environment.

i.) Only I is implicit
ii.) Only II is implicit
iii.) Both are Implicit
iv.) None are implicit

10. An advertisement in a newspaper- “Wanted unmarried, presentable, matriculate girls between 18 and 21, able to speak English fluently to be taken as models.

Assumptions:

I Fluency in English is a prerequisite for good performance as a model

II Height does not matter in performing as a model.
i.) Only I is implicit
ii.) Only II is implicit
iii.) Both are Implicit
iv.) None are implicit

Answer Key:
1.)iii
2.)ii
3.)iv
4.)ii
5.)iv
6.)iv
7.)iii
8.)i
9.)iii
10.)i

I hope that this article helps you to do better with these questions.
Please post further doubts or queries in the ASK US section.
We will be glad to answer.
All the best,
Nishant Prasad
CLATGyan team