Analytical Ability Reviewer - Part 15

Practice 20 Analytical Ability questions for the Civil Service Exam (CSE), each with the correct answer and an explanation.

20 questions80% passing markFree

Part 15 of our Analytical Ability reviewer has 20 practice questions in the style of the Civil Service Exam. Answer them in order, read the explanation after each one, and check your score against the 80% passing mark at the end. Questions and choices are reshuffled every time you retake the part.

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Sample questions from Part 15

Here are a few questions from this part. Take the full test to answer all 20 and get your score.

Sample question 1

Argument: Applicants with a college degree in Public Administration performed best in the interview. The panel concluded that the Public Administration degree is the best preparation for the position.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

  • Applicants with other degrees did not take the interview.
  • Interview performance reflects preparation for the job.
  • Public Administration is a four-year course.
  • The panel members are Public Administration graduates.
Answer: Interview performance reflects preparation for the job.
Apply the negation test. Suppose it were not true that interview performance reflects preparation for the job. The evidence would then no longer support the conclusion, so the argument collapses — this is the necessary assumption. Each other option may be helpful, plausible, or related, but the argument still works if it is false (or it is stated too strongly, or concerns a different issue).

Sample question 2

Argument: Because the Commission uses a computerized system to rank applicants, there can be no favoritism in the ranking, the officer asserted.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

  • The data and rules used in the computerized ranking cannot be manipulated.
  • Computers are faster than manual ranking.
  • The commission has a large number of applicants.
  • Favoritism is illegal.
Answer: The data and rules used in the computerized ranking cannot be manipulated.
Apply the negation test. Suppose it were not true that the data and rules used in the computerized ranking cannot be manipulated. The evidence would then no longer support the conclusion, so the argument collapses — this is the necessary assumption. Each other option may be helpful, plausible, or related, but the argument still works if it is false (or it is stated too strongly, or concerns a different issue).

Sample question 3

Statement: The Civil Service Commission requires applicants to pass an examination so that only competent persons enter government service.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the statement depends?

  • The examination is a reliable measure of competence.
  • All persons who fail the examination are dishonest.
  • Competent persons never take examinations.
  • Government service needs fewer employees than before.
Answer: The examination is a reliable measure of competence.
The statement works only if it is taken for granted that the examination is a reliable measure of competence. The other options are irrelevant to the reasoning, contradict the statement, or are far too extreme.

Sample question 4

Statement: The office banned mobile phones during working hours to improve work efficiency.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the statement depends?

  • Employees will resign because of the ban.
  • Mobile phones are not allowed anywhere in the building.
  • Work efficiency depends only on the use of phones.
  • Using phones during work hours reduces efficiency.
Answer: Using phones during work hours reduces efficiency.
The statement works only if it is taken for granted that using phones during work hours reduces efficiency. The other options are irrelevant to the reasoning, contradict the statement, or are far too extreme.

Sample question 5

Statement: The agency posted the list of qualified applicants on its website so that applicants can immediately learn the results.

Which of the following is an assumption on which the statement depends?

  • Applicants have access to the internet and will check the website.
  • Applicants prefer to receive results by mail only.
  • The website can be viewed only by agency employees.
  • Every applicant is included in the list of the qualified.
Answer: Applicants have access to the internet and will check the website.
The statement works only if it is taken for granted that applicants have access to the internet and will check the website. The other options are irrelevant to the reasoning, contradict the statement, or are far too extreme.

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