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Those who participate in local politics include people who are genuinely interested in public service and people who are selfish opportunists. Everyone who participates in local politics has an influence on the community' s values. | If the statements above are true, which one of the following must also be true? | [
"Some persons who are interested in public service do not have an influence on the community's values.",
"All those who have an influence on the community's values are either interested in public service or are selfish opportunists.",
"Some selfish opportunists have an influence on the community's values.",
"... | 2 | train_1800 |
Certainly, <b> pesticides can adversely affect the environment in localities distant from where the pesticide has actually been used. </b> Nevertheless, regulation of pesticide use should not take place at the national level but at the local level. <b> It is in the areas where pesticides are actually applied that they ... | In the argument given, the two boldface portions play which of the following roles? | [
"Each provides support for the conclusion of the argument.",
"The first identifies grounds for a potential objection to the conclusion of the argument; the second provides support for that conclusion.",
"The first provides support for the conclusion of the argument; the second states that conclusion.",
"The f... | 1 | train_1801 |
According to a 1990 law, Native American tribes are entitled to artifacts or remains removed from their lands, provided that the tribes can show a direct archaeological, geological, or historical link to the artifacts. Recently, the Umatilla tribes of Oregon and Washington laid claim to a set of skeletal remains more t... | Each of the following, if true, strengthens the Umatilla's claim to the remains EXCEPT: | [
"The remains were found in close proximity to an excavation of an ancient Umatilla settlement.",
"The Umatilla claim that the remains of all native peoples deserve the respect of a traditional reburial ceremony.",
"The remains were buried with artifacts similar to those found with other Umatilla remains.",
"D... | 1 | train_1802 |
Since 1990 the percentage of bacterial sinus infections in Aqadestan that are resistant to the antibiotic perxicillin has increased substantially. Bacteria can quickly develop resistance to an antibiotic when it is prescribed indiscriminately or when patients fail to take it as prescribed. Since perxicillin has not bee... | Which of the following, if true of Aqadestan, provides most support for the health officials' hypothesis? | [
"Aqadestani health clinics provide antibiotics to their patients at cost.",
"A large number of Aqadestanis never seek medical help when they have a sinus infection.",
"When it first became available, perxicillin was much more effective in treating bacterial sinus infections than any other antibiotic used for su... | 3 | train_1803 |
Businesses frequently use customer surveys in an attempt to improve sales and increase profits. However, a recent study of the effectiveness of these surveys found that among a group of businesses that sold similar products, profits declined in most of the businesses that used surveys during the course of the study but... | Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain why the profits of businesses that did not use customer surveys did not decline while the profits of those that used surveys did decline? | [
"When one business increases its profits, its competitors often report a decline in profits.",
"Some of the businesses included in the study did not analyze the results of the customer surveys they conducted.",
"Most businesses of the kind included in the study generally administer customer surveys only as a re... | 2 | train_1804 |
Psychologist: Although studies of young children have revealed important facts about the influence of the environment on language acquisition, it is clear that one cannot attribute such acquisition solely to environmental influences: innate mechanisms also play a role. So, the most reasonable question that ought to be ... | Which one of the following most logically completes the passage? | [
"parents and peers are the most important influence on a child's learning of a language",
"language acquisition can ever be fully explained",
"innate mechanisms play a more important role in language acquisition than a child's immediate environment",
"innate mechanisms are a contributing factor in language le... | 2 | train_1805 |
Raising the humidity of a room protects furniture, draperies, and computers from damage caused by excessively dry air. Further, it can make people feel warmer, helps the body' s defenses against viruses, and alleviates some skin rashes. | Each of the following is supported by the information above EXCEPT: | [
"Dry air can feel cooler than humid air of the same temperature.",
"Increased humidity can be beneficial to the skin.",
"Humidity can be bad for computers.",
"The human immune system can benefit from humidity."
] | 2 | train_1806 |
There is strong evidence that the cause of migraines (severe recurrent headaches) is not psychological but instead is purely physiological. Yet several studies have found that people being professionally treated for migraines rate higher on a standard psychological scale of anxiety than do people not being professional... | Which one of the following, if true, most helps to resolve the apparent discrepancy in the information above? | [
"Most people who have migraines and who seek professional treatment remain in treatment until they stop having migraines, whether their doctors consider the cause to be physiological or psychological.",
"People who have migraine headaches tend to have relatives who also have migraine headaches.",
"People who ha... | 3 | train_1807 |
A sports arena is considering a new stadium design, one in which each block of seats would be in an enclosed weather-proof room with a view of the playing field and a large screen TV showing the action of play, including the instant replays typical of television broadcasts of sports games. The developer reasons that ex... | This stadium design would be unlikely to increase the pleasure the spectators take from live games if they enjoyed | [
"watching the game without interruptions from other spectators",
"attending evening games more than midday games.",
"coming to multiple games in a single season",
"feeling the immediate camaraderie with the crowd of other spectators at the game"
] | 3 | train_1808 |
In order to improve the long-term savings rate of its citizens, Levaska' s government has decided to introduce special savings accounts. Citizens can save up to $3, 000 a year in special accounts without having to pay tax on the interest, unless they withdraw money from the account before they reach the age of sixty-fi... | Which of the following, if true, most seriously threatens the success of the government's plan? | [
"For the past ten years, Levaskans have been depositing an ever smaller percentage of their income in long-term savings.",
"In certain circumstances, such as a serious illness, the government plans to waive the penalty on early withdrawals from the special accounts.",
"The banks and financial institutions where... | 3 | train_1809 |
Although the charter of Westside School states that the student body must include some students with special educational needs, no students with learning disabilities have yet enrolled in the school. Ttherefore, the school is currently in violation of its charter. | The conclusion of the argument follows logically if which one of the following is assumed? | [
"All students with learning disabilities have special educational needs.",
"The school should enroll students with special educational needs.",
"The only students with special educational needs are students with learning disabilities.",
"The school currently has no student with learning disabilities."
] | 2 | train_1810 |
No one knows what purposes, if any, dreams serve, although there are a number of hypotheses. According to one hypothesis, dreams are produced when the brain is erasing "parasitic connections" (meaningless, accidental associations between ideas), which accumulate during the day and which would otherwise clog up our memo... | The parasitic-connection hypothesis, if true, most strongly supports which one of the following? | [
"Insofar as a person's description of a dream involves meaningful associations between ideas, it is an inaccurate description.",
"The animals with the smallest brains spend the most time sleeping.",
"When a mammal that would normally dream is prevented from dreaming, the functioning of its memory will be impair... | 2 | train_1811 |
Jordan: If a business invests the money necessary to implement ecologically sound practices, its market share will decrease. But if it doesn' t implement these practices, it pollutes the environment and wastes resources. Terry: But if consumers demand environmental responsibility of all businesses, no particular busine... | In which one of the following exchanges is the logical relationship between Jordan's and Terry's statements most similar to the logical relationship between their statements above? | [
"Jordan: If the dam's spillway is opened, the river might flood the eastern part of town, but if the spillway is not opened, the dam might burst. Terry: There's no real danger of the dam's bursting, but if we get more heavy rain, opening the spillway is the most prudent policy.",
"Jordan: If we remodel the kitche... | 3 | train_1812 |
Printwell' s Ink Jet Division manufactures ink-jet printers and the ink cartridges they use. Sales of its ink-jet printers have increased. Monthly revenues from those sales, however, have not increased, because competition has forced Printwell to cut the prices of its printers. Unfortunately, Printwell has been unable ... | Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument? | [
"Some printer manufacturers have been forced to reduce the sale price of their ink-jet printers even more than Printwell has.",
"In the past year, no competing manufacturer of ink-jet printers has had as great an increase in unit sales of printers as Printwell has.",
"Unlike some competing companies, Printwell ... | 3 | train_1813 |
To reduce productivity losses from employees calling in sick, Corporation X implemented a new policy requiring employees to come into work unless they were so sick that they had to go to a doctor. But a year after the policy was implemented, a study found that Corporation X's overall productivity losses due to reported... | Which of the following, if true, would best explain why the policy produced the reverse of its intended effect? | [
"Employees coming into work when sick often infect many of their coworkers.",
"After the policy was implemented, employees more frequently went to the doctor when they felt sick.",
"Before the policy was implemented, employees who were not sick at all often called in sick.",
"There are many other factors besi... | 0 | train_1814 |
McKinley: A double-blind study, in which neither the patient nor the primary researcher knows whether the patient is being given the drug being tested or a placebo, is the most effective procedure for testing the efficacy of a drug. But we will not be able to perform such a study on this new drug, since the drug will h... | Engle's statement indicates that he is most likely interpreting McKinley's remarks to be | [
"referring to the drug's therapeutic effects rather than to any known side effects",
"presuming that a double-blind study is the only effective way to test new drugs",
"based on a confusion about when a drug is efficacious",
"presuming that the placebo will produce no effects whatever on the patients' bodies"... | 0 | train_1815 |
The government has proposed a plan requiring young people to perform services to correct various current social ills, especially those in education and housing. Government service, however, should be compelled only in response to a direct threat to the nation' s existence. For that reason, the proposed program should n... | Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends? | [
"Some of the social ills that currently afflict the nation do not pose a direct threat to the nation's existence.",
"The nation's young people believe that current social ills pose no direct threat to the nation's existence.",
"Government-required service by young people cannot correct all social ills.",
"Cri... | 0 | train_1816 |
High school students who feel that they are not succeeding in school often drop out before graduating and go to work. Last year, however, the city' s high school dropout rate was significantly lower than the previous year' s rate. This is encouraging evidence that the program instituted two years ago to improve the mor... | Which one of the following, if true about the last year, most seriously weakens the argument? | [
"The morale of students who dropped out of high school had been low even before they reached high school.",
"There was a recession that caused a high level of unemployment in the city.",
"The antidropout program was primarily aimed at improving students' morale in those high schools with the highest dropout rat... | 1 | train_1817 |
If, when the twenty-third century arrives, the history of the Mughal Empire is better known than that of our time, it will be because of our enthusiasm for electronically stored digital files. The contents of most digital media vanish long before words written on high-quality paper would, and they become obsolete and u... | Which one of the following statements most accurately expresses the main conclusion of the argument? | [
"Information written on paper is more readily accessible than the contents of digital documents.",
"Digitally stored information is particularly vulnerable because of the two-step process required to retrieve it.",
"Historically important records from the present era may be lost because of the medium in which t... | 2 | train_1818 |
Moral integrity in business is of the highest concern, for businesses that lose their integrity cannot survive. By definition, a business that has lost its integrity is no longer integrated; hence businesses that lose their integrity literally disintegrate. | The argument's reasoning is flawed because the argument | [
"takes for granted that the survival of businesses is the only important ethical concern",
"confuses a cause of integrity with an effect of integrity",
"contains a key term that shifts in meaning from one sense to another",
"overlooks the possibility that integrity is not a public-relations or management goal... | 2 | train_1819 |
Some rich people cheat on their taxes, but no one pays zero taxes, except those who do not own land. Jacob is a rich landowner. | Assuming all of the statements above are correct, which one of the following must be true? | [
"Jacob cheats on his taxes.",
"Jacob pays taxes.",
"Jacob pays more taxes than the average person.",
"Jacob does not pay taxes."
] | 1 | train_1820 |
Pit vipers are so called because of the small pits on the sides of their heads which function as infrared sensors, giving the viper a thermal impression of objects in its vicinity. Because all species of pit vipers are predators, scientists have long thought that these sensors were used to find prey. One researcher has... | Which one of the following, if true, would most support the researcher's hypothesis? | [
"Pit vipers have a well-developed sense of smell that they use to supplement the thermal impressions they receive from their infrared sensors.",
"Pit vipers do not differ in their predatory behavior from closely related vipers without pits, but they do differ markedly from these other species in their strategies ... | 1 | train_1821 |
One should not play a practical joke on someone if it shows contempt for that person or if one believes it might bring significant harm to that person. | The principle stated above, if valid, most helps to justify the reasoning in which one of the following arguments? | [
"Because of the circumstances, it would be wrong for me to play the practical joke I had intended to play on you. Even though it would not show contempt for anyone, it could easily bring you significant harm.",
"I should not have played that practical joke on you yesterday. Even if it was not contemptuous, I shou... | 0 | train_1822 |
Mall owner: Our mall' s occupancy rate is so low that we are barely making a profit. We cannot raise rents because of an unacceptably high risk of losing established tenants. On the other hand, a mall that is fully occupied costs about as much to run as one in which a rental space here and a rental space there stands e... | Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument? | [
"The mall is located in a geographic area in which costs incurred for air-conditioning in the hot summers exceed those incurred for heating in the mid winters by a wide margin.",
"The mall's occupancy rate, though relatively low, has been relatively stable for several years.",
"The mall's operating costs could ... | 2 | train_1823 |
Vanwilligan: Some have argued that professional athletes receive unfairly high salaries. But in an unrestricted free market, such as the market these athletes compete in, salaries are determined by what someone else is willing to pay for their services. These athletes make enormous profits for their teams' owners, and ... | Vanwilligan's conclusion follows logically if which one of the following is assumed? | [
"If a professional athlete's salary is fair, then that salary is determined by what an individual is willing to pay for the athlete's services in an unrestricted free market.",
"The fairest economic system for a society is one in which the values of most goods and services are determined by the unrestricted free ... | 3 | train_1824 |
Computer manufacturers and retailers tell us that the complexity involved in connecting the various components of personal computers is not a widespread obstacle to their use, but this is wrong. Customers who install accessories to their personal computers have to take full responsibility for the setting of jumpers and... | Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument? | [
"Computer manufacturers rarely take into account ease of installation when they are designing programs or accessories.",
"A personal computer is usually sold as part of a package that includes accessories and free installation.",
"Software for accessories can often be obtained for free.",
"Personal computer i... | 1 | train_1825 |
In the past decade, two Motorlux models, the T-300, a sports car, and the AG-75, a sports utility vehicle, have been manufactured with the same timing belt, which controls the timing of the engines valves: when the engine is running at a higher RPM, there is more strain on the timing belt. Recent evidence indicates tha... | Which of the following, if true, most logically completes the argument? | [
"it is common for sports utility vehicles to tow heavy objects, such as motor boats; whereas sport cars almost never tow anything.",
"the timing belts typically used in most other models of sports cars on the market are of higher quality than the timing belts typically used in most other models of sports utility ... | 3 | train_1826 |
Columnist: Although much has been learned, we are still largely ignorant of the intricate interrelationships among species of living organisms. We should, ttherefore, try to preserve the maximum number of species if we have an interest in preserving any, since allowing species toward which we are indifferent to perish ... | Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps to justify the columnist's argument? | [
"We should always undertake the course of action that is likely to have the best consequences in the immediate future.",
"It is strongly in our interest to preserve certain plant and animal species.",
"We should not allow the number of species to diminish any further than is necessary for the flourishing of pre... | 3 | train_1827 |
In an attempt to counter complaints that a certain pesticide is potentially hazardous to humans if absorbed into edible plants, the pesticide manufacturer has advertised that "ounce for ounce, the active ingredient in this pesticide is less toxic than the active ingredient in mouthwash. " | Which one of the following, if true, indicates a weakness in the manufacturer's argument? | [
"On average, the toxins present in the pesticide take longer than the toxins present in mouthwash to reach harmful levels in the human body.",
"Since the government began to regulate the pesticide industry over ten years ago, there has been a growing awareness of the dangers of toxins used in pesticides.",
"The... | 2 | train_1828 |
Confronted with financial indebtedness, the Capital City Soccer Club' s administrators reduced the budget for the youth soccer program from last year' s $500, 000 to $200, 000 for the coming year. However, the youth program cannot run on less than $350, 000. Since the administrators cannot divert funds away from other ... | The conclusion for the argument is properly drawn if which one of the following is assumed? | [
"The administrators at the soccer club value other programs at the club more highly than they do the youth soccer program.",
"The youth soccer program did not use all of the $500, 000 that was budgeted to it last year.",
"The youth soccer program has no source of funding other than that budgeted to it for the c... | 2 | train_1829 |
Geothermal power plants produce power using heat from underground reservoirs of hot water or steam heated by the surrounding rock. In the limited areas of the world where such underground hot water and steam can currently be reached by drilling, geothermal power plants produce power more economically than conventional,... | Which one of the following, if true, most helps to justify the advocates' contention? | [
"Conventional power plants, unlike geothermal power plants, release large amounts of pollutants into the air.",
"The high start-up costs of geothermal power plants discourages their construction even in locations where they are more economical than conventional power plants in the long run.",
"Advanced drilling... | 2 | train_1830 |
To evaluate a plan to save money on office-space expenditures by having its employees work at home, XYZ Company asked volunteers from its staff to try the arrangement for six months. During this period, the productivity of these employees was as high as or higher than before. | Which of the following, if true, would argue most strongly against deciding, on the basis of the trial results, to implement the company's plan? | [
"The volunteers who worked at home were able to communicate with other employees as necessary for performing the work.",
"The employees who agreed to participate in the test of the plan were among the company's most self-motivated and independent workers.",
"Other companies that have achieved successful results... | 1 | train_1831 |
Consumers seek to purchase the highest quality at the lowest prices. Companies that do not offer products that attract consumers eventually go bankrupt. Ttherefore, companies that offer neither the best quality nor the lowest price will eventually go bankrupt. | The conclusion above follows logically if which one of the following is assumed? | [
"Products that are neither highest in quality nor lowest in price do not attract consumers.",
"Some consumers will not continue to patronize a company purely out of brand loyalty.",
"Any company that offers either the highest quality or the lowest price will avoid bankruptcy.",
"No company is driven from the ... | 0 | train_1832 |
It is widely believed that lancelets -- small, primitive sea animals -- do not have hearts. Each lancelet has a contracting vessel, but this vessel is considered an artery rather than a heart. However, this vessel is indeed a heart. After all, it strongly resembles the structure of the heart of certain other sea animal... | The argument's conclusion follows logically if which one of the following is assumed? | [
"Some primitive animals other than lancelets have what is widely held to be a heart.",
"A vessel whose structure and actions closely resemble those of other animal hearts is a heart.",
"No animal that has a heart lacks an artery.",
"Only animals that have contracting vessels have hearts."
] | 1 | train_1833 |
Editorialist: Some people propose that, to raise revenues and encourage conservation, our country' s taxes on oil, gasoline, and coal should be increased. Such a tax increase, however, would do more harm than good. By raising energy costs, the tax increase would decrease our competitiveness with other countries. Many f... | Each of the following, if true, would weaken the editorialist's argument EXCEPT: | [
"Higher gasoline prices will encourage people to carpool, which will reduce individual transportation costs.",
"The proposed tax increase would be larger for some energy sources than for others.",
"Higher gasoline prices tend to lead to a cleaner environment, because people do less nonessential driving.",
"Th... | 1 | train_1834 |
All material bodies are divisible into parts, and everything divisible is imperfect. It follows that all material bodies are imperfect. It likewise follows that the spirit is not a material body. | The final conclusion above follows logically if which one of the following is assumed? | [
"The spirit is either indivisible or imperfect.",
"The spirit is divisible.",
"Nothing imperfect is indivisible.",
"The spirit is perfect."
] | 3 | train_1835 |
Sociologist: Suggestions for improved efficiency that derive from employers are unlikely to elicit positive responses from employees, who tend to resent suggestions they did not generate. An employer should ttherefore engage the employee in a nonthreatening dialogue that emphasizes the positive contributions of the emp... | Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps to justify the sociologist's reasoning? | [
"Employees are more likely to carry out ideas for improved efficiency that they believe they have participated in generating.",
"Employees are more likely to implement ideas for improved efficiency that derive from a dialogue in which they have participated than from a dialogue in which they have not participated... | 0 | train_1836 |
After replacing his old gas water heater with a new, pilotless, gas water heater that is rated as highly efficient, Jimmy' s gas bills increased. | Each of the following, if true, contributes to an explanation of the increase mentioned above EXCEPT: | [
"After having done his laundry at a laundromat, Jimmy bought and started using a gas dryer when he replaced his water heater.",
"Shortly after the new water heater was installed, Jimmy's uncle came to live with him, doubling the size of the household.",
"The new water heater uses a smaller percentage of the gas... | 2 | train_1837 |
The waters off the coast of Iceland are filled with pods of killer whales, which migrate there during the summer. Wildlife parks that rely on the killer whales for entertainment hunt the killer whale almost exclusively in the water of Iceland, because strict sanctions forbid them from doing so off the coast of North Am... | All of the following cast doubt on the conclusion of the argument EXCEPT? | [
"The recent ban only extends to within one hundred miles of Iceland, though killer whales are plentiful along the shores of Greenland, which fall outside this range.",
"In-park killer whale births have become increasingly common, especially in those wildlife parks that harbor a large number of killer whales.",
... | 3 | train_1838 |
The best jazz singers use their voices much as horn players use their instruments. The great Billie Holiday thought of her singing voice as a horn, reshaping melody and words to increase their impact. Conversely, jazz horn players achieve their distinctive sounds by emulating the spontaneous twists and turns of an impa... | Which one of the following most accurately describes the role played in the argument by the claim that the best jazz singers use their voices much as horn players use their instruments? | [
"It is a statement used to support a conclusion that in turn is used to support the argument's main conclusion.",
"It is a statement for which some evidence is provided and which in turn is used to provide support for the argument's main conclusion.",
"It is the argument's only conclusion, and each of the other... | 1 | train_1839 |
Pundit: The only airline providing service for our town announced that because the service is unprofitable it will discontinue this service next year. Town officials have urged the community to use the airline' s service more frequently so that the airline will change its decision. There is no reason to comply with the... | The pundit's reasoning is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it presumes, without providing justification, that | [
"if the town officials did not follow their own advice then that advice is not worth following",
"the town officials paid for their trip with taxpayers' money rather than their own money",
"suspending service and losing money by continuing service are the airline's only options",
"ground transportation is usu... | 0 | train_1840 |
Tom: Executives in this country make around 85 times what the average worker earns. This is an extraordinarily large disparity, and ttherefore public resentment over the size of executives' salaries is justified. Martha: Such resentment is not justified, since wealth is created by taking risks and making decisions, act... | Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main point at issue between Tom and Martha? | [
"whether public resentment of the size of executive salaries is justified",
"whether executives in this country make 85 times the average worker's salary",
"whether executives in this country create as much wealth as do those in other countries",
"whether executives deserve higher salaries than workers deserv... | 0 | train_1841 |
Detective: Because the embezzler must have had specialized knowledge and access to internal financial records, we can presume that the embezzler worked for XYZ Corporation as either an accountant or an actuary. But an accountant would probably not make the kind of mistakes in ledger entries that led to the discovery of... | Each of the following weakens the detective's argument EXCEPT: | [
"An independent report released before the crime took place concluded that XYZ Corporation was vulnerable to embezzlement.",
"There is evidence of breaches in computer security at the time of the embezzlement that could have given persons outside XYZ Corporation access to internal financial records.",
"The actu... | 0 | train_1842 |
On Saturday Melvin suggested that Jerome take the following week off from work and accompany him on a trip to the mountains. Jerome refused, claiming that he could not afford the cost of the trip added to the wages he would forfeit by taking off without notice. It is clear, however, that cost cannot be the real reason ... | The reasoning is most vulnerable to which one of the following criticisms? | [
"It does not examine the possibility that Jerome's behavior is adequately explained by the reason he gives for it.",
"It attempts to forestall an attack on Melvin's behavior by focusing attention on the behavior of Jerome.",
"It overlooks the possibility that Jerome, unlike Melvin, prefers vacations that have b... | 0 | train_1843 |
Last year a chain of fast-food restaurants, whose menu had always centered on hamburger, added its first vegetarian sandwich, much lower in fat than the chain's other offerings. Despite heavy marketing, the new sandwich accounts for a very small proportion of the chain's sales. The sandwich's sales would have to quadru... | Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument? | [
"An attempt by the chain to introduce a lower-fat hamburger failed several years ago, since it attracted few new customers and most of the chain's regular customers greatly preferred the taste of the regular hamburger.",
"Although many of the chain's customers have never tried the vegetarian sandwich, in a market... | 3 | train_1844 |
Linguist: Regional dialects, many of which eventually become distinct languages, are responses by local populations to their own particular communicative needs. So even when the unification of the world economy forces the adoption of a universal language for use in international trade, this language itself will inevita... | Which one of the following is an assumption that the linguist's argument requires? | [
"A universal language for use in international trade will not arise unless the world economy is unified.",
"After the unification of the world economy, there will be variation among many different local populations in their communicative needs in international trade.",
"No two local populations have the same co... | 1 | train_1845 |
The retail price of decaffeinated coffee is considerably higher than that of regular coffee. However, the process by which coffee beans are decaffeinated is fairly simple and not very costly. Ttherefore, the price difference cannot be accounted for by the greater cost of providing decaffeinated coffee to the consumer. | The argument relies on assuming which one of the following? | [
"Processing regular coffee costs more than processing decaffeinated coffee.",
"Retail coffee-sellers do not expect that consumers are content to pay more for decaffeinated coffee than for regular coffee.",
"Price differences between products can generally be accounted for by such factors as supply and demand, n... | 3 | train_1846 |
Twenty years ago the Republic of Rosinia produced nearly 100 million tons of potatoes, but last year the harvest barely reached 60 million tons. Agricultural researchers, who have failed to develop new higher-yielding strains of potatoes, are to blame for this decrease, since they have been concerned only with their ow... | Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends? | [
"Agricultural researchers often find concrete solutions to practical problems when investigating seemingly unrelated questions.",
"Strains of potatoes most commonly grown in Rosinia could not have produced the yields last year that they once did.",
"Agricultural research in Rosinia is funded by government grant... | 1 | train_1847 |
The older a country is, the more likely it is to be ruled by a monarch. Thus, since most countries are not ruled by monarchs, if a country is particularly new it is probably not ruled by a monarch. | The pattern of reasoning in the argument above is most similar to that in which one of the following arguments? | [
"Most novels are not made into movies. However, the more popular a movie is, the more likely it is that the movie was based on a novel. Thus, if a novel is particularly popular, it will probably be made into a movie.",
"Most novels are not made into movies. Moreover, if a novel is particularly unpopular, it will ... | 3 | train_1848 |
Mallotech portrays itself to the public as a socially responsible company, but critics charge that employees in many of its factories work in unsanitary conditions. Unless these critics are mistaken, then, Mallotech is not accurately portraying itself to the public. | The argument's conclusion follows logically if which one of the following is assumed? | [
"A socially responsible company would never lie about whether its employees are working in unsanitary conditions.",
"A socially responsible company would not have employees working in unsanitary conditions.",
"No company that conceals information from the public is socially responsible.",
"Many employees in M... | 1 | train_1849 |
Senator Strongwood reported that, contrary to a study cited by the administration, a thorough study by his own party concluded that a reduction in the capital gains tax would lead to an increase in the federal deficit. "Hooray for common sense, " he said. "Everyone knows that when you cut taxes you lose revenue. " He c... | Which one of the following accurately describes something Senator Strongwood does in advancing his argument? | [
"He resorts to name-calling by expressly stating that his opponents lack common sense.",
"He assumes that senators will rarely vote for unpopular legislation.",
"He assumes that a study commissioned by his party must be more objective than one commissioned by the administration.",
"He assumes senators will be... | 3 | train_1850 |
Economist: In today' s post-industrial economy, higher education is essential for achieving prosperity. Without a college degree or higher, citizens do not have access to the highest quartile of salaries, and only individuals earning salaries in this highest quartile have enough disposable income to buy real estate and... | The argument assumes that | [
"everyone in the highest quartile of salaries lives in a house that he or she owns",
"understanding what prosperity is, from a college-educated perspective, is essential to achieving it",
"all the jobs in the highest quartile of salaries require skills that are always covered as part of a college education",
... | 3 | train_1851 |
The largest volcano on Mars rises 27 kilometers above the surrounding plain and covers an area roughly the size of Romania. Even if the Earth' s gravity were as low as the gravity of Mars is, no volcano of such size could exist on Earth, for the Earth' s crust, although of essentially the same composition as that of Ma... | If the statements above are true, which one of the following must also be true on the basis of them? | [
"The crust of Mars, at least at certain points on the planet, is thicker than the crust of the Earth.",
"On average, volcanoes on Mars are higher than those on Earth.",
"The surface of Mars is less subject to forces of erosion than is the surface of the Earth.",
"The highest volcanoes on Mars occur where its ... | 0 | train_1852 |
While it might be expected that those neighborhoods most heavily patrolled by police have the least crime, the statistical evidence overwhelmingly supports the claim that such neighborhoods have the most crime. This shows that the presence of police does not decrease crime in a neighborhood. | The reasoning in the argument is flawed because the argument | [
"fails to consider the possibility that police presence in a particular area is often a response to the relatively high crime rate in that area",
"draws a general conclusion from too small a sample of data",
"attempts to support its conclusion by making an appeal to emotions",
"fails to consider the possibili... | 0 | train_1853 |
Vitacorp, a manufacturer, wishes to make its information booth at an industry convention more productive in terms of boosting sales. The booth offers information introducing the company' s new products and services. To achieve the desired result, Vitacorp' s marketing department will attempt to attract more people to t... | Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the prediction that the marketing director's first measure will contribute to meeting the goal of boosting sales? | [
"Most of Vitacorp's best customers also have business dealings with Vitacorp's competitors.",
"Vitacorp's salespeople routinely inform each important customer about new products and services as soon as the decision to launch them has been made.",
"An information booth that is well attended tends to attract visi... | 2 | train_1854 |
Anyone who believes in democracy has a high regard for the wisdom of the masses. Griley, however, is an elitist who believes that any artwork that is popular is unlikely to be good. Thus, Griley does not believe in democracy. | The conclusion follows logically if which one of the following is assumed? | [
"Anyone who believes that an artwork is unlikely to be good if it is popular is an elitist.",
"Anyone who believes that if an artwork is popular it is unlikely to be good does not have a high regard for the wisdom of the masses.",
"If Griley is not an elitist, then he has a high regard for the wisdom of the mas... | 1 | train_1855 |
Most auto mechanics have extensive experience. Furthermore, most mechanics with extensive experience understand electronic circuits. Thus, most auto mechanics understand electronic circuits. | The pattern of flawed reasoning in which one of the following arguments is most similar to that in the argument above? | [
"It is not surprising that most speeding tickets in this region are issued to drivers of sports cars. After all, most drivers who are not interested in driving fast do not buy sports cars.",
"Most snow-removal companies run lawn-care services during the summer. Also, most companies that run lawn-care services dur... | 1 | train_1856 |
Over the last few decades, public outcries against pollution have brought about stricter regulations of emissions. The cities that had the most polluted air 30 years ago now have greatly improved air quality. This would not have happened without these stricter regulations. | Which one of the following can be properly inferred from the statements above? | [
"Public criticism led to an improvement in the air quality of the cities that had the most polluted air 30 years ago.",
"Most of the public outcries against pollution came from people in the cities that had the most polluted air.",
"In the city with the worst air pollution today, the air quality is better than ... | 0 | train_1857 |
Lecturer: Given our current state of knowledge and technology, we can say that the generalization that the entropy of a closed system cannot decrease for any spontaneous process has not been falsified by any of our tests of that generalization. So we conclude it to be true universally. Yet, it must be admitted that thi... | Which one of the following principles, if valid, most justifies the lecturer's classification of the generalization described above? | [
"If a generalization is confirmed to the extent current science allows, then it is considered a scientific law.",
"If a generalization is confirmed only under a few circumstances, it should not be considered a scientific law.",
"Whatever is regarded as a scientific law will eventually be conclusively verified."... | 0 | train_1858 |
Marmosets are the only primates other than humans known to display a preference for using one hand rather than the other. Significantly more marmosets are left-handed than are right-handed. Since infant marmosets engage in much imitative behavior, researchers hypothesize that it is by imitation that infant marmosets le... | Which one of the following, if true, most supports the researchers' hypothesis? | [
"Ninety percent of humans are right-handed, but those who are left-handed are likely to have at least one left-handed parent.",
"Right-handed marmosets virtually all have at least one sibling who is left-handed.",
"Marmosets raised in captivity with right-handed adult marmosets to whom they are not related are ... | 2 | train_1859 |
A recent study examined the daytime and nighttime activity patterns of two populations of tree-dwelling lemurs -- the first living in a rain forest, where tree canopy cover is consistent year-round, and the second living in a deciduous forest, where many trees lose their leaves during the winter months. Both groups of ... | Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the difference between the two lemur populations with respect to winter activity patterns? | [
"The primary predators for both lemur populations are high-flying birds that rely on their eyesight to hunt prey during daylight.",
"In both habitats, species of predatory snakes active during daylight are most active during winter months.",
"For both lemur populations, the primary competitors for food resource... | 0 | train_1860 |
<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 and the second each provide evidence to support the arguments main conclusion",
"The first provides evidence to support a prediction that the argument seeks to defend; the second is that prediction",
"The first presents a development that the argument Predicts will have a certain outcome, the second ... | 2 | train_1861 |
In the late 1980' s, the population of sea otters in the North Pacific Ocean began to decline. Of the two plausible explanations for the decline-increased predation by killer whales or disease-disease is the more likely. After all, a concurrent sharp decline in the populations of seals and sea lions was almost certainl... | Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the reasoning? | [
"There is no indication that substantial numbers of sea otters migrated to other locations from the North Pacific in the 1980's.",
"Along the Pacific coast of North America in the 1980's, sea otters were absent from many locations where they had been relatively common in former times.",
"The North Pacific popul... | 3 | train_1862 |
Each year red-winged blackbirds stop in a certain region of Midland Province on their spring and fall migrations. In the fall, they eat a significant portion of the province' s sunflower crop. This year Midland farmers sought permits to set out small amounts of poisoned rice during the blackbirds' spring stop in order ... | Which of the following, if true, most helps to justify the wildlife agency's approval of the permits, given the concerns voiced by some residents? | [
"The poison that farmers want to use does not kill birds but rather makes them incapable of producing viable eggs.",
"In the region where the red-winged blackbirds stop, they are the first birds to be present in the spring.",
"The poison that farmers got approval to use has no taste or smell that would make it ... | 1 | train_1863 |
Decision makers tend to have distinctive styles. One such style is for the decision maker to seek the widest possible input from advisers and to explore alternatives while making up his or her mind. In fact, decision makers of this sort will often argue vigorously for a particular idea, emphasizing its strong points an... | Which one of the following is most strongly supported by the statements above? | [
"If certain decision makers' statements are quoted accurately and at length, the content of the quote could nonetheless be greatly at variance with the decision eventually made.",
"Certain decision makers do not know which ideas they do not really believe in until after they have presented a variety of ideas to t... | 0 | train_1864 |
Municipal legislator: The mayor proposes that the city accept a lighting company' s gift of several high-tech streetlights. Surely there would be no problem in accepting these despite some people' s fear that the company wants to influence the city' s decision regarding park lighting contracts. The only ulterior motive... | Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main conclusion of the municipal legislator's argument? | [
"The lighting company's desire to display its products to visiting mayors is the real motivation behind the suggested gift of streetlights.",
"Some people's fear that the company wants to influence the city's decision regarding park lighting contracts is unfounded.",
"It is not appropriate that any company shou... | 3 | train_1865 |
It is possible to grow agricultural crops that can thrive when irrigated with seawater. Such farming, if undertaken near oceans, would actually be cheaper than most other irrigated agriculture, since the water would not have to be pumped far. The greatest expense in irrigated agriculture is in pumping the water, and th... | Which one of the following most accurately describes the role played in the argument by the claim that the greatest expense in irrigated agriculture is in pumping the water? | [
"It is a claim for which the argument provides evidence, but which is not the argument's conclusion.",
"It is a claim that the argument shows to be false.",
"It is evidence provided to support the argument's conclusion.",
"It is the argument's conclusion."
] | 2 | train_1866 |
The ability to analyze genomes - sequences of DNA - has grown more and more sophisticated. Scientists are able to examine the biological past in finer detail and with greater accuracy. A new analysis of the genetic links between early humans and chimpanzees has led to a hypothesis that the two species diverged more rec... | What can be inferred from the statements above? | [
"Political and religious pressures will affect the course of future research.",
"Hybridized species combine the best of both lineages.",
"Earlier genome analysis established genetic links between early humans and chimpanzees.",
"Human DNA is more complex than that of chimpanzees."
] | 2 | train_1867 |
Resident: Residents of this locale should not consider their loss of farming as a way of life to be a tragedy. When this area was a rural area it was economically depressed, but it is now a growing bastion of high-tech industry with high-wage jobs, and supports over 20 times the number of jobs it did then. | Which one of the following, if true, does the most to justify the conclusion of the resident's argument? | [
"Residents of this locale do not value a rural way of life more than they value economic prosperity.",
"The development of high-tech industry is more valuable to national security than is farming.",
"The loss of a family farm is often perceived as tragic even when no financial hardship results.",
"Many reside... | 0 | train_1868 |
Scientists have modified feed corn genetically, increasing its resistance to insect pests. Farmers who tried out the genetically modified corn last season applied less insecticide to their corn fields and still got yields comparable to those they would have gotten with ordinary corn. Ordinary corn seed, however, costs ... | Which of the following would it be most useful to know in order to evaluate the argument? | [
"Whether the price that farmers receive for feed corn has remained steady over the past few years",
"Whether most of the farmers who tried the genetically modified corn last season applied more insecticide than was actually necessary",
"Whether, for most farmers who plant feed corn, it is their most profitable ... | 1 | train_1869 |
All societies recognize certain rules to be so crucial that they define those rules as duties, such as rules restricting violence and those requiring the keeping of agreements. Contained in the notion of a duty is the idea that its fulfillment is so fundamental to a properly functioning society that persons obligated b... | Which one of the following most reasonably completes the argument? | [
"all societies overrate the benefits of certain rules, such as those governing the keeping of agreements",
"all societies recognize the possibility of clashes between individual self-interest and the performance of duty",
"societies have no right to expect people always to perform their duties",
"all societie... | 1 | train_1870 |
Pundit: The average salary for teachers in our society is lower than the average salary for athletes. Obviously, our society values sports more than it values education. | The reasoning in the pundit's argument is questionable because the argument | [
"presumes, without providing justification, that sports have some educational value",
"fails to consider that the total amount of money spent on education may be much greater than the total spent on sports",
"fails to compare salaries for teachers in the pundit's society to salaries for teachers in other societ... | 1 | train_1871 |
Sam: Mountain lions, a protected species, are preying on bighorn sheep, another protected species. We must let nature take its course and hope the bighorns survive. Meli: Nonsense. We must do what we can to ensure the survival of the bighorn, even if that means limiting the mountain lion population. | Which one of the following is a point of disagreement between Meli and Sam? | [
"Humans should not intervene to protect bighorn sheep from mountain lions.",
"If the population of mountain lions is not limited, the bighorn sheep species will not survive.",
"The preservation of a predatory species is easier to ensure than the preservation of the species preyed upon.",
"Any measures to limi... | 0 | train_1872 |
Journalist: Obviously, though some animals are purely carnivorous, none would survive without plants. But the dependence is mutual. Many plant species would never have come to be had there been no animals to pollinate, fertilize, and broadcast their seeds. Also, plants' photosynthetic activity would deplete the carbon ... | Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main conclusion of the journalist's argument? | [
"The photosynthetic activity of plants is necessary for animal life, but animal life is also necessary for the occurrence of photosynthesis in plants.",
"Some purely carnivorous animals would not survive without plants.",
"Human activity is part of what prevents plants from depleting the oxygen in Earth's atmos... | 3 | train_1873 |
The more frequently employees take time to exercise during working hours each week, the fewer sick days they take. Even employees who exercise only once a week during working hours take less sick time than those who do not exercise. Ttherefore, if companies started fitness programs, the absentee rate in those companies... | Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument above? | [
"Employees who exercise in their company's fitness program use their working time no more productively than those who do not exercise.",
"Employees who are frequently absent are the least likely to cooperate with or to join a corporate fitness program.",
"Employees who exercise only once a week in their company... | 1 | train_1874 |
Many athletes inhale pure oxygen after exercise in an attempt to increase muscular reabsorption of oxygen. Measured continuously after exercise, however, the blood lactate levels of athletes who inhale pure oxygen are practically identical, on average, to those of athletes who breathe normal air. The lower the blood la... | If the statements above are all true, they most strongly support which of the following conclusions? | [
"The amount of oxygen reabsorbed by an athlete's muscles always remains constant.",
"The inhaling of pure oxygen has no legitimate role in athletics.",
"High blood lactate levels cannot be reduced.",
"Athletes' muscular reabsorption of oxygen is not increased when they inhale pure oxygen instead of normal air... | 3 | train_1875 |
Some of the world' s most beautiful cats are Persian cats. However, it must be acknowledged that all Persian cats are pompous, and pompous cats are invariably irritating. | If the statements above are true, each of the following must also be true on the basis of them EXCEPT: | [
"Some of the world's most beautiful cats are irritating.",
"Some irritating cats are among the world's most beautiful cats.",
"Any cat that is not irritating is not a Persian cat.",
"Some irritating and beautiful cats are not Persian cats."
] | 3 | train_1876 |
Fares on the city-run public buses in Greenville are subsidized by city tax revenues, but among the beneficiaries of the low fares are many people who commute from outside the city to jobs in Greenville. Some city councillors argue that city taxes should be used primarily to benefit the people who pay them, and ttheref... | Each of the following, if true, would weaken the argument advanced by the city councilors EXCEPT: | [
"Increasing transit fares would disadvantage those residents of the city whose low incomes make them exempt from city taxes, and all city councilors agree that these residents should be able to take advantage of city-run services.",
"People who work in Greenville and earn wages above the nationally mandated minim... | 2 | train_1877 |
A recent study of 6, 403 people showed that those treated with the drug pravastatin, one of the effects of which is to reduce cholesterol, had about one-third fewer nonfatal heart attacks and one-third fewer deaths from coronary disease than did those not taking the drug. This result is consistent with other studies, w... | The argument's reasoning is flawed because the argument | [
"fails to consider that pravastatin may reduce the risk of heart disease but not as a consequence of its lowering cholesterol levels",
"relies on past findings, rather than drawing its principal conclusion from the data found in the specific study cited",
"neglects the possibility that pravastatin may have seve... | 0 | train_1878 |
On completing both the course in experimental design and the developmental psychology course, Angela will have earned a degree in psychology. Since experimental design, which must be completed before taking developmental psychology, will not be offered until next term, it will be at least two terms before Angela gets h... | If the statements above are all true, which one of the following must also be true? | [
"There are no prerequisites for the course in experimental design.",
"The course in experimental design is an easier course than the course in developmental psychology.",
"Anyone who earns a degree in psychology from the university Angela attends will have completed the course in experimental design.",
"Once ... | 3 | train_1879 |
If the county continues to collect residential trash at current levels, landfills will soon be overflowing and parkland will need to be used in order to create more space. Charging each household a fee for each pound of trash it puts out for collection will induce residents to reduce the amount of trash they create; th... | Which of the following is an assumption made in drawing the conclusion above? | [
"The beauty of county parkland is an important issue for most of the county's residents.",
"Residents will reduce the amount of trash they put out for collection by reducing the number of products they buy.",
"The collection fee will not significantly affect the purchasing power of most residents, even if their... | 3 | train_1880 |
Images from ground-based telescopes are invariably distorted by the Earth' s atmosphere. Orbiting space telescopes, however, operating above Earth' s atmosphere, should provide superbly detailed images. Ttherefore, ground-based telescopes will soon become obsolete for advanced astronomical research purposes. | Which of the following statements, if true, would cast the most doubt on the conclusion drawn above? | [
"Ground-based telescopes located on mountain summits are not subject to the kinds of atmospheric distortion which, at low altitudes, make stars appear to twinkle.",
"By careful choice of observatory location, it is possible for large-aperture telescopes to avoid most of the kind of wind turbulence that can distor... | 2 | train_1881 |
As part of a new trend in the writing of history, an emphasis on the details of historical events and motivations has replaced the previous emphasis on overarching historical trends and movements, with the result that the latter are often overlooked. In consequence, the ominous parallels that may exist between historic... | The statements above, if true, most strongly support which one of the following? | [
"History should be interpreted in a way that gives equal emphasis to overarching historical trends and movements and to the details of historical events and motivations.",
"A change in emphasis in the interpretation of history has lessened our ability to learn from history.",
"Overarching historical trends and ... | 1 | train_1882 |
Executive: In order to add to our profits, I was planning to promote and distribute herbal tinctures. However, some members of my advisory staff questioned the medical efficacy of such products. So I have consulted a variety of reliable medical publications, and these likewise claim that herbal tinctures are ineffectiv... | The executive's reasoning most closely conforms to which one of the following generalizations? | [
"The promotion and distribution of a new line of products will not prove profitable if a number of reliable authorities declare them to be ineffective.",
"If a majority of reliable sources conclude that a particular substance is medically ineffective, then that substance almost certainly is medically ineffective.... | 0 | train_1883 |
Nearly every criminal trial includes eyewitness testimony, and cognitive psychologists have hypothesized that misidentification by eyewitnesses is a common reason for mistaken convictions in criminal trials. | Each of the following, if true, supports the cognitive psychologists' hypothesis EXCEPT: | [
"The shock of witnessing a crime makes it likely that a witness's memory of the perpetrator's face will be distorted.",
"Eyewitnesses' reports are the most common reason for conviction.",
"Judges often instruct juries about those circumstances under which testimony of eyewitnesses is fallible.",
"In most crim... | 2 | train_1884 |
When the famous art collector Vidmar died, a public auction of her collection, the largest privately owned, was held. "I can' t possibly afford any of those works because hers is among the most valuable collections ever assembled by a single person, " declared art lover MacNeil. | The flawed pattern of reasoning in which one of the following is most closely parallel to that in MacNeil's argument? | [
"This paragraph is long. So the sentences that comprise it are long.",
"The members of the company are old. So the company itself is old.",
"Each word in the book is in French. So the whole book is in French.",
"The city council voted unanimously to adopt the plan. So councilperson Martinez voted to adopt the... | 0 | train_1885 |
One of the requirements for admission to the Lunnville Roller Skating Club is a high degree of skill in roller skating. The club president has expressed concern that the club may have discriminated against qualified women in its admissions this year. Yet half of the applicants admitted to the club this year were women.... | Which one of the following is an assumption on which the conclusion of the argument depends? | [
"No more than half of all the roller skaters in Lunnville are women.",
"No more than half of all the roller skaters in Lunnville are men.",
"This year no more than half of the applicants who met all the qualifications for admission to the club were women.",
"This year no more than half of the members of the c... | 2 | train_1886 |
In its search for new technologies for solar energy that can produce lower-cost electricity, Smith-Diatom is developing a new way to make dye-sensitive solar cells, in which photons strike light-sensitive dyes. The process uses diatoms, which are unicellular algae that have silicon shells with a complex structure. Firs... | Which of the following considerations would, if true, most strongly support the hypothesis that the plan, if implemented, will produce low-cost electricity from dye-sensitive solar cells? | [
"Diatoms are an important link in oceanic food chains and help cycle carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.",
"Because diatoms occur naturally, no special engineering processes are needed to produce the basic dye-sensitive solar cell structures.",
"Dye-sensitive solar cells work somewhat more efficiently in lower ... | 1 | train_1887 |
Companies O and P each have the same number of employees who work the same number of hours per week. According to records maintained by each company, the employees of Company O had fewer job-related accidents last year than did the employees of Company P. Ttherefore, employees of Company O are less likely to have job-r... | Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the conclusion above? | [
"Company P considered more types of accidents to be job-related than did Company O.",
"The employees of Company P lost more time at work due to job-related accidents than did the employees of Company O.",
"Several employees of Company O each had more than one job-related accident.",
"The majority of job-relat... | 0 | train_1888 |
Camera manufacturers typically advertise their products by citing the resolution of their cameras' lenses, the resolution of a lens being the degree of detail the lens is capable of reproducing in the image it projects onto the film. Differences between cameras in this respect are irrelevant for practical photography, ... | Which one of the following most accurately states the main point of the argument? | [
"Advertised differences among cameras in the resolution of their lenses have no practical bearing on the cameras' relative quality as photographic tools.",
"In concentrating their advertising on the issue of image quality, manufacturers are making a mistake about the interests of potential purchasers of cameras."... | 0 | train_1889 |
Newspaper editor: Law enforcement experts, as well as most citizens, have finally come to recognize that legal prohibitions against gambling all share a common flaw: no matter how diligent the effort, the laws are impossible to enforce. Ethical qualms notwithstanding, when a law fails to be effective, it should not be ... | Which one of the following, if assumed, allows the argument's conclusion to be properly drawn? | [
"Most citizens must agree with a law for the law to be enforceable.",
"No effective law is unenforceable.",
"No legal prohibitions against gambling are enforceable.",
"Most citizens must agree with a law for the law to be effective."
] | 1 | train_1890 |
Many vaccines create immunity to viral diseases by introducing a certain portion of the disease-causing virus' s outer coating into the body. Exposure to that part of a virus is as effective as exposure to the whole virus in stimulating production of antibodies that will subsequently recognize and kill the whole virus.... | Which one of the following, if true, most strongly counters the doctors' claim? | [
"Most of the people who contract hepatitis E are young adults who were probably exposed to the virus in childhood also.",
"Some laboratory animals exposed to one strain of the hepatitis virus developed immunity to all strains of the virus.",
"Many children who are exposed to viruses that cause childhood disease... | 0 | train_1891 |
A report that many apples contain a cancer-causing preservative called Alar apparently had little effect on consumers. Few consumers planned to change their apple-buying habits as a result of the report. Nonetheless, sales of apples in grocery stores fell sharply in March, a month after the report was issued. | Which of the following, if true, best explains the reason for the apparent discrepancy described above? | [
"Because of a growing number of food-safety warnings, consumers in March were indifferent to such warnings.",
"In March, many grocers removed apples from their shelves in order to demonstrate concern about their customers' health.",
"Public health officials did not believe that apples posed a health threat beca... | 1 | train_1892 |
Situation: Someone living in a cold climate buys a winter coat that is stylish but not warm in order to appear sophisticated. Analysis: People are sometimes willing to sacrifice sensual comfort or pleasure for the sake of appearances. | The analysis provided for the situation above is most appropriate for which one of the following situations? | [
"A person sets her thermostat at a low temperature during the winter because she is concerned about the environmental damage caused by using fossil fuels to heat her home.",
"A parent buys a car seat for a young child because it is more colorful and more comfortable for the child than the other car seats on the m... | 2 | train_1893 |
Plastic has been replacing aluminum in a widening array of military equipment because it offers equal protection at less weight. A plastic-armored vehicle is, however, twice as costly to make as an aluminum-armored vehicle. Ttherefore, the replacement of aluminum-armored vehicles by plastic-armored vehicles that offer ... | Which of the following, if true, casts most doubt on the conclusion above? | [
"Although the cost of plastic is expected to remain stable, the growing practice of recycling metals will probably drive down the cost of metals.",
"The cost of repairing body damage on plastic-armored vehicles would exceed what the military currently spends to repair body damage on aluminum-armored vehicles.",
... | 2 | train_1894 |
Journalist: A recent study showed that people who drink three cups of decaffeinated coffee per day are twice as likely to develop arthritis -- inflammation of joints resulting from damage to connective tissue -- as those who drink three cups of regular coffee per day. Clearly, decaffeinated coffee must contain somethin... | Which one of the following would be most useful to know in order to evaluate the journalist's argument? | [
"whether most coffee drinkers drink more than three cups of coffee per day",
"whether people who exercise regularly are more likely to drink decaffeinated beverages than those who do not",
"whether people who drink decaffeinated coffee tend to drink coffee less often than those who drink regular coffee",
"whe... | 3 | train_1895 |
Developers of neighborhood Y are trying to lure potential homebuyers by offering a large discount on newly built homes. As a result, the homes in neighborhood Y are available for 20% less than comparably sized homes in neighborhood X. So unless potential homebuyers distrust the developers of neighborhood Y, neighborhoo... | Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends? | [
"The comparably priced homes in neighborhood X and neighborhood Y are all situated on similarly sized lots.",
"There are fewer houses for sale in neighborhood X than there are in neighborhood Y.",
"Neighborhood X does not have any qualities or features that would induce some homebuyers to pay higher prices for ... | 2 | train_1896 |
Medical Investigator: "Podiatrists initially assumed that Meyer' s Rash, an itchy rash between the toes, was a fungal infection similar to athlete' s foot. <b> At first, only Dr. Pannikar argued that Meyer' s Rash was viral in nature. </b> All anti-fungal medications proved utterly ineffective in addressing Meyer' s Ra... | " In the medical investigator's argument, the portion in boldface plays which of the following roles? | [
"It provides evidence in support of the main conclusion of the argument.",
"It introduces a judgment that the argument opposes.",
"It is the main conclusion of the argument.",
"It presents an explanation that the argument concludes is correct."
] | 3 | train_1897 |
"If the forest continues to disappear at its present pace, the koala will approach extinction, " said the biologist. "So all that is needed to save the koala is to stop deforestation, " said the politician. | Which one of the following statements is consistent with the biologist's claim but not with the politician's claim? | [
"Deforestation is stopped and the koala becomes extinct.",
"Reforestation begins and the koala survives.",
"Deforestation is slowed and the koala survives.",
"Deforestation continues and the koala becomes extinct."
] | 0 | train_1898 |
Essayist: Wisdom and intelligence are desirable qualities. However, being intelligent does not imply that one is wise, nor does being wise imply that one is intelligent. In my own experience, the people I meet have one or the other of these qualities but not both. | If the essayist's statements are true, then each of the following could be true EXCEPT: | [
"Many people are intelligent and yet lack wisdom.",
"Most people are both intelligent and wise.",
"No one is either wise or intelligent.",
"Most people are neither intelligent or wise."
] | 2 | train_1899 |
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