CAT Questions | CAT Critical Reasoning Questions

The question is from CAT Critical Reasoning. Critical Reasoning for Verbal Ability for CAT. Critical Reasoning questions that appear in the verbal section of CAT test Reading Ability, Comprehension and Reasoning. Have a look at this question from Critical Reasoning. Solve CAT Questions from Critical Reasoning to get more practice and 2IIMs CAT questions bank provides you with CAT questions that can help you gear for CAT Exam .

Question 9: Many scientific studies have found links between genius and mental illness, particularly bipolar disorder in which patients have violent mood swings between elation and depression. In one interesting Swedish study, 700,000 Swedes had intelligence tests at age 16 and again 10 years later. Those who scored well were four times more likely than the others to have developed bipolar disorder. The US neurologist James Fallon came up with a convincing argument based on his own findings in the field: the brain area involved in mood swings is the same area where creativity is born. This may explain why some people can draw previously unseen connections among ideas, images, shapes and the like.

Which of the following is inferred from the above?

1. Those with bipolar disorder are likely to be highly intelligent.
2. Most people who excel in creativity are likely suffering from a mental problem.
3. Often there is a correlation between mental illness and genius.
4. Mental disorders give birth to genius.

Explanatory Answer

Method of solving this CAT Question from Critical Reasoning:

This paragraph talks of the links between genius and mental illness and quotes studies which support this fact. The main idea is that there is a correlation observed between genius and mental illness and a possible explanation is that the brain area involved in mood swings is the same area where creativity is born.

Option A- Those with bipolar disorder are likely to be highly intelligent.

This is not implied. The study shows that those who fared well in intelligence tests were four times more likely to develop bipolar disorder. However, this does not imply that the converse is true.

Option B- Most people who excel in creativity are likely suffering from a mental problem.

Again, the above is not implied. Correlation does not imply causation.

Option C- Often there is a correlation between mental illness and genius.

The above is clearly inferred from the paragraph.

Option D- Mental disorders give birth to genius.

It cannot be concluded from what is stated in the study that this is true. While there is a correlation between genius and mental illness, it does not imply one causes the other.

The question is "Which of the following is inferred from the above?"
The option is C

Hence, the answer is C

Choice C is the correct answer.