Prepping for interviews is quite the task. Before even getting to the face-to-face interview, most companies conduct a preliminary test that usually involves mathematical and verbal reasoning questions.
These questions help companies filter candidates based on their ability to solve problems, and also test their mathematical skills and how language skills are used logically.
In this blog, let’s look into some of the different types of verbal reasoning questions that are commonly asked in interviews.
Why Do We Need Verbal Reasoning?
Verbal reasoning questions are an essential part of the interview process as they can help understand the capability of candidates to logically analyse questions and answer them.
Fun Fact: Verbal Reasoning has more takers than numerical questions.
Let’s look into the details of why verbal reasoning is important:
- Verbal reasoning helps one understand how someone interprets information and derives logically bound conclusions that help them reach answers. This ability of critical reasoning is indeed important for people who are eyeing jobs, particularly in management or strategy roles.
- This particular area of reasoning also helps understand the comprehension capabilities of a candidate. It can help understand how he or she articulates a problem that comes across in a language format.
- Verbal reasoning can help understand how the candidate reasons through dense and argumentative texts.
Best Verbal Reasoning Questions to Ace Your Next Interview
- Book : Reading :: Fork : ?
Options:
A) Drawing
B) Writing
C) Stirring
D) Eating
Answer: D) Eating
- Although remote work has increased productivity in many sectors, it has also led to a deterioration in team cohesion and interpersonal dynamics.”
Which of the following can be most reasonably inferred?
Options:
A) Remote work is harmful to all organizations.
B) Productivity should be sacrificed for team cohesion.
C) There are both benefits and drawbacks to remote work.
D) Remote work should be avoided altogether.
Answer: C) There are both benefits and drawbacks to remote work.
- Inept : Skill ::
Options:
A) Insipid : Flavor
B) Chaotic : Order
C) Apathetic : Emotion
D) Incapable : Work
Answer: C) Apathetic : Emotion
(Both pairs show a lack of the second element.)
- Premise 1: All high performers are self-motivated.
Premise 2: Some self-motivated individuals are team players.
Which of the following conclusions is logically valid?
Options:
A) Some high performers are team players.
B) All team players are self-motivated.
C) Some team players are not high performers.
D) No valid conclusion can be drawn.
Answer: D) No valid conclusion can be drawn.
- The manager was known for his laconic communication style.
“Laconic” most nearly means:
Options:
A) Confusing
B) Long-winded
C) Brief
D) Polite
Answer: C) Brief
- Despite the CEO’s assertions, the company’s recent strategy, aimed at improving profitability, appear to have failed.
Options:
A) appear to have failed
B) appears to have failed
C) had appeared to have failed
D) appears to be failed
Answer: B) appears to have failed
- Argument: Companies with diverse teams outperform those with homogeneous ones.
Which of the following best supports this argument?
Options:
A) Diverse teams often take longer to reach consensus.
B) Diversity introduces communication challenges.
C) Companies with gender and ethnic diversity report higher revenue.
D) Homogeneous teams tend to make faster decisions.
Answer: C) Companies with gender and ethnic diversity report higher revenue.
- Arrange the sentences in a logical paragraph order:
1. Innovation thrives on diversity of thought.
2. Homogeneous teams may suffer from groupthink.
3. Organizations increasingly value cognitive diversity.
4. Teams with different perspectives often challenge assumptions.
Options:
A) 1-4-3-2
B) 3-1-4-2
C) 2-1-3-4
D) 4-3-1-2
Answer: B) 3-1-4-2
- Metaphor : Language ::
Options:
A) Blueprint : Architecture
B) Expression : Emotion
C) Equation : Mathematics
D) Allegory : Story
Answer: D) Allegory : Story
(Both are symbolic forms of their respective domains.)
- Arrange to form a coherent paragraph:
1. Unlike formal authority, influence is informal and earned.
2. Leadership without influence is often ineffective.
3. Many managers have authority but lack influence.
4. Influence stems from trust, credibility, and relationships.
A) 2-3-1-4
B) 3-2-1-4
C) 2-1-4-3
D) 1-2-3-4
Answer: A) 2-3-1-4
- Statement: Companies that invest in employee training tend to outperform those that don’t.
Which of the following weakens this statement?
Options:
A) Some companies perform well without any training programs.
B) Training increases employee satisfaction.
C) Companies often struggle to retain trained employees.
D) Trained employees demand higher salaries.
Answer: A) Some companies perform well without any training programs.
- Argument: If demand for electric cars increases, oil prices will fall due to reduced dependence.
Which assumption underlies this argument?
Options:
A) Electric cars are cheaper than fuel-based cars.
B) Oil prices are solely determined by demand.
C) Electric cars can replace fuel-based vehicles at scale.
D) Oil companies will not diversify into other energy sources.
Answer: C) Electric cars can replace fuel-based vehicles at scale.
- The consultant’s remarks were full of platitudes, offering little insight.
“Platitudes” most nearly means:
Options:
A) Deep analysis
B) Clichéd statements
C) Harsh criticism
D) Encouraging advice
Answer: B) Clichéd statements
- Her acrimonious tone shocked the otherwise civil panel discussion.
Options:
A) Bitter
B) Cheerful
C) Neutral
D) Humorous
Answer: A) Bitter
- Each of the employees are required to submit their reports by Friday.
Options:
A) are required to submit their reports
B) is required to submit their report
C) are required to submit its report
D) is required to submit their reports
Answer: B) is required to submit their report
- Arrange logically:
- These tools have revolutionized marketing.
- AI algorithms now track consumer behavior in real-time.
- Data analytics is reshaping business strategies.
- Understanding consumers has become more precise.
Options:
A) 3-2-4-1
B) 2-3-4-1
C) 4-3-2-1
D) 3-4-2-1
Answer: A) 3-2-4-1
- Statement: Job satisfaction improves productivity, but poor leadership negates this effect.
What can be inferred?
Options:
A) Leadership has no role in employee motivation.
B) Even satisfied employees can underperform under bad leadership.
C) Leadership is more important than job satisfaction.
D) Productivity always depends on external factors.
Answer: B) Even satisfied employees can underperform under bad leadership.
- Statement: Automation will eliminate repetitive jobs but create new, high-skill roles.
What is the author’s perspective?
Options:
A) Automation harms employment.
B) Technology increases inequality.
C) Job markets will evolve with technology.
D) High-skill roles are easy to fill.
Answer: C) Job markets will evolve with technology.
- Despite his magnanimity, the board accused him of bias.
Options:
A) Arrogance
B) Kind generosity
C) Deception
D) Hesitation
Answer: B) Kind generosity
- The speaker’s points were specious, though initially convincing.
Options:
A) Vague
B) Illogical
C) Deceptively plausible
D) Clearly true
Answer: C) Deceptively plausible
- The CEO, along with her executives, were attending the conference.
Options:
A) were attending
B) have attended
C) was attending
D) had attended
Answer: C) was attending
- Neither the board members nor the chairman agree with the proposal.
Options:
A) agree with
B) agrees with
C) were agreeing with
D) has agreed to
Answer: B) agrees with
- If he was more careful, he wouldn’t have missed the deadline.
Options:
A) was
B) is
C) were
D) had been
Answer: C) were
(Subjunctive mood: hypothetical condition.)
- Arrange in the right sequence
- Emotional intelligence is vital for leaders.
- It helps in conflict resolution.
- Traditional metrics often ignore this trait.
- Many successful leaders attribute success to EQ.
A) 1-2-4-3
B) 3-1-2-4
C) 1-4-2-3
D) 3-4-1-2
Answer: C) 1-4-2-3
- The CEO’s response to the crisis was sanguine, even as others panicked about the company’s future.
“Sanguine” most nearly means:
Options:
A) Indifferent
B) Hopeful and optimistic
C) Angry and reactive
D) Disinterested
Answer: B) Hopeful and optimistic
Conclusion
Verbal reasoning skills in an interview reflect the ability to think clearly and process information logically. Regularly practicing verbal reasoning will help you answer the questions easily.
Hope this blog helped you get your verbal reasoning game strong. Stay tuned for such fun and informative articles.
FAQs
What is verbal reasoning?
Verbal reasoning tests your ability to understand, analyze, and logically evaluate written information.
Why is verbal reasoning important for MBA or job interviews?
It reflects your critical thinking, communication clarity, and decision-making skills, which are core to leadership and business roles.
What are the common question types in verbal reasoning?
Reading comprehension
Critical reasoning
Sentence correction
Vocabulary in context
Parajumbles & logical sequencing
How can I improve my verbal reasoning skills?
Read editorials, solve practice questions, analyze answer explanations, and build a strong vocabulary.
Are verbal reasoning and English grammar the same?
No. Grammar is a part of it, but verbal reasoning focuses more on logic, inference, and comprehension, not just language rules.
