Critical Reasoning: Paradox, Resolve the Discrepancy, Flaw in the Argument and Evaluate the Argument Questions for SSC

Critical reasoning questions give a short passage with an argument and then ask you to find the flaw, resolve a paradox, evaluate the argument or find the main point. This guide on critical reasoning for SSC explains the question types, a step-by-step method, the common patterns of the wrong answers, and solved examples with practice questions and FAQs.

Parts of a Critical Reasoning Question

Question Types

Step-by-Step Method

1. Read the question stem first so that you know the task.
2. Read the passage and mark the conclusion (words such as therefore, thus, hence) and the premises (because, since).
3. Paraphrase the argument in one sentence: “Because X, therefore Y.”
4. Find the gap between the premise and the conclusion; that gap is the assumption.
5. Predict the type of the correct answer before reading the options.
6. Eliminate the options that are out of scope, too extreme or opposite to the task.

Resolving a Paradox

A paradox question gives two facts that seem to contradict each other. The correct answer gives a new fact that allows both of them to be true at the same time. It does not say that one of them is false.

Example. “A shop reduced the price of its shirts by 20%, yet its revenue from shirts fell.” The best explanation: the number of shirts sold did not increase enough to make up for the price cut (or fewer customers came for another reason).

Finding the Flaw

Wrong-Answer Patterns

• Out of scope: talks about something not in the passage.
• Extreme: uses words like always, never, all, only, completely (exam answers are usually moderate).
• Reverse: weakens when you must strengthen, or the opposite.
• Irrelevant comparison: compares things the argument did not compare.
• Restating the passage: repeats a premise and adds no new information.

Solved Examples

Example 1 (Assumption). “The city built more flyovers, so the traffic jams must have reduced.” The assumption: the number of vehicles has not increased so much that it cancels the effect of the flyovers.

Example 2 (Weaken). “Students who study with music score better, so music improves the scores.” Which weakens it? The students who prefer music are generally the ones who study more hours. (another cause)

Example 3 (Strengthen). Which strengthens the claim in the previous example? In an experiment, the same students scored higher with music than without it.

Example 4 (Flaw). “All the five apples I bought from that shop were sour, so all the apples in that shop are sour.” The flaw: hasty generalisation from a small sample.

Example 5 (Inference). “Some of the employees who came late were given a warning. All who were given a warning signed a form.” Which must be true? Some of the employees who came late signed a form.

Quick Tips

• Always find the conclusion first.
• Predict the type of the answer before reading the options.
• Reject the options which are extreme or out of scope.
• For paradox questions, look for a new fact that makes both facts true.

Quick Revision Points

• The assumption is the gap between the premise and the conclusion.
• A weakener attacks the link or gives another cause.
• A strengthener adds support for the link.
• A paradox answer reconciles the two facts.
• An inference must be true on the basis of the passage.

Practice Questions With Answers

1. What do you need to find in an assumption question?
   Answer: The unstated premise that the argument needs
2. What is the role of the correct answer in a paradox question?
   Answer: It explains how both facts can be true
3. What is the flaw in: He is rich, so he must be happy?
   Answer: Unsupported assumption (non sequitur)
4. Which words usually introduce the premise?
   Answer: Because, since
5. What does a weakener do?
   Answer: Makes the conclusion less likely
6. What is an inference?
   Answer: A conclusion that must be true based on the passage
7. What is the flaw of using a sample of 3 people to reach a general conclusion?
   Answer: Hasty generalisation
8. Which type of options are usually wrong: extreme or moderate?
   Answer: Extreme
9. What does an evaluate question ask?
   Answer: Which information would help to judge the argument
10. What is a parallel reasoning question?
    Answer: Finding the argument with the same structure

How to Practise This Chapter

Practise 10 questions every day and write the steps on paper. Then attempt timed sets from our practice papers and the previous year papers page. See all topics on the Logical Reasoning notes page, read the previous topic Propositions, Truth Tables and Logical Connectives and the next topic Quantifiers, Negation and Square of Opposition.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is critical reasoning?

Evaluating arguments to find assumptions, flaws and the strength of the reasoning.

What is a paradox question?

A question where two facts seem to conflict and you must find the fact that reconciles them.

What is an assumption?

An unstated premise needed for the argument to work.

How do I find the flaw in an argument?

Compare the premise with the conclusion and look for a gap such as a wrong cause or a bad sample.

What is a strengthener?

A fact that makes the conclusion more likely to be true.

What is a weakener?

A fact that makes the conclusion less likely.

What is the main point?

The conclusion that the argument supports.

How do I avoid the trap options?

Avoid the options that are out of scope, extreme or the opposite of the task.

Is this topic asked in SSC?

Yes. It appears in the argument and the assumption questions.

How much time should I spend per question?

About 60 to 90 seconds.

What is an inference?

A statement that must follow from the facts given.

What is a necessary assumption?

One without which the argument fails.