Verbal Reasoning Test

Engineering research centres (ERCs) were first established in this country in the middle of the
1980s with the direct intention of fostering improved Research and Development collaboration
between universities, industry and the government. Unlike similar engineering research
initiatives that preceded ERCs, they were introduced with a broad remit; their focus was on
changing the conduct of academic engineering research and education as well as
precompetitive generic research. The key focus was on innovation in next-generation
technology advances at the intersection of disciplines. It was recognised that universities were
often the only places that had sufficient engineering knowledge to be able to deliver the level
of research that was required to support such objectives. The results of the research were
intended to be useful to industry but with a longer-term view than other research. Another
direct outcome of the ERCs was that university graduates would, in theory be better prepared
to commence work in an engineering environment.

As time went on the next generation of ERCs went one step further and encouraged
collaboration across universities and had a direct focus on the younger generation of students
with a leaning towards engineering - not just those who were already studying at the
universities in question. The third generation of ERCs were implemented from 2008 and were
created to cope with an increasingly global economy and also a reduction in student interest in
sciences and engineering.

Question 6
It has long been recognised that industry leads the way in furthering innovative
engineering research.

True
False
Cannot Tell
Solution
This cannot be true as we are told in paragraph one that universities were the only
places that had sufficient engineering knowledge to be able to deliver the level of
research that was required to support such objectives [innovation in next-generation
technology advances at the intersection of disciplines].

Question 6
ERCs have been used to try and advance technology across multiple disciplines.
True
False
Cannot Tell
Solution
In the first paragraph we are told that the key focus was on innovation in next-
generation technology advances at the intersection of disciplines. ‘Intersection’ means
junction or joining point therefore the answer must be True. If we are talking about the
intersection of disciplines, we must be referring to multiple disciplines.

Question 8
ERCs have failed to recognise that universities could work more collaboratively with one
another.

True
False
Cannot Tell
Solution
The second generation of ERCs were encouraging collaboration across universities
therefore this statement must be false. They did encourage universities to work more
collaboratively with one another.

Question 9
The global economy has had a significant positive impact on the success we have seen
in engineering research.

True
False
Cannot Tell
Solution
We have no way of knowing what impact the global economy has had on engineering
research. We know that a third generation of ERCs was introduced as a result of the
global economy but we don’t know whether this has actually helped engineering
research. For all we know, the third generation ERCs could have been a total disaster!

Question 10
During the 1980s students were becoming less interested in science and engineering.

True
False
Cannot Tell
Solution
We know that ERCs were established in the 1980s but the reasons given for why they
were established does not include there being a decreasing interest in science and
engineering. This was the case when the third generation of ERCs

A recent survey of its members conducted by a large insurance company

produced some interesting results. The survey was designed to gather
information from its members regarding what their main criteria were for
choosing to invest in residential property. The vast majority rated the 'Returns
profile as their main priority, closely followed by 'Development potential' and
'Stability of income! It came as no surprise to find out that 'Portfolio legacy'
was ranked at the bottom of the list by contributors.

It was also interesting to note that respondents this year were less likely to
have residential holdings that formed part of mixed-use assets, i.e. as an add
on to commercial investment. One might assume from this that more investors
are proactively investing in residential real estate rather than having an
incidental exposure via existing business investments.

Uncovering longer term intentions was also part of the survey remit and it
transpired that approximately one third of contributors expected their
residential investment exposure to remain stable over the next 12 months.
The vast majority intend to increase their investment in the same period with
only a few stating that they intended to reduce it in the same period.

Question 11
Business owners who have commercial premises often tend to have a residential
property as part of their portfolio.

True
False
Cannot Tell
Solution
We know that people in this survey are less likely to have ‘mixed-use assets’ (an add on
to commercial investment). Our gut reaction to this may therefore be to say ‘False’ but
the passage is only telling us that the people in the survey are less likely to have
residential holdings that form part of mixed use assets. We don’t know whether these
people own the businesses that run from the commercial premises. The answer is
therefore ‘Cannot tell’.

Question 12
Looking at why people choose to invest in residential property was the sole objective of
the survey.

True
False
Cannot Tell
Solution
This is false because in the final paragraph we are told that ‘uncovering longer term
intentions was also part of the survey remit..’ so why people invest was one of multiple
objectives of the survey.

Question 13
The survey respondents were reflective of the wider population of people who invest in
property.

True
False
Cannot Tell
Solution
We have no means of knowing whether the people who responded to the survey were
representative of the wider population of property investors. We know that the survey
was conducted by a large insurance company but they may have been a very niche
group of people. The answer is Cannot tell.

Question 14
Survey respondents were most likely to invest in residential property because of the
financial proceeds it offers.

True
False
Cannot Tell
Solution
As the majority of people rated the ‘returns profile’ as their main priority for choosing to
invest in residential property we can conclude that this statement is true. 'Financial
proceeds' means the same as ‘returns profile’.

Question 15
The survey suggests that property investment seems to be on the increase.

True
False
Cannot Tell
Solution The vast majority of people surveyed told the survey that they intend to
increase their investment [in property] over the next 12 months. This means that
property investment is on the increase.