Free Critical Thinking Practice Test with Questions, Answers, and Explanations

1. United Bank is concerned about the increasing media coverage of suspicions of corruption among its top management staff. The VP of finance was accused of embezzling ten million dollars, for which the maximum penalty is eight years in prison. The bank's attorneys advised management to offer him a plea bargain according to which he will admit to the crime, return the money plus compensation, and serve one year of community service. The VP of finance is reluctant to accept, pleading his innocence.
If the VP of finance is found guilty of the charge and the judge gives him the maximum sentence, the VP of finance can be sentenced to a jail term of eight years.

A. True
B. Probably True
C. Insufficient Data
D. Probably False
E. False

Answer: The correct answer is 'True'.

The passage says: 'for which the maximum penalty is eight years in prison'. If there is a possible penalty of eight years in prison for the felony the VP is charged with, and he is found guilty, then it is possible that he would be sentenced for this period. As the statement uses the word 'can' it recognizes this is only one possibility of many. Therefore, the statement is true.

2. A new study proves that scores on cognitive ability tests, which include critical thinking tests, are strongly related to success in both civilian and military jobs, and predict outcomes in all jobs. The added value of these tests, the authors conclude, is that they predict both what an individual can do right now, as well the extent to which an individual is likely to learn and develop.
Nowadays, occupational psychologists use cognitive ability tests more often than in the past.

A. True
B. Probably True
C. Insufficient Data
D. Probably False
E. False

Answer: The correct answer is 'Insufficient Data'.

The passage presents information about a new possible utility for cognitive ability tests in the occupational consultancy area. Yet, we lack information about the extent of past and present use of these tests; hence, it is impossible to determine and even to assume whether the statement is correct or not. Therefore, the correct answer is 'Insufficient Data'.

3. Following a reduction in the number of applicants, the college has been asking students to evaluate faculty teaching performance for the last two years. The college's management announced that the purpose of these evaluations is to provide information to faculty about teachers' strengths and weaknesses, and to help higher management make decisions about pay raises and promotions to reward the better teachers. Last week, Professor Burke, a recently retired senior lecturer at the college, wrote a letter in which he objected to these evaluations, claiming they compromise academic standards.

The college management does not care about academic excellence at all.

A. True
B. Probably True
C. Insufficient Data
D. Probably False
E. False

Answer: The correct answer is 'Probably False'.

This is a very definitive assertion that cannot be derived from the text. Even if the purpose of the evaluation is student satisfaction rather than trying to promote academic standards, it is very unlikely that the management does not care about academic level at all. Remember, you can use common sense and world knowledge when deciding between 'Probably' and 'Insufficient Data'.

4. Retailer groups opposed to Visa and MasterCard’s $7.25 billion settlement of a lawsuit over merchant credit card fees said they have garnered support from about 1,200 businesses covered by the deal. These groups urged U.S. District Judge in Brooklyn not to grant initial approval to the settlement, however, the ruling will probably be in its favour. That could end seven years of litigation over an alleged conspiracy by the card companies and banks to fix the fees that retailers are charged when customers pay with cards.

The judge thinks that a conspiracy between the credit card companies has not occurred.

A. True
B. Probably True
C. Insufficient Data
D. Probably False
E. False

Answer: The correct answer is 'Insufficient Data'.

There are possible reasons for the judge to rule in favour of a settlement that have nothing to do with the judge’s own opinion on the case, like wanting to avoid further costs for both sides in an already long and expensive process. The text simply does not provide any information regarding the judge’s beliefs. Therefore, the answer is 'Insufficient Data'.

5. Virtual employees, or employees who work from home via computer, are an increasing trend. In the US, the number of virtual employees has increased 39% in the last two years and 74% in the last five years. Employing virtual workers reduces costs and makes it possible to use talented workers no matter where they are located globally. Yet, running a workplace with virtual employees might entail miscommunication and less camaraderie, and can be more time-consuming than face-to-face interaction.
Today, a majority of the employees in the US are virtual employees.

A. True
B. Probably True
C. Insufficient Data
D. Probably False
E. False

Answer: The correct answer is 'Probably False'.

The passage describes an increasing trend of virtual employment hiring. Yet, it is not specified how prevalent has this trend become in comparison to the entire work force. There is no confirmation or contradiction of the statement, and the first tendency may be to choose 'insufficient data'. However, in this section of the test, you are allowed to use common sense to choose the right answer. By applying logic to the answer choices, you can surmise that there are many jobs which cannot be done virtually, and that despite the increasing popularity of this trend, it is unlikely that a majority of employees in the US are virtual.

Therefore, the correct answer is 'Probably False'.

6. We forecast that completion of the development of supercomputers will be followed by a shortage of people who know how to make use of all this computing power.
Proposed Assumption:
It's only a matter of time until the development of supercomputers will be completed.

A. Assumption Made
B. Assumption Not Made

Answer: Assumption not made.

The forecast does not relate to more than a hypothetical scenario (the completion of supercomputers development). It is neither certain that such a scenario will occur, nor that it is only a matter of time until it will. For example, 'we forecast that an alien invasion will force the nations of this world to work together' does not assume an alien invasion is bound to happen at some point.

7. Wife to husband: Our joint income is lower than it could be. But soon I will begin to work at an additional part-time job, and I will earn extra income.
Proposed Assumption:
The couple's expenses have increased significantly lately.

A. Assumption Made
B. Assumption Not Made

Answer: Assumption is not made.

There may be many reasons for the wife's wish to increase her household's incomes.

8. A career at DX Electronics is the best choice—it is the most stable workplace.

Proposed Assumption:

Most of DX Electronics' employees are satisfied with their current company management.

A. Assumption Made
B. Assumption Not Made

Answer: Assumption not made.

The above text does not relate to employee satisfaction in any way. It might make sense that a workplace’s employees must be satisfied for it to be stable, but one does not have to make this assumption to make this statement.

9. Ethics committee member: 'This person was the proctor at the exam during which the two students were caught allegedly cheating. Yet she claims to recognize the student who was giving the answers but not the student who was getting the answers. Therefore, the proctor's testimony should be excluded.'
Proposed Assumption:
If a proctor claims to recognize both parties involved in cheating, then the proctor's testimony should be included.

A. Assumption Made
B. Assumption Not Made

Answer: Assumption not made.
The passage gives a reason to disqualify a proctor’s testimony, but it does not say the absence of that reason should automatically qualify the testimony. For example: If you are not an American citizen, you cannot run for president. However, if you are an American citizen, it does not necessarily mean you can run for president. There are other conditions, such as your age and the amount of time you have been an American resident.

10. About 330 marketing professionals attended this year’s Media Innovations Forum. This indicates that social media engagement is a substantial feature of brand marketing plans.
Proposed Assumption:
The extent of attendance in professional media forums is not negligible.

A. Assumption Made
B. Assumption Not Made

Answer: The assumption is made.
Premise 1: Spotting attendance in professional forums allows one to recognise a trend or behaviour in a certain industry.
Premise 2: The Media Innovations Forum is important enough to indicate trends in the marketing industry.
Conclusion: Social media engagement is a substantial feature of brand marketing plans
In other words:
According to the above, attendance in professional forums must be significant, or else how can one use it to justify or recognise a noticeable trend in the marketing world?
Remember, you are not asked to judge whether the assumption is justified, only whether the speaker had made it.

11. You are nervous if you are stuck in traffic. Everyone stuck in traffic is anxious.

If you are stuck in traffic, you are both anxious and nervous.

A. Conclusion follows
B. Conclusion does not follows

Answer: Conclusion follows.

Stuck in traffic = A, nervous = B, anxious = C.
According to the premises, if A -> B, and every A -> C, which also means A -> B + C.

The conclusion states A -> B + C.

The conclusion is the combination of the two premises; therefore, it follows.

12. In a certain recycling company that generously rewarded workers for each new client they brought in, it was found that 15 percent of the workers brought in three or more new clients last year. Among workers who had bribed clients to get their business, 25 percent brought in three or more new clients last year.

The workers that had not used bribes earned more money than the ones who did, because the bribers also lost money in the process of bringing in clients.

A. Conclusion follows
B. Conclusion does not follows

Answer: Conclusion does not follow.
Though it makes sense, that conclusion does not follow beyond a reasonable doubt. Altogether, the workers who had used bribes may have brought more clients than those who had not, so their reward was greater even after subtracting the cost of the bribes. In addition, neither the reward nor the bribe discussed are necessarily cash-related incentives. One might bribe someone by offering free tickets to the theatre owned by his family, or give away something that is not material in nature.

13. When I go to work in the morning, I usually leave my house at 7:00 am and take the bus into the city. On rare occasions, however, I stay overnight at my aunt’s house and take the underground to work.

My workplace is in the city.

A. Conclusion follows
B. Conclusion does not follows

Answer: Conclusion does not follow.
Although it is stated that the narrator takes the bus into the city when he goes to work, we cannot deduce, beyond a reasonable doubt, that his workplace is actually in the city. The city could just be a stop on the way to the workplace.

14. Studies conducted over the last 60 years show adult obesity and the direct medical cost thereof have increased steadily worldwide. The last decade has the highest rates of both these trends.

Adult obesity and the direct medical cost thereof have increased because fast food has become more prevalent worldwide.

A. Conclusion follows
B. Conclusion does not follows

Answer: Conclusion does not follow.
From our general knowledge, one may infer that this statement is correct. However, it does not follow from the passage since the passage contains no indication whatsoever concerning fast food. Although fast food could be a good reason for the above-mentioned problems, there may be other reasons as well, so the conclusion does not follow.

15. I have a nine-month-old baby at home, and she usually agrees to be put to bed, where she falls asleep promptly. But every time her grandparents visit in the evening, she cries when I put her to bed, and she continues to cry for an hour.

My baby reacts to some changes in routine by refusing to go to sleep quietly.

A. Conclusion follows
B. Conclusion does not follows

Answer: Conclusion does not follow.
This is a generalization which the passage does not imply. It may be the case, but there could also be many other reasons why the baby will not fall asleep easily. For example, whenever the grandparents visit, the house is noisier, so the baby cannot sleep. It is not possible to conclude beyond a reasonable doubt what the reason for the baby’s problem is.

16. Should the US government welfare program exchange the current system of food stamps, which act like cash, for a list of approved foods?

Argument:
No. While fraudulent schemes using food stamps are well known and can therefore be prevented, the fraudulent schemes that undoubtedly will be used with a list of approved foods are unknown and therefore cannot be prevented.

A. Strong argument
B. Weak argument

Answer: Strong argument.
This argument is both important and related to the issue. If fraudulent schemes related to food stamps are currently being successfully prevented, it would not promote the general welfare of the people to change the system to one with unknown dangerous of fraud.

17. Should employees who have over five years of experience in the company be bound by law to give employers an advance notice of 60 days upon resignation?

Argument:
No. Labour laws such as this one that protect employers discourage employees, making them less efficient in the workplace.

A. Strong argument
B. Weak argument

Answer: Strong argument.
If you consider this argument as true, as you are required to, then this argument is strong. It is relevant to the question of whether there should be a law forcing employees to give two months’ notice before they can resign, and it is important, stating that such laws would only render employees less motivated and productive. Therefore, the argument is strong.

18. When grading tests, should teachers consider that some of their students have native-born parents and other students have immigrant parents?

Argument:
No. Although some teachers may be sympathetic to students from immigrant families with financial difficulties, their grading should reflect the students’ work and abilities, regardless of ethnic or financial background.

A. Strong argument
B. Weak argument

Answer: Strong argument.
Whether you agree with this argument or not, you must regard it as true. As such, it is strong. It both relates to the question directly, and raises an important claim, that grades should reflect someone’s merits, and not take into account factors such as ethnicity or socioeconomic background.

19. Should the government close ageing and polluting power stations even if the result is more energy imports?

Argument:
No; importing is highly expensive, and the world-wide financial crisis has had a major impact on the government's ability to pay for such expensive schemes.

A. Strong argument
B. Weak argument

Answer: Strong argument.
Like the argument in the previous question, the argument addresses one of the main issues presented in the statement—importing energy. More specifically, it addresses the reduced financial ability of the government to execute energy imports due to a world crisis. Therefore, it offers a reliable reason as to why it is probably not desirable to close local power plants.

20. Should the government allow rehabilitated convicted criminals the right to expunge their criminal record after a waiting period of five years?

Argument:
Yes; expunging criminal records reduces social stigma and helps rehabilitated criminals assimilate better in society.

A. Strong argument
B. Weak argument

Answer: Strong argument.
This argument is both directly related to the question and is important. It gives a substantiated reason for why expunging criminal records would have a positive effect. Therefore, it is a strong argument.