Question 1

A public park in a residential area has become unsafe due to poor lighting and overgrown vegetation. Residents are avoiding the park. Which is the BEST course of action for the local authority?

Accepted Answer

Tests ability to identify practical, direct solutions to a clearly stated problem.

Question 2

A machine processes numbers through the following steps:
Step 1: Multiply the input by 2
Step 2: Add 5 to the result
Step 3: Divide by 3

If the input is 10, what is the final output?

Accepted Answer

Following the input-output sequence: Start with 10 → Multiply by 2 = 20 → Add 5 = 25 → Divide by 3 = 8.33 (or 25/3). The correct answer is 25/3 or approximately 8.33.

Question 3

A school's examination results show that 40% of students failed in Mathematics. The principal wants to improve student performance. Which course of action is MOST APPROPRIATE?

Accepted Answer

Tests identification of the most logical and targeted response to a specific academic problem.

Question 4

A factory has noticed that worker productivity has dropped by 25% in the last quarter. The management suspects poor working conditions. What should be the FIRST course of action?

Accepted Answer

Tests the ability to gather information before taking corrective action, avoiding premature conclusions.

Question 5

Given: P ≤ Q, Q < R, R ≥ S, S > T, T ≥ U. Which conclusion is DEFINITELY FALSE?

Accepted Answer

From the chain: P ≤ Q < R ≥ S > T ≥ U. We can confirm P < R (P ≤ Q < R), Q < S is indeterminate (R ≥ S but Q < R, so Q could equal S or be less), S > U (S > T ≥ U), and R > U (R ≥ S > T ≥ U). The statement 'U > S' directly contradicts S > T ≥ U.

Question 6

A school has observed that students are frequently absent, and academic performance is declining. Teachers report that many students come from low-income families and work part-time jobs. What is the MOST APPROPRIATE course of action?

Accepted Answer

Tests ability to identify contextual, empathetic solutions that address underlying socioeconomic constraints.

Question 7

Statements:
1. Some athletes are vegetarians.
2. All vegetarians are health-conscious.

Conclusion: All athletes are health-conscious.

Is the conclusion valid?

Accepted Answer

The conclusion is NOT valid. We know some athletes are vegetarians, and all vegetarians are health-conscious. However, this only tells us that SOME athletes (those who are vegetarians) are health-conscious. The other athletes may or may not be health-conscious.

Question 8

Statements:
1. No politicians are saints.
2. Some honest people are saints.

Conclusion: Some honest people are not politicians.

Is the conclusion valid?

Accepted Answer

The conclusion IS valid. From Premise 2, some honest people are saints. From Premise 1, no politicians are saints (i.e., saints and politicians have no overlap). Therefore, those honest people who are saints cannot be politicians. Hence, some honest people are not politicians.

Question 9

Statements:
1. No reptiles are mammals.
2. All snakes are reptiles.

Conclusion: No snakes are mammals.

Is the conclusion valid?

Accepted Answer

The conclusion IS valid. Since all snakes are reptiles, and no reptiles are mammals, it logically follows that no snakes are mammals. This is a valid negative syllogism.

Question 10

Given: X < Y ≤ Z, Z > W, W ≥ V, V > U. Which conclusion is DEFINITELY TRUE?

Accepted Answer

From the inequalities: X < Y ≤ Z > W ≥ V > U. We can deduce X < Z (X < Y ≤ Z), Z > V (Z > W ≥ V), W > U (W ≥ V > U), and V > U (given). However, the relationship between X and W is indeterminate because X < Y ≤ Z and Z > W don't establish a direct order between X and W (X could be less than, equal to, or greater than W).

Question 11

Given: A ≥ B > C ≥ D, D < E, E ≤ F, F > G. Which of the following is DEFINITELY FALSE?

Accepted Answer

From the inequalities: A ≥ B > C ≥ D < E ≤ F > G. We can confirm A > C (A ≥ B > C), B > D (B > C ≥ D), E > D (D < E), and F > G (given). The statement 'C > E' is false because C ≥ D and D < E means C could be greater than, equal to, or less than E, but the statement 'G ≥ F' directly contradicts F > G.

Question 12

Given: L ≤ M, M < N, N ≥ O, O > P, P ≤ Q. Which conclusion CANNOT be determined from the given information?

Accepted Answer

From the inequalities: L ≤ M < N ≥ O > P ≤ Q. We can confirm L < N (L ≤ M < N), N > P (N ≥ O > P), and O > P (given). However, the relationship between M and O is indeterminate because M < N and N ≥ O don't establish whether M is less than, equal to, or greater than O (N could equal O, or N could be much greater than O).

Question 13

Given: M ≥ N > O, O ≤ P, P < Q, Q = R. Which of the following is INDETERMINATE (cannot be confirmed as true or false)?

Accepted Answer

From the inequalities: M ≥ N > O ≤ P < Q = R. We can confirm M > O (M ≥ N > O), N > O (given), Q = R (given), and P < Q (given). However, the relationship between M and P is indeterminate because M ≥ N > O ≤ P creates a branch: O is a lower bound for both N and P, but M and P are on separate chains that don't directly connect.

Question 14

A company's customer complaint rate has increased from 5% to 15% in two months. The complaints are mainly about product quality and delivery delays. What should the company do FIRST?

Accepted Answer

Tests prioritization and identification of the most urgent and relevant investigative action.

Question 15

Statements:
1. All fruits are healthy.
2. All apples are fruits.

Conclusion: All apples are healthy.

Is the conclusion valid?

Accepted Answer

The conclusion IS valid. This is a classic categorical syllogism (Barbara form). Since all apples are fruits, and all fruits are healthy, it logically follows that all apples are healthy.

Question 16

Statements:
1. All teachers are educated.
2. Some educated people are doctors.

Conclusion: Some doctors are teachers.

Is the conclusion valid?

Accepted Answer

The conclusion is NOT valid. From the given statements, we know all teachers are educated, and some educated people are doctors. However, this does not guarantee that any of those doctors who are educated are also teachers. The educated doctors could be a completely separate group from teachers.

Question 17

A city hospital is facing a severe shortage of blood donors. The blood bank has only 2 days of supply left. Which of the following should be the MOST IMMEDIATE course of action?

Accepted Answer

This tests the ability to identify the most urgent and practical immediate action in a crisis situation.

Question 18

Statements:
1. All birds have wings.
2. Some animals with wings are not birds.

Conclusion: Which of the following must be true?

Either: Some animals with wings are birds, OR No animals with wings are birds.

Accepted Answer

The conclusion 'Some animals with wings are birds' must be true. From Premise 1, all birds have wings, so at least some animals with wings are birds (namely, all the birds). Premise 2 confirms that some winged animals are not birds, but this doesn't negate the fact that some winged animals ARE birds. Therefore, the first part of the either/or is correct.

Question 19

Given: A > B, B ≥ C, C > D, D = E, E < F. Which of the following conclusions is definitely TRUE?

Accepted Answer

From the given inequalities: A > B ≥ C > D = E < F. We can deduce A > C (transitive through B), A > D (transitive through B and C), and B > D (transitive through C). However, we cannot determine the relationship between A and F, or between C and F, because F's position relative to the chain A-B-C-D-E is unknown (E < F tells us F > E, but F could be anywhere above E).

Question 20

In a coding system, each letter is replaced by the number of its position in the alphabet. For example, A=1, B=2, C=3, etc. What is the output for the word 'CAB'?

Accepted Answer

C is the 3rd letter (3), A is the 1st letter (1), B is the 2nd letter (2). The output is the sequence: 3, 1, 2.

SSC MTS Critical Reasoning Questions

SSC MTS Critical Reasoning — Past Exam Questions

Study by Subtopic — Critical Reasoning

Study Next — Logical Reasoning Topics