The problem with critical reasoning is one of focus.
You see the verbal section is not really designed to "trick" you.
For example, on the Quant section the incorrect answers are truly appealing, but if you work the problem correctly, you would not end up with wrong answer, right?
Say you stop too soon on a problem, you answer for the "number of gallons of gased used" instead of the number of gallons remaining." Certainly the "number of gallons used" will be one of the answers and you might pick it, but if you did so, you would say "I answered the wrong question!" Not "this problem solving sure is tricky." "How can I ever get this right?"
Verbal is the same way. The incorrect answers really should not be that attractive on Critical Reasoning!!!!
It is a matter of focus. If you are focusing on the correct portions of the argument and if you are thinking critically, you should be able see the correct answers. The incorrect answers are often arrived at because a student over thinks or twists things around to make a bad answer seem better.
Here is an article that helps you to focus in on the correct portion of an argument (this is the type of question with a conclusion) an inference question or a paradox question would be done differently.
https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2011/02/ ... duncan-way
And here is an article that talks about what you should be looking for when you read an argument. You could actually learn a lot about critical reasoning by simply going through official questions in the Official Guide or Verbal Review and practicing seeing the things in the argument that I mention in this article.
https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2013/02/ ... ng-ability
When you see Critical Reasoning the "right way", the incorrect answers will not seem so attractive!
