| Critical Reasoning Butler: September 2025 |
| October 15 | CR 1 | CR 2 |
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CR 1 The Langova National park is a breeding ground for several migratory birds. Of late, the Spot-breasted Laughing Thrush, an extremely rare species of bird, has been sighted only in the Langova National park. The people who have sighted this bird in the park have claimed that it is possible to sight this bird only through the use of binoculars. Barry is visiting the Langova National Park next week and he will be carrying an extremely powerful pair of binoculars with him. Therefore, it is safe to conclude that, as long as Barry has his binoculars on him, he will most definitely manage to sight the Spot-breasted Laughing Thrush.
Which of the following indicates a flaw in the reasoning above?
(A) It fails to take into account the possibility of sighting the Spot-breasted Laughing Thrush at places other than the Langova National Park.
(B) It mistakes a necessary condition for a sufficient condition.
(C) It is based on a series of assumptions, rather than on facts.
(D) It does not take into account the possibility that Barry could lose or damage his binoculars on the way to the park.
(E) It does not take into account the possibility that Barry may sight some other equally rare species of bird.
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CR 2 I do not agree that wage disparity still exists between men and women. Almost all salaried individuals today are paid based on their qualification and experience and not their sex. It is only the lower labour class where the disparity still exists, but this is justified because there are certain tasks requiring physical strength, such as carrying heavy construction material, that can only be performed by men.
If the above statements are true, which of the following is an example of wage disparity on the basis of gender?
(A) A company pays its management trainees, most of whom are females and have just passed out from business schools, a lower salary than it pays to its senior partners, most of whom are males.
(B) A male labourer who does not do any physically taxing work is paid a lower wage than a male labourer who does physically taxing work.
(C) A female employee at a managerial level in a company gets a lower salary than a female employee who has joined the company as a trainee but whose uncle is a partner in the company.
(D) A male labourer who does not do any physical work is paid a higher wage than a female labourer who does not do any physical work.
(E) A male manager working for Company X gets paid a higher salary than does a female manager with similar experience working for Company Z