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Editorial: Supporters of the proposed law that would require bicyclists to wear helmets are seriously misguided. The number of pedestrians who die yearly as a result of accidents involving automobiles is five times the number of deaths resulting from bicycle accidents, and drunken driving exacts a much higher toll than... | Which one of the following exhibits a pattern of flawed reasoning most similar to that in the argument above? | [
"The proposal to introduce foreign language study to students in their first years of school is misguided. Young students should master their own language first and learn basic mathematics before studying a foreign language. No one suggests teaching calculus before arithmetic.",
"It is foolish to require lab work... | 1 | val_100 |
Several legislators claim that the public finds many current movies so violent as to be morally offensive. However, these legislators have misrepresented public opinion. In a survey conducted by a movie industry guild, only 17 percent of respondents thought that movies are overly violent, and only 3 percent found any r... | The reasoning in the argument is flawed in that the argument | [
"attempts to undermine the legislators' credibility instead of addressing their argument",
"generalizes from a sample that is unlikely to be representative of public sentiment",
"presumes, without providing justification, that the people surveyed based their responses on a random sampling of movies",
"fails t... | 1 | val_101 |
An instructor presented two paintings to a class. She said that the first had hung in prestigious museums but the second was produced by an unknown amateur. Each student was asked which painting was better. Everyone selected the first. The instructor later presented the same two paintings in the same order to a differe... | The statements above, if true, most strongly support which one of the following? | [
"None of the claims that the instructor made about the paintings was true.",
"Each of the students would like most of the paintings hanging in any prestigious museum.",
"Most of the students would not like any work of art that they believed to have been produced by an unknown amateur.",
"In judging the painti... | 3 | val_102 |
Drama critic: There were many interesting plays written last year. Surely some will gain widespread popularity for at least a few years, and some will even receive high critical acclaim, but none will be popular several centuries from now. The only plays that continue to be performed regularly over many decades and cen... | The argument relies on assuming which one of the following? | [
"Any play that skillfully examines human nature will be performed regularly over the centuries.",
"There were no plays written last year that the drama critic has neither read nor seen performed.",
"No play will be popular several centuries from now unless it continues to be performed regularly during the inter... | 2 | val_103 |
Further evidence bearing on Jamison' s activities must have come to light. On the basis of previously available evidence alone, it would have been impossible to prove that Jamison was a party to the fraud, and Jamison' s active involvement in the fraud has now been definitively established. | The pattern of reasoning exhibited in the argument above most closely parallels that exhibited in which one of the following? | [
"LaForte must have deeply resented being passed over for promotion. He maintains otherwise, but only someone who felt badly treated would have made the kind of remark LaForte made at yesterday's meeting.",
"Smith must not have purchased his house within the last year. He is listed as the owner of that house on th... | 2 | val_104 |
Michael hit a pedestrian, Meredith, with his car, and as a result, Meredith broke her hip in three places. Obviously, Michael is the cause of Meredith' s injury. In cases of a broken hip, 100 percent of people make a full recovery, as long as the injured party is younger than sixty. Meredith is 52 years old. Thus, Mere... | The argument above is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that: | [
"it mistakes probability for certainty.",
"it relies on an inappropriate authority.",
"it makes a hasty generalization.",
"it uses a term unclearly."
] | 1 | val_105 |
A worker for a power company trims the branches of trees that overhang power lines as a prevention against damage to the lines anticipated because of the impending stormy season. The worker reasons that there will be no need for her to trim the overhanging branches of a certain tree because the owners of the tree have ... | Which one of the following decisions is based on flawed reasoning that is most similar to the worker's flawed reasoning? | [
"A candidate decides to campaign in the areas of the city where the most new votes are concentrated. The candidate reasons that campaigning in other areas is unnecessary because in those areas the candidate's message is actually liable to alienate voters.",
"A well inspector has a limited amount of time to inspec... | 2 | val_106 |
<b> Plant scientists have used genetic engineering on seeds to produce crop plants that are highly resistant to insect damage </b>. Unfortunately, the seeds themselves are quite expensive, and the plants require more fertilizer and water to grow well than normal ones. Accordingly, <b> for most farmers the savings on pe... | . In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles? | [
"The first presents a development that the argument Predicts will have a certain outcome, the second acknowledges a consideration that tends to weigh against that prediction",
"The first and the second each provide evidence to support the arguments main conclusion",
"The first supplies a context for the argumen... | 0 | val_107 |
Although computers can enhance people's ability to communicate, computer games are a cause of underdeveloped communication skills in children. After-school hours spent playing computer games are hours not spent talking with people. Ttherefore, children who spend all their spare time playing these games have less experi... | The argument depends on which of the following assumptions? | [
"The mental skills developed through playing computer games do not contribute significantly to children's intellectual development.",
"Passive activities such as watching television and listening to music do not hinder the development of communication skills in children.",
"Formal instruction contributes little... | 3 | val_108 |
A major health insurance company in Lagolia pays for special procedures prescribed by physicians only if the procedure is first approved as "medically necessary" by a company-appointed review panel. The rule is intended to save the company the money it might otherwise spend on medically unnecessary procedures. The comp... | Which of the following, if true, provides the strongest justification for the company's decision? | [
"The review process is expensive and practically always results in approval of the prescribed procedure.",
"Patients often register dissatisfaction with physicians who prescribe nothing for their ailments.",
"The number of members of the company-appointed review panel who review a given procedure depends on the... | 0 | val_109 |
Tabloid magazines that report alien landings and celebrity sightings may be considered plebeian, but the public evidently prefers them to weekly newsmagazines that report more conventional news. A comparison of newsstand revenues shows far higher sales volumes for tabloids than for weekly newsmagazines. | The argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it fails to consider whether | [
"tabloid magazines ever derive news stories from conventional sources",
"the news is any less conventional in tabloid magazines than in weekly newsmagazines",
"more newsmagazines than tabloid magazines are sold by subscription",
"any magazine ever reports conventional news about celebrities"
] | 2 | val_110 |
Trancorp currently transports all its goods to Burland Island by truck. The only bridge over the channel separating Burland from the mainland is congested, and trucks typically spend hours in traffic. Trains can reach the channel more quickly than trucks, and freight cars can be transported to Burland by barges that ty... | Which of the following would be most important to know in determining whether Trancorp's plan, if implemented, is likely to achieve its goal? | [
"Whether there are boats that can make the trip between the mainland and Burland faster than barges can",
"Whether most trucks transporting goods into Burland return to the mainland empty",
"Whether loading the freight cars onto barges is very time consuming",
"Whether transportation by train and barge would ... | 2 | val_111 |
According to the official results of last week' s national referendum, 80 percent voted in favor of the proposal. But those results must be rigged. Everyone I know voted against the proposal, which is clear evidence that most people voted against it. | Which one of the following most accurately describes a flaw in the reasoning of the argument? | [
"The argument rejects a claim by attacking the proponents of the claim rather than addressing the claim itself.",
"The argument uses evidence drawn from a sample that is unlikely to be representative of the general population.",
"The argument fails to make a needed distinction between how people should have vot... | 1 | val_112 |
Economic considerations color every aspect of international dealings, and nations are just like individuals in that the lender sets the terms of its dealings with the borrower. That is why a nation that owes money to another nation cannot be a world leader. | The reasoning in the passage assumes which one of the following? | [
"A nation that can set the terms of its dealings with other nations is certain to be a world leader.",
"A nation that has no dealings with any other nation cannot be a world leader.",
"A nation that has the terms of its dealings with another nation set by that nation cannot be a world leader.",
"A nation that... | 2 | val_113 |
Several three-year-olds who had learned to count to ten were trying to learn their telephone numbers. Although each child was familiar with the names of all the digits, no child could remember his or her phone number. Their teacher then taught each child a song whose lyrics contained his or her phone number. By the end... | The situation described above best illustrates which one of the following propositions? | [
"Children can learn to count without understanding the meaning of numbers.",
"Familiarity with a concept is not always sufficient for knowing the words used to express it.",
"Songs are useful in helping children remember the order in which familiar words occur.",
"There are some things that children cannot le... | 2 | val_114 |
Economist: If the economy grows stronger, employment will increase, and hence more parents will need to find day care for their young children. Unfortunately, in a stronger economy many day-care workers will quit to take better-paying jobs in other fields. Ttherefore, a stronger economy is likely to make it much more d... | Which one of the following is an assumption the economist's argument requires? | [
"If the economy grows stronger, the number of new day-care workers will not be significantly greater than the number of day-care workers who move to better-paying jobs in other fields.",
"If the economy grows stronger, most of the new jobs that are created will be in fields that pay well.",
"The total number of... | 0 | val_115 |
Franklin: The only clue I have as to the identity of the practical joker is the handwriting on the note. Ordinarily I would suspect Miller, who has always been jealous of me, but the handwriting is not hers. So the joker is apparently someone else. | Which one of the following provides the strongest grounds for criticizing Franklin's reasoning? | [
"It fails to consider the possibility that there was more than one practical joker.",
"It fails to indicate the degree to which handwriting samples should look alike in order to be considered of the same source.",
"It takes for granted that if the handwriting on the note had been Miller's, then the identity of ... | 0 | val_116 |
Otis: Aristotle' s principle of justice says that we should treat relevantly similar cases similarly. Ttherefore, it is wrong for a dentist to schedule an after-hours appointment to suit a family friend but refuse to do it for anyone else. Tyra: I accept Aristotle' s principle of justice, but it' s human nature to want... | It can be inferred on the basis of their statements that Otis and Tyra disagree about whether | [
"dentists should be willing to schedule an after-hours appointment for anyone who asks",
"situations involving friends and situations involving others should be considered relevantly similar cases",
"Aristotle recognizes that friendship sometimes morally outweighs justice",
"Aristotle's principle of justice i... | 1 | val_117 |
The retina scanner, a machine that scans the web of tiny blood vessels in the retina, stores information about the pattern formed by the blood vessels. This information allows it to recognize any pattern it has previously scanned. No two eyes have identical patterns of blood vessels in the retina. A retina scanner can ... | The reasoning in the argument depends upon assuming that | [
"there are enough retina scanners to store information about every person's retinas",
"the number of blood vessels in the human retina is invariant, although the patterns they form differ from person to person",
"there is no person whose retinas have been scanned by two or more different retina scanners",
"di... | 3 | val_118 |
Scientists generally believe that no deep-sea creature can detect red light, but they need to reassess that view. Researchers recently discovered a foot-long deep-sea creature of the genus Erenna with bioluminescent red lights on some of its tentacles. These red lights, which are shaped like a common food source for sm... | Which one of the following most accurately expresses the overall conclusion drawn in the argument? | [
"Red lights on the tentacles of a newly discovered deep-sea creature are shaped like a common food source for small, deep-sea fish.",
"Scientists generally believe that deep-sea creatures cannot detect red light.",
"Scientists need to reconsider the belief that deep- sea creatures cannot detect red light.",
"... | 2 | val_119 |
Records from 1850 to 1900 show that in a certain region, babies' birth weights each year varied with the success of the previous year' s crops: the more successful the crops, the higher the birth weights. This indicates that the health of a newborn depends to a large extent on the amount of food available to the mother... | The argument proceeds by | [
"inferring from the claim that two phenomena have fluctuated together that one of those phenomena must be the sole cause of the other",
"inferring from records concerning a past correlation between two phenomena that that correlation still exists",
"inferring from records concerning two phenomena the existence ... | 3 | val_120 |
Real estate agent: Upon selling a home, the sellers are legally entitled to remove any items that are not permanent fixtures. Legally, large appliances like dishwashers are not permanent fixtures. However, since many prospective buyers of the home are likely to assume that large appliances in the home would be included... | Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps to justify the real estate agent's argumentation? | [
"A home's sellers are morally obliged to include with the sale of the home at least some of the appliances that are not permanent fixtures but were in the home when it was shown to prospective buyers.",
"A home's sellers are morally obliged to ensure that prospective buyers of the home do not assume that any larg... | 3 | val_121 |
Adobe is an ideal material for building in desert environments. It conducts heat very slowly. As a result, a house built of adobe retains the warmth of the desert sun during the cool evenings and then remains cool during the heat of the day, thereby helping to maintain a pleasant temperature. In contrast, houses built ... | Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main conclusion drawn in the argument above? | [
"Adobe is an especially suitable material to use for building houses in desert environments.",
"Because adobe conducts heat very slowly, adobe houses maintain a pleasant, constant temperature.",
"In the desert, adobe buildings remain cool during the heat of the day but retain the warmth of the sun during the co... | 0 | val_122 |
Because the death of a spouse creates a void in one' s life and leads to depression, it is very difficult to lead a normal life after the death of a spouse. The ability to lead a normal life after the death of a spouse is improved by filling the void with another important element. In one study, half of those attemptin... | Each of the following, if true, strengthens the argument above EXCEPT: | [
"feeling involved in an activity or vocation is essential to happiness and a sense of wellbeing",
"the participants in the study mentioned in the paragraph above who embarked on a new career all reported continuing to feel relatively happy with their lives ten years after the death of their spouses",
"work, or ... | 2 | val_123 |
Politician: The law should not require people to wear seat belts in cars. People are allowed to ride motorcycles without seat belts, and riding a motorcycle even while wearing a seat belt would be more dangerous than riding in a car without wearing one. | Which one of the following arguments is most similar in its flawed reasoning to the politician's argument? | [
"Any corporation should allow its employees to take time off when they are under too much stress to concentrate on their work. Some corporations allow any employee with a bad cold to take time off, and even a healthy employee under stress may be less productive than an unstressed employee with a bad cold.",
"Mari... | 3 | val_124 |
Vervet monkeys use different alarm calls to warn each other of nearby predators, depending on whether the danger comes from land or from the air. | Which one of the following, if true, contributes most to an explanation of the behavior of vervet monkeys described above? | [
"Different land-based predators are responsible for different numbers of vervet monkey deaths.",
"Vervet monkeys avoid land-based predators by climbing trees but avoid predation from the air by diving into foliage.",
"Certain land-based predators feed only on vervet monkeys, whereas every predator that attacks ... | 1 | val_125 |
From time to time there is a public outcry against predatory pricing -- where a company deliberately sells its products at prices low enough to drive its competitors out of business. But this practice clearly should be acceptable, because even after its competitors go out of business, the mere threat of renewed competi... | Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends? | [
"Any company that is successful will inevitably induce competitors to enter the market.",
"It is unlikely that several competing companies will engage in predatory pricing simultaneously.",
"It is only competition or the threat of competition that keeps companies from raising prices.",
"Any pricing practice t... | 3 | val_126 |
The body responds to the physical stress of moderate exercise by improving its physical condition. But one cannot increase the severity of exercise indefinitely and still improve one' s physical fitness. This is because, under excessive stress, the body puts most of its energy into preventing organ damage. The ideal ex... | Which one of the following is most strongly supported by the information above? | [
"Human bodies vary in the amount of physical stress they can handle comfortably.",
"Some organ damage results from any exercise that is more stressful than one's body can handle comfortably.",
"Younger athletes can exercise harder before their bodies begin to put any energy into preventing organ damage than old... | 0 | val_127 |
Physician: Heart disease generally affects men at an earlier age than it does women, who tend to experience heart disease after menopause. Both sexes have the hormones estrogen and testosterone, but when they are relatively young, men have ten times as much testosterone as women, and women abruptly lose estrogen after ... | The physician's argument is questionable because it presumes which one of the following without providing sufficient justification? | [
"Because hormone levels are correlated with heart disease they influence heart disease.",
"Hormones are the primary factors that account for the differences in age-related heart disease risks between women and men.",
"Men with high testosterone levels have a greater risk for heart disease than do postmenopausal... | 0 | val_128 |
If the winner of a promotional contest is selected by a lottery, the lottery must be fair, giving all entrants an equal chance of winning. Since 90 percent of the winners selected by the lottery in a recent promotional contest submitted their entry forms within the first 2 days of the 30-day registration period, it is ... | Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument? | [
"The family members of the organizer of the contest were not permitted to participate in the contest.",
"The contest entry forms were submitted at a consistent rate throughout the registration period .",
"The rules of the contest were posted conspicuously by those who organized the contest.",
"The manner in w... | 1 | val_129 |
When Alicia Green borrowed a neighbor' s car without permission, the police merely gave her a warning. However, when Peter Foster did the same thing, he was charged with automobile theft. Peter came to the attention of the police because the car he was driving was hit by a speeding taxi. Alicia was stopped because the ... | The statement that the car Peter took got damaged and the car Alicia took did not plays which one of the following roles in the argument? | [
"It demonstrates awareness of a fact on which a possible objection might be based.",
"It illustrates a general principle on which the argument relies.",
"It presents a reason that directly supports the conclusion.",
"It justifies the difference in the actual outcome in the two cases."
] | 0 | val_130 |
According to the proposed Factory Safety Act, a company may operate an automobile factory only if that factory is registered as a class B factory. In addressing whether a factory may postpone its safety inspections, this Act also stipulates that no factory can be class B without punctual inspections. Thus, under the Fa... | The argument proceeds by | [
"pointing out that if a provision applies in a specific situation, it must apply in any analogous situation",
"considering two possible interpretations of a proposed legal regulation and eliminating the less plausible one",
"showing that two different provisions of the proposed Factory Safety Act conflict and t... | 3 | val_131 |
Infotek, a computer manufacturer in Katrovia, has just introduced a new personal computer model that sells for significantly less than any other model. Market research shows, however, that very few Katrovian households without personal computers would buy a computer, regardless of its price. Ttherefore, introducing the... | Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends? | [
"Infotek achieved the lower price of the new model by using components of lower quality than those used by other manufacturers.",
"The main reason cited by consumers in Katrovia for replacing a personal computer is the desire to have an improved model.",
"Katrovians in households that already have computers are... | 2 | val_132 |
Activist: Any member of the city council ought either to vote against the proposal or to abstain. But if all the members abstain, the matter will be decided by the city' s voters. So at least one member of the city council should vote against the proposal. | The conclusion of the activist's argument follows logically if which one of the following is assumed? | [
"No members of the city council will vote in favor of the proposal.",
"If one member of the city council ought to vote against the proposal, the other members should abstain in the vote on the proposal.",
"The proposal should not be decided by the city's voters.",
"If not every member of the city council abst... | 2 | val_133 |
Some statisticians claim that the surest way to increase the overall correctness of the total set of one' s beliefs is: never change that set, except by rejecting a belief when given adequate evidence against it. However, if this were the only rule one followed, then whenever one were presented with any kind of evidenc... | The argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it | [
"takes for granted that one should accept some beliefs related to survival even when given adequate evidence against them",
"overlooks the possibility that some large sets of beliefs are more correct overall than are some small sets of beliefs",
"takes for granted that the beliefs we need in order to have many ... | 3 | val_134 |
Some advertisers offer certain consumers home computers free of charge. Advertisements play continuously on the computers' screens whenever they are in use. As consumers use the computers to browse the Internet, information about their browsing patterns is sent to the advertisers, enabling them to transmit to each cons... | Which one of the following is most strongly supported by the information above? | [
"At least some consumers who use a computer offered free of charge by advertisers for browsing the Internet spend more money on purchases from those advertisers than they would if they did not use such a computer to browse the Internet.",
"The advertisers would not be able to offer the computers absolutely free o... | 0 | val_135 |
The conventional view is that asteroids strike the earth at random locations, thereby randomly affecting various aspects of the earth' s evolution. One iconoclastic geophysicist claims instead that asteroids have struck the earth through a highly organized natural process. Cited as evidence is the unusual pattern of im... | Which one of the following, if true, would most help to support the iconoclastic geophysicist's claim? | [
"If asteroids repeatedly pummel the same spots, the beating may affect the flow of molten rock inside the earth, which would affect the degree to which continents drift around the earth's surface.",
"Lumpy masses within the earth cause gravitational interactions with approaching asteroids that force them into spe... | 1 | val_136 |
Sharks have a higher ratio of cartilage mass to body mass than any other organism. They also have a greater resistance to cancer than any other organism. Shark cartilage contains a substance that inhibits tumor growth by stopping the development of a new blood network. In the past 20 years, none of the responses among ... | If the claims made above are true, then each of the following could be true EXCEPT: | [
"No organism resists cancer better than sharks do, but some resist cancer as well as sharks.",
"The substance in shark cartilage that inhibits tumor growth is found in most organisms.",
"The organism most susceptible to cancer has a higher percentage of cartilage than some organisms that are less susceptible to... | 0 | val_137 |
College professor: College students do not write nearly as well as they used to. Almost all of the papers that my students have done for me this year have been poorly written and ungrammatical. | Which one of the following is the most serious weakness in the argument made by the professor? | [
"It fails to present contrary evidence.",
"It requires confirmation that the change in the professor's students is representative of a change among college students in general.",
"It offers no proof to the effect that the professor is an accurate judge of writing ability.",
"It does not take into account the ... | 1 | val_138 |
A company that invests the necessary infrastructure in a large untapped diamond mine can reap as much as 700% profit in the first year. Some of the largest untapped diamond mines in the world are in the nation of Shagoca. Ttherefore, the American company that brokers a deal in the capital Conkin that allows it to put t... | Which of the following, if true, most helps to explain why American companies are not eager to invest in infrastructure necessarily for diamond mining in Shagoca? | [
"The fifteen-year-old civil war in Shagoca has caused significant setbacks for many foreign investments.",
"The diamond mines in Shagoca are located close to population centers, which would allow for easy transport",
"In certain states in Shagoca, profit from diamond mining is as heavily taxed as it is in the U... | 0 | val_139 |
Lyme disease is caused by a bacterium transmitted to humans by deer ticks. Generally deer ticks pick up the bacterium while in the larval stage from feeding on infected white-footed mice. However, certain other species on which the larvae feed do not harbor the bacterium. Ttherefore, if the population of these other sp... | Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument? | [
"Ticks do not suffer any adverse consequences from carrying the bacterium that causes Lyme disease in humans.",
"A single host animal can be the source of bacteria for many tick larvae.",
"A deer tick feeds only once while in the larval stage.",
"There are no known cases of a human's contracting Lyme disease ... | 2 | val_140 |
Ethicist: Many environmentalists hold that the natural environment is morally valuable for its own sake, regardless of any benefits it provides us. However, even if nature has no moral value, nature can be regarded as worth preserving simply on the grounds that people find it beautiful. Moreover, because it is philosop... | The ethicist's reasoning most closely conforms to which one of the following principles? | [
"If an argument for preserving nature emphasizes a specific characteristic of nature and is vulnerable to logical objections, then that characteristic does not provide a sufficient reason for preserving nature.",
"An argument in favor of preserving nature will be less open to logical objections if it avoids the i... | 2 | val_141 |
Further evidence of a connection between brain physiology and psychological states has recently been uncovered in the form of a correlation between electroencephalograph patterns and characteristic moods. A study showed that participants who suffered form clinical depression exhibited less left frontal lobe activity th... | Each of the following, if true, weakens the argument EXCEPT: | [
"Social interaction of the kind not engaged in by most clinically depressed people is known to stimulate left lobe activity.",
"Excessive sleep, a typical consequence of clinical depression, is known to suppress left lobe activity.",
"Many drugs prescribed to combat clinical depression act by causing increased ... | 2 | val_142 |
Editorial: It is usually desirable for people to have access to unregulated information, such as is found on the Internet. But a vast array of misinformation will always show up on the Internet, and it is difficult to determine which information is accurate. Accurate information is useless unless it can easily be disti... | Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps to justify the editorial's argument? | [
"It is acceptable for people to have access to a vast array of misinformation only if accurate information is never overlooked as a result.",
"Regulation of information makes it easy for people to distinguish between accurate information and misinformation.",
"It is usually more desirable for people to have acc... | 1 | val_143 |
While grapefruit juice is a healthy drink, it has been discovered that a chemical in the juice affects how certain medicines are absorbed, with the result that normal medicinal doses act like higher doses. Getting the wrong dose is dangerous. Since it is always desirable to take the lowest effective dose, the best medi... | Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument? | [
"The amount of the chemical in grapefruit juice is highly unpredictable from glass to glass.",
"Long before the chemical in grapefruit juice was identified, doctors were advising patients who took certain medicines to avoid grapefruit juice.",
"When scientists removed the chemical from grapefruit juice, the jui... | 0 | val_144 |
Counselor: To be kind to someone, one must want that person to prosper. Yet, even two people who dislike each other may nevertheless treat each other with respect. And while no two people who dislike each other can be fully content in each other' s presence, any two people who do not dislike each other will be kind to ... | If the counselor's statements are true, then which one of the following must be false? | [
"Some people who like each other are not fully content in each other's presence.",
"Some people who are kind to each other do not treat each other with respect.",
"Some people who want each other to prosper dislike each other.",
"Some people who are fully content in each other's presence do not want each othe... | 3 | val_145 |
Lourdes: Dietary fiber is an important part of a healthful diet. Experts recommend that adults consume 20 to 35 grams of fiber a day. Kyra: But a daily intake of fiber that is significantly above that recommended level interferes with mineral absorption, especially the absorption of calcium. The public should be told t... | Which one of the following, if true, most undermines Kyra's recommendation? | [
"Adequate calcium intake helps prevent the decrease in bone mass known as osteoporosis.",
"The more a food is processed, the more the fiber is broken down and the lower the fiber content.",
"Many foodstuffs that are excellent sources of fiber are economical and readily available.",
"Among adults, the average ... | 3 | val_146 |
If a doctor gives a patient only a few options for lifestyle modification, the patient is more likely to adhere to the doctor' s advice than if the doctor gives the patient many options. | Which one of the following most accurately expresses the principle illustrated above? | [
"Most people are unlikely to follow their doctor's advice unless they can vividly imagine the consequences of not following the advice.",
"People are especially likely to ignore the advice they get from doctors if they are confused about that advice.",
"The tendency people have to alter their behavior varies in... | 2 | val_147 |
Pundit: It is good to have national leaders voted out of office after a few years. The reason is that reforms are generally undertaken early in a new government. If leaders do not act quickly to solve a problem and it becomes an issue later, then they must either deny that there is a problem or deny that anything could... | Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main conclusion of the pundit's argument? | [
"National leaders are most likely to undertake reforms early in a new government.",
"National leaders who immediately respond to problems upon taking office should be given enough time to succeed at solving them.",
"National leaders who stay in power too long tend to deny responsibility for problems that they c... | 3 | val_148 |
Media consultant: Electronic media are bound to bring an end to the institution of the traditional school in our culture. This is because the emergence of the traditional school, characterized by a group of students gathered with a teacher in a classroom, was facilitated by the availability of relatively inexpensive pr... | The reasoning in the consultant's argument is flawed because it | [
"presupposes as a premise what it is trying to establish",
"relies inappropriately on expert testimony",
"mistakes something that enables an institution to arise for something necessary to the institution",
"confuses the value of an institution with the medium by which it operates"
] | 2 | val_149 |
Radial keratotomy (RK), a surgery that is designed to reshape the cornea so that light focuses correctly on the retina, is supposed to make eyeglasses or contact lenses that correct for nearsightedness unnecessary. Yet a study of patients who have undergone RK shows that some of them still need to wear glasses or conta... | Each of the following, if true, would help to resolve the apparent discrepancy in the information above EXCEPT: | [
"The more severe a patient's nearsightedness, the less effective the corneal reshaping of RK will be in correcting the problem.",
"RK patients who originally suffered from only mild nearsightedness may, if the cornea does not heal evenly, develop an astigmatism that requires corrective lenses.",
"As the eye hea... | 3 | val_150 |
The use of the term "neat" as a general term of approval is an unfortunate development in colloquial English. The original meaning of "neat" is "tidy. " Ttherefore, the use of "neat" as a general term of approval is incorrect and should be discouraged. | Which of the following is an assumption that, if accepted, allows the conclusion above to be properly drawn? | [
"The term \"neat\" has changed its meaning only once in the history of English.",
"The term \"neat\" has been in the English language for many centuries.",
"The original meaning of an English word is the only correct meaning to use.",
"The use of \"neat\" as a general term of approval is a recent innovation i... | 2 | val_151 |
Company X conducted a taste test to determine whether its new soft drink had a good chance of commercial success. A sample of consumers was asked to compare the flavor of the new soft drink to that of an established brand without knowing the true identity of either beverage. Overwhelmingly, the consumers preferred the ... | Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument above? | [
"Some of the consumers in the taste test preferred the flavor of the established brand.",
"The other soft drink used in the taste test is also manufactured by Company X.",
"The name of the new soft drink is very close to that of the established brand.",
"The new soft drink will cost more than three times as m... | 3 | val_152 |
The wholesale price of one bottle of Veritas Vineyards wine, always a profitable brand, is the same today as it was in 1991. The winegrower' s profit is equal to the wholesale price minus the costs of producing the bottled wine, which include the cost to the winegrower of the glass bottles themselves and of the corks. ... | If the statements above are true, which one of the following must also be true on the basis of them? | [
"The cost of each cork used in bottling Veritas Vineyards wine is currently greater than the cost of each glass bottle itself.",
"Each bottle of Veritas Vineyards wine that is sold today brings the winegrower less profit than did each bottle sold in 1991.",
"The aggregate profit generated by the winegrower's sa... | 1 | val_153 |
Delta green ground beetles sometimes remain motionless for hours at a stretch, although they are more active in wet years than in dry years. In 1989 an observer spotted ten delta green ground beetles in nine hours; in 1985 the same observer at the same location had counted 38 in about two hours. This difference probabl... | Which one of the following, if true, most strongly supports the conclusion drawn above? | [
"No predator relies on the delta green ground beetle for a major portion of its food supply.",
"The only habitat of delta green ground beetles is around pools formed by the collection of winter rains in low-lying areas.",
"Because of their excellent camouflage, delta green ground beetles are almost impossible t... | 2 | val_154 |
A certain cultivated herb is one of a group of closely related plants that thrive in soil with high concentrations of metals that are toxic to most other plants. Agronomists studying the herb have discovered that it produces large amounts of histidine, an amino acid that, in test-tube solutions, renders these metals ch... | Which of the following most logically completes the argument? | [
"the concentration of histidine in the growing herb declines as the plant approaches maturity",
"cultivation of the herb in soil with high concentrations of the metals will, over an extended period, make the soil suitable for plants to which the metals are toxic",
"histidine is found in all parts of the plant-r... | 3 | val_155 |
The current sharp decline in commercial honeybee populations has been attributed to the same viral and bacterial infections, pesticide poisonings, and mite infestations that devastated bees in the past. Whichever of these adverse conditions is the immediate cause, it is highly likely that there is also a long-ignored u... | Which one of the following is an assumption that is required by the argument? | [
"The results of decades of breeding practices cannot be quickly undone.",
"In the past, viral infections and mites have devastated genetically diverse honeybee populations.",
"The genetic diversity of the honeybee population continues to decline.",
"Lack of genetic diversity can make honeybees more vulnerable... | 3 | val_156 |
People aged 46 to 55 spend more money per capita than people of any other age group. So it is puzzling that when companies advertise consumer products on television, they focus almost exclusively on people aged 25 and under. Indeed, those who make decisions about television advertising think that the value of a televis... | Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the puzzling facts stated above? | [
"When television executives decide which shows to renew, they do so primarily in terms of the shows' ratings among people aged 25 and under.",
"The expense of television advertising slots makes it crucial for companies to target people who are most likely to purchase their products.",
"Those who make decisions ... | 2 | val_157 |
The hormone testosterone protects brain cells from injury and reduces levels of the protein beta-amyloid in the brain. Beta-amyloid causally contributes to Alzheimer' s disease, and people whose brain cells are susceptible to injury are probably more susceptible to Alzheimer' s disease. So there is reason to think that... | Which one of the following most logically completes the argument? | [
"anyone whose brain cells are susceptible to injury will eventually develop Alzheimer's disease",
"a decline in testosterone level puts one at increased risk for Alzheimer's disease",
"whether a person develops Alzheimer's disease is dependent entirely on the level of beta-amyloid in his or her brain",
"only ... | 1 | val_158 |
A good movie reviewer should be able to give favorable reviews of movies that are not to his or her taste. Because movie reviewers have seen so many movies, their tastes are very different from and usually better informed than those of most moviegoers. Yet the function of movie reviewers, as opposed to film critics, is... | Which one of the following most accurately expresses the overall conclusion drawn in the argument? | [
"The function of a movie reviewer is different from that of a film critic.",
"If a movie reviewer is good, he or she should be able to give favorable reviews of movies that are not to his or her taste.",
"The role of movie reviewers is to help people determine which movies they might enjoy seeing, not to help p... | 1 | val_159 |
Correctly measuring the productivity of service workers is complex. Consider, for example, postal workers: they are often said to be more productive if more letters are delivered per postal worker. But is this really true? What if more letters are lost or delayed per worker at the same time that more are delivered? | The objection implied above to the productivity measure described is based on doubts about the truth of which of the following statements? | [
"The number of letters delivered is relevant to measuring the productivity of postal workers.",
"The quality of services rendered can appropriately be ignored in computing productivity.",
"The delivery of letters is the primary activity of the postal service.",
"Postal workers are representative of service wo... | 1 | val_160 |
In jazz history, there have been gifted pianists who, because they had no striking musical ideas, led no memorable recording sessions. But precisely because they lacked such ideas, they were able to respond quickly to the ideas of imaginative and difficult leaders. Thus, these pianists are often heard adding masterful ... | Which one of the following principles is best illustrated by the information above? | [
"A trait that is a weakness in some settings can contribute to greatness in other settings.",
"The success of a group enterprise depends on the ability of the leader to recognize the weaknesses of others in the group.",
"People without forceful personalities cannot become great leaders in a field.",
"The prod... | 0 | val_161 |
Public health official: Some researchers suspect that magnetic fields from high-voltage power lines can cause health problems for people who live especially near the lines. However, this is extremely unlikely: beyond a distance of a few feet, the strength of the magnetic fields from high-voltage power lines is less tha... | Which of the following would it be most useful to establish in order to evaluate the public health argument? | [
"What proportion of people who live near high-voltage power lines believe that those fines may cause health problems",
"What is the average strength of magnetic fields in workplaces that are not located near high-voltage power lines",
"Whether magnetic fields in homes that are not located near high-voltage powe... | 2 | val_162 |
In the 1960s paranoia was viewed by social scientists as ungrounded fear of powerlessness, and the theme of paranoia as it relates to feelings of powerlessness was dominant in films of that period. In the 1970s paranoia instead was viewed by social scientists as a response to real threats from society. Films of this pe... | Which one of the following is a conclusion that the statements above, if true, most strongly support? | [
"Images of paranoia presented in films made in a period reflect trends in social science of that period.",
"Paranoia is a condition that keeps changing along with changes in society.",
"The shift in perception by social scientists from the 1960s to the 1970s resulted from an inability to find a successful cure ... | 0 | val_163 |
Researchers announced recently that over the past 25 years the incidence of skin cancer caused by exposure to harmful rays from the sun has continued to grow in spite of the increasingly widespread use of sunscreens. This shows that using sunscreen is unlikely to reduce a person' s risk of developing such skin cancer. | Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the argument? | [
"Those who use sunscreens most regularly are people who believe themselves to be most susceptible to skin cancer.",
"Most people who purchase a sunscreen product will not purchase the most expensive brand available.",
"Skin cancer generally develops among the very old as a result of sunburns experienced when ve... | 2 | val_164 |
Current legislation that requires designated sections for smokers and nonsmokers on the premises of privately owned businesses is an intrusion into the private sector that cannot be justified. The fact that studies indicate that nonsmokers might be harmed by inhaling the smoke from others' cigarettes is not the main is... | Which one of the following is a principle that, if accepted, could enable the conclusion to be properly drawn? | [
"The right of businesses to self-determination overrides whatever right or duty the government may have to protect the individual.",
"It is the duty of private businesses to protect employees from harm in the workplace.",
"Government intrusion into the policies and rules of private businesses is justified only ... | 0 | val_165 |
Essayist: Earth is a living organism, composed of other organisms much as animals are composed of cells, not merely a thing upon which creatures live. This hypothesis is supported by the fact that, like all organisms, Earth can be said to have a metabolism and to regulate its temperature, humidity, and other characteri... | The assertion that insects do not literally breathe plays which one of the following roles in the essayist's argument? | [
"a reason for not rejecting Earth's status as an organism on the basis of its not breathing",
"an example of a type of organism whose status, like Earth's, is unclear",
"an illustration of a type of organism out of which Earth is composed",
"a reason for rejecting as false the belief that Earth is a living or... | 0 | val_166 |
The development of new inventions is promoted by the granting of patent rights, which restrict the right of anyone but the patent holders to profit from these inventions for a specified period. Without patent rights, anyone could simply copy another' s invention; consequently, inventors would have no financial incentiv... | Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends? | [
"Financial reward is the only incentive that will be effective in motivating people to develop new inventions.",
"When an inventor sells patent rights to a manufacturer, the manufacturer makes less total profit on the invention than the inventor does.",
"The length of a patent right is usually proportional to t... | 0 | val_167 |
Historian: Megapolis was once administered wisely, with vision and with universal public support. That' s how it became a great city. City council member: Not so. Megapolis' past glory was achieved not because of greater vision, but because power was concentrated in the hands of autocrats and hence more easily exercise... | Which one of the following best captures what is at issue in the dispute between the historian and the city council member? | [
"whether Megapolis was once a great city",
"why Megapolis is no longer a well-run city",
"whether vision and wisdom are important in urban administration",
"what the best explanation is for Megapolis' past glory"
] | 3 | val_168 |
Although consciousness seems to arise from physical processes, physical theories can explain only why physical systems have certain physical structures and how these systems perform various physical functions. Thus, no strictly physical theory can explain consciousness. | The conclusion of the argument follows logically if which one of the following is assumed? | [
"Physical theories can explain only physical phenomena.",
"Consciousness arises from processes that are entirely explainable by physical theories.",
"An explanation of physical structures and functions must be formulated in strictly physical terms.",
"An explanation of consciousness must encompass more than a... | 3 | val_169 |
Poor nutrition is at the root of the violent behavior of many young offenders. Researchers observed that in a certain institution for young offenders, the violent inmates among them consistently chose, from the food available, those items that were low in nutrients. In a subsequent experiment, some of the violent inmat... | Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument? | [
"Some of the violent inmates who took part in the experiment had committed a large number of violent crimes.",
"Many young offenders have reported that they had consumed a low-nutrient food sometime in the days before they committed a violent crime.",
"Dietary changes are easier and cheaper to implement than an... | 3 | val_170 |
Press Secretary: Our critics claim that the President' s recent highway project cancellations demonstrate a vindictive desire to punish legislative districts controlled by opposition parties. They offer as evidence the fact that 90 percent of the projects canceled were in such districts. But all of the canceled project... | Which of the following is an assumption on which the press secretary's argument depends? | [
"The highway projects canceled in districts controlled by the President's party were not generally more expensive than the projects canceled in districts controlled by opposition parties.",
"The scheduled highway projects identified as wasteful in the report were not mostly projects in districts controlled by the... | 1 | val_171 |
A significant number of complex repair jobs carried out by Ace Repairs have to be reworked under the company' s warranty. The reworked jobs are invariably satisfactory. When initial repairs are inadequate, ttherefore, it is not because the mechanics lack competence; rather, there is clearly a level of focused concentra... | The argument above assumes which of the following? | [
"There is no company that successfully competes with Ace Repairs for complex repair jobs.",
"Ace Repairs does not in any way penalize mechanics who have worked on complex repair jobs that later had to be reworked.",
"There is no category of repair jobs in which Ace Repairs invariably carries out first-time jobs... | 3 | val_172 |
At the beginning of each month, companies report to the federal government their net loss or gain in jobs over the past month. These reports are then consolidated by the government and reported as the total gain or loss for the past month. Despite accurate reporting by companies and correct tallying by the government, ... | Which one of the following, if true, contributes most to a resolution of the apparent discrepancy described? | [
"More people who lose their jobs start up their own businesses.",
"In the recent recession a large number of failing companies abruptly ceased all operations.",
"The recent recession contributed to the growing preponderance of service jobs over manufacturing jobs.",
"More jobs are lost in a recession than in ... | 1 | val_173 |
Journalist: Until recently, doctors enjoyed high status in Canada. Although once admired as altruistic, in the last few decades doctors have fallen in public esteem. While it is acknowledged that doctors are indispensable, they are seen by critics as always wanting higher fees from the provincial governments, and even ... | Which one of the following is most supported by the journalist's statements? | [
"In the past, doctors did not accept, let alone demand, high fees from the provincial governments.",
"Doctors in Canada are perceived by critics as being less competent than they used to be.",
"Without the public esteem doctors previously enjoyed, fewer Canadians will become doctors.",
"Doctors in Canada are ... | 3 | val_174 |
In country Y, the subsidies to charities are set by the nation' s lawmakers. Since one of the lawmakers' chief duties is to handle the nation' s finances prudently rather than irresponsibly, it was assumed that this method of deciding charitable subsidies would be fair. However, this method of deciding charitable subsi... | The argument made by the author of the paragraph is that the current method of deciding charitable subsidies might not be wise because | [
"many lawmakers would forgo higher salaries as heads of charities rather than see the nation's finances handled imprudently",
"many lawmakers are heads of charities only to receive salaries based on government subsidies",
"many lawmakers' opportunistic instincts might prevent them from handling the nation's fin... | 2 | val_175 |
For all species of higher animals, reproduction requires the production of eggs but not necessarily the production of sperm. There are some species whose members are all female; the eggs produced by a rare female-only species of salamander hatch without fertilization. This has the drawback that all offspring have genet... | If the statements above are true, each of the following could be true EXCEPT: | [
"Some species of higher animals containing both female and male members are not very adaptive.",
"Some offspring of species of higher animals containing both female and male members have genetic codes more similar to one parent than to the other parent.",
"There are some species of higher animals none of whose ... | 2 | val_176 |
With employer-paid training, workers have the potential to become more productive not only in their present employment but also in any number of jobs with different employers. To increase the productivity of their workforce, many firms are planning to maintain or even increase their investments in worker training. But ... | Which of the following would, if true, contribute most to defeating the training experts' objection to the firms' strategy? | [
"Research shows that workers whose training is wholly or partially subsidized by their employer tend to get at least as much training as do workers who pay for all their own training.",
"In many industries, employees who take continuing-education courses are more competitive in the job market.",
"Firms that pro... | 3 | val_177 |
Manager: The only employees who should receive bonuses this year are those who were exceptionally productive over the past year. Liang is an excellent account executive, but she works in a corporate division that has failed to meet its productivity goals for the year. Thus Liang should not receive a bonus this year. | The reasoning in the manager 's argument is flawed in that the argument | [
"reaches a conclusion about the performance of one member of a group merely on the basis of the performance of the group as a whole",
"takes for granted that an employee who has an unproductive year will not be exceptionally productive in subsequent years",
"overlooks the possibility that a corporation as a who... | 0 | val_178 |
Hari: An awkward social situation develops when two people exchange gifts and the gift given by the first is obviously more valuable than that given by the second. Yet whenever two people exchange gifts of equal value, the gift givers soon realize that they would have done as well to keep their gifts, not give them awa... | Mili's judgment concerning the appropriateness of her gift exchange is most in accordance with which one of the following principles? | [
"The chief consideration when selecting a gift is that the gift reflect the giver.",
"Only people who largely agree in matters of taste should exchange gifts.",
"Every gift accepted incurs an obligation on the part of the recipient to reciprocate with a gift of equal value at a later date.",
"Except in the mo... | 0 | val_179 |
Amy McConnell is considering running for election against the incumbent, Gregory Lutz. If Lutz has a large campaign fund, then he is already far ahead, and McConnell will not run against him. If Lutz does not have a large campaign fund, McConnell will scrutinize Lutz' s record for any hints of scandal that she could us... | Given the information in the passage, which one of the following must be false? | [
"Lutz's record contains nothing that would increase McConnell's chances of winning, and she runs against him.",
"Lutz's record contains scandalous items, and McConnell does not run against him.",
"Lutz does not have a large campaign fund, and McConnell does not run against him.",
"Lutz's record contains items... | 0 | val_180 |
Recently an unusually high number of dolphins have been found dead of infectious diseases, and most of these had abnormally high tissue concentrations of certain compounds that, even in low concentrations, reduce dolphins' resistance to infection. The only source of these compounds in the dolphins' environment is boat ... | Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument? | [
"In high concentrations, the compounds are toxic to many types of marine animals.",
"The levels of the compounds typically used in boat paints today are lower than they were in boat paints manufactured a decade ago.",
"High tissue levels of the compounds have recently been found in some marine animals, but ther... | 3 | val_181 |
Widespread use of the Internet has led to an increase in certain crimes such as information theft and to new crimes like hacking. This seems due, at least in part, to the impersonal nature of the Internet. People seem to feel more free to harm others through the Internet than in person, suggesting that people feel less... | Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps to justify the reasoning in the argument? | [
"The more educated that people are about the ethical usage of the Internet, the greater the amount of harm that they can do to others.",
"People feel morally constrained from doing an action only if that action causes harm to others.",
"Education about the ethical use of a tool increases one's sense of moral re... | 2 | val_182 |
A new treatment for muscle pain that looked very promising was tested in three separate studies. Although the results were positive, it turned out that all three studies had critical methodological flaws. So the treatment is probably not actually effective. | The flawed nature of the argument above can most effectively be demonstrated by noting that, by parallel reasoning, we could conclude that | [
"since all scarves are at least somewhat decorative, it is likely that when scarves were first adopted, they were purely decorative",
"since the judges in a baking contest did not have uniform criteria for selecting a winner, the cake that won is probably a bad one",
"since some foods have very little nutrition... | 1 | val_183 |
Superconductor development will enable energy to be transported farther with less energy lost in transit. This will probably improve industrial productivity, for a similar improvement resulted when oil and natural gas replaced coal as the primary fossil fuels used in North America. Shipping costs, a function of the dis... | The claim that superconductor development will probably improve industrial productivity plays which one of the following roles in the argument? | [
"It is a generalization for which the claim that superconductor development will enable energy to be transported farther with less energy lost in transit is offered as an illustration.",
"It is a conclusion for which the claim that shipping costs for fossil fuels are partly a function of the losses of material in... | 1 | val_184 |
Plantings of cotton bioengineered to produce its own insecticide against bollworms, a major cause of crop failure, sustained little bollworm damage until this year. This year the plantings are being seriously damaged by bollworms. Bollworms, however, are not necessarily developing resistance to the cotton' s insecticid... | In evaluating the argument, which of the following would it be most useful to establish? | [
"Whether there are insecticides that can be used against bollworms that have developed resistance to the insecticide produced by the bioengineered cotton",
"Whether plantings of cotton that does not produce the insecticide are suffering unusually extensive damage from bollworms this year",
"Whether corn could b... | 1 | val_185 |
Professor Beckstein: American Sign Language is the native language of many North Americans. Ttherefore, it is not a foreign language, and for that reason alone, no student should be permitted to satisfy the university' s foreign language requirement by learning it. Professor Sedley: According to your argument, students... | Their statements commit Professors Beckstein and Sedley to disagreeing about which one of the following? | [
"whether the fact that a language is the native language of many North Americans justifies prohibiting its use to fulfill the university's foreign language requirement",
"whether any other universities in North America permit their students to fulfill a foreign language requirement by learning American Sign Langu... | 0 | val_186 |
The mayor has been accused of taking a bribe based on the fact that a consultant that does business with the city paid for improvements to the mayor ' s vacation house. In his own defense, the mayor has said that he paid every bill for those improvements that was presented to him. | Which one of the following, if true, most undermines the mayor 's defense? | [
"The amount of money that the city paid the consultant over the last year greatly exceeded the cost of the improvements to the mayor's house.",
"The building contractor in charge of the improvements to the mayor 's house had done business with the city in the past.",
"The mayor was aware that many of the bills ... | 2 | val_187 |
It is characteristic of great artists generally, and of great writers in particular, to have a discerning view of the basic social and political arrangements of the society in which they live. Ttherefore, the greater a writer one is, the more astute one will be in perceiving the basic social and political arrangements ... | Which one of the following most accurately describes a flaw in the reasoning above? | [
"It assumes, without providing justification, that those artists with political insight do not have insight into matters outside of politics.",
"It assumes, without providing justification, that because people who have one quality tend to have a second quality, those who have more of the first quality will have m... | 1 | val_188 |
To the Editor: In 1960, an astronomer proposed a mathematical model for determining whether extraterrestrial life exists. It was based on the assumptions that life as we know it could exist only on a planet and that many stars are, like our Sun, orbited by planets. On the basis that there are nine planets in our solar ... | Clay Moltz Which one of the following, if accepted by Clay Moltz, would require him to reconsider his conclusion? | [
"Due to sheer distances and expanses of space involved, any extraterrestrial civilization would have great difficulty communicating with ours.",
"Detecting planets outside our solar system requires more sophisticated instruments than are currently available.",
"There are many stars that are not orbited by plane... | 1 | val_189 |
A university psychology department received a large donation from a textbook company after agreeing to use one of the company' s books for a large introductory course. The department chair admitted that the department would not have received the donation if it used another company' s textbook, but insisted that the boo... | Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the case for the department chair's position? | [
"The textbook company does not routinely make donations to academic departments that use its books.",
"The members of the textbook committee were favorably influenced toward the textbook by the prospect of their department receiving a large donation.",
"In the previous year, a different textbook from the same c... | 1 | val_190 |
If a country' s manufacturing capacity is fully utilized, there can be no industrial growth without new capital investment. Any reduction in interest rates produces new capital investment. | Which one of the following can be properly concluded from the statements above? | [
"Interest rates might in exceptional cases be reduced without there being any subsequent investment of new capital.",
"Manufacturing capacity newly created by capital investment needs to be fully utilized if it is to lead to industrial growth.",
"If a country's manufacturing capacity is underutilized, interest ... | 3 | val_191 |
Two months ago a major shipment of pythons arrived from Africa, resulting in a great number of inexpensive pythons in pet stores. Anyone interested in buying a python, however, should beware: many pythons hatched in Africa are afflicted with a deadly liver disease. Although a few pythons recently hatched in North Ameri... | Which one of the following statements can be properly inferred from the statements above? | [
"The pythons are inexpensively priced because many of them suffer from the liver disease.",
"Pythons hatched in neither Africa nor North America are not afflicted with the liver disease.",
"Some pythons hatched in North America may appear fine but will die within six months as a result of the liver disease.",
... | 2 | val_192 |
Small species, such as fathead minnows and waterfleas, can be used to uncover the quantity of toxic chemicals being dumped into rivers and streams. Under new rules issued in a certain country, these "indicator" species will be used to test the effluent pouring out of sewage treatment plants and factories among the coun... | Which one of the following can be inferred from the passage above? | [
"If few individuals of the indicator species die during the test period, the country will not take action on water pollution.",
"If, after the test, the country does not require that pollution levels be reduced, then few or none of the individuals of the indicator species died as a result of the test.",
"Under ... | 1 | val_193 |
Ecologist: Forest fires, the vast majority of which are started by lightning, are not only a natural phenomenon to which all forest ecosystems are well adapted, but are required for many forests to flourish. Forest fires facilitate the opening and spreading of seed pods, prevent an overabundance of insects, and promote... | The conclusion drawn above follows logically if which one of the following is assumed? | [
"Protection of forests and their ecosystems is the only legitimate reason for attempting to prevent or control forest fires.",
"Human intervention in natural processes tends to reduce the biological diversity of ecosystems.",
"Forest fires begun by careless campers should be the target of human fire control eff... | 0 | val_194 |
The Scorpio Miser with its special high-efficiency engine costs more to buy than the standard Scorpio sports car. At current fuel prices, a buyer choosing the Miser would have to drive it 60, 000 miles to make up the difference in purchase price through savings on fuel. It follows that, if fuel prices fell, it would ta... | Which one of the following arguments contains an error of reasoning similar to that in the argument above? | [
"With the Roadmaker, a crew can repave a mile of decayed road in less time than with the competing model, which is, however, much less expensive. Reduced staffing levels made possible by the Roadmaker eventually compensate for its higher price. Ttherefore, the Roadmaker is especially advantageous where average wage... | 0 | val_195 |
In Mernia commercial fossil hunters often sell important fossils they have found, not to universities or museums, but to individual collectors, who pay much better but generally do not allow researchers access to their collections. To increase the number of fossils available for research, some legislators propose requi... | Which of the following, if true, most strongly indicates that the legislators' proposal will fail to achieve its goal? | [
"Some fossil hunters in Mernia are not commercial fossil hunters, but rather are amateurs who keep the fossils that they find.",
"Commercial fossil hunters in Mernia currently sell some of the fossils they find to universities and museums.",
"Most fossils are found by commercial fossil hunters, and they would g... | 2 | val_196 |
The increasing complexity of scientific inquiry has led to a proliferation of multiauthored technical articles. Reports of clinical trials involving patients from several hospitals are usually coauthored by physicians from each participating hospital. Likewise, physics papers reporting results from experiments using su... | If all the statements above are true, which one of the following must be true? | [
"Clinical trials involving patients from several hospitals are never conducted solely by physicians from just one hospital.",
"Most reports of clinical trials involving patients from several hospitals have multiple authors.",
"Physics papers authored by researchers from multiple laboratories usually report resu... | 1 | val_197 |
Political theorist: The vast majority of countries that have a single political party have corrupt national governments, but some countries with a plurality of parties also have corrupt national governments. What all countries with corrupt national governments have in common, however, is the weakness of local governmen... | If all of the political theorist's statements are true, which one of the following must also be true? | [
"Fewer multiparty countries than single-party countries have weak local governments.",
"The majority of countries with weak local governments have a single political party.",
"Some countries with weak local governments have a plurality of political parties.",
"Some countries with weak local governments do not... | 2 | val_198 |
In order to pressure the government of Country S to become less repressive, some legislators in Country R want to ban all exports from R to S. Companies in R that manufacture telecommunication equipment such as telephones and fax machines have argued that exports of their products should be exempted from the ban, on th... | Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument given by the manufacturers depends? | [
"Without pressure from Country R, the government of S would be able to continue repressing its citizens indefinitely.",
"Of all exports that could be sent to Country S, telecommunication equipment would be the most effective in helping citizens of S oppose that country's repressive government.",
"The telecommun... | 2 | val_199 |
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