How to tackle Inference based questions

Ck Commonly Repeated Inference Based Questions – Download here How to tackle Inference based questions For most CAT aspirants, RC is a nightmare. “It takes too much time” “The answer choices are too close” and so on. So how does one attempt and more importantly crack Reading Comprehension?Firstly, RC has to be attempted, as it accounts for , almost a 1/3rd of VA section. Since you can’t do well in VA section without RC, the bottom line is, no RC No Tier1 Bschool. A lot of RC questions in CAT are not based directly on the facts stated in the passage but require you to make some inferences. While you do learn through practice, it makes sense for you to go and study Critical Reasoning basics before attempting inference-based questions. This should help you get a sound understanding for the nature of arguments: Facts, Assumptions and how Conclusions and Inferences can be drawn. LETS START WITH SOME BASIC STUFF: INFERENCE: Process of using observation and background knowledge as well as other known premises to determine a conclusion that makes sense. EXAMPLES: 1.Sally arrives at home at 4:30 and knows that her mother does not get off of work until 5. Sally also sees that the lights are off in their house. Sally can infer that her mother is not yet home. 2.Bob knows that Baltimore is known for its crabcakes and Bob is going to a seafood restaurant in Baltimore for dinner tonight. Bob can infer that the restaurant will likely serve crabcakes. 3.Sherry’s toddler is in bed upstairs. She hears a bang and crying. Sherry can infer that her toddler fell out of bed. 4.John hears a smoke alarm and smells burnt bacon. John can infer that his neighbor burnt her breakfast. THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND FOR INFERENCE QUESTIONS: 1.Don’t jump into the Assumption Hunt. These questions usually don’t carry much in the way of glaring assumptions. Instead, these questions generally test your ability to derive a conclusion from stated premises. 2.Knock out answers with extreme wording. Inference answers typically do not use only, always, never, best or any strong words that leave little wiggle room. The right answers on Inference questions will generally use more qualifiers and less extreme language. 3.Try to fully understand what the passage’s point is and the exact reasoning so that if the question asks you to extend that reasoning, you are able to accurately do so. 4.Use the process of elimination. Inference questions typically have two or three good answers. The best way to tackle these questions is to gradually eliminate the possible answers until you have one or two and then choose the last one by scope. SAMPLE QUESTION: Although Locke has been hailed as a giant figure in European intellectual history, his ideas were largely borrowed from his predecessors, who are now unfairly neglected by historians. Furthermore, Locke never wrote a truly great book; his most widely known works are muddy in style, awkwardly constructed, and often self-contradictory. With which of the following would the author most likely agree? a)Locke made use of ideas without acknowledging his predecessors as the sources of those ideas. b)Current historians are re-evaluating the work of Locke in the light of present-day knowledge. c)Locke’s contributions to the development of European thought have been greatly exaggerated. d)Historians should reexamine Locke’s place in European intellectual history. e)Although Locke’s ideas were important, his way of expressing them in writing was sadly inadequate. Explanation: The author makes two assertions about Locke: that his ideas were not original and that his books were not very good. On the basis of these assertions, the author concludes that Locke’s reputation as an intellectual giant is undeserved. Choice (C) accurately summarizes this conclusion. a)focuses on a subsidiary point, not the main idea; moreover, it makes an assumption unsupported by the passage namely, that Locke did not acknowledge the sources of his ideas. b)Is wrong because although the passage clearly indicates that the author is “re-evaluating” Locke’s work, it does not suggest that “current historians” in general are doing so. c)This choice best expresses the point, that Locke’s contributions were not original. d)Is tricky because it is a good answer, but it is not the best answer. (D) implies that the author recommends that other historians re-examine Locke. Since no recommendation exists in the argument, Choice (C) is the only option. e)Not addressed. PRACTICE AND TEST- An Ideal plan would involve working on the basics: Understanding passage structure, summary exercises and critical reasoning for 4-6 weeks. After that start RC specific tests, followed by some Tests. CAT and XAT papers from earlier years would make excellent practice tests as they contain high quality RC questions. However, one thing does remain the same — this part of the paper is crucial! If you mess up RC, it will be difficult to clear the sectional cut-off for English in CAT. SO KEEP PRACTICING…HAPPY LEARNINGS reading comprehension cat practice reading comprehension cat tips reading comprehension cat pdf reading comprehension cat questions reading comprehension cat level cat reading comprehension passages practice reading comprehension test for cat online reading comprehension for cat