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In a business whose owners and employees all belong to one family, the employees can be paid exceptionally low wages. Hence, general operating expenses are much lower than they would be for other business ventures, making profits higher. So a family business is a family' s surest road to financial prosperity.
The reasoning in the argument is flawed because the argument
[ "ignores the fact that in a family business, paying family members low wages may itself reduce the family's prosperity", "presumes, without providing justification, that family members are willing to work for low wages in a family business because they believe that doing so promotes the family's prosperity", "ignores the fact that businesses that achieve high levels of customer satisfaction are often profitable even if they pay high wages", "presumes, without providing justification, that only businesses with low general operating expenses can succeed" ]
0
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It takes a particular talent to be a successful business manager. Business courses can help people to solve management problems, but such courses can do so only for those people with managerial talent. Such people should take business courses to acquire ideas that they can subsequently use to good advantage if management problems happen to arise.
If the statements above are true, which of the following must also be true on the basis of them?
[ "People who are helped by business courses in solving management problems also have managerial talent.", "Those people who have never taken business courses are unable to solve management problems when such problems arise.", "People who lack managerial talent are more likely to take business courses than are people who have managerial talent.", "People who are already skilled at solving management problems are unlikely to benefit from business courses." ]
0
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Philosopher: An action is morally good if it both achieves the agent' s intended goal and benefits someone other than the agent.
Which one of the following judgments most closely conforms to the principle cited by the philosopher?
[ "Louisa tried to get Henry into serious trouble by making it appear that he stole some expensive clothes from a store. But the store's detective realized what Louisa did, and so Louisa was punished rather than Henry. Since she intended to harm Henry, Louisa's action was not morally good.", "Yolanda took her children to visit their grandfather because she wanted her children to enjoy their vacation and she knew they adored their grandfather. The grandfather and the children all enjoyed the visit. Though Yolanda greatly enjoyed the visit, her action was morally good.", "Ellen worked overtime hoping to get a promotion. The extra money she earned allowed her family to take a longer vacation that year, but she failed to get the promotion. Nevertheless, Ellen's action was morally good.", "Colin chose to lie to the authorities questioning him, in an attempt to protect his friends. The authorities discovered his deception and punished Colin and his friends severely. But because he acted out of love for his friends, Colin's action was morally good." ]
1
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Most lecturers who are effective teachers are eccentric, but some noneccentric lecturers are very effective teachers. In addition, every effective teacher is a good communicator.
Which one of the following statements follows logically from the statements above?
[ "Most lecturers who are good communicators are eccentric.", "Some noneccentric lecturers are effective teachers but are not good communicators.", "All good communicators are effective teachers.", "Some good communicators are eccentric." ]
3
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Selena: Asteroid impact on the Earth caused the extinction of the dinosaurs by raising vast clouds of dust, thus blocking the Sun' s rays and cooling the planet beyond the capacity of the dinosaurs, or perhaps the vegetation that supported them, to adapt. A worldwide dust layer provides evidence of asteroid impact at approximately the correct time, and a huge crater exists on the edge of the Yucatan peninsula in Mexico. Trent: That asteroid crater is not large enough for the requisite amount of dust to have been produced. Besides, the extinction of dinosaur species took many years, not just one or two. So the extinctions must have been due not to asteroid impact on the Earth but to some other kind of cause.
Trent's argument assumes that
[ "dinosaurs in the neighborhood of an asteroid impact but not within the zone of direct impact would have survived such an impact", "dust from the impact of an asteroid on the Earth would not have had any cooling effect on the climate", "no more than one large asteroid struck the Earth during the period when the dinosaurs were becoming extinct", "any collision of an asteroid with the Earth would have occurred on a land area rather than an ocean" ]
2
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Among people who have a history of chronic trouble falling asleep, some rely only on sleeping pills to help them fall asleep, and others practice behavior modification techniques and do not take sleeping pills. Those who rely only on behavior modification fall asleep more quickly than do those who rely only on sleeping pills, so behavior modification is more effective than are sleeping pills in helping people to fall asleep.
Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the argument?
[ "The people who are the most likely to take sleeping pills rather than practice behavior modification techniques are those who have previously had the most trouble falling asleep.", "People who do not take sleeping pills spend at least as many total hours asleep each night as do the people who take sleeping pills.", "Most people who have trouble falling asleep and who use behavior modification techniques fall asleep more slowly than do most people who have no trouble falling asleep.", "The people who are the most likely to practice behavior modification techniques rather than take sleeping pills are those who prefer not to use drugs if other treatments are available." ]
0
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After the United Nations Security Council authorized military intervention by a coalition of armed forces intended to halt civil strife in a certain country, the parliament of one UN member nation passed a resolution condemning its own prime minister for promising to commit military personnel to the action. A parliamentary leader insisted that the overwhelming vote for the resolution did not imply the parliament' s opposition to the anticipated intervention; on the contrary, most members of parliament supported the UN plan.
Which one of the following, if true, most helps to resolve the apparent discrepancy presented above?
[ "The public would not support the military action unless it was known that the parliament supported the action.", "In the parliamentary leader's nation, it is the constitutional prerogative of the parliament, not of the prime minister, to initiate foreign military action.", "The UN Security Council cannot legally commit the military of a member nation to armed intervention in other countries.", "Members of the parliament traditionally are more closely attuned to public sentiment, especially with regard to military action, than are prime ministers." ]
1
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A proposed change to federal income tax laws would eliminate deductions from taxable income for donations a taxpayer has made to charitable and educational institutions. If this change were adopted, wealthy individuals would no longer be permitted such deductions. Ttherefore, many charitable and educational institutions would have to reduce services, and some would have to close their doors.
The argument above assumes which of the following?
[ "Without the incentives offered by federal income tax laws, at least some wealthy individuals would not donate as much money to charitable and educational institutions as they otherwise would have.", "The primary reason for not adopting the proposed change in the federal income tax laws cited above is to protect wealthy individuals from having to pay higher taxes.", "Money contributed by individuals who make their donations because of provisions in the federal tax laws provides the only source of funding for many charitable and educational institutions.", "Income tax laws should be changed to make donations to charitable and educational institutions the only permissible deductions from taxable income." ]
0
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Mayor Smith, one of our few government officials with a record of outspoken, informed, and consistent opposition to nuclear power plant construction projects, has now declared herself in favor of building the nuclear power plant at Littletown. If someone with her past antinuclear record now favors building this power plant, then there is good reason to believe that it will be safe and ttherefore should be built.
The argument is vulnerable to criticism on which one of the following grounds?
[ "It gives no indication of either the basis of Mayor Smith's former opposition to nuclear power plant construction or the reasons for her support for the Littletown project.", "It assumes without warrant that the qualities enabling a person to be elected to public office confer on that person a grasp of the scientific principles on which technical decisions are based.", "It fails to establish that a consistent and outspoken opposition is necessarily an informed opposition.", "It overlooks the possibility that not all those who fail to speak out on issues of nuclear power are necessarily opposed to it." ]
0
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Any government practice that might facilitate the abuse of power should not be undertaken except in cases in which there is a compelling reason to do so. The keeping of government secrets is one such practice. Though government officials are sometimes justified in keeping secrets, too often they keep secrets for insubstantial reasons, and in so doing they wind up enabling abuses of power. When government officials conceal from the public the very fact that they are keeping a secret, this practice opens up even greater opportunity for abuse.
Which one of the following can be properly inferred from the statements above?
[ "Government officials who conceal information without a compelling reason are thereby guilty of an abuse of power.", "Government officials should keep information secret only if doing so does not make it easier for those officials to abuse their power.", "A government official who justifiably keeps a secret should not conceal its existence without having a compelling reason to do so.", "In most cases in which government officials conceal information from the public, they are not justified in doing so." ]
2
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On average, American consumers buy a new computer every four years even though older computers are still perfectly capable of basic operations such as word processing and surfing the Internet. This is the case despite the fact that most computers are designed to work for approximately ten years.
The statements above, if true, best support which of the following as a conclusion?
[ "Computers ought to be designed to break down more quickly than is presently the case.", "Computers utilizing the latest technology represent substantial functional upgrades from earlier computers.", "American consumers are motivated to purchase new computers by some combination of factors other than their current computer's ability to perform basic functions.", "Improved manufacturing techniques have led to computers lasting longer than was possible in the past." ]
2
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An experiment was done in which human subjects recognize a pattern within a matrix of abstract designs and then select another design that completes that pattern. The results of the experiment were surprising. The lowest expenditure of energy in neurons in the brain was found in those subjects who performed most successfully in the experiments.
Which of the following hypotheses best accounts for the findings of the experiment?
[ "The neurons of the brain react less when a subject is trying to recognize patterns than when the subject is doing other kinds of reasoning.", "The energy expenditure of the subjects' brains increases when a design that completes the initially recognized pattern is determined.", "People who are better at abstract pattern recognition have more energy-efficient neural connections.", "The task of completing a given design is more capably performed by athletes, whose energy expenditure is lower when they are at rest." ]
2
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Researcher: Research has shown that inhaling the scent of lavender has measurable physiological effects tending to reduce stress. It is known that intense stress can impair the immune system, making one more susceptible to illness. Ttherefore, it is likely that the incidence of illness among those who regularly inhale the scent of lavender is reduced by this practice.
Which one of the following is an assumption that the researcher's argument requires?
[ "Many, if not all, of the scents that have a tendency to reduce susceptibility to illness do so, at least in part, by reducing stress.", "At least some people who use the scent of lavender to induce relaxation and reduce stress are no more susceptible to illness than average.", "Some people who regularly inhale the scent of lavender would otherwise be under enough stress to impair their immune systems.", "Reduced stress diminishes susceptibility to illness only for people who are under enough stress to impair their immune systems to at least some degree." ]
2
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Britain is now rabies free. Nevertheless, Britain' s strict quarantine of imported domesticated animals, designed to prevent widespread outbreaks of rabies there, cannot succeed indefinitely in preventing such outbreaks. Bats, which are very susceptible to rabies, fly into Britain from continental Europe. Since wild bats cannot be quarantined, this policy cannot control rabies spread by wild bats.
Which one of the following is an argumentative strategy employed in the argument?
[ "trying to undermine support for a certain policy by pointing out that factors other than the policy itself could account for the results attributed to that policy", "providing evidence that because the officials charged with enforcing a certain policy often fail to perform their duty that policy is sure to have little effect", "raising a possible objection to a certain policy in order to show that the objection is in fact irrelevant to the particular situation the policy was designed to address", "arguing that a certain policy is bound to fail because an event that is likely to defeat the aim of the policy falls outside the policy's influence" ]
3
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A distinguished British judge, Justice Upton, said that whether some administrative decision by a government minister is reasonable "is a question that judges, by their training and experience, should be well-equipped to answer, or else there would be something badly wrong with the legal system, and there is little reason to suppose that there is. "
Which one of the following most accurately expresses the conclusion of Justice Upton's argument?
[ "Judges are qualified to decide upon the reasonableness of a government minister's administrative decision.", "Judges should be given a greater part in administrative decision making.", "There is nothing much wrong with the legal system.", "If something were badly wrong with the legal system, judges would be ill-equipped to determine whether a government minister's decisions are reasonable." ]
0
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Theatergoer: In January of last year, the Megaplex chain of movie theaters started popping its popcorn in canola oil, instead of the less healthful coconut oil that it had been using until then. Now Megaplex is planning to switch back, saying that the change has hurt popcorn sales. That claim is false, however, since according to Megaplex' s own sales figures, Megaplex sold five percent more popcorn last year than in the previous year.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the theatergoer's argument?
[ "Total sales of all food and beverage items at Megaplex's movie theaters increased by less than five percent last year.", "Total attendance at Megaplex's movie theaters was more than 20 percent higher last year than the year before.", "In a survey to determine pubic response to the change to canola oil, very few of Megapiex's customers said that the change had affected their popcorn-buying habits.", "When it switched from using coconut oil to using canola oil, Megaplex made sure that the chain received a great deal of publicity stressing the health benefits of the change." ]
1
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Unlike newspapers in the old days, today' s newspapers and televised news programs are full of stories about murders and assaults in our city. One can only conclude from this change that violent crime is now out of control, and, to be safe from personal attack, one should not leave one' s home except for absolute necessities.
Which one of the following, if true, would cast the most serious doubt on the conclusion?
[ "Newspapers and televised news programs have more comprehensive coverage of violent crime than newspapers did in the old days.", "National data show that violent crime is out of control everywhere, not just in the author's city.", "Police records show that people experience more violent crimes in their own neighborhoods than they do outside their neighborhoods.", "News magazines play a more important role today in informing the public about crime than they did in the old days." ]
0
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Hernandez: I recommend that staff cars be replaced every four years instead of every three years. Three-year-old cars are still in good condition and this would result in big savings. Green: I disagree. Some of our salespeople with big territories wear out their cars in three years. Hernandez: I meant three-year-old cars subjected to normal use.
In the conversation, Hernandez responds to Green's objection in which one of the following ways?
[ "by indicating that Green used a phrase ambiguously", "by changing the subject to the size of sales territories", "by criticizing salespeople who wear out their cars in three years", "by explicitly qualifying a premise used earlier" ]
3
val_17
Telephone companies are promoting "voice mail" as an alternative to the answering machine. By recording messages from callers when a subscriber does not have access to his or her telephone, voice mail provides a service similar to that of an answering machine. The companies promoting this service argue that it will soon make answering machines obsolete, since it is much more convenient, more flexible, and less expensive than an answering machine.
Which one of the following, if true, most calls into question the argument made by the companies promoting voice mail?
[ "Unlike calls made to owners of answering machines, all telephone calls made to voicemail subscribers are completed, even if the line called is in use at the time of the call.", "The surge in sales of answering machines occurred shortly after they were first introduced to the electronics market.", "Answering machines enable the customer to hear who is calling before the customer decides whether to answer the telephone, a service voice mail does not provide.", "Once a telephone customer decides to subscribe to voice mail, that customer can cancel the service at any time." ]
2
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Some biologists believe that the capacity for flight first developed in marine reptiles, claiming that feathers are clearly developed from scales. Other biologists rightly reject this suggestion, pointing out that bats have no scales and that nonmarine reptiles also have scales. Those who believe that flight first developed in tree-dwelling reptiles reject the claim that the limbs of land-dwelling reptiles might have developed into wings. They insist that it is more likely that tree-dwelling reptiles developed wings to assist their leaps from branch to branch.
Which one of the following most accurately describes the role played in the passage by the claim that nonmarine reptiles have scales?
[ "It is cited as evidence against the claim that the capacity for flight first developed in treedwelling reptiles.", "It weakens the claim that tree-dwelling reptiles were the first kind of reptile to develop the capacity for flight.", "It is cited as evidence against the claim that the capacity for flight first developed in marine reptiles.", "It is cited as evidence against the claim that the capacity for flight first developed in land-dwelling animals." ]
2
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About 3 billion years ago, the Sun was only 80 percent as luminous as it is currently. Such conditions today would result in the freezing of Earth' s oceans, but geological evidence shows that water rather than ice filled the oceans at that time. Heat is trapped within Earth' s atmosphere through the presence of carbon dioxide, which, like methane, is a "greenhouse gas. " Only if the level of greenhouse gases were higher 3 billion years ago than it is today would Earth have retained enough heat to keep the oceans from freezing. It is likely, ttherefore, that the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was significantly higher then than it is today.
Which one of the following, if true, weakens the argument?
[ "Geological evidence indicates that the oceans contained greater amounts of dissolved minerals 3 billion years ago, but not enough to alter their freezing points significantly.", "Geological studies indicate that there is much less methane in Earth's atmosphere today than there was 3 billion years ago.", "Sufficient heat to keep the oceans liquid 3 billion years ago could not have been generated through geological processes such as volcanic activity.", "Because the distance from Earth to the Sun has not changed significantly over the last 3 billion years, the increase in the Sun's luminosity has resulted in more radiation reaching Earth." ]
1
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Advertisement: The dental profession knows that brushing with Blizzard toothpaste is the best way to fight cavities. We surveyed five dentists, and each agreed that the tartar control formula found in Blizzard is the most effective cavity-fighting formula available in a toothpaste.
The flawed reasoning in which one of the following is most similar to the flawed reasoning in the advertisement?
[ "The nation's voters know that Gomez is the candidate whose policies would be best for the nation. Of ten voters polled, each said that Gomez would be a very popular leader.", "Some of the nation's voters believe that Gomez is the candidate who would be best for the nation. Of the ten voters we surveyed, each agreed that the policies Gomez is committed to would be the best policies for the nation to adopt.", "We know that electing Gomez would be the best course for the nation to follow because, of ten voters we surveyed, each agreed that electing Gomez would help the nation.", "The nation's voters know that electing Gomez would be the best way to help the nation. The ten voters we polled all agreed that the policies Gomez is committed to would help the nation more than any other policies." ]
3
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Director of Ace Manufacturing Company: Our management consultant proposes that we reassign staff so that all employees are doing both what they like to do and what they do well. This, she says, will "increase productivity by fully exploiting our available resources. " But Ace Manufacturing has a long-standing commitment not to exploit its workers. Ttherefore, implementing her recommendations would cause us to violate our own policy.
The director' s argument for rejecting the management consultant's proposal is most vulnerable to criticism on which one of the following grounds?
[ "calling something by a less offensive term than the term that is usually used to name that thing", "defining a term by pointing to an atypical example of something to which the term applies", "drawing a conclusion that simply restates one of the premises of the argument", "failing to distinguish two distinct senses of a key term" ]
3
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In recent decades, government efforts to fight counterfeiting have been extremely successful, especially efforts to remove counterfeit bills from circulation. Yet counterfeiters are not finding it at all difficult to get away with passing counterfeit bills to merchants and even banks.
Which one of the following, if true, most helps to resolve the apparent discrepancy in the information above?
[ "Counterfeiters are generally unaware that the percentage of fake bills in circulation is the lowest it has ever been.", "Government success in removing counterfeit bills from circulation has caused merchants and bank tellers to become lax in checking for counterfeit bills.", "Government information campaigns that teach merchants and bank tellers how to detect counterfeit bills are more effective than ever.", "Governments are continually developing new currency designs with features that are difficult for criminals to counterfeit." ]
1
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It is unlikely that the world will ever be free of disease. Most diseases are caused by very prolific microorganisms whose response to the pressures medicines exert on them is predictable: they quickly evolve immunities to those medicines while maintaining their power to infect and even kill humans.
Which one of the following most accurately describes the role played in the argument by the claim that it is unlikely that the world will ever be free of disease?
[ "It is a conclusion that is claimed to follow from the premise that microorganisms are too numerous for medicines to eliminate entirely.", "It is a generalization used to predict the response of microorganisms to the medicines humans use to kill them.", "It is a premise offered in support of the claim that most disease-causing microorganisms are able to evolve immunities to medicines while retaining their ability to infect humans.", "It is a conclusion for which a description of the responses of microorganisms to the medicines designed to cure the diseases they cause is offered as support." ]
3
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Mourdet Winery: Danville Winery' s new wine was introduced to compete with our most popular wine, which is sold in a distinctive tall, black bottle. Danville uses a similar bottle. Thus, it is likely that many customers intending to buy our wine will mistakenly buy theirs instead. Danville Winery: Not so. The two bottles can be readily distinguished: the label on ours, but not on theirs, is gold colored.
Which of the following, if true, most undermines Danville Winery's response?
[ "Danville Winery, unlike Mourdet Winery, displays its wine's label prominently in advertisements.", "When the bottles are viewed side by side, Danville Winery's bottle is perceptibly taller than Mourdet Winery's.", "Gold is the background color on the label of many of the wines produced by Danville Winery.", "It is common for occasional purchasers to buy a bottle of wine on the basis of a general impression of the most obvious feature of the bottle." ]
3
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Carolyn: The artist Marc Quinn has displayed, behind a glass plate, biologically replicated fragments of Sir John Sulston' s DNA, calling it a "conceptual portrait" of Sulston. But to be a portrait, something must bear a recognizable resemblance to its subject. Arnold: I disagree. Quinn' s conceptual portrait is a maximally realistic portrait, for it holds actual instructions according to which Sulston was created.
The dialogue provides most support for the claim that Carolyn and Arnold disagree over whether the object described by Quinn as a conceptual portrait of Sir John Sulston
[ "should be considered to be art", "bears a recognizable resemblance to Sulston", "is actually a portrait of Sulston", "contains instructions according to which Sulston was created" ]
2
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Since the introduction of the Impanian National Health scheme, Impanians (or their private insurance companies) have had to pay only for the more unusual and sophisticated medical procedures. When the scheme was introduced, it was hoped that private insurance to pay for these procedures would be available at modest cost, since the insurers would no longer be paying for the bulk of health care costs, as they had done previously. Paradoxically, however, the cost of private health insurance did not decrease but has instead increased dramatically in the years since the scheme' s introduction.
Which one of the following, if true, does most to explain the apparently paradoxical outcome?
[ "Before the National Health scheme was introduced, more than 80 percent of all Impanian medical costs were associated with procedures that are now covered by the scheme.", "The proportion of total expenditures within Impania that is spent on health care has declined since the introduction of the National Health scheme.", "Impanians now buy private medical insurance only at times when they expect that they will need care of kinds not available in the National Health scheme.", "The National Health scheme has greatly reduced the number of medical claims handled annually by Impania's private insurers, enabling these firms to reduce overhead costs substantially." ]
2
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The short-term and long-term interests of a business often conflict; when they do, the morally preferable act is usually the one that serves the long-term interest. Because of this, businesses often have compelling reasons to execute the morally preferable act.
Which one of the following, if assumed, enables the conclusion of the argument to be properly drawn?
[ "When a business's short-term and long-term interests conflict, morality alone is rarely the overriding consideration.", "The morally preferable act for a business to execute and the long-term interests of the business seldom conflict.", "A business's long-term interests often provide compelling reasons for executing an act.", "The morally preferable act for a business to execute and the short-term interests of the business usually conflict." ]
2
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Zoologist: It is true that over the past 15 years, there has been a fourfold increase in government funding to preserve endangered species, while the number of endangered species needing such preservation has increased by only 70% (there were, however, a large number of endangered species to begin with 15 years ago). Taking into account inflation, the amount of funding is at least double what it was 15 years ago. Nevertheless, the current amount of funding from the government for species preservation is inadequate and must be enhanced.
Which one of the following, if true, most helps to reconcile the zoologist's conclusion with the above evidence?
[ "The two government agencies responsible for species preservation are typically under budget and are known for an utter lack of cooperation.", "Unlike today, funding for the preservation of species was essentially nonexistent 15 years ago.", "Over the past 15 years, the salaries of conservationists employed by the government to work on species preservation solutions have increased at a rate twice that of inflation.", "Within the past 15 years, there have been breakthroughs in species demography that allow scientists to identify those species most in need of protection far before they face any real risk of extinction." ]
1
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Murray: You claim Senator Brandon has accepted gifts from lobbyists. You are wrong to make this criticism. That it is motivated by personal dislike is shown by the fact that you deliberately avoid criticizing other politicians who have done what you accuse Senator Brandon of doing. Jane: You are right that I dislike Senator Brandon, but just because I have not criticized the same failing in others doesn' t mean you can excuse the senator' s offense.
If Murray and Jane are both sincere in what they say, then it can properly be concluded that they agree that
[ "one or more politicians have accepted gifts from lobbyists", "it is wrong for politicians to accept gifts from lobbyists", "Senator Brandon has accepted gifts from lobbyists", "Senator Brandon should be criticized for accepting gifts from lobbyists" ]
0
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Unlike the wholesale price of raw wool, the wholesale price of raw cotton has fallen considerably in the last year. Thus, although the retail price of cotton clothing at retail clothing stores has not yet fallen, it will inevitably fall.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument above?
[ "The operating costs of the average retail clothing store have remained constant during the last year.", "The cost of processing raw cotton for cloth has increased during the last year.", "The wholesale price of raw wool is typically higher than that of the same volume of raw cotton.", "Changes in retail prices always lag behind changes in wholesale prices." ]
1
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Scientists attempting to replicate certain controversial results reported by a group of experienced researchers failed to get the same results as those reported. The conclusion drawn from this by the scientists who conducted the replication experiments was that the originally reported results had been due to faulty measurements.
The argument of the scientists who conducted the replication experiments assumes that
[ "the replication experiments were not so likely as the original experiments to be marred by faulty measurements", "the theoretical principles called into question by the originally reported results were themselves based on weak evidence", "the original experiments had not been described in sufficient detail to make an exact replication possible", "the researchers who originally reported the controversial results had themselves observed those results only once" ]
0
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Travel agent: Although most low-fare airlines have had few, if any, accidents, very few such airlines have been in existence long enough for their safety records to be reliably established. Major airlines, on the other hand, usually have longstanding records reliably indicating their degree of safety. Hence, passengers are safer on a major airline than on one of the newer low-fare airlines.
Of the following, which one is the criticism to which the reasoning in the travel agent's argument is most vulnerable?
[ "The argument takes for granted that airlines that are the safest are also the most reliable in documenting their safety.", "The argument draws a general conclusion about how safe passengers are on different airlines on the basis of safety records that are each from too brief a period to adequately justify such a conclusion.", "The argument fails to address adequately the possibility that the average major airline has had a total number of accidents as great as the average low-fare airline has had.", "The argument fails to consider the possibility that long-standing and reliable records documenting an airline's degree of safety may indicate that the airline is unsafe." ]
3
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Columnist: Although there is and should be complete freedom of thought and expression, that does not mean that there is nothing wrong with exploiting depraved popular tastes for the sake of financial gain.
Which one of the following judgments conforms most closely to the principle cited by the columnist?
[ "People who produce depraved movies have the freedom to do so, but that means that they also have the freedom to refrain from doing so.", "There should be no laws restricting what books are published, but publishing books that pander to people with depraved tastes is not thereby morally acceptable.", "The public has the freedom to purchase whatever recordings are produced, but that does not mean that the government may not limit the production of recordings deemed to be depraved.", "One who advocates complete freedom of speech should not criticize others for saying things that he or she believes to exhibit depraved tastes." ]
1
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Certain instruments used in veterinary surgery can be made either of stainless steel or of nylon. In a study of such instruments, 50 complete sterilizations of a set of nylon instruments required 3. 4 times the amount of energy used to manufacture that set of instruments, whereas 50 complete sterilizations of a set of stainless steel instruments required 2. 1 times the amount of energy required to manufacture that set of instruments.
If the statements above are true, each of the following could be true EXCEPT:
[ "The 50 complete sterilizations of the nylon instruments used more energy than did the 50 complete sterilizations of the stainless steel instruments.", "The total cost of 50 complete sterilizations of the stainless steel instruments was greater than the cost of manufacturing the stainless steel instruments.", "More energy was required for each complete sterilization of the nylon instruments than was required to manufacture the nylon instruments.", "More energy was used to produce the stainless steel instruments than was used to produce the nylon instruments." ]
2
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For over two centuries, no one had been able to make Damascus blades-blades with a distinctive serpentine surface pattern-but a contemporary sword maker may just have rediscovered how. Using iron with trace impurities that precisely matched those present in the iron used in historic Damascus blades, this contemporary sword maker seems to have finally hit on an intricate process by which he can produce a blade indistinguishable from a true Damascus blade.
Which of the following, if true, provides the strongest support for the hypothesis that trace impurities in the iron are essential for the production of Damascus blades?
[ "Almost all the tools used by the contemporary sword maker were updated versions of tools that were used by sword makers over two centuries ago.", "Production of Damascus blades by sword makers of the past ceased abruptly after those sword makers' original source of iron became exhausted.", "There are surface features of every Damascus blade-including the blades produced by the contemporary sword maker-that are unique to that blade.", "Although Damascus blades were renowned for maintaining a sharp edge, the blade made by the contemporary sword maker suggests that they may have maintained their edge less well than blades made using what is now the standard process for making blades." ]
1
val_36
Each of the smallest particles in the universe has an elegantly simple structure. Since these particles compose the universe, we can conclude that the universe itself has an elegantly simple structure.
Each of the following arguments exhibits flawed reasoning similar to that in the argument above EXCEPT:
[ "Each part of this car is nearly perfectly engineered. Ttherefore this car is nearly perfect, from an engineering point of view.", "Each sentence in this novel is well constructed. Ttherefore this is a well-constructed novel.", "Each brick in this wall is rectangular. Ttherefore this wall is rectangular.", "Each part of this desk is made of metal. Ttherefore this desk is made of metal." ]
3
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Editorialist: Society is obligated to bestow the privileges of adulthood upon its members once they are mature enough to accept the corresponding responsibilities. But science has established that physiological development is completed in most persons by age seventeen. Since this maturing process has been completed by most seventeen-year-olds, there is no reason not to grant these citizens all of the privileges of adulthood.
The editorialist's argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the ground that it
[ "assumes what it is trying to prove", "too hastily reaches a general conclusion on the basis of a few examples", "ignores the fact that some people are mature at age sixteen", "equivocates with respect to a central concept" ]
3
val_38
Business owner: Around noon in one section of the city, food trucks that sell lunch directly to customers on the sidewalk occupy many of the limited metered parking spaces available, thus worsening already bad traffic congestion. This led the city council to consider a bill to prohibit food trucks from parking in metered spaces in any commercially zoned area. This bill should be rejected since there is plenty of available parking and little traffic congestion in most areas of the city.
Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps to justify the business owner's argument?
[ "If a city has a serious problem, then it should not implement any policy that would aggravate that problem even if the policy would address another serious problem.", "No proposed solution to a city problem should be implemented until the problem has been thoroughly studied.", "Unless a business provides a product or service that is valued by consumers, the business should not be allowed to make use of scarce city resources.", "A law that would disadvantage businesses of a certain type throughout a city should not be used to solve a problem that does not affect most areas of the city." ]
3
val_39
High levels of fertilizer and pesticides, needed when farmers try to produce high yields of the same crop year after year, pollute water supplies. Experts ttherefore urge farmers to diversify their crops and to rotate their plantings yearly. To receive governmental price-support benefits for a crop, farmers must have produced that same crop for the past several years.
The statements above, if true, best support which of the following conclusions?
[ "The only solution to the problem of water pollution from fertilizers and pesticides is to take farmland out of production.", "The rules for governmental support of farm prices work against efforts to reduce water pollution.", "Farmers can continue to make a profit by rotating diverse crops, thus reducing costs for chemicals, but not by planting the same crop each year.", "New farming techniques will be developed to make it possible for farmers to reduce the application of fertilizers and pesticides." ]
1
val_40
laboratory data. Although the original data in question have disappeared, data from K' s more recent experiments have been examined and clearly none of them were falsified. Ttherefore, the accusation should be dismissed.
Which one of the following contains questionable reasoning that is most similar to that in the argument above?
[ "L, an accountant, was charged with having embezzled funds from a client. The charge should be ignored, however, because although the records that might reveal this embezzlement have been destroyed, records of L's current clients show clearly that there has never been any embezzlement from them.", "N, a social scientist, was charged with plagiarism. The charge is without foundation because although strong similarities between N's book and the work of another scholar have been discovered, the other scholar's work was written after N's work was published.", "M, a factory supervisor, was accused of failing to enforce safety standards. This accusation should be discussed, because although the identity of the accuser was not revealed, a survey of factory personnel revealed that some violations of the standards have occurred.", "P, a politician, has been accused of failing to protect the public interest. From at least some points of view, however, the accusation will undoubtedly be considered false, because there is clearly disagreement about where the public interest lies." ]
0
val_41
Outsourcing is the practice of obtaining from an independent supplier a product or service that a company has previously provided for itself. Vernon, Inc. , a small manufacturing company that has in recent years experienced a decline in its profits, plans to boost its profits by outsourcing those parts of its business that independent suppliers can provide at lower cost than Vernon can itself.
Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the prediction that Vernon's plan will achieve its goal?
[ "Vernon plans to select the independent suppliers it will use on the basis of submitted bids.", "Relatively few manufacturers that start as independent suppliers have been able to expand their business and become direct competitors of the companies they once supplied.", "Attending to certain tasks that Vernon performs relatively inefficiently has taken up much of the time and effort of top managers whose time would have been better spent attending to Vernon's core business.", "Among the parts of its business that Vernon does not plan to outsource are some that require standards of accuracy too high for most independent suppliers to provide at lower cost than Vernon can." ]
2
val_42
In a large residential building, there is a rule that no pets are allowed. A group of pet lovers tried to change that rule but failed. The rule-changing procedure outlined in the building' s regulations states that only if a group of tenants can obtain the signatures of 10 percent of the tenants on a petition to change a rule will the proposed change be put to a majority vote of all the tenants in the building. It follows that the pet lovers were voted down on their proposal by the majority of the tenants.
The argument depends on which one of the following assumptions?
[ "Ninety percent of the tenants are against changing the rule forbidding pets.", "The pet lovers succeeded in obtaining the signatures of 10 percent of the tenants on their petition.", "The signatures of less than 10 percent of the tenants were obtained on the pet lovers' petition.", "The support of 10 percent of the tenants for a rule change ensures that the rule change will be adopted." ]
1
val_43
According to current geological theory, the melting of ice at the end of the Ice Age significantly reduced the weight pressing on parts of the earth' s crust. As a result, lasting cracks in the earth' s crust appeared in some of those parts under the stress of pressure from below. At the end of the Ice Age Sweden was racked by severe earthquakes. Ttherefore, it is likely that the melting of the ice contributed to these earthquakes.
Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument above?
[ "The earth's crust tends to crack whenever there is a sudden change in the pressures affecting it.", "Severe earthquakes are generally caused by cracking of the earth's crust near the earthquake site.", "Asteroid impacts, which did occur at the end of the Ice Age, generally cause severe earthquakes.", "Evidence of severe earthquakes around the time of the end of the Ice Age can be found in parts of northern Canada." ]
1
val_44
For years, Pleasanton was a commuter community to industries in Middleburg. The close of several factories in Middleburg has set in motion a wave of mortgage defaults: citizens of Pleasanton are foreclosing on their houses in significant numbers. Many of the mortgages were held by local banks, and these adversely affected banks have been under pressure from their boards to offset the banks' losses. One principal means to recoup these losses is for the banks to raise interest rates, including mortgage rates. If those owning property in Pleasanton continue to default on their mortgages, then the mortgage rates offered by these banks will continue to rise.
Which of the following, if true, best supports the conclusion that mortgage rates in Pleasanton will continue to increase?
[ "Many local businesses in Pleasanton, who were dependent on local residents employed in Middleburg, have been unable to pay the mortgage on the business properties they own.", "Mortgage rates in Middleburg have been steadily increasing over the past year and analysts expect them to continue increasing for some time.", "Many prospective homebuyers in the Pleasanton area, deterred by increased mortgage rates, have decided to purchase homes in other areas.", "There are so few houses in Pleasanton that the banks cannot realize an economy of scale, making mortgage rates unrealistic for most potential homeowners." ]
0
val_45
Cognitive psychologist: The majority of skilled artists are very creative people, and all people who are very creative are also good at abstract reasoning. However, not all skilled artists are famous. It follows that some people who are good at abstract reasoning are famous.
The cognitive psychologist's conclusion follows logically if which one of the following is assumed?
[ "Most skilled artists are good at abstract reasoning.", "Most skilled artists are famous.", "All people who are good at abstract reasoning are very creative.", "Some skilled artists are not famous." ]
1
val_46
The typological theory of species classification, which has few adherents today, distinguishes species solely on the basis of observable physical characteristics, such as plumage color, adult size, or dental structure. However, there are many so-called "sibling species, " which are indistinguishable on the basis of their appearance but cannot interbreed and thus, according to the mainstream biological theory of species classification, are separate species. Since the typological theory does not count sibling species as separate species, it is unacceptable.
The reasoning in the argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that
[ "the argument, in its attempt to refute one theory of species classification, presupposes the truth of an opposing theory", "the argument confuses a necessary condition for species distinction with a sufficient condition for species distinction", "the argument takes a single fact that is incompatible with a theory as enough to show that theory to be false", "the argument does not explain why sibling species cannot interbreed" ]
0
val_47
Explanation must be distinguished from justification. Every human action potentially has an explanation; that is, with sufficient knowledge it would be possible to give an accurate description of the causes of that action. An action is justified only when the person performing the action has sufficient reasons for the action. According to many psychologists, even when there is a justification for an action, that justification often forms no part of the explanation. The general principle, however, is that only an action whose justification, that is, the reasons for the action, forms an essential part of its explanation is rational.
If the statements in the passage are correct, which one of the following can be properly concluded from them?
[ "There are actions whose causes cannot be discovered.", "Some psychologists believe that the justification for an action never forms an essential part of its explanation.", "If any human actions are rational, then reasons must sometimes be causes of actions.", "If there are any reasons among the causes of an action, then that action is rational." ]
2
val_48
The television network' s advertisement for its new medical drama grossly misrepresents what that program is like. Thus, it will not as effectively attract the sort of viewers likely to continue watching the program as would the advertisement that the program' s producers favored; people who tune in to the first episode based on false expectations will be unlikely to watch subsequent episodes.
The argument relies on which one of the following assumptions?
[ "Most viewers who tune in to the first episode of the program will do so because of the network's advertisement for the program.", "Most people who tune in to the first episode of the program and become loyal viewers will not have tuned in to the first episode as a result of the network's advertisement for the program.", "If the advertisement that the program's producers favored were used instead of the network's advertisement, almost all of the viewers who tuned in to the first episode would tune in to subsequent episodes as well.", "The advertisement that the program's producers favored would not have grossly misrepresented what the program would be like." ]
3
val_49
One year ago a local government initiated an antismoking advertising campaign in local newspapers, which it financed by imposing a tax on cigarettes of 20 cents per pack. One year later, the number of people in the locality who smoke cigarettes had declined by 3 percent. Clearly, what was said in the advertisements had an effect, although a small one, on the number of people in the locality who smoke cigarettes.
Which one of the following, if true, most helps to strengthen the argument?
[ "Merchants in the locality responded to the local tax by reducing the price at which they sold cigarettes by 20 cents per pack.", "A substantial number of cigarette smokers in the locality who did not quit smoking during the campaign now smoke less than they did before it began.", "Smokers in the locality had incomes that on average were 25 percent lower than those of nonsmokers.", "Residents of the locality have not increased their use of other tobacco products such as snuff and chewing tobacco since the campaign went into effect." ]
0
val_50
The construction of new apartments in Brewsterville increased the supply of available housing there. Ordinarily, increasing the supply of available housing leads to lower rents for existing apartments. But in Brewsterville, rents for existing apartments rose.
Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the discrepancy described above?
[ "The new apartments were much more desirable than the existing apartments.", "Rents in some areas close to Brewsterville dropped as a result of the construction of the new apartments .", "A sizeable number of people moved out of the existing apartments while the new apartments were being constructed.", "The new apartments were constructed at the outset of a trend of increasing numbers of people seeking residence in Brewsterville ." ]
3
val_51
Jessica: The budget surplus should be used only to increase government payments to those who are unemployed. Marcie: A better use of the money would be for a public works project that would create jobs.
On the basis of their statements, Jessica and Marcie are committed to disagreeing about the truth of which one of the following?
[ "There is a better way to use the budget surplus than increasing government payments to those who are unemployed.", "Using the budget surplus to increase government payments to those who are unemployed is putting the money to good use.", "The public deserves to have jobs created when there are many people who are unemployed.", "Creating jobs through a public works project will ultimately benefit the public." ]
0
val_52
Internet users justifiably fear identity fraud and other online crimes. The attribute that most Internet crimes have in common is anonymity. Criminals hide behind screen names when perpetrating their crimes and feel safe from apprehension and punishment in doing so because other Internet users cannot learn their true identities, and jurisdictional and budget issues make it difficult for law enforcement agencies to enforce existing laws. Clearly, the only way to reduce such crime in the future is to create a system that requires Internet users to provide their true identities and full contact information in a way that is visible to all other users.
The flawed pattern of reasoning in the argument above is most similar to which of the following?
[ "Crimes involving deception are on the increase at the same time that crimes of violence seem to be decreasing. Law enforcement techniques in the past have focused primarily on the prevention and detection of violent crime. However, it is now clear that new techniques are required to combat crimes such as Internet fraud. Law enforcement agencies will have to focus on recruiting, hiring, and training a larger proportion of computer literate officers if they hope to keep up with modern criminals.", "Most states carefully regulate the possession of exotic wild animals as pets. Specially trained officers often raid illicit breeding operations and seize proscribed animals such as chimpanzees and tigers. Although these species are capable of becoming dangerous, individuals are still drawn to them as pets. The fact that their possession is unlawful is an inadequate deterrent. Since prohibitions on ownership are clearly not eliminating the black market in exotic species, the focus should turn to education of the public regarding the dangers of such pets.", "Wildlife biologists report that the population of the Northern Rock Fish is reaching dangerously low levels. The decrease in population is attributed to over fishing by unethical anglers who ignore laws regulating the size and number of the species that may be taken from rivers and streams. Poachers know that there are insufficient numbers of enforcement officers to create a credible threat of apprehension. It is obvious to authorities that the only way to save the species is to implement a total ban on the fishing of Northern Rock Fish immediately.", "When surveyed in prison, the majority of convicted violent criminals report that they have made decisions during their criminal careers to avoid at least one potential victim because of fears that the potential victim might be armed. Even when the criminals themselves are armed, they tend to prefer unarmed victims. Add to this the fact that statistics reveal that complete bans on private weapons in some jurisdictions have failed to eliminate violent crime and the fact that many jurisdictions with a high proportion of private weapon ownership enjoy a very low crime rate, and one may conclude that public policy should favor the private ownership of weapons." ]
2
val_53
When a forest is subject to acid rain, the calcium level in the soil declines. Spruce, fir, and sugar maple trees all need calcium to survive. However, sugar maples in forests that receive significant acid rain are much more likely to show signs of decline consistent with calcium deficiency than are spruces or firs in such forests.
Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the greater decline among sugar maples?
[ "Unlike spruces or firs, most sugar maples are native to areas that receive a lot of acid rain.", "Spruces and firs, unlike sugar maples, can extract calcium from a mineral compound that is common in soil and is not affected by acid rain.", "Sugar maples require more calcium in the spring and summer than they do in the fall and winter.", "Sugar maples that do not receive enough calcium deteriorate less rapidly than spruces or firs that do not receive enough calcium." ]
1
val_54
Any food that is not sterilized and sealed can contain disease-causing bacteria. Once sterilized and properly sealed, however, it contains no bacteria. There are many different acceptable food-preservation techniques; each involves either sterilizing and sealing food or else at least slowing the growth of disease-causing bacteria. Some of the techniques may also destroy natural food enzymes that cause food to spoil or discolor quickly.
If the statements above are true, which one of the following must be true?
[ "Any nonsterilized food preserved by an acceptable method can contain disease-causing bacteria.", "Food preserved by a sterilization method is less likely to discolor quickly than food preserved with other methods.", "All food preserved by an acceptable method is free of disease-causing bacteria.", "If a food contains no bacteria, then it has been preserved by an acceptable method." ]
0
val_55
The public square was an important tool of democracy in days past because it provided a forum for disparate citizens to discuss the important issues of the day. Today, a person with Internet access can discuss important issues with millions of people across the nation, allowing the Internet to play the role once played by the public square. Hence, we should ensure that Internet users have at least as much freedom of expression as did people speaking in the public square.
Which one of the following is an assumption required by the argument?
[ "All citizens have the same level of access to the Internet.", "The Internet is more often used to discuss important issues than to discuss frivolous issues.", "People speaking in the public square of days past had complete freedom of expression.", "A public forum can lose effectiveness as a tool of democracy if participants cannot discuss issues freely." ]
3
val_56
Five years ago, during the first North American outbreak of the cattle disease CXC, the death rate from the disease was 5 percent of all reported cases, whereas today the corresponding figure is over 18 percent. It is clear, ttherefore, that during these past 5 years, CXC has increased in virulence.
Which one of the following, if true, most substantially weakens the argument?
[ "During the first North American outbreak of the disease, many of the deaths reported to have been caused by CXC were actually due to other causes.", "Since the first outbreak, farmers have learned to treat mild cases of CXC and no longer report them to veterinarians or authorities.", "An inoculation program against CXC was recently begun after controlled studies showed inoculation to be 70 percent effective in preventing serious cases of the illness.", "Many recent cattle deaths that have actually been caused by CXC have been mistakenly attributed to another disease that mimics the symptoms of CXC." ]
1
val_57
Because visual inspection cannot reliably distinguish certain skin discolorations from skin cancers, dermatologists at clinics have needed to perform tests of skin tissue taken from patients. At Westville Hospital, dermatological diagnostic costs were reduced by the purchase of a new imaging machine that diagnoses skin cancer in such cases as reliably as the tissue tests do. Consequently, even though the machine is expensive, a dermatological clinic in Westville is considering buying one to reduce diagnostic costs.
Which of the following would it be most useful for the clinic to establish in order to make its decision?
[ "Whether the visits of patients who require diagnosis of skin discolorations tend to be shorter in duration at the clinic than at the hospital", "Whether the machine at the clinic would get significantly less heavy use than the machine at the hospital does", "Whether the principles on which the machine operates have been known to science for a long time", "Whether in certain cases of skin discoloration, visual inspection is sufficient to make a diagnosis of skin cancer" ]
1
val_58
A major network news organization experienced a drop in viewership in the week following the airing of a controversial report on the economy. The network also received a very large number of complaints regarding the report. The network, however, maintains that negative reactions to the report had nothing to do with its loss of viewers.
Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the network's position?
[ "This was not the first time that this network news organization has aired a controversial report on the economy that has inspired viewers to complain to the network.", "Most network news viewers rely on network news broadcasts as their primary source of information regarding the economy.", "The other major network news organizations reported similar reductions in viewership during the same week.", "The viewers who registered complaints with the network were regular viewers of the news organization's programs." ]
2
val_59
A 1991 calculation was made to determine what, if any, additional health-care costs beyond the ordinary are borne by society at large for people who live a sedentary life. The figure reached was a lifetime average of $1, 650. Thus people' s voluntary choice not to exercise places a significant burden on society.
Which one of the following, if true and not taken into account by the calculation, most seriously weakens the argument?
[ "Many people whose employment requires physical exertion do not choose to engage in regular physical exercise when they are not at work.", "Exercise is a topic that is often omitted from discussion between doctor and patient during a patient's visit.", "Physical conditions that eventually require medical or nursing-home care often first predispose a person to adopt a sedentary lifestyle.", "A regular program of moderate exercise tends to increase circulation, induce a feeling of well-being and energy, and decrease excess weight." ]
2
val_60
Researchers compared the brains of recently deceased people who had schizophrenia with those of recently deceased people who did not have schizophrenia. They found that 35 percent of the former and none of the latter showed evidence of damage to a structure of nerve cells called the subplate. They knew that this damage must have occurred prior to the second fetal trimester, when the subplate controls the development of the connections between the different parts of the brain.
Which one of the following conclusions is most strongly supported by the information above?
[ "Roughly 35 percent of people with abnormal brain subplates will eventually have schizophrenia.", "Schizophrenia is determined by genetic factors.", "Some people developed schizophrenia because of damage to the brain subplate after the second fetal trimester.", "There may be a cause of schizophrenia that predates birth." ]
3
val_61
The sun emits two types of ultraviolet radiation that damage skin: UV-A, which causes premature wrinkles, and UV-B, which causes sunburn. Until about ten years ago, sunscreens protected against UV-B radiation but not against UV-A radiation.
Which one of the following is best supported by the information above?
[ "People who wear sunscreen now are less likely to become sunburned than were people who spent the same amount of time in the sun wearing sunscreen ten years ago.", "The specific cause of premature skin wrinkling was not known until about ten years ago.", "Most people whose skin is prematurely wrinkled have spent a large amount of time in the sun without wearing sunscreen.", "Until about ten years ago, people who wore sunscreen were no less likely to have premature wrinkles than were people who spent the same amount of time in the sun without wearing sunscreen." ]
3
val_62
Astronomer: Earth was bombarded repeatedly by comets and asteroids early in its history. This bombardment probably sterilized the surface and prevented life from originating during this early period in Earth' s geological history. Meanwhile, Mars escaped severe bombardment, and so there could have been microbial life on Mars prior to there being such life on Earth. Because many meteorites originating from Mars have landed on Earth, life on Earth may have started when living microbes were carried here from Mars on a meteorite.
Which one of the following most accurately describes the role played in the astronomer's argument by the statement that there could have been microbial life on Mars prior to there being such life on Earth?
[ "It is a claim for which justification is provided and that, if true, establishes the truth of the argument's main conclusion.", "It is a claim for which some justification is provided and that is required in order to establish the argument's main conclusion.", "It is a claim that provides some support for the argument's conclusion but that neither ensures the truth of that conclusion nor is required in order to establish that conclusion.", "It is a claim for which no justification is provided and that, if true, ensures the truth of the argument's main conclusion." ]
1
val_63
Bottom trawling is a type of deep-sea fishing that involves dragging a large net along the bottom of the ocean, and it results in catching and killing many unintended species, some of which are endangered. Environmental advocates, concerned for these endangered marine species, have recommended that commercial fishers use a new set of nets, each designed specifically for the size and shape and pheromones (chemical attractors) of an individual marine species targeted by the commercial fishers. Environmentalists hope use of these new nets will protect the endangered marine species without interrupting commercial deep-sea fishing.
Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the claim that the use of the new nets will have the intended effects?
[ "The pheromones that would most attract the species sought by commercial fishers indicate the presence of a dangerous threat to most of the endangered marine species", "Freshwater fishers often increase the odds of catching a desired fish, and avoid catching unintended species, by the specific design of the fishing hook.", "Most of the newly design nets are not significantly more expensive than a typical bottom trawling system.", "Catching unintended, endangered species adds nothing to the profits of a commercial deep-sea fishing company." ]
0
val_64
Linguist: Each language has a word that captures a concept or emotional state in a way that no other language does. To capture such a breadth of expression, an artificial language should be created that contains words corresponding to all the different concepts and emotional states captured by the world's languages. That is not to say that such a language would contain as many words as there are in all the world's languages. Rather, only for those words that have no corresponding word in another language. While such a plan is hugely ambitious, the resulting language would be more thorough than any existing language.
The conclusion drawn above depends on which of the following assumptions?
[ "It is possible for one person to learn all of the world's existing languages.", "The range of concepts and emotional states is the only indication of a language's thoroughness.", "Extinct languages do not offer up words that capture concepts and emotional states in ways that fundamentally differ from those of existing languages.", "Each year hundreds of the world's languages go extinct, once there are no longer any native speakers remaining." ]
1
val_65
Criminals released from prison on parole have generally been put under routine supervision. A recent program has allowed criminals to leave prison early under intensive supervision; they must obey curfews and in some cases they must be electronically monitored. The percentage of released criminals arrested while under supervision is the same for intensive supervision as for routine supervision, so intensive supervision is no more effective than routine supervision in preventing criminals from committing additional crimes.
Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument relies?
[ "The number of criminals put under routine supervision was not significantly greater than the number of criminals put under intensive supervision.", "Of the criminals arrested while under intensive supervision, some would not have committed crimes if they had been under routine supervision.", "All of the criminals who were arrested while under routine supervision had been in prison more than once before being paroled and put under supervision.", "The proportion of arrests to crimes committed was not significantly higher for criminals under intensive supervision than for those under routine supervision." ]
3
val_66
While biodiversity is indispensable to the survival of life on Earth, biodiversity does not require the survival of every currently existing species. For there to be life on Earth, various ecological niches must be filled; many niches, however, can be filled by more than one species.
Which one of the following statements most accurately expresses the conclusion drawn in the argument?
[ "There are many ecological niches that can be filled by more than one species.", "There are various ecological niches that must be filled if there is to be life on Earth.", "Biodiversity does not require that all existing species continue to exist.", "The survival of life on Earth depends upon biodiversity." ]
2
val_67
Politician: Democracy requires that there be no restrictions on the ability of citizens to share their ideas freely, without fear of reprisal. Ttherefore the right to have private conversations, unmonitored by the government, is essential to democracy. For a government to monitor conversations on the Internet would thus be a setback for democracy.
Which one of the following most accurately describes the role played in the argument by the claim that democracy depends on the ability of citizens to share their ideas freely, without fear of reprisal?
[ "It is the argument's main conclusion and is inferred from two other statements in the argument, neither of which is used to support the other.", "It is a claim for which support is provided, and which is in turn used to support the argument's main conclusion.", "It is a claim for which no support is provided, and which is used to support a claim that is itself used to support the argument's main conclusion.", "It is a claim for which no support is provided, and which is used to support only the argument's main conclusion." ]
2
val_68
When compact discs first entered the market, they were priced significantly higher than vinyl records. Manufacturers attributed the difference in price to the difference in production costs, saying that compact disc production was expensive because the technology was new and unfamiliar. As the technology became more efficient, the price of the discs did indeed come down. But vinyl records, whose production technology has long been established, then went up in price to approach that of compact discs.
Which one of the following most helps to explain why the price of vinyl records went up?
[ "As consumers bought compact discs instead of vinyl records, the number of vinyl records produced decreased, making their production less cost-efficient.", "Compact disc player technology continued to change and develop even after compact discs first entered the market.", "Consumers were so enthusiastic about the improved sound quality offered by compact disc technology that they were willing to pay a higher price to obtain it.", "Some consumers who continued to buy vinyl records instead of compact discs did so because they were unwilling to pay a higher price for compact discs." ]
0
val_69
Economist: A country' s rapid emergence from an economic recession requires substantial new investment in that country' s economy. Since people' s confidence in the economic policies of their country is a precondition for any new investment, countries that put collective goals before individuals' goals cannot emerge quickly from an economic recession.
Which one of the following, if assumed, enables the economist's conclusion to be properly drawn?
[ "People in countries that put collective goals before individuals' goals lack confidence in the economic policies of their countries.", "A country's economic policies are the most significant factor determining whether that country's economy will experience a recession.", "If the people in a country that puts individuals' goals first are willing to make new investments in their country's economy, their country will emerge quickly from an economic recession.", "No new investment occurs in any country that does not emerge quickly from an economic recession." ]
0
val_70
In its coverage of a controversy regarding a proposal to build a new freeway, a television news program showed interviews with several people who would be affected by the proposed freeway. Of the interviews shown, those conducted with people against the new freeway outnumbered those conducted with people for it two to one. The television program is ttherefore biased against the proposed freeway.
Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
[ "In the interviews, the people against the new freeway expressed their opinions with more emotion than the people for the freeway did.", "The business interests of the television station that produced the program would be harmed by the construction of a new freeway.", "Most viewers of television news programs do not expect those programs to be completely free of bias.", "Before the program aired, over twice as many people were against building the freeway than were in favor of it." ]
3
val_71
Global warming has contributed to a rise in global sea level not only because it causes glaciers and ice sheets to melt, but also simply because when water is heated its volume increases. But this rise in global sea level is less than it otherwise would be, since over the years artificial reservoirs have been built all around the world that collectively contain a great deal of water that would otherwise reach the sea.
Which one of the following can most reasonably be concluded on the basis of the information above?
[ "Little is known about the contribution of global warming to the rise in global sea level.", "The amount of water that results from the melting of glaciers and ice sheets cannot be determined by looking at the rise in global sea level alone.", "Rises in global sea level that occurred before the world's reservoirs were built are difficult to explain.", "The exact magnitude of the rise in global sea level is in dispute." ]
1
val_72
Health insurance insulates patients from the expense of medical care, giving doctors almost complete discretion in deciding the course of most medical treatments. Moreover, with doctors being paid for each procedure performed, they have an incentive to overtreat patients. It is thus clear that medical procedures administered by doctors are frequently prescribed only because these procedures lead to financial rewards.
The argument uses which one of the following questionable techniques?
[ "depicting choices as having been made arbitrarily by dismissing without argument reasons that have been given for these choices", "presenting as capricious and idiosyncratic decisions that are based on the rigorous application of well-defined principles", "inferring the performance of certain actions on no basis other than the existence of both incentive and opportunity for performing those actions", "assuming that the irrelevance of a consideration for one participant in a decision makes that consideration irrelevant for each participant in the decision" ]
2
val_73
Planting peach trees on their farm makes more sense for the Johnsons than planting apricot trees. Although fresh, locally grown apricots are very popular in this area, the same is true of peaches. However, individual peach trees cost much less to purchase and plant than do apricot trees, and peach trees also begin bearing fruit at a much younger age.
Which one of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument?
[ "The market for fresh, locally grown apricots has grown in recent years as awareness of the health benefits of eating fresh fruit has increased.", "Peach production has decreased dramatically over the last several years.", "Fresh, locally grown apricots sell at a much higher price than do fresh, locally grown peaches.", "It costs as much to water and fertilize peach trees as it does to water and fertilize apricot trees." ]
2
val_74
A study of young children' s ability to learn foreign languages found that those with parents who read them more than one book per week in their native language were 75% more proficient in the foreign languages that they learned than children whose parents read them one book per week or less. A secondary finding of the study was that children' s ability to remember new vocabulary in a second language drops off sharply after the age of 6, when it becomes 75% more difficult to retain new words learned in the second language.
Assuming the statements above are true, which of the following can be inferred from them?
[ "The ease of learning a second language depends almost exclusively on environmental factors.", "Students whose parents enter them in early education and who read to them frequently are more likely to have extra income and more free time.", "Students who begin studying a language later in life would have had an easier time learning some aspects of that language if they had begun studying it as a young child.", "Proficient speakers of a second language are likely to have begun learning it before the age of 6." ]
2
val_75
Big-game trophy hunting is the hunting of large terrestrial mammals, typically in reference to Africa' s "Big Five" game -- lions, African elephants, Cape buffalos, leopards, and rhinoceroses. Despite widespread criticism and vocal public protest, big-game trophy hunting is entirely defensible. The controversial practice places a monetary value on the "Big Five" game. Hunters spend millions of dollars in Africa, which allows the participating countries to better care for the animals.
Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?
[ "The widespread criticism and vocal public protest is misguided.", "None of the \"Big Five\" animals are endangered.", "The hunters are only allowed to hunt sick or elderly animals.", "African countries would otherwise not be able to afford to protect the animals." ]
3
val_76
In the first phase of the Industrial Revolution, machines were invented whose main advantage was that they worked faster than human workers. This technology became widely used because it was economically attractive; many unskilled workers could be replaced by just a few skilled workers. Today managers are looking for technology that will allow them to replace highly paid skilled workers with a smaller number of less-skilled workers.
The examples presented above best illustrate which one of the following propositions?
[ "Workers will need to acquire more education and skills to remain competitive in the labor market.", "Employers utilize new technology because it allows them to reduce labor costs.", "In seeking employment, highly skilled workers no longer have an advantage over less-skilled workers.", "Technology eliminates many jobs but also creates just as many jobs." ]
1
val_77
It is likely that most of the new television programs Wilke & Wilke produce for this season will be canceled. Most of the new shows they produced last season were canceled due to insufficient viewership. Furthermore, their new shows are all police dramas, and few police dramas have been popular in recent years.
Which one of the following, if true, most helps to strengthen the argument?
[ "None of the shows that Wilke & Wilke produced last year that were not canceled were police dramas.", "All of the new shows that Wilke & Wilke produced last year that were canceled were police dramas.", "Most of the shows that Wilke & Wilke produced last year were police dramas.", "Wilke & Wilke have produced more new shows for this season than they produced last season." ]
1
val_78
Kim: The rapidly growing world population is increasing demands of food producers in ways that threaten our natural resources. With more land needed for both food production and urban areas, less land will be available for forests and wildlife habitats. Hampton: You are overlooking the promise of technology. I am confident that improvements in agriculture will allow us to feed the world population of ten billion predicted for 2050 without significantly increasing the percentage of the world' s land now devoted to agriculture.
Kim's and Hampton's statements most strongly support the claim that both of them would agree with which one of the following?
[ "The human diet needs to be modified in the next half century because of the depletion of our natural resources due to overpopulation.", "Agricultural and wilderness areas need to be protected from urban encroachment by preparing urban areas for greater population density.", "Efforts should be taken to slow the rate of human population growth and to increase the amount of land committed to agriculture.", "Continued research into more-efficient agricultural practices and innovative biotechnology aimed at producing more food on less land would be beneficial." ]
3
val_79
Despite the best efforts of journalists to be objective, it is inevitable that their own biases will enter their reporting, even if inadvertently. Ttherefore, it is imperative that a trained editor look over journalists' work with an eye toward detecting and removing their biases, so as to make reporting as objective as possible.
Each of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends EXCEPT:
[ "Journalists do not eliminate all of the biases that enter their reporting.", "Trained editors are able to detect at least some biases of journalists.", "Journalists' reporting that is not objective is not taken seriously by trained editors.", "It is imperative that reporting be as objective as possible." ]
2
val_80
If a society encourages freedom of thought and expression, then, during the time when it does so, creativity will flourish in that society. In the United States creativity flourished during the eighteenth century. It is clear, ttherefore, that freedom of thought was encouraged in the United States during eighteenth century.
An error of reasoning of the same kind as one contained in the passage is present in each of EXCEPT:
[ "According to the airline industry, airfares have to rise if air travel is to be made safer; since airfares were just raised, we can rest assured that air travel will ttherefore become safer.", "People who are really interested in the preservation of wildlife obviously do not go hunting for big game; since Gerda has never gone hunting for big game and intends never to do so, it is clear that she is really interested in the preservation of wildlife.", "If the contents of a bottle are safe to drink, the bottle will not be marked \"poison, \" so, since the bottle is not marked \"poison, \" its contents will be safe to drink.", "None of the so-called Western democracies is really democratic, because, for a country to be democratic, the opinion of each of its citizens must have a meaningful effect on government, and in none of these countries does each citizen's opinion have such an effect." ]
3
val_81
A large survey of scientists found that almost all accept Wang' s Law, and almost all know the results of the Brown-Eisler Experiment. But those results together with Wang' s Law contradict the Minsk Hypothesis. Ttherefore, most of the scientists surveyed reject the Minsk Hypothesis.
The argument requires assuming which one of the following?
[ "Wang's Law has in fact been shown to be true.", "The scientists surveyed are generally aware that the results of the Brown-Eisler Experiment together with Wang's Law contradict the Minsk Hypothesis.", "The sample is large enough to be representative of scientists in the field.", "Almost all of the scientists surveyed are familiar with the way in which the results of the Brown-Eisler Experiment were obtained." ]
1
val_82
Advertisement: Our oat bran cereal is the only one that has printed right on its package all of its claimed health benefits. And really health-conscious consumers have demonstrated that these health claims are true by buying our cereal since they would not have bought our cereal unless the claims were true. How do we know these consumers are really health-conscious? No really health-conscious consumer would buy food in a package that did not have accurate information about the food' s health benefits printed on it.
Which one of the following employs a flawed argumentative strategy that is most closely parallel to the flawed argumentative strategy in the advertisement above?
[ "This card game must be intellectually challenging, because it is played by highly intelligent people, who play only intellectually challenging card games. In fact, these players' intelligence is demonstrated by the fact that they play this game.", "This painting is a poor imitation, because only people with poor eyesight mistook it for the original. That these people have poor eyesight is demonstrated by the fact that they also mistook a vase of flowers in the painting for a peacock.", "That jacket must have been made for a very short person, because only very short people were able to fit into it. We know that they were very short because we saw them before they tried on the jacket.", "When coffee is being chosen, Brand Z is the coffee chosen by people with highly developed taste in coffee. These people showed their highly developed taste in coffee by correctly distinguishing eight brands of coffee from each other in a taste test." ]
0
val_83
Film historians often find it difficult to determine typical audience members' responses to particular films, especially those from the early twentieth century. Box office figures help little, for they indicate only a film' s financial success or failure; they do not show what audiences found funny, or frightening, or moving. These historians also find that newspaper and magazine reviews fail to provide much insight.
Which one of the following is most strongly supported by the statements above?
[ "Newspaper and magazine reviews of films are usually written in advance of a film's general release.", "Typical audience members' responses to films from the latter part of the twentieth century are easy to determine .", "Film historians do not believe that film reviews in newspapers and magazines reveal typical film audience members' views.", "Films from the early part of the twentieth century were not usually reviewed in newspapers or magazmes." ]
2
val_84
Scientists studying a common type of bacteria have discovered that most bacteria of that type are in hibernation at any given time. Some microbiologists have concluded from this that bacteria in general are usually in hibernation. This conclusion would be reasonable if all types of bacteria were rather similar. But, in fact, since bacteria are extremely diverse, it is unlikely that most types of bacteria hibernate regularly.
Which one of the following most accurately expresses the overall conclusion of the argument?
[ "It is likely that only one type of bacteria hibernates regularly.", "If bacteria are extremely diverse, it is unlikely that most types of bacteria hibernate regularly.", "Bacteria of most types are usually in hibernation.", "It is probably not true that most types of bacteria hibernate regularly." ]
3
val_85
The cost of manufacturing automobiles is considerably greater in Esteria than in Burdistan. In order to stimulate Esterian consumers' purchases of domestically manufactured automobiles, the Esterian government has historically charged taxes on automobiles manufactured in Burdistan. Five years ago, however, the Esterian government dropped those taxes; in those five years, the number of workers employed in Esterian automobile factories has decreased by 30%. Ttherefore, the number of vehicles manufactured and sold in Esteria must have decreased in the last five years.
Which of the following, if true, most weakens the argument?
[ "The number of automobile workers in Burdistan has not increased during the same period.", "Esterian automobile manufacturers have lowered the price of their automobiles so as to remain competitive with the manufacturers in Burdistan.", "Because vehicles manufactured in Esteria have a reputation for high quality, many Esterian consumers have continued to purchase domestically manufactured vehicles since the tax was abolished.", "Recent innovations in automated automobile-manufacturing technology have approximately halved the number of worker-hours required to produce most automobiles." ]
3
val_86
A study comparing infant care revealed that the amount of stimulation babies receive affects their sleep. At six months of age, the babies in the study with a less stimulating daytime routine slept an average of two hours more per day than those with a more stimulating routine. Since sleep plays a very important role in a child' s development, parents would be wise to reduce the amount of stimulation their babies receive.
Which one of the following statements, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
[ "Studies showed no correlation between stimulation and amount of sleep for children three years of age or older.", "The stimulation that babies receive helps them to develop intellectually.", "The babies who had a less stimulating routine gained weight at an average rate.", "Babies with less stimulating routines usually get extra sleep during the day." ]
1
val_87
Editor: The city' s previous recycling program, which featured pickup of recyclables every other week, was too costly. The city claims that its new program, which features weekly pickup, will be more cost effective, since the greater the volume of recyclables collected per year, the more revenue the city gains from selling the recyclables. But this is absurd. People will put out the same volume of recyclables overall; it will just be spread out over a greater number of pickups.
Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the editor's argument?
[ "Even if the volume of collected recyclables increases, that increase might not be enough to make the recycling program cost effective.", "Because of the increase in the number of pickups under the new program, the amount charged by the contractor that collects the city's recyclables will increase significantly.", "The cost of collecting and disposing of general trash has been less than the cost of collecting and disposing of recyclables, and this is still likely to be the case under the new recycling program.", "A weekly schedule for recyclables pickup is substantially easier for people to follow and adhere to than is a schedule of pickups every other week." ]
3
val_88
All the books in the library have their proper shelf locations recorded in the catalog. The book Horatio wants is missing from its place on the library shelves, and no one in the library is using it. Since it is not checked out to a borrower nor awaiting shelving nor part of a special display, it must have been either misplaced or stolen.
Which one of the following most accurately describes the method of reasoning used in the argument?
[ "An observation about one object is used as a basis for a general conclusion regarding the status of similar objects.", "A generalization is rejected by showing that it fails to hold in one particular instance.", "A deficiency in a system is isolated by arguing that the system failed to control one of the objects that it was intended to control.", "The conclusion is supported by ruling out other possible explanations of an observed fact." ]
3
val_89
Doctor: It is wrong for medical researchers to keep their research confidential, even if the companies for which they work would rather that they do so. If research results are not shared, the development of effective medical treatments may be delayed, and thus humans may suffer unnecessarily.
Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps to justify the doctor's argument?
[ "Medical researchers should always attempt to develop effective medical treatments as rapidly as they can while fulfilling their other moral obligations.", "It is wrong for any company to ask its medical researchers to keep their research confidential, if failure to share the research might delay development of effective medical treatments.", "If the most important moral principle is to prevent human suffering, then it is wrong for medical researchers to keep their research confidential.", "Medical researchers should not keep information confidential if it is possible that sharing that information would prevent some unnecessary human suffering." ]
3
val_90
Some people claim that the reason herbs are not prescribed as drugs by licensed physicians is that the medical effectiveness of herbs is seriously in doubt. No drug can be offered for sale, however, unless it has regulatory-agency approval for medicinal use in specific illnesses or conditions. It costs about $200 million to get regulatory-agency approval for a drug, and only the holder of a patent can expect to recover such large expenses. Although methods of extracting particular substances from herbs can be patented, herbs themselves and their medicinal uses cannot be. Ttherefore, under the current system licensed physicians cannot recommend the medicinal use of herbs.
The argument depends on the assumption that
[ "the medical ineffectiveness of many herbs as treatments for specific illnesses or conditions is well established", "the cost of medical care would be substantially reduced if faster ways of obtaining regulatory-agency approval for new drugs could be found.", "some other substances, besides herbs, are not available as drugs because the illnesses they could effectively treat are too uncommon to allow those substances to be marketed profitably as drugs", "a licensed physician cannot recommend the medicinal use of an herb unless that herb is offered for sale as a drug." ]
3
val_91
A science class stored one selection of various fruits at 30 degrees Celsius, a similar selection in similar conditions at 20 degrees, and another similar selection in similar conditions at 10 degrees. Because the fruits stored at 20 degrees stayed fresh longer than those stored at 30 degrees, and those stored at 10 degrees stayed fresh longest, the class concluded that the cooler the temperature at which these varieties of fruits are stored, the longer they will stay fresh.
The class's reasoning is flawed in that the class
[ "neglected to offer any explanation for the results it discovered", "assumed without proof that its thermometer was reliable", "generalized too readily from the fruits it tested to fruits it did not test", "too readily extrapolated from a narrow range of temperatures to the entire range of temperatures" ]
3
val_92
Whales originated in the freshwater lakes and rivers of ancient Asia about sixty million years ago. Not until about ten million years later did species of whales develop specialized kidneys enabling them to drink salt water. Although fossil evidence shows that some early whale species that lacked such kidneys sometimes swam in the Earth' s saltwater oceans, these species must have had to return frequently to freshwater rivers to drink.
Which of the following is most strongly supported by the information given?
[ "Among whale fossils that date from later than about fifty million years ago, none are fossils of whale species that drank only fresh water.", "The earliest whales that drank salt water differed from fresh-water-drinking whales only in their possession of specialized kidneys.", "Fossils of whale species dating from between sixty million and fifty million years ago will not be found on continents that were at the time separated from ancient Asia by wide expanses of ocean.", "Between sixty million and fifty million years ago, the freshwater lakes and rivers in which whales originated were gradually invaded by salt water." ]
2
val_93
Researchers in South Australia estimate changes in shark populations inhabiting local waters by monitoring what is termed the "catch per unit effort" (CPUE). The CPUE for any species of shark is the number of those sharks that commercial sharkfishing boats catch per hour for each kilometer of gill net set out in the water. Since 1973 the CPUE for a particular species of shark has remained fairly constant. Ttherefore, the population of that species in the waters around South Australia must be at approximately its 1973 level.
Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
[ "A significant threat to shark populations, in addition to commercial shark fishing, is \"incidental mortality\" that results from catching sharks in nets intended for other fish.", "The sharks that are the most profitable to catch are those that tend to remain in the same area of ocean year after year and not migrate far from where they were born.", "The waters around South Australia are the only area in the world where that particular species of shark is found.", "Since 1980 commercial shark-fishing boats have used sophisticated electronic equipment that enables them to locate sharks with greater accuracy." ]
3
val_94
In the United States between 1850 and 1880, the number of farmers continued to increase, but at a rate lower than that of the general population.
Which of the following statements directly contradicts the information presented above?
[ "The proportion of farmers in the United States labor force remained constant in the 30 years between 1850 and 1880.", "The rate of growth of the United States labor force and the rate of growth of the general population rose simultaneously in the 30 years between 1850 and 1880.", "The number of farmers in the general population increased slightly in the 30 years between 1850 and 1880.", "The proportion of farmers in the general population increased from 68 percent in 1850 to 72 percent in 1880." ]
3
val_95
Successful stand-up comedians are able to keep the attention of a large audience for a few hours, in such a way that the audience remembers long afterwards what the comedian said. And in their routines, many comedians make interesting points about serious topics. Unsurprisingly, humor is the means through which comedians are able to accomplish all of this. University professors hope to achieve much the same in their lectures. Thus, __
Which one of the following most logically completes the argument?
[ "incorporating humor into lectures can help professors to achieve the goals they have for those lectures", "university professors should treat even the most serious topics in a humorous way", "stand-up comedians and university professors have the same skill set", "university professors can achieve the goals they have for their lectures only if they incorporate humor into them" ]
0
val_96
Since anyone who supports the new tax plan has no chance of being elected, and anyone who truly understands economics would not support the tax plan, only someone who truly understands economics would have any chance of being elected.
The reasoning in the argument is flawed because the argument ignores the possibility that some people who
[ "truly understand economics have no chance of being elected", "truly understand economics do not support the tax plan", "do not support the tax plan do not truly understand economics", "do not support the tax plan have no chance of being elected" ]
2
val_97
Morton: In order to succeed in today' s society, one must have a college degree. Skeptics have objected that there are many people who never completed any education beyond high school but who are nevertheless quite successful. This success is only apparent, however, because without a college degree a person does not have enough education to be truly successful.
Morton's argument is flawed because it
[ "mistakes a correlation for a cause", "fails to consider the status of alleged counterexamples", "assumes what it sets out to conclude", "bases its conclusion on the supposition that most people believe in that conclusion" ]
2
val_98
The television documentary went beyond the save-the-wildlife pieties of some of those remote from East Africa and showed that in a country pressed for food, the elephant is a pest, and an intelligent pest at that. There appears to be no way to protect East African farms from the voracious foraging of night-raiding elephant herds. Clearly this example illustrates that __.
Which one of the following most logically completes the paragraph?
[ "farmers and agricultural agents should work closely with wildlife conservationists before taking measures to control elephants", "the preservation of wildlife may endanger human welfare", "it is unfair that people in any country should have to endure food shortages", "it is time to remove elephants from the list of endangered species" ]
1
val_99

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