LOGICAL REASONING and CAT

Well before we discuss logical reasoning and its relation with CAT. Let us just gather some information about logical reasoning before we talk about LR and CAT.

Types of logical reasoning

1. Deduction
2. Abduction
3. Induction

Deduction refers to the logical reasoning associated with determining the conclusion of a given statement.

Abduction refers to analyzing the conclusion that has been provided. Based on the conclusion we have to determine the precondition.

Induction is the method of learning based on a series of examples.

These are the general rules of Logical reasoning. Now coming into the section of your interest CAT and logical reasoning.

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How to prepare for CAT 2011?

If you are reading this article that means you are interested in CAT and either you are preparing for CAT 2011 or you are planning to take MBA in a few years time. Weather you are keeping track of the CAT or are appearing for it this year let me help you clear all your questions and give up some tips about CAT 2011.

Let me tell you a true story, a friend of mine working in the IT sector was irritated with the monotonous office work and was deciding to appear for CAT 2011. I suggested him not to waste time and to start preparing for the examination. If he puts in the right effort he shall crack CAT this very year and if luck doesn’t favor him this year, he will crack CAT in the next year. I suggest all of you to follow his example. If you are seriously interested to have an MBA degree from a reputed college start preparing for CAT from today itself.

There are a few things you need to know before you start your preparations.

CHANGES IN CAT 2011

New Pattern of CAT
CAT 2011 is about to set a new trend. This year CAT will have only 2 sections: Section 1 will strictly focus on Quantitative Ability and Data Interpretation while the second section will focus on Verbal Ability and Logical Reasoning. Do not panic about this change is the pattern. It is a boon in disguise to most of the students as you can adjust time between two sections much easily as compared to adjusting between three sections.

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Writing Effective Emails

Electronic mail better known as E-mail is one of the fastest method of communication these days. E-mail has also adapted itself to the modern office culture of the fast growing modern world. E-mail can be used for both internal as well as external communication. E-mail used for internal communication is generally in a relaxed tone and may be short (but you can also attach files or make it longer). E-mails for the external audience are nothing but a letter. It can be sent to an individual or to a group at once. We are free to customize the look of your e-mail from an informal memo format (as used for internal communication) to a formal letter (as used for external communication).

Follow conventions that govern e-mails at work

• Respond to emails on time.
• Start with emails most recently received and work backward, as earlier issues may have already been resolved.
• Send an email only to those who need to read your message.
• Follow the corporate chain of command; do not immediately send your email message straight to the top.
• Clearly specify a timeframe within which necessary actions must be taken.
• Send a “Bcc” (a blind carbon copy, or a copy of your message that is sent to a recipient without other recipients knowing) only if your corporate culture considers it appropriate.
• While informal, email still has basic guidelines for polite correspondence.

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Logical Reasoning Questions

Directions for next 3 logical reasoning questions: Answer the logical reasoning questions on the basis of the information given below. A study was conducted to ascertain the relative importance that employees in five different countries assigned to five different traits in their Chief Executive Officers. The traits were compassion (C), decisiveness (D), negotiation skills (N), public visibility (P), and vision (V). The level of dissimilarity between two countries is the maximum difference in the ranks allotted by the two countries to any of the five traits. The following table indicates the rank order of the five traits for each country.

1. Which of the following countries is least dissimilar to India?
a. China
b. Japan
c. Malaysia
d. Thailand
e. Both China & Japan

2. Which amongst the following countries is most dissimilar to India?
a. China
b. Japan
c. Malaysia
d. Thailand
e. Either China or Thailand

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How to write a good resume?

What is a Resume or curriculum vitae (CV)?

A resume is the summarization of a person’s educational and professional details. It is normally prepared for the purpose of job applications. A resume throws light on a person’s education background and work experience. It is the best possible way to present your skills, knowledge, qualifications and personal details to the job providers.

What information should a Resume or CV include?

Your resume should be divided into certain sub divisions such as personal details, educational details and work experience, Interests and achievements, skills and references.

You may provide information about your computer skills and other office skills. You can add your photo (on demand), other necessary details such as passport details, PAN details, NSR details, etc. Dissertations, certificates, awards, honors received, grants received, publications and presentations are worth mentioning. These details may be instrumental in adding a special touch to your resume.

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Verbal questions with answers

Directions for next 5 Verbal questions with answers: For each verbal question in this section, select the best of the answer choices given.

1. One problem with labor unions today is that their top staffs consist of college-trained lawyers, economists, and labor relations experts who cannot understand the concerns of real workers. One goal of union reform movements should be to build staffs out of workers who have come up from the ranks of the industry involved. The argument above depends primarily on which of the following assumptions?
(A) Higher education lessens people’s identification with their class background.
(B) Union staffs should include more people with first-hand industrial supervisory experience.
(C) People who have worked in a given industry can understand the concerns of workers in that industry.
(D) Most labor unions today do not fairly represent workers’ interests.
(E) A goal of union reform movements should be to make unions more democratic.
Answer: C
The Conclusion: Union reform movements should build staffs out of workers who have come up the ranks.
The Evidence: Union movements are currently suffering from a problem: Their staffs consist of college-educated professional types who don’t understand the concerns of the worker. If the author believes that hiring up-from-the-ranks workers (an idea introduced in the conclusion) will cure that problem, he must be assuming that these former workers do understand workers’ real concerns.
There’s no need to assume that higher education lessens people’s identification with their class background (A), since the author hasn’t said that the lawyers, economists, and experts who don’t understand workers come from a working class background. Supervisory experience (B) isn’t the same as coming up through the ranks. Labor unions having problems, which the author admits, isn’t the same as (D) most of them unfairly representing workers’ interests. That’s an overstatement. “Democratic” (E) is a new term, and one the argument doesn’t need.

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Modern Methods of Learning

Traditional classroom learning, this word is very familiar to all of us. Yes, it is the method of teaching where the teacher takes us through the learning experience and guides us through the learning and the most important advantage of this kind of learning is the physical presence of the teacher guiding us through the learning.

In today’s fast moving world we need to keep ourselves updated and upgraded all the time. Or else we shall be left behind. There has also been a vast change in the field of education also. We have distance learning at our service. Distance learning is anytime anywhere learning. Learning is lifelong process of knowledge and skill acquisition. Learning is critical in an age which is rapidly following global ideas. Internet and World Wide Web have brought innovative changes in the field of learning (open and distance learning as well). Learning environments and web based learning courses have become accepted to distribute learning content to learners. They can be used either to support traditional method of learning (complementing books and direct-teaching process) or to help independent learning

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Time and Work Questions

1. A is thrice as good as workman as B and therefore is able to finish a job in 60 days less than B. Working together, they can do it in:
a. 20 days
b. 22 1/2 days
c. 25 days
d. 30 days

2. A can do a piece of work in 4 hours; B and C together can do it in 3 hours, while A and C together can do it in 2 hours. How long will B alone take to do it?
a. 8 hours
b. 10 hours
c. 12 hours
d. 24 hours

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Worried About Your Speed & Accuracy? Here’s the Solution

Today I will confess to you something which you might get surprised at. During my early school days I was very scared of mathematics as a subject. I never imagined in my wildest dreams that I might be delivering seminars on quicker math techniques or will be teaching students of competitive examinations like CAT, GMAT, etc or will be writing a blog on fast calculation tricks.

Why Mathematics was so important?

Mathematics was the only subject where the possibility of scoring 100% marks was there and a few of my classmates used to score 100% almost every time. In examinations, there was always a need to maintain proper balance between speed and accuracy. When I tried to finish the paper in time, I used to end up making silly mistakes and when I tried to be very cautious, I lost out on speed.

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Data Interpretation Questions

Directions for next 4 Data Interpretation Questions: Answer the Data Interpretation Questions the basis of the information given below.

Purana and Naya are two brands of kitchen mixer grinders available in the local market. Purana is an old brand that was introduced in 1990, while Naya was introduced in 1997. For both these brands, 20% of the mixer grinders bought in a particular year are disposed off as junk exactly two years later. It is known that 10 Purana mixer-grinders were disposed off in 1997. The following figures show the number of Purana and Naya mixer- grinders in operation from 1995 to 2000, as at the end of the year.

1. How many Naya mixer-grinders were purchased in 1999?
a. 44
b. 50
c. 55
d. 64
e. 66

2. How many Naya mixer-grinders were disposed off by the end of 2000?
a. 10
b. 16
c. 22
d. 26
e. cannot be determined from the data

3. How many Purana mixer-grinders were purchased in 1999?
a. 20
b. 23
c. 50
d. 55
e. Cannot be determined from the data

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