Analytical Ability Reviewer - Part 9

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

20 questions80% passing markFree

Part 9 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.

Start Part 9

Sample questions from Part 9

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

Sample question 1

Statements:
1. If trucks may cross the bridge, then the bridge is repaired.
2. The detour is not closed only if trucks may not cross the bridge.
3. The delivery is delayed only if trucks may not cross the bridge.
4. Either the bridge is repaired or the delivery is not delayed, but not both.
5. Fact: The detour is closed.

Which conclusion must be true?

  • The bridge is repaired.
  • The delivery is delayed.
  • Trucks may not cross the bridge.
  • The bridge is not repaired.
Answer: Trucks may not cross the bridge.
Test every possible combination of true/false for the four situations against all the statements. Only 2 combinations survive: (the bridge is not repaired; trucks may not cross the bridge; the delivery is not delayed; the detour is closed) or (the bridge is repaired; trucks may not cross the bridge; the delivery is delayed; the detour is closed). In every surviving case the following holds: Trucks may not cross the bridge. The other options can fail in a case that is still consistent with the statements (they are possible, but not certain).

Sample question 2

Statements:
1. No writers are fishermen.
2. All clerks are writers.

Which conclusion must follow?

  • All fishermen are clerks.
  • All clerks are fishermen.
  • No fishermen are clerks.
  • Some clerks are fishermen.
Answer: No fishermen are clerks.
Picture each group as a circle and combine the statements. The conclusion No fishermen are clerks is true in every possible arrangement of the circles that satisfies the given statements, while each of the other choices can be false in at least one arrangement.

Sample question 3

Statement: If it rains heavily, then classes are suspended.
Fact: Classes are not suspended.

Which conclusion must be true?

  • Nothing can be concluded about whether it rains heavily.
  • It rains heavily.
  • It rains heavily, but classes are not suspended.
  • It does not rain heavily.
Answer: It does not rain heavily.
This is a valid modus tollens: if the result did not happen, the condition cannot have been met. Hence It does not rain heavily.

Sample question 4

Statements:
1. All graduates are residents.
2. All residents are clerks.

Which conclusion must follow?

  • All graduates are clerks.
  • Some graduates are not clerks.
  • No graduates are clerks.
  • No clerks are graduates.
Answer: All graduates are clerks.
Picture each group as a circle and combine the statements. The conclusion All graduates are clerks is true in every possible arrangement of the circles that satisfies the given statements, while each of the other choices can be false in at least one arrangement.

Sample question 5

Statements:
1. No artists are librarians.
2. All barangay officials are librarians.

Which conclusion must follow?

  • No artists are barangay officials.
  • Some artists are barangay officials.
  • All artists are barangay officials.
  • All barangay officials are artists.
Answer: No artists are barangay officials.
Picture each group as a circle and combine the statements. The conclusion No artists are barangay officials is true in every possible arrangement of the circles that satisfies the given statements, while each of the other choices can be false in at least one arrangement.

More Analytical Ability parts

Related study guides