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Last Updated on March 8, 2024
Critical Reasoning (CR) questions (sometimes referred to as “paragraph argument questions”), are one of the types of GRE Reading Comprehension questions test-takers face on the Verbal section of the GRE. Critical Reasoning questions test critical thinking skills across a broad spectrum of situations that require logical reasoning, close attention to detail, careful, precise reading, and crisp thinking.
KEY FACT:
GRE Critical Reasoning questions test critical-thinking skills across a broad spectrum of situations that require logical reasoning, close attention to detail, careful, precise reading, and crisp thinking.
Although Critical Reasoning questions are not the most common type of GRE Verbal question, performing well on them can help you earn a higher GRE score.
Although Critical Reasoning questions are not the most common type of GRE Verbal question, performing well on them can help you earn a higher GRE score.
Because it’s so important to engage in proper practice with GRE CR questions, in this article we provide you with some realistic GRE Critical Reasoning sample questions, in addition to several tips you can use during your GRE prep to improve your skills at solving CR questions.
Let’s begin by discussing what GRE Critical Reasoning questions are.
- What Are Critical Reasoning Questions on the GRE?
- What Critical Reasoning Question Types Are on the GRE?
- How Many Critical Reasoning Questions Are on the GRE?
- How Do You Practice Critical Reasoning Questions on the GRE?
What Are Critical Reasoning Questions on the GRE?
Each Critical Reasoning question begins with a written stimulus, which is usually in the form of a passage as short as one sentence or as long as a paragraph of several sentences. After the stimulus, there are a question and five answer choices. The question will always ask us to determine which of the five answer choices is logically related to the stimulus in a particular way.
For example, a typical GRE Critical Reasoning question will appear as follows. Give the following GRE Critical Reasoning sample question a try!
Sample Critical Reasoning Question #1
Over the past year, brown bears that inhabit the nearby mountains have been coming into the Town of Silverton with greater regularity than ever before. About a year ago, three farms in the town began for the first time producing honey, which brown bears find irresistible. Therefore, it must be that the reason why brown bears are coming into the town with greater regularity is that they are coming to consume the honey produced by these farms.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
- One year ago, a number of farms in the town began for the first time growing blueberries, which are a favorite food of brown bears.
- People living in the town have grown increasingly nervous because of the increased presence of the brown bears.
- Over the past year, no more mountain lions have been sighted in the town than were sighted during previous years.
- The owners of the town’s honeybee farms have reported seeing brown bears opening their beehives to eat the honey found within.
- Brown bears find honey irresistible because it is high in both sugar and calories, two things that they require in order to maintain a healthy weight.
Solution:
Let’s now talk about what Critical Reasoning question types are on the GRE.
What Critical Reasoning Question Types Are on the GRE?
On the GRE, Critical Reasoning questions fall into the following eight major categories:
- Identify the Assumption: These questions ask us to identify an assumption upon which an argument depends.
- Weaken the Argument: These questions ask us to find a statement of fact that would weaken or hurt an argument.
- Strengthen the Argument: These questions ask us to find a statement of fact that would help an argument or support a conclusion.
- Resolve a Paradox: These questions ask us to find a statement of fact that would resolve what appears to be a contradiction or discrepancy in a scenario or set of given facts.
- Inference: These questions ask us to find an unwritten conclusion that must be true, based on information given in the passage.
- Complete the Passage: These questions ask us to find a statement that most logically completes the sentence at the end of a passage.
- Method of Reasoning: These questions ask us to identify the way that an argument is developed in a passage.
- Boldface: These questions ask us to determine the function that two bolded portions of a passage play.
In the Target Test Prep GRE Course, you’ll find hundreds of questions covering each of these Critical Reasoning topics. For now, though, let’s practice with the following sample GRE Critical Reasoning question.
Sample Critical Reasoning Question #2
Last week, the Silver Bullet Tea Company, which recently opened a chain of high-end tea shops in the affluent City of Silverton, began a marketing campaign, which involved television, newspaper, and internet marketing, aimed at letting residents of Silverton know that its tea shops are now open for business. Therefore, its tea shops will soon be filled with residents of Silverton purchasing tea.
Which of the following, if true, most weakens the argument above?
- In the City of Silverton, the law permits tea shops to operate only if they do not violate city ordinances.
- The Silver Bullet Tea Company spent less than half of the budget that it had originally allocated for the public marketing campaign in the City of Silverton.
- Most residents of the City of Silverton would be willing to purchase the expensive tea sold at a high-end tea shop.
- Because they are into active, outdoor activities, most of the residents of Silverton rarely watch television, read the newspaper, or use the internet.
- When asked in a city-sponsored survey what the City of Silverton needs most, many residents responded that it needs more high-end tea and coffee shops.
Solution:
Let’s now discuss how many Critical Reasoning questions are on the GRE.
How Many Critical Reasoning Questions are on the GRE?
Of the 27 GRE verbal questions that you’ll face on test day, about half will be a mix of Text Completion and Sentence Equivalence questions, and about half questions will be Reading Comprehension questions. Of those RC questions, roughly 2 will be Critical Reasoning type questions.
KEY FACT:
Of the 12 to 14 Reading Comprehension questions you’ll face on the GRE, roughly 2 will be Critical Reasoning questions.
Let’s now discuss how to practice GRE Critical Reasoning questions.
How Do You Practice Critical Reasoning Questions on the GRE?
Properly practicing GRE Critical Reasoning questions can help you make a significant improvement in your GRE score. So, ensure that you follow these Critical Reasoning GRE tips:
Tip #1: Do most of your GRE CR practice untimed
Far too many people fail to master Critical Reasoning questions because they never give themselves the time necessary to master these questions. Instead of seeking mastery, they’re seeking speed. However, the faster they try to move, the worse their accuracy becomes.
Far too many people fail to master Critical Reasoning questions because they never give themselves the time necessary to master these questions.
Try the next GRE Critical Reasoning sample question untimed.
Sample Critical Reasoning Question #3
Online dating apps have made it easy for people to get in touch with many potential partners. Ironically, in many cases, the use of such apps has resulted in people’s remaining single for much longer than they would have had they not used such apps.
Which of the following, if true, provides the best explanation for these paradoxical results?
- For many people, using more traditional methods of meeting potential partners might work better than using online dating apps.
- A person using an online dating app can get in touch with likeminded people whom the person probably would not have met without using such an app.
- A person faced with even slight imperfections in a potential partner may be tempted to continue looking if many other potential partners seem to be available.
- Having many options does not always make choosing among options easier than it is when fewer options are available.
- Whether a person is using dating apps or using more traditional methods of meeting people, in order for a relationship to work, the person has to communicate well.
Solution:
