1.

Must be true/Inference/Conclusion CR: You have to consider whatever stated

in the stimulus as true.
Correct choices can be:
a. Paraphrased of some part or entire stimulus
b. Combination of two or more premises
Incorrect choices can be:
a. Could be true or Likely to be true choices
b. Exaerated!Extreme case answers
c. New information "not explicitly mentioned in the stimulus# containin
choices
d. Shell game "an idea$ in one of the choices$ similar to the one mentioned in the
stimulus$ but in a modified form to make it attractive choice. %his will be a
%rap#
e. Opposite answer "opposite to the stated facts in the stimulus#. &or example$
stimulus shows case ''' effect while the choice says effect ''' cause.
f. Reverse order "rearranement of some term in the answer choices which are
also mentioned in the stimulus#. &or example$
Man politicians are havin some type of security adets.
(hile the choice says:
Some politicians are havin man types of security adets.
!. Main "oint #uestion$ It is same as the Must be %rue/Inference types. You have
to consider whatever stated in the stimulus as true but the correct choice reflects
the author)s point of view and all facts in this choice are also reflected in the
stimulus.
Incorrect choices can be:
a. Choices that repeats one!some of the premise"s# of the arument.
b. *nswers that are true as per the arument but do not capture author)s point.
c. Exaerated!Extreme case answers
. +ew information "not explicitly mentioned in the stimulus# containin choices
d. ,hell ame
e. Choices mentionin the opposite answer
f. Choices in -everse order
&. 'ea(en the argument/conclusion$ %he best part of this type of .uestion is
availability of conclusion in the arument. If you can spot the conclusion then
your chances to select the best amon weakenin choices will be hiher$ because
you may find several choices may be weakenin the conclusion but there will be
one which is weakenin the /0,%.
-emember$ the followin:
a. You need to .uestion the validity of the arument not the answer choices.
b. In the .uestion stem you will find words indicatin weaken the conclusion:
(eaken$ attack$ undermine$ contradicts$ evidence aainst$ challene$ damae$
counter$ refute$ arue aainst$ cast doubt$ critici1e$ call into .uestion$ etc.
c. %here are traces of flaw!error in the reasonin iven in the arument. -ead
closely to spot them. %his error can help you to select the best choice.
d. Even if the choice introduces new information$ you need to accept them as
correct choices$ if they are weakenin the conclusion.
e. (e need to call into .uestion the conclusion by showin that the author fails
to address some crucial part!information to arrive at the conclusion. %his
missed part is assumption on which the conclusion is based. (e are not to
destroy the conclusion$ thouh it can be a correct choice.
f. %ry to personali1e the choices as if these are asked to you. (hat would you
answer for them2 %his will become easier once you start practice.
Example: *ll software enineers o to 3,. /r. 4 went to 3,. %herefore$ /r. 4 is
a software enineer.
+ot necessarily. %his is 5ust oversimplified statement. /r. 4 can be a child care
activist$ who met the senator in 3, for some funds. If the arument were$
Onl software enineers o to 3,. /r. 4 went to 3,. %herefore$ /r. 4 is a
software enineer.
%rue.
Correct choices can be identified by:
a. Choices indicatin incomplete information "new info#$ which is missed by
the author as one of the possibility.
b. Improper comparison b!w two thins which are altoether different.
Incorrect answer choices: I call them &allacies!%raps.
a. Opposite answer$ %his is almost present as one of the answer choices.
-efer the Must be %rue .uestion section for some details. %his choice
will lead you to think in the opposite direction w.r.t. the conclusion.
b. Shell game choice: -efer the Must be %rue .uestion section for some
details. -emember$ in shell ame$ a similar reasonin!idea is presented
similar to one of the premises but it is in a modified form.
c. Out of scope choice: choices which are not as per the context. &or
example$ the arument is on plant in 3, while this choice is on plants
in other countries.
+ow$ lets take an example from 0678 to analy1e different types of incorrect
weakenin choices:
11). Robot satellites rela important communications and identif weather
patterns. *ecause the satellites can be repaired onl in orbit+ astronauts are
needed to repair them. 'ithout repairs+ the satellites would eventuall
malfunction. %herefore+ space flights carring astronauts must continue.
(hich of the followin$ if true$ would most seriously weaken the arument
above2
"*# ,atellites fallin from orbit because of malfunctions burn up in the
atmosphere.
"9# *lthouh satellites are indispensable in the identification of weather patterns$
weather forecasters also make some use of computer pro5ections to identify
weather patters.
"C# %he overnment$ respondin to public pressure$ has decided to cut the budet
for space flihts and put more money into social welfare prorams.
":# -epair of satellites re.uires heavy e.uipment$ which adds to the amount of
fuel needed to lift a spaceship carryin astronauts into orbit.
"E# %echnical obsolescence of robot satellites makes repairin them more costly
and less practical than sendin new$ improved satellites into orbit.
Conclusion$ %herefore$ space flihts carryin astronauts must continue.
* choice should call into this conclusion as ; space flihts carring astronauts
must +0% continue.
&irst thin you need to understand why space flihts carryin astronauts must
continue. Is it because the satellites can be repaired only in orbit by astronauts2 Is
there any other way the satellites can be repaired "by robots$ technoloies such as
remote sensin from Earth$ etc# or send new and efficient satellites which are
more economical to sendin satellites carryin astronauts.
"*# ,atellites fallin from orbit because of malfunctions burn up in the
atmosphere. <0ut of scope choice. *lthouh new info but irrelevant to our case.
Incorrect=
"9# *lthouh satellites are indispensable in the identification of weather patterns$
weather forecasters also make some use of computer pro5ections to identify
weather patters. <,ome details$ in fact$ are mentioned in the arument on weather
patterns but nothin on the use of computer pro5ections. %his is indeed new info
but it is out of scope to our concern. Incorrect=
"C# %he overnment$ respondin to public pressure$ has decided to cut the budet
for space flihts and put more money into social welfare prorams. <*ll
underlined parts are new info and irrelevant to this case. Incorrect=
":# -epair of satellites re.uires heavy e.uipment$ which adds to the amount of
fuel needed to lift a spaceship carryin astronauts into orbit. <9eware$ this is ,hell
6ame fallacy. 9oth underlined parts are mentioned in the arument but there is
some modification in their connectivity to mislead the test taker. Incorrect=
"E# %echnical obsolescence of robot satellites makes repairin them more costly
and less practical than sendin new$ improved satellites into orbit. <%his is what
missin as one of the possibilities aainst sendin satellites carryin astronauts.
Correct=
,. Cause-.ffect Reasoning
/. Strengthen and 0ssumption$ /ost challenin and fre.uently occurrin types
of .uestions on 6/*%.
-emember the followin:
a. %here will always be one main conclusion present either in arument or in
the .uestion stem.
b. You need to understand the orani1ation of the arument$ premises and
conclusion$ in order to find the correct answer choices.
c. -ead the stimulus carefully as there can be reasonin errors!aps$ which
are crucial for assumption based .uestions.
d. Even if the choice introduces new information$ you need to accept them as
correct choices$ if they are fittin in the context for the conclusion.
e. *ssumptions are unstated premises$ which connect the premises!facts with
the main conclusion$ while the ,trenthen part provides additional support
to the conclusion. You can say ,trenthen choices advocate the
conclusion.
f. %his is most critical;You need to consider all the answer choices as correct
and the stimulus is in .uestion. 0nly the metal each choice carry varies. I
mean these all may support the arument from 7>;788> but there is only
one choice which is strenthenin the arument the /0,%.
Strengthen tpes$
a. %he .uestion stem will have indicators such as:
strenthen$ support$ helps$ 5ustifies
Correct choices:
a. Identify the conclusion and connect the answer choices with it to answer
the .uestion ? does this choice helps the author2 Is yes$ this is your
answer.
b. (hile understandin the orani1ation of the arument$ if you find
weaknesses!flaws!aps$ which are made intentionally$ and one of the
answer choices is removin this problem then its your answer.
c. If there is conclusion in the .uestion stem then there are ood chances of
findin the:
7. E4CEP%!LE*,% ,trenthen choices
@. * missin info "assumption# is asked to support the conclusion.
Incorrect choices:
a. Opposite answers$ %hese answers are 5ust the opposite of strenthenin
the conclusion$ i.e.$ these weaken the conclusion.
b. Shell 1ame answers$ %his type of answer support a conclusion that is
similar to$ but slihtly different from$ the one present in the stimulus. In
other words$ this choice will have a similar but slihtly different
conclusion.
c. Out of scope$ %hese are the most common and more in number amon the
A choices. %hese brin irrelevant or narrow scope information to the
arument.
d. "araphrased premise$ 0ne of the premises is represented in a
paraphrased form 5ust to mislead.
+ow$ take an example from 0678 to analy1e different types of strenthenin
choices:
2). Since the routine use of antibiotics can give rise to resistant bacteria
capable of surviving antibiotic environments+ the presence of resistant
bacteria in people could be due to the human use of prescription antibiotics.
Some scientists+ however+ believe that most resistant bacteria in people derive
from human consumption of bacteriall infected meat.
(hich of the followin statements$ if true$ would most sinificantly strenthen
the hypothesis of the scientists2
"*# *ntibiotics are routinely included in livestock feed so that livestock producers
can increase the rate of rowth of their animals.
"9# /ost people who develop food poisonin from bacterially infected meat are
treated with prescription antibiotics.
"C# %he incidence of resistant bacteria in people has tended to be much hiher in
urban areas than in rural areas where meat is of comparable .uality.
":# People who have never taken prescription antibiotics are those least likely to
develop resistant bacteria.
"E# Livestock producers claim that resistant bacteria in animals cannot be
transmitted to people throuh infected meat.
Premises: %he routine use of antibiotics can ive rise to resistant bacteria capable
of survivin antibiotic environments.
,ub;conclusion: %he presence of resistant bacteria in people could be due to the
human use of prescription antibiotics.
Counter Conclusion: ,ome scientists$ however$ believe that most resistant
bacteria in people derive from human consumption of bacterially infected meat.
In the .uestion stem$ the author asked for strenthenin the scientists) hypothesis.
,o$ this .uestion type is our cateory c of Correct choices section "refer above#.
(e are asked for the missin link to prove the hypothesis as the correct
conclusion. +ow$ let)s check individual answer choices:
"*# *ntibiotics are routinely included in livestock feed so that livestock producers
can increase the rate of rowth of their animals. <%his is the missing lin(.
Correct=
"9# /ost people who develop food poisoning from bacterially infected meat are
treated with prescription antibiotics. <+ew information$ which is Out of scope
answer. Incorrect=
"C# %he incidence of resistant bacteria in people has tended to be much hiher in
urban areas than in rural areas where meat is of comparable .uality. <Out of scope
answer. Incorrect=
":# People who have never taken prescription antibiotics are those least likely to
develop resistant bacteria. <%his is a Shell 1ame trap. %his option is in neation
to above premises and very narrow in scope. Incorrect=
"E# Livestock producers claim that resistant bacteria in animals cannot be
transmitted to people throuh infected meat. <It is a case of 0pposite answer. %his
is 5ust statin aainst the scientists) hypothesis. Incorrect=
0ssumption based 3uestions$ *ssumption based .uestions are usually the most
challenin and trickiest .uestions on 6/*%.
-emember the followin "/ost of the followin points are same as of the
,trenthen types#:
a. %here will always be one main conclusion present either in arument
or in the .uestion stem.
b. You need to understand the orani1ation of the arument$ premises and
conclusion$ in order to find the correct answer choices.
c. -ead the stimulus carefully as there can be reasonin errors!aps$
which are crucial for assumption based .uestions.
d. Even if the choice introduces new information$ you need to accept
them as correct choices$ if they are fittin in the context for the
conclusion. -emember$ if the new information is present in the answer
choices then to .ualify for a correct contender$ this info should be a
subset of the main statement in the stimulus. &or example ? /en "main
statement#: (hite men$ 9lack men$ small men$ etc "subsets of /en#.
e. *ssumptions are unstated premises$ which connect the premises!facts
with the main conclusion. %his is the most important part of the
stimulus. %hus$ assumption will work like either a Supporter or a
4efender:
Premise 7$ premise @$ assumption$ premise B$ conclusion
In this case$ it is supporting the premises to lead to the conclusion.
Premise 7$ premise @$ premise B$ assumption$ conclusion
In this case$ it is supported by the premises to lead to the
conclusion.
0ften$ new information is added as assumption in such cases. If you
find an answer choice that contain new info$ stop and check whether
this new info is in context and fillin some aps in the arument. If
Yes$ then that is your correct answer.
%he author reasonin must be air;tiht and every possible ob5ection
has been considered and re5ected. It means the idea that can weaken
the conclusion is already addressed in the stimulus or cannot occur.
Cere comes the role of 4efending 0ssumption types. If you do not
find aps in the arument then this indicates that you can expect a
:efender based assumption .uestion. &or example:
"eople who read a lot are more intelligent than the other people.
%hus+ reading must cause a person to be intelligent
Conclusion: -eadin must cause a person to be intellient.
,o$ to defend the arument$ the author must have assumed that
intellience is solely based on readin and cannot happen by other
factors such as sleepin more$ reular exercise$ a ood diet or enetics$
which$ if proved$ can weaken the conclusion.
,o$ :efender assumptions eliminate a possible source of attack on
conclusion.
f. %his is most critical;You need to consider all the answer choices as
correct and the stimulus is in 3uestion. 0nly the metal each choice
carry varies. %he conclusion must pass the correct assumption test else
it will fall apart.
. *ssumption .uestion stem contains followin types of indicatin
words:
*uthor assumes$
conclusion can)t be true unless which of the followin is also true
validity of the conclusion is checked by
arument above depends on which of the followin
,teps to find the correct!incorrect assumption answers choices:
a. Loically neate the answer choice$ which you feel is the assumption
"don)t apply this rule to all A choices as this will be time consumin#.
If by loically neatin the choice$ the arument and the conclusion
falls apart "in simpler terms$ if neated answer choices weakens the
conclusion#$ then this is your correct choice. -emember$ only one
option$ upon neation$ can decide the validity of arument!conclusion.
b. If an answer choice starts with D*t least oneE or D*t least someE then
the chances are hih for this option to be the correct one. 9ut$ do not
simply assume that this is the only one. %ry to neate and check the
arument.
c. Shell 1ame %rap. %hese will usually be present as one of the option.
d. If any answer choice mentions extreme!stron reasons such as:
%he most
/ain factor!ob5ective
Primary reason
3sually these answers fall in the incorrect choice cateory.
e. (atch out for neative indictors "not$ never$ no#. %hese can be
your :efender assumption answer choice.
f. Cause;Effect relationship in *ssumptions:
(hen the author mentions a certain cause;effect relation then it is
assumed that it is true. %he stated cause is the only cause which will
always produce the effect. ,o$ correct answer choice will fall into one
of the followin:
. Eliminate an alternate cause for the stated effect in the
arument.
h. ,hows that when the cause occurs$ the effect occurs.
i. ,hows when the cause does not occur$ the effect does not
occur.
5. Eliminates the reversed relationship "effect ''' cause#. %his
type is one of the most fre.uently occurrin types.
k. ,hows that the data used to make the casual statement are
accurate$ or eliminate possible problems with the data.
+ow$ let)s analy1e one C- .uestion from 0678:
,5. 0 researcher discovered that people who have low levels of immune-
sstem activit tend to score much lower on tests of mental health than do
people with normal or high immune-sstem activit. %he researcher
concluded from this e6periment that the immune sstem protects against
mental illness as well as against phsical disease.
%he researcher)s conclusion depends on which of the followin assumptions2
*. Cih immune;system activity protects aainst mental illness better than normal
immune;system activity does.
9. /ental illness is similar to physical disease in its effects on body systems.
C. People with hih immune;system activity cannot develop mental illness.
:. /ental illness does not cause people)s immune;system activity to decrease.
E. Psycholoical treatment of mental illness is not as effective as is medical
treatment.
"remise 1$ * researcher discovered that$ on tests of mental health$ people who
have low levels of immune;system activity tend to score much F people with
normal or hih immune;system activity.
Conclusion$ Immune system protects aainst mental illness as well as aainst
physical disease.
In the premises$ we are iven some details on mental health tests$ low levels of
immune system activity$ normal or hih immune;system activity and score while
in the conclusion$ we are iven Immune system$ protection$ mental illness and
physical disease. (e are provided with info on /E+%*L %E,%, and the direct
relationship b!w them:
%he hiher the level of immune;system activity ''' the hiher score you will et
9ut wait$ no details on mental illness in the premises. %he researcher forot to
mention the relationship b!w immune system and mental;illness. *lso$ this is the
catch to decide that we will have :efender assumption.
+ow$ let)s break and analy1e the answer choices:
*. Cih immune;system activity protects aainst mental illness better than normal
immune;system activity does. <%here is no casual relationship b!w mental illness
and immune;system activity mentioned in the conclusion. Incorrect=
9. /ental illness is similar to physical disease in its effects on body systems.
<%his is a case of Shell 1ame fallac. In the conclusion statement$ mental illness
and physical decease are mentioned and thus this choice is created to mislead.
9ut$ it fails to connect with mental illness. Incorrect=
C. People with hih immune;system activity cannot develop mental illness.
<%here is no casual relationship b!w mental illness and immune;system activity
mentioned in the conclusion. %his is addin extreme case and also$ this is
O""OSI%. to the conclusion. Incorrect=
:. /ental illness does not cause people)s immune;system activity to decrease. <If
mental illness doesn)t chane the immune;system activity then this is the case
which author missed to defend the arument. Correct=
E. Psycholoical treatment of mental illness is not as effective as is medical
treatment. <%his is completely out of scope new information. +o relationship b!w
treatment and illness is in context of the conclusion. Incorrect=