Use these analytical reasoning sample questions to review conclusions, assumptions, flaws in reasoning, evidence, cause and effect, and deductive arguments. Answer each question before opening the explanation.
Topics Covered
- Drawing valid conclusions
- Identifying necessary assumptions
- Finding flaws in reasoning
- Distinguishing correlation from causation
- Evaluating evidence
- Recognizing circular reasoning
- Using deductive reasoning
- Understanding logical syllogisms
Sample Questions
- A. The only rocks Gigi saw that day were quartz.
- B. Gigi collected every rock she saw that day.
- C. There were no other kinds of rocks in the field that day.
- D. Gigi did not collect any rocks other than quartz that day.
- E. Gigi did not see any rocks other than quartz that day.
Show Answer
The statement says that every rock Gigi collected was quartz.
Therefore, she did not collect any non-quartz rocks. The information does not prove that she saw only quartz or that no other rocks were present.
- A. It assumes that the café never changes its menu.
- B. It draws a universal causal conclusion from one limited observation.
- C. It proves that lower prices always increase sales.
- D. It ignores the cost of producing the drink.
- E. It shows that price and sales are unrelated.
Show Answer
The owner relies on one product and one week of sales data.
Other factors may have affected sales, and one example is not enough to establish that every price increase will always produce the same result.
- A. The number of independently verified theft incidents before and after the form was introduced
- B. The number of residents who own bicycles
- C. The most common colors of the stolen bicycles
- D. The cost of building the online reporting form
- E. The hours during which the police station is open
Show Answer
An increase in reports may reflect easier reporting rather than an increase in the underlying event.
Comparing independently verified incidents would help distinguish increased reporting from increased theft.
- A. Technical knowledge is the only skill needed to lead the project.
- B. Technical knowledge and client communication are both useful to successful leadership.
- C. The project is too large for one person to understand.
- D. Client communication is more important than technical knowledge.
- E. Maya and Luis have identical leadership styles.
Show Answer
The director identifies one relevant strength in each person and concludes that the pair can lead successfully.
That conclusion assumes both technical knowledge and client communication contribute to successful project leadership.
- A. Every bus route in the city is late.
- B. Route 8 will have the same driver tomorrow.
- C. The conditions that produced the earlier delays will continue tomorrow.
- D. Jordan has no other way to reach work.
- E. Jordan dislikes riding the bus.
Show Answer
Jordan uses a repeated past pattern to predict what will happen tomorrow.
The prediction relies on the assumption that the relevant conditions causing the delays will remain substantially the same.
- A. A monopoly means having no competitors anywhere in the country.
- B. ABC Power Company exemplifies competition in every area.
- C. ABC Power Company has no employees who compete with one another.
- D. ABC Power Company has a monopoly in some areas.
- E. ABC Power Company must be publicly owned.
Show Answer
Consumers in the specified areas have only one provider of electric service.
A market with one available provider is a monopoly in that market.
- A. Appeal to popularity
- B. Circular reasoning
- C. False dilemma
- D. Appeal to an irrelevant authority
- E. Slippery-slope reasoning
Show Answer
The plan’s reliability is supported only by the consultant’s trustworthiness, while the consultant’s trustworthiness is supported only by the plan’s reliability.
Each claim depends on the other, so the argument never provides independent evidence for either claim.
- A. A fictional movie character is unlikely to reflect the student’s own everyday life.
- B. Using the same writing method can produce stories of different quality.
- C. Using any movie character automatically violates copyright law.
- D. Self-reflection is required for every original short story.
- E. Instructional themes are always more important than popular characters.
Show Answer
The assignment specifically requires a connection to the student’s everyday life.
A story centered on a favorite movie character may be interesting, but it is less likely to satisfy that stated requirement.
- A. Most sparkling water is imported.
- B. Some guests may judge the drink by its brand or origin rather than taste alone.
- C. Imported water is always more expensive because of taxes.
- D. Store-brand and imported water must taste different.
- E. Sparkling water tastes better in plain glasses.
Show Answer
The advertisement claims the products taste the same but still recommends hiding the brand.
That recommendation assumes some guests may react differently once they see the label or learn the product’s origin.
- A. Inductive reasoning
- B. Special knowledge
- C. A logical syllogism
- D. Ambiguous terminology
- E. An unsupported generalization
Show Answer
The argument applies a general rule to a subgroup.
Its structure is: all members of Group A have Trait C; all members of Group B belong to Group A; therefore, all members of Group B have Trait C.
How to Use These Questions
Identify the task before evaluating the choices. Determine whether the question asks for a conclusion, an assumption, a flaw, clarifying evidence, or the structure of an argument.
Use only the information supplied. A choice can be believable in real life and still be unsupported by the argument. Prefer the answer that follows most directly and requires the fewest extra assumptions.