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When chimpanzees become angry at other chimpanzees, they often engage in what primatologists call "threat gestures": grunting, spitting, or making abrupt, upsweeping arm movements. Chimpanzees also sometimes attack other chimpanzees out of anger. However, when they do attack, they almost never take time to make threat ... | Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the information about how often threat gestures are accompanied by physical attacks? | [
"Chimpanzees often respond to other chimpanzees' threat gestures with threat gestures of their own.",
"The chimpanzees that most often make threat gestures are the ones that least often initiate physical attacks.",
"Making threat gestures helps chimpanzees vent aggressive feelings and thereby avoid physical agg... | 2 | train_3400 |
Editorial in Krenlandian Newspaper: Krenland' s steelmakers are losing domestic sales because of lower-priced imports, in many cases because foreign governments subsidize their steel industries in ways that are banned by international treaties. But whatever the cause, the cost is ultimately going to be jobs in Krenland... | Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the editorial's argument? | [
"Because of advances in order-taking, shipping, and inventory systems, the cost of shipping steel from foreign producers to Krenland has fallen considerably in recent years.",
"Because steel from Krenland is rarely competitive in international markets, only a very small portion of Krenlandian steelmakers' revenue... | 2 | train_3401 |
Recent unexpectedly heavy rainfalls in the metropolitan area have filled the reservoirs and streams; water rationing, ttherefore, will not be necessary this summer. | Which one of the following, if true, most undermines the author's prediction? | [
"Water rationing was imposed in the city in three of the last five years.",
"In most years the city receives less total precipitation in the summer than it receives in any other season.",
"The water company's capacity to pump water to customers has not kept up with the increased demand created by population gro... | 2 | train_3402 |
Zoos provide a space for the public to view wild animals, allowing people to forge a stronger relationship with nature. In addition, zoos save endangered species through breeding programs. A combination of public funds and private donations funds most zoos. More tigers now live in Texas than in the wild, as state law a... | The author would most likely agree with which one of the following? | [
"The fact that more tigers live in Texas than the in the wild is a positive development.",
"The government should provide more funding for zoos.",
"All wild animals should be held in captivity.",
"Wild animals should sometimes be held in captivity."
] | 3 | train_3403 |
The symptoms of mental disorders are behavioral, cognitive, or emotional problems. Some patients with mental disorders can be effectively treated with psychotherapy. But it is now known that in some patients mental disorders result from chemical imbalances affecting the brain. Thus these patients can be effectively tre... | The argument depends on assuming which one of the following? | [
"Treatment with medication always shows faster results for patients with mental disorders than does treatment with psychotherapy.",
"Treatment with psychotherapy has no effect on mental disorders other than a reduction of the symptoms.",
"Treatment by psychotherapy can produce no effective reduction in or corre... | 2 | train_3404 |
Linguist: Three of the four subfamilies of the so-called "Austronesian" languages are found only among indigenous peoples in Taiwan, whereas the fourth is found on islands over a huge area stretching from Madagascar to the eastern Pacific Ocean. Since these subfamilies all originated in the same language, which must ha... | Which one of the following most accurately expresses the overall conclusion drawn in the linguist's argument? | [
"The Austronesian family of languages has four subfamilies, three of which are found only among indigenous peoples in Taiwan.",
"Austronesian-speaking peoples probably originated in Taiwan and later migrated to other islands.",
"Austronesian-speaking peoples originated in the homeland where Austronesian languag... | 1 | train_3405 |
Medical researcher: A survey of more than 1 million adults found that there was a greater frequency of illness among people who regularly slept at least 8 hours a night than among people who slept significantly less. This shows that mild sleep deprivation is not unhealthy and, in fact, probably bolsters the body' s def... | The reasoning in the medical researcher's argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that the argument | [
"concludes, from the claim that a certain phenomenon occurs and the claim that a certain condition is sufficient for that phenomenon to occur, that the condition also exists",
"takes for granted that there will be an observable correlation between two phenomena if either of those phenomena causally contributes to... | 3 | train_3406 |
All Labrador retrievers bark a great deal. All Saint Bernards bark infrequently. Each of Rani' s dogs is a cross between a Labrador retriever and a Saint Bernard. Ttherefore, Rani' s dogs are moderate barkers. | Which one of the following uses flawed reasoning that most closely resembles the flawed reasoning used in the argument above? | [
"All transcriptionists know shorthand. All engineers know calculus. Bala has worked both as a transcriptionist and as an engineer. Ttherefore, Bala knows both shorthand and calculus.",
"All of Karuna's dresses are very well made. All of Chitra's dresses are very badly made. Half of the dresses in this closet are ... | 3 | train_3407 |
Legislator: My colleague says we should reject this act because it would deter investment. But because in the past she voted for legislation that inhibited investment, this surely is not the real reason she opposes the act. Since she has not revealed her real reason, it must not be very persuasive. So we should vote to... | The reasoning in the legislator 's argument is most vulnerable to the criticism that the argument | [
"presumes, without providing justification, that the colleague's opposition to the act is the minority position in the legislature",
"fails to consider that the colleague's opposition to the act may be a response to constituents' wishes",
"treats a personal character trait as if it were evidence of the professi... | 3 | train_3408 |
Mall manager: By congregating in large groups near the stores in our mall, teenagers create an atmosphere in which many adult shoppers feel uncomfortable. As a result, the adults have begun to spend less time shopping than they have in the past. The mall' s goal in this situation is to prevent a significant loss in ove... | The merchant's response to the manager's argument is most accurately described as | [
"contending that the manager's recommendation is sound but for reasons other than those given by the manager",
"suggesting that the mall's goal is an undesirable one",
"giving information that pertains to the relation between the manager's recommendation and the mall's goal",
"using the information cited by t... | 2 | train_3409 |
P: Because an elected official needs the support of a political party to be effective, the independent candidate for the legislature cannot possibly be an effective legislator is she wins. Q: I disagree. By your reasoning, our current legislator, who has the support of a political party, ought to have been effective, b... | Which one of the following is the best criticism of Q's statement? | [
"It mistakenly interprets P to be claiming that a factor assures, rather than is necessary for, a legislator's effectiveness.",
"It simply contradicts P's claim without offering evidence against it.",
"It does not consider the possibility that a political party might decide to support an elected legislator even... | 0 | train_3410 |
Limited research indicates that therapeutic intervention before the onset of mental disorders can mitigate factors identified as major contributors to them. But a much more comprehensive research program is needed to verify these results and allow for the design of specific health care measures. Thus, in order to explo... | Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument? | [
"Once a mental disorder disappears, there is a fair chance that it will recur, given that complete cures are rare.",
"Most minor mental disorders are more expensive to treat than other minor health problems.",
"Prevention research can be coordinated by drawing together geneticists, neurologists, and behavioral ... | 3 | train_3411 |
Anthropologist: It was formerly believed that prehistoric Homo sapiens ancestors of contemporary humans interbred with Neanderthals, but DNA testing of a Neanderthal' s remains indicates that this is not the case. The DNA of contemporary humans is significantly different from that of the Neanderthal. | Which one of the following is an assumption required by the anthropologist's argument? | [
"Any similarity in the DNA of two species must be the result of interbreeding.",
"The DNA of prehistoric Homo sapiens ancestors of contemporary humans was not significantly more similar to that of Neanderthals than is the DNA of contemporary humans.",
"At least some Neanderthals lived at the same time and in th... | 1 | train_3412 |
A car' s antitheft alarm that sounds in the middle of the night in a crowded city neighborhood may stop an attempted car theft. On the other hand, the alarm might signal only a fault in the device, or a response to some harmless contact, such as a tree branch brushing the car. But whatever the cause, the sleep of many ... | Which one of the following, if assumed by the author of the passage, would allow her properly to draw her conclusion that the owners of alarm-equipped cars should deactivate the alarms when parking in crowded city neighborhoods at night? | [
"The inconvenience of false alarms is a small price to pay for the security of a neighborhood.",
"In most cases when a car alarm sounds at night, it is a false alarm.",
"Allowing the residents of a crowded city neighborhood to sleep undisturbed is more important than preventing car theft.",
"People who equip ... | 2 | train_3413 |
Many industrialized nations are trying to reduce atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide, a gas released by the burning of fossil fuels. One proposal is to replace conventional cement, which is made with calcium carbonate, by a new "eco-cement. " This new cement, made with magnesium carbonate, absorbs large amount... | Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument? | [
"Eco-cement is strengthened when absorbed carbon dioxide reacts with the cement.",
"The cost of magnesium carbonate, currently greater than the cost of calcium carbonate, probably will fall as more magnesium carbonate is used in cement manufacture.",
"The manufacture of eco-cement uses considerably less fossil ... | 2 | train_3414 |
In practice the government will have the last word on what an individual' s rights are, because its police will do what its officials and courts say. But that does not mean that the government' s view is necessarily the correct view; anyone who thinks it is must believe that persons have only such moral rights as the g... | Which one of the following most accurately expresses the conclusion of the argument? | [
"One should always try to uphold one's individual rights against the government's view of what those rights are.",
"The police always agree with government officials and the courts about what an individual's rights are.",
"Individuals have no rights at all unless the government says that they do.",
"What gove... | 3 | train_3415 |
A recent study suggests that Alzheimer' s disease, which attacks the human brain, may be caused by a virus. In the study, blood from 11 volunteers, each of whom had the disease, was injected into rats. The rats eventually exhibited symptoms of another degenerative neurological disorder, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, which... | Which one of the following statements, if true, would most strengthen the scientist's hypothesis that Alzheimer's disease is caused by a virus? | [
"Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease affects only motor nerves in rats' limbs, not their brains.",
"The virus that causes Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease in rats has no effect on humans.",
"The symptoms known, respectively, as Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and Alzheimer's disease are different manifestations of the same disease.",... | 2 | train_3416 |
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 each year since Delmont took office the average pay for the new jobs created has been higher than that year' s ... | Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument in the advertisement? | [
"The average pay for jobs in the city was at a ten-year low when Mayor Delmont took office.",
"Each year during Mayor Delmont's tenure, the average pay for jobs that were eliminated has been higher than the average pay for jobs citywide.",
"The unemployment rate in the city is higher today than it was when Mayo... | 1 | train_3417 |
A year ago several regional hospitals attempted to reduce the number of patient injuries resulting from staff errors by implementing a plan to systematically record all such errors. The incidence of these injuries has substantially decreased at these hospitals since then. Clearly, the knowledge that their errors were b... | Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument? | [
"The incidence of patient injuries at a regional hospital that did not participate in the plan also decreased over the year in question.",
"The decrease in the incidence of the injuries did not begin at any hospital until the staff there became aware that the records were being closely analyzed.",
"The plan did... | 1 | train_3418 |
Theorist: Hatred and anger, grief and despair, love and joy are pairs of emotions that consist of the same core feeling and are distinguishable from each other only in terms of the social conditions that cause them and the behavior they in turn cause. So even if the meaning of a given piece of music is the emotion it e... | The claim that music is merely sound plays which one of the following roles in the theorist's argument? | [
"It is a generalization a particular instance of which is cited by the argument in order to undermine the viewpoint that the argument is attacking.",
"It is a claim that is offered as partial support for the argument's conclusion.",
"It is a portion of the conclusion drawn in the argument.",
"It is a hypothes... | 1 | train_3419 |
Some people believe that advertising is socially pernicious -- it changes consumers' preferences, thereby manipulating people into wanting things they would not otherwise want. However, classes in music and art appreciation change people' s preferences for various forms of art and music, and there is nothing wrong with... | Which one of the following most logically completes the argument? | [
"the fact that advertising changes consumers' preferences does not establish that it is bad",
"if advertising changes consumers' preferences, it generally does so in a positive way",
"the social perniciousness of advertising is not limited to its effect on people's preferences",
"consumers would still want mo... | 0 | train_3420 |
After receiving numerous complaints from residents about loud, highly amplified music played at local clubs, Middletown is considering a law that would prohibit clubs located in residential areas from employing musical groups that consist of more than three people. | The likelihood that the law would be effective in reducing noise would be most seriously diminished if which of the following were true? | [
"Groups that consist of more than three musicians are usually more expensive for clubs to hire than are groups that consist of fewer than three musicians.",
"In towns that have passed similar laws, many clubs in residential areas have relocated to nonresidential areas.",
"Much of the music popular at the local ... | 3 | train_3421 |
False chicory' s taproot is always one half as long as the plant is tall. Furthermore, the more rain false chicory receives, the taller it tends to grow. In fact, false chicory plants that receive greater than twice the average rainfall of the species' usual habitat always reach above-average heights for false chicory. | If the statements above are true, then which one of the following must also be true? | [
"If a false chicory plant has a longer-than- average taproot, then it is likely to have received more than twice the average rainfall of the species'usual habitat.",
"If two false chicory plants differ in height, then it is likely that the one with the shorter taproot has received less than twice the average rain... | 3 | train_3422 |
Mysterious ancient tracks cut into limestone have recently been found on the island of Malta. The tracks wander, sometimes disappearing under modem structures. Their origin and purpose are unknown, but evidence indicates that they could have connected settlements or water sources. One archaeologist hypothesizes, based ... | Which one of the following, if true, most helps to support the archaeologist's hypothesis mentioned above? | [
"Some of the tracks connect areas that are sources of fresh water on Malta today.",
"Some terrain on the island of Malta is more easily traversed on foot than are certain other types of terrain there.",
"Historically, inhabitants of the island of Malta have not been innovative users of transportation technology... | 3 | train_3423 |
Ditalgame Corporation' s computer video games are subject to widespread illegal copying. To combat this piracy, Ditalgame will begin using a new copy protection feature on its games. Ditalgame' s president predicts a substantial increase in sales of the company' s games once the new copy protection feature is implement... | Which one of the following, if true, provides the most support for the president's prediction? | [
"Over the last several years, the market for computer games has grown steadily, but Ditalgame's share of that market has shrunk considerably.",
"Game Review Monthly, the most commonly read magazine among people who frequently copy computer games, generally gives favorable reviews to Ditalgame games.",
"The copy... | 2 | train_3424 |
A survey of entrepreneurs who started companies last year shows that while virtually all did substantial preparatory research and planning, only half used that work to produce a formal business plan. Since, on average, the entrepreneurs without formal plans secured the capital they needed in half the time of those with... | Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument? | [
"Among the entrepreneurs surveyed, those who did not produce formal business plans sought and received a much larger proportion of their capital from investors with whom they had a long-standing business relationship.",
"The entrepreneurs surveyed who did not produce a formal business plan spent nearly as much ti... | 0 | train_3425 |
Zebra mussels, a nuisance when they clog the intake pipes of nuclear power plants and water plants along the Great Lakes, have some redeeming qualities. Since the mussels feed voraciously on algae that they filter from the water that passes by them, bags of zebra mussels suspended in the discharge streams of chemical p... | Which one of the following is most strongly supported on the basis of the statements above, if they are true? | [
"There is no mechanical means available for clearing intake pipes by scraping the mussels from them.",
"Zebra mussels arrived in the Great Lakes on transatlantic freighters and, since they have no natural enemies there, are rapidly displacing the native species of clams.",
"If the mussels spread to areas of the... | 3 | train_3426 |
It is primarily by raising interest rates that central bankers curb inflation, but an increase in interest rates takes up to two years to affect inflation. Accordingly, central bankers usually try to raise interest rates before inflation becomes excessive, at which time inflation is not yet readily apparent either. But... | Which one of the following most accurately describes the role played in the argument by the claim that it is primarily by raising interest rates that central bankers curb inflation? | [
"It is a premise offered in support of the conclusion that central bankers' success in temporarily restraining inflation may make it harder for them to ward off future inflation without incurring the public's wrath.",
"It is presented as a complete explanation of the fact that central bankers' success in temporar... | 0 | train_3427 |
Knowledge in all fields is expanding and Ph. D. students take longer than ever before -- sometimes eight years -- to complete degree requirements. Yet, instead of agreeing that the longer period is needed, some noted scholars are recommending that Ph. D. programs reduce their requirements and have students finish withi... | Which one of the following, if true, would most contribute to a justification of the noted scholars' recommendation? | [
"Quality of research matters more than quantity, even though, on average, the more time a Ph. D. student spends on research, the greater the quantity of research produced.",
"For at least the last 50 years, no researcher has been able to be conversant with any more than a small fraction of the existing knowledge ... | 2 | train_3428 |
If the proposed tax reduction package is adopted this year, the library will be forced to discontinue its daily story hours for children. But if the daily story hours are discontinued, many parents will be greatly inconvenienced. So the proposed tax reduction package will not be adopted this year. | Which one of the following, if assumed, allows the argument's conclusion to be properly drawn? | [
"Every tax reduction package that would force the library to discontinue daily story hours would greatly inconvenience parents.",
"Any tax reduction package that will not force the library to discontinue daily story hours will be adopted this year.",
"No tax reduction package that would greatly inconvenience pa... | 3 | train_3429 |
Police published a "wanted" poster for a criminal fugitive in a medical journal, because the fugitive was known to have a certain acute noninfectious skin problem that would eventually require a visit to a doctor. The poster asked for information about the whereabouts of the fugitive. A physician' s responding to the p... | Which one of the following principles, while remaining compatible with the requirements cited above, supports the view that a physician's responding to the request would violate medical ethics? | [
"Since a patient comes to a physician with the expectation that the patient's visit and medical condition will remain confidential, it is not ethical for a physician to share this information with anyone except personnel within the physician's office.",
"Since the primary concern of medicine is individual and pub... | 1 | train_3430 |
More women than men suffer from Alzheimer' s disease -- a disease that is most commonly contracted by elderly persons. This discrepancy has often been attributed to women' s longer life span, but this theory may be wrong. A recent study has shown that prescribing estrogen to women after menopause, when estrogen product... | Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main conclusion of the argument? | [
"A decrease in estrogen, rather than longer life span, may explain the higher occurrence of Alzheimer's disease in women relative to men.",
"As one gets older, one's chances of developing Alzheimer's disease increase.",
"The conversion of testosterone into estrogen may help safeguard men from Alzheimer's diseas... | 0 | train_3431 |
Researchers have discovered that caffeine can be as physically addictive as other psychoactive substances. Some people find that they become unusually depressed, drowsy, or even irritable if they do not have their customary dose of caffeine. This is significant because as many people consume caffeine as consume any one... | Which one of the following can be logically concluded from the information above? | [
"Not all substances to which people can become physically addicted are psychoactive.",
"If one is physically addicted to a psychoactive substance, one will become unusually depressed when one is no longer ingesting that substance.",
"If alcohol is a physically addictive psychoactive substance, there are not mor... | 2 | train_3432 |
Rhonda: As long as the cost is not too great, you should use your time, energy, or money to help others. People who are active participants in charitable causes have richer lives than miserly hermits, however prosperous the hermits may be. Brad: You should ignore the problems of complete strangers and focus your genero... | Which one of the following principles, if valid, would most help to justify both Rhonda's and Brad's arguments? | [
"One should act in ways that will benefit oneself.",
"One should treat others as one expects to be treated by them.",
"One should make sacrifices for others only if they will eventually return the favor.",
"One should always act in a manner that one can reflect on with pride."
] | 0 | train_3433 |
Paleontologists had long supposed that the dinosaur Diplodocus browsed for high-growing vegetation such as treetop leaves by raising its very long neck. But now computer models have shown that the structure of Diplodocus"s neck bones would have prevented such movement. The neck could, however, bend downward and even ex... | Which one of the following is an assumption required by the argument? | [
"Diplodocus was not able to browse for underwater vegetation by kneeling beside bodies of water or by walking into them.",
"The same type of neck structure is found in modern ground-feeding animals.",
"Diplodocus was not able to see in front of itself unless its head was angled steeply downward.",
"Diplodocus... | 3 | train_3434 |
Linguist: Only if a sentence can be diagrammed is it grammatical. Any grammatical sentence is recognized as grammatical by speakers of its language. Speaker X' s sentence can be diagrammed. So, speaker X' s sentence will be recognized as grammatical by speakers of its language. | The linguist's reasoning is flawed because it fails to consider the possibility that | [
"some ungrammatical sentences are diagrammable",
"all grammatical sentences can be diagrammed",
"some ungrammatical sentences are recognized as ungrammatical",
"most people are unable to diagram sentences correctly"
] | 0 | train_3435 |
Any government action that intrudes on the right of privacy of an individual is unconstitutional. Ttherefore, the requirement that students in public school submit to random locker searches is unconstitutional. | Which of the following, if true, most weakens the conclusion that random locker searches in public schools are unconstitutional? | [
"The search of lockers helps ensure the safety of the students.",
"The requirement is clearly posted throughout each school.",
"The Supreme Court, which is the final arbiter on issues of civil rights, has ruled that students in public school have no right to privacy on public school grounds.",
"Many of the lo... | 2 | train_3436 |
If Slater wins the election, McGuinness will be appointed head of the planning commission. But Yerxes is more qualified to head it since she is an 16 architect who has been on the planning commission for fifteen years. Unless the polls are grossly inaccurate, Slater will win. | Which one of the following can be properly inferred from the information above? | [
"Either Slater will win the election or Yerxes will be appointed head of the planning commission.",
"If the polls are grossly inaccurate, someone more qualified than McGuinness will be appointed head of the planning commission.",
"If the polls are a good indication of how the election will turn out, someone les... | 2 | train_3437 |
Asked by researchers to sort objects by shape, most toddlers in a large study had no trouble doing so. When subsequently told to sort by color, the toddlers seemed to have difficulty following the new rule and almost invariably persisted with their first approach. The researchers suggest such failures to adapt to new r... | Which one of the following is most supported by the information above? | [
"Skill at adapting to new situations is roughly proportional to the level of development of the prefrontal cortex.",
"The maturing of the prefrontal cortex is more important than upbringing in causing the development of adaptive behavior.",
"Toddlers unable to sort objects by color tend to have a less developed... | 3 | train_3438 |
Marianne is a professional chess player who hums audibly while playing her matches, thereby distracting her opponents. When ordered by chess officials to cease humming or else be disqualified from professional chess, Marianne protested the order. She argued that since she was unaware of her humming, her humming was inv... | Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps to support Marianne's argument against the order? | [
"Types of behavior that are not considered voluntary in everyday circumstances should be considered voluntary if they occur in the context of a professional chess match.",
"Chess players who hum audibly while playing their matches should not protest if their opponents also hum.",
"A person should be held respon... | 3 | train_3439 |
Film critic: There has been a recent spate of so-called "documentary" films purporting to give the "true story" of one historical event or another. But most of these films have been inaccurate and filled with wild speculations, usually about conspiracies. The filmmakers defend their works by claiming that freedom of sp... | To which one of the following principles does the film critic's commentary most closely conform? | [
"Although filmmakers are entitled to express absurd views, they are not justified in doing so.",
"Freedom of speech does not entitle filmmakers to present inaccurate speculations as truth.",
"Views that people are entitled to express need not be views to which anyone is obliged to pay attention.",
"Freedom of... | 2 | train_3440 |
From 1978 to 1988, beverage containers accounted for a steadily decreasing percentage of the total weight of household garbage in the United States. The increasingly widespread practice of recycling aluminum and glass was responsible for most of this decline. However, although aluminum recycling was more widely practic... | Which of the following, if true of the United States in the period 1978 to 1988, most helps to account for the finding? | [
"Manufacturers replaced many glass bottles, but few aluminum cans, with plastic containers.",
"Glass bottles are significantly heavier than aluminum cans of comparable size.",
"Recycled aluminum cans were almost all beverage containers, but a significant fraction of the recycled glass bottles had contained prod... | 0 | train_3441 |
Many of the presidents and prime ministers who have had the most successful foreign policies had no prior experience in foreign affairs when they assumed office. Although scholars and diplomats in the sacrosanct inner circle of international affairs would have us think otherwise, anyone with an acute political sense, a... | If all of the statements above are true, which one of the following must be true? | [
"An acute political sense, a disciplined temperament, and a highly developed ability to absorb and retain information are each necessary conditions for a president or prime minister to have a successful foreign policy.",
"A president or prime minister with years of experience in foreign affairs will have a more s... | 2 | train_3442 |
Samples from the floor of a rock shelter in Pennsylvania were dated by analyzing the carbon they contained. The dates assigned to samples associated with human activities formed a consistent series, beginning with the present and going back in time, a series that was correlated with the depth from which the samples cam... | Which of the following considerations, if true, argues most strongly against the suggestion of the skeptics? | [
"No sample in the series, when retested by the carbon-dating procedure, was assigned an earlier date than that assigned to a sample from a layer above it.",
"Not every application of the carbon-dating procedure has led to results that have been generally acceptable to scientists.",
"No likely mechanism of conta... | 2 | train_3443 |
Conservationists have established land reserves to preserve the last remaining habitat for certain species whose survival depends on the existence of such habitat. A grove of trees in Mexico that provide habitat for North American monarch butterflies in winter is a typical example of such a land reserve. If global warm... | If the statements above are true, they provide the most support for which one of the following? | [
"Monarch butterflies will succeed in adapting to climatic change by shortening their migration.",
"If global warming occurs as predicted, the conservation land reserves will cease to serve their purpose.",
"If global warming occurs rapidly, species of plants and animals now protected in conservation land reserv... | 1 | train_3444 |
Scientists examined diamonds that were formed on Earth about 2. 9 billion years ago. These diamonds had a higher-than-normal concentration of sulfur-33. This concentration can be explained only by certain chemical reactions that are stimulated by ultraviolet light. If there had been more than a trace of oxygen in Earth... | The information above most strongly supports which one of the following? | [
"Earth's atmosphere contained very little, if any, oxygen 2. 9 billion years ago.",
"Most diamonds with higher-than-normal concentrations of sulfur-33 were formed at least 2. 9 billion years ago.",
"Ultraviolet light causes the oxygen in Earth's atmosphere to react chemically with sulfur-33.",
"The formation ... | 0 | train_3445 |
The Breton Symphony Orchestra board of directors and the musicians' union are currently in contract negotiations. The musicians' union is considering proposing a new contract that would demand the following: a 10% increase in musician salaries, the creation of a new financial bonus system for musicians who have been wi... | The answer to which of the following questions is LEAST important in helping the union to determine whether the board will be inclined to accept the new contract proposal? | [
"Is the proposed limit on the number of rehearsals per week reasonable when compared with industry standards?",
"What percentage of the orchestra's revenue is generated from ticket sales?",
"Does the orchestra have the means to pay for a 10% increase in musician salaries?",
"Are there comparable musicians not... | 1 | train_3446 |
Journalist: Newspapers generally report on only those scientific studies whose findings sound dramatic. Furthermore, newspaper stories about small observational studies, which are somewhat unreliable, are more frequent than newspaper stories about large randomized trials, which generate stronger scientific evidence. Tt... | Which one of the following most accurately expresses a flaw in the journalist's reasoning? | [
"It casts doubt on the reliability of a study by questioning the motives of those reporting it.",
"It confuses a claim about scientific studies whose findings sound dramatic with a similar claim about small observational studies.",
"It overlooks the possibility that small observational studies are far more comm... | 2 | train_3447 |
Denoma, a major consumer-electronics maker, had a sizeable decline in sales revenue for its most recent fiscal year. This result appears surprising, because electronics retailers report that although their overall sales were considerably lower than in the previous year, their sales revenue from Denoma models actually g... | Which of the following, if true, does most to explain the apparently surprising result? | [
"A significant proportion of Denoma's revenue comes from making components for other consumer-electronics manufacturers.",
"Unlike some of its major competitors, Denoma has no lines of business outside consumer electronics to provide revenue when retail sales of consumer electronics are weak.",
"Because of the ... | 0 | train_3448 |
Logging industry official: Harvesting trees from old-growth forests for use in manufacture can reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, since when large old trees die in the forest they decompose, releasing their stored carbon dioxide. Harvesting old-growth forests would, moreover, make room for rapidly g... | Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the official's argument? | [
"It can take many years for the trees of a newly planted forest to reach the size of those found in existing old-growth forests.",
"Much of the organic matter from old-growth trees, unusable as lumber, is made into products that decompose rapidly.",
"Much of the carbon dioxide present in forests is eventually r... | 1 | train_3449 |
Music professor: Because rap musicians can work alone in a recording studio, they need not accommodate supporting musicians' wishes. Further, learning to rap is not as formal a process as learning an instrument. Thus, rap is an extremely individualistic and nontraditional musical form. Music critic: But rap appeals to ... | The music critic's response to the music professor's argument | [
"challenges the grounds on which the music professor generalizes from the particular context of rap music to the broader context of musical tradition and individuality",
"challenges each of a group of claims about tradition and individuality in music that the music professor gives as evidence in his argument",
... | 2 | train_3450 |
To face danger solely because doing so affords one a certain pleasure does not constitute courage. Real courage is manifested only when a person, in acting to attain a goal, perseveres in the face of fear prompted by one or more dangers involved. | Which one of the following statements can be properly inferred from the statements above? | [
"A person who faces danger in order to benefit others is acting courageously only if the person is afraid of the danger.",
"A person who must face danger in order to avoid future pain cannot properly be called courageous for doing so.",
"A person who has no fear of the situations that everyone else would fear c... | 0 | train_3451 |
A survey of address changes filed with post offices and driver' s license bureaus over the last ten years has established that households moving out of the city of Weston outnumbered households moving into the city two to one. Ttherefore, we can expect that next year' s census, which counts all residents regardless of ... | Which one of the following, if true, most helps strengthen the argument? | [
"Many people moving into Weston failed to notify either the post office or the driver's license bureau that they had moved to the city.",
"Most people moving out of Weston were young adults who were hoping to begin a career elsewhere, whereas most adults remaining in or moving into the city had long-standing jobs... | 3 | train_3452 |
In order to control the deer population, a biologist has proposed injecting female deer during breeding season with 10 milligrams of a hormone that would suppress fertility. Critics have charged that the proposal poses health risks to people who might eat the meat of treated deer and thereby ingest unsafe quantities of... | The biologist's response to critics of the proposal is based on which one of the following assumptions? | [
"Most people do not consider deer meat to be part of their daily diet and eat it only on rare occasions.",
"The hormone in question does not occur naturally in the female deer that would be injected.",
"Hunting season for deer could be scheduled so that it would not coincide with breeding season.",
"The hormo... | 1 | train_3453 |
The 1988 drought in North America was probably caused by shifts in the temperature patterns of large equatorial stretches of the Pacific Ocean. The drought, ttherefore, is not evidence for the hypothesis that a long-term global warming trend, allegedly caused by atmospheric pollutants such as carbon dioxide, is occurri... | Which of the following, if true, constitutes the best criticism of the argument above? | [
"There has been no warming trend in the United States over the last 100 years.",
"The consequences of global warming occur long after the actual emission of pollutants into the atmosphere.",
"A global warming trend could cause increases in the frequency and severity of shifts in temperature patterns in the Paci... | 2 | train_3454 |
The commissioner has announced that Judge Khalid, who was on the seven-member panel appointed to resolve the Amlec labor dispute, will have sole responsibility for resolving the Simdon labor dispute. Since in its decision the Amlec panel showed itself both reasonable and fair, the two sides in the Simdon dispute are un... | Which one of the following contains flawed reasoning most parallel to that contained in the passage? | [
"Ula Borg, who has sold real estate for Arcande Realty for many years, undoubtedly sold fewer houses last year than she had the year before since the number of houses sold last year by Arcande Realty is far lower than the number sold the previous year.",
"Representing the school board, Marcia Barthes presented to... | 0 | train_3455 |
Analyst: A recent survey showed that although professors of biology who teach but do not pursue research made up one twentieth of all science professors, they were appointed to fewer than one twentieth of all the scientific administrative positions in universities. We can conclude from this survey that failing to pursu... | Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the support for the analyst's conclusion? | [
"Biologists who hold scientific administrative positions in the university tend to hold those positions for a shorter time than do other science professors.",
"Biology professors get more than one twentieth of all the science grant money available.",
"Conducting biological research tends to take significantly m... | 3 | train_3456 |
Science writer: Scientists' astounding success rate with research problems they have been called upon to solve causes the public to believe falsely that science can solve any problem. In fact, the problems scientists are called upon to solve are typically selected by scientists themselves. When the problems are instead... | The science writer's statements, if true, most strongly support which one of the following? | [
"Scientists would probably have a lower success rate with research problems if their grounds for selecting such problems were less narrow.",
"The only reason for the astounding success rate of science is that the problems scientists are called upon to solve are usually selected by the scientists themselves.",
"... | 0 | train_3457 |
Political theorist: Many people believe that the punishment of those who commit even the most heinous crimes should be mitigated to some extent if the crime was motivated by a sincere desire to achieve some larger good. Granted, some criminals with admirable motives deserve mitigated punishments. Nonetheless, judges sh... | Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps to justify the political theorist's reasoning? | [
"No law that cannot be enforced should be enacted.",
"It is better to err on the side of overly severe punishment than to err on the side of overly lenient punishment.",
"A legal system that, if adopted, would have disastrous consequences ought not be adopted.",
"Laws that prohibit or permit actions solely on... | 1 | train_3458 |
If deep-sea divers ascend too rapidly from ocean depths, the decreasing pressure causes nitrogen to be released as gas bubbles in the blood. This condition is known as "the bends. " Sea snakes, who, like humans, breathe air that contributes nitrogen to the blood, are nevertheless able to make extremely rapid ascents an... | Which one of the following, if true, contributes most to an explanation of the difference described between humans and sea snakes? | [
"Human deep-sea divers are trained to make several stops on ascending from deep water in order to adjust to decreasing pressure gradually, whereas sea snakes ascend from ocean depths without stopping.",
"Sea snakes, unlike humans, can excrete nitrogen from their blood into the sea by means of extremely small bloo... | 1 | train_3459 |
Naturalist: To be dependable, the accounting framework used by national economists to advise the government must take into account all of our nation' s assets; but the current accounting framework used by our national economists assigns no value to government-owned natural resources, which are clearly assets. | The naturalist's statements, if true, most strongly support which one of the following? | [
"Economists' indifference toward the destruction of natural resources will lead policymakers to make poor decisions.",
"The accounting framework used by national economists is not reliable.",
"Naturalists and economists disagree about whether natural resources have value.",
"Changes in the environment have a ... | 1 | train_3460 |
Wood that is waterlogged or desiccated can be preserved for a significant period, but, under normal conditions, wood usually disintegrates within a century or two. For this reason, archaeologists have been unable to find many remains of early wheeled vehicles to examine. However, archaeologists have found small ceramic... | Which one of the following is most strongly supported by the information above? | [
"Most of the small ceramic models of early wheeled vehicles were made by the very individuals who made the vehicles upon which the ceramic vehicles were modeled.",
"The individuals who made the early wheeled vehicles were not always aware that wood can be preserved through waterlogging or desiccation.",
"Of the... | 2 | train_3461 |
The excessive paperwork used to process claims at Brakeland Insurance Company, not the increase in accident claims involving privately owned cars, is responsible for the declining profits at Brakeland since the appointment of its new CEO. Sterling Auto Insurance Company has seen a similar increase in accidents among it... | Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the argument above? | [
"Sterling's customer-service approval ratings have always been higher than Brakeland's.",
"Brakeland is experiencing a decrease in corporate insurance claims that have to be paid.",
"Individual policies traditionally account for the majority of Brakeland's profits, while corporate policies have accounted for th... | 2 | train_3462 |
Community organizations wanting to enhance support for higher education programs need to convince the public that such programs benefit society as a whole. Taking this approach makes the public more receptive. It is much easier, for example, to get the public to support road building, which is seen as benefiting everyo... | Which one of the following most accurately expresses the overall conclusion drawn in the argument? | [
"It is easy to get the public to support road building, because road building is seen as benefiting society as a whole.",
"Community organizations seeking to encourage higher education programs must persuade the public that these programs benefit society as a whole.",
"It is easier to get the public to support ... | 1 | train_3463 |
The painter Peter Brandon never dated his works, and their chronology is only now beginning to take shape in the critical literature. A recent dating of a Brandon self- portrait to 1930 is surely wrong. Brandon was 63 years old in 1930, yet the painting shows a young, dark-haired man- obviously Brandon, but clearly not... | Which of the following, if justifiably assumed, allows the conclusion to be properly drawn? | [
"Until recently, there was very little critical literature on the works of Brandon",
"Brandon at age 63 would not have portrayed himself in a painting as he had looked when he was a young man.",
"There is no securely dated self-portrait of Brandon that he painted when he was significantly younger than 63",
"I... | 1 | train_3464 |
Those who claim that governments should not continue to devote resources to space exploration are wrong. Although most people' s lives are relatively unaffected by the direct consequences of space exploration, many modern technologies that have a tremendous impact on daily life -- e. g. , fiber optics, computers, and l... | Which one of the following most accurately expresses the principle underlying the argument above? | [
"Governments should continue to support those projects that have, in the past, produced unintended benefits.",
"Governments should not be prevented from allocating resources to projects whose intended consequences do not directly benefit most people.",
"One can never underestimate the beneficial consequences of... | 0 | train_3465 |
Trust, which cannot be sustained in the absence of mutual respect, is essential to any long-lasting relationship, personal or professional. However, personal relationships, such as marriage or friendship, additionally require natural affinity. If a personal relationship is to endure, it must be supported by the twin pi... | If the statements above are true, then which one of the following must also be true? | [
"In the context of any professional relationship, mutual respect presupposes trust.",
"Basing a marriage on a natural affinity will ensure that it will endure.",
"Personal relationships, such as marriage or friendship, are longer-lasting than professional relationships.",
"A friendship supported solely by tru... | 3 | train_3466 |
Photovoltaic power plants produce electricity from sunlight. As a result of astonishing recent technological advances, the cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic power plants, allowing for both construction and operating costs, is one-tenth of what it was 20 years ago, whereas the corresponding cost for tradi... | The conclusion of the argument is properly drawn if which one of the following is assumed? | [
"The cost of producing electric power at traditional plants has increased over the past 20 years.",
"None of the recent technological advances in producing electric power at photovoltaic plants can be applied to producing power at traditional plants.",
"The cost of producing electric power at photovoltaic plant... | 3 | train_3467 |
Helen: It was wrong of my brother Mark to tell our mother that the reason he had missed her birthday party the evening before was that he had been in a traffic accident and that by the time he was released from the hospital emergency room the party was long over. Saying something that is false can never be other than m... | The main conclusion drawn in Helen's argument is that | [
"the real reason Mark missed his mother's birthday party was that he had forgotten all about it",
"it is always wrong not to tell the truth",
"it was wrong of Mark to tell his mother that he had missed her birthday party as a result of having been in a traffic accident",
"Mark did not tell his mother the trut... | 2 | train_3468 |
Politician: There should be a mandatory prison sentence for everyone convicted of a violent crime. Some people object to such a policy on the grounds that it overlooks differences among individual cases that, if taken into consideration by judges and juries, could result in less prison overcrowding. But we can dismiss ... | The politician's argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that this argument | [
"takes for granted that prison overcrowding is caused mainly by a policy of mandatory prison sentences",
"takes for granted that, without mandatory prison sentences, judges and juries would always give sentences that are too lenient",
"takes for granted that one's view is unjustified if one would, under differe... | 2 | train_3469 |
Manufacturers sometimes discount the price of a product to retailers for a promotion period when the product is advertised to consumers. Such promotions often result in a dramatic increase in amount of product sold by the manufacturers to retailers. Nevertheless. the manufacturers could often make more profit by not ho... | Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the claim above about the manufacturers' profit? | [
"The amount of discount generally offered by manufacturers to retailers is carefully calculated to represent the minimum needed to draw consumers' attention to the product.",
"During such a promotion retailers tend to accumulate in their warehouses inventory bought at discount; they then sell much of it later at ... | 1 | train_3470 |
In a certain democratic country the legislature passed a new tax law over the principled objections of the parliamentary opposition. Some opposition leaders broke the new law by refusing to pay the new tax. They defended their lawbreaking by citing the historical precedent in the country of activists' having to break l... | Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the opposition leaders' argument in defense of their actions? | [
"The activists fought for equality of the sexes, a principle easier to define than the goal pursued by the opposition leaders.",
"Although they had principled objections to the new law, the opposition leaders derived a personal monetary benefit from breaking the law.",
"The opposition leaders, unlike the activi... | 3 | train_3471 |
Some managers think that the best way to maximize employee performance is to institute stiff competition among employees. However, in situations where one competitor is perceived to be clearly superior, other competitors become anxious and doubt their own ability to perform. Thus, stiff competition can undermine the re... | The conclusion of the argument can be properly drawn if which one of the following is assumed? | [
"When competitors perceive the competition as winnable, their overall performance generally improves.",
"Competitors who work to undermine the confidence of other participants often do better in competitions.",
"Those who are perceived to be clearly superior almost always win.",
"Doubting one's own ability to... | 3 | train_3472 |
A corporation created a new division. To staff it, applicants were rigorously screened and interviewed. Those selected were among the most effective, efficient, and creative workers that the corporation had ever hired. Thus, the new division must have been among the most effective, efficient, and creative divisions the... | The flawed pattern of reasoning in which one of the following is most similar to that in the argument above? | [
"A law firm decided to add a department devoted to family law. To obtain the best employees it could, the firm studied the credentials and composition of several other firms well known to have successful staffs working in family law. Eventually, the firm hired a staff of new lawyers and support personnel having tra... | 3 | train_3473 |
Columnist: On average, about 70 percent of the profit from tourism in developing countries goes to foreign owners of tourist businesses. In general, as a country becomes a more established tourist destination, the proportion of revenues exported in this way increases. However, tourists can counteract this effect by obt... | Which one of the following is most strongly supported by the statements made by the columnist? | [
"In at least some of the developing countries that are most established as tourist destinations, most of the profits from tourism go to foreign owners of tourist businesses.",
"In general, as a developing country becomes a more established tourist destination, local people become progressively poorer.",
"In at ... | 0 | train_3474 |
Over the past 20 years, skiing has become a relatively safe sport due to improvements in ski equipment. There has been a 50 percent drop in the number of ski injuries over the last 20 years. Clearly, however, there have not been decreases in the number of injuries in all categories, as statistical data readily show, fo... | The reasoning in the argument is flawed because the argument does which one of the following? | [
"It fails to allow for there being ski injuries other than broken legs, ankle injuries, and knee injuries.",
"It proceeds as though there could be a greater decrease in injuries in each category on injury than there is in injuries overall.",
"It assumes that an increase in the proportion of knee injuries rules ... | 2 | train_3475 |
Human Resources Director: Some people dislike their jobs but still go to work every day because they feel that it is ethically wrong to miss work. Others enjoy their jobs but sometimes miss work because they genuinely believe that they are too sick to work or that they might infect others if they go to work. This makes... | Which one of the following most reasonably completes the argument? | [
"make any reliable predictions about an employee's future behavior from his or her absenteeism record",
"draw any conclusions about an employee's job satisfaction from his or her absenteeism record",
"maintain accurate absenteeism records for all the different employees of a company",
"determine whether emplo... | 1 | train_3476 |
Economist: The economy seems to be heading out of recession. Recent figures show that consumers are buying more durable goods than before, indicating that they expect economic growth in the near future. | That consumers are buying more durable goods than before figures in the economist's argument in which one of the following ways? | [
"It is the primary evidence from which the argument's conclusion is drawn.",
"Its truth is required in order for the argument's conclusion to be true.",
"It is an inference drawn from the premise that consumers expect economic growth in the near future.",
"It is an inference drawn from the premise that the re... | 0 | train_3477 |
Powell: Private waste-removal companies spend 60 percent of what public waste-removal companies spend per customer, yet give their customers at least as good service. Private waste-removal companies, ttherefore, work more efficiently. Freeman: Your conclusion is unwarranted. Different customers have different wasteremo... | The issue in dispute between Powell and Freeman is the | [
"accuracy of the figure of 60 percent with regard to the difference in service costs between private and public waste-removal companies",
"ability of private versus public waste-removal companies to select which customers to serve",
"reason private waste-removal companies are able to offer service comparable to... | 2 | train_3478 |
These days, drug companies and health professionals alike are focusing their attention on cholesterol in the blood. The more cholesterol we have in our blood, the higher the risk that we shall die of a heart attack. The issue is pertinent since heart disease kills more North Americans every year than any other single c... | Which one of the following can be properly concluded from the passage? | [
"Smoking in moderation can entail as great a risk of fatal heart disease as does heavy smoking.",
"The only way that smoking increases one's risk of fatal heart disease is by influencing the levels of cholesterol in the blood.",
"The risk of fatal heart disease can be altered by certain changes in lifestyle.",
... | 2 | train_3479 |
People who listen to certain recordings of music are in danger of being unduly influenced by spoken messages that have been recorded backwards on the records or tapes. | A consequence of the view above is that | [
"backwards messages can be added to a recording while still preserving all the musical qualities of the recorded performance",
"the recordings on which such messages appear are chosen for this purpose either because they are especially popular or because they induce a trancelike state",
"when people listen to r... | 3 | train_3480 |
Chef: This mussel recipe' s first step is to sprinkle the live mussels with cornmeal. The cornmeal is used to clean them out: they take the cornmeal in and eject the sand that they contain. But I can skip this step, because the mussels available at seafood markets are farm raised and ttherefore do not contain sand. | Which one of the following is an assumption required by the chef's argument? | [
"The chef's mussel recipe was written before farm-raised mussels became available.",
"Mussels contain no contaminants other than sand.",
"The mussels the chef is using for the mussel recipe came from a seafood market.",
"Sprinkling the mussels with cornmeal does not affect their taste."
] | 2 | train_3481 |
Fossil-fuel emissions, considered a key factor in the phenomenon known as global warming, contain two gases, carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide, that have opposite effects on atmospheric temperatures. Carbon dioxide traps heat, tending to warm the atmosphere, whereas sulfur dioxide turns into sulfate aerosols that refle... | Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the claim made in the last sentence above? | [
"Carbon dioxide is produced not only by automobiles but also by power plants that burn fossil fuels.",
"Sulfur pollution is not spread evenly around the globe but is concentrated in the Northern Hemisphere, where there is a relatively high concentration of industry.",
"Carbon dioxide stays in the atmosphere for... | 2 | train_3482 |
A transit company' s bus drivers are evaluated by supervisors riding with each driver. Drivers complain that this affects their performance, but because the supervisor' s presence affects every driver' s performance, those drivers performing best with a supervisor aboard will likely also be the best drivers under norma... | Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends? | [
"The bus drivers are each affected in roughly the same way and to the same extent by the presence of the supervisor.",
"The supervisors are excellent judges of a bus driver's performance.",
"For most bus drivers, the presence of a supervisor makes their performance slightly worse than it otherwise would be.",
... | 0 | train_3483 |
In the course of his reading, George Orwell probably encountered certain storytelling conventions over and over again, and these are the devices he would have most likely used in his work. That is why it does not follow that, even though his 1984 resembles other books of its futuristic genre, Orwell read those books; i... | Which one of the following most closely illustrates the principle that the passage illustrates? | [
"To direct an effective movie within the cowboy genre, a director must study previously successful cowboy movies.",
"A mystery novel may not resemble novels from other genres, even though it was directly influenced by such novels.",
"A historical romance novel does not fit into its literary genre unless it empl... | 3 | train_3484 |
Debater: The average amount of overtime per month worked by an employee in the manufacturing division of the Haglut Corporation is 14 hours. Most employees of the Haglut Corporation work in the manufacturing division. Furthermore, the average amount of overtime per month worked by any employee in the company generally ... | The debater's argument is most vulnerable to criticism on which of these grounds? | [
"It overlooks the possibility that even if, on average, a certain amount of overtime is worked by the members of some group, many members of that group may work no overtime at all.",
"It takes for granted that the manufacturing division is a typical division of the corporation with regard to the average amount of... | 0 | train_3485 |
James: Many people claim that the voting public is unable to evaluate complex campaign issues. The television commercials for Reade in the national campaign, however, discuss complex campaign issues, and Reade is, at present, more popular than any other candidate. Maria: Yes, Reade is the most popular. However, you are... | Which one of the following, if true, most supports Maria's counter to James? | [
"Polling data show that most voters cannot identify Reade's positions on campaign issues.",
"Reade's opponents charge that Reade oversimplifies complex campaign issues.",
"Polling data show that some voters consider Reade competent and trustworthy.",
"Polling data show that Reade's present popularity will pro... | 0 | train_3486 |
In a party game, one person leaves the room with the understanding that someone else will relate a recent dream to the remaining group. The person then returns and tries to reconstruct the dream by asking only yes-or-no questions. In fact, no dream has been related: the group simply answers the questions according to s... | The example presented above most closely conforms to which one of the following propositions? | [
"Dreams are often just collections of images and ideas without coherent structures.",
"The presumption that something has order and coherence can lead one to imbue it with order and coherence.",
"People often invent clever and coherent stories to explain their behavior to other people.",
"Interpreting another... | 1 | train_3487 |
Faced with a financial crisis, Upland University' s board of trustees reduced the budget for the university' s computer center from last year' s $4 million to $1. 5 million for the coming year. However, the center cannot operate on less than $2. 5 million. Since the board cannot divert funds from other programs to the ... | The conclusion of the argument is properly drawn if which one of the following is assumed? | [
"The computer center has no source of funds other than those budgeted to it for the coming year by the university's board of trustees.",
"The budgets of other programs at the university were also reduced.",
"The computer center did not use all of the $4 million that was budgeted to it last year.",
"The board ... | 0 | train_3488 |
The relaxation of regulations governing the manufacture and sale of new medicines to increase their availability should not be accompanied by a lifting of all regulations that restrict industrial activity generally. Unless strict environmental regulations are maintained, endangered species of plants and animals will be... | The statement that a large majority of new medicines are derived from plants and animals plays which one of the following roles in the argument? | [
"support for the hypothesis that only very narrowly focused efforts at deregulation of industrial activity actually have beneficial results",
"evidence for a point of view that the argument is designed to undermine",
"a link between the extinction of species and the potentially decreased availability of new med... | 2 | train_3489 |
A chimp who displays feelings of affection toward the other members of its social group is more likely to be defended by these group members from raiders outside of the group -- even at the risk of harm to these defenders -- than are those chimps who rarely or never display feelings of affection toward their associates... | Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends? | [
"Expression of affection in chimps is limited to members of the social group to which they belong.",
"Feelings of affection are the only reason humans protect each other.",
"Chimps express their emotions behaviorally whenever they feel them.",
"Feelings of affection in chimp communities are at least sometimes... | 3 | train_3490 |
When an airplane is taken out of service for maintenance, it is often repainted as well, and during the repainting no other maintenance work can be done on the plane. In order to reduce maintenance time, airline officials are considering using a new nontoxic plastic film instead of paint. The film takes just as long to... | Which of the following, if true, is further evidence that using the film will help the airline officials achieve their goal? | [
"Even at speeds considerably higher than the normal speed of a passenger jet, the film remains securely attached.",
"Unlike paint, the film gives a milky tone to certain colors.",
"The film can be applied only by technicians who have received special training.",
"At the end of its useful life, the film can be... | 3 | train_3491 |
According to sources who can be expected to know, Dr. Maria Esposito is going to run in the mayoral election. But if Dr. Esposito runs, Jerome Krasman will certainly not run against her. Ttherefore Dr. Esposito will be the only candidate in the election. | The flawed reasoning in the argument above most closely parallels that in which one of the following? | [
"The press release says that the rock group Rollercoaster is playing a concert on Saturday. It won't be playing on Friday if it plays on Saturday. So Saturday will be the only day this week on which Rollercoaster will perform.",
"According to its management, Brown's Stores will move next year. Without Brown's bei... | 0 | train_3492 |
High schools should only teach abstinence. Students who practice abstinence will never experience an unplanned pregnancy or contract a sexually-transmitted disease. | Each of the following weakens the argument EXCEPT: | [
"Religious organizations support the teaching of abstinence.",
"Students are less likely to follow teaching about abstinence than safe sex.",
"Failing to teach about contraceptives increases the spread of sexually-transmitted diseases.",
"The percentage of students engaging in abstinence is lowest in school d... | 0 | train_3493 |
Sociologist: Climate and geology determine where human industry can be established. Drastic shifts in climate always result in migrations, and migrations bring about the intermingling of ideas necessary for rapid advances in civilization. | The sociologist's statements, if true, most strongly support which one of the following? | [
"Populations settle in every place where human industry can be established.",
"All shifts in climate produce a net gain in human progress.",
"Climate is the primary cause of migration.",
"A population remains settled only where the climate is fairly stable."
] | 3 | train_3494 |
The availability of television reduces the amount of reading children do. When television is made unavailable, a nearly universal increase in reading, both by parents and by children, is reported. When television is available again, the level of reading by both parents and children relapses to its previous level. | The reasoning in which one of the following is most similar to the reasoning above? | [
"Global warming is caused by increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Furthermore, industrial pollution causes increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. So industrial pollution causes global warming.",
"Voting behavior is affected by factors other than political candidates' records of political achievement. ... | 3 | train_3495 |
Actor: Bertolt Brecht' s plays are not genuinely successful dramas. The roles in Brecht' s plays express such incongruous motives and beliefs that audiences, as well as the actors playing the roles, invariably find it difficult, at best, to discern any of the characters' personalities. But, for a play to succeed as a d... | The conclusion of the actor's argument can be properly drawn if which one of the following is assumed? | [
"An audience that cannot readily discern a character's personality will not take any interest in that character.",
"All plays that, unlike Brecht's plays, have characters with whom audiences empathize succeed as dramas.",
"The extent to which a play succeeds as a drama is directly proportional to the extent to ... | 0 | train_3496 |
A seriously maladaptive trait is unlikely to persist in a given animal population for long, since there is enough genetic variation in populations that some members will lack the trait. Those lacking the trait will compete more successfully for the available resources. Hence these members of the population survive and ... | The proposition that those lacking a maladaptive trait will compete more successfully for the available resources figures in the argument in which one of the following ways? | [
"It is an intermediate conclusion of the argument.",
"It expresses a view that the argument as a whole is designed to discredit.",
"It is a premise of the argument.",
"It presents evidence that the argument attempts to undermine."
] | 2 | train_3497 |
Videocassette recorders (VCRs) enable people to watch movies at home on videotape. People who own VCRs go to movie theaters more often than do people who do not own VCRs. Contrary to popular belief, ttherefore, owning a VCR actually stimulates people to go to movie theaters more often than they otherwise would. | The argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it | [
"cites, in support of the conclusion, evidence that is inconsistent with other information that is provided",
"bases a broad claim about the behavior of people in general on a comparison between two groups of people that together include only a small proportion of people overall",
"fails to establish that the p... | 2 | train_3498 |
Science journalist: Brown dwarfs are celestial objects with more mass than planets but less mass than stars. They are identified by their mass and whether or not lithium is present in their atmospheres. Stars at least as massive as the Sun have lithium remaining in their atmospheres because the mixing of elements in th... | Which one of the following is most strongly supported by the science journalist's statements? | [
"Any celestial object with lithium in its atmosphere has a nuclear furnace that has incompletely mixed the object's elements.",
"No celestial object less massive than a brown dwarf has lithium in its atmosphere.",
"No celestial object with lithium in its atmosphere has less mass than the Sun.",
"No celestial ... | 3 | train_3499 |
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