Verbal Reasoning Sample Questions

Below is a small selection of Verbal Reasoning sample questions, along with solutions and explanations.

Sample Question 1

Dog is to puppy, as cat is to:

lion
horse
kitten
tabby
mouse

Kitten is the correct answer. The link being that a kitten is the young version of a cat. A puppy is the young version of a dog.

Sample Question 2

Dog is to collar, as horse is to:

foal
puppy
hay
brush
bridle

Bridle is the correct answer. A dog wears a collar and a horse wears a bridle.

Sample Question 3

Find the two statements that together prove that: Bob can jump higher than Charlie.

  1. Bob practices jumping more than Charlie.
  2. Sally jumps higher than Charlie.
  3. Charlie is a better sprinter than Bob.
  4. Bob jumps 3cm higher than Sally does.
  5. Bob and Sally have the same coach.

1 & 2
2 & 4
3 & 4
2 & 3
1 & 5

Combining statements 2 and 4 proves that Bob can jump higher than Charlie, as Sally jumps higher than Charlie and Bob jumps higher than Sally.

Sample Question 4

Find the two statements that together prove that ladybugs are faster than snails.

  1. Ladybugs are faster than beetles but slower than crickets.
  2. It is commonly known that snails are slow.
  3. Ladybugs are often in a hurry to get home, but a snail has his home on his back.
  4. Ladybugs can fly, whereas snails cannot.
  5. Snails are slower than beetles.

1 & 5
1 & 4
2 & 4
2 & 5
3 & 4

Combining statements 1 and 5 proves that ladybugs are faster than snails, as ladybugs are faster than beetles and snails are slower than beetles.

Sample Question 5

Which of the following words is most similar in meaning to fix:

build
repair
ruin
destroy
add

Repair is the correct answer. Build is to create something from scratch, ruin and destroy are opposite to fix and add is to modify by increasing.

Sample Question 6

Which of the following words is most similar in meaning to help:

assist
tell
stall
nurse
nice

Assist is the correct answer. Tell means communicate. Stall means slow down or impede. A nurse is a person who provides medical treatment and assistance as part of his or her job. Nice means likable or agreeable.

Sample Question 7

Four of the following words are alike in some way. Which is the odd word out?

jog
stroll
run
stand
walk

Stand is the odd word out as the other words are methods of moving forward.

Sample Question 8

Four of the following words are alike in some way. Which is the odd word out?

brush
skirt
jumper
pants
shirt

Brush is the odd word out as it is not an article of clothing, whereas the other words are.

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