Critical reasoning questions are the ones wherein statements or paragraphs are to be completed. There is a technique that is to be followed to solve these questions. If you have been an avid reader, it is possible for you to make sense of a sentence or a paragraph and complete it on the basis of a simple reading. One of the best techniques is eliminating the wrong options. Read, Make reading a passion.
Sentence and paragraph completion questions can be of the following types:
- Paragraph completion
These kinds of questions are easy to solve if a technique is followed rather than going into the details of the paragraph. The first and the last sentence conveying opposite meaning is said to work in these questions. This is said to be the critical reasoning question type. It is the most significant and the one that is said to be representative of it rather than other similar types mentioned below.
- Vocabulary based questions
These are the kind of questions that are based on your memory of meanings and connotations of words in a sentence. Students often try to mug words from the word list containing about 1000-4000 words. This last minute preparation can help students but a better option is to read over the long term. Read, expand your vocabulary toolbox. This would help not only in getting the right word but the context of its usage. As the latter holds as much importance, reading and getting oneself acquainted with contextual usage proves to be the one that helps in saving on time. Quick elimination of options works in such a scenario.
- Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms and antonyms are also used to fill in the blanks. This Verbal Ability question type sometimes appear in the form of two blanks FIBs. The two blanks represented in the answer options as antonyms and synonyms can be chosen looking at both the meaning and the context. One who knows the exact meaning of words finds it easy to arrive at the answer. Read, 10 ways to develop reading habit. Otherwise, contextual inference complete with meaning of one of the words can be used.
- Jumbled sentences & paragraph completion
Jumbled sentences in the Verbal Ability section also constitute a part of the question set. Connecting words, words used to end paragraphs, those used at the beginning to depict a story being taken forward from the last paragraph, act as the ones meant to enable the completion of paragraph. Jumbled sentences & paragraph completion are thus combined in this paragraph. Paragraph completion part is taken into consideration after setting it in order. First and last sentences are also mentioned in case of questions that give clues on completion of the paragraph. Both these sentences offer clues and connecting words. The question is thus solved basis meanings, connecting words and the inference one derives from reading these sentences. Read, Top 10 English grammar mistakes.
Critical reasoning questions not only form a part of CAT but are also seen frequently in recruitment tests conducted in India. CAT critical questions though set the bar for these questions as the difficulty level has always been such that answers cannot be predicted till the time you have the answer key with you. Answer keys from all coaching institutes cannot tally and interpretation by different experts vary. Therefore, till the time the result is out, a guessing game is on with an error of 5-10%. Examiner’s word is the final word and in Verbal Ability there is always a scope for sentences being construed in a manner that differs between people.
