Question: Birthday Clown: At any party where I perform, my costume consists of two pieces of attire: a tweed jacket and suspenders. One piece of the costume is monochromatic, but the other is mixed and consists of either two or three colors. If the jacket is monochrome, the suspenders have exactly two colors. If the suspenders are monochrome, then the jacket has exactly three colors. I always make sure that the jacket and the suspenders share exactly one color.

Which of the following must be true, on the basis of the statements above?

A) The costume must not contain exactly four colors.
B) The costume must not contain exactly three colors.
C) The costume must not contain exactly two colors.
D) The tweed jacket must be monochromatic.
E) The suspenders must be monochromatic.

Correct Answer: A
Explanation:

You are evaluated on your analytical and critical thinking abilities in the critical reasoning component of the GMAT. A person needs to have high cognitive abilities to respond clearly.
To reach a decision, each option must be critically examined. Of the five options provided, only one will be accurate. The candidate must evaluate many factors to make the best decision.

The suspenders and jacket are exactly the same color.

Case A: Suspenders have precisely two colors (M,Y) if the jacket is monochromatic (M).
- Two colors all make up the costume.

Case B: If the suspenders are one color (M), and the jacket is exactly three colors (M, X, and Y), then the costume has three colors in total.
Let’s check the given choices -

A: Correct

It is the correct choice. Think about how the comments made by the clown make sense in this inference question. One of the two outfits is only one colour. The other article of clothing contains one or two more colours in addition to that colour and shares it. The optimal response option is (A) because the costume as a whole must contain either two or three distinct colors.

B: Incorrect

It is the wrong choice. It belongs to case B given in the above example.

C: Incorrect

It is an incorrect answer. It is wrong because it belongs to choice A.

D: Incorrect

It is an incorrect answer. False, not necessarily true (Additionally, Option is illogical because it conflicts with the problem description.)

E: Incorrect

It is an incorrect choice. False, not necessarily true (Additionally, Option is illogical because it conflicts with the problem description.)

Summing up all that we learned,
There are two options. ,
Suspenders come in two colors and one for the jacket.
Suspenders in one colour, jacket in three hues,

precisely 1 colour is the same.

The alternatives are: suspenders 1 (same color) + jacket 1 (different color) = 2 colors.
Suspenders 1 + Jacket 1 (same color) + 2 (different colors) = 3 colors.
D and E are unimportant.
Option A alone is incorrect since 2 or 3 can exist but 4 cannot.

“Birthday Clown: At any party where I perform, my costume consists of” – is a  GMAT Critical question. To answer the question, a candidate can either find a piece of evidence that would weaken the argument or have logical flaws in the argument. GMAT critical reasoning tests the logical and analytical skills of the candidates. This topic requires candidates to find the argument's strengths and weaknesses or the logical flaw in the argument. The GMAT CR section contains 10 -13 GMAT critical reasoning questions out of 36 GMAT verbal questions.

Suggested GMAT Critical Reasoning Samples

• Turtles, like Other Reptiles, can Endure Long Fasts, in their Ability to Survive on Weekly GMAT critical reasoning
• A Diet High in Saturated Fats Increases a Person's Risk of Developing Heart Disease GMAT critical reasoning
• At An Enormous Research Cost A Leading Chemical Company Has Developed GMAT Critical Reasoning
• A Reliable Survey Indicates That College Graduates Change Employers Four Times GMAT Critical Reasoning
• In 1988, a significant percentage of seals in the Baltic Sea died GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Contrary to the charges made by some of its opponents GMAT Critical Reasoning
• A Year After The Start An Experiment To Decrease Crime GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Since the invention of digital readout, machine designers have rushed GMAT Critical Reasoning
• The President of a Consulting Firm Analysed the Decisions Made About Marketing GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Many companies have been pushing for a three-week extension of daylight GMAT Critical Reasoning
• In All Mammalian Species, the Period of a Young Mammal’s Life GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Manufacturers of household appliances are still urging the public to purchase food processors GMAT critical reasoning
• Contrary to the Statements of Labour Leaders, the Central Economic Problem GMAT Critical Reasoning
• From time to time, the press indulges in outbursts of indignation over GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Exhaust released from a combustion engine is harmful when breathed in significant quantities.GMAT Critical Reasoning
• The tax system of the Republic of Grootland encourages borrowing by granting its taxpayers GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Advances in photocopying technology allow criminals with no printing expertise GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Professor A: We must make a strong moral statement against Country X’s policies GMAT Critical Reasoning
• According to an Independent Computer-Industry Analyst, the New Regent Microcomputer GMAT Critical Reasoning
• In Today’s Pluralistic Society, Textbook Publishers Find Themselves in an Increasingly Uncomfortable Position GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Economies in which a high percentage of resources are invested in research and development GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Columnist: The country is presently debating legislation GMAT Critical Reasoning
• When People Evade Income Taxes by not Declaring Taxable Income GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Utrania was formerly a major petroleum exporter, but in recent decades economic stagnation GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Useful protein drugs, such as insulin, must still be administered by the cumbersome GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Unripe Lychee Fruit Contain a Compound called Hypoglycin GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Tiger Beetles are such Fast Runners that they can Capture Virtually any Nonflying Insect GMAT Critical Reasoning
• According to a recent study, retirees in the United States are four times more likely to give regular financial aid to their children as to receive it from them GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Roland: The alarming fact is that 90 percent of the people in this country now report that they know someone who is unemployed GMAT Critical Reasoning
• TOMMY: That telephone always rings when I am in the shower and can’t hear it GMAT Critical Reasoning
• A major network news organisation experienced a drop in viewership in the week GMAT Critical Reasoning
• It is Difficult to Keep Deep Wounds Free of Bacteria GMAT Critical Reasoning
• Carol is Shorter Than Juan, But She is Taller than Ed. Sandra is Shorter than Juan, and She is Shorter than Ed GMAT critical reasoning
• Ethicist: It Would be a Mistake to Say that Just Because Someone is Inclined to do Otherwise GMAT critical reasoning
• According to a study, after a week of high-altitude living, twenty men had slimmed down. GMAT critical reasoning
• Shelby Industries Manufactures and Sells the Same Gauges as Jones Industries. GMAT critical reasoning
• Building a space station, in which astronauts would live for a considerable time GMAT critical reasoning
• The interview is an essential part of a successful hiring program because, with it, job applicants who have personalities that are unsuited to the requirements of the job will be eliminated from consideration. GMAT critical reasoning
• According to a recent study, retirees in the United States are four times more likely to give regular financial aid to their children as to receive it from them. GMAT critical reasoning
• Using oil-based paints to paint walls or furniture requires the use of turpentine and each coat takes a long time to dry.GMAT critical reasoning
• President of the United States: I have Received over 2,000 Letters on this Issue, and the Vast Majority of them Support my Current Position. GMAT critical reasoning
• Roland: The alarming fact is that 90 percent of the people in this country now report that they know someone who is unemployed. GMAT critical reasoning
• TOMMY: That telephone always rings when I am in the shower and can’t hear it. GMAT critical reasoning
• A major network news organization experienced a drop in viewership in the week GMAT critical reasoning
• Experienced pilots often have more trouble than novice pilots in learning to fly GMAT critical reasoning
• It is Difficult to Keep Deep Wounds Free of Bacteria. GMAT critical reasoning
• Jane drinks 4 Cups of Coffee Every Day. GMAT critical reasoning
• Johnson is on Firm Ground When he Asserts that the Early Editors of Dickinsons Poetry Often Distorted her Intentions GMAT critical reasoning
• One Reason why European Music has had Such a Strong Influence Throughout the World GMAT critical reasoning
• The Elk City Garbage Dumps are so Full that Elk City has Been Forced to Pay a Large Sum to Caribou City to Accept much of Elk City’s Garbage. GMAT critical reasoning