Questions
Research shows that people aged 30-50 yrs are more inclined to buy computer and video games as compared to youngsters or children, who are widely perceived to be much fonder of such entertainment media. The popular belief about the youngsters and children must be, therefore, discarded.
The argument presented above suffers from the major fallacy of
- not giving any information about people older than 50
- discussing only one item of purchase made by older people
- failing to differentiate between a buyer and an end-user
- talking about only games rather than books and magazines
- relating purchase behavior to specific age groups
Dick had bought a bike with disc brakes couple of months ago. His friends also got motivated and bought bikes with similar brake configuration. It was this morning that I came to know that Dick and two of his friends have met with fatal road wrecks. This clearly indicates that disc brakes are not the safest configuration for 2-wheelers. Thank God I didn't ape Dick and bought a similar bike.
What support does the second bold faced statement render to the first?
- It counteracts the cause.
- It counteracts the effect.
- It reflects on the likely consequences of the first.
- It laments the consequences of the first.
One of the states of country X is facing a major crisis in the current fiscal year. Government leaders and economists of country X are, therefore, debating whether to offer financial assistance to that state. The economists are dissuading the government. In fact one economist went so far as to suggest that by giving assistance, the national government is actually discouraging the states from adopting stricter fiscal practices.
The economist's reasoning is flawed because it
- uses circular reasoning
- makes a direct attack on the state's leaders
- makes an unwarranted generalization
- completely ignores the issue under consideration
The pages of a book yellowed with the passage of time. A book-lover surmises that it happens due to the passage of time, resulting in certain chemical changes, rather than constant handling with hands.
Which of the following could go some way toward establishing the truthfulness of the book-lover’s hypothesis?
- Finding out whether it is possible to have a yellowing book, which has been frequently used.
- Finding out if it is possible to control yellowing by the use of certain chemicals.
- Finding out the relative extent of yellowing of pages in unused books after 5, 10 and 20 years.
- Finding out the extent of the yellowing of books after certain fixed intervals of time.
A recent study published by the health department shows that patients in urban hospitals take longer to recover and recuperate than do patients in suburban hospitals. The study ascribes this delay to the lower ratio of doctor to patient in these hospitals. However, sociologists maintain that the real reason is that patients in urban hospitals don't get sufficient fresh and clean air as well as bright sunshine.
Which of the following best describes the reasoning of the sociologists' argument?
- It debunks the authenticity of the study by the Department of Health.
- It uses circular reasoning.
- It gives an alternative explanation for the delayed recuperation.
- It states opinion without corroborative evidence.
I clearly recall the day when I had an argument with one of my colleagues, which eventually became the reason for my getting sacked. The moment I had entered his room, he started blaming me for something that I had no clue about. I reacted aggressively and instinctively throwing the file in my hand in his direction. Two days later I got a notice in my mailbox, which stated that my services were no longer required by the company. I still believe things could have been different if only he hadn't blamed me in the first place without knowing my version.
The two statements offer
- a rendition and a pretext
- a narration and a retrospection
- a muse and an excuse
- an event and an explanation
V.X. Ivan must be a charming man. This is his third marriage and each time he marries an heiress.
Which of the following can be most correctly stated about the above claim?
- The claim is based on the similarity between two or more events.
- The claim suffers from the fallacy of ambiguity.
- The claim is made valid only by an underlying assumption.
- The claim makes mockery of the laws of monogamy.
Our local baseball team has been trying its best to reach the top of rankings. Last week it was successful in reaching that position when it defeated the visiting team 6-2. Consistent hard work and the urge to reach the top resulted in such success for our team. Now all we can hope for is that it stays on top for long. Our team has been known to get cocky and eventually lose it all.
The bold faced statements represent respectively
- a fruition and an apprehension
- an appreciation and a reappraisal
- an evidence and a conclusion
- blessedness and balefulness
- reasons for success and for failure
Scientists have been trying to discover more and more types of renewable and less polluting sources of energy to meet the ever increasing needs. It is said that further discovery of renewable sources of energy, will secure our future and make it environmentally safer. As of today, the world faces a grave danger of being hit by a severe scarcity of fuel and other energy sources. Making natural gas mandatory for public transport will prove itself to be a boon for the coming times, as it will save a fortune on energy sources and also reduce pollution significantly.
What type of support does the second bold faced statement render to the first?
- It expands on the ideas presented in the first.
- It presents a case in instance.
- It complements the first.
- It contradicts the first.
- It misinterprets the first.
Instant messengers have replaced emails to a great extent in today's world. The youth now prefers on an instant messenger to an email to communicate. This has happened because of the animated nature of the messengers and various features blended in them. Users find it equally easy to use features like voice chat, conferencing, etc. However it is next to impossible to replace email with IM because the former still remains a formal and professional way to communicate and is less prone to unethical intervention.
What is the relationship between the two bold faced sentences?
- The two present divergent opinions.
- The two converge only up to a point.
- The second contradicts the contents of the first.
- The second prescribes a limit to the trend pictured in the first.
The enormous increase in oil-price per barrel has adversely affected commodities and markets in most countries and is largely responsible for the worldwide stock market crash. Country X, however, claimed that the severity of the stock market crash it experienced resulted from the increased import duties that had been imposed shortly before the crash.
Which of the following if it could be carried out, would most contribute to a successful evaluation of country X's claim about the cause of its stock market crash?
- Comparing the figures on the stock market index of country X, during the worst days of the crash, to the figures on the stock market index just prior to the crash.
- Evaluating the causes and consequences of the crash in country X, based on economic theory.
- Comparing long term effects of the crash on the purchasing power of the currency of country X to the immediate, short term effects of the crash on such purchasing power.
- Comparing the severity of the crash in country X to the severity of the crash in countries, otherwise economically similar to country X, that have not experienced recent hikes in import-export duties
In the first few months of their careers, executives need challenges and stimulation to develop professionally. Lack of this challenge can have adverse consequences.
The argument above suffers from which of the following fallacies (flawed reasoning)?
- The conclusion denies the premise.
- The premise employs inductive reasoning.
- The conclusion restates the premise.
- The premise depends on one parameter only.
- The reasoning makes an appeal to authority.
Health activists protested, seeking closure of the newly opened EatMore chain of restaurants across the nation. It was found that the restaurants use a banned preservative to increase the shelf life of food. The substance is known for causing short term memory loss in people especially teenagers. In response to the show-cause notice served, the owner has replied that the substance is widely used in majority of restaurants and therefore is not worth revolting. The activists have decided to suspend their protest and the restaurant is once again gaining popularity.
Which of the following factors has not been considered by the health activists before suspending the protests?
- The Drug Controller has not taken the ingredient off the list of banned substances.
- Widespread usage doesn't render the ingredient innocuous.
- The low cost of the ingredient makes it the best preservative available across the counters.
- The shelf life of food has much to do with the health of people who consume it.
A recent survey of historical monuments determined that several old forts and palaces are in a near derelict state. The Heritage Properties Council states paucity of funds as the reason for their inability to maintain these valuable architectural structures.
Which of the following if true would be the most logical course of action to remedy the above situation? I. Additional architectural structures should be designed to support the existing structures.
II. The existing structures should be renovated at all costs as they are of historical significance.
III. The Heritage Properties Council should determine all other causes for the current condition of the monuments.
IV. Regular seminars and campaigns should be conducted to inform the public of the value of these buildings, and generate public support for their upkeep.
V. Government grants and corporate fund support should be regularly given to maintain and improve the structures.
- I and IV
- II and III
- I, III and IV
- IV only
- V only