Section I, Critical Reasoning


Questions 1 - 5

Below are some tables containing information about a variety of aircraft. This data formed part of a comparative study conducted to compare the different qualities of the craft. Study the tables and accompanying information, and answer the questions which follow.

Table A -

Table B -

"The analysis is based on six criteria that compare the Wolf's utility to other aircraft.

• Cost
• Stall Speed
• Max Cruise Speed
• Useful Load
• Range
• Efficiency (as calculated by multiplying mpg x # of seats)

Based on performance and cost data supplied by individual manufacturers of aircraft, they were ranked and pointed by their standing within a category. 7 points for best, 6 points second. Total rankings were tallied.
NB Efficiency. This number is generally not used by manufacturers. In an effort for Hensley Aircraft to demonstrate the efficiency of the Wolf we developed a baseline to level the playing field. Our efficiency standard is based on miles per hour, divided by gallons per hour, multiplied by number of seats available."

Question 1
The names of the aircraft in Table A have been deliberately removed. Which of these is the correct ordering of aircraft names if listed in descending order of total points scored over all categories?

A Hensley Wolf, Lancair 4P, Cirrus SR 20, Lancair ES, Velocity XL, Piper Seneca, Europa
B Velocity XL, Cirrus SR 20, Hensley Wolf, Lancair ES, Piper Seneca, Lancair 4P, Europa.
C Hensley Wolf, Lancair ES, Lancair 4P, Europa, Piper Seneca, Velocity XL, Cirrus SR 20.
D Europa, Lancair 4P, Piper Seneca, Lancair ES, Hensley Wolf, Cirrus SR 20, Velocity XL.

Question 2
Below are four sentences labelled W, X, Y and Z. Order them according to how many ways in which each sentence is wrong, in ascending order of numbers of wrong implications contained. Which of the orderings A through D is correct?

W The most expensive and least expensive aircraft are also respectively the aircraft with the highest and lowest stall speeds.

X The best aircraft had no features that scored lower than the worst aircraft.

Y Cirrus SR 20 is better than Velocity XL in terms of Stall speeds, but not in terms of Range or Efficiency.

Z Each of the four aircraft with a range greater than 1,000 miles came fifth or lower when ranked in order of most ideal stalling speeds.

A X, W, Z, Y.
B Y, Z, W, X.
C W, X, Z, Y.
D X, W, Y, Z.

A The Hensley Wolf’s weakest area is clearly the cost.
B Europa was only best when considered in terms of useful load carriable.
C The Cirrus SR 20 is so low scoring in each category that it didn’t score as high as even third in any category (not including overall).
D The majority of aircraft did not score as high as second place in more than one category (not including overall).

Question 4
According to Table A, which of these choices would be most difficult if money was no object, and I was not concerned with Cruise Speeds or Useful Load?

A Shall I buy Lancair ES or Lancair 4P?
B Shall I buy Hensley Wolf or Cirrus SR 20?
C Shall I buy Lancair 4P or Velocity XL?
D Shall I buy Europa or Velocity XL?

Question 5
“Although equally ranked in terms of ****, %%%% was ranked better than !!!! in terms of Cruise Speed and Cost, in Table A”. Which of the groups of aircraft A-D correctly lists the three missing words “****”, “%%%%” and “!!!!”

In the sentence above which are required for the sentence to be true, in the order in which they should appear?

A “Efficiency”, “Lancair 4P”, “Piper Seneca”.
B “Range”, “Lancair ES”, “Lancair 4P”.
C “Stall Speed”, “Hensley Wolf”, “Cirrus SR 20”.
D Both A and C.

Answers for questions 1-5