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Relevant information in Critical Reasoning Problems
The GMAT frequently tests your ability to sort relevant facts from irrelevant details. While it takes time and practice to become skilled at this process, there are a few things you can learn to look out for.
So, let’s consider the following claim: My friend Kareem is tall. What information would be relevant to help you determine whether the statement is true?
Red herrings: Kareem is a star basketball player. Sounds good, right? Most professional basketball players are well above average height. However, I didn’t specify the NBA or even college basketball. Maybe you’ve seen the video of the toddler who sinks baskets from all over his house? Beware of the obvious statement. It’s usually a trap.
Close calls: Kareem wears size 14 shoes. Other statements are less obvious, but still seem relevant. Now we’ve got a physical characteristic of Kareem. We’re getting a bit closer, but it could be that Kareem is a shorter guy with unusually large feet.
False negatives: Kareem is shorter than Julie. Some statements go the other direction, suggesting that the original statement is false. Here, though, relative height doesn’t mean much, especially if Julie’s in the WNBA (although that’s not decisive, right?). Watch out for seemingly obvious negations, too. So, after all that, is there a statement that clearly answers yes? Arguably, if I told you that Kareem had to duck his head to walk through standard-sized doorways, that fact might suggest he’s tall. What’s the takeaway?
Originally posted at Economist GMAT Blog
The GMAT frequently tests your ability to sort relevant facts from irrelevant details. While it takes time and practice to become skilled at this process, there are a few things you can learn to look out for.
So, let’s consider the following claim: My friend Kareem is tall. What information would be relevant to help you determine whether the statement is true?
Red herrings: Kareem is a star basketball player. Sounds good, right? Most professional basketball players are well above average height. However, I didn’t specify the NBA or even college basketball. Maybe you’ve seen the video of the toddler who sinks baskets from all over his house? Beware of the obvious statement. It’s usually a trap.
Close calls: Kareem wears size 14 shoes. Other statements are less obvious, but still seem relevant. Now we’ve got a physical characteristic of Kareem. We’re getting a bit closer, but it could be that Kareem is a shorter guy with unusually large feet.
False negatives: Kareem is shorter than Julie. Some statements go the other direction, suggesting that the original statement is false. Here, though, relative height doesn’t mean much, especially if Julie’s in the WNBA (although that’s not decisive, right?). Watch out for seemingly obvious negations, too. So, after all that, is there a statement that clearly answers yes? Arguably, if I told you that Kareem had to duck his head to walk through standard-sized doorways, that fact might suggest he’s tall. What’s the takeaway?
- Watch out for seemingly obvious but irrelevant details.
- Watch out for closely-related facts that aren’t decisive.
- Watch out for apparent contradictions.
Originally posted at Economist GMAT Blog
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