Dear all,
I regret the delay in posting the Critical Reasoning(CR) Story. Here it comes.
Critical Reasoning was one of the sections I was most confident of. " You only have to read a statement and answer a simple question". Little did I knew what lay ahead of me as I faltered many a times in CR questions.
Now, there are two primary ways of approaching any CR problem
a) Read the question and then read the critical reasoning text
This approach is good for people who want to guess what lies ahead of them and are good at analysis.By following this approach, you would know what you to have to do even before reading the text. This method saves a lot of time as you need not go back to the text.
b) Read the text and then read the question.
This approach is good for people who hate to analyze and want to know the facts soon to answer the question. However, this method may take some time as post-reading the question, one tends to re-read the text. This eventually wastes our time but if you can answer the question correctly using this method, please do so.
Now without much ado, let me come straight to the type of CR questions one would face on the GMAT:-
1) Strengthening the argument
Which of the following statements, if true, would most strengthen the scientists' hypothesis?
If you find the aforementioned statement, you will have to choose an answer choice that validates the information in the CR passage.
You will have to read the passage thinking that you have to strengthen the argument. Hence you should read the text carefully and find the conclusion. Choose an option that validates the conclusion. If you cannot recollect what you have read, please read again. Only once you understand the conclusion should you jump to the options.
for eg, if the conclusion you derive is that "Camels can survive for long in the desert without needing water at regular intervals" then the option that would strengthen this conclusion could be " Camels store water for large duration of time"
2) Weakening the argument
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the above conclusion?
If you find the aforementioned statement, you will have to choose an answer choice that negates the information in the CR passage.
You will have to read the passage thinking that you have to weaken the argument. Hence you should read the text carefully and find the conclusion. Choose an option that negates the conclusion. If you cannot recollect what you have read, please read again. Only once you understand the conclusion should you jump to the options.
for eg, if the conclusion you derive is that "Camels can survive for long in the desert without needing water at regular intervals" then the option that would negate this conclusion could be " Camels halt at places to drink water every hour during travel time"
3) Deriving a Conclusion from the argument
Which of the following can be correctly inferred from the statements above?
Which of the following can be concluded from the statements above?
If you find the aforementioned statements, you will have to choose an answer choice that can be termed as the summation of the CR passage.
Post-reading the passage, PLEASE do not read the options and analyze as to what can be the conclusion to what you just read. If there is still confusion , read again. Once you have decided the conclusion, move to the options- You will be surprised to see your conclusion match with one of the given options.
4) Fill in the blanks
What would be the best option to complete the passage?
If you find the aforementioned statements, you will have to choose an answer choice that can be correctly placed at the appropriate position.
Fill in the blank type CR questions can at times be a little tricky. Once you have read the passage and have a basic idea what it means, please read the lines before and after the blank. DO NOT look at the options. Think and apply common sense as to what could be the lines that could fit in. ONLY then go to the options. I'm sure you would find an option that matches 90% of what you thought.
5) Assumptions
The conclusion above is based on which of the following assumptions?
If you find the aforementioned statements, you will have to choose an answer choice that can fill the gap or provide the missing link between the information given in the passage and the conclusion you derive/or stated already.
After you choose an option, try to negate what the option says. If the conclusion changes then you have picked the right answer mate.
6) Parallel Structure
Which of the following is most like the argument above in its logical structure?
If you find the aforementioned statements, you will have to choose an answer choice that closelte resembles teh reasoning prototype/pattern of the passage.
eg : It is true that it is against international law to provide aid to certain countries that are building nuclear programs. But, if Russian companies do not provide aid, companies in other countries will.
Now an option that resembles a similar reasoning pattern could be:-
It is true that it is against the law to steal cars. But someone else certainly would have stolen that car if the defendant had not done so first.
After-notes for CR:-
* Stick to the scope. Do not think beyond what's mentioned in the CR passage.
* Please read ALL options (even if you zeroed option 'A' as the correct answer.
* PLEASE HANG ON as sometimes the wording is so twisted that you can neglect a correct answer choice
* Keep a track of words such as BUT, HOWEVER, THEN, SINCE, HENCE, THEREFORE.
I hope this helps you ace most of the CR problems on the GMAT
Next up would be the section I still dread most -RC. I hope to post that shortly !!
Last edited by
varun.bullseye on Sat May 01, 2010 6:36 am, edited 2 times in total.
