UCAT · Verbal Reasoning
UCAT Verbal Reasoning 'which is best supported' questions
Choose the one option the passage backs up, or the one fact that would most damage its conclusion.
How to spot it
- Which of the following is best supported by the passage?
- Which of the following, if true, would most weaken ...?
Try one
Original example
In a study, volunteers learned a list of word pairs one evening. Half then slept normally; the other half were kept awake until the following night and then allowed to sleep. Two days later both groups were tested. Those who had slept on the first night recalled more pairs, even though both groups had had a full night's sleep before the test.
Which of the following is best supported by the passage?
The method
- Find the passage's main finding and how it was shown.
- For "supported", keep the option the passage proves with no extra step.
- For "weaken", look for another explanation of the same result.
The trap
Watch forPicking a broader version of the finding, such as "everything" instead of what was tested.
Now a harder one
Harder
In a study, volunteers learned a list of word pairs one evening. Half then slept normally; the other half were kept awake until the following night and then allowed to sleep. Two days later both groups were tested. Those who had slept on the first night recalled more pairs, so the researchers concluded that sleep soon after learning improves recall.
Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the researchers' conclusion?