Critical

Reasoning

Put on your
Thinking
Caps!
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 A Reasoning Teaser
Socrates arrives at a bridge guarded by a powerful lord, Plato, and begs to be
allowed to cross. Plato replies:
I swear that if the next utterance you make is true I shall let you cross, but if it
is false I shall throw you in the water.
Socrates replies:
You are going to throw me in the water.

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 A Reasoning Teaser
Socrates arrives at a bridge guarded by a powerful lord, Plato, and begs to be
allowed to cross. Plato replies:
I swear that if the next utterance you make is true I shall let you cross, but if it
is false I shall throw you in the water.
Socrates replies:
You are going to throw me in the water.

What happens next?

Is Socrates thrown in the water or not?

If Plato does not throw him in the water, Socrates has spoken falsely and
should be thrown in; but if he is thrown in, Socrates has spoken truly and
should not be thrown in.

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 A Reasoning Teaser
Socrates arrives at a bridge guarded by a powerful lord, Plato, and begs to be
allowed to cross. Plato replies:
I swear that if the next utterance you make is true I shall let you cross, but if it
is false I shall throw you in the water.
Socrates replies:
You are going to throw me in the water.

What happens next?

Is Socrates thrown in the water or not?

If Plato does not throw him in the water, Socrates has spoken falsely and
should be thrown in; but if he is thrown in, Socrates has spoken truly and
should not be thrown in.
This is what we call a PARADOX.

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 Key Terms: Revised
Premise

Each CR argument contains at least one premise. Premises are pieces of information
that provide evidence used to support the conclusion of the argument. For the
purposes of Critical Reasoning arguments, premises are facts not subject to dispute.

Conclusion

The conclusion is the endpoint of the line of reasoning of an argument. Think of it as

the result of the argument. The line of reasoning leading to a conclusion is often where
errors in logic are made.

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 Key Terms: Revised
Assumption

Assumptions are unstated facts and logical connections in an argument. In order for
the conclusion of an argument to be true, the assumptions upon which that argument
is based must also be true.

Argument

Central to every CR question is the argument. An argument is an ordered line of

reasoning composed of premises, assumptions, and a conclusion. Understanding the
elements of an argument is essential to performing well in this section.

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 Deductive Logic vs. Critical Reasoning: A comparative
Have a look at the argument below:

1. Most actors are celebrities.

2. Aamir is an actor.
3. Therefore Aamir is a celebrity.

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 Deductive Logic vs. Critical Reasoning: A comparative
Have a look at the argument below:

1. Most actors are celebrities.

2. Aamir is an actor.
3. Therefore Aamir is a celebrity.

The argument above is Deductively invalid as it is not consistent.

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 Deductive Logic vs. Critical Reasoning: A comparative
Have a look at the argument below:

1. Most actors are celebrities.

2. Aamir is an actor.
3. Therefore Aamir is a celebrity.

The argument above is Deductively invalid as it is not consistent.

The argument above is a fairly good Critical Reasoning (CR)argument as the

conclusion is more than likely to occur.

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 Deductive Logic vs. Critical Reasoning: A comparative
Have a look at the argument below:

1. Most actors are celebrities.

2. Aamir is an actor.
3. Therefore Aamir is a celebrity.

The argument above is Deductively invalid as it is not consistent.

The argument above is a fairly good Critical Reasoning (CR)argument as the

conclusion is more than likely to occur.

Additional premises can strengthen and weaken the original argument, in case of
an CR argument.

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 Deductive Logic vs. Critical Reasoning: A comparative
Have a look at the argument below:

1. Most actors are celebrities.

2. Aamir is an actor.
3. Therefore Aamir is a celebrity.

The argument above is Deductively invalid as it is not consistent.

The argument above is a fairly good Critical Reasoning (CR)argument as the

conclusion is more than likely to occur.

Additional premises can strengthen and weaken the original argument, in case of
an CR argument.

For logicians, the term valid is only applicable to Deductive arguments.

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 A practical Approach to Critical Reasoning questions
Sample Argument:
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands. They must be
committed to each other and must be in a relationship.

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 A practical Approach to Critical Reasoning questions
Sample Argument:
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands. They must be
committed to each other and must be in a relationship.

Step 1: Identify the Premise

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 A practical Approach to Critical Reasoning questions
Sample Argument:
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands. They must be
committed to each other and must be in a relationship.

Step 1: Identify the Premise

Premise Indicator words:

because since for for example

In that given that as indicated by due to
owing to we know this by this can be seen from for the reason that

The premises of the argument are: A girl said to her friend: See that
boy and girl. They are holding hands.

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 A practical Approach to Critical Reasoning questions
Sample Argument:
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands. They must be
committed to each other and must be in a relationship.

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 A practical Approach to Critical Reasoning questions
Sample Argument:
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands. They must be
committed to each other and must be in a relationship.

Step 2: Identify the Conclusion

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 A practical Approach to Critical Reasoning questions
Sample Argument:
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands. They must be
committed to each other and must be in a relationship.

Step 2: Identify the Conclusion

Conclusion Indicator words:

thus therefore hence consequently as a result

so accordingly clearly must be that
shows that conclude that follows that for this reason

The conclusion of the argument is: They must be committed to each

other and must be in a relationship.

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Sample Argument:
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands in public. They must
be committed to each other and must be in a relationship.

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Sample Argument:
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands in public. They must
be committed to each other and must be in a relationship.

Step 3: Identify the assumption

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Sample Argument:
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands in public. They must
be committed to each other and must be in a relationship.

Step 3: Identify the assumption

Keep in mind:
An assumption is an unstated premise of the argument: that is, an integral component of
the argument that the author leaves for granted and unsaid.
In other words, the Argument can be analogized to a house; the Premises are like walls, the
conclusion is like the roof, and the Assumptions are like the foundation (the hidden part of
the structure).

Identify the Assumption Answer:

In this case, the girl assumes that anyone who holds hands has to be
a girlfriend-boyfriend (that is in a relationship).
No that wise an assumption, is it?

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Sample Argument:
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands in public. They must
be committed to each other and must be in a relationship.

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Sample Argument:
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands in public. They must
be committed to each other and must be in a relationship.

Step 4: Weaken the argument

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Sample Argument:
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands in public. They must
be committed to each other and must be in a relationship.

Step 4: Weaken the argument

Keep in mind:
The key to weaken an argument is to undermine the conclusion, not necessarily destroy it.
Following are some examples of words or phrases used to indicate that your
task is to weaken the argument:
Weaken attack undermine refute counter
Challenge damage call into question argue against cast doubt

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Sample Argument:
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands in public. They must
be committed to each other and must be in a relationship.

Step 4: Weaken the argument

Keep in mind:
The key to weaken an argument is to undermine the conclusion, not necessarily destroy it.
Following are some examples of words or phrases used to indicate that your
task is to weaken the argument:
Weaken attack undermine refute counter
Challenge damage call into question argue against cast doubt

One way to weaken an argument is to attack the assumption of the argument.

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Sample Argument:
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands in public. They must
be committed to each other and must be in a relationship.

Step 4: Weaken the argument

Keep in mind:
The key to weaken an argument is to undermine the conclusion, not necessarily destroy it.
Following are some examples of words or phrases used to indicate that your
task is to weaken the argument:
Weaken attack undermine refute counter
Challenge damage call into question argue against cast doubt

One way to weaken an argument is to attack the assumption of the argument.

Weaken the argument Answer:

All we need to say is something as simple as this:
A cousin was helping another by holding her hand.
(This way they do not have to be in a relationship)

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Sample Argument:
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands in public. They must
be committed to each other and must be in a relationship.

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Sample Argument:
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands in public. They must
be committed to each other and must be in a relationship.
Step 5: Strengthen the argument

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Sample Argument:
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands in public. They must
be committed to each other and must be in a relationship.
Step 5: Strengthen the argument

Keep in mind:
Strengthen questions ask you to support the argument in any way possible. Speaking in
numerical terms, any answer choice that strengthens the argument, whether by 1% or by
100%, is correct.
Following are some examples of words or phrases used to indicate that your
task is to strengthen the argument:
Strenghten support helps most justifies

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Sample Argument:
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands in public. They must
be committed to each other and must be in a relationship.
Step 5: Strengthen the argument

Keep in mind:
Strengthen questions ask you to support the argument in any way possible. Speaking in
numerical terms, any answer choice that strengthens the argument, whether by 1% or by
100%, is correct.
Following are some examples of words or phrases used to indicate that your
task is to strengthen the argument:
Strenghten support helps most justifies

One way to strengthen an argument is to support the assumption of the argument.

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Sample Argument:
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands in public. They must
be committed to each other and must be in a relationship.
Step 5: Strengthen the argument

Keep in mind:
Strengthen questions ask you to support the argument in any way possible. Speaking in
numerical terms, any answer choice that strengthens the argument, whether by 1% or by
100%, is correct.
Following are some examples of words or phrases used to indicate that your
task is to strengthen the argument:
Strenghten support helps most justifies

One way to strengthen an argument is to support the assumption of the argument.

Strengthen the argument: All we need to say is something as simple as this:

In modern times, holding hands in public has become the symbol of relationships.
(This way they do not have to be in a relationship)

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PRACTICE QUESTIONS

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Q1. Bicycles are safer than scooters. 50 percent of scooter accidents result in death,
while only 10 percent of bicycle accidents result in death.
Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument above?

A. Bicycles are inspected more often than scooters.

B. The number of bicycle accidents is several hundred thousand times higher than the
number of scooter accidents.
C. Many bicycle owners are known not to stop on traffic lights whereas a most scooter
owners follow the regulation.
D. Scooter accidents are generally the fault of car owners, who bang into them and not
those of the ones driving the scooters.
E. Bicycles do not carry pillions generally but scooters do.

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Q1. Bicycles are safer than scooters. 50 percent of scooter accidents result in death,
while only 10 percent of bicycle accidents result in death.
Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument above?

A. Bicycles are inspected more often than scooters.

B. The number of bicycle accidents is several hundred thousand times higher than the
number of scooter accidents.
C. Many bicycle owners are known not to stop on traffic lights whereas a most scooter
owners follow the regulation.
D. Scooter accidents are generally the fault of car owners, who bang into them and not
those of the ones driving the scooters.
E. Bicycles do not carry pillions generally but scooters do.

Correct Answer: B

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Q2. A world-renowned painter recently won a lawsuit against an ice-cream
manufacturer for commiserating another graphic designer to design the ice-creams
packing in a style similar to the painter. Because of the judgment of the case,
manufacturers will have to stop asking graphic designers now to copy the freely
available designs of famous painters. And the end result will an increase in the cost of
package design as employing the services of known artists would cost more than those
of graphic designer that merely imitate their style.

The conclusion above is based on which of the following assumptions?

A. People cannot distinguish between an original work and its imitation.

B. Manufacturers will continue to use well-known painting styles in their packaging.
C. Ice-ream manufacturers around the country are shocked by this judgment.
D. Manufacturers will continue to use graphic artists to imitate the artistic style of
famous painters.
E. The sale of the product depends on its packaging.

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Q2. A world-renowned painter recently won a lawsuit against an ice-cream
manufacturer for commiserating another graphic designer to design the ice-creams
packing in a style similar to the painter. Because of the judgment of the case,
manufacturers will have to stop asking graphic designers now to copy the freely
available designs of famous painters. And the end result will an increase in the cost of
package design as employing the services of known artists would cost more than those
of graphic designer that merely imitate their style.

The conclusion above is based on which of the following assumptions?

A. People cannot distinguish between an original work and its imitation.

B. Manufacturers will continue to use well-known painting styles in their packaging.
C. Ice-ream manufacturers around the country are shocked by this judgment.
D. Manufacturers will continue to use graphic artists to imitate the artistic style of
famous painters.
E. The sale of the product depends on its packaging.

Correct Answer: B

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Q3. Navneet Pencils manufactures and sells the same pencils as Camlin does. Employee
wages account for forty percent of the cost of manufacturing pencils at both factories.
Navneet is seeking a competitive edge over Camlins supply. Therefore, to promote this
end, Navneets should lower employee wages.

Which of the following, if true, seriously weakens the argument above?

A. Because they make a small number of specialty artists pencils, pencil

manufacturers cannot receive volume discounts on raw materials.
B. Lowering wages would reduce the quality of employee work and this reduced
quality would lead to lowered sales.
C. Navneets Pencils has taken away twenty percent of Camlins Supply business over
the last year.
D. Camlins Supply pays its employees, on average, ten percent more than does
Navneets Pencils.
E. Many people who work for manufacturing plants live in areas in which the
manufacturing plant they work for is the only industry.

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Q3. Navneet Pencils manufactures and sells the same pencils as Camlin does. Employee
wages account for forty percent of the cost of manufacturing pencils at both factories.
Navneet is seeking a competitive edge over Camlins supply. Therefore, to promote this
end, Navneets should lower employee wages.

Which of the following, if true, seriously weakens the argument above?

A. Because they make a small number of specialty artists pencils, pencil

manufacturers cannot receive volume discounts on raw materials.
B. Lowering wages would reduce the quality of employee work and this reduced
quality would lead to lowered sales.
C. Navneets Pencils has taken away twenty percent of Camlins Supply business over
the last year.
D. Camlins Supply pays its employees, on average, ten percent more than does
Navneets Pencils.
E. Many people who work for manufacturing plants live in areas in which the
manufacturing plant they work for is the only industry.
Correct Answer: B

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Q4. In some cities, many writers have been winning acclaim as artists. But since writing
must be useful, writers must exercise their craft with an eye to the practical utility of
their product. For this reason, writing is not an art.

Which of the following is an assumption that supports drawing the conclusion above
from the reason given for that conclusion?

A. Some books are written to be placed in research labs where they will not be used
by anyone.
B. Some writers are more concerned than others with the practical utility of the
products they produce.
C. Writers should be more concerned with the practical utility of their products than
they currently are.
D. Artists are not concerned with the monetary value of their products.
E. An object is not an art object if its maker pays attention to the objects practical
utility.

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Q4. In some cities, many writers have been winning acclaim as artists. But since writing
must be useful, writers must exercise their craft with an eye to the practical utility of
their product. For this reason, writing is not an art.

Which of the following is an assumption that supports drawing the conclusion above
from the reason given for that conclusion?

A. Some books are written to be placed in research labs where they will not be used
by anyone.
B. Some writers are more concerned than others with the practical utility of the
products they produce.
C. Writers should be more concerned with the practical utility of their products than
they currently are.
D. Artists are not concerned with the monetary value of their products.
E. An object is not an art object if its maker pays attention to the objects practical
utility.

Correct Answer: E

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5. Unlike the price of gold, the price of silver has fallen considerably in the last year.
Thus, although the retail price of jewelry made with silver other than gold has not yet
fallen, it will inevitably fall.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument above?

A. Changes in retail prices always lag behind changes in raw-material prices.

B. The price of gold is typically higher than that of the same volume of silver.
C. The operating costs of the average retail jewelry shop have remained constant
during the last year.
D. The cost of mining all expensive metals other than gold has increased in the last
year.
E. The cost of processing silver has increased during the last year.

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5. Unlike the price of gold, the price of silver has fallen considerably in the last year.
Thus, although the retail price of jewelry made with silver other than gold has not yet
fallen, it will inevitably fall.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument above?

A. Changes in retail prices always lag behind changes in raw-material prices.

B. The price of gold is typically higher than that of the same volume of silver.
C. The operating costs of the average retail jewelry shop have remained constant
during the last year.
D. The cost of mining all expensive metals other than gold has increased in the last
year.
E. The cost of processing silver has increased during the last year.

Correct Answer: E

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6. Physician: In itself, exercise does not cause heart attacks; rather, a sudden
increase in an exercise regimen can be a cause. When people of any physical
condition suddenly increase their amount of exercise, they also increase their risk
of heart attack. As a result, there will be an increased risk of heart attack among
employees of this company due to the new health program.

The conclusion drawn by the physician follows logically if which one of the
following is assumed?
(A) Employees will abruptly increase their amount of exercise as a result of the
new health program.
(B) The exercised involved in the new health program are more strenuous than
those in the previous health program.
(C) The new health program will force employees of all levels of health to exercise
regularly.
(D)The new health program constitutes a sudden change in the companys policy
(E) All employees, no matter what their physical condition, will participate in the
new health program.

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6. Physician: In itself, exercise does not cause heart attacks; rather, a sudden
increase in an exercise regimen can be a cause. When people of any physical
condition suddenly increase their amount of exercise, they also increase their risk
of heart attack. As a result, there will be an increased risk of heart attack among
employees of this company due to the new health program.

The conclusion drawn by the physician follows logically if which one of the
following is assumed?
(A) Employees will abruptly increase their amount of exercise as a result of the
new health program.
(B) The exercised involved in the new health program are more strenuous than
those in the previous health program.
(C) The new health program will force employees of all levels of health to exercise
regularly.
(D)The new health program constitutes a sudden change in the companys policy
(E) All employees, no matter what their physical condition, will participate in the
new health program.

Correct Answer: A

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7. Economist: Technology now changes so rapidly that workers need periodic
retraining. Such retraining can be efficient only if it allows individual companies to
meet their own short-term needs. Hence, large governmental job retraining
programs are no longer a viable option in the effort to retrain workers efficiently.

Which one of the following is an assumption required by the economists

argument?
(A) Workers did not need to be retrained when the pace of technological change
was slower than it is currently.
(B) Large job retraining programs will be less efficient than smaller programs if the
pace of technological change slows.
(C) No single type of retraining program is most efficient at retraining technological
workers.
(D) Large governmental job retraining programs do not meet the short-term needs
of different individual companies.
(E) Technological workers are more likely now than in the past to move in order to
find work for which they are already trained.

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7. Economist: Technology now changes so rapidly that workers need periodic
retraining. Such retraining can be efficient only if it allows individual companies to
meet their own short-term needs. Hence, large governmental job retraining
programs are no longer a viable option in the effort to retrain workers efficiently.

Which one of the following is an assumption required by the economists

argument?
(A) Workers did not need to be retrained when the pace of technological change
was slower than it is currently.
(B) Large job retraining programs will be less efficient than smaller programs if the
pace of technological change slows.
(C) No single type of retraining program is most efficient at retraining technological
workers.
(D) Large governmental job retraining programs do not meet the short-term needs
of different individual companies.
(E) Technological workers are more likely now than in the past to move in order to
find work for which they are already trained.

Correct Answer: D

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8. Thirty years ago, the percentage of the British people who vacationed in foreign
countries was very small compared with the large percentage of the British
population who travel abroad for vacations now. Foreign travel is, and always has
been, expensive from Britain. Therefore, British people must have, on average,
more money to spend on vacations now than they did 30 years ago.

The argument requires assuming which one of the following?

(A) If foreign travel had been less expensive 30 years ago, British people would still
not have had enough money to take vacation abroad.
(B) If travel to Britain were less expensive, more people of other countries would
travel to Britain for their vacations.
(C) If the percentage of British people vacationing abroad was lower 30 years ago,
then the British people of 30 years ago must have spent more money on domestic
vacations.
(D) If more of the British people 30 years ago had had enough money to vacation
abroad, more would have done so.
(E) If British people are now wealthier than they were 30 years ago, then they must
have more money to spend on vacations now than they did 30 years ago.

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8. Thirty years ago, the percentage of the British people who vacationed in foreign
countries was very small compared with the large percentage of the British
population who travel abroad for vacations now. Foreign travel is, and always has
been, expensive from Britain. Therefore, British people must have, on average,
more money to spend on vacations now than they did 30 years ago.

The argument requires assuming which one of the following?

(A) If foreign travel had been less expensive 30 years ago, British people would still
not have had enough money to take vacation abroad.
(B) If travel to Britain were less expensive, more people of other countries would
travel to Britain for their vacations.
(C) If the percentage of British people vacationing abroad was lower 30 years ago,
then the British people of 30 years ago must have spent more money on domestic
vacations.
(D) If more of the British people 30 years ago had had enough money to vacation
abroad, more would have done so.
(E) If British people are now wealthier than they were 30 years ago, then they must
have more money to spend on vacations now than they did 30 years ago.

Correct Answer: D

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9. Some teachers claim that students would not learn curricular content without
the incentive of grades. But students with intense interest in the material would
learn it without this incentive, while the behavior of students lacking all interests in
the material is unaffected by such an incentive. The incentive of grades, therefore,
serves no essential academic purpose.

The reasoning in the argument is flawed because the argument

(A) take for granted that the only purpose of school is to convey a fixed body of
information to students
(B) takes for granted that students who are indifferent to the grades they receive
are genuinely interested in the curricular material
(C) fails to consider that the incentive of grades may serve some useful
nonacademic purpose
(D) ignore the possibility that students who lack interest in the curricular material
would be quite interested in it if allowed to choose their own curricular material
(E) fails to consider that some students may be neither fascinated by nor
completely indifferent to the subject being taught

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9. Some teachers claim that students would not learn curricular content without
the incentive of grades. But students with intense interest in the material would
learn it without this incentive, while the behavior of students lacking all interests in
the material is unaffected by such an incentive. The incentive of grades, therefore,
serves no essential academic purpose.

The reasoning in the argument is flawed because the argument

(A) take for granted that the only purpose of school is to convey a fixed body of
information to students
(B) takes for granted that students who are indifferent to the grades they receive
are genuinely interested in the curricular material
(C) fails to consider that the incentive of grades may serve some useful
nonacademic purpose
(D) ignore the possibility that students who lack interest in the curricular material
would be quite interested in it if allowed to choose their own curricular material
(E) fails to consider that some students may be neither fascinated by nor
completely indifferent to the subject being taught

Correct Answer: E

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10. Last year a large firm set a goal of decreasing its workforce by 25%. Three
divisions, totaling 25% of its workforce, were to be eliminated and no new people
hired. These divisions have since been eliminated and no new people have joined
the firm, but its workforce has decreased by only 15%.

Which one of the following, if true, contributes most to an explanation of the

difference in the planned versus the actual reduction in the workforce?
(A)The three divisions that were eliminated were well run and had the potential to
earn profits.
(B)Normal attrition in the retained divisions continued to reduce staff because no
new people were added to the firm.
(C)Some of the employees in the eliminated divisions were eligible for early
retirement and chose that option.
(D)As the divisions were being eliminated some of their employees were assigned
to other divisions.
(E) Employees in the retained divisions were forced to work faster to offset the loss
of the eliminated divisions.

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10. Last year a large firm set a goal of decreasing its workforce by 25%. Three
divisions, totaling 25% of its workforce, were to be eliminated and no new people
hired. These divisions have since been eliminated and no new people have joined
the firm, but its workforce has decreased by only 15%.

Which one of the following, if true, contributes most to an explanation of the

difference in the planned versus the actual reduction in the workforce?
(A)The three divisions that were eliminated were well run and had the potential to
earn profits.
(B)Normal attrition in the retained divisions continued to reduce staff because no
new people were added to the firm.
(C)Some of the employees in the eliminated divisions were eligible for early
retirement and chose that option.
(D)As the divisions were being eliminated some of their employees were assigned
to other divisions.
(E) Employees in the retained divisions were forced to work faster to offset the loss
of the eliminated divisions.

Correct Answer: D

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11. Every year, new reports appear concerning the health risks posed by certain
substances, such as coffee and sugar. One year an article claimed that coffee is
dangerous to ones health. The next year, another article argued that coffee has
some benefits for ones health. From these contradictory opinions, we see that
experts are useless for guiding ones decisions about ones health.

Which one of the following most accurately describes a flaw in the argument
above?
(A) The argument takes for granted that coffee is dangerous to ones health.
(B) The argument presumes, without providing warrant, that one always wants
expert guidance in making decisions about ones health.
(C) The argument fails to consider the nature of expert opinion in areas other than
health.
(D) The argument presumes, with out providing justification, that because expert
opinion is trustworthy in one case, it must therefore be trustworthy in all cases.
(E) The argument fails to consider that coffee may be harmful to ones health in
some respects and beneficial in others.

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11. Every year, new reports appear concerning the health risks posed by certain
substances, such as coffee and sugar. One year an article claimed that coffee is
dangerous to ones health. The next year, another article argued that coffee has
some benefits for ones health. From these contradictory opinions, we see that
experts are useless for guiding ones decisions about ones health.

Which one of the following most accurately describes a flaw in the argument
above?
(A) The argument takes for granted that coffee is dangerous to ones health.
(B) The argument presumes, without providing warrant, that one always wants
expert guidance in making decisions about ones health.
(C) The argument fails to consider the nature of expert opinion in areas other than
health.
(D) The argument presumes, with out providing justification, that because expert
opinion is trustworthy in one case, it must therefore be trustworthy in all cases.
(E) The argument fails to consider that coffee may be harmful to ones health in
some respects and beneficial in others.

Correct Answer: E

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12. Mystery stories often feature a brilliant detective and the detectives dull
companion. Clues are presented in the story, and the companion wrongly infers an
inaccurate solution to the mystery using the same clues that the detective uses to
deduce the correct solution. Thus, the authors strategy of including the dull
companion gives readers a chance to solve the mystery while also diverting them
from the correct solution.

Which one of the following is most strongly supported by the information above?
(A) Most mystery stories feature a brilliant detective who solves the mystery
presented in the story.
(B) Mystery readers often solve the mystery in a story simply by spotting the
mistakes in the reasoning of the detectives dull companion in that story.
(C) Some mystery stories give readers enough clues to infer the correct solution to
the mystery.
(D) The actions of the brilliant detective in a mystery story rarely divert readers
from the actions of the detectives dull companion.
(E) The detectives dull companion in a mystery story generally uncovers the
misleading clues that divert readers from the mysterys correct solution.

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12. Mystery stories often feature a brilliant detective and the detectives dull
companion. Clues are presented in the story, and the companion wrongly infers an
inaccurate solution to the mystery using the same clues that the detective uses to
deduce the correct solution. Thus, the authors strategy of including the dull
companion gives readers a chance to solve the mystery while also diverting them
from the correct solution.

Which one of the following is most strongly supported by the information above?
(A) Most mystery stories feature a brilliant detective who solves the mystery
presented in the story.
(B) Mystery readers often solve the mystery in a story simply by spotting the
mistakes in the reasoning of the detectives dull companion in that story.
(C) Some mystery stories give readers enough clues to infer the correct solution to
the mystery.
(D) The actions of the brilliant detective in a mystery story rarely divert readers
from the actions of the detectives dull companion.
(E) The detectives dull companion in a mystery story generally uncovers the
misleading clues that divert readers from the mysterys correct solution.

Correct Answer: C

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13. In speech, when words or sentences are ambiguous, gesture and tone of voice
are used to indicate the intended meaning. Writers, of course, cannot use gesture or
tone of voice and must rely instead on style; the reader detects the writers
intention from the arrangement of words and sentences.

Which one of the following statements is most strongly supported by the

information above?
(A) The primary function of style in writing is to augment the literal meanings of
the words and sentences used.
(B) The intended meaning of a piece of writing is indicated in part by the writers
arrangement of words and sentences.
(C) It is easier for a listener to detect the tone of a speaker than for a reader to
detect the style of the writer.
(D) A writers intention will always be interpreted differently by different readers.
(E) The writers arrangement of words/sentences completely determines the
aesthetics of writing.

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13. In speech, when words or sentences are ambiguous, gesture and tone of voice
are used to indicate the intended meaning. Writers, of course, cannot use gesture or
tone of voice and must rely instead on style; the reader detects the writers
intention from the arrangement of words and sentences.

Which one of the following statements is most strongly supported by the

information above?
(A) The primary function of style in writing is to augment the literal meanings of
the words and sentences used.
(B) The intended meaning of a piece of writing is indicated in part by the writers
arrangement of words and sentences.
(C) It is easier for a listener to detect the tone of a speaker than for a reader to
detect the style of the writer.
(D) A writers intention will always be interpreted differently by different readers.
(E) The writers arrangement of words/sentences completely determines the
aesthetics of writing.

Correct Answer: B

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14. Bureaucratic mechanisms are engineered to resist change. Thus, despite
growing dissatisfaction with complex bureaucratic systems, it is unlikely that
bureaucracies will be simplified.

The claim that bureaucratic mechanisms are engineered to resist change plays
which one of the following roles in the argument?
(A) It is a premise offered in support of the claim that it is unlikely that
bureaucracies will be simplified.
(B) It is a conclusion for which the only support offered is the claim that
dissatisfaction with complex bureaucratic systems is growing.
(C) It is cited as evidence that bureaucratic systems are becoming more and more
complex.
(D) It is used to weaken the claim that bureaucracies should be simplified.
(E) It is a conclusion for which the claim that bureaucracies are unlikely to be
simplified is offered as support.

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14. Bureaucratic mechanisms are engineered to resist change. Thus, despite
growing dissatisfaction with complex bureaucratic systems, it is unlikely that
bureaucracies will be simplified.

The claim that bureaucratic mechanisms are engineered to resist change plays
which one of the following roles in the argument?
(A) It is a premise offered in support of the claim that it is unlikely that
bureaucracies will be simplified.
(B) It is a conclusion for which the only support offered is the claim that
dissatisfaction with complex bureaucratic systems is growing.
(C) It is cited as evidence that bureaucratic systems are becoming more and more
complex.
(D) It is used to weaken the claim that bureaucracies should be simplified.
(E) It is a conclusion for which the claim that bureaucracies are unlikely to be
simplified is offered as support.

Correct Answer: A

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15. Philosopher: Scientists talk about the pursuit of truth, but like most people,
they are self-interested. Accordingly, the professional activities of most scientists
are directed toward personal career enhancement, and only incidentally toward the
pursuit of truth. Hence, the activities of the scientific community are largely
directed toward enhancing the status of that community as a whole, and only
incidentally toward the pursuit of truth.

The reasoning in the philosophers argument is flawed because the argument

(A) Improperly infers that each and every scientist has a certain characteristic from
premise that most scientists have that characteristic
(B) Improperly draws an inference about the scientific community as a whole from
a premise about individual scientists
(C) Presumes, without giving justification, that the aim of personal career
enhancement never advances the pursuit of truth
(D) Illicitly takes advantage of an ambiguity in the meaning of self-interested
(E)Improperly draws an inference about a cause from premises about its effects

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15. Philosopher: Scientists talk about the pursuit of truth, but like most people,
they are self-interested. Accordingly, the professional activities of most scientists
are directed toward personal career enhancement, and only incidentally toward the
pursuit of truth. Hence, the activities of the scientific community are largely
directed toward enhancing the status of that community as a whole, and only
incidentally toward the pursuit of truth.

The reasoning in the philosophers argument is flawed because the argument

(A) Improperly infers that each and every scientist has a certain characteristic from
premise that most scientists have that characteristic
(B) Improperly draws an inference about the scientific community as a whole from
a premise about individual scientists
(C) Presumes, without giving justification, that the aim of personal career
enhancement never advances the pursuit of truth
(D) Illicitly takes advantage of an ambiguity in the meaning of self-interested
(E)Improperly draws an inference about a cause from premises about its effects

Correct Answer: B

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