Logical Reasoning: Essential Part

Each question has an word followed by four answer choices. You will choose the word that is a necessary part of the word.

1. harvest

A. autumn
B. stockpile
C. tractor
D. crop


Answer: Option D

Explanation:

To harvest something, one must have a crop, which is the essential element for this item. Autumn (choice a) is not the only time crops are harvested. There may not be enough of a crop to stockpile (choice b), and you can harvest crops without a tractor (choice c).


2. desert

A. cactus
B. arid
C. oasis
D. flat


Answer: Option B

Explanation:

A desert is an arid tract of land. Not all deserts are flat (choice d). Not all deserts have cacti or oases (choices a and c).


3.  book

A. fiction
B. pages
C. pictures
D. learning


Answer: Option B

Explanation:

The necessary part of a book is its pages; there is no book without pages. Not all books are fiction (choice a), and not all books have pictures (choice c). Learning (choice d) may or may not take place with a book.


4. language

A. tongue
B. slang
C. writing
D. words


Answer: Option D

Explanation:

Words are a necessary part of language. Slang is not necessary to language (choice b). Not all languages are written (choice c). Not all languages are spoken (choice a).



5. school

A. student
B. report card
C. test
D. learning


Answer: Option A

Explanation:

Without students, a school cannot exist; therefore, students are the essential part of schools. The other choices may be related, but they are not essential.


6. pain

A. cut
B. burn
C. nuisance
D. hurt


Answer: Option D

Explanation:

Pain is suffering or hurt, so choice d is the essential element. Without hurt, there is no pain. A cut (choice a) or a burn (choice b) may cause pain, but so do many other types of injury. A nuisance (choice c) is an annoyance that may or may not cause pain.


7. gala

A. celebration
B. tuxedo
C. appetizer
D. orator


Answer: Option A

Explanation:

A gala indicates a celebration, the necessary element here. A tuxedo (choice b) is not required garb at a gala, nor is an appetizer (choice c). A gala may be held without the benefit of anyone speaking (choice d).


8. monopoly

A. corrupt
B. exclusive
C. rich
D. gigantic


Answer: Option B

Explanation:

The essential part of a monopoly is that it involves exclusive ownership or control.



9. guitar

A. band
B. teacher
C. songs
D. strings


Answer: Option D

Explanation:

A guitar does not exist without strings, so strings are an essential part of a guitar. A band is not necessary to a guitar (choice a). Guitar playing can be learned without a teacher (choice b). Songs are byproducts of a guitar (choice c).


10. election

A. president
B. voter
C. November
D. nation


Answer: Option B

Explanation:

An election does not exist without voters. The election of a president (choice a) is a byproduct. Not all elections are held in November (choice c), nor are they nationwide (choice d).


11. shoe

A. sole
B. leather
C. laces
D. walking


Answer: Option A

Explanation:

All shoes have a sole of some sort.Not all shoes are made of leather (choice b); nor do they all have laces (choice c).Walking (choice d) is not essential to a shoe.



12. swimming

A. pool
B. bathing suit
C. water
D. life jacket


Answer: Option C

Explanation:

Water is essential for swimming-without water, there is no swimming. The other choices are things that may or may not be present.


13. lightning

A. electricity
B. thunder
C. brightness
D. rain

Answer: Option A

Explanation:

Lightning is produced from a discharge of electricity, so electricity is essential. Thunder and rain are not essential to the production of lightning (choices b and d). Brightness may be a byproduct of lightning, but it is not essential (choice c).