1000 Critical Reasoning Questions

1. Which of the following best completes the passage below?
In a survey of job applicants, two-fifths admitted to being at least a little dishonest. However,
the survey may underestimate the proportion of job applicants who are dishonest,
because____.
A. some dishonest people taking the survey might have claimed on the survey to be honest
B. some generally honest people taking the survey might have claimed on the survey to be
dishonest
C. some people who claimed on the survey to be at least a little dishonest may be very
dishonest
D. some people who claimed on the survey to be dishonest may have been answering
honestly
E. some people who are not job applicants are probably at least a little dishonest

Q2. The average life expectancy for the United States population as a whole is 73.9 years, but
children born in Hawaii will live an average of 77 years, and those born in Louisiana, 71.7
years. If a newlywed couple from Louisiana were to begin their family in Hawaii, therefore, their
children would be expected to live longer than would be the case if the family remained in
Louisiana.
Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the conclusion drawn in the
passage?
A. Insurance company statisticians do not believe that moving to Hawaii will significantly
    lengthen the average Louisianan's life.
B. The governor of Louisiana has falsely alleged that statistics for his state are inaccurate.
C. The longevity ascribed to Hawaii's current population is attributable mostly to genetically
    determined factors.
D. Thirty percent of all Louisianans can expect to live longer than 77 years.
E. Most of the Hawaiian Islands have levels of air pollution well below the national average
    for the United States

Q. Insurance Company X is considering issuing a new policy to cover services required by
elderly people who suffer from diseases that afflict the elderly. Premiums for the policy must be
low enough to attract customers. Therefore, Company X is concerned that the income from the
policies would not be sufficient to pay for the claims that would be made.
Which of the following strategies would be most likely to minimize Company X's losses on the
policies?
A. Attracting middle-aged customers unlikely to submit claims for benefits for many years.
B. Insuring only those individuals who did not suffer any serious diseases as children
C. Including a greater number of services in the policy than are included in other policies of
lower cost
D. Insuring only those individuals who were rejected by other companies for similar policies
E. Insuring only those individuals who are wealthy enough to pay for the medical services

Q:The ice on the front windshield of the car had formed when moisture condensed during the
night. The ice melted quickly after the car was warmed up the next morning because the
defrosting vent, which blows on the front windshield, was turned on full force.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously jeopardizes the validity of the explanation for the
speed with which the ice melted?

A. The side windows had no ice condensation on them
B. Even though no attempt was made to defrost the back window, the ice there melted at the
same rate as did the ice on the front windshield.
C. The speed at which ice on a window melts increases as the temperature of the air blown
on the window increases
D. The warm air from the defrosting vent for the front windshield cools rapidly as it dissipates
throughout the rest of the car.
E. The defrosting vent operates efficiently even when the heater, which blows warm air
toward the feet or faces of the driver and passengers, is on.

Q3. Read the passage and answer the question that follows.

Some readers wondered whether my reading of the crisis in the news media is about journalism or the news industry. Though the fortunes of the news industry have a bearing on journalism, there is a difference between looking at issues that govern journalism and the factors that contribute to the financial stress of the media industry. Over the last few years, I have been discussing the impact of digitalization on journalism. The pandemic has accelerated the process of digital transformation of the news media. Therefore, these issues need close scrutiny. One of the defining elements of analogue journalism was how two crucial functions of journalism — bearing witness and making sense — complemented each other and helped people make informed choices.

When I talk about the strength of analogue, I am neither romanticizing the past nor a Luddite. Most importantly, I do not believe in nostalgia. Many scholars have established ―how rose-coloured glasses always lead to an unfair distortion — by looking back on the best of the past while comparing it to the worst of the present.‖

Hence, when I talk about the digital information news environment, I am talking about how there needs to be a conducive atmosphere for credible information to resonate with the people.

Literature on misinformation, disinformation, and misinformation reveals a new distinction in the minds of the citizens. Editors and journalists have to contend with a new breed of sceptics. These people trust social media forwards more than evidence-based, data-driven journalism.

Their confirmation bias flows from encrypted social media platforms full of conspiracy theories. [Excerpt from an Article by A.S. Panneerselvan, The Hindu, dated August 10, 2020]

Q1. According to the author, what effect has the pandemic had on journalism?
a) It has led to a rise in conspiracy theories.
b) It has accelerated the digital transformation process in the news media.
c) It has led to a decrease in the credibility of information.
d) It has led to a rise in nostalgia for analogue journalism.

Q2. What is one of the main issues the author raises about digital journalism?
a) Digital journalism does not have the capacity to bear witness.
b) Digital journalism does not provide enough information for people to make informed choices.
c) The new digital information environment must be conducive for credible information to resonate with the public.
d) All of the above.

Q3. According to the author, what is a defining element of analogue journalism?
a) The focus on data-driven journalism.
b) The way it combines bearing witness and making sense to help people make informed choices.
c) It's capacity to provide a conducive atmosphere for credible information.
d) Its reliance on social media platforms.

Q4. How does the author view nostalgia in the context of journalism?
a) Nostalgia can enhance the quality of journalism.
b) Nostalgia often leads to an unfair distortion by favourably comparing the past to the present.
c) Nostalgia is an essential component of digital journalism.
d) Nostalgia has no place in the journalism industry.

Q5. The author mentions editors and journalists deal with a new breed of sceptics. Who are these sceptics?
a) Those who trust social media forwards more than evidence-based, data-driven journalism.
b) Those who believe in the supremacy of analogue journalism.
c) Those who do not believe in the impact of digitalization on journalism.
d) Those who distrust the news media industry.