Critical Reasoning (Part 2: Inference and Argument Critical Reasoning Examples)

In this article, we’re going to discuss best practices for the critical reasoning section of the GMAT exam. You can either read this article or watch this GMAT critical reasoning video on YouTube. To make things easier to digest, we’ve broken the contents of the video up into 3 parts. In this segment, hosted by one of MyGuru's most experienced GMAT tutors, we will work through examples of the two primary types of critical reasoning questions: inference and argument. In part 1 of this article, we discussed the frequency and format of critical reasoning questions and their strategic implications. If you haven’t yet read it, we suggest you go back and make sure you understand that first. In part 3, we will provide a clear outline of the critical reasoning process.  

Inference Critical Reasoning Question Example

Several brown foxes have been seen outside of Haye’s chicken firm. Dogs have been proven by farmers to deter foxes from stealing a chicken. 

Which of the following statements, if true, best supports Haye’s decision?

1. Every farmer should have a dog.
2. Dogs hate foxes.
3. Haye’s chicken could benefit from a dog on site.
4. All foxes steal a chicken.
5. Haye would make more money by raising cattle instead of chickens.

The first step in these types of prompts is to evaluate the stand-alone scenario facts presented in a paragraph prompt. After reading the scenario facts, you will then be presented with a single-question task that is explicitly based on the provided facts. In this case, we are being asked, “which of the following statements, if true, best supports Haye’s decision?” 

Typically, you will be presented with five answer choices that you must evaluate against the statement of facts to determine which is certainly true. While the prompt may not explicitly state that one of these answer choices must be true, the information presented in the prompt will lead to a definite answer. With this in mind, let’s evaluate our choices one by one.

1. Every farmer should have a dog.

The given statement  says that “Dogs have been proven by farmers to deter foxes from stealing a chicken.” It does not state that every farmer should have a dog. The statement simply suggests that dogs could be useful for farmers to deter foxes. Therefore, option A can be ruled out.

1. Dogs hate foxes.

It is not accurate to make a generalization about all dogs or to assume that dogs hate foxes. The statement does not provide any information about the dogs' intentions or attitudes towards foxes. Therefore, it is important not to make any unwarranted assumptions based on the given information.

3. Haye’s chicken could benefit from a dog on site.

This answer is correct because it is both simple and fully supported by the facts presented in the prompt. The prompt states that dogs have been proven by farmers to deter foxes from stealing a chicken, so it follows that having a dog at Haye's chicken firm where foxes have been seen could be beneficial. It's important to consider the literal meaning of the statements, even if they are not explicitly stated.

4. All foxes steal a chicken.

We cannot make any assumptions about all foxes since the statement only refers to several brown foxes. We also do not know for sure that these specific foxes will steal a chicken, as the statement only suggests that they have been seen outside of the chicken farm. Therefore, any statement that generalizes all foxes is not supported by the given information.

5. Haye would make more money by raising cattle instead of chickens.

While it may appear logical that Haye would want to make more money, the given paragraph prompt does not mention anything about revenue, profits, or cattle. Therefore, it is beyond the scope of the paragraph, and choice E can be eliminated.

Sample Argument Critical Reasoning Question Example

Several brown foxes have recently been seen outside of Haye’s chicken firm. As a result, Haye has decided to get a dog to protect the chicken.

Which of the following statements, if true, best supports Haye’s decision?

1. Many farmers like dogs.
2. Some dogs hate foxes.
3. All foxes steal a chicken.
4. Most foxes fear dogs.
5. Several breeds of dogs are descended from foxes.

An argument critical reasoning question presents a situation with a set of facts that support a conclusion. The conclusion is subjective and needs to be evaluated based on the given prompt. Here, we are being asked to support Haye's decision to get a dog to protect the chicken. We will be presented with five options to determine which one has a definitive impact on the argument presented in the question task. Our goal is to find the statement that, if true, supports the idea that Haye should get a dog to protect the chicken. Now, let’s take a look at our answer choices.

1. Many farmers like dogs.

Choice A cannot be considered as a possible answer because the fact that many farmers like dogs is not relevant to Haye's decision to protect the chickens from the brown foxes. Moreover, the prompt does not provide any evidence to suggest that many farmers like dogs, so we cannot assume it to be true.

2. Some dogs hate foxes.

We cannot make a claim about some dogs or dogs in general, and there is no evidence to support the idea that dogs have animosity toward foxes. Although it may seem logical, it is not supported by the given facts. Therefore, we cannot make that assumption, and we should eliminate choice B.

3. All foxes steal a chicken.

To assume that all foxes are chicken thieves is not supported by the given information, which only mentions several brown foxes. Therefore, stating that getting a dog will protect the chickens from all foxes is unfounded and does not provide a clear explanation of how the dog will help Haye protect their chickens. As a result, option C can be ruled out.

4. Most foxes fear dogs.

This statement provides a plausible explanation for why a dog could be useful in safeguarding chickens. If it is generally true that most foxes are intimidated by dogs, then it is possible that the brown foxes outside of Haye's chicken farm might also be afraid of a dog, making it a sensible decision to acquire one. This idea supports Haye's choice to get a dog and could help defend the chickens. D is therefore the correct answer.

5. Several breeds of dogs are descended from foxes.

The given information raises more questions than it answers. The statement mentions several breeds that are descended from foxes, but it is not clear whether the breed of dog that Haye is considering is one of them. Moreover, it is unclear how this information relates to Haye's decision to protect the chicken. As a result, we cannot evaluate the given option E, and it can be eliminated.

Conclusion

We hope this overview of inference and argument critical reasoning questions has empowered you to tackle these kinds of problems with confidence on the GMAT. Be sure to tune in for part 3 of this article, in which we will outline the overall steps of the critical reasoning process. 

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