Critical Reasoning : Basics

These are the conceptual verbal reasoning questions in CAT.The pattern of these questions is a paragraph followed by one question.They are kind of mini reading comprehension the only difference being the number of questions following the paragraph.Also in most of the critical reasoning questions the question is predictable unlike RC.

The basics are as follows:

Premise or Fact is any information that is verifiable [meaning one can find out whether it is true or false;it need not be true]
eg Amitabh is the highest paid actor.
    It is raining.
    A cow has 10 legs. [remember in reasoning we do not check the verity of the statement simply the validity]

Opinion or Judgement is any statement which is not verifiable
eg Amitabh is a good actor.
    It is raining heavily.
    A cow is a holy animal

Conclusion : is a judgement derived from a fact and since a fact is verifiable the judgement is also verifiable,this judgement is known as a Conclusion
eg. Amitabh is the highest paid actor therefore a good actor [the second part is a conclusion since good is defined in terms of payment which is verifiable and hence good is also verifiable]
     A cow has 10 legs therefore a holy animal. [again here the second part is a conclusion]

Assumption : is a statement based on a fact to derive the conclusion
There are clouds in the sky [fact]
Therefore I'll carry an umbrella [conclusion] assuming it would rain

In the above example the conclusion is based on two things the fact and the assumption which gives us a fundamental equation in reasoning :

Premise + Assumption = Conclusion

 This equation in reasoning is known as an Argument

Inference : is an opinion based on a fact but though the fact is verifiable the opinion is not verifiable.This opinion is known as an Inference.
eg central idea of a passage depends on the reader's understanding of the passage.The understanding is the opinion which is based on the same fact for everyone that is the passage ,but this understanding is not verifiable.

[Please note in FIJ questions CAT does not differentiate between a Conclusion and an Inference]

There are 8 types of questions possible in critical reasoning.These are as follows:

1. Strengthen the argument [where an additonal premise is to be provided to support the argument]
2. Contradict the argument [in this case the premise has to be negated to get the right answer]
3. Identify the assumption
4. Weaken the argument [where the assumption has to be negated to weaken the argument]
5. Identify the flaw in reasoning [this is solved by identifying the faulty assumption]
6. Identify the conclusion
7. Identify the inference
8. Miscellaneous : summarise the argument , parallel reasoning and identify the reason behind the paradox*

* paradox is oppositte of what we expect things to happen
eg There was abundance of crop in Latur but farmers committed suicide