Verbal reasoning: True / False / Cannot say questions explained, with examples

What do True, False and Cannot say mean?

In a commonly reported verbal reasoning format, you read a passage and classify one or more statements about it. Wording, timing and answer labels may vary, so read the instructions for the assessment or practice activity you are using.

True means the statement follows from the information provided. It may repeat a fact in different words or combine facts into a necessary conclusion. You should not need an extra assumption to make it work.

False means the passage contradicts the statement. This is stronger than simply failing to support it: there must be evidence that the statement is wrong.

Cannot say means the passage does not provide enough information to establish whether the statement is true or false. A statement can be plausible, familiar or even correct in the real world and still receive this answer.

The key distinction is between contradiction and missing information. If a passage says a shop opens at 9 am, “It opens at 10 am” is False. “It closes at 6 pm” is Cannot say unless closing time is also established.

A reliable method: find evidence, then choose the label

Start with a brief read of the passage to understand its subject and structure. Then examine the statement closely. Identify its subject, action and limits: who does what, when, and under which conditions?

Find the relevant sentence or sentences. Compare the statement with the passage word by word where necessary. Pay particular attention to quantities, dates, comparisons and words such as “only”, “must”, “may” and “never”. A small wording change can create a much stronger claim.

Ask two questions: “Does the passage establish this?” and “Does the passage rule this out?” If it establishes the statement, choose True. If it rules it out, choose False. If neither applies, choose Cannot say.

A useful check for Cannot say is to imagine two situations that both fit the passage: one where the statement is true and another where it is false. If both remain possible, the evidence does not settle the question.

Do not import outside knowledge. Even if you know how libraries, businesses or transport systems usually operate, answer within the information supplied.

Worked example: separate permission from popularity

Fictional passage: “Riverton Library runs writing workshops on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Every workshop lasts 90 minutes. Thursday workshops are open only to library members. Tuesday workshops are open to members and non-members. Booking is required for every workshop.”

Statement 1: “Non-members are permitted to attend Tuesday writing workshops.” Answer: True. The passage explicitly says Tuesday workshops are open to non-members. “Permitted to attend” preserves that meaning; it does not claim that any non-members actually attend.

Statement 2: “Non-members are permitted to attend Thursday writing workshops.” Answer: False. Thursday workshops are open only to members. That restriction directly excludes non-members.

Statement 3: “Thursday writing workshops are more popular than Tuesday writing workshops.” Answer: Cannot say. The passage gives eligibility rules, duration and booking requirements, but no attendance figures or other evidence of popularity. Restricted access does not establish higher or lower demand.

Statement 4: “At least one writing workshop lasts exactly one hour.” Answer: False. Every workshop lasts 90 minutes, so the claim that one lasts 60 minutes contradicts the passage.

Notice that each answer rests on a particular piece of evidence—or a clearly identified gap. You do not need a story about why the library chose these arrangements.

Quantifiers: all, some, none and only

Quantifiers describe how widely a claim applies. “All” covers every member of a group. “Some” establishes at least one, but does not by itself mean “some but not all”. “None” excludes every member. “Only” introduces a restriction whose direction matters.

Fictional passage: “Every final report has been checked by an editor. Some final reports contain charts. No draft reports are published.”

Statement 1: “At least one report containing charts has been checked by an editor.” Answer: True. Some final reports contain charts, and every final report has been checked. Therefore, at least one chart-containing report has been checked.

Statement 2: “Every report checked by an editor is a final report.” Answer: Cannot say. The passage says all final reports are checked, not that all checked reports are final. Editors might also check drafts or other reports.

Statement 3: “At least one draft report is published.” Answer: False. This directly contradicts “No draft reports are published”.

Keep the direction of a rule intact. “Only members can enter” means anyone who enters must be a member. It does not guarantee that every member enters, or that membership removes every other possible entry requirement.

Other common traps: conditions, certainty and comparisons

Conditional rules are easy to reverse accidentally. Consider this fictional rule: “If a parcel weighs more than 2 kg, it must use tracked delivery.” A statement that a 3 kg parcel must use tracked delivery is True. A statement that every tracked parcel weighs more than 2 kg is Cannot say: lighter parcels might use tracking too.

Boundary words also matter. Under that rule alone, “A parcel weighing exactly 2 kg must use tracked delivery” is Cannot say. Exactly 2 kg does not meet the stated condition of more than 2 kg, but the passage does not prohibit another rule requiring tracking.

Do not strengthen uncertainty into certainty. “The service may launch in September” does not establish that it will launch then. It also does not establish that it will not. Either definite prediction would be Cannot say on that information alone.

Watch the scope of comparisons. If a passage says one branch processed more applications than another, it does not necessarily establish that the first branch was more efficient. Efficiency would require a relevant definition and further information, such as resources used.

Finally, distinguish sequence from explanation. A passage saying sales rose after a website redesign does not, by itself, establish that the redesign caused the rise.

How to practise and learn from mistakes

Begin without time pressure. For each answer, write a short justification: the supporting words for True, the conflicting words for False, or the missing information for Cannot say. If you cannot explain the label, revisit the reasoning rather than trusting how convincing the statement sounds.

Review mistakes by type. Did you reverse a condition, overlook “only”, assume “some” meant “not all”, or treat missing evidence as a contradiction? A specific error description gives you something concrete to check next time.

When the distinctions feel clearer, try short timed sets. Keep reviewing your evidence afterwards. Timing requirements vary between activities, so follow the instructions rather than assuming a universal pace or guessing policy.

DailyQuest.ai’s Verbal Reasoning drill is the natural place to practise verbal reasoning. Use practice sessions to focus on careful reading and separating what is stated from what you have inferred.

DailyQuest.ai offers free practice drills. It is not a validated or official test, and it is not an IQ test. Its result summaries are rule-based: use them to review your practice, not as an official score or a prediction of performance on another assessment.