Explanations to Verbal Practice Questions
To undertake effective practice for verbal reasoning tests you need to grasp the idea and have thorough understanding of how to answer test questions. Below, we will look at the first three questions extracted from verbal reasoning practice test to demonstrate how to go about reasoning and selecting the correct answer.
Base answer only on information provided
Let’s start with the first statement. You task is to evaluate whether the information provided in the passage supports the statement (true), contradicts it (false) or whether there is not enough information to conclude neither of these (cannot say). Set your stopwatch for 30 seconds and see whether you can get the answer right.
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In the past, environmental organizations were not concerned with the level and nature of waste in our oceans and on our beaches.
To determine whether the above statement is true you need to find supporting evidence that will prove it to be true. If you read the text carefully you will find that it does not offer any information as to the concern of environmental organizations to waste in the past. Therefore, if you cannot determine the argument to be true neither false the correct choice must be cannot say. Remember, the more practice questions you go through the better your understanding of verbal aptitude tests becomes. If you find these questions a bit of a challenge and you feel that you need to more guidance you can see verbal reasoning practice guide which contains useful tutorials on how to get started.
Pay attention to detail in verbal tests
Now, let’s have a look at the second question of verbal test. Again, allow yourself no more than 30 seconds to select the correct answer. Start working now.
Environmental organizations control the nature and level of waste in order to protect fish, turtles and seabirds.
How did it go? If you cannot find any supporting information that would prove the above statement to be true or disapprove the argument to be false then you must mark the statement as cannot say. Note that if you read the passage carefully you will note that the text clearly states that environmental organizations are only concerned with the level and nature of waste. Despite of the fact that the passage does refer to importance of controlling waste, which may lead many people to assume that environmental organizations indeed do control the type and amount of waste, it does not provide enough evidence to conclude the argument to be true. As you will go along with practice try to observe subtle difference between the text and the statement so that you get used to focusing on detail in each argument.
Become familiar with verbal reasoning logic
Finally, have a go and try to evaluate the third practice question within 30 seconds. Again, evaluate the statement to be true, false or cannot say based on the information provided in the text. You may start now.
Poor control of waste negatively impacts upon businesses.
If you answer was correct then you know that the argument supports the information in the passage. However, be careful, if it was stated that ‘poor control of waste negatively impacts only upon businesses’ then the answer would be ‘False’ as this would contradict the information provided in the passage. Remember, when practicing for verbal tests it is important to fully understand the logic as why the particular question is marked as true, false or cannot say. Sometimes small or subtle changes can change the meaning of the argument way round.