Edutest Year 10 Verbal Reasoning Practice

Try each question first, then open the worked solution to check your answer and see how to reach it.

1. 1.Statement 1: All A are B. Statement 2: No B are C. Conclusion: No A are C.

   • ATrue
   • BFalse
   • CUncertain
   • DNone of the above
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   Answer: A (True)

   All A are inside B, and no B is in C, so the B group and the C group never overlap. Since every A sits inside B, no A can be in C. The conclusion 'No A are C' must be true. A Venn diagram shows the A circle inside the B circle, completely separate from C.

2. 2.Fission is to Fusion as Separation is to...

   • ADivision
   • BUnion
   • CBreak
   • DSplit
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   Answer: B (Union)

   Fission and fusion are opposite nuclear processes: fission splits atoms apart, while fusion joins them together. So the pair are antonyms. The opposite of separation is union, meaning joining together. Division, break and split are all synonyms of separation, so they break the antonym relationship.

3. 3.Which word is a synonym for 'ostentatious'?

   • AModest
   • BShowy
   • CQuiet
   • DSimple
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   Answer: B (Showy)

   'Ostentatious' describes something showy, flashy or designed to impress, such as an ostentatious mansion with gold taps. The synonym is 'showy'. 'Modest', 'quiet' and 'simple' are closer to the opposite. A useful link is the word 'ostentation', meaning a flashy display of wealth.

4. 4.If 'CRYPTO' is coded as 'DSZQUP', what is 'LOGIC'?

   • AMPHJD
   • BNPHJD
   • CMPGJD
   • DMPHJC
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   Answer: A (MPHJD)

   Compare CRYPTO with DSZQUP: C→D, R→S, Y→Z, P→Q, T→U, O→P. Every letter shifts forward one place. Apply the same shift to LOGIC: L→M, O→P, G→H, I→J, C→D, giving MPHJD. Options C and D each change one letter, so check every position carefully.

5. 5.Which word is an antonym for 'corroborate'?

   • AConfirm
   • BVerify
   • CSupport
   • DContradict
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   Answer: D (Contradict)

   'Corroborate' means to confirm or support with evidence, as when a witness corroborates a story. The antonym is 'contradict'. 'Confirm', 'verify' and 'support' are all synonyms. When three options mean nearly the same thing, the odd meaning out is often the antonym the question is looking for.

6. 6.All politicians are ambitious. Some ambitious people are not honest. Are some politicians not honest?

   • AYes
   • BNo
   • CCannot be determined
   • DAll are not honest
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   Answer: C (Cannot be determined)

   All politicians are ambitious, and some ambitious people are not honest. But the dishonest ambitious people might not be politicians. In a diagram, the 'not honest' part of the ambitious circle could sit entirely outside the politicians circle. Since we cannot be sure, the answer cannot be determined.

7. 7.Which word is an antonym for 'homogeneous'?

   • AUniform
   • BSimilar
   • CAlike
   • DHeterogeneous
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   Answer: D (Heterogeneous)

   'Homogeneous' means made of parts that are all the same kind, as in a homogeneous mixture. The antonym is 'heterogeneous', meaning made of different kinds. The prefixes help: 'homo-' means same and 'hetero-' means different. 'Uniform', 'similar' and 'alike' are synonyms of homogeneous.

8. 8.Archipelago is to Island as Constellation is to...

   • AGalaxy
   • BPlanet
   • CStar
   • DSpace
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   Answer: C (Star)

   The relationship is 'a group and the items that make it up': an archipelago is a group of islands. A constellation is a group of stars forming a pattern. A galaxy is far larger than a constellation, and planets are not what constellations are made of, so neither matches the relationship.

9. 9.Which word is an antonym for 'exacerbate'?

   • AWorsen
   • BIntensify
   • CAggravate
   • DAlleviate
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   Answer: D (Alleviate)

   'Exacerbate' means to make a problem worse, as in 'Scratching will exacerbate the rash.' The antonym is 'alleviate', meaning to make it better or less severe. 'Worsen', 'intensify' and 'aggravate' are all synonyms of exacerbate, so they are traps.

10. 10.Some cats are not friendly. All friendly animals are pets. Are some cats not pets?

    • AYes
    • BNo
    • CCannot be determined
    • DAll cats are pets
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    Answer: C (Cannot be determined)

    All friendly animals are pets, but the statement says nothing about unfriendly animals. The unfriendly cats might still be pets, or might not. Because the premises do not tell us, the answer cannot be determined. A common mistake is assuming 'not friendly' must mean 'not a pet'.