Critical Reasoning Practice Questions

1. A city government plans to reduce air pollution by implementing stricter emissions standards for vehicles. Which of the following, if true, casts the most doubt on the effectiveness of this plan?

The majority of the city's air pollution comes from industrial sources, not vehicles

Many residents oppose the plan due to the potential increased cost of vehicle maintenance

Similar measures in other cities have led to a decrease in the number of cars on the road

The city's population is expected to grow significantly in the next decade

2. All dolphins are mammals. All mammals breathe air. Therefore, all creatures that breathe air are dolphins. Which of the following best describes the logical flaw in this argument?

False dichotomy

Circular reasoning

Hasty generalization

Fallacy of the converse

3. A company's HR department noticed that employees who participate in the company's wellness program take fewer sick days. They conclude that the wellness program is effective in improving employee health. Which of the following, if true, most weakens this conclusion?

Employees who are already health-conscious are more likely to participate in the wellness program

The company offers incentives for participating in the wellness program

The wellness program includes both physical and mental health components

Employees who take more sick days are less likely to get promoted

4. All students who excel in math also excel in science. Some students who excel in science also excel in literature. Which of the following conclusions can be logically drawn from these premises?

All students who excel in math also excel in literature

Some students who excel in math also excel in literature

No students who excel in math excel in literature

All students who excel in literature also excel in science

5. In a survey of 500 people, 60% said they prefer coffee to tea. Based on this information, which of the following must be true?

300 people in the survey prefer coffee to tea

200 people in the survey prefer tea to coffee

The majority of all people prefer coffee to tea

More people in the survey prefer coffee than those who prefer tea

6. All dogs are mammals. All mammals are animals. Which of the following conclusions can be drawn from these premises?

All animals are dogs

All animals are mammals

All dogs are animals

Some animals are not dogs

7. Researcher: Studies show that children who play violent video games are more likely to exhibit aggressive behavior. Therefore, playing violent video games causes children to become more aggressive. Which of the following is an assumption on which the researcher's conclusion depends?

All children who exhibit aggressive behavior play violent video games

There are no other factors that could account for the increased aggression in children who play violent video games

Children who are naturally aggressive are not more likely to be drawn to violent video games

Violent video games are the most popular type of games among children

8. A company's sales increased by 30% after it started an advertising campaign on social media. The marketing manager concludes that the social media campaign was responsible for the increase in sales. Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the marketing manager's conclusion?

The company also introduced a new product line during the same period

The company's main competitor went out of business during the same period

The social media campaign reached a larger audience than expected

Other companies in the same industry reported similar increases in sales without social media campaigns

9. No honest people are thieves. All politicians are honest. Therefore:

All politicians are thieves

No politicians are thieves

Some politicians are thieves

Some thieves are politicians

10. A university decides to make standardized test scores optional for admission to increase diversity. Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the effectiveness of this decision?

Other universities that have made test scores optional have seen an increase in applications

Standardized tests have been criticized for cultural bias

The university's ranking has improved since making test scores optional

Students admitted without test scores have similar academic performance to those admitted with scores