What is an example of an abstract reasoning question?

An example of an abstract reasoning question involves the identification of patterns and relationships between shapes or sequences. In this case, determining the next shape in a series based on the changes in the previous shapes requires the test-taker to analyze visual information, recognize underlying patterns, and extrapolate from those observations. This type of reasoning is not rooted in specific knowledge or straightforward computations but rather relies on the ability to adapt thought processes to new situations, which is characteristic of abstract reasoning.

The other options represent different types of cognitive skills. Finding synonyms for given words pertains to verbal reasoning and language skills, calculating the area of a shape involves mathematical calculation and spatial reasoning, and listing steps in a process relates more to procedural or logical reasoning. None of these task types require the same level of abstract pattern recognition required to identify the next shape in a series, making the identified option the correct example of abstract reasoning.