Analytical Ability Reviewer - Part 14

Practice 20 Analytical Ability questions for the Civil Service Exam (CSE), each with the correct answer and an explanation.

20 questions80% passing markFree

Part 14 of our Analytical Ability reviewer has 20 practice questions in the style of the Civil Service Exam. Answer them in order, read the explanation after each one, and check your score against the 80% passing mark at the end. Questions and choices are reshuffled every time you retake the part.

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Sample questions from Part 14

Here are a few questions from this part. Take the full test to answer all 20 and get your score.

Sample question 1

Statement: The teacher gave a short quiz after every lesson since frequent testing helps students remember what they learned.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the statement depends?

  • Students dislike being tested.
  • Quizzes are the only way to teach.
  • Frequent testing improves retention of lessons.
  • Lessons are easier when there is no test.
Answer: Frequent testing improves retention of lessons.
The statement works only if it is taken for granted that frequent testing improves retention of lessons. The other options are irrelevant to the reasoning, contradict the statement, or are far too extreme.

Sample question 2

Statement: The barangay captain said the clean-up drive will succeed because all residents have agreed to join.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the statement depends?

  • Residents will not be needed on the day of the drive.
  • Residents who agreed to join will actually take part.
  • The barangay has no garbage to collect.
  • The clean-up drive will last for a whole year.
Answer: Residents who agreed to join will actually take part.
The statement works only if it is taken for granted that residents who agreed to join will actually take part. The other options are irrelevant to the reasoning, contradict the statement, or are far too extreme.

Sample question 3

Argument: The Commission on Audit noted that Agency Y spent 40% of its budget on travel last year. An analyst concludes that Agency Y wastes public funds.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

  • Most of the travel spending was not necessary for the agency's functions.
  • Other agencies spend even more on travel.
  • Travel spending is prohibited by law.
  • Agency Y's total budget was larger than last year's.
Answer: Most of the travel spending was not necessary for the agency's functions.
Apply the negation test. Suppose it were not true that most of the travel spending was not necessary for the agency's functions. The evidence would then no longer support the conclusion, so the argument collapses — this is the necessary assumption. Each other option may be helpful, plausible, or related, but the argument still works if it is false (or it is stated too strongly, or concerns a different issue).

Sample question 4

Argument: The agency will accept applications online only, since the paper forms received last year were often incomplete.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

  • Applicants prefer to submit applications online.
  • The agency cannot afford to print paper forms.
  • Online applications will be received faster.
  • Online forms will be less often incomplete than paper forms.
Answer: Online forms will be less often incomplete than paper forms.
Apply the negation test. Suppose it were not true that online forms will be less often incomplete than paper forms. The evidence would then no longer support the conclusion, so the argument collapses — this is the necessary assumption. Each other option may be helpful, plausible, or related, but the argument still works if it is false (or it is stated too strongly, or concerns a different issue).

Sample question 5

Statement: The municipality will provide free Wi-Fi in the plaza so that students can do online research.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the statement depends?

  • Students can do research only in the plaza.
  • The Wi-Fi signal will cover the entire province.
  • Students already have internet access at home.
  • Students have devices and will go to the plaza to use the Wi-Fi.
Answer: Students have devices and will go to the plaza to use the Wi-Fi.
The statement works only if it is taken for granted that students have devices and will go to the plaza to use the Wi-Fi. The other options are irrelevant to the reasoning, contradict the statement, or are far too extreme.

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