Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving Practice

Review the lesson for Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving Help.

Logical Reasoning and Problem Solving Practice

1. Using the previous scenario and, assuming that both drivers are in critical condition, write three things that the officer should do and the order in which he or she should do them.
   1.  
   2.  
   3.  

2. Sheila wants to start a garden in her backyard. In what order should she do the following?
   1. Find out what plants grow best in her area.
   2. Plant the seeds carefully, using potting soil.
   3. Water the plants regularly and add fertilizer.
   4. Prepare the ground in the yard by tilling and weeding it.
   1. III, II, I, IV
   2. I, IV, II, III
   3. IV, I, III, II
   4. II, III, IV, I

Read the following scenario carefully and answer the questions that follow.

Head librarian Mrs. Connie Markham recently stated that the main branch of the public library could be improved significantly by expanding its inventory of audio books.

3. Which of the following statistics would provide the strongest support for Mrs. Markham's argument?
   1. the percentage of audio books produced each year in the U.S.
   2. the number of patrons who have requested audio books in the past year
   3. the report on the growing popularity of putting bestsellers on CD
   4. the national statistics on people with some form of visual impairment
4. Which of the following is most likely to work against Mrs. Markham's argument?
   1. statements from citizens requesting that no more funds go to library materials
   2. statistics on how many library materials are returned late or lost
   3. reports that indicate audio books are rarely checked out of the main library
   4. surveys that demonstrate how many people come to the library each year

5. There are four brothers—Al, Bob, Carl, and Dave. Dave is two years older than Bob; Bob is one year younger than Carl; Al, who is 34, is two years younger than Carl. Which brother is oldest?
   1. Al
   2. Bob
   3. Carl
   4. Dave
6. Jack and Allison are planning the seating arrangements for their wedding reception. At one table are six guests. When deciding who should sit next to whom at this table, the couple has to keep in mind that:

• Guest 1 cannot sit next to Guest 2.
• Guests 3 and 4 must sit next to each other, but under no circumstances should Guest 4 sit next to Guest 1.
• Guest 5 can sit next to anyone except Guest 3.
• Guest 6 should not sit next to Guest 3 or 4 and would be happiest sitting next to Guest 5.

Which of the following is the best arrangement for this table?

Answers

1. Again, common sense should tell you that the first thing the officer needs to do is get the drivers medical attention. Number one on your list, then, should be call an ambulance. What next? Depending upon the type of accident, the drivers may be in danger if they remain in the cars. Therefore, the next thing the officer should do is quickly assess the damage to the cars so that he or she can move the passengers to safety if there's a danger of an explosion. Finally, the police officer may not be a medic, but chances are, he or she has some basic medical training. The next thing the police officer should do is check to see if there's emergency care he or she can administer. Perhaps the officer can administer CPR or bandage a badly bleeding wound until the ambulance arrives.

Remember, the key to answering this type of question is to remember how to prioritize issues, and that means you need to think carefully about many different possible scenarios.

2. The best answer is b. The first thing Sheila has to do is find out what grows best in her area because it will be the basis for where and what she plants. Secondly, she needs prepare the ground so it will be ready. Planting comes next and finally watering.

3. b. This figure is the one which would clearly show how audio books would meet the needs of patrons and lend the greatest support to Mrs. Markham's assessment. Choice a is not as relevant because how many audio books are produced does not prove anything about the specific library. Choice c is also too generic to be of significance. Choice d would be more relevant if it showed how many people locally had visual impairments but even then it would be that supportive since many people without any impairment at all check out audio books.
4. c. Choice a is a close second but it would depend on how many statements there were to determine significance. Choice b is irrelevant to the issue and choice d is also. How many people come to the library does not reflect how many would like to see more audio book options.
5. You can solve this puzzle easily by starting with this key fact: Al is 34 years old. Because you know Al's age, you can then determine that Carl is 36. That eliminates Al as the oldest. Then from Carl's age, you can determine that Bob is 35; that eliminates Bob, too. From Bob's age, you can determine that Dave is 37. That makes Dave the oldest and d the correct answer.
6. Though the question seems complicated, the answer is really quite simply achieved. Start with this key piece of information—3 and 4 must sit next to each other and 4 cannot sit with 1. Why is this the key piece? Because it allows you to seat three of the six guests immediately. Then the other three should easily fall into place and you can see that choice a is the correct answer.