Analytical reasoning questions, sometimes called AR, assess the ability to look at  qualitative or quantitative information,  such as a group of facts or rules, discern a pattern and conclude what must be true from four multiple-choice options.  Analytical reasoning employ deductive reasoning and generally do not require any specialized or background knowledge.   Examples of the skills analytical reasoning questions use are, comprehending the structure of a set of relationships; recognizing logically equivalent statements; and inferring what could be true or must be true from the given facts or rules.

However, some tests, such as the Canadian Public Service Entrance Test (PSEE) require knowledge of the actual relations between items in order to answer correctly.  Other questions reverse the relationships between nouns or ignore the real relationships to answer correctly.

1. For this question, you must use your knowledge of the real relations between the existing nouns to determine the best response

A CRUX resembles LILO but is closer to the Sun

A TIGO resembles Jupiter but is farther from the Sun

A LILO resembles Earth but is closer to the Sun

Which of the following is the best response?

a. LILO is farther from the Sun than Jupiter

b. CRUX is closer to the Sun than Jupiter

c. Jupiter is closer to the Sun than LILO

d. LILO is farther from the Sun than TIGO

 

2. For this question, you must use your knowledge of the real relations between the existing nouns to determine the best response

A CUXA is stronger than iron

A BUXA is weaker than wood

A SAMSA is weaker than BUXA

Which of the following is the best response?

a. CUXA is not the strongest

b. BUXA is weaker than iron

c. SAMSA is not the weakest

d. None of the above

3. For this question, you must use your knowledge of the real relations between the existing nouns to determine the best response

A DJANGO resembles a watermelon but is heavier

A VANGO resembles an apple but is lighter

A TANGO resembles a DJANGO but is heavier

Which of the following is the best response?

a. DJANGO weighs less than an apple

b. VANGO weighs as much as TANGO

c. TANGO is the heaviest

d. None of the above

4. For this question, you must use your knowledge of the real relations between the existing nouns to determine the best response

KAKA is thicker than milk

SUKA is of same thickness as water

BUKA is thinner than water

Which of the following is the best response?

a. SUKA is the thinnest

b. BUKA is thicker than milk

c. milk is thicker than SUKA

d. KAKA is not the thickest

5. For this question, you must use your knowledge of the real relations between the existing nouns to determine the best response

NONO is longer than meter

BONO is smaller than micron

SONO is longer than BONO

Which of the following is the best response?

a. BONO is the smallest

b. NONO is the longest

c. SONO is the longest

d. SONO is smaller than nano

6.  For this question, you must reverse the real relation between the existing nouns to determine the best response.

MOLO is longer than lizard

VEL is smaller than crocodile

THOL is longer than VEL

Which of the following is the best response?

a. VEL is the smallest

b. MOLO is the longest

c. THOL is the longest

d. THOL is smaller than nano

7. For this question, you must reverse the real relation between the existing nouns to determine the best response.

DIMO is colder than Mercury

LOLI is warmer than Neptune

REE is colder than Mercury

Which of the following is the best response?

a. DIMO is the coldest

b. REE is warmer than DIMO

c. LOLI is the warmest

d. REE is colder than DIMO

8. For this question, you must reverse the real relation between the existing nouns to determine the best response.

SOTA is taller than TATI

KOTI is shorter than giant

SOTA is taller than dwarf

Which of the following is the best response?

a. TATI is taller than dwarf

b. KOTI is the shortest

c. SOTA is the tallest

d. KOTI and TATI are of same height

9.  For this question, you must reverse the real relation between the existing nouns to determine the best response.

TYGU is faster than bullet

MYGU is of same speed as arrow

JYGU is faster than TYGU

Which of the following is the best response?

a. bullet is the slowest

b. JYGU is faster than MYGU

c. arrow is the fastest

d. none of the above

10. For this question, you must reverse the real relation between the existing nouns to determine the best response.

RUNI is lighter than PINI

WITI is denser than rubber

PINI is as light as steel

Which of the following is the best response?

a. PINI is denser than rubber

b. RUNI is not the lightest

c. WITI is the densest

d. None of the above

Answer Key

1. B
Based on the relations outlined in the first & third statements, we know that a CRUX is closer to the Sun than a LILO, which is closer than Earth. We also know that Earth is closer than Jupiter from the knowledge we have of these existing nouns, and, from the second statement, we know that Jupiter is closer than a TIGO. From closest to farthest, the order of the words is: CRUX, LILO, Earth, Jupiter, TIGO. Therefore, t choice B is the correct answer.

[CRUX<LILO<Earth<Jupiter<TIGO in terms of distance from the Sun] 

2. B

Based on real relations, iron is stronger than wood. From the first statement, we know CUXA is stronger than iron which is stronger than wood. From second statement, we know that BUXA is weaker than wood, and therefore weaker than iron and CUXA. From third statement, we know that SAMSA is weaker than BUXA and therefore weaker than other three as well. From weakest to strongest, the order of the words is: SAMSA, BUXA, wood, iron, CUXA. Therefore, choice B is correct.

[SAMSA<BUXA<wood<iron<CUXA in STRENGTH]

3. C
A watermelon is heavier than an apple based on real relations. From first statement, we see that DJANGO is heavier than watermelon which is heavier than an apple. From third statement, we know that TANGO is heavier than Django (and therefore heaviest) while, from second statement, we know that VANGO is lighter than apple (and therefore lightest). From lightest to heaviest, the order of the words is VANGO, apple, watermelon, DJANGO, TANGO. Therefore choice C is correct.

[TANGO>DJANGO>watermelon>apple>VANGO in weight]

4. C
Based on real relations, milk is thicker than water. From first and second statements, KAKA is thicker than milk, which is thicker than water, which is of same thickness as SUKA. From third statement, BUKA is thinner than water and therefore the lightest. From heaviest to thinnest, the order of the words is KAKA, milk, water & SUKA, BUKA. Therefore choice C is correct.

[KAKA>milk>water=SUKA>BUKA]

5. A
Based on real relations, meter is longer than a micron (1 meter = million microns). From first statement, NONO is longer than meter ,which is longer than micron. From second statement, micron is longer than BONO. From third statement, SONO is longer than BONO, making BONO the smallest. Relationship between SONO and NONO is unclear.

Therefore choice A is correct. All other choices are inconclusive.

6. A
Reversing real relations, lizard is longer than a crocodile. From first statement, MOLO is longer than lizard, which is longer than crocodile. From second statement, crocodile is longer than VEL. From third statement, THOL is longer than VEL, making VEL the smallest. Relationship between THOL and MOLO is unclear.

Therefore, choice A is correct. All other choices are inconclusive.

7. C
Reversing real relations, Mercury is colder than Neptune. From first & third statements, DIMO and REE are both colder than Mercury. From second statement, LOLI is warmer than Neptune which is warmer than Mercury. Mercury is warmer than both DIMO and REE. Therefore LOLI is the warmest. Relationship between DIMO and REE can’t be established.

Therefore, choice C is correct.

8. C
Reversing real relations, dwarf is taller than giant. From second statement, KOTI is shorter than giant which is shorter than dwarf. From third statement,  SOTA is taller than dwarf, which is taller than giant and KOTI. From First statement, TATI is shorter than SOTA, which makes SOTA the tallest. The relationship of TATI with others isn’t clear.

Therefore, choice C is correct.

9. A
Reversing real relations, bullet is slower than arrow. Based on first statement, TYGU is faster than bullet. Based on second statement, MYGU and arrow are of same speed and therefore, faster than bullet. Based on third statement, JYGU is faster than TYGU and therefore faster than bullet. Therefore bullet is slower than everybody and therefore bullet is the slowest. Second and third choices are inconclusive.

Therefore, choice A is correct.

10. C
Reversing real relations, steel is lighter than rubber. Based on second statement, WITI is denser than rubber. Based on third statement, PINI and steel are of same density and therefore, lighter than WITI. Based on first statement, RUNI is lighter than PINI and therefore lighter than WITI. Therefore WITI is denser than everybody.

Therefore, choice C is correct.