Hypothesis and Inference MCQs for MDCAT Practice

Science Reasoning section, Hypothesis and Inference chapter. Sample questions from past PMC papers.

1. Question 1
   “The World Health Organization has recorded 184 human cases of the H5N1 strain of bird flu, all of them caused by contact with infected birds. That 103 of these have resulted in death indicates how dangerous this virus is, and no vaccine has yet been developed. For there to be a worldwide epidemic of H5N1 amongst humans, it would have to be possible for the virus to be passed easily from one person to another. Unlike normal influenza, H5N1 can only bind to receptors deep in the lungs. As a result, it cannot multiply in the upper respiratory system and thereby be transmitted by sneezing and coughing. So it cannot be transmitted easily between people. Influenza viruses can mutate and thus possibly change the way in which they infect victims.” Which of the following can be drawn as a conclusion from the passage above?
   • A.Unless a vaccine is developed, many more people will catch the H5N1 strain of bird flu.
   • B.If H5N1 mutates, there is likely to be a worldwide epidemic amongst humans of this strain of bird flu.
   • C.Unless H5N1 mutates, a worldwide epidemic amongst humans of this strain of bird flu is unlikely.
   • D.If a person has no contact with birds, they are unlikely ever to catch the H5N1 strain of bird flu.
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2. Question 2
   Blood is composed of cells (corpuscles) and a liquid intercellular ground substance called Plasma.The type of the blood group that a person has depends upon the presence or absence of certain specific substances in the red blood cells. These substances are antigens, and are of two kinds, Antigen A and Antigen B.A person with antigen A has a blood group A, and one with antigen B has blood group B. A person with A and B antigens has blood group AB. Similarly a person lacking both antigens falls in blood group O.phenotypic and genotypic characteristics may be expressed as follows;Two people are planning to have a family. The woman has blood genotype A/A and the man B/B. Their children might have:
   • A.A and B
   • B.A/B only
   • C.B only
   • D.A and B and A/B
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3. Question 3
   The dogs ______ escaped.
   • A.Did
   • B.Has
   • C.Had
   • D.Will
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4. Question 4
   The living room of my house contains a mirror which is positioned so that I can see a reflection of the digital clock when I am standing in the hallway. For example, at 12:15 I can see the following: 21:51I have to be careful, because if I forget that it is a reflection I might think that it is 21:51.On the next occasion that the mirror appears to show a real time, what time will be shown in the mirror?
   • A.05:51
   • B.12:20
   • C.15:51
   • D.21:52
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5. Question 5
   “The World Health Organisation has recorded 184 human cases of the H5N1 strain of bird flu, all of them caused by contact with infected birds. That 103 of these have resulted in death indicates how dangerous this virus is, and no vaccine has yet been developed. For there to be a worldwide epidemic of H5N1 amongst humans, it would have to be possible for the virus to be passed easily from one person to another. Unlike normal influenza, H5N1 can only bind to receptors deep in the lungs. As a result, it cannot multiply in the upper respiratory system and thereby be transmitted by sneezing and coughing. So it cannot be transmitted easily between people. Influenza viruses can mutate, and thus possibly change the way in which they infect victims.” Which of the following can be drawn as a conclusion from the passage above?
   • A.Unless a vaccine is developed, many more people will catch the H5N1 strain of bird flu.
   • B.If H5N1 mutates, there is likely to be a worldwide epidemic amongst humans of this strain of bird flu.
   • C.Unless H5N1 mutates, a worldwide epidemic amongst humans of this strain of bird flu is unlikely.
   • D.If a person has no contact with birds, they are unlikely ever to catch the H5N1 strain of bird flu.
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6. Question 6
   Experiment: To study reflex action, a subject’s knee-jerk response was tested after applying pressure to the thigh nerve.Observation: The reflex was immediate and involuntary.Question: Which conclusion is accurate?
   • A.All voluntary actions require reflexes.
   • B.Reflex arcs begin in the brain.
   • C.Reflexes are fast, involuntary responses bypassing the brain.
   • D.Pressure slows down reflexes.
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7. Question 7
   Gases consist of molecules which are in a state of rapid motion. The fact that the molecules are in motion is evident from the fact that if a small quantity of an odorous gas, such as hydrogen sulphide is liberated at any point in a laboratory the smell of the gas soon pervades the whole room.Suppose a balloon has been filled with an unknown odorless gas. Having no sophisticated equipment at hand, it is decided to bubble the gas through calcium hydroxideIf a precipitate forms the gas is identified as:
   • A.sulphur dioxide
   • B.carbon dioxide
   • C.carbon monoxide
   • D.ammonia
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8. Question 8
   A dice is numbered from 1 to 6 in different ways. If 1 is adjacent to 2, 4, and 6, then which of the following statements is necessarily true?
   • A.2 is opposite to 6
   • B.1 is adjacent to 3
   • C.3 is adjacent to 5
   • D.3 is opposite to 5
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