True, False, Can't Tell Questions

True/False/Can't Tell (TFC) questions form approximately half of the Verbal Reasoning subtest. They are deceptively simple in concept but difficult in practice, especially under time pressure. This lesson provides precise definitions, explores common traps, and works through detailed examples to build your confidence and accuracy.

---

The Three Options Defined

Before you can answer TFC questions reliably, you need crystal-clear definitions:

True

The statement is supported by the information in the passage. This means:

• The passage explicitly states something that makes the statement true, OR
• The statement is a logical consequence of what the passage states

"True" does NOT mean:

• You personally believe the statement is true
• The statement is true in the real world
• The statement sounds reasonable

False

The statement is contradicted by the information in the passage. This means:

• The passage explicitly states something that conflicts with or contradicts the statement, OR
• The statement is logically incompatible with what the passage states

"False" does NOT mean:

• You personally believe the statement is false
• The statement seems unlikely
• The statement is exaggerated (unless the passage contradicts the exaggeration)

Can't Tell

The passage does not contain enough information to determine whether the statement is true or false. This means:

• The passage does not address the topic of the statement at all, OR
• The passage provides some related information but not enough to confirm or deny the statement, OR
• The statement requires additional information (not in the passage) to evaluate

"Can't Tell" does NOT mean:

• You personally don't know the answer
• The question is too hard
• You ran out of time

Critical Principle: Every TFC answer must be based solely on the passage. If you find yourself thinking "Well, I know from biology class that..." — stop. That thought is leading you astray.

---

The Decision Framework

Use this step-by-step framework for every TFC question:

Step 1: Read the Statement Carefully

• Identify the key claim in the statement
• Note any qualifiers (all, some, most, never, always, might, could)
• Note any specific details (numbers, dates, names, locations)

Step 2: Locate Relevant Information in the Passage

• Scan for keywords from the statement
• Find the paragraph(s) that address the same topic
• Read the relevant section carefully

Step 3: Compare the Statement to the Passage

Ask yourself these questions in order:

Question	If Yes	If No
Does the passage directly support this statement?	True	Continue
Does the passage directly contradict this statement?	False	Continue
Does the passage address this topic at all?	If yes, but not enough to decide → Can't Tell	Can't Tell

---

Common Traps

Trap 1: The Outside Knowledge Trap

Passage: "The Amazon rainforest covers approximately 5.5 million square kilometres and is home to an estimated 10% of all species on Earth."

Statement: "Deforestation in the Amazon is the leading cause of species extinction worldwide."

Trap answer: False (because you know deforestation is a major cause but perhaps not the leading one)

Correct answer: Can't Tell — The passage says nothing about deforestation or species extinction. Whether or not the statement is true in real life, the passage does not provide the information needed to evaluate it.

Trap 2: The Inference vs Statement Trap

Passage: "Sales of electric vehicles in the UK increased by 40% in 2022, reaching 267,000 units. This represented 16.6% of all new car registrations."

Statement: "The majority of new cars sold in the UK in 2022 were electric."

Trap answer: Can't Tell (you might hesitate because 16.6% seems low but isn't "the majority")

Correct answer: False — 16.6% is clearly less than a majority (which would require more than 50%). The passage directly contradicts the statement.

Trap 3: The Extreme Language Trap

Passage: "Regular exercise has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease, improve mental health, and increase life expectancy."

Statement: "Exercise always improves health outcomes."

Trap answer: True (the passage is positive about exercise)

Correct answer: Can't Tell — The passage says exercise has been shown to have certain benefits, but it does not claim that exercise "always" improves health outcomes. The word "always" introduces an absolute claim that the passage does not support. The passage does not contradict it either (it does not mention cases where exercise harms health), so the answer is Can't Tell.

Trap 4: The Partial Truth Trap

Passage: "The study found that participants who slept fewer than 6 hours per night had a 23% higher risk of obesity compared to those who slept 7–8 hours."

Statement: "Sleeping fewer than 6 hours per night causes obesity."

Trap answer: True (the passage links short sleep to obesity)

Correct answer: Can't Tell — The passage describes a correlation (higher risk), not causation. The statement claims a causal relationship ("causes"), which the passage does not establish. Be very careful about the distinction between correlation and causation.