VA Guide for CAT 2008

[dkny.jakhar]

hi friends......yet another post on critical reasoning...

we'll continue from where we left....

By now you all must be quite familiar with the terms like...Argument ? Premise ? Conclusion ?

Understanding and finding ASSUMPTION is something you must be really very good at..and if you are able to figure out the assumtion the hidden fact -in that case you have a good eye to understand the argument and thereby understanding the CR question.

But before we go on exploring and locating Assumption ...you need to do one more thing...

Whenever you come across a CR question enlist all the things given to you in an Argument- i.e locate premise , conclusion ...etc. As this would help you understand a question in a better way.

for eg. take this question- Forbear to judge ,for we are all sinners(a quote from shakespears play)

We are given a Premise:We are all sinners.
Conclusion: Forbear to judge.

So, make it a habit to locate all the elements given in an Argument.

Now we move on to exploring assumption :
for eg. Q. a >b & a>c and so, b=c.
So, enlisting what all things are given to you: P1- a>b and P2- a>c and a conclusion is b=c

Now, how to find the assumption; Ask a Q that whether the given facts are sufficient to reach to the conclusion , if the ans comes out to be Yes in that case no assumption exists ;and if the ans is No then there exists an assumption... so asking the same Q in the above question - what is the ans Yes/ No. If the ans is No then in that case you are right there exists an assumption and the assumption is A: a-b=a-c ; i.e. a is greater than b by the same value as a is greater than c. So, providing this hidden fact we are able to understand and form a logical link that'll lead to conclusion with a much better understanding.

Try another Q. The question is - Liquid Ammonia is lighter than water. So, liquid Ammonia will float on water.

Yes the first step is to enlist what all things are given to you-
P-Liquid Ammonia is lighter than water.&C- Liquid Ammonia will float on water.

Note:- At time you are given conclusion indicators in the form of words like- so, thus, hence,as a result etc. these words will help me to locate a conclusion (if given) easily.Likewise we have premise indicators like - and(connecting 2 premises), whereas , but(showing contrast) etc.

So, now comes the second thing that is to ask a question -that whether the given premise(s) sufficient to reach to the conclusion if Yes then there is no assumption , if No there exists an assumption.

So... does assumption exists or not.If the ans is Yes to the question above then you are wrong as there exists an assumption...

If your Answer is Yes these facts are sufficient then tell me ...did you use your common sense that anything that is lighter than water will float on water....if so you are breaking the Rule#1 which is- Never use your common sense.

Is it mentioned somewhere that -Anything lighter than water will float on water...No, it's not mentioned...So, we cannot take it for granted.

The Assumption : Anything lighter than water will float on water.

So, by providing this additional fact we 'll be able to understand the argument.

Other way of finding the assumtion is challenge the conclusion that...if in place of liq. ammonia there is some substance X which is lighter than water then is the conclusion valid for the substance X as well.

If you had some clarity on the issue...then try this Question

Q. India's time Zone is 5-1/2 hrs ahead of G.M.T.(Greenvich Mean Time) Hence, India lies East of U.K.

So, does the assumption exist????? to be contd

[dkny.jakhar]

Dear All ,
Here are the three rules I always apply and get result(most of the times)...

Rule# 1 : Never use your common sense while doing CR questions.
Rule# 2 : Do not forget Rule#1 ( So that tells what is the importance of Rule#1)
Rule# 3 : exhaust your logic at each and every Answer option , you'll definitely come to the correct ans option. Keep a fresh and and a clear mind while doing CR question.

Keep these rules in mind and you'll definitely crack the questions- the timely application of these rules will be told to you when we come across the questions where these rules play an important role.

Logic : Plain , Simple , Lucid.

Happy learning

regards..

Jakhar

[anjjgd]

has the coaching calsses for cat 08 started in IMS .??

can i join a fresh course now? plezase reply??someone??

[tzsrivastava]

GRAMMAR LESSON #3: Prepositions
Confusion over prepositions is very common among us...I hope the below post can clear off many of our doubts.
I will cover this article in 2 posts.
TAKE 1:

Rule 1.

We can end a sentence with a preposition. But use extra prepositions should be avoided when the meaning is clear without them.

Examples:
Correct:

That is something I cannot agree with.
That is something with which I cannot agree.
How many of you can I count on?

Correct:

Where did he go? Incorrect: Where did he go to?

Correct:

Where did you get this? Incorrect: Where did you get this at?

Correct:

I will go later. Incorrect: I will go later on.

Correct:

Take your shoes off the bed. Incorrect: Take your shoes off of the bed.

Correct:

You may look out the window. Incorrect: You may look out of the window.

Correct:

Cut it into small pieces. Incorrect: Cut it up into small pieces.

[tzsrivastava]

Grammar #3 contd...(preposition)

Rule 2:
Use on with expressions that indicate the time of an occurrence.

Examples:

He was born on December 15.
We will arrive on the fourth.

Rule 3
0f should never be used in place of have.
Correct: I should have done it. Incorrect: I should of done it.

Rule 4.
Between refers to two. Among is used for three or more.
Examples:
Divide the candy between the two of you.
Divide the candy among the three of you.

[tzsrivastava]

Grammar Usage #3 contd....

Rule 6.
The word like, when used to show comparison, is a preposition, meaning that it should be followed by an object of the preposition but not by a subject and verb. Use the connectors (also called conjunctions) as or as if when following a comparison with a subject and verb. Examples:
You look so much like your mother.(here mother is the object of the preposition like)
You look as if you are angry.(here as if is connecting two pairs of subjects and verbs)

[tzsrivastava]

puys,

starting 2morrow i will be posting a few posts on 'PUNTUATION RULES'.
Punctuations forms the basis of any english exercise we encounter and their wrong interpretation can change the meaning of the sentence all together....

Also these rules will be very handy in exams like FMS,SNAP,NMAT etc....so do go thru these posts regularly...
as an alternative the non regulars can pm me their id's so that i can send them the whole doc in one go....

happy studying

rgds
tarun

[tzsrivastava]

Originally Posted by anjjgd

has the coaching calsses for cat 08 started in IMS .??

can i join a fresh course now? plezase reply??someone??

hey anjjgd,

this is not the forum to discuss the joining dates or nything related to coaching institutes...plz post them in appropiate forums then only u can expect a quick reply...

[dkny.jakhar]

Dear all,

Pls chk out the thread-Critical Reasoning for CAT/GMAT '08....

i started this thread on CR because i felt that we might cluster the thread VA guide for CAT2008, i felt that we were posting random fundas& material on it...thou i appreciate all those who contributed to the thread- but still to maintain the sanctity of few topics,i took this initiative to start a new thread.

I just hope that we can start discussing questions on CR, even thou we can already find the discussion on some some questions...but discussing these quesions again might give us a new perspective.

regards

Jakhar

[tzsrivastava]

GRAMMAR FUNDA #4:Auxiliary verbs
Auxiliary verbs are used together with a main verb to give grammatical information and therefore add extra meaning to a sentence, which is not given by the main verb.

They are used to form the passive voice.
They are used to form the continuous tense.
They are used to form the perfect tense.

Be, Do and Have are auxiliary verbs, they are irregular verbs and can be used as main verbs. The verbs 'to be' and 'to have' are the most commonly used auxiliary verbs and work alongside the main verbs in any statement.

Knowing correct auxiliary verb usage is key to tense usage.
Every tense takes an auxiliary form of the verb. There are three exceptions to this rule:

Simple present positive: She works at a bank.
Simple past positive: He bought a new TV last week.
Positive imperative statements: Hurry up!

There are also a number of short forms that take ONLY the auxiliary form of the verb:

Yes / No answer short forms:
Do you live in India? - No, I don't.
Has she been to Delhi? Yes, she has.

Question tags:
They enjoy learning English, don't they?
He won't agree with me, will he?

Positive agreement / inclusion:
I went to the beach last weekend.
- So did I.
I'm working very hard at the moment. - So is she.

Negative agreement / inclusion:
They haven't worked here long. - Neither have I.
We won't be able to come next week. - Neither will I.


Here is a quick overview of auxiliary verb usage:

DO / DOES
Used simple present question and negative forms:
What time does he get up?
They don't drive to work. They take the bus.

DID
Used in simple past question and negative forms:
When did they arrive yesterday?
He didn't finish his homework last week.

IS / ARE / AM
Used in present continuous and for the future with 'going to':
They are working hard at the moment.
She is going to study medicine at university.

WAS / WERE
Past continuous:
I was watching TV when you arrived.
What were they doing while you were cooking dinner?

HAVE / HAS
Present perfect and present perfect continuous:
How long have you lived here?
I've been working since seven this morning.

HAD
Past perfect and past perfect continuous:
He had eaten by the time I arrived.
She had been studying for two hours when he finally telephoned.

WILL / WON'T
Future with 'will':
What will the weather be like tomorrow?
He won't understand.


A small quiz on auxiliary verbs....

1. He _____ come to school yesterday because he was ill.
2. She _____ been working in the garden since two this afternoon.
3. He _____ finished his homework by the time arrived.
4. I'm afraid I _____ be able to come to the party. I have to study.
5. You've visited London, _____ you?
6. They _____ going to attend a meeting in Chicago next week.
7. Why _____ you buy that?! It's ugly!
8. She _____ often go to the movies.
9. He _____ watching TV. He's doing his homework at the moment.
10. They _____ been playing tennis for two hours.
11.I don't like country music.
- Neither _____ I.
12. They won't come to the party, _____ they?
13. Mom _____ been working for two hours when I telephoned.
14. I think they are fantastic! - So _____ she.
15. What _____ they doing?
16. Mary hasn't enjoyed herself so much for a long time. - Neither _____ I.
17. Mike _____ go on vacation last summer. He was too busy.
18. He's studying Russian this semester, _____ he?
19. I _____ just been to the bank.
20. How long _____ you been working for this company?

source: some website(sorry dont remember the exact name..)
kindly attempt the quiz above...i will post the answers 2 morrow...
rgds
tarun...