CAT Critical Reasoning Questions

Question 1

In a recent report, the gross enrolment ratios at the primary level, that is, the number of children enrolled in classes one to five as a proportion of all children aged 6 to 10, were shown to be very high for most states; in many cases they were way above 100 percent! These figures are not worth anything, since they are based on the official enrolment data compiled from school records. They might as well stand for ‘gross exaggeration ratios’.

Which of the following options best supports the claim that the ratios are exaggerated?

The definition of gross enrolment ratio does not exclude, in its numerator, children below 6 years or above 10 years enrolled in classes one to five.

A school attendance study found that many children enrolled in the school records were not meeting a minimum attendance requirement of 80 percent.

A study estimated that close to 22 percent of children enrolled in the class one records were below 6 years of age and still to start going to school.

Demographic surveys show shifts in the population profile which indicate that the number of children in the age group 6 to 10 years is declining.

Solution

Let’s comprehend the given information first. The ratio of the number of children from classes one to five to all children aged 6 to 10 is very high, often greater than 1. This is the premise. The author says that it is not a valid report as the data is based on official enrolment data compiled from school records and therefore is exaggerated. This is the conclusion.

Here, the assumption is that the enrolment data in school records is often not correct. In order to strengthen the argument, we need to bolster the assumption.

Now, let’s check each option to determine the option that strengthens the assumption.

The first option is the definition of gross enrolment ratio. This statement gives the reason for the high gross enrolment ratios. Hence it is strengthening the premise and weakening the conclusion. Therefore, option A is wrong.

The passage does not talk about the attendance of the students and also attendance is not related to the gross enrolment ratio. Option B does not strengthen the argument. Hence, option B is wrong.

Option C says that 22 percent of the children who do not belong to the age group 6-10 and who have not started going to school but have enrolled in class one are included in the numerator of the ratio. This explains why the ratio is high. Also, the ratio is clearly exaggerated as the students have not started going to school yet. Therefore, option C is the answer as it explains why the ratios are exaggerated.

The decline in the number of children in the age group 6 - 10 has nothing to do with the gross enrolment ratio. Hence, option D is wrong.

Therefore, the answer is option C.

Question 2

Szymanski suggests that the problem of racism in football may be present even today. He begins by verifying an earlier hypothesis that clubs’ wage bills explain 90% of their performance. Thus, if players’ salaries were to be only based on their abilities, clubs that spend more should finish higher. If there is pay discrimination against some group of players — fewer teams bidding for black players thus lowering the salaries for blacks with the same ability as whites — that neat relation may no longer hold. He concludes that certain clubs seem to have achieved much less than what they could have, by not recruiting black players.

Which of the following findings would best support Szymanski conclusions?

Certain clubs took advantage of the situation by hiring above-average shares of black players.

Clubs hired white players at relatively high wages and did not show proportionately good performance.

During the study period, clubs in towns with a history of discrimination against blacks, under-performed relative to their wage bills.

Clubs in one region, which had higher proportions of black players, had significantly lower wage bills than their counterparts in another region which had predominantly white players.

Solution

It is given that 90 percent of a club’s performance can be explained by wage bills. If a player’s salary is based on only on their abilities then the clubs that paid more amounts must finish higher. This relation will not hold true if there is pay discrimination. The conclusion of the passage is that certain clubs seem to have achieved less than they could have, by not recruiting black players.

Here, the assumption is that certain clubs paid more than many other clubs but did not finish at a position they could have had.

Now, let’s check each option and verify whether it strengthens Szymanski’s conclusions.

Option A is not relevant here because it does not address our assumption in any way. Hence, option A is wrong.

The clubs that the author is talking about could have chosen a few black players, paid the black players lower wages and achieved as much as they did now. So, if it is a fact that clubs hired white players at relatively high wages and did not show proportionately good performance, then we can conclude that these clubs achieved less than they could have had. Hence, option B is correct.

According to option C, the towns have a history of discrimination against blacks. But, the clubs might or might not show the discrimination. Hence, the underperformance of these clubs cannot strengthen Szymanski’s conclusions. Therefore, option C is wrong.

Option D is a fact which can be deduced from the information given in the passage. Hence, it doesn’t strengthen the conclusion.

Therefore, option B is the correct answer.

Question 3

The pressure on Italy’s 257 jails has been increasing rapidly. These jails are old and overcrowded. They are supposed to hold up to 43,000 people -9,000 fewer than now. San Vittore in Milan, which has 1,800 inmates, is designed for 800. The number of foreigners inside jails has also been increasing. The minister in charge of prisons fears that tensions may snap, and so has recommended to the government an amnesty policy.

Which one of the following, if true, would have most influenced the recommendation of the minister?

Opinion polls have indicated that many Italians favour a general pardon.

The opposition may be persuaded to help since amnesties must by approved by a two-thirds majority in parliament.

During a recent visit to a large prison, the Pope, whose pronouncements are taken seriously, appealed for ‘a gesture of clemency.’

Shortly before the recommendation was made, 58 prisons reported disturbances in a period of two weeks.

Question 4

The offer of the government to make iodised salt available at a low price of one rupee per kilo is welcome, especially since the government seems to be so concerned about the ill effects of non-iodised salt. But it is doubtful whether the offer will actually be implemented. Way back in 1994, the government, in an earlier effort, had prepared reports outlining three new and simple but experimental methods for reducing the costs of iodisation to about five paise per kilo. But these reports have remained just those — reports on paper.

Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the author’s contention that it is doubtful whether the offer will be actually implemented?

The government proposes to save on costs by using the three methods it has already devised for iodisation.

The chain of fair-price distribution outlets now covers all the districts of the state.

Many small-scale and joint-sector units have completed trials to use the three iodisation methods for regular production.

The government which initiated the earlier effort is in place even today and has more information on the effects of non-iodised salt.

Question 5

About 96% of Scandinavian moths have ears tuned to the ultrasonic pulses that bats, their predators, emit. But the remaining 4% do not have ears and are deaf. However, they have a larger wingspan than the hearing moths, and also have higher wing-loadings the ratio between a wing’s area and its weight — meaning higher maneuverability.
Which one of the following can be best inferred from the above passage?

A higher proportion of deaf moths than hearing moths fall prey to bats.

Deaf moths may try to avoid bats by frequent changes in their flight direction.

Deaf moths are faster than hearing moths, and so are less prone to becoming a bat’s dinner than hearing moths.

The large wingspan enables deaf moths to better receive and sense the pulses of their bat predators.

Question 6

Argentina’s beef cattle herd has dropped to under 50 million from 57 million ten years ago in 1990. 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 have seen a string of plant closures. The Beef Producers’ Association has now come up with a massive advertisement campaign calling upon Argentines to eat more beef—their “juicy, healthy, rotund, plate- filling” steaks.

Which one of the following, if true, would contribute most to a failure of the campaign?

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

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

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

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

Question 7

The problem of traffic congestion in Athens has been testing the ingenuity of politicians and town planners for years. But the measures adopted to date have not succeeded in decreasing the number of cars en the roads in the city centre. In 1980, an odds and evens number- plate legislation was introduced, under which odd and even plates were banned in the city centre on alternate days, thereby expecting to halve the number of cars in the city centre. Then in 1993 it was decreed that all cars in use in the city centre must be fitted with catalytic converters; a regulation had just then been introduced, substantially reducing import taxes on cars with catalytic converters, the only condition being that the buyer of such a ‘clean’ car offered for destruction a car at least 15 years old.

Which one of the following options, if true, would best support the claim that the measures adopted to date have not succeeded?

In the 1980s, many families purchased second cars with the requisite odd or even number plate.

In the mid-1990s, many families found it feasible to become first-time car owners by buying a car more than 15 years old and turning it in for a new car with catalytic converters.

Post-1993, many families-seized the opportunity to sell their more than 15 year-old cars and buy ‘clean’ cars from the open market, even if it meant forgoing the import tax subsidy.

All of the above.

Question 8

Although in the limited sense of freedom regarding appointments and internal working, the independence of the Central Bank is unequivocally ensured, the same cannot be said of its right to pursue monetary policy without co-ordination with the central government. The role of the Central Bank has turned out to be subordinate and advisory in nature.
Which of the following best supports the conclusion drawn in the passage?

A decision of the chairman of the Central Bank to increase the bank rate by two percentage points sent shock-waves in industry, academic and government circles alike.

Government has repeatedly resorted to monetisation of the debt despite the reservations of the Central Bank.

The Central Bank does not need the central government’s nod for replacing soiled currency notes.

The inability to remove coin shortage was a major shortcoming of this government.

Question 9

The theory of games is suggested to some extent by parlour games such as chess and bridge. Friedman illustrates two distinct features of these games. First, in a parlour game played for money, if one wins the other (others) loses (lose). Second, these games are games involving a strategy. In a game of chess, while choosing what action is to be taken, a player tries to guess how his/her opponent will react to the various actions he or she might take. In contrast, the card-pastime, ‘patience’ or ‘solitaire’ is played only against chance.

Which one of the following can best be described as a “game”?

The team of Tenzing Norgay and Edmund Hillary climbing Mt. Everest for the first time in human history.

A national level essay writing competition.

A decisive war between the armed forces of India and Pakistan over Kashmir.

Oil Exporters’ Union deciding on world oil prices, completely disregarding the countries which have at most minimal oil production.

Question 1

Three airlines - IA, JA and SA - operate on the Delhi-Mumbai route. To increase the number of seats sold, SA reduced its fares and this was emulated by IA and JA immediately. The general belief was that the volume of air travel between Delhi and Mumbai would increase as a result. Which of the following, if true, would add credence to the general belief?

Increase in profitability of the three airlines.

Extension of the discount scheme to other routes.

A study that shows that air travellers in India are price-conscious.

A study that shows that as much as 80% of air travel in India is company-sponsored.

Question 2

According to McNeill, a Brahmin priest was expected to be able to recite at least one of the Vedas. The practice was essential for several centuries when the Vedas had not yet been written down. It must have had a selective effect, since priests would have been recruited from those able or willing to memorize long passages. It must have helped in the dissemination of the work, since a memorized passage can be duplicated many times.

Which one of the following can be inferred from the above passage?

Reciting the Vedas was a Brahmin's obligation.

The Vedic priest was like a recorded audio cassette.

McNeill studied the behaviour of Brahmin priests.

Vedic hymns had not been scripted.

Question 3

Developed countries have made adequate provisions for social security for senior citizens. State insurers (as well as private ones) offer medicare and pension benefits to people who can no longer earn. In India, with the collapse of the joint family system, the traditional shelter of the elderly has disappeared. And a State faced with a financial crunch is not in a position to provide social security. So, it is advisable that the working population give serious thought to building a financial base for itself.

Which one of the following, if it were to happen, weakens the conclusion drawn in the above passage the most?

The investable income of the working population, as a proportion of its total income, will grow in the future.

The insurance sector is underdeveloped and trends indicate that it will be extensively privatized in the future.

India is on a path of development that will take it to a developed country status, with all its positive and negative implications.

If the working population builds a stronger financial base, there will be a revival of the joint family system.

Question 4

Various studies have shown that our forested and hilly regions and, in general, areas where biodiversity—as reflected in the variety of flora—is high, are the places where poverty appears to be high. And these same areas are also the ones where educational performance seems to be poor. Therefore, it may be surmised that, even disregarding poverty status, richness in biodiversity goes hand in hand with educational backwardness.

Which one of the following statements, if true, can be said to best provide supporting evidence for the surmise mentioned in the passage?

In regions where there is little variety in flora, educational performance is seen to be as good as in regions with high variety in flora, when poverty levels are high.

Regions which show high biodiversity also exhibit poor educational performance, at low levels of poverty.

Regions which show high biodiversity reveal high levels of poverty and poor educational performance.

In regions where there is low biodiversity, at all levels of poverty, educational performance is seen to be good.

Question 5

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'?

The cigarette manufacturers’ association has decided to indulge in aggressive promotion.

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

The cigarette manufacturers are lobbying for a reduction on duties.

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

Question 6

Thomas Malthus, the British clergyman turned economist, predicted that the planet would not be able to support the human population for long. His explanation was that human population grows at a geometric rate, while the food supply grows only at an arithmetic rate.

Which one of the following, if true, would not undermine the thesis offered by Malthus?

Population growth can be slowed down by the voluntary choices of individuals and not just by natural disasters.

The capacity of the planet to feed a growing human population can be enhanced through biotechnological means.

Human systems, and natural systems like food supply, follow natural laws of growth which have remained constant, and will remain unchanged.

Human beings can colonize other planetary systems on a regular and on-going basis to accommodate a growing population.

Question 7

The company's coffee crop for 1998-99 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 1970-71. The company had fixed a target of 8000 tonnes to be realized by the year 2000-01, 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 2001-02. Which one of the following would contribute most to making the target of 10000 tonnes in 2001-02 unrealistic?

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

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

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

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

Question 8

Animals in general are shrewd in proportion as they cultivate society. Elephants and beavers show the greatest signs of this sagacity when they are together in large numbers, but when man invades their communities they lose all their spirit of industry. Among insects, the labours of the bee and the ant have attracted the attention and admiration of naturalists, but all their sagacity seems to be lost upon separation, and a single bee or ant seems destitute of every degree of industry. It becomes the most stupid insect imaginable, and it languishes and soon dies.

Which of the following can be inferred from the above passage?

Humankind is responsible for the destruction of the natural habitat of animals and insects.

Animals, in general, are unable to function effectively outside their normal social environment.

Naturalists have great admiration for bees and ants, despite their lack of industry upon separation.

Elephants and beavers are smarter than bees and ants in the presence of human beings.

Question 1

Efficiency is all right in its place, in the shop, the factory, the store. The trouble with efficiency is that it wants to rule our play as well as our work; it won't be content to reign in the shop, it follows us home. It can be inferred from the above passage that

efficiency can become all-pervading.

efficiency does not always pay.

efficiency can be more of a torture than a blessing.

None of these

Question 2

In order to ease the traffic congestion, the transport planners decided to have a sophisticated system of elevated monorail travel in the city. However, it was pointed out by somebody that a metro rail system would be a more effective solution to the traffic problem. The plan was thus stalled. Moreover, since a budget had not been drawn up for the project, it was deemed fit to stall the work of the monorail for some time. In the meanwhile, the traffic planners of the city decided to build an efficient system of subways and flyovers in the city with the aim of easing the same problem. At the instant when the planners were preparing to award the contracts to the concerned parties, the transport planners came up with the contention that the subways interfered with the site of a pillar of the monorail system. The traffic planners had to give up the idea and think of other possible solutions.

Which of the following can we infer from the above passage?

The city authorities felt that the monorail system was essentially impractical.

There is a strong contention between the two groups of planners in the city.

The projects would be stalled for an indefinite period.

None of these

Question 3

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 meetings; hence, it is not uncommon in these meetings to find a sales engineer questioning the CEO on some corporate policy or his knowledge of customers. Based on the information provided in the above passage, it can be inferred that

the company is concerned about its reputation with its employees.

the company believes in fostering the spirit of dialogue without degenerating it into a positioning based debate.

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

All of these

Question 4

From Cochin to Shimla, the new culture vultures are tearing down acres of India's architectural treasures. Ancestral owners are often fobbed off with a few hundred rupees for an exquisitely carved door or window, which fetches fifty times that much from foreign dealers, and yet more from the drawing room sophisticates of Europe and the US. The reason for such shameless rape of the Indian architectural wealth can perhaps, not wrongly, be attributed to the unfortunate blend of activist disunity and the local indifference. It can be inferred from the above passage that

the environment created by the meeting between activist disunity and local indifference is ideal for antique dealers to strive in India.

only Indians are not proud of their cultural heritage and are hungry for the foreign currency that is easily available in return of artifacts.

most Indian families have heirlooms which can be sold at high prices to Europeans and Americans.

India provides a rich market for unscrupulous antique dealers.

Question 5

Deepa Metha's Fire is under fire from the country's self-appointed moral police. Their contention is that the film is a violation of the Indian cultural mores and cannot be allowed to influence the Indian psyche. According to them, such films ruin the moral fabric of the nation, which must be protected and defended against such intrusions at all cost, even at the cost of cultural dictatorship.

Based on the information in the above passage, it can be inferred that

the assumption underlying the moral police's critique of Fire is that the Indian audience is vulnerable to all types of influence.

the assumption underlying the moral police's critique of Fire is that the Indian audience is impressionable and must be protected against 'immoral' influences.

the moral police thinks it has the sole authority to pass judgement on films screened in India.

None of these

Question 6

The dominant modern belief is that the soundest foundation of peace would be universal prosperity. One may look in vain for historical evidence that the rich have regularly been more peaceful than the poor, but then it can be argued that they have never felt secure against the poor; that their aggressiveness stemmed from fear; and that the situation would be quite different if everybody were rich. It can be inferred from the above passage that

a lot of aggression in the world stems from the desire of the haves to defend themselves against the have-nots.

universal prosperity as a foolproof measure of peace can no longer be accepted.

Both a and b

Neither a nor b

Question 7

The effect produced on the mind by travelling depends entirely on the mind of the traveller and on the way in which he conducts himself. The chief idea of one very common type of traveller is to see as many objects of interest as he possibly can. If he can only after his return home say that he has seen such and such temple, castle, picture gallery, or museum, he is perfectly satisfied. Far different is the effect of travels upon those who leave their country with a mind prepared by culture to feel intelligent admiration for all the beauties of nature and art to be found in foreign lands. When they visit a new place, instead of hurrying from temple to museum to picture gallery, they allow the spirit of the place to sink into their minds, and only visit such monuments as the time they have at their disposal allows them to contemplate without irreverent haste.

It can be inferred from the above passage that

the writer prefers the second type of traveller.

the first type of traveller is the lay traveller who does not understand the worth of any place he travels to.

the objective of the second type of traveller is not to see much, but to see well.

All of these

Question 8

Whether we look at the intrinsic value of our literature, or at the particular situation of this country, we shall see the strongest reason to think that of all foreign tongues, the English tongue is that which would be the most useful to our native subjects. It can be inferred that

the speaker is a die-hard colonist.

the speaker has the good of the nation at heart.

the speaker is addressing an issue related to a colonial empire.

None of these

Question 9

Where the film Bombay loses out is where every commercial film congenitally goes awry — becoming too simplistic to address serious issues and failing to translate real life to reel. Which of the following can be inferred from the above line?

The film's director aimed at recreating real life on the silver screen.

The film was too simplistic for the audience's taste.

The film was successful in spite of its shortcomings.

None of these

Question 10

Aspiration is nothing new. Neither is the debate over what the Indian middle class is, what it wants and what it buys. Since the mid-80s, that has been the focus of the economic policy papers so called pro- and anti-poor budgets and marketing strategies that have successfully broken the barrier of urban selling and reached deeper into rural India with increasing income levels and aspirations. Based on the above passage, it can be inferred that

the Indian middle class has been the focus of economic policies for a long time.

the Indian middle class has graduated from being the 'deprived' middle class to the 'pampered' middle class.

Both a and b

Neither a nor b

Instructions

We have planned development with a view to raising standard of living of our teeming millions. Hence our economic development is inspired by social justice.

Question 1

Which of the following will weaken the argument?

Without economic development standard of living cannot be raised.

Social justice implies economic prosperity.

Development cannot be planned.

None of these.

Question 2

The argument is based on which of the following assumptions?
I. Social justice is our aim and economic development is the means.
II. There is overpopulation in India.
III. Economic development will lead to social justice.

Only I

Both I and II

Both I and III

Both II and III

Question 3

Which of the following will strengthen the argument?

Social justice can be done by raising the standard of living

Economic planning is necessary for every state.

For economic development production should be increased.

None of these.

Instructions

There can be no civilization without music, dance or art, for one is not fully, vibrantly alive without them.

Question 4

The assumption/assumptions of the argument is /are which of the following?
A. Civilization and art are closely linked up.
B. If people are not full of life there can be no civilization.

Only I

Only II

Both I and II

Neither I nor II.

Question 5

Which of the following would weaken the argument?

Music is the life of man.

Living persons like music.

Art has no relation with civilization.

None of these.

Question 6

Which of the following would strengthen the argument?

Music, dance and art are human activities.

Only the vibrantly alive can contribute to civilization.

Music injects new life in man.

None of these.

Instructions

It is sometimes mooted that there can be democracy in a two party system. That would be correct if politics were a game like cricket or football; but politics is not sports.

Question 7

Which of the following would strengthen the argument?

Two party system functions well

Politics is a dirty game.

Two political parties limit the choice of the voters.

None of these.

Question 8

Which of the following would weaken the argument?

The game of politics is played like any other game, for example, football.

Politics is not a sport.

Political parties struggle for power.

None of these.

Question 9

The assumption/assumptions of the argument is/are which of the following?
I.Politics is not a game.
II.Two party system is ideal for democracy.
III.Cricket is played by two teams.

Only I

Only II

Only III

I, II, III

Instructions

We will have to take more interest in hydro-electric projects. As the prices of oil have increased, it has become vital that such renewable sources of energy are tapped.

Question 10

The assumption/assumptions of the argument is /are which of the following?
I. Hydro electric power is a renewable source of energy.
II. Hydro electric power is comparatively cheaper.

Only I

only II

Both I and II

Neither I nor II

Question 11

Which of the following will weaken the argument?

Generation of hydroelectric power is more costly than oil.

OPEC increased oil prices.

Without energy we cannot manage.

None of these.

Since 2001, Critical reasoning questions were not appearing in the CAT exam. However, the questions from this topic may appear in the other MBA entrance exams. Aspirants who are taking other MBA entrance tests can practice the following questions, which were taken from the CAT Previous Papers. One can solve these questions in a test format. Also, you will have detailed solutions for each and every question. You can also get better understanding of these type of questions by taking numerous CAT mock tests.

Importance of Critical Reasoning

Critical Reasoning questions are useful in solving questions from VARC. Solving questions from VARC will help you act as a base for Reading Comprehension passages. This basically tests the candidates ability to understand short arguments. Reasoning is required for weakening or strengthening a statement.

Will be helpful in option eliminations.

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