Summary of strategies for critical reasoning
Last updated: 23 Apr 2010
In this tutorial you have learned the basic strategies for tackling critical reasoning questions.
You have also praticed these strategies with examples of the four most common types of critical reasoning questions, weaken the argument, strengthen the argument, supply the conclusion and supply the assumption.
You might find it useful to print this summary and use it for reference.
General strategies
These are the strategies that apply to all critical reasoning questions.
- KISS. Keep things clear and simple.
- Look for particular types of questions (for example Weaken the Argument), and then use the strategies appropriate for that type of question to choose the right answer.
- Identify the Argument.
- Eliminate silly or nonsensical answers.
- Eliminate answer choices that do not answer the question.
For specific question types
Strategies for each different type of question.
Weaken the Argument questions
- Identify the argument. Remember, that's usually in the first or last line.
- Anticipate what will be the answer, if possible. Imagine what would satisfy the question- what would strengthen the argument. Then look for it in the answer choices.
- Eliminate answer choices that do not weaken the argument.
- If there are two or three answer choices left after the process of elimination, then choose!
Strengthen the Argument questions
- Identify the argument. Remember, that's usually in the first or last line.
- Anticipate what will be the answer, if possible. Imagine what would satisfy the question- what would strengthen the argument. Then look for it in the answer choices.
- Eliminate answer choices that do not strengthen the argument.
- If there are two or three answer choices left after the process of elimination, then choose!
Supply the Conclusion
- Identify the premises of the argument.
- Assume all the premises are true. Try to combine or link those premises. Is there an obvious conclusion that could be made from these premises?
- Eliminate answer choices that don't deal with or are supported by ALL of the premises, or that don't make sense from the information given.
- If there are two or three answer choices left after the process of elimination, then: choose!
Supply the Assumption questions
- Identify the premises of the argument.
- Identify the conclusion. Remember, that's usually in the first or last sentence of the text.
- Identify the gap in the logic of the argument. What's missing or needed to make this argument convincing?
- What's the new element or factor in the conclusion? The assumption will probably introduce it.
- Go through each answer choice. Does it strengthen the conclusion? If not, then eliminate it. Eliminate silly or nonsensical answer choices.
- Choose! Don't waste time!
Further reading
If you want to find out more you might find the following useful.
- GMAT Critical reasoning: Don't take a flying leap by Jeff Sackmann
- An introduction to Critical Reasoning by Mukul Hinge
- Critical reasoning lesson from MBA-Center (you have to register to access this great slide-show/audio tutorial)
Below is an excerpt from a letter that was sent by the chairman of a corporation to the stockholders.
A number of charges have been raised against me, some serious, some trivial. Individuals seeking to control the corporation for their own purposes have demanded my resignation. Remember that no court of law in any state has found me guilty of any criminal offense whatsoever. In the American tradition, as you know, an individual is considered innocent until proven guilty. Furthermore, as the corporation’s unbroken six-year record of growth will show, my conduct of my official duties as chairman has only helped enhance the success of the corporation, and so benefited every stockholder.
Which of the following can be properly inferred from the excerpt?
(A) The chairman believes that all those who have demanded his resignation are motivated by desire to control the corporation for their own purposes.
(B) Any misdeeds that the chairman may have committed were motivated by his desire to enhance the success of the corporation.
(C) The chairman is innocent of any criminal offense.
(D) The corporation has expanded steadily over the past six years.
(E) Any legal proceedings against the chairman have resulted in his acquittal.
How can we go about the Inference questions in the critical reasoning????
I too would like to know the answer and the strategies for the question above ^^^^^^^^^
Is the answer D?
Typo....
In "Strengthen the Argument" section above, the following line
"3. Eliminate answer choices that do not weaken the argument." should be changed to "3. Eliminate answer choices that do not strengthen the argument. "
Thanks for spotting this typo. Fixed.
This question seems to be of "supply the conclusion"....so here we hv to consider the premise and assumption have to be taken that premise is correct .....so,I think option A should be the answer bcoz..it strengthen the premise....Is this correct??
D is the only answer fully supported by the text and so must be the correct answer.
Superb!!!