Critical Reasoning Questions for CLAT

The logical reasoning subject is broadly divided into two types: Critical Reasoning and Logical Thinking.  In the CLAT exam, around 28-32 questions will be asked in the logical reasoning section, out of which 12-15 questions may be asked from this topic in the exam.

To ease out your preparation, we have cumulated important Critical Reasoning Questions for the CLAT Exam from the previous year's papers and a few self-designed papers by faculties at LegalEdge (a pioneer in providing the best online guidance for Law Entrance Exams).

So, why late? Check out the important questions from the post below and enhance your preparation for the upcoming exam.

What are Critical Reasoning Questions in CLAT?

Questions that include an argument, assumption, identifying the assumption of an argument, evaluating the argument, and deriving a conclusion are categorized under critical reasoning. 

Important concepts involved in critical reasoning are Statement and Argument, Statement and Assumption, Statement and Conclusion, Statement and Course of Action, Cause and Effects, and many more. 

Download Important Critical Reasoning Questions with Solutions

Types of Critical Reasoning Questions for CLAT

In the section of logical reasoning for CLAT, the question shall include comprehension-based passages followed by 4-5 questions. Different types of critical reasoning questions might appear in the exam, and those are listed below:

• Weaken the Argument.
• Strengthen the Argument.
• Supply the Assumption.
• Supply the Conclusion.
• Structure of the Argument.
• The flaw in the Argument.
• Paradox Questions.
• Evaluate the Conclusion.

How to Attempt CLAT Critical Reasoning Questions?

If you are finding difficulties in attempting critical reasoning questions for CLAT, then follow the below-listed points carefully for answering these questions easily. 

• Be an active reader while reading the question from the passage.
• Try to understand the complicated parts and ask questions yourself about the passage.
• Also, it is essential to recognize the conclusions and premises in a particular passage. 
• Try to determine the tone or theme of the passage.
• There may be a lot of data in the question that may confuse you, so focus on the question and the aspect that it is based on.
• Circle important keywords while reading the question. This will help you find the right answer.

Read More: Short Tricks to score 150 in CLAT 

Sample Critical Reasoning Questions for CLAT

To help you get an idea about the type of questions asked in the exam, we have provided the sample questions that are curated from the previous year's Question Papers of CLAT. 

Practicing these questions will help improve your speed and time management by doing this regularly.

Passage based Critical Reasoning Questions for CLAT

Passage 1

Some readers wondered whether my reading of the crisis in the news media is about journalism or about the news industry. Though the fortunes of the news industry have a bearing on journalism, there is, indeed, a difference between looking at issues that govern journalism and the factors that contribute to the financial stress of the media industry. Over the last few years, I have been discussing the impact of digitalization on journalism. The pandemic has accelerated the process of digital transformation of the news media. Therefore, these issues need close scrutiny. One of the defining elements of analog journalism was the way two crucial functions of journalism — bearing witness and making sense — complemented each other and helped people make informed choices.

When I talk about the strength of analog, I am neither romanticizing the past nor am I a Luddite. Most importantly, I do not believe in nostalgia. Many scholars have established ―how rose-colored glasses always lead to an unfair distortion — looking back on the best of the past while comparing it to the worst of the present.‖ Hence, when I talk about the digital information news environment, I am talking about how there needs to be a conducive atmosphere for credible information to resonate with the people. Literature on misinformation, disinformation, and misinformation reveals a new distinction in the minds of the citizens. Editors and journalists have to contend with a new breed of skeptics. These are the people who trust social media forwards more than evidence-based, data-driven journalism. Their confirmation bias flows from encrypted social media platforms that are full of conspiracy theories. [Excerpt from an Article by A.S. Panneerselvan, The Hindu, dated August 10, 2020]

Q. In this line, ―Hence, when I talk about the digital information news environment, I am talking about how there needs to be a conducive atmosphere for credible information to resonate with the people‖ the Author assumes that:

a) The Digital news is neither evidence-based nor data-driven.

b) Digital journalism does not help people in making informed choices.

c) Both a) and b)

d) The impact of Digital journalism has created an informed platform for journalism

Q. Which of the following strengthens the Author‘s argument?

a) Conspiracy theories have become an alternative truth.

b) The Pandemic is the only reason behind the dependence of people on Social media journalism.

c) The News industry is witnessing a tremendous change.

d) None of the above.

Q. What does the Author indicate when he quotes that ―Rose-colored glasses always lead to unfair distortion‖?

a) Digital Journalism is twisted.

b) Author means to say that he does not have any disproportionate bias for analog journalism.

c) Rosy picture of every news cannot be created.

d) All of the above.

Passage 2

If anything, the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has taught us to rethink our lifestyles and question our need to travel to work every day. After all, in the age of the internet, zoom meetings and webinars can be virtually conducted and physical distancing is possible. A large nature of work in cities is of tertiary nature, a major part of which can be done from home. This can affect the way offices function and reduce the need for all employees to be physically present every day. Information Technology companies are already contemplating a move of making many of their employees work from home and make this a ‗new normal‘. If more firms follow suit, the need for huge office buildings and central business districts would change. Apartments cannot get bigger at the same rate, and people may not have space or atmosphere to work from home. This would mean that more people would opt for co-working spaces close to their homes. This could be a game-changer, for it would provide the cities to better distribute their activities throughout the spaces and rid themselves of the idea of zoning. Only a handful of professionals are allowed to function from residential zones, including doctors, lawyers, architects, etc. This needs serious rethinking. Many more professions of similar nature that do not disturb surrounding residence and have no requirements of special services should be added to the list. This new work culture would bring associated demand for food joints, cafés, stationery shops, etc. [Excerpt from „Down to Earth‟ Magazine, Blog authored by Sugeet Grover, August 17, 2020]

Q. Consider the following statement: ―Work from home culture is a sustainable method of business and should be extended to all professions." Which of the following weakens the Author‘s argument?

a) Not every type of profession fits in the ‗work from home‘ culture as different professions have different requirements and need different environments and workspace settings.

b) 'Work from home‘ impacts a person‘s mental health.

c) Both a) and b)

d) Neither a) nor b)

Attempt FREE CLAT Logical Reasoning Quiz

Q. Which of the following weakens the author‘s argument that 'Work from home‘ culture will enable better city planning?

a) Development of Co-working spaces will further create chaos in terms of land planning.

b) City planning is not only about reducing spaces.

c) Work from home will also reduce the flow of money in the economy.

d) All of the above.

Following is an array of questions to test your reasoning ability in different situations. Answer each of them according to the question asked in each of them respectively:

Q. If highways were restricted to cars and only those trucks with a capacity of fewer than 8 tons, most of the truck traffic would be forced to run outside highways. Such a reduction in the amount of truck traffic would reduce the risk of collisions on highways. The conclusion drawn in the first sentence depends on which of the following assumptions?

a) The roads outside the highway would be as convenient as a highway for most drivers of trucks..

b) Most of the roads outside highways are not ready to handle truck traffic.

c) Most trucks that are currently running on the highway have a capacity of more than 8 tons.

d) Cars are at greater risk of being involved in collisions than are trucks

Q. Read the debate between Harry and Potter and identify the main issue: Harry: Within democracies, voters are entitled to know the downside to a candidate and the other side is obviously well placed to voice it. To stifle one‘s ability to voice negative things about a candidate would be to obstruct democracy and limit free speech. Potter: Negative advertisements produce the politics of the person since the easiest advert is an attack advert that focuses on the personality or personal qualities of one‘s opponent. A negative advertisement is one that focuses upon a rival product, in this case, a rival election candidate or party in order to point its flaws and to persuade the public to not vote for it.

a) Whether negative advertisement strengthens democratic governance?

b) Whether the practice of negative advertisements is good for democracy and politics?

c) Whether negative advertising needs to be banned?

d) Whether negative advertising produces the politics of the personal?

General Critical Reasoning Questions 

Here are a few sample CLAT Critical Reasoning Questions that can help in your preparation:

Q. Directions: Read the statements followed by conclusions and answer the questions

Statement: According to Baba Ramdev “Values, integrity and peace of mind are essential for a beautiful life.”

Conclusions:

• I. Baba Ramdev believes that each of values, integrity, and peace of mind are essential for a beautiful life.
• II. Baba Ramdev believes that a materialistic person cannot have a beautiful life.

1. If only conclusion I follow.
2. If only conclusion II follows.
3. If both conclusions I and II follow.
4. If neither I nor II follows.

Q. Statement: Anyone who manages an engineering organization like Tata Motors can only be successful if he has the knowledge of the professional work that is carried on in the organization.

Conclusions :

• I. If you want to run any company, it is essential that you should know the professional work associated with it.
• II. In order to manage an engineering organization like Tata Motors, it is essential to have an engineering education background.

1. If only conclusion I follow.
2. If only conclusion II follows.
3. If both conclusions I and II follow.
4. If neither I nor II follows.

Q. Directions: For the Assertion (A) and Reasons (R), choose the correct alternative from the following.

Assertion: Over the past few decades, there has been drastic global warming.

Reason: The push for economic development has increased to dangerous proportions the emission of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.

1. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
2. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
3. A is true but R is false
4. A is false but R is true

Q. Directions: For the Assertion (A) and Reasons (R), choose the correct alternative from the following.

Assertion: The filament inside a bulb is made of copper.

Reason: Usually there is a vacuum in the bulb

1. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
2. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
3. A is true but R is false
4. A is false but R is true

Q. Directions: In the question below is given a statement followed by two assumptions numbered I and II. Consider the statement and decide which of the given assumption is implicit.

Statement: A Reliance Fresh Retail store was attacked by vegetable vendors in Ranchi. 

Assumptions :

• I. Reliance Fresh has affected the livelihood of local vegetable vendors.
• II. Reliance Fresh stores are built-in thickly populated areas.

1. If only assumption I is implicit
2. If only assumption II is implicit
3. If both I and II are implicit
4. If neither I nor II is implicit

Q. Directions: In the following question a statement is given followed by two courses of action. A course of action is taken for improvement, follow-up, etc. Read the statement carefully and give your answer as

Statement: There is a proposal for the Maharashtra government to clear the slum areas in Mumbai for beautification and economic development.

Courses of Action :

• I. The Maharashtra Government should compensate the affected persons with a reasonable amount.
• II. The Maharashtra Government should stop beautification and economic development work immediately

1. If the only course of action I follow.
2. If the only course of action II follows
3. If both I and II follow
4. If neither course of action I nor II follows.