CAT Critical Reasoning Questions with Solutions PDF

Although it may not look like, but CAT Critical Reasoning is all about comprehension. They are usually argument based and it is tough to zero in on the correct option, if you don’t notice minor details.

CAT Critical Reasoning is a part of VARC section, which appears as the first section in the CAT question paper.  They are mainly of five type of Critical Reasoning questions – assumptions, weaken argument, inference, paradox and flawed reasoning. Each of these needs to have a specific approach to get to the correct answer. Since, the question type can be parasummary, parajumble or odd sentence, Critical Reasoning can be considered to be the other half of CAT VARC (first be Reading Comprehension).

The key strategies to master CAT Critical Reasoning includes reading the sentences carefully, identifying keywords that indicate meaning and using the elimination method to strike out the obvious incorrect options. Developing this skill requires consistent practice so start with CAT Critical Reasoning early on and practice a huge number of questions.

CAT 2026 exam will be held on November 29 and this is the time to start preparing for the VARC section. Check below a few CAT Critical Reasoning Questions for practice. Strengthen your CAT 2026 preparation. With Shiksha CAT prep series. 

Sample CAT Crirical Reasoning Questions with Solurions PDF

Q1. Recent studies indicate that companies offering flexible work hours’ notice a 25% surge in baseline Individual productivity compared to rigid schedule environments. Therefore, scheduling flexibility is the direct catalyst for enhanced corporate efficiency.

Which of the following points represents an assumption required by the argument?

A) Employees working flexible hours spend fewer hours browsing non-work related sites during official project timelines.

B) The studied firms did not simultaneously roll out newer digital task automation software that accelerated output metrics.

C) Rigid baseline working frameworks are psychologically destructive to creative sector professionals.

D) High-paying jobs naturally incorporate standard remote operational models out of structural design.

Q2 Government funding for local libraries should not be cut. Libraries provide free access to internet

terminals and educational books, which are vital resources for lower-income residents looking to improve their job prospects.

Which of the following, if true, provides the strongest logical justification for the editorial's stance?

A) Most high-income individuals buy their books from online retail entities.

B) Lower-income residents who utilize library computers successfully secure jobs at a much higher rate than those without access.

C) Libraries also host weekly community events such as book clubs and children's storytelling events.

D) The cost of maintaining physical books has steadily decreased due to recent digital scanning advancements.

Q3. Agricultural Analyst: Last year's drought in the northern province reduced wheat yields by 40%. However, local farm revenues in that province actually hit record highs. Thus, environmental crises are financially advantageous for farming communities.

Which of the following, if true, provides the best explanation for the unexpected revenue performance?

A) The government provided tax credits to urban grocery stores to offset rising distribution expenses.

B) Due to the severe local supply deficit, the market price of northern wheat surged by over 120% due to inelastic demand.

C) Farmers in the southern province experienced perfect weather conditions and doubled their total output.

D) Many farms shifted from growing wheat to cultivating high-volume root crops midway through the season.

Q4. When a government enforces rigid rent-control caps, property owners scale back maintenance

spending, triggering urban decay. However, in City Y, the introduction of an aggressive rent-control cap was followed by an unprecedented 20% spike in private building upkeep investments over five years.

Which of the following, if true, provides the most cohesive reconciliation of the economist's rule and the reality of City Y?

A) City Y implemented severe municipal penalties on landlords failing to meet structural codes, with fines doubling the cost of standard maintenance.

B) The average household income in City Y increased at a rate slightly above the national baseline over that timeline.

C) Rent-control measures were initially proposed by grassroot community activists to stop gentrification.

D) Publicly funded infrastructure projects in City Y upgraded public parks adjacent to rent-controlled properties.

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