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Some people are Montagues and some people are Capulets. No Montague can be crossed in love. All Capulets can be crossed in love. Ttherefore, Capulets are not Montagues. Anyone who is not a Montague is intemperate. Assume that all of the statements in the passage are true. | If it is also true that no Montague is intemperate, then which one of the following must be true? | [
"All intemperate people can be crossed in love.",
"The only people who can be crossed in love are intemperate Capulets.",
"All intemperate people are Capulets.",
"All Capulets are intemperate."
] | 3 | train_2800 |
People with high blood pressure are generally more nervous and anxious than are people who do not have high blood pressure. This fact shows that this particular combination of personality traits -- the so-called hypertensive personality -- is likely to cause a person with these traits to develop high blood pressure. | The reasoning in the argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the ground that the argument | [
"focuses on nervousness and anxiety only, ignoring other personality traits that people with high blood pressure might have",
"takes a correlation between personality traits and high blood pressure as proof that the traits cause high blood pressure",
"simply restates the claim that there is a \"hypertensive per... | 1 | train_2801 |
Solicitor: Loux named Zembaty executor of her will. Her only beneficiary was her grandson, of whom she was very fond. Prior to distributing the remainder to the beneficiary, Zembaty was legally required to choose which properties in the estate should be sold to clear the estate' s heavy debts. Loux never expressed any ... | Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the solicitor's argument? | [
"The Stoke Farm was the main cause of the estate's debts.",
"The estate's debts could not have been cleared without selling the Stoke Farm.",
"Loux was well aware of the legal requirements the executor of her will would have to satisfy.",
"Loux's grandson had repeatedly expressed his desire to own a farm."
] | 3 | train_2802 |
Whoever murdered Jansen was undoubtedly in Jansen' s office on the day of the murder, and both Samantha and Herbert were in Jansen' s office on that day. If Herbert had committed the murder, the police would have found either his fingerprints or his footprints at the scene of the crime. But if Samantha was the murderer... | Which one of the following, if assumed, allows the conclusion that Samantha was the killer to be properly inferred? | [
"The fingerprints found at the scene of the crime were not Samantha's.",
"The fingerprints found at the scene of the crime were not Jansen's.",
"No one but Herbert and Samantha was in Jansen's office on the day of the murder.",
"If there had been footprints at the scene of the crime, the police would have fou... | 2 | train_2803 |
Studies show that individuals with a high propensity for taking risks tend to have fewer ethical principles to which they consciously adhere in their business interactions than do most people. On the other hand, individuals with a strong desire to be accepted socially tend to have more such principles than do most peop... | The reasoning in the argument is flawed because the argument | [
"draws a conclusion that simply restates a claim presented in support of that conclusion",
"concludes merely from the fact that two things are correlated that one causes the other",
"infers from the fact that something is usually true that it is always true",
"takes for granted that certain actions are morall... | 1 | train_2804 |
The current theory about earthquakes holds that they are caused by adjoining plates of rock sliding past each other; the plates are pressed together until powerful forces overcome the resistance. As plausible as this may sound, at least one thing remains mysterious on this theory. The overcoming of such resistance shou... | Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main point of the argument? | [
"No one will ever be sure what the true cause of earthquakes is.",
"The current theory does not fully explain earthquake data.",
"Contrary to the current theory, earthquakes are not caused by adjoining plates of rock sliding past one another.",
"No increases in temperature have been detected following earthqu... | 1 | train_2805 |
Oscar: I have been accused of plagiarizing the work of Ethel Myers in my recent article. But that accusation is unwarranted. Although I admit I used passages from Myers' book without attribution, Myers gave me permission in private correspondence to do so. Millie: Myers cannot give you permission to plagiarize. Plagiar... | Which one of the following principles, if established, would justify Oscar's judgment? | [
"An author is entitled to quote freely without attribution the work of a writer if that writer relinquishes his or her exclusive right to the material.",
"Authors are entitled to quote without attribution passages that they themselves have written and published in other books or articles.",
"The writer of an ar... | 0 | train_2806 |
Nutritionists believe that a person' s daily requirement for vitamins can readily be met by eating five servings of fruits and vegetables daily. However, most people eat far less than this. Thus, most people need to take vitamin pills. | Which one of the following statements, if true, most seriously weakens the argument? | [
"Fruits and vegetables are also important sources of fiber, in forms not found in vitamin pills.",
"Many commonly consumed foods that are neither fruits nor vegetables are fortified by manufacturers with the vitamins found in fruits and vegetables.",
"Certain commonly available fruits and vegetables contain con... | 1 | train_2807 |
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.",
"When it first became available, perxicillin was much more effective in treating bacterial sinus infections than any other antibiotic used for such infections at the time.",
"A large number of Aqadestanis never seek medical help when th... | 3 | train_2808 |
Columnist: It is impossible for there to be real evidence that lax radiation standards that were once in effect at nuclear reactors actually contributed to the increase in cancer rates near such sites. The point is a familiar one: who can say if a particular case of cancer is due to radiation, exposure to environmental... | The argument's reasoning is most vulnerable to criticism on which one of the following grounds? | [
"The argument fails to recognize that there may be convincing statistical evidence even if individual causes cannot be known.",
"The argument inappropriately presupposes that what follows a certain phenomenon was caused by that phenomenon.",
"The argument concludes that a claim about a causal connection is fals... | 0 | train_2809 |
During the nineteenth century, the French academy of art was a major financial sponsor of painting and sculpture in France; sponsorship by private individuals had decreased dramatically by this time. Because the academy discouraged innovation in the arts, there was little innovation in nineteenth century French sculptu... | Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the difference between the amount of innovation in French painting and the amount of innovation in French sculpture during the nineteenth century? | [
"Because stone was so much more expensive than paint and canvas, far more unsponsored paintings were produced than were unsponsored sculptures in France during the nineteenth century.",
"The French academy in the nineteenth century financially supported a greater number of sculptors than painters, but individual ... | 0 | train_2810 |
Manager: I have circulated a posting for the position of Social Scientific Researcher. Applicants must have either an earned doctorate and a track record of published research, or else five years' work experience. The relevant fields for these requirements are sociology, psychology, and education. | Which one of the applicants, as described below, does NOT meet the manager's requirements? | [
"Alvin Johnson is a doctoral candidate at a local university and is currently working on a dissertation. Prior to undertaking doctoral studies, he worked as a psychology researcher for seven years.",
"Alicia Arias holds an earned doctorate in sociology from a prestigious university and has published one book and ... | 3 | train_2811 |
Essayist: Common sense, which is always progressing, is nothing but a collection of theories that have been tested over time and found useful. When alternative theories that prove even more useful are developed, they gradually take the place of theories already embodied in common sense. This causes common sense to prog... | If all of the essayist's statements are true, then which one of the following must be true? | [
"Of the useful theories within the body of common sense, the older ones are generally less useful than the newer ones.",
"Each theory within the body of common sense is eventually replaced with a new theory that is more useful.",
"At least some new theories that have not yet been found to be more useful than an... | 3 | train_2812 |
Because the statement "all gray rabbits are rabbits" is true, it follows by analogy that the statement "all suspected criminals are criminals" is also true. | The reasoning above is flawed because it fails to recognize that | [
"the relationship between being a gray rabbit and being a rabbit is not of the same kind as that between being a suspected criminal and being a criminal",
"not all criminals are suspected",
"the relationship between being a criminal and being a rabbit is not of the same kind as that between being suspected and ... | 0 | train_2813 |
A company has developed a new sensing device that, according to the company' s claims, detects weak, ultralow-frequency electromagnetic signals associated with a beating heart. These signals, which pass through almost any physical obstruction, are purportedly detected by the device even at significant distances. Tthere... | Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument? | [
"Ultralow-frequency signals are not the only electromagnetic signals that can pass through almost any physical obstruction.",
"Most People who have survived after being trapped in collapsed buildings were rescued within two hours of the building's collapse.",
"Extensive training is required in order to operate ... | 3 | train_2814 |
Critic: People today place an especially high value on respect for others; yet, in their comedy acts, many of today' s most popular comedians display blatant disrespect for others. But when people fail to live up to the very ideals they hold in highest esteem, exaggeration of such failings often forms the basis of succ... | The critic's argument depends on which one of the following assumptions? | [
"People who enjoy comedians who display disrespect in their acts do not place a high value on respect for others.",
"People who value an ideal especially highly do not always succeed in living up to this ideal.",
"Many people disapprove of the portrayal of blatant disrespect for others in comedy acts.",
"Peop... | 1 | train_2815 |
Biologist: Some speculate that the unusually high frequency of small goats found in island populations is a response to evolutionary pressure to increase the number of goats so as to ensure a diverse gene pool. However, only the reproductive success of a trait influences its frequency in a population. So, the only kind... | The biologist's view, if true, provides the most support for which one of the following? | [
"Contrary to what some believe, large goats achieve greater reproductive success than small goats even when space is limited.",
"The evolutionary pressure to ensure a diverse gene pool does not have the effect of increasing the frequency of a gene for small size.",
"The evolutionary pressure to ensure a diverse... | 1 | train_2816 |
The effort involved in lying produces measurable physiological reactions such as a speedup of the heartbeat. Since lying is accompanied by physiological reactions, lie-detector tests that can detect these reactions are a sure way of determining when someone is lying. | Which one of the following statements, if true, most seriously weakens the argument? | [
"Lie-detector tests can measure only some of the physiological reactions that occur when someone is lying.",
"When employers use lie-detector tests as part of their preemployment screening, some candidates tested are highly motivated to lie.",
"People are often unaware that they are having physiological reactio... | 3 | train_2817 |
Essayist: Human history is filled with the longing for eternal youth and immortality. Yet aging and death are normal and inevitable, indeed even desirable. Just imagine the ethical, social, and economic consequences that would result if it ever became possible to prevent them. | The claim that human history is filled with the longing for eternal youth and immortality figures in the essayist's argument in which one of the following ways? | [
"It is one of the conclusions of the argument, though it is not the main conclusion.",
"It is a claim that the argument as a whole is directed toward discrediting.",
"It introduces the subject of the argument, but plays no logical role in establishing the main conclusion.",
"It sets out a problem to which the... | 2 | train_2818 |
A natural history museum contains several displays of wild animals. These displays are created by drying and mounting animal skins. In some of the older displays, the animals' skins have started to deteriorate because of low humidity and the heat of the lights. The older displays are lit by tungsten lamps but the newer... | The statements above, if true, most strongly support which one of the following? | [
"The humidity in the museum is lower today than it was when the older displays were first put in place.",
"The displays that are lit by many compact fluorescent lamps are more prone to deterioration than the displays that are lit by a few tungsten lamps.",
"Some of the older displays will last longer if the tun... | 2 | train_2819 |
Modern flamingos derive their pink coloration from pigments stored in tiny shrimp that they filter from shallow, salty waters. The shrimp get this pigment from tiny red algae that they filter through their leg bristles. In the Jurassic period (about 200 million years ago), both algae and shrimp were an excellent source... | Which one of the following statements, if true, strengthens the argument for the existence of a pink pterodactyl? | [
"The Argentine pterodactyl's habitat included shallow seas that were particularly rich in red algae and shrimp.",
"If the Argentine pterodactyl did not eat a diet containing red algae, its color was determined by factors other than diet.",
"The Argentine pterodactyl inhabited the shores of shallow freshwater se... | 0 | train_2820 |
The result of attempting to whip cream in a blender is a thick, velvety substance rather than fluffy whipped cream. This is because a blender' s container does not let in enough air to whip cream effectively. Although using a special whipping-cream attachment in a blender can help somewhat, it cannot fully compensate f... | If all of the statements above are true, which one of the following must be true? | [
"The use of a special whipping-cream attachment in a blender does not suffice to whip cream completely effectively.",
"The use of a special whipping-cream attachment in a blender can reduce the total amount of air required to whip cream effectively in that blender.",
"Cream that has been whipped ineffectively g... | 0 | train_2821 |
It is not known whether bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), a disease of cattle invariably deadly to them, can be transmitted directly from one infected animal to another at all stages of the infection. If it can be, there is now a reservoir of infected cattle incubating the disease. There are no diagnostic tests t... | Which one of the following best completes the argument? | [
"destroying all cattle in areas where BSE occurs and raising cattle only in areas to which BSE is known not to have spread",
"developing a drug that kills the agent that causes BSE, and then treating with that drug all cattle that might have the disease",
"removing from the herd and destroying any diseased anim... | 2 | train_2822 |
Juries in criminal trials do not base verdicts on uncorroborated testimony given by any one witness. Rightly so, because it is usually prudent to be highly skeptical of unsubstantiated claims made by any one person. But then, to be consistent, juries should end an all-too-common practice: convicting defendants on the b... | Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument above? | [
"The process of jury selection is designed to screen out people who have a firm opinion about the defendant's guilt in advance of the trial.",
"Highly suggestible people who are accused of wrongdoing sometimes become so unsure of their own recollection of the past that they can come to accept the accusations made... | 1 | train_2823 |
To improve the long-term savings rate of the citizens of Levaska, the country' s legislature decided to implement a plan that allows investors to save up to $1, 000 per year in special accounts without paying taxes on the interest earned unless withdrawals are made before the investor reaches age sixty-five. Withdrawal... | Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the prediction that the legislature's plan will have its intended effect? | [
"A significant number of the citizens of Levaska will invest in the tax-free savings accounts well before they reach the age of sixty-five.",
"The majority of people choosing to take advantage of the tax-free savings accounts will withdraw their money prior to age sixty-five.",
"People who are not citizens of L... | 0 | train_2824 |
Bureaucrat: The primary, constant goal of an ideal bureaucracy is to define and classify all possible problems and set out regulations regarding each eventuality. Also, an ideal bureaucracy provides an appeal procedure for any complaint. If a complaint reveals an unanticipated problem, the regulations are expanded to c... | Which one of the following is an assumption the bureaucrat's argument requires? | [
"Any complaint that an ideal bureaucracy receives will reveal an unanticipated problem that the bureaucracy is capable of defining and classifying.",
"An ideal bureaucracy will provide an appeal procedure for complaints even after it has defined and classified all possible problems and set out regulations regardi... | 3 | train_2825 |
Sharita: Anyone who owns a cat should have it spayed or neutered unless they are willing to take care of the cat' s offspring. It is because people fail to do this that there are so many stray cats around. Chad: Stray cats are not only a nuisance, they spread diseases and cause injuries to other cats and to humans. Peo... | Sharita's and Chad's statements provide the most support for the claim that they agree about which one of the following? | [
"It is mainly out of kindness that people feed stray cats.",
"Stray cats spread diseases to other cats.",
"Stray cats are a problem because of the risk they pose to humans.",
"There are more stray cats than there should be."
] | 3 | train_2826 |
Scientists have determined that an effective way to lower cholesterol is to eat three servings of whole grains every day. Studies have shown that the cholesterol levels of people who did so were significantly lower after six months than were those of people who did not, even though the cholesterol levels of the two gro... | The answer to which of the following questions, if true, would be most useful in evaluating the claim about whole grains above? | [
"Were the two groups of people in the study involved in the same exercise program?",
"Can the same drop in cholesterol be achieved through medication?",
"Are most consumers aware of the different between whole grains and processed grains?",
"Did the study continue to track the subjects beyond six months?"
] | 0 | train_2827 |
In many scientific disciplines, scientists generally do not do highly creative work beyond the age of forty, a tendency that has normally been taken to show that aging carries with it a loss of creative capacity. However, by the age of forty most scientists have been working in their chosen field for at least fifteen y... | Investigating which of the following would be most useful in choosing between the competing explanations described above? | [
"Whether funding agencies are more inclined to award research grants to scientists who are veterans in their field than to scientists who are relative newcomers",
"Whether scientists' choice of research projects tends to be influenced by their own belief that their most creative work will be done relatively early... | 2 | train_2828 |
Agricultural economist: Over the past several years, increases in worldwide grain production have virtually ceased. Further increases will be extremely difficult; most usable farmland is already being farmed with near-maximal efficiency. But worldwide demand for grain has been increasing steadily, due largely to contin... | Which one of the following most accurately describes the role played in the agricultural economist's argument by the claim that further increases in worldwide grain production will be extremely difficult? | [
"It is a description of a phenomenon, a causal explanation of which is the main conclusion of the argument.",
"It is one of the two conclusions drawn by the agricultural economist, neither of which is used to provide support for the other.",
"It is a prediction for which the agricultural economist's first claim... | 3 | train_2829 |
Some of the most prosperous nations in the world have experienced a pronounced drop in national savings rates -- the percentage of after-tax income an average household saves. This trend will undoubtedly continue if the average age of these nations' populations continues to rise, since older people have fewer reasons t... | Which one of the following indicates an error in the reasoning leading to the prediction above? | [
"It only takes into account the comparative number of reasons older and younger people, respectively, have for saving, and not the comparative strength of those reasons.",
"It fails to cite statistics showing that the average age of the population of certain nations is rising.",
"It uses after-tax income as the... | 0 | train_2830 |
If the city council maintains spending at the same level as this year' s, it can be expected to levy a sales tax of 2 percent next year. Thus, if the council levies a higher tax, it will be because the council is increasing its expenditures. | Which one of the following exhibits a pattern of reasoning most closely similar to that of the argument above? | [
"If the companies in the state do not increase their workers'wages this year, the prices they charge for their goods can be expected to be much the same as they were last year. Thus, if the companies do increase prices, it will be because they have increased wages.",
"If newspaper publishers wish to publish good ... | 0 | train_2831 |
NowNews, although still the most popular magazine covering cultural events in Kalopolis, has recently suffered a significant drop in advertising revenue because of falling circulation. Many readers have begun buying a competing magazine that, at 50 cents per copy, costs less than NowNews at $1. 50 per copy. In order to... | Which of the following most logically completes the argument below? | [
"NowNews's competitor would begin to lose large amounts of money if it were forced to lower its cover price.",
"Those Kalopolis residents with the greatest interest in cultural events are regular readers of both magazines.",
"One reason NowNews's circulation fell was that its competitor's reporting on cultural ... | 3 | train_2832 |
Politician: Over the next decade, our city will be replacing all of its street signs with signs that are designed for improved readability. But since no one is complaining about the current signs, installing the new ones is a colossal waste of time and money. | Which one of the following would be most useful to know in evaluating the politician's argument? | [
"What percentage of its street signs does the city replace annually in the course of ordinary maintenance?",
"What features of the new street signs improve the readability of the signs?",
"Do any other cities plan to replace their street signs with signs designed for improved readability?",
"Are the new stree... | 0 | train_2833 |
Northern Air has dozens of flights daily into and out of Belleville Airport, which is highly congested. NorthernAir depends for its success on economy and quick turnaround and consequently is planning to replace its large planes with Skybuses, whose novel aerodynamic design is extremely fuel efficient. The Skybus' fuel... | Which of the following, if true, could present the most serious disadvantage for Northern Air in replacing their large planes with Skybuses? | [
"Aviation fuel is projected to decline in price over the next several years.",
"The Skybus would enable Northern Air to schedule direct flights to destinations that currently require stops for refueling.",
"The aerodynamic design of the Skybus causes turbulence behind it when taking off that forces other planes... | 2 | train_2834 |
Leslie: I enjoy P' s movies, but he should not be deemed a fabulous actor. Despite how memorable his performances have been, the plots in his movies have not been diverse enough to show a real range of talent. Molly: You are incorrect in your assessment of what makes a fabulous actor. A fabulous actor does not have to ... | Which of the following is the disagreement between Leslie and Molly? | [
"whether appearing in movies with diverse plots is necessary to be a fabulous actor",
"whether there are other prerequisites to becoming a fabulous actor besides giving memorable performances and appearing in movies with greatly varied plots",
"whether all actors who give memorable performances are fabulous act... | 0 | train_2835 |
Tiger beetles are such fast runners that they can capture virtually any nonflying insect. However, when running toward an insect, the beetles intermittently stop, and then, a moment later, resume their attack. Perhaps they cannot maintain their pace and must pause for a moment' s rest; but an alternative hypothesis is ... | Which of the following, if discovered in experiments using artificially moved prey insects, would support one of the two hypotheses and undermine the other? | [
"In pursuing a moving insect, the beetles usually respond immediately to changes in the insect's direction, and pause equally frequently whether the chase is up or down an incline.",
"The beetles maintain a fixed time interval between pauses, although when an insect that had been stationary begins to flee, the be... | 1 | train_2836 |
If a meat thermometer is poked into a steak, the steak' s temperature can be correctly assessed. Ttherefore, since Will does not have access to a meat thermometer, his steak' s temperature cannot be correctly assessed. If the steak' s temperature cannot be correctly assessed, that steak will be over- or undercooked. Tt... | Which of the following arguments contains an error of reasoning like the one in the argument above? | [
"If dogs are not walked frequently, the dog will not be healthy. Ttherefore, if Lee does not walk his dog frequently, his dog will not be healthy.",
"If dogs are not walked frequently, sometimes they will be unhealthy. Unhealthiness can make a dog unhappy. Ttherefore, since Nina walks her dog frequently, her dog ... | 2 | train_2837 |
All cattle ranchers dislike long winters. All ski resort owners like long winters because long winters mean increased profits. Some lawyers are cattle ranchers. | Which one of the following statements, if true and added to those above, most supports the conclusion that no ski resort owners are lawyers? | [
"All people with increasing profits own ski resorts.",
"Some people who dislike long winters are not cattle ranchers.",
"All lawyers are cattle ranchers.",
"All people who dislike long winters are cattle ranchers."
] | 2 | train_2838 |
All bridges built from 1950 to 1960 are in serious need of rehabilitation. Some bridges constructed in this period, however, were built according to faulty engineering design. That is the bad news. The good news is that at least some bridges in serious need of rehabilitation are not suspension bridges, since no suspens... | If the statements above are true, then, on the basis of those statements, which one of the following must also be true? | [
"Some bridges that were built according to faulty engineering design are not bridges other than suspension bridges.",
"Some bridges that were built according to faulty engineering design are in serious need of rehabilitation.",
"Some suspension bridges are in serious need of rehabilitation.",
"Some bridges bu... | 1 | train_2839 |
Criminals often have an unusual self-image. Embezzlers often think of their actions as "only borrowing money. "Many people convicted of violent crimes rationalize their actions by some sort of denial; either the victim "deserved it"and so the action was justified, or "it simply wasn't my fault. " Thus, in many cases, b... | Which one of the following most logically completes the passage? | [
"their actions are not truly criminal",
"they are perceived to be the victim of some other criminal",
"they deserve only a light sentence for their crimes",
"they ought to be rewarded for their actions"
] | 0 | train_2840 |
If this parking policy is unpopular with the faculty, then we should modify it. If it is unpopular among students, we should adopt a new policy. And, it is bound to be unpopular either with the faculty or among students. | If the statements above are true, which one of the following must also be true? | [
"We should attempt to popularize this parking policy among either the faculty or students.",
"If the parking policy is popular among students, then we should adopt a new policy.",
"We should modify this parking policy if modification will not reduce its popularity with the faculty.",
"If this parking policy i... | 3 | train_2841 |
The cafeteria of a certain elementary school provides a free lunch every day to the entire student body - a significant expense in the school' s annual budget. A vice principal was exploring cost-reducing measures that would not compromise nourishment. A local Italian restaurant offered the school a large number of piz... | Which of the following would be most useful for evaluating the conclusion drawn by the vice principal? | [
"Whether other, more expensive dishes from that Italian restaurant, would provide a more balanced and varied set of nutrients.",
"Whether another Italian restaurant in this town would provide a similar deal and offer free delivery.",
"Whether pizza provides the same level of nutrition as a typical cafeteria lun... | 3 | train_2842 |
From 1996 to 2004, the average family income in a certain country decreased by 10 percent, after adjustments for inflation. Opponents of the political party that ruled during this time claim that this was due to mismanagement of the economy by that party. | Each of the following rejoinders, if true, directly counters the opponents' explanation of the decrease in average family income EXCEPT: | [
"There had been a rise in family income in 1996, after adjustments for inflation.",
"Younger wage earners usually earn less than older ones, and the average age of household wage earners fell during most years in the past several decades.",
"During the period, international events beyond the control of the coun... | 0 | train_2843 |
Archaeologists are currently analyzing plant remains found at a site that was last occupied more than 10, 000 years ago. If the plants were cultivated, then the people who occupied the site discovered agriculture thousands of years before any other people are known to have done so. On the other hand, if the plants were... | The statements above, if true, most strongly support which one of the following? | [
"The people who occupied the site used some plants in ways that no other people did at that time.",
"It is more likely that the people who occupied the site discovered agriculture thousands of years before people anywhere else did than it is that they ate a wider variety of wild plants than any other people at th... | 0 | train_2844 |
Thomas: The club president had no right to disallow Jeffrey' s vote. Club rules say that only members in good standing may vote. You' ve admitted that club rules also say that all members whose dues are fully paid are members in good standing. And since, as the records indicate, Jeffrey has always paid his dues on time... | The reasoning in Thomas' argument is flawed because his argument | [
"overlooks the possibility that Althea is not an authority on the club's rules",
"offers evidence that casts doubt on the character of the club president and thereby ignores the question of voting eligibility",
"wrongly assumes that if a statement is not actually denied by someone, that statement must be regard... | 3 | train_2845 |
It is widely assumed that people need to engage in intellectual activities such as solving crossword puzzles or mathematics problems in order to maintain mental sharpness as they age. In fact, however, simply talking to other people--that is, participating in social interaction, which engages many mental and perceptual... | Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the force of the evidence cited? | [
"Many medical conditions and treatments that adversely affect a person's mental sharpness also tend to increase that person's social isolation.",
"The study did not itself collect data but analyzed data bearing on the issue from prior studies.",
"As people grow older, they are often advised to keep exercising t... | 0 | train_2846 |
A scholar discovered an unlabeled nineteenth-century recording of someone reciting a poem written by Walt Whitman. During the nineteenth century, recordings of poetry were not made for wide commercial sale. Rather, they were made either as rare private souvenirs of the voices of famous poets or else as publicity stunts... | The argument proceeds by | [
"explaining the historical context of an incident in order to demonstrate that each of the two possible scenarios involving that incident is as likely as the other",
"distinguishing a phenomenon into two subtypes and then for a particular case eliminating one of those subtypes",
"showing that two apparently mut... | 1 | train_2847 |
Electric bug zappers, which work by attracting insects to light, are a very effective means of ridding an area of flying insects. Despite this, most pest control experts now advise against their use, recommending instead such remedies as insect-eating birds or insecticide sprays. | Which one of the following, if true, most helps to account for the pest control experts' recommendation? | [
"Bug zappers use more electricity but provide less light than do most standard outdoor light sources.",
"Insect-eating birds will take up residence in any insect-rich area if they are provided with nesting boxes, food, and water.",
"Bug zappers kill many more beneficial insects and fewer harmful insects than do... | 2 | train_2848 |
Ethicist: A person who treats others well is more worthy of praise if this treatment is at least partially motivated by feelings of compassion than if it is entirely motivated by cold and dispassionate concern for moral obligation. This is so despite the fact that a person can choose to do what is morally right but can... | If the ethicist's statements are true, then each of the following could be true EXCEPT: | [
"If someone wants to have compassion toward others but does not, that person is worthy of praise.",
"Someone who acts without feelings of compassion toward those affected by the actions is worthy of praise if those actions enhance the welfare of the people affected.",
"Only what is subject to a person's choice ... | 2 | train_2849 |
Everyone likes repertory theater. Actors like it because playing different roles each night decreases their level of boredom. Stagehands like it because changing sets every night means more overtime and, thus, higher pay. Theater managers like it because, if plays that reflect audience demand are chosen for production,... | The argument above would be strengthened if which one of the following were true? | [
"In a repertory theater, storage space for sets for more than one production must be available.",
"In a repertory theater, a large capital outlay is required at the beginning of each season.",
"In a repertory theater, plays can be rescheduled to meet audience demand.",
"In a repertory theater, some actors who... | 2 | train_2850 |
Recently discovered bird fossils are about 20 million years older than the fossils of the birdlike dinosaurs from which the birds are generally claimed to have descended. So these newly discovered fossils show, contrary to the account espoused by most paleontologists, that no bird descended from any dinosaur. | The reasoning in the argument is flawed in that the argument | [
"draws a generalization that is broader than is warranted by the findings cited",
"ignores the possibility that dinosaurs and birds descended from a common ancestor",
"fails to consider the possibility that dinosaurs descended from birds",
"attacks the adherents of the opposing view personally instead of addr... | 0 | train_2851 |
An art critic, by ridiculing an artwork, can undermine the pleasure one takes in it; conversely, by lavishing praise upon an artwork, an art critic can render the experience of viewing the artwork more pleasurable. So an artwork' s artistic merit can depend not only on the person who creates it but also on those who cr... | The conclusion can be properly drawn if which one of the following is assumed? | [
"Most people seek out critical reviews of particular artworks before viewing those works.",
"Most people lack the confidence necessary for making their own evaluations of art.",
"The merit of an artistic work is determined by the amount of pleasure it elicits.",
"The pleasure people take in something is typic... | 2 | train_2852 |
Traces of cultivated emmer wheat have been found among the earliest agricultural remains of many archaeological sites in Europe and Asia. The only place where the wild form of emmer wheat has been found growing is a relatively narrow strip of southwest Asia. Since the oldest remains of cultivated emmer wheat yet found ... | Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument? | [
"It is very difficult, without genetic testing, to differentiate the wild form of emmer wheat from a closely related wild wheat that also grows in southwest Asia.",
"Modern experiments show that wild emmer wheat can easily be domesticated so as to yield nearly as well as traditionally domestic strains.",
"In th... | 2 | train_2853 |
We should do what will make others more virtuous and not do what will make others less virtuous. It is an irony of human existence that praise makes those who are less virtuous more virtuous, while it makes those who are more virtuous less virtuous. And, of course, none except the more virtuous deserve praise. | From the statements above, if true, which one of the following can be properly inferred? | [
"We should withhold praise from those who deserve it least.",
"We should withhold praise from everyone, regardless of whether or not they deserve it.",
"We should praise those who do not deserve it and withhold praise from those who deserve it.",
"We should praise everyone, regardless of whether or not they d... | 2 | train_2854 |
We should accept the proposal to demolish the old train station, because the local historical society, which vehemently opposes this, is dominated by people who have no commitment to long-term economic well-being. Preserving old buildings creates an impediment to new development, which is critical to economic health. | The flawed reasoning exhibited by the argument above is most similar to that exhibited by which one of the following arguments? | [
"You should have your hair cut no more than once a month. After all, beauticians suggest that their customers have their hair cut twice a month, and they do this as a way of generating more business for themselves.",
"One should not borrow even small amounts of money unless it is absolutely necessary. Once one bo... | 0 | train_2855 |
The government' s proposed 8 percent cut in all subsidies to arts groups will be difficult for those groups to absorb. As can be seen, however, from their response to last year' s cut, it will not put them out of existence. Last year there was also an 8 percent cut, and though private fund-raising was very difficult fo... | The reasoning in the argument is flawed because the argument | [
"overlooks the possibility that the cumulative effect of the cuts will be more than the arts groups can withstand",
"equates the mere survival of the arts groups with their flourishing",
"relies without warrant on the probability that the economy will improve",
"does not take into account that the dollar amou... | 0 | train_2856 |
Suncorp, a new corporation with limited funds, has been clearing large sections of the tropical Amazon forest for cattle ranching. This practice continues even though greater profits can be made from rubber tapping, which does not destroy the forest, than from cattle ranching, which does destroy the forest. | Which of the following, if true, most helps to explain why Suncorp has been pursuing the less profitable of the two economic activities mentioned above? | [
"In certain districts, profits made from cattle ranching are more heavily taxed than profits made from any other industry.",
"Some of the cattle that are raised on land cleared in the Amazon are killed by wildcats.",
"The amount of money required to begin a rubber-tapping operation is twice as high as the amoun... | 2 | train_2857 |
Durham: The mayor will agree to a tax increase because that is the only way the city council will agree to her road repair proposal, and that proposal is her top priority. Espinoza: The mayor will not get her road repair proposal passed because it is more important to her that taxes not increase. | The dialogue provides the most support for the claim that Durham and Espinoza agree about which one of the following? | [
"The mayor will agree to a tax increase.",
"The only way that the city council will agree to pass the mayor's road repair proposal is if she agrees to a tax increase.",
"It is more important to the mayor that taxes not increase than it is that her road repair proposal passes.",
"The mayor will not get her roa... | 1 | train_2858 |
Most apartments on the upper floors of The Vista Arms apartment building have scenic views. So there is in the building at least one studio apartment with scenic views. | The conclusion of the argument follows logically if which one of the following is assumed? | [
"Most of the apartments in the building are studio apartments.",
"Most of the apartments with scenic views are on the upper floors of the building.",
"All of the apartments on the lower floors of the building have scenic views.",
"Most of the apartments on the upper floors of the building are studio apartment... | 3 | train_2859 |
Dr. Libokov: Certain islands near New Zealand are home to the tuatara, reptiles that are the sole surviving members of the sphenodontidans. Sphenodontidans were plentiful throughout the world during the age of the dinosaurs. But the survival of sphenodontidans near New Zealand, and their total disappearance elsewhere, ... | Which one of the following most accurately characterizes Dr. Santos' response to the hypothesis advanced by Dr. Libokov? | [
"It contradicts one of Dr. Libokov's assertions.",
"It identifies a flaw in Dr. Libokov's reasoning.",
"It restates Dr. Libokov's major hypothesis and thus adds nothing to it.",
"It provides additional evidence in support of Dr. Libokov's hypothesis."
] | 3 | train_2860 |
In an experiment, some volunteers were assigned to take aerobics classes and others to take weight-training classes. After three months, each performed an arduous mathematical calculation. Just after that challenge, the measurable stress symptoms of the volunteers in the aerobics classes were less than those of the vol... | Which one of the following is an assumption the argument requires? | [
"The volunteers who were assigned to the aerobics classes did not also lift weights outside the classes.",
"Three months is enough time for the body to fully benefit from aerobic exercise.",
"On average, the volunteers who were assigned to the aerobics classes got more exercise in the months in which they took ... | 3 | train_2861 |
Political Advertisement: Mayor Delmont' s critics complain about the jobs that were lost in the city under Delmont' s leadership. Yet the fact is that not only were more jobs created than were eliminated, but the average pay for these new jobs has been higher than the average pay for jobs citywide every year since Delm... | Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument in the advertisement? | [
"The average pay for jobs created in the city during the past three years was higher than the average pay for jobs created in the city earlier in Mayor Delmont's tenure.",
"The average pay for jobs in the city is currently higher than it is for jobs in the suburbs surrounding the city.",
"The average pay for jo... | 2 | train_2862 |
Armstrong: For the treatment of a particular disease, Dr. Sullivan argues for using nutritional supplements rather than the pharmaceuticals that most doctors prescribe. But this is in his self-interest since he is paid to endorse a line of nutritional supplements. Thus, we should not use nutritional supplements in trea... | Armstrong's argument is flawed in that it | [
"relies solely on an appeal to an authority whose trustworthiness should not necessarily be taken for granted",
"appeals to people's emotions regarding the treatment of disease rather than to the efficacy of the two approaches to treatment",
"criticizes Dr. Sullivan's motives for holding a position rather than ... | 2 | train_2863 |
Angela' s Hair Salon no longer takes reservations. Foot traffic already draws enough customers into the business. The Hair Salon' s success is solely due to their terrific location. | Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument? | [
"Foot traffic is greater across the street.",
"Angela's Hair Salon has an enormous sign that is visible for miles down the road.",
"All of the nearby businesses are not profitable.",
"Angela's Hair Salon employs the town's best hairdresser whose skills are well known in the community."
] | 3 | train_2864 |
Futurist: Artists in the next century will be supported largely by private patrons. Because these patrons will almost invariably be supporters of the social order -- whatever it happens to be at the time -- art in the next century will rarely express social and political doctrines that are perceived to be subversive of... | Which one of the following principles, if valid, provides the most support for the futurist's inference? | [
"Artists tend to become more critical of contemporary social and political arrangements after they are freed of their dependency on private patrons.",
"Art patrons tend not to support artists whose art expresses social and political views that are in opposition to their own.",
"Art patrons tend to oppose all so... | 1 | train_2865 |
People who browse the web for medical information often cannot discriminate between scientifically valid information and quackery. Much of the quackery is particularly appealing to readers with no medical background because it is usually written more clearly than scientific papers. Thus, people who rely on the web when... | Which one of the following is an assumption the argument requires? | [
"People who browse the web for medical information typically do so in an attempt to diagnose their medical conditions.",
"Many people who browse the web assume that information is not scientifically valid unless it is clearly written.",
"People who attempt to diagnose their medical conditions are likely to do t... | 2 | train_2866 |
Each of the many people who participated in the town' s annual spring cleanup received a community recognition certificate. Because the spring cleanup took place at the same time as the downtown arts fair, we know that there are at least some spring cleanup participants who are not active in the town' s artistic circle... | If the statements above are true, which one of the following must be true? | [
"Some of the persons who are active in the town's artistic circles received community recognition certificates.",
"No person who received a community recognition certificate has not participated in the spring cleanup.",
"Not all of those who received community recognition certificates are active in the town's a... | 2 | train_2867 |
Some of the politicians who strongly supported free trade among Canada, the United States, and Mexico are now refusing to support publicly the idea that free trade should be extended to other Latin American countries. | If the statement above is true, which one of the following must also be true? | [
"Not all politicians who now publicly support extending free trade to other Latin American countries strongly supported free trade among Canada, the United States, and Mexico.",
"Some of the politicians who strongly supported free trade among Canada, the United States, and Mexico now publicly oppose extending fre... | 3 | train_2868 |
Jean: Our navigational equipment sells for $1, 100 and dominates the high end of the market, but more units are sold by our competitors in the $700 to $800 range. We should add a low-cost model, which would allow us to increase our overall sales while continuing to dominate the high end. Tracy: I disagree. Our equipmen... | Jean's and Tracy's statements most strongly suggest that they disagree over which one of the following propositions? | [
"There is a greater potential for profits in the low-cost market than there is in the high-cost market.",
"Decreased sales of the high-cost model would result in poor sales for the proposed low-cost model.",
"The company would no longer dominate the high-cost market if it began selling a low-cost model.",
"Th... | 2 | train_2869 |
A psychiatrist argued that there is no such thing as a multiple personality disorder on the grounds that in all her years of clinical practice, she had never encountered one case of this type. | Which one of the following most closely parallels the questionable reasoning cited above? | [
"Lyla said that no one in the area has seen a groundhog and so there are probably no groundhogs in the area.",
"Sauda argued that because therapy rarely had an effect on her patient's type of disorder, therapy was not warranted.",
"Jerod had never spotted a deer in his area and concluded from this that there ar... | 2 | train_2870 |
Letter to the editor: Middle-class families in wealthy nations are often criticized for the ecological damage resulting from their lifestyles. This criticism should not be taken too seriously, however, since its source is often a movie star or celebrity whose own lifestyle would, if widely adopted, destroy the environm... | The reasoning in the letter to the editor is vulnerable to criticism in that it | [
"criticizes a characteristic of the people giving an argument rather than criticizing the argument itself",
"takes failure to act consistently with a belief as an indication of the sincerity with which that belief is held",
"fails to recognize that evidence advanced in support of a conclusion actually undermine... | 0 | train_2871 |
To discover what percentage of teenagers believe in telekinesis -- the psychic ability to move objects without physically touching them -- a recent survey asked a representative sample of teenagers whether they agreed with the following statement: "A person' s thoughts can influence the movement of physical objects. " ... | The reasoning above conforms most closely to which one of the following general propositions? | [
"Every statement is amenable to several interpretations.",
"Responses people give to poorly phrased questions are likely to be ambiguous.",
"Responses to surveys are always unambiguous if the survey's questions are well phrased.",
"Uncontroversial statements are useless in surveys."
] | 1 | train_2872 |
When a new restaurant, Martin' s Cafe, opened in Riverville last year, many people predicted that business at the Wildflower Inn, Riverville' s only other restaurant, would suffer from the competition. Surprisingly, however, in the year since Martin' s Cafe opened, the average number of meals per night served at the Wi... | Which of the following, if true, most helps to explain the increase? | [
"The profit per meal is higher, on average, for meals served at Martin's Cafe than for those served at the Wildflower Inn.",
"Most of the customers of Martin's Cafe had never dined in Riverville before this restaurant opened, and on most days Martin's Cafe attracts more customers than it can seat.",
"A signific... | 1 | train_2873 |
Literary critic: Often the heirs of a successful writer decide to publish the manuscripts and the letters the dead writer left behind, regardless of the merit of the work. However, many writers have manuscripts that they judge to be unworthy of publication and with which they would not like to be publicly associated ev... | Which one of the following statements, if true, most calls into question the soundness of the literary critic's advice? | [
"Most successful writers' judgments of their recently completed work is unnecessarily harsh and is often later revised.",
"Writers who achieve a certain degree of fame can expect that some of their personal correspondence will become publicly available after they die.",
"Many posthumously published books would ... | 0 | train_2874 |
Pundit: For many high school graduates, attending a university would be of no help in getting a corporate job. The attributes corporations value most in potential employees are initiative, flexibility, and the ability to solve practical problems. Many new high school graduates have these attributes already. | The pundit's argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it | [
"overlooks the possibility that corporations may require an attribute that potential employees can obtain only by attending a university",
"takes for granted that initiative, flexibility, and the ability to solve practical problems are attributes that can be acquired through study",
"provides no justification f... | 0 | train_2875 |
A group of unusual meteorites was found in Shergotty, India. Their structure indicates that they originated on one of the geologically active planets, Mercury, Venus, or Mars. Because of Mercury' s proximity to the Sun, any material dislodged from that planet' s surface would have been captured by the Sun, rather than ... | The argument derives its conclusion by | [
"eliminating competing alternative explanations",
"contrasting present circumstances with past circumstances",
"abstracting a general principle from specific data",
"offering a counterexample to a theory"
] | 0 | train_2876 |
During the 1980s the homicide rate in Britain rose by 50 percent. The weapon used usually was a knife. Potentially lethal knives are sold openly and legally in many shops. Most homicide deaths occur as a result of unpremeditated assaults within the family. Even if these are increasing, they would probably not result in... | Which one of the following is the strongest criticism of the argument above? | [
"The argument assumes without justification that the knives used to commit homicide are generally purchased as part of a deliberate plan to commit murder or to inflict grievous harm on a family member.",
"If the potentially lethal knives referred to are ordinary household knives, such knives were common before th... | 1 | train_2877 |
While conditions on Mars are no longer favorable for the evolution of life, scientists point out that in many ways Mars resembles portions of Antarctica, which do manage to support colonies of microbes. But these organisms require liquid water, as do all forms of life. And if there is liquid water on Mars at all, it is... | The statements above, if true, most strongly support which one of the following? | [
"If there is life on Mars, then there is liquid water on Mars.",
"If there are colonies of microbes in Antarctica, then there are colonies of microbes on Mars.",
"It is unreasonable to suppose that Mars has ever supported any forms of life.",
"If there is liquid water on Mars, then there are colonies of micro... | 0 | train_2878 |
A recent study proves that at least some people possess an independent "sixth sense"that allows them to detect whether someone is watching them. In the study, subjects were seated one at a time in the center of a room facing away from a large window. On average, subjects decided correctly 60 percent of the time whether... | Which one of the following, if true, most supports the conclusion drawn from the study mentioned above? | [
"The room in which the subjects were seated was not soundproof.",
"A similar result was found when the subjects were watched from another room on a video monitor.",
"The person recording the experimental results was careful not to interact with the subjects after the experiment ended.",
"Most of the time, sub... | 1 | train_2879 |
In Brazil, side-by-side comparisons of Africanized honeybees and the native honeybees have shown that the Africanized bees are far superior honey producers. Ttherefore, there is no reason to fear that domestic commercial honey production will decline in the United States if local honeybees are displaced by Africanized ... | Each of the following, if true, would weaken the argument EXCEPT: | [
"If Africanized honeybees replace local honeybees, certain types of ornamental trees will be less effectively pollinated.",
"Commercial honey production is far more complicated and expensive with Africanized honeybees than it is with the more docile honeybees common in the United States.",
"The area of Brazil w... | 0 | train_2880 |
Each of the elements of Girelli' s recently completed design for a university library is copied from a different one of several historic libraries. The design includes various features from Classical Greek, Islamic, Mogul, and Romanesque structures. Since no one element in the design is original, it follows that the de... | Which one of the following is a reasoning error made in the argument? | [
"concluding that an unknown instance of a phenomenon must have all the properties of the known instances",
"deriving a factual conclusion from evidence derived from reports of aesthetic preferences",
"generalizing illegitimately from a few instances of a certain kind to all instances of that kind",
"assuming ... | 3 | train_2881 |
Shortly after the Persian Gulf War, investigators reported that the area, which had been subjected to hundreds of smoky oil fires and deliberate oil spills when regular oil production slowed down during the war, displayed less oil contamination than they had witnessed in prewar surveys of the same area. They also repor... | Which one of the following, if true, does most to resolve the apparent discrepancy in the information above? | [
"Oil contamination and PAH pollution dissipate more rapidly in desert regions than in temperate regions.",
"The Persian Gulf War ended before the oil fires and spills caused as much damage as originally expected.",
"Oil contaminants have greater environmental effects in temperate regions than in desert regions.... | 3 | train_2882 |
It would be erroneous to assume that an employee is embezzling funds if there is no other evidence than the fact that the employee has a high balance on his company credit card. It is important to remember that embezzling only happens if the employee is using his company credit card for purposes other than to entertain... | The reasoning of which of the following is most parallel to that in the paragraph above? | [
"A child cannot be diagnosed with asthma just because he or she becomes out of breath quickly, because most children are simply out of shape.",
"Most people who appear to be physically fit are not actually physically fit because being slender is not the only sign of physical fitness.",
"Water purifiers should b... | 3 | train_2883 |
The senator has long held to the general principle that no true work of art is obscene, and thus that there is no conflict between the need to encourage free artistic expression and the need to protect the sensibilities of the public from obscenity. When well-known works generally viewed as obscene are cited as possibl... | The senator's reasoning contains which one of the following errors? | [
"It assumes what it seeks to establish.",
"It seeks to persuade by emotional rather than intellectual means.",
"It contains an implicit contradiction.",
"It relies on an assertion of the senator's authority."
] | 0 | train_2884 |
Agricultural scientist: Wild apples are considerably smaller than cultivated apples found in supermarkets. In one particular region, archaeologists have looked for remains of cultivated apples dating from 5, 000 years ago, around the time people first started cultivating fruit. But the only remains of apples that archa... | The agricultural scientist's argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that the argument | [
"uses a claim that presupposes the truth of its main conclusion as part of the justification for that conclusion",
"takes for granted that all apples are either the size of wild apples or the size of the cultivated apples now found in supermarkets",
"fails to consider that even if a plant was not cultivated in ... | 3 | train_2885 |
Governments have only one response to public criticism of socially necessary services: regulation of the activity of providing those services. But governments inevitably make the activity more expensive by regulating it, and that is particularly troublesome in these times of strained financial resources. However, since... | Which one of the following statements can be inferred from the passage? | [
"The cost of providing child-care services will increase.",
"The quality of child care will improve.",
"If child-care services are not regulated, the cost of providing child care will not increase.",
"The government will use funding to foster advances in child care."
] | 0 | train_2886 |
The initial causes of serious accidents in space shuttle missions so far have not been flaws in the advanced technology used in the space shuttles. Rather, the causes have been attributed to human error. Unfortunately, human error is bound to occur at some point. | Which one of the following is most strongly supported by the statements above? | [
"Space shuttle missions are not worth the risk.",
"As the technology used in space shuttles improves, it will eventually overcome human error.",
"If space shuttle missions continue, a serious accident is not improbable.",
"No serious accident will be caused in the future by some flaw in the advanced technolog... | 2 | train_2887 |
It is probably not true that colic in infants is caused by the inability of those infants to tolerate certain antibodies found in cow' s milk, since it is often the case that symptoms of colic are shown by infants that are fed breast milk exclusively. | Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument? | [
"Symptoms of colic generally disappear as infants grow older, whether the infants have been fed breast milk exclusively or have been fed infant formula containing cow's milk.",
"When mothers of infants that are fed only breast milk eliminate cow's milk and all products made from cow's milk from their own diets, a... | 1 | train_2888 |
Throughout European history famines have generally been followed by periods of rising wages, because when a labor force is diminished, workers are more valuable in accordance with the law of supply and demand. The Irish potato famine of the 1840s is an exception; it resulted in the death or emigration of half of Irelan... | Which one of the following, if true, would LEAST contribute to an explanation of the exception to the generalization? | [
"The birth rate increased during the decade following the famine, and this compensated for much of the loss of population that was due to the famine.",
"Eviction policies of the landowners in Ireland were designed to force emigration of the elderly and infirm, who could not work, and to retain a high percentage o... | 0 | train_2889 |
There are only two possible reasons that it would be wrong to engage in an activity that causes pollution: because pollution harms ecosystems, which are valuable in themselves; or, ecosystems aside, because pollution harms human populations. Either way, it would not be wrong to perform mining operations on Mars. Althou... | The conclusion drawn above follows logically if which one of the following is assumed? | [
"There are no ecosystems on Mars.",
"The more complex an ecosystem is, the more valuable it is.",
"Mining creates less pollution than many other human activities.",
"It is technologically feasible to perform mining operations on Mars."
] | 0 | train_2890 |
The increase in the price of housing in city Y has been caused by a decline in the number of housing units available compared to the influx of new residents to city Y searching for housing. Nevertheless, the total number of available housing units is presently larger than it was last month. | If the statements above are true, which one of the following can be properly inferred? | [
"The number of residents seeking housing has increased over the last month.",
"The number of landlords leaving the housing market has increased this month.",
"A lack of available housing will deter new people from living in city Y.",
"The cost of housing will continue to rise in proportion to demand."
] | 0 | train_2891 |
Generic drugs contain exactly the same active ingredients as their brand-name counterparts, but usually cost much less to develop, produce, and market. So, generic drugs are just as effective as their brand-name counterparts, but cost considerably less. | Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument? | [
"Generic drugs are no more likely than brand name drugs to suffer from defects in composition.",
"Generic drugs are just as likely as brand-name drugs to be readily available in pharmacies.",
"The higher costs of brand-name drugs underwrite drug companies' heavy investment in research.",
"Because of advertisi... | 0 | train_2892 |
Economist: In 2015, the average per-person amount paid for goods and services purchased by consumer in Country X was the equivalent of $17, 570 in United States dollars, just 30 percent of the corresponding figure of $58, 566 for Country Y. Yet in 2015, there was already a substantial middle class in Country X that had... | Which of the following, if true, most helps explain the discrepancy in the relationships described by the economist? | [
"The economy of Country Y is recovering from a downturn that affected both Country Y and Country X.",
"There are many consumer goods, such as household appliances, that are produced in Country X to be sold in the Country Y market.",
"The volume of trade between Country X and Country Y is increasing rapidly in b... | 3 | train_2893 |
The average level of fat in the blood of people suffering from acute cases of disease W is lower than the average level for the population as a whole. Nevertheless, most doctors believe that reducing blood-fat levels is an effective way of preventing acute W. | Which one of the following, if true, does most to justify this apparently paradoxical belief? | [
"The progression from latent to acute W can occur only when the agent that causes acute W absorbs large quantities of fat from the patient's blood.",
"Several of the symptoms characteristic of acute W have been produced in laboratory animals fed large doses of a synthetic fat substitute, though acute W itself has... | 0 | train_2894 |
Because most hospitals suffer a chronic undersupply of physicians, patients must sometimes wait hours in the emergency room to see a doctor. Nurses should ttherefore perform initial examinations in hospital emergency rooms to determine which patients merit immediate treatment and which can wait until the emergency phys... | Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument above is based? | [
"Nurses are competent to judge the severity of patients' conditions.",
"Hospitals should expand their medical staffs.",
"Emergency rooms will run more smoothly if initial examinations are performed.",
"Physicians cannot be trained to perform initial examinations themselves."
] | 0 | train_2895 |
Critic: Works of modern literature cannot be tragedies as those of ancient playwrights and storytellers were unless their protagonists are seen as possessing nobility, which endures through the calamities that befall one. In an age that no longer takes seriously the belief that human endeavors are governed by fate, it ... | Which one of the following is an assumption required by the critic's argument? | [
"Most plays that were once classified as tragedies were misclassified.",
"If an ignoble character in a work of literature endures through a series of misfortunes, that work of literature is not a tragedy.",
"The belief that human endeavors are governed by fate is false.",
"Those whose endeavors are not regard... | 3 | train_2896 |
Professor: The number of new university students who enter as chemistry majors has not changed in the last ten years, and job prospects for graduates with chemistry degrees are better than ever. Despite this, there has been a significant decline over the past decade in the number of people earning chemistry degrees. | Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the decline? | [
"Over the years, first-year chemistry has come to be taught in a more routinely methodical fashion, which dampens its intellectual appeal.",
"There has been a significant decline in the number of undergraduate degrees earned in the natural sciences as a whole.",
"Many students enter universities without the aca... | 0 | train_2897 |
Hospital executive: At a recent conference on nonprofit management, several computer experts maintained that the most significant threat faced by large institutions such as universities and hospitals is unauthorized access to confidential data. In light of this testimony, we should make the protection of our clients' c... | The hospital executive's argument is most vulnerable to which one of the following objections? | [
"The argument draws a general conclusion about a group based on data about an unrepresentative sample of that group.",
"The argument infers that a property belonging to large institutions belongs to all institutions.",
"The argument confuses the causes of a problem with the appropriate solutions to that problem... | 3 | train_2898 |
Government-subsidized insurance available to homeowners makes it feasible for anyone to build a house on a section of coastline regularly struck by hurricanes. Each major storm causes billions of dollars worth of damage in such coastal areas, after which owners who have insurance are able to collect an amount of money ... | The passage provides the most support for an argument against a government bill proposing | [
"that power companies be required to bury power lines in areas of the coastline regularly struck by hurricanes",
"an increase in funding of weather service programs that provide a hurricane watch and warning system for coastal areas",
"establishment of an agency committed to managing coastal lands in ecological... | 3 | train_2899 |
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