Critical Reasoning Practice Questions

Welcome to our comprehensive collection of stimulus-style practice questions! These questions are designed to sharpen your critical thinking, logical reasoning, and analytical skills. These abilities are crucial for success in many standardized tests. Our carefully crafted questions mirror the format found in prestigious exams like the LSAT, GMAT, and GRE, as well as in many other exams.

Each question presents a brief “stimulus” – a short paragraph containing an argument, scenario, or set of facts – followed by a question and multiple-choice answers. These exercises will challenge you to analyze complex information, identify logical flaws, draw valid conclusions, and evaluate arguments.

1. An economist argues that raising the minimum wage will lead to job losses, as businesses will be forced to lay off workers to maintain profitability. Which of the following, if true, would most weaken this argument?

Some businesses have already voluntarily raised their minimum wages

Higher wages lead to increased worker productivity and reduced turnover

The proposed minimum wage increase is gradual and implemented over several years

Other countries with higher minimum wages have lower unemployment rates

2. A study found that people who consume high amounts of caffeine have a lower risk of developing Parkinson's disease. Therefore, drinking more coffee can help prevent Parkinson's disease. Which of the following, if true, most weakens the conclusion?

Caffeine consumption is associated with other lifestyle factors that may influence Parkinson's risk

The study was conducted over a short period of time

Parkinson's disease is more common in older adults

Some people are genetically predisposed to both high caffeine consumption and lower Parkinson's risk

3. A city council member proposes implementing a congestion charge for driving in the city center during peak hours. Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument for this proposal?

Similar charges in other cities have led to a significant reduction in traffic congestion

The proposed charge would generate substantial revenue for the city

Public transportation in the city is already operating at full capacity

Some businesses in the city center oppose the charge, fearing it will reduce customer traffic

4. A government proposes increasing taxes on sugary drinks to reduce obesity rates. Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen this proposal?

Similar taxes in other countries have led to a decrease in sugary drink consumption

Obesity rates have been steadily increasing over the past decade

The beverage industry opposes the tax increase

Some consumers might switch to other high-calorie foods instead of sugary drinks

5. A city implemented a new traffic light system and saw a 20% reduction in accidents at intersections over the following year. The city planner concludes that the new system is effective in reducing accidents. Which of the following, if true, would most weaken this conclusion?

The city also increased police patrols at intersections during the same period

Other cities using similar traffic light systems reported no significant change in accident rates

The number of vehicles on the road decreased by 15% during the same period

The city conducted a public awareness campaign about intersection safety

6. A study found that people who meditate regularly have lower stress levels than those who don't. Therefore, meditation causes a reduction in stress. Which of the following best describes the flaw in this reasoning?

It assumes correlation implies causation

It relies on a small sample size

It ignores potential long-term effects

It fails to consider alternative stress-reduction methods

7. In a certain species of fish, 10% are born with a rare genetic mutation. Of those with the mutation, 80% survive to adulthood. Of those without the mutation, 60% survive to adulthood. What percentage of adult fish of this species have the mutation?

10%

13%

15%

8. A study found that people who drink moderate amounts of red wine have a lower risk of heart disease than those who don't drink alcohol. Therefore, drinking red wine is good for heart health. Which of the following best describes the flaw in this reasoning?

It assumes correlation implies causation

It ignores potential negative effects of alcohol consumption

It fails to consider other dietary factors

It doesn't define "moderate amounts" clearly

9. A company plans to increase employee satisfaction by offering more vacation days. Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen this plan?

Employees in similar companies with more vacation days report higher job satisfaction

The company's current vacation policy is below the industry average

Increased vacation time has been shown to boost productivity

Some employees prefer higher salaries to more vacation days

10. A company claims its new diet pill leads to significant weight loss. In a study, participants who took the pill lost an average of 10 pounds over three months. Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the company's claim?

Some participants reported side effects from the pill

Participants were also advised to exercise and eat a balanced diet

The study was funded by the company that produces the pill

The placebo group in the study also lost an average of 10 pounds

Questions Answered: 0/10

These questions assess critical thinking, logical reasoning, and analytical skills. Here’s a list of some exams that typically include such questions:

LSAT (Law School Admission Test)
GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)
GRE (Graduate Record Examinations)
MCAT (Medical College Admission Test)
SAT (Scholastic Assessment Test)
ACT (American College Testing)
Critical Thinking Assessment Test (CAT)
Watson-Glaser Critical Thinking Appraisal
California Critical Thinking Skills Test (CCTST)
CLA+ (Collegiate Learning Assessment)
California Bar Exam’s performance test section
Certain civil service exams
Some corporate hiring assessments

These exams use stimulus-based questions to evaluate a candidate’s ability to analyze information, identify logical flaws, draw valid conclusions, and evaluate arguments. The questions present a short paragraph or scenario followed by a question and multiple-choice answers.