Verbal reasoning: complete practice bank: open practice pack: learner worksheet

1. verbal-reasoning-s01-q01

Maria is a member of the Riverside Hiking Club.

1. True
2. False
3. Cannot say

Answer:

2. verbal-reasoning-s01-q02

A new member who misses the monthly orientation can never join a group hike.

1. True
2. False
3. Cannot say

Answer:

3. verbal-reasoning-s01-q03

Maria completed the safety orientation before she went on her first group hike.

1. True
2. False
3. Cannot say

Answer:

4. verbal-reasoning-s01-q04

The orientation session is offered on a recurring monthly basis.

1. True
2. False
3. Cannot say

Answer:

5. verbal-reasoning-s01-q05

Maria has joined more group hikes than any other club member this year.

1. True
2. False
3. Cannot say

Answer:

6. verbal-reasoning-s01-q06

Every hiking club requires new members to complete a safety orientation.

1. True
2. False
3. Cannot say

Answer:

7. verbal-reasoning-s01-q07

Maria became a club member before she completed the safety orientation.

1. True
2. False
3. Cannot say

Answer:

8. verbal-reasoning-s01-q08

A member may join a group hike without having completed the safety orientation.

1. True
2. False
3. Cannot say

Answer:

9. verbal-reasoning-s01-q09

The Riverside Hiking Club organises activities other than group hikes.

1. True
2. False
3. Cannot say

Answer:

10. verbal-reasoning-s01-q10

Maria completed the safety orientation last month.

1. True
2. False
3. Cannot say

Answer:

11. verbal-reasoning-s02-q01

In the sentence "The instructions were so lucid that nobody needed to ask questions", the word "lucid" most nearly means:

1. lengthy
2. clear
3. complicated
4. informal

Answer:

12. verbal-reasoning-s02-q02

"Rather than open new branches, the firm decided to consolidate its existing offices into one regional centre." Here "consolidate" most nearly means:

1. advertise
2. abandon
3. combine
4. refurbish

Answer:

13. verbal-reasoning-s02-q03

"The minister's ambiguous reply left both interpretations open." "Ambiguous" most nearly means:

1. open to more than one meaning
2. deliberately dishonest
3. spoken very quietly
4. firmly decided

Answer:

14. verbal-reasoning-s02-q04

"Her tenacity impressed the coaches: she repeated the drill every evening until she mastered it." "Tenacity" most nearly means:

1. raw talent
2. nervousness
3. physical strength
4. determined persistence

Answer:

15. verbal-reasoning-s02-q05

"Reviewers criticised the report for being verbose, noting that one point was repeated four times." "Verbose" most nearly means:

1. inaccurate
2. using more words than needed
3. too technical
4. poorly organised

Answer:

16. verbal-reasoning-s02-q06

"The auditor gave only a cursory glance at the receipts before signing off." "Cursory" most nearly means:

1. quick and superficial
2. suspicious and hostile
3. careful and thorough
4. reluctant and delayed

Answer:

17. verbal-reasoning-s02-q07

"The second witness's account corroborated the first." "Corroborated" most nearly means:

1. contradicted
2. complicated
3. repeated word for word
4. supported

Answer:

18. verbal-reasoning-s02-q08

"The researcher warned against extrapolating from a single season's data." "Extrapolating" most nearly means:

1. profiting
2. copying results
3. extending conclusions beyond the evidence
4. deleting inconvenient figures

Answer:

19. verbal-reasoning-s02-q09

"Talks reached an impasse when neither side would adjust its offer." "Impasse" most nearly means:

1. deadlock
2. agreement
3. turning point
4. compromise

Answer:

20. verbal-reasoning-s02-q10

"His effusive praise made some listeners doubt his sincerity." "Effusive" most nearly means:

1. reluctant
2. sarcastic
3. whispered
4. unrestrained and gushing

Answer:

21. verbal-reasoning-s03-q01

Kitten is to cat as puppy is to ___.

1. kennel
2. bone
3. dog
4. fur

Answer:

22. verbal-reasoning-s03-q02

Baton is to conductor as whisk is to ___.

1. orchestra
2. chef
3. kitchen
4. spoon

Answer:

23. verbal-reasoning-s03-q03

Which word does not belong with the other three: oak, birch, willow, tulip?

1. oak
2. birch
3. willow
4. tulip

Answer:

24. verbal-reasoning-s03-q04

Drought is to rain as famine is to ___.

1. food
2. weather
3. harvest
4. hunger

Answer:

25. verbal-reasoning-s03-q05

Reticent is to talkative as frugal is to ___.

1. careful
2. poor
3. generous
4. extravagant

Answer:

26. verbal-reasoning-s03-q06

Sonnet is to poem as waltz is to ___.

1. music
2. dance
3. ballroom
4. rhythm

Answer:

27. verbal-reasoning-s03-q07

Which word does not belong with the other three: cautious, wary, reckless, vigilant?

1. cautious
2. wary
3. reckless
4. vigilant

Answer:

28. verbal-reasoning-s03-q08

Archipelago is to islands as constellation is to ___.

1. stars
2. telescopes
3. planets
4. galaxies

Answer:

29. verbal-reasoning-s03-q09

Alleviate is to pain as quench is to ___.

1. hunger
2. thirst
3. water
4. drought

Answer:

30. verbal-reasoning-s03-q10

Ephemeral is to permanence as opaque is to ___.

1. darkness
2. colour
3. transparency
4. thickness

Answer:

31. verbal-reasoning-s04-q01

The road was icy; ___, drivers were asked to reduce their speed.

1. consequently
2. nevertheless
3. similarly
4. in contrast

Answer:

32. verbal-reasoning-s04-q02

The results looked promising at first; ___, closer analysis revealed serious flaws.

1. likewise
2. therefore
3. however
4. furthermore

Answer:

33. verbal-reasoning-s04-q03

She speaks fluent Portuguese ___ she lived in Lisbon for ten years.

1. although
2. because
3. unless
4. whereas

Answer:

34. verbal-reasoning-s04-q04

___ the forecast of heavy rain, the open-air concert went ahead as planned.

1. Because of
2. Thanks to
3. In light of
4. Despite

Answer:

35. verbal-reasoning-s04-q05

Entry to the museum is free; visitors must, ___, still book a timed ticket in advance.

1. for example
2. in short
3. however
4. as a result

Answer:

36. verbal-reasoning-s04-q06

The evidence was ___ but not ___: it pointed towards the theory without settling the question.

1. suggestive … conclusive
2. conclusive … suggestive
3. irrelevant … persuasive
4. abundant … recent

Answer:

37. verbal-reasoning-s04-q07

The new form was meant to simplify applications; ___, most applicants found it harder to complete than the old one.

1. accordingly
2. similarly
3. as intended
4. in practice

Answer:

38. verbal-reasoning-s04-q08

Far from ___ the rumours, the director's vague statement only ___ them.

1. confirming … silenced
2. dispelling … fuelled
3. spreading … ended
4. recalling … clarified

Answer:

39. verbal-reasoning-s04-q09

The committee did not reject the proposal outright; ___, it requested revisions and postponed the vote.

1. moreover
2. in other words
3. even so
4. instead

Answer:

40. verbal-reasoning-s04-q10

The critic conceded that the novel's prose was elegant; the plot, ___, she found entirely ___.

1. likewise … satisfying
2. by contrast … implausible
3. therefore … original
4. in addition … graceful

Answer:

41. verbal-reasoning-s05-q01

Passage: "Wild bees pollinate many of the crops we rely on, from apples to beans. Yet their habitats are shrinking as hedgerows are removed and wildflower meadows are ploughed. Several councils now sow roadside verges with native flowers to help." Which statement best expresses the main idea?

1. Roadside verges are dangerous places for bees.
2. Apples and beans are the crops most dependent on bees.
3. Councils have solved the problem of habitat loss.
4. Wild bees matter for food crops, and some councils are acting to protect their shrinking habitats.

Answer:

42. verbal-reasoning-s05-q02

Passage: "Many public libraries now lend far more than books: seed kits, musical instruments, sewing machines and museum passes all circulate alongside novels. Librarians describe the shift as a return to their founding purpose, sharing resources a community needs but cannot each afford alone." Which statement best expresses the main idea?

1. Libraries have broadened their lending to serve wider community needs.
2. Books are no longer popular with library users.
3. Museum passes are the most borrowed library item.
4. Libraries have abandoned their founding purpose.

Answer:

43. verbal-reasoning-s05-q03

Passage: "On summer afternoons, streets with mature trees can be several degrees cooler than bare streets nearby. Leaves shade the pavement and release moisture that cools the surrounding air. Planting programmes therefore focus first on the hottest, most exposed neighbourhoods." Which title best fits the passage?

1. Why Pavements Absorb Heat
2. The History of Street Planting
3. How Urban Trees Cool Their Streets
4. Summer Weather in the City

Answer:

44. verbal-reasoning-s05-q04

Which sentence does NOT belong in this paragraph? (1) The community garden opened in April with twenty raised beds. (2) Volunteers water the plots on a shared rota. (3) The town's new car park has spaces for four hundred vehicles. (4) A harvest exchange table lets growers swap surplus produce.

1. Sentence 1
2. Sentence 3
3. Sentence 2
4. Sentence 4

Answer:

45. verbal-reasoning-s05-q05

Passage: "A two-year trial of remote work at an insurance firm found that output per employee was unchanged. However, junior staff reported receiving noticeably less informal guidance, and half said they would prefer more office days for that reason." Which statement best expresses the main point?

1. Remote work maintained productivity but weakened informal mentoring for junior staff.
2. Remote work raised productivity across the firm.
3. Junior staff were less productive when working remotely.
4. The firm has ended remote working.

Answer:

46. verbal-reasoning-s05-q06

Passage: "The town's earth flood banks need regrading every decade at modest cost. A proposed concrete wall would last fifty years but cost eight times as much up front, and engineers note the banks have never yet been overtopped." Which option best summarises the passage?

1. The concrete wall is the only long-term option.
2. The flood banks have failed repeatedly.
3. Engineers recommend removing the flood defences.
4. The town must weigh cheap, recurring maintenance of proven banks against a costly, longer-lasting wall.

Answer:

47. verbal-reasoning-s05-q07

Passage: "Rail freight produces a fraction of the emissions of road haulage per tonne carried. Yet sidings have closed, and many terminals cannot handle modern container lengths. Modest investment in loading gauge and terminal capacity would let existing lines carry far more goods." What is the author's primary purpose?

1. To describe the history of rail sidings.
2. To argue that targeted investment could shift more freight to rail.
3. To show that road haulage is becoming cleaner.
4. To explain how containers are loaded onto trains.

Answer:

48. verbal-reasoning-s05-q08

Passage: "In the survey, adults who kept a written budget reported lower money-related stress than those who did not. The researchers caution that budgeting may attract people who already feel in control of their finances." Which statement best reflects the passage?

1. Budgeting is proven to reduce financial stress.
2. The survey shows budgets have no effect on stress.
3. The survey found an association between budgeting and lower reported stress, but the cause is uncertain.
4. The researchers recommend everyone keep a written budget.

Answer:

49. verbal-reasoning-s05-q09

Passage: "It is often said that goldfish remember nothing for more than a few seconds. In fact, trained goldfish have navigated mazes weeks after first learning them, and they can learn to feed at set times of day. The popular claim survives because it is repeated, not because it is supported." Which statement best expresses the main idea?

1. Goldfish are unusually intelligent among fish.
2. Goldfish can learn to navigate mazes within seconds.
3. Popular claims about animals are usually true.
4. The common belief that goldfish have only momentary memories is contradicted by the evidence.

Answer:

50. verbal-reasoning-s05-q10

Passage: "Handwritten notes are slower to take than typed ones, which forces note-takers to select and rephrase rather than transcribe. Several classroom studies associate this slower, more selective style with better recall of ideas, though results vary with the subject being taught." Which statement best expresses the main idea?

1. The slowness of handwriting forces selection, which several studies link, with some variation, to better recall of ideas.
2. Typing should be banned in classrooms.
3. Handwriting is faster than typing for most students.
4. Recall of ideas is identical however notes are taken.

Answer:

51. verbal-reasoning-s06-q01

Every ticket for Saturday's concert had sold out by Thursday evening. On Friday morning, Amir bought a ticket for one of the weekend's two concerts, Saturday's or Sunday's. What can be concluded?

1. Amir queued overnight for his ticket.
2. Amir's ticket is for Sunday's concert.
3. Sunday's concert is also sold out.
4. Amir bought the last available ticket.

Answer:

52. verbal-reasoning-s06-q02

By noon on every market day, the bakery has sold out of sourdough. It is now 3 pm and sourdough is still on the shelves. What can be concluded?

1. The bakery baked extra sourdough today.
2. The market was cancelled this week.
3. Sourdough is becoming less popular.
4. Today is not a market day.

Answer:

53. verbal-reasoning-s06-q03

In a staff survey, 60% of respondents said they cycle to work at least once a week and 25% said they cycle every working day. Which statement must be true?

1. Some respondents cycle at least weekly but not every working day.
2. Most respondents cycle every working day.
3. 40% of respondents never cycle.
4. Cycling is the most popular way to travel to work.

Answer:

54. verbal-reasoning-s06-q04

Every flat in the Hartley building has a balcony. Some flats in the Hartley building are rented. What must be true?

1. Some rented flats have no balcony.
2. All rented flats are in the Hartley building.
3. Some rented flats have balconies.
4. Most flats in the building are rented.

Answer:

55. verbal-reasoning-s06-q05

In May, the north branch processed more applications than the south branch, despite having fewer staff. Which conclusion must be true?

1. The north branch worked longer hours.
2. The north branch processed more applications per staff member than the south branch.
3. The south branch is badly managed.
4. The north branch will also process more in June.

Answer:

56. verbal-reasoning-s06-q06

The evening seminar runs only if at least eight people register. This month's seminar ran. What can be concluded?

1. Exactly eight people registered.
2. The seminar was popular with regular attendees.
3. Registration closed early this month.
4. At least eight people registered.

Answer:

57. verbal-reasoning-s06-q07

At Brindle & Co, every expense claim is approved by an employee, and no employee may approve their own claim. Dana, an employee, had her claim approved yesterday. What must be true?

1. Dana's manager approved the claim.
2. Dana approved a colleague's claim in return.
3. An employee other than Dana approved her claim.
4. Dana's claim exceeded the usual spending limit.

Answer:

58. verbal-reasoning-s06-q08

A shop's sales rose by 10% in March and then fell by 10% in April. Compared with sales in February, April's sales were:

1. slightly lower
2. exactly the same
3. slightly higher
4. impossible to compare

Answer:

59. verbal-reasoning-s06-q09

Most of the choir's members are sopranos, and every soprano in the choir sang at Friday's concert. Which statement must be true?

1. The whole choir sang on Friday.
2. Only sopranos sang on Friday.
3. Some sopranos missed the concert.
4. Most of the choir's members sang at Friday's concert.

Answer:

60. verbal-reasoning-s06-q10

Whenever the harbour bridge is closed, the shuttle bus runs. The shuttle bus never runs on Sundays. What can be concluded?

1. The bridge is closed every day except Sunday.
2. The shuttle bus runs every weekday.
3. The harbour bridge is never closed on a Sunday.
4. The bridge closes only when the bus is available.

Answer:

61. verbal-reasoning-s07-q01

"Our café should open at 7 am, because hundreds of commuters walk past to catch the 7:30 train." The argument depends on which assumption?

1. The 7:30 train is usually on time.
2. The café's rent will not rise this year.
3. Some of those commuters would buy something if the café were open at 7 am.
4. No other café operates on the same street.

Answer:

62. verbal-reasoning-s07-q02

"This detergent removed the grass stain in the demonstration, so it will remove the ink stain on my shirt." Which assumption does the argument rely on?

1. A detergent that removes grass stains will work similarly on ink stains.
2. The shirt is machine-washable.
3. The demonstration was filmed live.
4. Ink stains are easier to remove than grass stains.

Answer:

63. verbal-reasoning-s07-q03

"Attendance fell after we raised ticket prices, so cutting prices will restore attendance." The argument assumes that:

1. the venue's running costs will fall next year
2. competitors kept their own prices unchanged
3. attendance was already falling before the price rise
4. the price rise, rather than another factor, caused the fall in attendance

Answer:

64. verbal-reasoning-s07-q04

"Riya achieved the highest score on the entrance test, so she will perform better on the course than the other entrants." Which assumption is required?

1. Riya revised harder than anyone else.
2. Performance on the entrance test predicts performance on the course.
3. The other entrants scored poorly on the test.
4. The course tutors marked the entrance test.

Answer:

65. verbal-reasoning-s07-q05

"Volunteers counted more birds in the reserve this spring than last spring, so the bird population must have grown." The argument depends on assuming that:

1. the counting effort and conditions were broadly comparable across the two springs
2. volunteers enjoy counting birds
3. the reserve is larger than others nearby
4. birds are easier to count in autumn

Answer:

66. verbal-reasoning-s07-q06

"Replacing our office bulbs with LEDs will cut the electricity bill." Which assumption does the plan rely on?

1. LED bulbs are cheaper to buy than the current bulbs.
2. Staff will remember to switch lights off at night.
3. The LEDs will use less electricity than the current bulbs for the same lighting.
4. Electricity prices will fall next year.

Answer:

67. verbal-reasoning-s07-q07

"No complaints were filed last month, so our customers must be satisfied." The conclusion depends on which assumption?

1. The complaints inbox was checked daily.
2. Dissatisfied customers would actually file complaints.
3. Satisfied customers often write positive reviews.
4. Complaint numbers vary with the seasons.

Answer:

68. verbal-reasoning-s07-q08

"The fossil lay in a rock layer dated to sixty million years ago, so the animal lived sixty million years ago." Which assumption is required?

1. The animal was a marine species.
2. The dating technique used is the newest available.
3. The fossil skeleton is complete.
4. The fossil had not shifted from the layer in which it was originally buried.

Answer:

69. verbal-reasoning-s07-q09

"We invited the scheme's five most prominent critics and answered every objection they raised, so the scheme has no serious weaknesses." The argument assumes that:

1. the critics accepted the answers they were given
2. the scheme will be popular with the public
3. the objections raised by those critics cover every serious weakness the scheme might have
4. five is an appropriate number of critics to invite

Answer:

70. verbal-reasoning-s07-q10

"Staff turnover at Corville Ltd is below the industry average, so its staff must be more satisfied than staff at rival firms." The argument depends on assuming that:

1. Corville pays above-average wages
2. differences in turnover mainly reflect differences in satisfaction
3. Corville's staff numbers grew last year
4. satisfied staff recommend their employer to friends

Answer:

71. verbal-reasoning-s08-q01

Councillors claim the new bypass caused the recent fall in town-centre traffic. Which finding, if true, most weakens this claim?

1. The bypass was finished ahead of schedule.
2. Some drivers still prefer the town-centre route.
3. The bypass carries heavy traffic at peak times.
4. The town's largest employer, based in the centre, closed in the same month the bypass opened.

Answer:

72. verbal-reasoning-s08-q02

A charity argues that a free school-breakfast programme will raise test scores, because pupils who eat breakfast score higher. Which finding most strengthens the argument?

1. Breakfast is the most commonly skipped meal.
2. In schools that piloted the programme, scores rose while scores at similar schools without it stayed flat.
3. Teachers support the programme.
4. The programme is inexpensive to run.

Answer:

73. verbal-reasoning-s08-q03

"People who own bicycles visit the doctor less often, so cycling improves health." Which statement most weakens this argument?

1. People who are already healthy are more likely to buy bicycles in the first place.
2. Bicycle sales have risen steadily for a decade.
3. The survey counted only adults aged 25 to 60.
4. Cycling injuries are rare among experienced riders.

Answer:

74. verbal-reasoning-s08-q04

A website's sales rose sharply in the month after its redesign, and the designers conclude the redesign caused the rise. Which fact most strengthens their conclusion?

1. The redesign was praised by a design magazine.
2. Sales usually rise towards the end of the year.
3. No prices, products or advertising changed during that month.
4. The old design had been in place for five years.

Answer:

75. verbal-reasoning-s08-q05

"An online poll on a local gardening forum found 80% of respondents opposed the new parking charges, so the town's residents oppose the charges." Which fact most weakens this conclusion?

1. The poll ran for two full weeks.
2. Some respondents left comments as well as votes.
3. Parking charges are a common topic on the forum.
4. The forum's members are a small, self-selected group who are not representative of the town's residents.

Answer:

76. verbal-reasoning-s08-q06

"To cut waiting times, the clinic will add a second reception desk." Which finding most weakens the plan?

1. Waiting times are driven by a shortage of consulting rooms, not by queues at reception.
2. The reception area was redecorated recently.
3. Patients speak highly of the current receptionists.
4. Another clinic added a second desk last year.

Answer:

77. verbal-reasoning-s08-q07

"A composting scheme succeeded in Elmford, so a similar scheme will succeed in Dartmoor Vale." Which fact most strengthens the argument?

1. Elmford's scheme won a national award.
2. The two areas have similar housing, population density and collection services.
3. Dartmoor Vale's council has a larger budget.
4. Composting reduces landfill costs.

Answer:

78. verbal-reasoning-s08-q08

"The cycle-helmet campaign worked: hospital admissions for cyclist head injuries fell 30% in the two years after it began." Which fact most weakens this argument?

1. The campaign's posters were widely shared.
2. Helmet sales rose slightly over the period.
3. Head injuries are the most serious cycling injuries.
4. The total amount of cycling fell by roughly 40% over the same two years.

Answer:

79. verbal-reasoning-s08-q09

"Watering tomato plants with diluted seaweed feed makes them more productive." Which additional finding would most strengthen this claim?

1. Seaweed feed smells stronger than other feeds.
2. Tomatoes are the country's most popular greenhouse crop.
3. In a controlled trial, yields rose steadily as the feed dose increased, with untreated plants yielding least.
4. Some growers have used seaweed feeds for generations.

Answer:

80. verbal-reasoning-s08-q10

"Nine of the last ten winners of the regional business award used the consultancy BrightPath, so hiring BrightPath improves a firm's chances of winning." Which fact most weakens this argument?

1. BrightPath accepts as clients only firms that already meet most of the award's criteria.
2. The award is judged by an independent panel.
3. BrightPath's fees are among the highest in the region.
4. The tenth winner used a different consultancy.

Answer:

81. verbal-reasoning-s09-q01

"You can trust the witness's account, because she is a truthful person, and we know she is truthful because her account is accurate." What is the flaw?

1. It attacks the witness personally.
2. It argues in a circle, using the conclusion to support itself.
3. It generalises from a single case.
4. It appeals to the majority view.

Answer:

82. verbal-reasoning-s09-q02

"The air-quality report can be ignored: its lead author once worked for a car manufacturer." What is the flaw?

1. It relies on a false analogy.
2. It confuses correlation with causation.
3. It presents only two options when more exist.
4. It attacks the author's background instead of engaging with the report's evidence.

Answer:

83. verbal-reasoning-s09-q03

"Either we cut the arts budget, or the library will have to close. Nobody wants the library to close, so the arts budget must be cut." What is the flaw?

1. It uses a word in two different senses.
2. It draws on an unrepresentative sample.
3. It treats two options as the only possibilities when others may exist.
4. It assumes the conclusion in its premises.

Answer:

84. verbal-reasoning-s09-q04

"It snowed twice this April, so claims that the region's climate is warming must be wrong." What is the flaw?

1. It treats a brief local observation as if it could overturn a long-term trend.
2. It attacks the motives of climate scientists.
3. It argues in a circle.
4. It appeals to tradition.

Answer:

85. verbal-reasoning-s09-q05

"The average household in the town owns 1.8 cars. The Patels are a household in the town, so they must own about two cars." What is the flaw?

1. It relies on an outdated statistic.
2. It confuses cause and effect.
3. It applies a group average directly to an individual case.
4. It uses emotionally loaded language.

Answer:

86. verbal-reasoning-s09-q06

"In a large survey, 90% of respondents said they believed the old theatre was haunted. So many people can't be wrong. The theatre must be haunted." What is the flaw?

1. The survey sample was too small.
2. It treats popular belief as if it established fact.
3. It confuses necessary and sufficient conditions.
4. It generalises from a single anecdote.

Answer:

87. verbal-reasoning-s09-q07

"I wore my green scarf to the last two matches and we won both, so the scarf is helping the team win." What is the flaw?

1. It assumes that because one thing preceded another, it caused it.
2. It attacks the opposing view unfairly.
3. It relies on an ambiguous word.
4. It presents a false choice.

Answer:

88. verbal-reasoning-s09-q08

"Every singer in the choir has an excellent voice, so the choir as a whole must sound excellent." What is the flaw?

1. It appeals to the singers' authority.
2. It confuses the choir with its conductor.
3. It draws a conclusion from no evidence at all.
4. It assumes that what is true of each part must be true of the whole.

Answer:

89. verbal-reasoning-s09-q09

A councillor proposes lowering the speed limit outside schools at drop-off times. An opponent replies: "Banning all cars from our roads is unworkable and extreme." What is the flaw in the reply?

1. It cites an unqualified authority.
2. It misrepresents the proposal as a more extreme position and attacks that instead.
3. It draws a hasty generalisation from one school.
4. It argues in a circle.

Answer:

90. verbal-reasoning-s09-q10

"Reported sightings of the rare orchid doubled this year, so the orchid population is booming." In fact, sightings rose from two to four after a new footpath opened through the reserve. What is the flaw?

1. It uses emotionally loaded language.
2. It attacks the people reporting the sightings.
3. It mistakes the orchid for a more common species.
4. It treats a large relative rise in very small, observation-dependent numbers as proof of a real population change.

Answer:

91. verbal-reasoning-s10-q01

Passage: "The Halloway grant may fund equipment or travel, but never both in the same award year. Last year the archaeology department used its Halloway grant entirely for travel. Departments may apply in consecutive years, though first-time applicants are given priority." Which statement must be true?

1. Last year, the archaeology department's Halloway grant funded no equipment.
2. The archaeology department will not receive a grant this year.
3. First-time applicants always receive grants.
4. The department has never bought equipment.

Answer:

92. verbal-reasoning-s10-q02

Passage: "Of the 200 survey responses, 120 came from current subscribers, 90 of whom rated the app favourably. Overall, 130 of the 200 respondents rated the app favourably." Which statement must be true?

1. Most non-subscribers rated the app unfavourably.
2. Subscribers were less satisfied than non-subscribers.
3. Exactly half of the non-subscriber respondents rated the app favourably.
4. Seventy respondents did not answer the rating question.

Answer:

93. verbal-reasoning-s10-q03

Passage: "The evaluation concluded that the tutoring scheme was cost-effective in rural schools. For urban schools, the data collected was too sparse to support any conclusion either way." Which statement is best supported?

1. The scheme is not cost-effective in urban schools.
2. The scheme should be extended to all rural schools.
3. Urban schools declined to take part in the evaluation.
4. The evaluation reached no verdict on the scheme's cost-effectiveness in urban schools.

Answer:

94. verbal-reasoning-s10-q04

Passage: "Applications that arrive without a reference letter are returned unread. Every application the panel reads receives a written score. Tom's application received no written score." Which conclusion follows?

1. Tom's application lacked a reference letter.
2. The panel did not read Tom's application.
3. Tom's application arrived after the deadline.
4. Tom may not resubmit his application.

Answer:

95. verbal-reasoning-s10-q05

Passage: "Over five years, Brand K's share of the torch market grew from 8% to 12%, while total torch sales across the market halved." Which statement must be true?

1. Brand K attracted customers from rival brands.
2. Brand K's own sales grew over the period.
3. The torch market will continue to shrink.
4. Brand K sold fewer torches at the end of the period than at the start.

Answer:

96. verbal-reasoning-s10-q06

Passage: "The planning committee approved the design 'in principle', while deferring every budget decision to the finance board, which next meets in March." Which statement is best supported?

1. At the time of the committee's approval, no budget for the design had been agreed.
2. The finance board opposes the design.
3. The design will be funded in March.
4. The committee has no authority over designs.

Answer:

97. verbal-reasoning-s10-q07

Passage: "None of the interns who joined in June had used the archive software before joining. By the end of August, every intern in the office could complete a standard retrieval unaided. No training sessions ran in July." Which statement must be true?

1. The June interns taught themselves the software.
2. Training sessions ran in August.
3. At least some interns learned to use the software after joining.
4. The archive software is easy to learn.

Answer:

98. verbal-reasoning-s10-q08

Passage: "Of the forty exhibits in the current show, twenty-five are on loan and fifteen belong to the museum. Most of the loaned exhibits are ceramics; none of the museum's own exhibits in the show are ceramics." Which statement must be true?

1. Exactly thirteen exhibits in the show are ceramics.
2. More than a quarter of the exhibits in the show are ceramics.
3. The museum owns no ceramics at all.
4. Most of the show's exhibits are ceramics.

Answer:

99. verbal-reasoning-s10-q09

Passage: "Critics of the reserve's licensing system say it deters volunteers. The warden's records, such as they are, show volunteer numbers holding steady since licensing began, though the records omit anyone who enquired but never applied." Which statement is best supported?

1. The available records do not show the fall in volunteers that critics allege, but they cannot capture people deterred before applying.
2. Licensing has increased volunteer numbers.
3. The critics have been proved wrong.
4. The warden opposes the licensing system.

Answer:

100. verbal-reasoning-s10-q10

Passage: "Standard refunds are paid to the original payment card within five working days. Where the original card has expired, the refund is instead paid by bank transfer, which can take up to ten working days. Neha's refund was paid by bank transfer." Which conclusion can properly be drawn?

1. Neha's payment card had expired.
2. Neha received her refund within five working days.
3. Neha's refund may have taken longer than five working days to arrive.
4. Neha originally paid by bank transfer.

Answer: