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. A politician argues that increasing funding for after-school programs will reduce juvenile crime rates. Which of the following, if true, would most weaken this argument?

Cities with well-funded after-school programs have lower juvenile crime rates

Juvenile crime rates have decreased in recent years without increased funding for after-school programs

After-school programs improve academic performance

Parents support increased funding for after-school programs

2. A study found that people who drink green tea have a lower risk of heart disease. Therefore, drinking green tea prevents heart disease. Which of the following best describes the flaw in this reasoning?

It assumes correlation implies causation

It fails to consider alternative explanations

It relies on a small sample size

It overgeneralizes the results

3. A city council proposes to reduce air pollution by banning the use of personal vehicles in the city center on weekends. Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument that this proposal will be effective?

Most of the air pollution in the city comes from industrial sources

The city has an efficient public transportation system that can accommodate increased weekend ridership

Many residents of the city center do not own personal vehicles

Air pollution levels in the city are highest during weekdays

4. A company claims that its new software will increase employee productivity by 30%. Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen this claim?

The software has a user-friendly interface

Employees who tested the software reported feeling more organized

A study of companies using the software showed an average productivity increase of 28%

The software integrates with other commonly used office applications

5. If it's sunny, we'll go to the beach. If we go to the beach, we'll need sunscreen. It's sunny. Therefore:

We'll go to the beach

We'll need sunscreen

Both a and b

Neither a nor b

6. A company claims its new app helps users learn languages faster. In a study, users of the app showed improved language skills after three months. Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the company's claim?

The study included a control group that used traditional learning methods

Users of the app reported enjoying the learning process more

The app uses artificial intelligence to personalize lessons

Some users dropped out of the study before its completion

7. A government proposes increasing funding for renewable energy research to reduce dependence on fossil fuels. Which of the following, if true, would most weaken this proposal?

The country has large untapped reserves of natural gas

Renewable energy technology has made significant advancements in recent years

Other countries have successfully reduced fossil fuel dependence through similar research funding

A study shows that the most significant barrier to renewable energy adoption is the lack of infrastructure, not technology

8. In a company of 1000 employees, 30% are in the IT department and 40% are women. If 45% of the IT department employees are women, what percentage of the non-IT employees are women?

35%

37.5%

40%

42.5%

9. All birds have feathers. Some animals that have feathers can fly. Therefore, all birds can fly. Which of the following best describes the logical flaw in this argument?

False dichotomy

Circular reasoning

Hasty generalization

Fallacy of the undistributed middle

10. A city council member proposes implementing a tax on sugary drinks to reduce obesity rates. Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument for this proposal?

A similar tax in a neighboring city led to a 10% decrease in sugary drink consumption

Obesity rates in the city have been steadily increasing over the past decade

The proposed tax would generate significant revenue for the city

Some residents oppose the tax, claiming it unfairly targets low-income individuals

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.