SPECIAL SUPPLEMENT

CAT 2002/GMAT/OTHER MBA EXAMS

CRITICAL REASONING
A DETAILED discussion with KEY-WORDS and Examples

(Equally useful for other Competitions)

In the management examinations, the two basic themes on which questions are generally asked are: (i) Assumptionswhich assumption is valid/holds good. (ii) Strengthening and weakening arguments. After reading this article, you will be able to (1) Have a look at the various kinds of problems asked in the critical reasoning section. (2) Learn the meaning of assumption and argument. (3) Learn the basics and the most-wanted key-words. (4) Develop the right strategy to solve such problems. (5) Do very-well at your CAT/GMAT/other MBA exams. General Discussion HOW DO YOU PUT FORWARD YOUR VIEW POINT IN FRONT OF OTHER PEOPLE? OR ELSE, The above information can be broken into 3 major parts as per our reasoning needs: hypothesis/proposition/premises: The school was suddenly closed. conclusion: There must have been a condolence. assumption: The school gets closed suddenly whenever there is a condolence on somebodys death. (b) Argument: The whole process discussed above is actually an argument. The argument consists of drawing out viewpoints or putting ones viewpoints based on certain events, propositions or assumptions. (c) Assumption: Consider the following example: Let my bhaiya come. Hell give you a nice lesson for your misbehaviour. What do you assume in the above information? My bhaiya is stronger than you and he can easily teach you a lesson. So, what is an assumption? An assumption is something we assume or take to be pre-existing or already true. Thus, we take it for granted. It is actually left unexpressed or unstated. General picture of an argumentative passage: ......................................... ......................................... Passage............................

How do you argue

Whenever we speak things before others, we say something based on available evidences at present or on experience from the past. We also do assume a few things. Our short phrases, sentences or paragraphs constitute the whole process of putting forward our viewpoints or simply arguing. Thus, our arguments are based on assumptions or rules and they finally end with some conclusion. Further, depending on the nature of facts provided, the arguments may be weak or strong. Commonly used terms The following terms are commonly used in critical reasoning section: (a) Hypothesis, premises, proposition, viewpoint, point, information. (b) Argument, weaken the argument, strong support for policy, most helpful to resolve, add credence. (c) Basic idea, inference, weaken the conclusion, prediction, assumption, theme, etc. A step-wise discussion on the frequently used terms: (a) Hypothesis/Proposition/Premises/Viewpoint: It is that basic part of the sentence or paragraph, on the basis of which you begin to assume or directly arrive at a conclusion. Example: When I reached the school on Monday morning, I found that the school was suddenly closed for the day. There must have been a condolence.

Hypothesis/proposition/ Assumption Premises or Some rule 2. Special Cases

Conclusion

Absence of the premises Example: Good riders never fall like this! This indirectly provides us 2 things (Assumptions): There is existence of good riders. Some riders do fall. Absence of the assumption Example: Ram is Shyams elder brother and Shyam is Radhas elder brother. Direct Conclusion: Ram is Radhas elder brother. Here, the arguments are based on direct mathematical inference. There is no assumption.

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Look at another example: There are 3 persons in a round table. Two of them are men and one is woman. Conclusion: The 2 men are always next to each other. Again, our conclusion is based on direct inference from the given information. There are no assumptions made here. Thus, an argumentative passage proceeds like this:
HYPOTHESIS/ PREMISES/DATA ASSUMPTIONS gives us CONCLUSIONS

OR
RULES

KEY WORDS: Conclusion: The conclusion can be easily seen from the following words: (Hence, so, therefore, concluding thus, thus, obviously, this means that, etc.) Whenever you find them in the passage, you can think of that part of the passage as your conclusion. Examples: (1) The condition of higher education in our country still needs improvement. So the government is trying hard to open more colleges and upgrade the existing ones. At present there are only 11 top colleges in our country that can match with the world standards. Key word used: So. (2) The children in class XI (Commerce) were very naughty. The teachers as well as the parents were unable to find a solution to their naughty activities and to put them to task. Thus, they organised a proper meeting to discuss all the relevant aspects. Key-word used: Thus. Assumptions: Consider this example: Of all the friends you have, I like only Champa. What is the valid assumption here? All your friends are known. Key words used to identify assumptions: They are mostly adjectives which bring out the quality or adverbs that tell more about the work done. A few examples are: sweetest, worst, best, the only, except, fairest, most dull, obviously, surely, etc. Never assume too much. The following examples will clarify the various cases of assumptions to you: 1. ParagraphThe export-import gap has inclined this year, following the failure of monsoons. Possible assumptions: (a) Only monsoons are responsible for the gap. (b) Monsoons do have some effect on the gap. (c) Monsoons are not related to the gap. (d) If monsoons fail, gap has to widen. (e) If monsoons are good, gap has to curtail. Out of the above 5 assumptions, only (b) is valid. The others are too-long drawn conclusions or are assumed too much. 2. Paragraph: All the students of the class managed to

pass the ICSE examination. However, Amit failed inspite of the hard work he put and the intelligence he possesses. Possible assumptions: (a) Only non-hardworking students pass in an examination. (b) Only hardworking students pass the exams. (c) There is no criteria for passing. (d) Hard work is all that is required to pass. (e) Hard work and intelligence generally lead to passing the exam. Only (e) is a valid assumption from the above given choices. 3. (Analogy) Para: Your grandfather was a scientist. Your father is an engineer. Your elder brother is a doctor. Therefore you must achieve some distinctions in your life too. Assumption choices: (a) All great men produce great sons. (b) The best citizens come from great families. (c) It would be correct to say that you will become a great man. (d) You will definitely become distinguished. (e) Generally those who achieve good position in society lead their offsprings to a better tomorrow. Only (e) is the valid assumption in this case.

AssumptionsA detailed case-study

The various types or categories of assumptions are: (a) Cause and Effect Relationship: (for more detailed study on this topic, refer our previous special issues of THE COMPETITION MASTER). The cause and its effect may be in 2 forms.

clearly stated vaguely hinted at Examples: (1) The summer training camp for sea-navigators starts on monday. There was a small swimming test prior to selecting the navigators. Since Ankur did not know how to swim, he was rejected. This is a clearly stated cause-effect relationship. The valid assumption is: Knowing how to swim is regarded necessary for seanavigators camp. (2) All the students in the class are quite disciplined. Ramesh, however, does not fall into this category. His elders have tried using all means to make him disciplined, yet, there is no effect on him. The valid assumption here is Usually when elders try all means on children, the children become disciplined. Key-words for cause and effect relationship are: As, hence, thus, therefore, despite of, etc. (b) Absence of premises/subject: (already discussed). (c) The case of advertisements/office and public

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notices/advise, etc. Why do you think even big companies put advertisements, offices have notices for employees, one person advises another? a father scolds a child? Probably because(Assumptions) (1) The business organisations and companies believe that (assume that)people look forward to new products revealed through advertisements. (2) The notice issuing officer believes that (assume that) It is his right or duty to put the notice. It is expected that the notice will be read by the people and even followed to some extent. (3) The person advising the other thinks that (assumes that)The other person will listen to his advise and even try to follow it. (4) The father assumes that there is reason for scolding and scolding will improve his child. Thus, such phenomenon are based on the above mentioned assumptions. Examples: (1): Turf Pexcel Hai Na ... a popular advertisement on T.V. Which of the following assumptions is valid? (a) Public will not pay attention to the advertisement. (b) It is the duty of companies to give advertisements for new products. (c) Not using Turf Pexcel is injurious. (d) This advertisement will affect the public. (e) Public wants new kind of stuff in daily lives. (Answer) Only (d), (b) and (e) are valid assumptions. (2): Why dont you talk to the boss and take leave immediately. ... an advice by a person to his colleague. Which of these is a valid assumption? (a) The person advised will listen to his colleagues advice. (b) The person being advised will immediately follow it. (c) The person being advised will never follow it. (d) The advice will be beneficial to the colleague. (e) Not listening to the advice can be harmful. (Answer) (a), (d) and (e) are the valid assumptions. (3) Use chain to stop the train in case of emergency. Penalty for pulling chain without solid reason is Rs 500 fine or imprisonment upto 6 months or both. . . . a warning in a railway coach. In the above warning, which assumptions hold good? (a) The chain is the only method to stop the train. (b) The warning will effect the readers. (c) People will think before playing with the chain. (d) People do not like such warnings. (e) People stop the train by pulling chain, without urgent need to do so. (Answer) (b), (c) and (e) are the valid assumptions. (d) PassagesReports/Discussions/Data Analysis cases: In your actual questions, there will usually be a case under study. It can be based on science and technology, economy or any other aspect. Usually, it highlights the positive or negative aspects of a thing/phenomenon/person, etc. It may be a mixed passage too, having both positive and negative aspects in it. Some suggestions may also come up as conclusions from within the passage. The praise or mention of positive aspects (or vice-versa) reveals the following assumptions: (1) The discussed has a sound/poor performance. (2) The discussed has performed well/needs improvement. (3) The discussed properties (or qualities, attributes) are required or esteemed/hated. (4) Things discussed must be encouraged/ discouraged; i.e. should be avoided/repeated. (5) The concluding suggestions or ideas will be beneficial to the readers. (e) Experimental Hypothesis or Theories or Laws: Consider the following cases: Example 1: A piece of paper was dropped from the top of Sears Tower. It came down in 16 seconds. However, if the paper will be folded and dropped in the form of a solid ball, it will now take only 13 seconds. The valid assumption here is: The time taken to fall through air, depends on the shape of the object. Example 2: It is observed that people living in Kashmir have a long, thin nose. People in Canada too have a thin, long nose. Thus, people in Russia are likely to have a similar nose. Here, the valid assumption is: The shape of nose is affected by the cold climate. (f) Cases of Rejection of assumptions/cases to be careful at: (i) Confusing the assumption with an inference/ conclusion: You must be careful while reading the choices, so as not to take a conclusion as an assumption. (ii) Long chains/missing chains: The assumption must not be based on data that is insufficient. Do not assume too deeply. (iii) Reproduction of original statement: Look at the following examples: (1) Shyamsundar is a very active person. Rejection case Shyamsundar is not a lazy person. (This is just a reproduction of the given data). (2) Some of you attended yesterdays classes. Rejection case Those who attended yesterdays classes included some of you. (This again is just a reproduction of data).

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(3) Monu is Ramus younger sister. Rejection case Ramu is Monus elder brother/sister. (d) The interviewers are the best judges for the candidates. (e) The SSB interviewers are able to identify the suitable candidates. (3) The fact that India has had its President from among the Muslim, Sikh and backward communities and that one of its most famous prime ministers has been a woman is a living testimony that India is indeed a very liberal and secular country. Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the argument above? (a) Other countries are not as liberal as India is. (b) Muslims and Sikhs have played an important role in the development of the country. (c) The backward classes have been provided reservation in jobs. (d) The percentage of minority groups comprising 70% population in top posts is nearly 13%. (e) Most Muslims are very loyal to the motherland. (4) The use of petroleum products in the manufacture of polythene, plastics, should be controlled and regulated by law. Indias need for petroleum for energy is more necessary than our need for plastics. Our growing dependence on foreign sources of petroleum can create serious problems. By reducing the use of plastics and polythene, we can make our country independent in energy and thus increase the countrys security. Which of the following will greatly reduce the credence of the above argument? (a) Plastic products play an important role in our nation's defence. (b) Our environment will be free from pollutants if there is reduction in use of polythene. (c) Only a small part of petroleum products are used in this country in manufacturing polythene and plastics. (d) During a war, the petroleum exports can be seized. (e) Use of petroleum for plastics can be reduced by using the latest methods. (5) Since no teacher or staff wants to be linked with bad news in front of the management, any serious problem with the students and teachers level is slowly and ultimately smoothened and misfigured as it goes up to the management. The manager is thus less well-informed about problems at the lower level than are his subordinates. The above is based on the assumption that (a) Problems should be solved at the level at which they occur. (b) The manager obtains information from his subordinates. (c) Teachers should be rewarded for accurate reports to their superiors. (d) The ability to solve problems is more important at top level than at the lower level. (e) Some teachers are very much concerned about the truth.

FORCEFULNESS OF ARGUMENTS
Shape of the problems asked Sentence OR Short Paragraph/Argument .... followed by questions of the form: QuestionWhich of the following, if true, would most weaken the above argument? ORWhich of the following provides the strongest support to the countrys policy? ORWhich of the following, if most true, seriously weakens the above conclusion? etc. How to solve such kind of problems? The data provided in the given passage/argument constitutes the preliminary/primary information, which has to be accepted to be true. The data provided in the answer choices are your supplementary/additional data. You have to consider each of these data separately. Consider the usual ways of arguing. You have learnt that arguments are based oncause and effect relationship, similarity, exemplification, scientific rules, etc. An additional data supports or weakens the argument if it supports or weakens any part of the argument (i.e. Proposition/Assumption or Rule/Conclusion).

Short PRACTICE SET

(1) Yesterday, the U.P. government transferred 13 additional superintendents of police ... a newspaper statement. Which of the following, if true, is a valid assumption? (a) This transfer will benefit the people. (b) There must have been some charges against them. (c) The government has the right to take such type of decisions. (d) This was a routine practice. (e) The government is corrupt. (2) The selection procedure for NDA and CDS comprises a very different interview techniquethe SSB interview, in which, the candidates who do not suit the job are eventually rejected from selection at one stage or the other. The above statement is based on which of the following assumptions? (a) The main purpose of the SSB is to find the persons who suit the job. (b) The selection process is incomplete without the SSB interview. (c) All those who are unsuited are rejected.

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