Critical Reasoning section 1 MCQ Detailed Explanation And More Example

Question : 1

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 : 2

Whenever a major airplane accident occurs, there is a dramatic increase in the number of airplane mishaps reported in the media, a phenomenon that may last for as long as a few months after the accident. Airline officials assert that the publicity given the gruesomeness of major airplane accidents focuses media attention on the airline industry, and the increase in the number of reported accidents is caused by an increase in the number of news sources covering airline accidents, not by an increase in the number of accidents. Which of the following if true, would seriously weaken the assertions of the airline officials?

a) Airline accidents tend to occur far more often during certain peak travel months

b) News organisations do not have any guidelines to help them decide how severe an accident is

c) The publicity surrounding airline accidents is largely limited to the country in which the crash occurred

d) Airplane accidents receive coverage by news sources only when the news sources find it advantageous to do so

Question : 3

Most citizens are very conscientious about observing a law when they can see the reason behind it. For instance, there has been very little need to actively enforce the recentlyimplemented law that increased the penalty for motorists caught leaving a gas station without paying for gas they had pumped into their vehicles. This is because citizens are very conscientious of the high cost of gasoline and they know that stealing gas will only further increase the price of gasoline for everyone. Which of the following statements would the author of this passage be most likely to believe?

a) The increased penalty alone is a significant motivation for most citizens to obey the law.

b) High gasoline prices can be brought down if everyone does his or her part and pays for the gasoline they use at the pumps.

c) There are still too many inconsiderate citizens in the local community.

d) Society should make an effort to teach citizens the reasons for its laws.

Question : 4

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 : 5

The company encourages its managers to interact regularly, without a pre-set agenda, to discuss issues concerning the company and society. This idea has been borrowed from the ancient Indian concept of religious congregation, called satsang. Designations are forgotten during these mettings; hence, it is not uncommon in these meetings to find a sales engineer questioning the CEO on some corporate policy or on his knowledge of customers Based on the information provided in the above passage, it can be inferred that

a) The company is concerned about its reputation with its employees.

b) The company has some inter-personnel problems in the past due to which it felt the need for these corporate satsangs.

c) The company believes in fostering the spirit of dialogue without degenerating it into a position-based debate.

d) All of the above

Question : 6

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.