CAT Critical Reasoning Practice question with Solution 08

Businesses should introduce some variety into their software systems (that’s the conclusion, signalled by “therefore”), because using only one system leaves a company intensely vulnerable to vandalism. That logic, however, relies on the assumption that letting a virus loose in a system is worse than rebuilding a system post virus. (B) asserts that that assumption is true, and hence it supports the reasoning. Use the Denial Test to check it: If (B) is false—if it’s no more expensive to rebuild a system than to prevent a problem— then the wisdom of the author’s advice is seriously in doubt.

(A) is an irrelevant generalization about standardization and its effect on business.

(C) Since the argument is solely concerned with businesses that have compatible systems,

(C) is beyond the scope.

(D) The argument is about the damage caused by vandals, not about the inherent destructiveness of programs. And (D)’s other topic, non-linked computers, is equally outside the scope.

(E) is true. But businesses that do need to share data are the topic here, because they’re the ones at risk. (E) neither supports nor weakens the logic.

The conclusion is what every argument is based on. So if a Keyword signal like “therefore” jumps out at you, pay special attention to what follows. In some cases, you can even jump right to the “therefore” in order to read and paraphrase the conclusion first, and then go on to see how the author reached it.