2. CRITICAL REASONING

NUMBER OF QUESTIONS: 14-15

TEST SECTION: In the 75-Minute Verbal Ability section, interspersed with Reading Comprehension and Sentence Correction questions

FORMAT: Multiple-choice (you select one of 5 choices by clicking on an oval)

SKILLS TESTED: Your ability to understand, criticize, and draw reasonable conclusions from arguments.

Before trying out some example questions and how to solve them read the tips on how to go about solving the critical reasoning part.

Important tips on critical reasoning questions

• always read the question stem first (before reading the passage). It will contain useful clues about what to look for and think about as you read the passage.

• that ask you to identify an assumption and those that ask you to find the choice that most weakens the argument, your task is to determine what must be assumed in order for the argument's conclusion to be reasonably inferable. In the latter type of question, your second task is to find the statement among the answer choices that refutes that assumption.

• if the passage confuses you, try identifying the argument's conclusion (often signaled by terms such as "as a result," "consequently," and "therefore") and its premises—evidence that is given as factual (often signaled by terms such as "because," "since," and "given that.") The passages do not always present the components of an argument in the most coherent sequence. Reasoning linearly from premises to conclusion can help you make sense of it all.

• In any question that asks which answer choice most effectively either weakens or strengthens the argument, you can be certain that one or two of the answer choices will go the wrong way—by accomplishing just the opposite of what the question asks for. Be on the lookout for them; it's remarkably easy to become confused and go for this type of answer choice under time pressure and during a momentary lapse of concentration.

• many passages contain superfluous statements, which are irrelevant to the argument and shouldn't come into play at all in responding to the question at hand. Don't be thrown by these red herrings; separate them out from the important logical features of the argument.