Theme Detection Practice Test Questions - Logical Reasoning -- Free Practice

Question 1

People once dreamed of crossing the ocean in a few hours. A wild idea of one generation has become an ordinary journey for thousands of passengers today. Even the early builders of aeroplanes could hardly have imagined the speed of present-day jets.

The passage best supports the statement that

A

every dream of the early builders of aeroplanes has been fulfilled.✓✗

B

jets are the last stage of progress in travel.✓✗

C

an idea that seems wild in one generation may become common in a later one.✓✗

D

ocean travel is no longer necessary.✓✗

Explanation

The passage says that what was a wild idea has become an ordinary journey. So an idea that seems wild in one generation may become common in a later one. The passage does not say that every dream has been fulfilled, that jets are the last stage of progress, or that ocean travel is not necessary.

Question 2

The writers of old stories imagined that people might one day talk to one another across great distances. What was a fancy in a story a hundred years ago has become the telephone in every pocket. Even those who invented the first telephone could hardly have imagined that people would one day see each other while talking.

The passage best supports the statement that

A

all stories describe things that will come true.✓✗

B

the telephone has reached the limit of its development.✓✗

C

the writers of old stories were inventors.✓✗

D

the imaginings of one age may become the realities of a later age.✓✗

Explanation

The passage shows that a fancy in an old story has become real today. So the imaginings of one age may become the realities of a later age. The passage does not say that all stories come true, that the telephone cannot develop further (the inventors could not have imagined video calls), or that writers were inventors.

Question 3

The festival has always been the most important means of keeping a community together. This applies today in an even higher degree than in former times, for, through the growth of the cities, the neighbourhood as a place of daily meeting has become weaker.

The passage best supports the statement that

A

festivals have lost their importance.✓✗

B

people in cities do not like their neighbours.✓✗

C

the neighbourhood is less of a place of daily meeting than it used to be.✓✗

D

festivals are the only way to keep a community together.✓✗

E

communities cannot survive in cities.✓✗

Explanation

The passage states that the neighbourhood as a place of daily meeting has become weaker. It says that the festival is even more important today. The passage does not say that festivals have lost importance, that city people dislike neighbours, that festivals are the only way, or that communities cannot survive in cities.

Question 4

The library has always been an important means of keeping the knowledge of the past alive. This applies today in an even higher degree than in former times, for, through the spread of the internet, people read fewer printed books at home and the habit of reading has become weaker.

The passage best supports the statement that

A

the internet has no value.✓✗

B

libraries have become less important than they were.✓✗

C

printing of books should be stopped.✓✗

D

the library is the only source of knowledge.✓✗

E

the habit of reading at home has become weaker than it was before.✓✗

Explanation

The passage states that the habit of reading has become weaker. It says that the library is even more important today, so the second statement is opposite to the passage. The passage does not say that the internet has no value, that printing should stop, or that the library is the only source of knowledge.

Question 5

Sports meets are important for the growth of a nation's athletes. Such meets, now regularly held in many cities, let our players measure their own standards against those of the best athletes of other countries, whose performances draw the greatest attention.

The passage best supports the statement that

A

sports meets help athletes to improve by comparing themselves with the best.✓✗

B

sports meets are useful only for the athletes of other countries.✓✗

C

sports meets make athletes lazy.✓✗

D

athletes who do not win have no future.✓✗

Explanation

The passage says that meets let our players measure their standards against the best athletes, which helps them to improve. The passage does not say that meets are useful only for foreign athletes, that they make athletes lazy, or that those who do not win have no future.

Question 6

Book fairs play an important part in a nation's reading habits. Such fairs, held every year in the big cities, allow readers to see the wide range of books published at home and abroad, and they let local publishers compare their work with the best in the world.

The passage best supports the statement that

A

book fairs are useful only for foreign publishers.✓✗

B

book fairs help local publishers to measure and improve their work by comparison.✓✗

C

book fairs make books more expensive.✓✗

D

readers have no need of book fairs.✓✗

Explanation

The last part of the passage says that the fairs let local publishers compare their work with the best in the world, which helps them to measure and improve it. The passage does not say that fairs are useful only for foreign publishers, that they raise prices, or that readers do not need them.

Question 7

Patience is often mistaken for laziness; it is really a sign of strength. It is easy to give way to anger and rush into a hasty decision, but it takes a strong character to wait calmly until the facts are known. A patient person is often proved right in the end.

The passage best supports the statement that

A

patient people never make a decision.✓✗

B

anger always leads to a wrong decision.✓✗

C

patience may be a sign of strength of character.✓✗

D

laziness is a virtue.✓✗

E

hasty decisions are always right.✓✗

Explanation

The passage states that patience is a sign of strength and that it takes a strong character to wait. It does not say that patient people never decide, that anger always leads to a wrong decision, that laziness is a virtue, or that hasty decisions are right.

Question 8

To admit a mistake is often thought to be a sign of weakness; it is really a sign of courage. It is easy to defend oneself with excuses and to blame others, but it takes a strong character to say openly, "I was wrong." The person who admits a mistake wins the respect of others and sets an example for them.

The passage best supports the statement that

A

people who make mistakes should be punished.✓✗

B

excuses are always dishonest.✓✗

C

most people never make a mistake.✓✗

D

it takes courage to admit a mistake.✓✗

E

respect can be won only through success.✓✗

Explanation

The passage states that admitting a mistake is a sign of courage and that it takes a strong character. Nothing in the passage supports punishing mistakes, calling every excuse dishonest, saying that most people never make mistakes, or saying that respect comes only from success.

Question 9

Road safety demands not only that vehicles be kept in good condition but also that drivers be taught the traffic rules, and that the roads be properly lit and marked.

The passage best supports the statement that

A

all road accidents are caused by faulty vehicles.✓✗

B

road accidents can be completely eliminated.✓✗

C

well-lit roads alone are enough to prevent accidents.✓✗

D

drivers never break the rules knowingly.✓✗

E

road accidents may be due to drivers' ignorance of the traffic rules.✓✗

Explanation

The passage says that drivers must be taught the traffic rules, which implies that accidents may happen when they do not know them. The passage does not say that faulty vehicles cause all accidents, that accidents can be eliminated completely, that lighting alone is enough, or that drivers never break rules knowingly.

Question 10

The prevention of fires in a building makes it necessary not only that fire extinguishers be installed in every corridor but also that the occupants be taught how to use them, and that the exits be kept clear of obstruction.

The passage best supports the statement that

A

all fires are preventable.✓✗

B

fire extinguishers are the only protection a building needs.✓✗

C

all fires start because of the carelessness of the occupants.✓✗

D

preventing fires needs more than equipment alone.✓✗

E

buildings without corridors never catch fire.✓✗

Explanation

The passage lists three things that are needed: extinguishers, training in their use, and clear exits. So preventing fires needs more than equipment alone. The passage does not say that all fires can be prevented, that extinguishers are enough, or that carelessness is the only cause of fires, and it does not mention buildings without corridors.

Question 11

Read the passage and choose the theme it is based on:

"One of the important humanitarian by-products of technology is the greater dignity and value that it imparts to human labour. In a highly industrialised society, there is no essential difference between Brahmin and Dalit, Muslim and Hindu; they are equally useful and hence equally valuable, for in the industrial society individual productivity fixes the size of the pay cheque and this fixes social status."

The passage best supports the statement that:

A

Technology decides individual's social status✓✗

B

Castes and religions are man-made✓✗

C

Human labour has dignity and value✓✗

D

All individuals, irrespective of caste and creed are born equal✓✗

Explanation

The passage's opening and central thesis directly states that technology imparts dignity and value to human labour.

Question 12

Read the passage and answer the question:

"There is a shift in our economy from a manufacturing to a service orientation. The increase in service sector will require the managers to work more with people rather than with objects and things from the assembly line."

This passage best supports the statement that:

A

Managers should have a balanced mind.✓✗

B

Assembly line will exist in service organisation.✓✗

C

Interpersonal skills will become more important in the future work place.✓✗

D

Manufacturing organisations ignore importance of people.✓✗

Explanation

Since managers will need to work more with people (not objects), interpersonal skills will become increasingly important.

Question 13

Read the passage and answer the theme it is based on:

"Satisfaction with co-workers, promotion opportunities, the nature of work, and pay goes with high performance among those with strong growth needs. Among those with weak growth needs, no such relationship is present -- and, in fact, satisfaction with promotion opportunities goes with low performance."

The passage best supports the statement that:

A

Satisfaction is an inevitable organisation variable.✓✗

B

Job satisfaction and performance are directly and closely related.✓✗

C

Relationship between job satisfaction and performance is moderated by growth need.✓✗

D

Every organisation has few employees having weak growth need.✓✗

Explanation

The passage shows the satisfaction-performance relationship holds only for those with strong growth needs and differs (even reverses) for those with weak growth needs -- i.e., growth need moderates the relationship.

Question 14

Read the passage and answer the question:

The future of women in India is quite bright and let us hope that they will justify their abilities by rising to the occasion. Napoleon was right when he declared that by educating the women we can educate the whole nation; because a country can never rise without the contribution of 50% of the women of their population.

The passage best supports the statement that:

A

India is striving hard for the emancipation of women.✓✗

B

All women should be well educated.✓✗

C

A nation can progress only when women are given equal rights and opportunities as men.✓✗

D

Women ought to be imparted full freedom to prove their worth and contribute to the progress of the nation.✓✗

Explanation

The passage emphasizes women justifying their abilities and their essential contribution to national progress, best supporting the idea that women should be enabled to prove their worth and contribute.