Critical Reasoning section 1 MCQ Detailed Explanation And More Example

Question : 1

In order to qualify in an examination having 6 subjects, a student has to get at least 50% and above marks separately in any 4 subjects and 35% and above in each of the 6 subjects. If a total of 25% candidates have qualified in the examination, then which of the following is definitely true?

a) 50% of the students got 50% and above in 4 subjects but only half of them could get 35% and above in all the subjects.

b) 25% of the students have secured 50% and above in all the 6 subjects.

c) 75% 'of the students could not get at least 35% marks in all the 6 subjects taken together.

d) At least 25% of the students could get at least 35% and above marks in each of the subjects.

Question : 2

Most large retail stores of all goods and brands hold discount sales in the month of November. The original idea of price reduction campaigns in November became popular when it was realized that the sales of products would generally slow down following the Diwali rush. The lack of demand could be solved by the simple solution of reducing prices. There is now an increasing tendency among major chains of stores across the country to have their "November sales" begin before Diwali. The idea behind this trend is to endeavour to sell the maximum amount of stock at a profit, even if that may not be at the maximum profit. Which of the following conclusions cannot be drawn from the above?

a) The incidence of "early" November sales results in lower holdings of stocks with the corollary of lower stock holding costs.

b) Major stores seem to think it makes sense to have the November sales campaigns pre-Diwali.

c) Demand is a function of price; as you lower price, demand increases.

d) The major department stores do not worry as much about profit maximization as they do about sales maximization.

Question : 3

The company's coffee crop for 2008-09 totalled 8079 tonnes, an all time record. The increase over the previous year's production of 5830 tonnes was 38.58% . The previous highest crop was 6089 tonnes in 2001-02. The company had fixed a target to be realized by the year 2014-15, and this has been achieved two years earlier, thanks to the emphasis laid on the key areas of irrigation, replacement of unproductive coffee bushes, intensive refilling and improved agricultural practices. It is now our endeavour to reach the target of 10000 tonnes in the year 2015-16. Which one of the following would contribute most to making the target of 10000 tonnes in 2015-16 unrealistic

a) The potential of the productivity enhancing measures implemented up to now has been exhausted.

b) The sensitivity of the crop to climatic factors makes predictions about production uncertain.

c) The total company land under coffee remained constant since 1969 when an estate in the Nilgiri Hills was acquired.

d) The target-setting procedures in the company have been proved to be sound by the achievement of the 8000 tonne target.

Question : 4

For our nation to compete successfully in the high technology enterprises of the future, workers with skills in maths and science will be needed. But it is doubtful that they will be available, since there is a shortage of high school maths and science teachers that shows no signs of improving. Industry can help alleviate this problem by funding scholarship grants and aid to college students who graduate in maths and science with the hope of pursuing teaching careers. Which of the following, if true, would most probably prevent the proposed plan from achieving its intended effect?

a) After graduation from college, most maths and science graduates opt for jobs in industry rather than in teaching.

b) More scholarship money is already available for students of maths and science than is available for those in any other field.

c) Many high schools have been forced to lower their standards in hiring maths and science teachers.

d) Population statistics show that the number of high school students is expected to decline over the next ten years.

Question : 5

Argentina's beef cattle herd has dropped to under 50 million from 57 million ten years ago in 2004. The animals are worth less, too: prices fell by over a third last year, before recovering slightly . Most local meat packers and processors are in financial trouble, and recent years has seen a string of plant closures. The Beef producer's Association has now come up with a massive advertisement campaign calling upon Argentines to eat more beef-their "juicy, healthy, routed, platefilling steaks." Which one of the following , if true, would contribute most to a failure of the campaign?

a) There has been a change in consumer preference towards eating leaner meats like chicken and fish.

b) The inability to cross breed native cattle with improved varieties has not increased production to adequate levels.

c) Prices of imported beef have been increasing, thus making locally grown beef more competitive in terms of policy.

d) Animal rights pressure groups have come up rapidly, demanding better and humane treatment of farmyard animals like beef cattle

Question : 6

Cigarettes constitute a mere 20% of tobacco consumption in India. And fewer than 15% of the 200 million tobacco users consume cigarettes. Yet these 15% contribute nearly 90% of the tax revenues to the Exchequer from the tobacco sector. The punitive cigarette taxation regime has kept the tax base narrow, and reducing taxes will expand this base. Which one of the following best bolsters the conclusion that reducing duties will expand the tax base?

a) The cigarette manufacturers' association has decided to indulge in aggressive promotion.

b) The cigarette manufacturers are lobbying for reduction on duties.

c) There is a likelihood that tobacco consumers will shift to cigarette smoking if cigarette prices were to reduce.

d) An increase in duties on non-cigarette tobacco may lead to a shift in favour of cigarette smoking.