GMAT Critical Reasoning: 10 Most Common Question Types

Question

Every other day we'll be finding discussions of interesting and tricky questions from previous years.
We will be finding 5-10 Critical Reasoning questions every day based on Most Common Question types tested on the GMAT:

Weaken the Argument Questions,
Strength the Argument Questions,
Assumption Questions,
Must be True/Inference Questions,
Bold-Face Questions,
Resolve the Paradox Questions,
Dialogs – Method of Reasoning Questions,
Provide the Conclusion Questions
Evaluate the Argument Questions,
Parallel & Flaw in Reasoning Questions,

Study those hand-picked tough and tricky questions which have not been discussed for at least a year or two (you may have missed them otherwise) and review replies and tips from our expert team and prominent members**.

**Combined Effort by Gmatclub moderators and experts.
Kudos and thanks to Narenn, detobizz,mau5,WaterFlowsUp,daagh and Bunuel for bringing this project together.**

Articles on General CR Strategies

*Manhattan GMAT
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... g-problem/
https://www.manhattangmat.com/articles/C ... n-type.cfm
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/inde ... reasoning/

*Kaplan
https://gmat.kaptest.com/2012/03/24/comm ... bmynC.dpbs

*e-Gmat
article-representative-sample-a-concept-tested-in-gmat-cr-158832.html
how-to-approach-quantitative-predictive-arguments-146436.html

*Veritas
https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/2011/07 ... trategies/
https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/2012/07 ... ns-matter/
https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/2013/06 ... reasoning/
https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/2013/09 ... -the-gmat/
https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/2013/09 ... -the-gmat/

*Magoosh
https://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/save-time- ... questions/
https://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/introducti ... reasoning/

*Gmatclub*
cr-methods-an-approach-to-find-the-best-answers-93146.html

*Knewton
https://www.knewton.com/gmat/free/critical-reasoning/

*VERBAL ADVANTAGE*
verbal-advantage-2013-free-intensive-verbal-prep-154613.html
cr-methods-an-approach-to-find-the-best-answers-93146.html

Submit Fresh GMAT Critical Reasoning Questions as well as Concept Initiator Articles - Get Kudos Points

The opportunity:

Have you come across a unique CR question that has not been discussed on GMATCLUB yet? This is the right time to bring that question on the Forum and to earn a Kudos for the same!
Do you think you have very useful notes for attacking CR questions? Here is an excellent opportunity to share your valuable resources with other community members – Apart from Sincere Thanks by many community members you will also get 5 Kudos from the GMAT CLUB as a small token of Appreciation for your contribution in making this community rich with useful resources.

Terms & Conditions for posting a GMAT Question:

You will post a fresh CR question in the CR Forum. Please carry out the search in the search box to ensure that your question has NEVER been posted on the forum before
Your question should be on the QUESTION TYPE we have taken for Bumping on given day. e.g. If we have taken ‘Weaken the Argument’ QUESTION TYPE for the Bumping today, then you should post fresh ‘weaken the argument’ question(s) on the CR Forum within 24 hours or until we take next question type for Bumping.
You will subsequently PM me the link of your question(s) for further evaluation.
If your question(s) qualifies our acceptance criteria, you will we given 1 Kudos point for each question.
It is a MUST to indicate the source of your question and Tag it appropriately.
Questions from the following sources will not be considered for Kudos – 1000 series, Brutal SC, Barron, and LSAT.
Any difficulty is accepted (600, 700, 750+ level)
By posting your question(s) on the forum, you release any copyright rights to the question you may produce and allow GMAT Club to publish any material as needed
Please reproduce the entire question in the original format along with options, the OA and, if possible, the OE.

Acceptance Criteria for Questions:

Question(s) should not be discussed on the GMATCLUB before.
Question(s) should be posted along with correct OA.
Question(s) should have all the REQUIRED tags.
Question(s) should be of a Reliable Source – It is mandatory to indicate source of the Question.

Terms & Conditions for posting a GMAT CR Concept Initiator Article or Link:

The article should not be posted/discussed in the GMATCLUB forum before
The article should not be among the Articles/links already sited in the master thread
If you are NOT posting a article compiled by you, Please mention the source of your article(s) along with the link to the source/video
Your article should be related to the QUESTION TYPE we have taken for Bumping on given day. e.g. If we have taken ‘Weaken the Argument’ QUESTION TYPE for the Bumping today, then you should ONLY post related concept article(s) on the CR Forum within 24 hours or until we take next question type for Bumping.
You will subsequently PM me the link of your article for further evaluation.
If your concept article qualifies our acceptance criteria, you will we given 5 Kudos point for it.
By posting your Article(s) on the forum, you release any copyright rights to the Article you may produce and allow GMAT Club to publish any material as needed

dentobizz · Accepted Answer

31st October (day 1): Weaken the Argument Questions.

the-amount-of-money-estimated-to-be-lost-by-hollywood-42336.html#p295869
serious-individual-art-collectors-are-usually-discreet-when-154535.html#p1237015
in-the-last-two-years-alone-nearly-a-dozen-of-central-137444.html#p1113761
in-morigia-the-average-age-of-cars-that-are-still-in-use-has-141532.html#p1137209
escalating-worldwide-demand-for-corn-is-expected-to-cause-th-141398.html#p1136285
if-a-geneticist-selects-any-arbitrary-group-of-people-for-141003.html#p1133446
dental-researchers-recently-discovered-that-tooth-brushes-67378.html#p495191
in-the-past-most-airline-companies-minimized-aircraft-weight-23085.html#p152726
division-manager-i-want-to-replace-the-microton-computers-i-5804.html#p32729
the-average-age-of-chief-executive-officers-ceo-s-in-a-87474.html#p657596

**NEW Questions**

a-recent-study-of-las-vegas-clubs-showed-that-out-of-a-large-162537.html
after-a-recent-lawsuit-re-fresh-air-fresheners-most-162538.html
the-growing-of-coffee-beans-in-south-america-is-done-in-a-162539.html#p1287033
switching-to-electric-cars-will-not-improve-the-environment-162553.html
editorial-in-a-compelling-preponderance-of-clinical-trials-162550.html#p1287183
a-political-party-considered-by-many-citizens-extreme-162558.html
as-a-result-of-changes-in-cultural-norms-and-dynamics-162556.html

Theory on Weaken the Argument Questions
Manhattan Gmat
Stacey Manhattan Gmat
Stacey Mgmt

Mangoosh GMAT

Knewton

e-gmat

Thursdays with Ron video sessions (Weaken and Strengthen questions)

5 Good Reasons To Weaken by daagh
Souvik's Article
Veritas prep

***

New Concept resources

***
cr-weaken-question-videos-162541.html
gmat-critical-reasoning-weaken-questions-162547.html
working-with-causal-relationships-weakening-gmat-hacks-162535.html#p1286992

Submit Fresh Questions as well as Theory Articles on this Topic - Get Kudos Points!!! Check Here

dentobizz · Answer

November 4th (day 2): Strengthen the Argument Questions.

statistician-powerscore-84681.html#p634634
a-report-on-acid-rain-concluded-most-forests-in-canada-are-91898.html#p706091
in-the-industrialized-nations-the-last-century-has-97380.html#p750487
advertisers-are-often-criticized-for-their-unscrupulous-38345.html#p265468
rheumatic-fever-is-the-most-serious-complication-of-19886.html#p130183
black-americans-are-on-the-whole-about-twice-as-likely-as-122437.html#p991391
over-the-last-century-paleontologists-have-used-small-82264.html#p617029
thirty-years-after-the-forests-of-the-randall-valley-were-134164.html#p1094408
toxicologist-a-survey-of-oil-refinery-workers-who-work-with-139619.html
the-total-market-value-of-real-estate-in-altonville-has-138180.html

* NEW QUESTIONS*

in-an-effort-to-reduce-expenses-a-law-firm-plans-to-lay-off-162652.html#p1288018
preliminary-tests-show-that-the-drug-known-as-mephaline-162682.html#p1288285
most-scientists-believe-that-the-decay-of-the-ozone-layer-162681.html#p1288283
many-states-seek-to-reduce-their-budget-deficits-by-cutting-162679.html#p1288278

Theory on Strengthen the Argument Questions

Manhattan Gmat
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... n-problem/

Knewton
https://www.knewton.com/blog/gmat/2011/0 ... reasoning/
https://gmatclub.com/blog/2011/03/gmat-o ... -argument/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1VDgfv2SOcM

Gmat Pill
how-to-visualize-prethink-strengthens-questions-part-158224.html

Sovik's article on gmatcub
gmatclub-verbal-attack-139074.html#p1122347

https://www.facebook.com/gmatclubforum? ... cCAA%3D%3D

Veritas Prep
an-architect-s-look-at-critical-reasoning-by-veritas-prep-142434.html

***NEW CONCEPT ARTICLES/VIDEOS***

strengthening-your-strengthen-muscles-in-gmat-cr-grockit-162673.html#p1288204
gmat-critical-reasoning-how-to-strengthen-an-argument-162674.html#p1288210
cr-weaken-question-videos-162541.html#p1287952
concept-article-what-can-indeed-strengthen-an-argument-162727.html

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dentobizz · Answer

November 6th (day 3): Assumption Questions.

technically-a-given-category-of-insurance-policy-is-under-77000.html#p580217
an-electric-power-company-gained-greater-profits-and-88039.html#p1288719
exposure-to-certain-chemicals-commonly-used-in-elementary-87856.html#p661025
when-storing-renaissance-oil-paintings-museums-conform-to-83725.html#p627526
most-people-who-betray-their-country-through-some-form-of-137987.html
the-media-claim-that-the-economy-is-entering-a-phase-of-32011-40.html
the-retail-price-of-decaffeinated-coffee-is-considerably-136635.html
every-time-a-business-grants-financial-credit-to-an-117157.html#p948287
a-judge-in-hollywood-california-recently-issued-a-cease-and-141374.html#p1136157
the-spotted-mole-is-a-rodent-that-burrows-underground-and-160982.html

**New Questions**

in-an-attempt-to-abate-the-pernicious-decline-in-microchip-s-162763.html
a-famous-football-player-recently-won-a-lawsuit-162762.html#p1289132
preservatives-known-as-parabens-function-like-weak-versions-162761.html#p1289127
the-staff-of-soundview-school-is-spending-more-and-more-162760.html#p1289124
california-highway-expert-a-recent-study-determined-that-162759.html#p1289121
hiring-manager-here-at-lightwave-industries-we-have-162764.html

Theory on Assumption Questions

The 3-2 strategy
i-have-found-moderate-success-with-the-3-2-rule-while-135791.html

E-gmat
inference-vs-assumption-146758.html?hilit=Inference
https://e-gmat.com/blogs/?p=1750
article-what-and-how-to-negate-6-exercise-questions-138510.html#p1119593

Souvik's article
gmatclub-verbal-attack-139074-40.html#p1125894

Kaplan
https://gmat.kaptest.com/2011/05/23/kapl ... C1289.dpbs

Veritasprep
https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/2013/03 ... sumptions/
https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/2013/03 ... -question/
https://www.youtube.com/embed/bLXyDZZDozo

Knewton
https://gmatclub.com/blog/2011/08/the-de ... questions/

Mangoosh Gmat
https://magoosh.com/gmat/2013/assumption ... -the-gmat/

Manhattan Gmat
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/inde ... #more-6587
https://www.manhattangmat.com/articles/CR-assumption.cfm
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -problems/

Grockit
https://grockit.com/blog/gmat/2011/06/20 ... sumptions/

Gmatpill
https://www.gmatpill.com/practice-questi ... -question/

Gogmat
https://gogmat.com/blog/19-gmat-sample-q ... stion.html

Thrusdays' with Ron

*New Articles*

cr-weaken-and-strengthen-question-videos-162541.html#p1289137

Submit Fresh Questions as well as Theory Articles on this Topic - Get Kudos Points!!! Check Here

dentobizz · Answer

November 8th (day 4):Must be true/Inference Questions.

the-importance-of-the-ozone-layer-to-terrestrial-animals-is-113488.html#p919406
high-national-inflation-rates-do-not-result-in-stagnation-in-112450.html#p910785
wild-cheetahs-live-in-the-african-grasslands-previous-135441.html#p1102442
a-football-team-s-fans-expect-the-team-to-make-the-playoffs-139441.html#p1124475
editorial-the-government-claims-that-the-country-s-nuclear-135447.html#p1102464
a-recent-research-study-of-undergraduate-students-analyzed-136817.html#p1110297
the-decline-of-manufacturing-in-a-region-sets-off-a-chain-146421.html
informed-people-generally-assimilate-information-from-138968.html

**New questions**

in-a-recent-study-a-group-of-subjects-had-their-normal-dail-163012.html#p1291140

Theory on Must be true/Inference Questions

E-gmat
inference-vs-assumption-146758.html?hilit=MUST%20BE%20TRUE/%20INFERENCE

Kaplan
https://gmat.kaptest.com/2012/07/11/gmat ... niFDi.dpbs

Veritasprep
https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/2012/12 ... questions/

Knewton
https://www.knewton.com/blog/inference-3/

Mangoosh Gmat
https://magoosh.com/gmat/2013/gmat-criti ... inference/

Manhattan Gmat
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... e-problem/

Vimeo videos

Thrusdays with Ron

**New concept articles**

concept-article-how-to-tackle-must-be-true-or-inference-cr-162910.html

Submit Fresh Questions as well as Theory Articles on this Topic - Get Kudos Points!!! Check Here

dentobizz · Answer

November 12th (day 5):Boldfaced Questions

political-candidate-government-subsidized-prescription-drug-67057.html
a-cancer-drug-that-shows-positive-results-in-early-141592.html
chief-economist-usually-the-release-of-economic-data-about-140424.html
recently-since-rumors-have-been-confirmed-that-the-most-142418.html
public-health-advocate-it-is-generally-true-that-medication-140641.html
political-analyst-after-the-soviet-union-collapsed-some-131139.html#p1076914
one-of-the-limiting-factors-in-human-physical-performance-is-84979.html#p373713
city-official-at-city-hospital-uninsured-patients-tend-to-109829.html
united-energy-recently-invested-in-a-series-of-large-121298.html
gmat-prep-cr-92672.html#p713424

Theory on Boldfaced Questions
GMAT HACKS
https://www.gmathacks.com/critical-reaso ... oning.html

MANGOOSH
https://magoosh.com/gmat/2013/gmat-criti ... questions/

MASTER GMAT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fb6tkQHa0Wo

Veritas prep
https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/2013/03 ... -the-gmat/

Thrusdays with ron

Manhattan gmat
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... -question/

Unlimited gmat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Jct_pPgl8M

e-gmat
many-gmat-test-takers-consider-bold-face-bf-questions-to-145093.html

Kaplan
bold-face-questions-in-cr-a-video-by-kaplan-162893.html

Knewton
https://www.knewton.com/blog/gmat/2010/0 ... ion-types/

Submit Fresh Questions as well as Theory Articles on this Topic - Get Kudos Points!!! Check Here

dentobizz · Answer

November 14th (day 6):Paradox Questions

in-an-effort-to-develop-a-treatment-regimen-that-would-133344.html
mgmat-explain-a-situation-102528.html
the-climbing-season-of-2006-was-the-deadliest-on-record-for-123589.html
in-january-1992-the-sylvanic-exterminator-service-of-salem-117007.html
a-report-that-many-apples-contain-a-cancer-causing-10110.html
in-kantovia-physicians-income-comes-from-insurance-123155.html
garnet-and-renco-each-provide-health-care-for-their-13392.html
tooten-county-is-populated-by-a-significantly-lower-137092.html
62-of-the-registered-voters-in-state-w-declared-themselves-141404.html

**New Questions**

foxes-generally-keep-off-a-new-question-on-paradox-163137.html
when-diligence-a-nationally-a-new-question-on-paradox-163140.html
the-levels-of-lipids-another-paradox-question-163145.html
alf-corporation-yet-another-paradox-question-163149.html
the-fiscal-year-yet-another-new-praradox-q-from-gmatclub-163185.html
a-certain-south-east-asian-another-paradox-new-q-163204.html
some-religions-whose-new-paradox-question-163203.html

Theory on Paradox Questions

Source: Manhattan Gmat
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... screpancy/

Source: Magoosh
concept-article-on-cr-paradox-by-magoosh-163071.html

Source: gogmat
concept-article-on-resolve-paradox-from-gogmat-com-163081.html

Source: quizlet
concept-article-on-paradox-questions-from-quizlet-com-163082.html

Source: Creasoning
concept-article-on-resolve-the-paradox-by-creasoning-blog-163083.html

Source: grockit
resolve-the-argument-question-overview-from-grockit-163084.html

Source: aspiranhunt
concept-article-on-resolve-paradox-from-aspiranhunt-163085.html

Source: 800gmat
concept-article-on-resolve-paradox-by-800gmat-com-163076.html

Source: 800score.com
concept-article-on-resolve-paradox-by-800score-com-163074.html

Source: Veritas
concept-article-on-resolve-paradox-by-veritas-163073.html

Thursdays with Ron

*New theory article*

Source: daagh Verbal Expert gmatclub
concept-article-cr-resolve-the-paradox-by-daagh-163056.html

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dentobizz · Answer

November 18th (day 7):Method Of Reasoning/Dialog Questions

thyrian-lawmaker-thyria-s-cheese-importation-board-106423.html#p836389

journalist-in-late-1994-the-present-government-of-the-94157.html#p724241

networks-of-blood-vessels-in-bats-wings-serve-only-163287.html#p724800

keith-compliance-with-new-government-regulations-94214.html#p724802

garbage-in-this-neighborhood-probably-will-not-be-collected-17466.html#p113700

jorge-you-won-t-be-able-to-write-well-about-the-rock-music-139865.html#p1107911

*NEW Questions*

sarah-who-is-an-excellent-mechanic-said-that-in-her-opinio-163288.html

Theory on Method Of Reasoning Questions

Mangoosh gmat
https://magoosh.com/gmat/2013/gmat-cr-di ... questions/

Veritas Prep
https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/2013/10 ... -the-gmat/

Manhattan Gmat
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... #more-5632

Thursdays with Ron

Submit Fresh Questions as well as Theory Articles on this Topic - Get Kudos Points!!! Check Here

dentobizz · Answer

November 20th (day 8):Conclusion/Main point Questions

many-people-argue-that-tobacco-advertising-plays-a-crucial-90765.html

in-the-course-of-her-researches-a-historian-recently-found-113009.html#p63267

recent-studies-show-that-people-between-the-ages-of-13-and-137259.html

albinism-is-a-rare-genetic-condition-that-inhibits-the-123761.html

that-the-application-of-new-technology-can-increase-the-91909.html#p280418

for-each-of-the-five-feature-films-premiering-last-july-126702.html#p958634

Theory Articles of Main point/Conclusion questions

Thursdays with Ron

Kaplan
https://gmat.kaptest.com/2011/09/07/how- ... gFHrI.dpbs

**NEW Articles**

concept-article-how-to-tackle-draw-a-conclusion-question-163529.html
concept-article-how-to-approach-main-point-questions-163527.html

Submit Fresh Questions as well as Theory Articles on this Topic - Get Kudos Points!!! Check Here

dentobizz · Answer

November 22nd (day 9):Evaluate the arguement

mountain-county-and-sunrise-county-are-two-comparable-143716.html
between-1977-and-1989-the-percentage-of-income-paid-to-126703.html
editorial-in-order-to-preserve-the-health-of-its-local-137488.html
following-several-years-of-declining-advertising-sales-the-136234.html
truesave-is-a-mail-order-company-that-ships-electronic-131125.html
no-resident-of-country-x-should-consider-the-loss-of-the-113648.html
the-civil-service-act-of-1883-also-known-as-the-pendleton-86121.html
evaluate-the-argument-85093.html

Theory Articles on Evaluate the Argument
Manhattan GMAT
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... e-problem/

Mangoosh gmat
https://magoosh.com/gmat/2013/gmat-tuesd ... -argument/

Vimeo videos

Quizlet
https://quizlet.com/25063381/gmat-cr-14- ... ash-cards/

Thursdays with Ron

Submit Fresh Questions as well as Theory Articles on this Topic - Get Kudos Points!!! Check Here

dentobizz · Answer

November 25th (day 10 ):Parallel Reasoning and Flaw in Reasoning questions

studies-show-that-repeated-exposure-to-an-allergen-can-136397.html
one-of-the-limiting-factors-in-human-physical-performance-is-123755.html
free-public-education-is-the-best-form-of-education-there-90280.html#p685876
many-people-are-alarmed-about-the-population-explosion-119911.html#p968423
one-of-the-limiting-factors-in-human-physical-performance-is-88662.html

Theory Articles on Parallel Reasoning Questions
Manhattan GMAT
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... reasoning/

Gmat hacks
https://www.gmathacks.com/study-tips/lsat-vs-gmat.html

Veritas Prep
https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/2013/05 ... es-part-i/
https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/2013/05 ... s-part-ii/

Edvento
https://edvento.com/blog/how-to-approach ... reasoning/

Powerscore (overview)
powerscore-critical-reasoning-bible-full-chapter-notes-115864.html

Platinum gmat (key words)
https://www.platinumgmat.com/about_gmat/ ... tion_types

Submit Fresh Questions as well as Theory Articles on this Topic - Get Kudos Points!!! Check Here

dentobizz · Answer

Complete the Passage/Fill in the blank questions

Few Question Types do not fit into a single specific question category.
Complete the passage or Fill in the Blanks question belong to this category.

FIB or Complete the passage questions can be :
Assumption
Inference/Must Be True
Main point or Conclusion
questions.

Few concept articles on how to tackle this question type are :

Stacy Koprince MGMT
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... is-part-1/
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/index ... is-part-2/
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/inde ... reasoning/

https://www.gmatdaily.com/20130813-gmat- ... e-day.html

Quizlet
https://quizlet.com/25063363/gmat-cr-3-m ... ash-cards/

Veritas prep
https://www.gmatclub.com/forum/veritas-prep-resource-links-no-longer-available-399979.html#/2013/03 ... -the-gmat/

Mangoosh Gmat
https://magoosh.com/gmat/2012/gmat-logic ... -argument/

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GMAT Critical Reasoning (CR) Questions

GMAT Critical Reasoning: 10 Most Common Question Types

Prep Toolkit

615 to 715 in 15 Days (Ria's Strategies)

More than Quant/Verbal Abilities: Speed vs. Accuracy

745 with Only Self-Prep and GMAT Club

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My Rewards