Free Critical Thinking Test

Inferences
Questions Booklet

Instructions

This practice critical thinking test will assess your ability to make inferences and logical
assumptions and to reason with supported arguments.

Read the instructions preceding each section and answer the questions. There are a total of
14 questions in this test and you should aim to correctly answer as many questions as you can
within 30 minutes.

Try to find a time and place where you will not be interrupted during the test. The test will
begin on the next page.

AssessmentDay
Practice Aptitude Tests
 Section 4: Inferences
Instructions:

An inference is a conclusion drawn from observed or supposed facts. For example, if someone
presses a light switch but the light does not turn on, they might infer that the filament has burnt out.
However, inferences may or may not be correct. For example, in this case, the bulb could be missing,
or a fuse could be blown.

The questions in this section of the test will begin with a statement of facts that must be regarded as
true. After each statement, you will be presented with possible inferences which might be drawn
from facts in the statement. Analyse each inference separately and decide on its degree of truth.

For each inference, you will be provided with 5 possible answers: True, Probably True, More
Information Required, Probably False, and False.

Select:

True, if you believe the inference is definitely true, i.e. it correctly follows beyond a reasonable
doubt.

Probably True, if, based on the facts at hand, you think the inference is probably true; that it is more
likely to be true than false, but not true beyond a reasonable doubt.

More Information Required, if you decide that there is not enough data to make a decision based
on the provided facts (or lack of facts).

Probably False, if, based on the facts presented, you think the inference is probably false; i.e. it is
more likely to be false than true, but there is not enough evidence to suggest that it is definitely
false.

False, if you think the inference is definitely false; i.e. it must be incorrect because it misrepresents
the facts provided or contradicts the facts provided in the statement.

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 Statement One:

Although it is agreed that China is rapidly modernising its army, there is some
doubt surrounding the exact amount it is spending. The research institute ‘PIPPI’,
submits that the annual Chinese defence spending has risen from almost $31
billion in 2000 to over $120 billion in 2010. This figure is almost double the official
figure published by the Chinese government, who fail to include many other areas
such as research and development in the official figure each year. In 2010, the
United States government spent around $400 billion on military defence. Based on
the current level of military growth, statistics suggest that China’s defence
spending could overtake America’s by 2030. In addition to military spending,
China’s army continues to enjoy the largest number of people within the ranks of its
army than any other country.

Q1
Inference 1: The official figures published by the Chinese government in relation to their military
spending are thought to be misleading.

True
Probably True
More Information Required
Probably False
False

Q2
Inference 2: It is known that the Chinese government leave areas such as ‘research’ and
‘development’ from their official figures, however, this would also suggest that other areas of
spending are also omitted from their official figure for military spending.

True
Probably True
More Information Required
Probably False
False

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 Q3
Inference 3: The Chinese government omits several key areas from its official spending figures, in
areas such as military spending, agriculture, human rights and law.

True
Probably True
More Information Required
Probably False
False

Q4
Inference 4: If there are any anomalies between the published figures on military spending and
the actual figure spent, this is merely a clerical error.

True
Probably True
More Information Required
Probably False
False

Q5
Inference 5: In 2010, the United States of America spent less on its military defence than the
Chinese government.

True
Probably True
More Information Required
Probably False
False

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 Statement Two

Turkey is a surprising addition to the list of rapidly developing economies; with a

GDP increase of 8.5% in the year 2011 alone. However, such rapid growth leaves
worries regarding possible side-effects. For instance, in 2011 Turkey’s rate of
inflation was well above that of its peers. Secondly, there is increasing concern
regarding Turkey’s growing dependency on foreign capital. A large portion of the
Turkish banking system is part-owned by banks within the Eurozone. As the single
currency falters, such a dependency raises questions about the stability of Turkish
growth.

Q6
Inference 1: There are concerns that Turkey’s development is at risk of faltering in the years after
2011.

True
Probably True
More Information Required
Probably False
False

Q7
Inference 2: As Turkish banks are part-owned by those in the Eurozone, they may suffer if the
European banks face financial difficulty.

True
Probably True
More Information Required
Probably False
False

Q8
Inference 3: The Turkish banks are part-owned by European banks as this provides greater
variation to the market and extra finance to the economy.

True
Probably True
More Information Required
Probably False
False

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 Q9
Inference 4: Turkish banks are part-owned by European banks as this provides greater economic
links with the Eurozone, helping their ascension into the European Union.

True
Probably True
More Information Required
Probably False
False

Q10
Inference 5: The Turkish economy was surprisingly stagnant in 2011.

True
Probably True
More Information Required
Probably False
False

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 Statement Three

Some people think that prospective employees should include a photograph with
their application form. Such practice has traditionally been criticised for allowing
more attractive individuals to get ahead in their career over ‘plain’ colleagues.
However, one study demonstrates that this is, in fact, untrue. Ruffle, the creator of
this study, attributes his findings to the ‘dumb-blonde hypothesis’- that beautiful
women are thought to be unintelligent. Ruffle submits that companies would be
better advised adopting the selection model employed by the Belgian public sector,
where CVs are anonymous and candidate names, gender and photographs are not
allowed to be included on CVs. Such a model allows the candidate to be selected on
factors relevant to the role applied for.

Q11
Inference 1: The ‘dumb-blonde hypothesis’ says that more attractive women are less capable of
being intelligent.

True
Probably True
Insufficient Data
Probably False
False

Q12
Inference 2: The model of selecting future employees adopted by the Belgian public sector aims
to reduce discrimination based on appearance and gender.

True
Probably True
Insufficient Data
Probably False
False

Q13
Inference 3: The method of selecting future employees adopted by the Belgian public sector has
helped to eliminate discrimination in the Belgian public sector.

True
Probably True
Insufficient Data
Probably False
False

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 Q14
Inference 4: The method of selecting future employees adopted by the Belgian public sector has
had the effect of increasing discrimination based on appearance within the Belgian public sector.

True
Probably True
Insufficient Data
Probably False
False

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 -- END OF CRITICAL THINKING TEST --

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distribution in printed, electronic, or any other
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form in whole or in part, is prohibited without Document last updated 28-06-2017 www.assessmentday.co.uk
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