Analytical & Logical Reasoning Section

For all questions in this section, correct answers carry 2 marks each.

16. Beautiful beaches attract people, no doubt about that. Just look at the city’s most beautiful beaches, which are amongst the most overcrowded places in the state. Which of the following exhibits a pattern of reasoning similar to the one exhibited in the argument above?

(a) Moose and bear usually appear at the same drinking hole at the same time of day. Therefore, moose and bear must be feeling thirsty at about the same time.

(b) Children who are scolded severely tend to misbehave more often than other children. Hence if a child is not scolded severely, that child is less likely to misbehave.

(c) During warm weather my dog suffers more fleas than during cool weather. Therefore, fleas must thrive in a warm environment.

(d) Tally accounting software helps increase the work efficiency of its users. As a result, these users have more time for other activities.

Solution:

The question statement present a situation in which numbers of species (people) are drawn to a locale because of its attribute (beauty) therefore the assumption in the statement is that the crowds on the beach are there to enjoy the beauty.

Choice (b) and (d) are easily eliminated.

Choice (b) woks at an entirely different logical relationship – one between behavioural aspects – where increase / decrease in scolding leads to increase / decrease in misbehaviour.

Choice (d) presents a totally different argument – where increased efficiency leads to increase in free time.

Choice (a) is not similar – it speaks of 2 species and the species share an attribute. The attribute of the locale is not the focus of the statement.

Choice (c) is appropriate. Numbers of fleas – (the tiny insects that live in the fur of animals) are drawn to an environment when it is warm (the animal’s fur exposed to warm weather). The assumption then is that the fleas are there (and proliferating) because of the warmth. This choice is the closest, in reasoning to the question statement. Choice (c)