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Box office receipts at movie theaters increased 40 percent last year over the previous year. Thus, the film industry overall evidently is prospering. Yet twice as many movie theaters went bankrupt last year as in the preceding two years combined. | Which one of the following, if true, most helps to resolve the apparent discrepancy in the information above? | [
"Films cost, on average, twice as much to produce today as they did ten years ago.",
"Those of last year's films that were successful were very profitable films that were shown by exclusive engagement at only a selection of the largest theaters.",
"Ticket prices at some theaters fell last year.",
"The amount ... | 1 | train_3500 |
Martha' s friend, who is very knowledgeable about edible flowers, told Martha that there are no edible daisies, at least not any that are palatable. Martha, however, reasons that since there are daisies that are a kind of chrysanthemum and since there are edible chrysanthemums that are quite palatable, what her friend ... | Which one of the following has a flawed pattern of reasoning most like that in Martha's reasoning? | [
"Many of Teresa's colleagues have written books. Most of the books they have written are on good writing. So some of Teresa's colleagues are good writers.",
"Some of Noriko's sisters are on the debate team, and some members of the debate team are poor students. So at least one of Noriko's sisters must be a poor s... | 1 | train_3501 |
Twenty percent of the population of Springhill has been to Italy at least once in the last five years, and thirty percent of the population of Springhill has been to France at least once in the last five years. Ttherefore, half of the population of Springhill has been to Europe at least once in the last five years. | The argument is faulty because it ignores the possibility that | [
"some of the population of Springhill has been neither to Italy nor to France in the last five years",
"none of the population of Springhill has been either to Italy or to France more than once in the last five years",
"some of the population of Springhill has been both to Italy and to France in the last five y... | 2 | train_3502 |
A television manufacturing plant has a total of 1, 000 workers, though an average of 10 are absent on any given day for various reasons. On days when exactly 10 workers are absent, the plant produces televisions at its normal rate. Thus, it is reasonable to assume that the plant could fire 10 workers without any loss i... | The argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it | [
"fails to show that the absentee rate would drop if 10 workers were fired",
"overlooks the possibility that certain workers are crucial to the production of televisions",
"takes for granted that the normal rate of production can be attained only when no more than the average number of workers are absent",
"ta... | 0 | train_3503 |
In parts of South America, vitamin-A deficiency is a serious health problem, especially among children. In one region, agriculturists hope to improve nutrition by encouraging farmers to plant a new variety of sweet potato called SPK004 that is rich in betacarotene, which the body converts into vitamin A. The plan has g... | Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the prediction that the plan will succeed? | [
"There are no other varieties of sweet potato that are significantly richer in beta-carotene than SPK004 is.",
"The currently cultivated varieties of sweet potato contain no important nutrients that SPK004 lacks.",
"The flesh of SPK004 differs from that of the currently cultivated sweet potatoes in color and te... | 1 | train_3504 |
The Acme Corporation has found that improvements in its information technology infrastructure allow its employees to make more decisions that are both sound and well-informed than was previously feasible. Consequently, the corporation plans to improve employee productivity by introducing new managerial techniques that ... | Which of the following, if true, would most strongly support a prediction that the Acme Corporation's plan will achieve its goal? | [
"Most of the tasks currently performed by the corporation's employees require few if any significant decisions to be made.",
"The corporation will be able to cut its managerial staff only if the managers' sole function is to set clear standards and guidelines for employees.",
"When employees can make decisions ... | 2 | train_3505 |
It is even more important that we criticize democracies that have committed human rights violations than that we criticize dictatorships that have committed more violent human rights offenses. Human rights violations are always inexcusable, but those committed by governments that represent the will of the people are ev... | Which one of the following is a proper inference from the passage? | [
"All governments commit some inexcusable and reprehensible acts.",
"Some human rights violations are more reprehensible than other, more violent human rights violations.",
"Human rights violations are more likely to occur in democracies than in dictatorships.",
"Those who do represent the will of the people a... | 1 | train_3506 |
The government is being urged to prevent organizations devoted to certain views on human nutrition from advocating a diet that includes large portions of uncooked meat, because eating uncooked meat can be very dangerous. However, this purported fact does not justify the government' s silencing the groups, for surely th... | Which one of the following principles most helps to justify the reasoning in the argument? | [
"The government ought to do whatever is in the best interest of society.",
"The government ought not to silence an opinion merely on the grounds that it could be harmful to disseminate the opinion.",
"The government should not silence any group for advocating a position that a significant proportion of society ... | 1 | train_3507 |
Inez: Space-exploration programs pay for themselves many times over, since such programs result in technological advances with everyday, practical applications. Space exploration is more than the search for knowledge for its own sake; investment in space exploration is such a productive investment in developing widely ... | Winona responds to Inez by | [
"showing that there is no evidence that the outcome Inez anticipates will in fact be realized",
"suggesting that Inez has overlooked evidence that directly argues against the programs Inez supports",
"claiming that a goal that Inez mentions could be pursued without the programs Inez endorses",
"demonstrating ... | 2 | train_3508 |
A student has taken twelve courses and received a B in a majority of them. The student is now taking another course and will probably, given her record, receive a B in it. | Each of the following, if true, strengthens the argument EXCEPT: | [
"The student previously studied alone but is receiving help from several outstanding students during the present course.",
"The current course is a continuation of one of the twelve courses in which the student received a B.",
"The student previously studied in the library and continues to do so.",
"The stude... | 0 | train_3509 |
Agricultural economist: We can increase agricultural production without reducing biodiversity, but only if we abandon conventional agriculture. Thus, if we choose to sustain economic growth, which requires increasing agricultural production, we should radically modify agricultural techniques. | Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps to justify the agricultural economist's reasoning? | [
"Economic growth should not be pursued at the expense of a loss of biodiversity.",
"Agricultural production should be reduced if doing so would increase biodiversity.",
"Preserving biodiversity is no more important than increasing agricultural production.",
"Economic growth should be sustained only as long as... | 0 | train_3510 |
Advertisement: Fabric-Soft leaves clothes soft and fluffy, and its fresh scent is a delight. We conducted a test using over 100 consumers to prove Fabric-Soft is best. Each consumer was given one towel washed with Fabric-Soft and one towel washed without it. Ninety-nine percent of the consumers preferred the Fabric-Sof... | The advertisement's reasoning is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it fails to consider whether | [
"Fabric-Soft is more or less harmful to the environment than other fabric softeners",
"the consumers tested had the opportunity to evaluate fabric softeners other than Fabric-Soft",
"any of the consumers tested are allergic to fabric softeners",
"the consumers tested find the benefits of using fabric softener... | 1 | train_3511 |
Hea Sook: One should not readily believe urban legends. Most legends are propagated because the moral lesson underlying them supports a political agenda. People will repeat a tale if it fits their purpose. They may not deliberately spread untruths, but neither are they particularly motivated to investigate deeply to de... | Kayla's reply is most vulnerable to the criticism that it | [
"fails to address the claim that people will not verify the truth of a story that fits their purpose",
"overstates the significance of political agendas in the retelling of stories",
"does not specify how many people need to repeat a story before someone is justified believing it",
"implicitly supports the cl... | 0 | train_3512 |
Mice that have been given morphine are very likely to develop blood poisoning because bacteria that normally reside in the intestine typically respond to morphine by migrating into the bloodstream. However, when mice are given both morphine and the new drug naltrexone, blood poisoning is much less frequent, although it... | Which of the following, if discovered to be true, would most seriously weaken the support for the researchers' prediction? | [
"After being administered to mice, naltrexone does not pass from the bloodstream into the intestine.",
"Naltrexone inhibits morphine from triggering the migration of intestinal bacteria into the bloodstream.",
"Mice that have been given naltrexone but not morphine have no greater risk of developing blood poison... | 1 | train_3513 |
Public health experts have waged a long-standing educational campaign to get people to eat more vegetables, which are known to help prevent cancer. Unfortunately, the campaign has had little impact on people' s diets. The reason is probably that many people simply dislike the taste of most vegetables. Thus, the campaig... | Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument? | [
"The campaign to get people to eat more vegetables has had little impact on the diets of most people who love the taste of vegetables.",
"People who dislike the taste of most vegetables would eat many more vegetables if they knew how to make them more appetizing.",
"People who find a few vegetables appetizing t... | 1 | train_3514 |
Certain methods of creating high-quality counterfeit banknotes involve making accurate measurements of the images printed on genuine banknotes. Hence, if the production of high-quality counterfeit banknotes is to be prevented, some of the images on banknotes must be made very difficult or impossible to measure accurate... | The argument's conclusion can be properly drawn if which one of the following is assumed? | [
"Once the images printed on a banknote have been measured accurately, there is no further impediment to the banknote's being exactly replicated.",
"Today's copying technology is sophisticated enough to replicate almost any paper product with great precision.",
"Governments have better printing technology availa... | 0 | train_3515 |
Antinuclear activist: The closing of the nuclear power plant is a victory for the antinuclear cause. It also represents a belated acknowledgment by the power industry that they cannot operate such plants safely. Nuclear power plant manager: It represents no such thing. The availability of cheap power from nonnuclear so... | The reasoning in the manager's argument is flawed because the argument | [
"overlooks the possibility that the sources from which cheap power is available might themselves be subject to safety concerns",
"takes as one of its premises a view about the power industry's attitude toward nuclear safety that contradicts the activist's view",
"fails to acknowledge that the power industry mig... | 3 | train_3516 |
A member of the British Parliament is reputed to have said, "The first purpose of good social reform is to increase the sum total of human happiness. So, any reform which makes somebody happy is achieving its purpose. Since the reform I propose would make my constituents happy, it is a good social reform. " | Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument attributed to the member of Parliament? | [
"Different things make different people happy.",
"Increasing some people's happiness might not increase the sum total of human happiness if others are made unhappy.",
"Good social reforms usually have widespread support.",
"The proposed reform would affect only the member of Parliament's constituents and woul... | 1 | train_3517 |
For a contest at the upcoming county fair, Marie advocates for a ring toss <b> because the ring toss is consistently the favorite activity of the children who attend the fair. </b> Anne, however, points out that adults win most of the prizes when playing ring toss. To make the chances of winning fair for everyone, Anne... | The two boldface portions in the argument above are best described by which of the following statements? | [
"The first is an argument promoting one activity; the second invalidates the reason for promoting the other activity.",
"The first is the conclusion of one of the participants; the second is an argument that supports that conclusion.",
"The first is the conclusion of one of the participants; the second invalida... | 0 | train_3518 |
The television star Markus Hermann refuses to grant interviews with newspapers unless he is given the right to approve the article before publication. The Greyburg Messenger newspaper refuses to do anything that its editors believe will compromise their editorial integrity. | So the Messenger will not interview Hermann, since The conclusion of the argument is properly drawn if which one of the following completes the passage? | [
"the editors of the Messenger believe that giving an interviewee the right to approve an article before publication would compromise their editorial integrity",
"Hermann believes that the Messenger frequently edits interviews in ways that result in unflattering portrayals of the interviewees",
"the Messenger ha... | 0 | train_3519 |
When interest rates are high, insurance companies reduce the premiums they charge for many kinds of insurance policies. The reason is that insurance companies want to take in as much money as possible in premiums so that they can invest the money at high rates of interest. And premium reductions help achieve this objec... | Which of the following most logically completes the argument below? | [
"an increase in the number of policies sold eventually leads to an increase in the number of claims that an insurance company has to pay",
"smaller insurance companies are not able to amass enough money to take advantage of investing at high interest rates",
"insurance companies can sell many more insurance pol... | 2 | train_3520 |
A certain species of bird has two basic varieties crested and noncrested. The birds, which generally live in flocks that contain only crested or only noncrested birds, tend to select mates of the same variety as themselves. However, if a bird that is raising a flock in which all other members are crested is later moved... | Which one of the following, if true, provides the most support for the argument? | [
"In general there are few behavioral differences between the crested and noncrested birds of the species.",
"Birds of other species also tend to show preferences for mates that have one or another specific physical feature.",
"Both the crested and noncrested birds of the species tend to select mates that are si... | 3 | train_3521 |
Nations that have little interaction with one another have little knowledge of one another' s needs and problems. Because both sympathy and justice depend largely on understanding the needs and problems of others, it follows that__. | Which one of the following most logically completes the argument? | [
"only nations that have some interaction with one another have knowledge of one another's needs and problems",
"without some interaction, nations are bound to find it difficult to extend sympathy and justice to one another",
"there is no way to eliminate conflict among nations",
"almost all problems between n... | 1 | train_3522 |
Mate is a beverage found in much of South America. While it is uncertain where mate was first made, there are more varieties of it found in Paraguay than anywhere else. Also, mate is used more widely there than anywhere else. Ttherefore, Paraguay is likely the place where mate originated. | Which one of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument? | [
"Many Paraguayans believe that the best mate is found in Paraguay.",
"It is rare for there to be a great variety of types of a beverage in a place where the beverage has not been in use for a very long time.",
"Typically, the longer a beverage has been in use in a particular place, the more widely that beverage... | 2 | train_3523 |
Some people believe that saying that an organization is hierarchical says everything there is to say about how that organization operates. All bureaucratically controlled organizations are hierarchical. Yet the Public Works Department, although bureaucratically controlled, operates quite differently than most other bur... | If the statements above are true, which one of the following must also be true on the basis of them? | [
"Not all hierarchical organizations operate in the same way.",
"The Public Works Department operates more like a nonbureaucratically controlled organization than like a bureaucratically controlled organization.",
"Whether or not an organization is bureaucratically controlled has nothing to do with how that orga... | 0 | train_3524 |
In a recent experiment, half the subjects were expert chess players; the other half had never played. First, the subjects were shown chessboards at various stages of actual games for ten seconds. Each expert was able to recall the positions of the pieces at least twice as well as any nonplayer. Second, the subjects wer... | Which one of the following is most strongly supported by the results of the experiment? | [
"Ten seconds is not long enough to memorize random information.",
"People who play chess have better memories than people who do not play chess.",
"An expert is more likely than a nonexpert to attempt to assimilate new information according to known rules and principles.",
"People remember information better ... | 3 | train_3525 |
If the law punishes littering, then the city has an obligation to provide trash cans. But the law does not punish littering, so the city has no such obligation. | Which one of the following exhibits a flawed pattern of reasoning most similar to that in the argument above? | [
"If today is a holiday, then the bakery will not be open. The bakery is not open for business. Thus today is a holiday.",
"In the event that my flight had been late, I would have missed the committee meeting. Fortunately, my flight is on time. Ttherefore, I will make it to the meeting.",
"The new regulations wi... | 1 | train_3526 |
Science fiction creates an appetite for interstellar space exploration among certain people. Unfortunately, this appetite cannot be satisfied with any technology humanity will soon possess. Since gaps between expectations and reality spur discontent, no doubt one effect of science fiction has been to create an unproduc... | Which one of the following is an assumption the argument requires? | [
"The fact that the appetite for interstellar space exploration cannot be satisfied with any technology humanity will soon possess has created a gap between reality and some people's expectations.",
"If science fiction has created an unproductive dissatisfaction with the way the world actually is, it has done so o... | 0 | train_3527 |
In an experiment testing whether hyperactivity is due to a brain abnormality, the brain activity of 25 hyperactive adults was compared to the brain activity of 25 adults who were not hyperactive. The tests revealed that the hyperactive adults had much less brain activity in the premotor cortex, a region of the brain be... | Which one of the following, if true, most undermines the conclusion drawn by the experimenters? | [
"All of the hyperactive adults in the study had been treated for hyperactivity with a medication that is known to depress activity in some regions of the brain, while none of the nonhyperactive adults had been so treated.",
"The test was performed only on adults because even though the method by which the test me... | 0 | train_3528 |
In a study, one group of volunteers was fed a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet; another group was fed a low-protein, high-carbohydrate diet. Both diets contained the same number of calories, and each volunteer' s diet prior to the experiment had contained moderate levels of proteins and carbohydrates. After ten days... | Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the argument above? | [
"A low-protein, high-carbohydrate diet causes the human body to retain water, the added weight of which largely compensates for the weight of any body fat lost, whereas a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet does not.",
"In the experiment, the volunteers on the high- carbohydrate diet engaged in regular exercise o... | 0 | train_3529 |
Ethicist: In a recent judicial decision, a contractor was ordered to make restitution to a company because of a bungled construction job, even though the company had signed a written agreement prior to entering into the contract that the contractor would not be financially liable should the task not be adequately perfo... | Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps to justify the ethicist's reasoning? | [
"It is morally wrong to seek a penalty for an action for which the agent is unable to make restitution.",
"It is morally wrong for one party not to abide by its part of an agreement only if the other party abides by its part of the agreement.",
"It is morally wrong for one person to seek to penalize another per... | 3 | train_3530 |
The fact that politicians in a certain country are trying to reduce government spending does not by itself explain why they have voted to eliminate all government-supported scholarship programs. Government spending could have been reduced even more if instead they had cut back on military spending. | Which one of the following arguments is most similar in its reasoning to the argument above? | [
"The fact that Thelma's goal is to become famous does not by itself explain why she took up theatrical acting. It is easier to become famous through writing or directing plays than through theatrical acting.",
"The fact that Sallie and Jim have different work styles does not by itself explain why they could not w... | 0 | train_3531 |
Albumin, one element of blood plasma, is an effective substitute for plasma in treating or preventing shock, the collapse of blood vessels due to a drop in the liquid volume of the bloodstream. Injected into the bloodstream, albumin absorbs enough liquid from surrounding tissues to keep the blood vessels open. It has a... | Of the following, which one best illustrates the principle illustrated by the stated advantage of using albumin as a substitute for plasma? | [
"A newspaper can increase advertising revenue without increasing its bulk or weight if it is printed in a smaller format.",
"Hardbound books can be a better choice than paperbacks despite their extra bulk if the books need to be more durable than paperbacks.",
"An advantage that compact discs have over vinyl re... | 3 | train_3532 |
Fishery officials are still considering options for eliminating Lake Davis' s population of razor-toothed northern pike, a fierce game fish that could threaten salmon and trout populations if it slips into the adjoining river system. Introducing pike-specific diseases and draining the lake have been ruled out. Four yea... | Which one of the following is most strongly supported by the information above? | [
"Salmon and trout populations in the Lake Davis area are essential to the region's economy.",
"The poison added to the lake four years ago was not successful in ridding the lake of the pike.",
"Four years ago was the only time that poison was used against the pike in the lake.",
"Draining the lake would not c... | 1 | train_3533 |
Columnist: Many car manufacturers trumpet their cars' fuel economy under normal driving conditions. For all three of the cars I have owned, I have been unable to get even close to the fuel economy that manufacturers advertise for cars of those makes. So manufacturers probably inflate those numbers. | The reasoning in the columnist's argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that the argument | [
"uses the term \"fuel economy\" in two different senses",
"draws a conclusion on the basis of a sample that is too small",
"presumes, without providing justification, that driving conditions are the same in every geographical region",
"presumes, without providing justification, that car manufacturers knowingl... | 1 | train_3534 |
Research indicates that college professors generally were raised in economically advantaged households. For it was discovered that, overall, college professors grew up in communities with average household incomes that were higher than the average household income for the nation as a whole. | The reasoning in the argument is flawed because the argument | [
"presumes without justification that college professors generally were raised in households with incomes that are average or above average for their communities",
"fails to note there are some communities with high average household incomes in which no college professors grew up",
"fails to take into account th... | 0 | train_3535 |
The kind of thoughts that keep a person from falling asleep can arise in either half of the brain. Ttherefore, a person being prevented from sleeping solely by such thoughts would be able to fall asleep by closing the eyes and counting sheep, because this activity fully occupies the left half of the brain with counting... | According to the hypothesis, for a person to use counting imaginary sheep as an effective method of inducing sleep, which one of the following must be true? | [
"The person is able to imagine a wide variety of things.",
"Thoughts of sheep rarely, if ever, arise in the person's dreams.",
"Thoughts of sheep would not keep the person awake at that time.",
"Thoughts of sheep would induce sleep in the person whenever those thoughts arose."
] | 2 | train_3536 |
When officials in Tannersburg released their plan to widen the city's main roads, environmentalists protested that widened roads would attract more traffic and lead to increased air pollution. In response, city officials pointed out that today's pollution-control devices are at their most effective in vehicles travelin... | Which of the following most logically completes the argument? | [
"a vehicle traveling on a route that goes through Tannersburg will spend less time on Tannersburg's roads once the roads are widened",
"most of the air pollution generated by urban traffic comes from vehicles that do not have functioning pollution-control devices",
"several of the roads that are slated for wide... | 1 | train_3537 |
The population of desert tortoises in Targland' s Red Desert has declined, partly because they are captured for sale as pets and partly because people riding all-terrain vehicles have damaged their habitat. Targland plans to halt this population decline by blocking the current access routes into the desert and announci... | Which of the following would it be most important to establish in order to evaluate the officials' prediction? | [
"Whether people who travel on foot in the Red Desert often encounter the tortoises",
"Whether Targland is able to enforce the regulations with respect to all-terrain vehicle entry at points other than the current access routes",
"Whether the Targland authorities held public hearings before restricting entry by ... | 1 | train_3538 |
A recent study of 10, 000 people who were involved in automobile accidents found that a low percentage of those driving large automobiles at the time of their accidents were injured, but a high percentage of those who were driving small automobiles at the time of their accidents were injured. Thus, one is less likely t... | Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument? | [
"Most people who own small cars also drive large cars on occasion.",
"Only a small percentage of those people involved in an automobile accident are injured as a result.",
"Half of the study participants drove mediumsized cars at the time of their accidents.",
"A large automobile is far more likely to be invo... | 3 | train_3539 |
Spokesperson: Contrary to what some have claimed, our group' s "Clean City" campaign has been a rousing success. After all, the amount of trash on the city' s streets today is significantly lower than when the campaign began. | Which one of the following is an assumption required by the spokesperson's argument? | [
"Those who claim that the campaign has not been a rousing success are unaware of the degree of the decline in the amount of trash since the campaign began.",
"The amount of trash on the city's streets was not declining at the same rate or faster before the campaign began than it did during the campaign.",
"The ... | 1 | train_3540 |
A significant amount of the acquisition budget of a typical university library is spent on subscriptions to scholarly journals. Over the last several years, the average subscription rate a library pays for such a journal has increased dramatically, even though the costs of publishing a scholarly journal have remained f... | Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument? | [
"Many university libraries have begun to charge higher and higher fines for overdue books and periodicals as a way of passing on increased journal subscription costs to library users.",
"Publishing a scholarly journal is an expensive enterprise, and publishers of such journals cannot survive financially if they c... | 3 | train_3541 |
Scientist: While studying centuries-old Antarctic ice deposits, I found that several years of relatively severe atmospheric pollution in the 1500s coincided with a period of relatively high global temperatures. So it is clear in this case that atmospheric pollution did cause global temperatures to rise. | The reasoning in the scientist's argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that the argument | [
"draws a general conclusion based on a sample that is likely to be unrepresentative",
"takes for granted that the method used for gathering data was reliable",
"infers, merely from a claim that two phenomena are associated, that one phenomenon causes the other",
"inappropriately generalizes from facts about a... | 2 | train_3542 |
Recent research shows that sound change (pronunciation shift) in a language is not gradual. New sounds often emerge suddenly. This confounds the classical account of sound change, whose central tenet is gradualness. Since this classical account must be discarded, sound-change theory in general must also be. | Which one of the following, if assumed, does most to justify the argument's conclusion? | [
"The emergence of new sounds appears to be random.",
"All theories of sound change rely heavily on the classical theory.",
"For most languages, historical records of their earlier stages are scarce or nonexistent.",
"The data on which the classical account of sound-change theory was based are now known to be ... | 1 | train_3543 |
The average temperature of the lobster-rich waters off the coast of Foerkland has been increasing for some years. In warmer water, lobsters grow faster. In particular, lobster larvae take less time to reach the size at which they are no longer vulnerable to predation by young cod, the chief threat to their survival. Co... | Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument? | [
"Cod are a cold-water species, and the increasing water temperatures have caused a northward shift in Foerkland's cod population.",
"There are indications that in recent years the fishing fleet operating off the coast of Foerkland has been taking cod at an unsustainably high rate.",
"The increase in water tempe... | 3 | train_3544 |
In scientific journals, authors and reviewers have praised companies in which they have substantial investments. These scientists, with their potential conflict of interest, call into question the integrity of scientific inquiry, so there should be full public disclosure of scientific authors' commercial holdings. | Which one of the following conforms most closely to the principle illustrated by the argument above? | [
"People with access to otherwise private information regarding the value of stocks should not be allowed to sell or purchase those stocks.",
"Financial advisers should inform their clients about any incentives the advisers receive for promoting investments in particular companies.",
"Magazine publishers should ... | 1 | train_3545 |
Prof. Hernandez' s monumental work <i>The History of Central America</i> covers everything about the region from the origin of the Mesoamerican period to the end of the Cold War. While the book has several informative maps and charts, many of the chapters spend less time describing facts and more time explaining Prof. ... | Which of the following is an assumption that supports drawing the conclusion above from the reasons given for that conclusion? | [
"History as a discipline is concerned only with historical facts, not with the theoretical explanations of those facts.",
"Historians should be more explicit than most are now about the theoretical framework with which they write.",
"Different historians have different understanding of the relative importance b... | 0 | train_3546 |
Some people have questioned why the Homeowners Association is supporting Cooper' s candidacy for mayor. But if the Association wants a mayor who will attract more businesses to the town, Cooper is the only candidate it could support. So, since the Association is supporting Cooper, it must have a goal of attracting more... | The reasoning in the argument is in error because | [
"the Homeowners Association might discover that attracting more businesses to the town would not be in the best interest of its members",
"Cooper might not have all of the skills that are needed by a mayor who wants to attract businesses to a town",
"the reasons the Homeowners Association should want to attract... | 3 | train_3547 |
Technological improvements and reduced equipment costs have made converting solar energy directly into electricity far more cost-efficient in the last decade. However, the threshold of economic viability for solar power (that is, the price per barrel to which oil would have to rise in order for new solar power plants t... | Which of the following, if true, does most to help explain why the increased cost-efficiency of solar power has not decreased its threshold of economic viability? | [
"Technological changes have increased the efficiency of oil-fired power plants.",
"Most electricity is generated by coal-fired or nuclear, rather than oil-fired, power plants.",
"The cost of oil has fallen dramatically.",
"When the price of oil increases, reserves of oil not previously worth exploiting become... | 0 | train_3548 |
Conservation officers justified their decision to remove a pack of ten coyotes from a small island by claiming that the coyotes, which preyed on wild cats and plover, were decimating the plover population and would soon wipe it out. After the coyotes were removed, however, the plover population plummeted dramatically, ... | Which one of the following would, if true, most help explain the phenomenon described above? | [
"The coyotes preyed mainly on wild cats, and wild cats prey on plover.",
"Plover are ground-nesting birds, which makes them easy prey for coyotes.",
"Coyotes are not susceptible to any of the diseases that commonly infect plover or wild cats.",
"The wild cat population on the island was once significantly lar... | 0 | train_3549 |
Historian: Roman nobles, known as patricians, often owned dozens of slaves. It was extremely common in ancient Rome. Roman society did not consider the practice to be immoral or illegal in any way. Rome would simply enslave the many people conquered by the Empire. A fresh supply of slaves was integral to sustaining the... | Which one of the following is most strongly supported by the historian's argument? | [
"Conquered people welcomed their new lives as slaves.",
"Slavery was a necessary evil for the Romans.",
"The Roman Empire would have collapsed earlier without enslaving new peoples.",
"Romans treated their slaves with more humanity, compassion, and respect than any other contemporary civilization."
] | 2 | train_3550 |
Politician: A major social problem is children hurting other children. The results of a recent experiment by psychologists establish that watching violent films is at least partly responsible for this aggressive behavior. The psychologists conducted an experiment in which one group of children watched a film of people ... | Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the politician's argument? | [
"Some children who had not been shown the film imitated the behavior of those who had been shown the film and who punched the doll.",
"The child who punched the Bobo doll the hardest and the most frequently had not been shown the film.",
"Some of the children who did not punch the Bobo doll, including some who ... | 3 | train_3551 |
Constance: The traditional definition of full employment as a 5 percent unemployment rate is correct, because at levels below 5 percent, inflation rises. Brigita: That traditional definition of full employment was developed before the rise of temporary and part-time work and the fall in benefit levels. When people are ... | The dialogue most strongly supports the claim that Constance and Brigita disagree with each other about which one of the following? | [
"whether a person with a part-time job should count as fully employed",
"what definition of full employment is applicable under contemporary economic conditions",
"whether it is a good idea, all things considered, to allow the unemployment level to drop below 5 percent",
"whether unemployment levels above 5 p... | 1 | train_3552 |
Valitania' s long-standing practice of paying high salaries to its elected politicians has had a disastrous effect on the level of integrity among politicians in that country. This is because the prospect of earning a high salary is always attractive to anyone whose primary aim in life is to make money, so that inevita... | Which one of the following, if true, would weaken the argument? | [
"Most of those who are currently Valitanian politicians could have obtained better-paid work outside politics.",
"Many Valitanian candidates for elected office spend some of their own money to finance their campaigns.",
"Most Valitanian elective offices have four-year terms.",
"No more people compete for elec... | 0 | train_3553 |
One approach to the question of which objects discussed by a science are real is to designate as real all and only those entities posited by the most explanatorily powerful theory of the science. But since most scientific theories contain entities posited solely on theoretical grounds, this approach is flawed. | Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps to justify the reasoning above? | [
"A scientific theory should not posit any entity that does not enhance the explanatory power of the theory.",
"Any object that is posited by a scientific theory and that enhances the explanatory power of that theory should be designated as real.",
"Only objects posited by explanatorily powerful theories should ... | 3 | train_3554 |
Hank is a professional writer. He submits regular columns at two blogs and self-publishes romance novels. Hank recently signed with an agent based in New York. To date, Hank has never made any money off his writing. | The strength of the argument depends on which of the following? | [
"Being a professional writer does not require earning money.",
"Being a professional writer requires representation by an agent.",
"Hank's self-published novels and blogs have received generally positive reviews.",
"Hank's agent works at the biggest firm in New York."
] | 0 | train_3555 |
X: In order to reduce the amount of plastic in landfills, legislatures should impose a ban on the use of plastics for packaging goods. Y: Impossible! Plastic packaging is necessary for public safety. Consumers will lose all of the safety features that plastic offers, chiefly tamper-resistant closures and shatterproof b... | Which of the following best describes the weak point in Y's response to X's proposal? | [
"Y attempts to shift the blame for the large amount of plastic in landfills from the users of plastic packaging to the legislators.",
"Y wrongly assumes that X defends the interests of the manufacturers rather than the interests of the consumers.",
"Y does not consider the concern of some manufacturers that saf... | 3 | train_3556 |
Several years ago, as a measure to reduce the population of gypsy moths, which depend on oak leaves for food, entomologists introduced into many oak forests a species of fungus that is poisonous to gypsy moth caterpillars. Since then, the population of both caterpillars and adult moths has significantly declined in tho... | Which one of the following, if true, most strongly supports the conclusion drawn by the entomologists? | [
"The current decline in the gypsy moth population in forests where the fungus was introduced is no greater than a decline that occurred concurrently in other forests.",
"In the past several years, air pollution and acid rain have been responsible for a substantial decline in oak tree populations.",
"A strain of... | 2 | train_3557 |
Secret passwords are often used to control access to computers. When employees are allowed to make up their own passwords, they are likely to setup as passwords their initials or birth dates. To improve security, employers should assign randomly generated passwords to employees rather than allowing employees to make up... | Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the conclusion drawn above? | [
"Randomly generated passwords are so difficult for employees to recall that they often record the passwords in places where the passwords could be easily seen by others.",
"Control of physical access to computers by the use of locked doors and guards should be used in addition to passwords in order to maintain se... | 0 | train_3558 |
The obesity invariably associated with some high-fat diets is caused by an absence in these diets of certain nutrients that are necessary for an active metabolism, not by excessive caloric intake. Hence, people on these high-fat diets do not consume too many calories. | The questionable pattern of reasoning in the argument above is most similar to that in which one of the following? | [
"The disorientation observed in airline pilots after transoceanic flights is caused not by sleep deprivation but by disruption in their exposure to daylight. Hence, transoceanic pilots do not suffer from sleep deprivation.",
"Stock market crashes are due, not to panic in the face of predicted economic downturns, ... | 0 | train_3559 |
Physicist: Determinism is the view that every event has a preceding cause sufficient for its occurrence. That is, if determinism is true, then the events that are presently occurring could not have failed to occur given the state of the universe a moment ago. Determinism, however, is false because it is impossible to k... | The physicist's reasoning is most vulnerable to criticism on which one of the following grounds? | [
"That it is impossible to know the complete state of the universe at any given time does not imply that there is no complete state of the universe at that time.",
"That it is impossible to measure accurately both the position and velocity of any given subatomic particle does not imply that it is impossible to kno... | 0 | train_3560 |
Statistics indicating a sudden increase in the incidence of a problem often merely reflect a heightened awareness of the problem or a greater ability to record its occurrence. Hence we should be wary of proposals for radical solutions to problems when those proposals are a reaction to new statistical data. | The argumentation conforms most closely to which one of the following principles? | [
"A better cognizance of a problem does not warrant the undertaking of a radical solution to the problem.",
"Radical solutions to problems can cause other problems and end up doing more harm than good.",
"Statistical data should not be manipulated to make a radical solution to a problem seem more justified than ... | 0 | train_3561 |
An economist has argued that consumers often benefit when government permits a corporation to obtain a monopoly. Without competition, a corporation can raise prices without spending nearly as much on advertising. The corporation can then invest the extra money in expensive research or industrial infrastructure that it ... | Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the economist's argument? | [
"If a corporation obtains a monopoly, the disadvantage to consumers of any higher prices will be outweighed by the advantages from extra investments in expensive research or industrial infrastructure made by that corporation.",
"The government's permitting a corporation to obtain a monopoly is advantageous for co... | 0 | train_3562 |
Davisville' s mayor: The Davisville Airport is actually located in the city of Millersburg. Millersburg officials have argued that it is illegal for restaurants in the Davisville Airport to serve alcoholic beverages because Millersburg has outlawed alcoholic beverages. But they are mistaken. Since the City of Davisvill... | Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps to justify the reasoning in the Davisville mayor's argument? | [
"If one city owns a facility located in another city, government officials of both cities should settle through negotiation which city's laws apply in that facility.",
"A facility located outside of a city is not subject to the laws of that city even if the facility is owned by the city.",
"Ownership takes prec... | 2 | train_3563 |
Statistics reveal that more collisions between bicycles and motor vehicles occur on roads having specifically designated bicycle lanes than on roads having no such lanes. Hence, adding such lanes to existing roads is unlikely to enhance the safety of bicyclists. | The argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it | [
"overlooks the possibility that injuries sustained by bicyclists in accidents on roads with bicycle lanes are as serious, on average, as those sustained by bicyclists in accidents on roads without such lanes",
"takes for granted that any road alteration that enhances the safety of bicyclists also enhances the saf... | 3 | train_3564 |
This region' s swimmers generally swim during the day because they are too afraid of sharks to swim after dark but feel safe swimming during daylight hours. Yet all recent shark attacks on swimmers in the area have occurred during the day, indicating that, contrary to popular opinion, it is not more dangerous to swim h... | The reasoning in the argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it | [
"presumes, without providing justification, that swimmers cannot be the most knowledgeable about which times of day are safest for swimming",
"overlooks the possibility that some sharks are primarily nocturnal hunters",
"overlooks the possibility that swimmers might feel anxiety caused by not being able to see ... | 3 | train_3565 |
Almost all advances in genetic research give rise to ethical dilemmas. Government is the exclusive source of funding for most genetic research; those projects not funded by government are funded solely by corporations. One or the other of these sources of funding is necessary for any genetic research. | If all the statements above are true, then which one of the following must be true? | [
"At least some advances in genetic research occur in projects funded by corporations.",
"Most genetic research funded by government results in advances that give rise to ethical dilemmas.",
"As long as government continues to fund genetic research, that research will give rise to ethical dilemmas.",
"No ethic... | 3 | train_3566 |
Many people suffer an allergic reaction to certain sulfites, including those that are commonly added to wine as preservatives. However, since there are several wine makers who add sulfites to none of the wines they produce, people who would like to drink wine but are allergic to sulfites can drink wines produced by the... | Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends? | [
"Wine is the only beverage to which sulfites are commonly added.",
"Sulfites are not naturally present in the wines produced by these wine makers in amounts large enough to produce an allergic reaction in someone who drinks these wines.",
"Apart from sulfites, there are no substances commonly present in wine th... | 1 | train_3567 |
Executives of Company G receive high salaries and excellent benefits, in addition to stock options and numerous other perks. However, a majority of shareholders of Company G have objected to paying for its executives to travel on Company G' s corporate jets. These shareholders believe that these jets should only be use... | Which of the following must be true to support the reasoning behind the shareholders' objection? | [
"Company G executives primarily use the corporate jets for personal travel.",
"Company G has not been profitable for the past 3 years.",
"Most companies pay significant amounts of money to lease corporate jets.",
"Other perks provided to the executives of Company G are not directly related to the profitabilit... | 0 | train_3568 |
Company president: Whenever you subcontract the manufacturing of a product, you lose some control over the quality of that product. We do subcontract some manufacturing, but only with companies that maintain complete control over the quality of the products they supply. | Which one of the following can be properly inferred from the company president's statements? | [
"The company president insists on having as much control as possible over the quality of the company's products.",
"When consumers know that a product has been manufactured by a subcontractor, they are generally dubious about the product's quality.",
"Companies that subcontract the manufacturing of products are... | 3 | train_3569 |
Bill is capable of reading two pages per minute, typing one hundred words per minute, and speaking twenty words per minute. All lawyers can read two pages per minute, and some philosophers can read two pages per minute. Only secretaries can type one hundred words per minute. Many chief executive officers can speak twen... | Which one of the following statements can be deduced from the argument? | [
"Bill is a doctor.",
"Bill is a secretary.",
"Bill is a philosopher.",
"Bill is a chief executive officer."
] | 1 | train_3570 |
Scientist: Venus contains a hot molten core, like that of Earth. Also like Earth, Venus must expel the excess heat the core generates. On Earth, this occurs entirely through active volcanos and fissures created when tectonic plates separate. Yet Venus has neither active volcanos nor fissures caused by the movement of t... | Which one of the following, if true, does the most to resolve the apparent discrepancy described by the scientist? | [
"The atmosphere of Venus is significantly hotter than that of Earth.",
"Rock on the surface of Venus remains solid at much higher temperatures than does rock on Earth.",
"Though Venus lacks active volcanoes and heat- diffusing fissures, it has surface movement somewhat like that of Earth.",
"The surface of Ve... | 3 | train_3571 |
Bicycle safety expert: Bicycling on the left half of the road is much more likely to lead to collisions with automobiles than is bicycling on the right. After all, in three different studies of bicycle-automobile collisions, the bicyclist was riding on the left in 15, 17, and 25 percent of the cases, respectively. Skep... | One reason the strength of the bicycle safety expert's argument cannot be evaluated is that | [
"the statistics it cites do not include the percentage of bicycling that took place on the left",
"bicycling on the left is singled out for criticism without consideration of other bicycling practices that are unsafe",
"no statistics are provided on the proportion of bicycle accidents that are due to bicycle-au... | 0 | train_3572 |
Geneticist: Billions of dollars are spent each year on high-profile experiments that attempt to link particular human genes with particular personality traits. Though such experiments seem to promise a new understanding of human nature, they have few practical consequences. Meanwhile, more mundane and practical genetic... | Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps to justify the geneticist's reasoning? | [
"Experiments that help prevent malnutrition are more worthwhile than those that help prevent merely undesirable personality traits.",
"Experiments that focus on the genetics of plants are more practical than those that focus on the genetics of human nature.",
"Experiments that get little media attention and are... | 3 | train_3573 |
One should never sacrifice one' s health in order to acquire money, for without health, happiness is not obtainable. | The conclusion of the argument follows logically if which one of the following is assumed? | [
"Money should be acquired only if its acquisition will not make happiness unobtainable.",
"In order to be happy one must have either money or health.",
"Being wealthy is, under certain conditions, conducive to unhappiness.",
"Health is more conducive to happiness than wealth is."
] | 0 | train_3574 |
Typically, people who have diets high in saturated fat have an increased risk of heart disease. Those who replace saturated fat in their diets with unsaturated fat decrease their risk of heart disease. Ttherefore, people who eat a lot of saturated fat can lower their risk of heart disease by increasing their intake of ... | Which one of the following, if assumed, most helps to justify the reasoning above? | [
"People who add unsaturated fat to their diets will eat less food that is high in saturated fat.",
"It is difficult to move from a diet that is high in saturated fat to a diet that includes very little fat.",
"Adding unsaturated fat to a diet brings health benefits other than a reduced risk of heart disease.",
... | 0 | train_3575 |
Ditrama is a federation made up of three autonomous regions: Korva, Mitro, and Guadar. Under the federal revenue-sharing plan, each region receives a share of federal revenues equal to the share of the total population of Ditrama residing in that region, as shown by a yearly population survey. Last year, the percentage... | If the statements above are true, which one of the following must also have been shown by the population survey on which last year's revenue-sharing in Ditrama was based? | [
"Of the three regions, Korva had the smallest number of residents.",
"Korva's population grew by a smaller percentage than did the population of at least one of the other two autonomous regions.",
"The populations of Mitro and Guadar each increased by a percentage that exceeded the percentage by which the popul... | 1 | train_3576 |
Homeowners who commute more than 60 minutes to work each day spend, on average, 200 minutes less time each month doing outdoor chores than homeowners who commute less than 60 minutes each day. Despite what one would expect, studies show that the yards of the two groups of homeowners do not differ extensively with respe... | Which one of the following, if true, most helps to resolve the apparent discrepancy in the information above? | [
"Homeowners who commute more than 60 minutes to work each day spend 300 fewer minutes on all household chores than homeowners who commute less than 60 minutes to work each day.",
"Homeowners who commute more than 60 minutes to work each day have 40 percent smaller yards than homeowners who commute less than 60 mi... | 1 | train_3577 |
The incidence in Japan of most types of cancer is remarkably low compared to that in North America, especially considering that Japan has a modern life-style, industrial pollution included. The cancer rates, however, for Japanese people who immigrate to North America and adopt the diet of North Americans approximate th... | If the statements above are true, they provide the most support for which one of the following? | [
"The staple foods of the Japanese diet contain elements that cure cancer.",
"The stress of life in North America is greater than that of life in Japan and predisposes to cancer.",
"The higher cancer rates of Japanese immigrants to North America are caused by fats in the North American diet.",
"The relatively ... | 3 | train_3578 |
Although the geological record contains some hints of major meteor impacts preceding mass extinctions, there were many extinctions that did not follow any known major meteor impacts. Likewise, there are many records of major meteor impacts that do not seem to have been followed by mass extinctions. Thus the geological ... | Which one of the following assumptions enables the argument's conclusion to be properly inferred? | [
"If there were a consistent causal link between major meteor impacts and mass extinctions, then all major meteor impacts would be followed by mass extinctions.",
"Of the mass extinctions that did not follow any known major meteor impacts, few if any followed major meteor impacts of which the geological record con... | 0 | train_3579 |
A construction project has been tasked with building a four-lane road from a remote mountain fortress to a major expressway lying at the base of the mountain. The slope leading to the mountain fortress is so precipitous that the only conceivable way to carry out the project is by building the road downhill, since const... | In order for the foreman's plan to be successful, which of the following pieces of information is most important? | [
"Whether any donkey is capable of transporting multiple parts",
"Whether the second strongest donkey is able to transport the heaviest piece of equipment",
"Whether the weakest donkey is able to transport the heaviest piece of equipment",
"Whether the strongest donkey is able to transport the heaviest piece o... | 3 | train_3580 |
Nursing schools cannot attract a greater number of able applicants than they currently do unless the problems of low wages and high-stress working conditions in the nursing profession are solved. If the pool of able applicants to nursing school does not increase beyond the current level, either the profession will have... | Which one of the following can be properly inferred from the passage? | [
"The current high quality of health care will not be maintained if the problems of low wages and high-stress working conditions in the nursing profession are not solved.",
"If the nursing profession fails to solve the problems of low wages and high-stress working conditions, there will soon be an acute shortage o... | 0 | train_3581 |
Newspaper: Increases in produce prices apparently have led to an increase in the planting of personal gardens. The two largest retail seed companies each reported sales increases of around 19 percent in the last year alone, a year in which the price of produce spiked. | Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the newspaper's argument? | [
"A large retail seed company went out of business early last year.",
"Community gardens report that waiting lists for renting garden plots have gotten longer over the last year.",
"Personal gardens are usually popular in economic downturns.",
"Increases in produce prices are largely driven by increases in the... | 0 | train_3582 |
Alice: In democracies, politicians garner support by emphasizing the differences between their opponents and themselves. Because they must rule in accord with their rhetoric, policies in democracies fluctuate wildly as one party succeeds another. Elwell: But despite election rhetoric, to put together majority coalition... | The statements above provide the most support for the claim that Alice and Elwell disagree about whether | [
"politicians heighten the differences between themselves and their opponents during elections",
"in a democracy the best way of ensuring continuity in policies is to form a coalition government",
"basic policies change drastically when one party succeeds another in a democracy",
"most voters stay loyal to a p... | 2 | train_3583 |
Much of today' s literature is inferior: most of our authors are intellectually and emotionally inexperienced, and their works lack both the intricacy and the focus on the significant that characterize good literature. However, Hypatia' s latest novel is promising; it shows a maturity, complexity, and grace that far ex... | Which one of the following statements is most strongly supported by the information in the passage? | [
"Hypatia's latest novel has at least one property of good literature to a greater degree than her earlier works.",
"Hypatia's latest novel is clearly better than the majority of today's literature.",
"Much of today's literature at least lacks the property of grace.",
"Hypatia's latest novel is good literature... | 0 | train_3584 |
In the country of Boldavia at present, only 1 percent of 80-year-olds are left-handed, whereas 10 percent of 50-year-olds and 15 percent of 20-year-olds are lefthanded. Yet over the past 80 years, the proportion of Boldavians who are born left-handed has not increased, nor have Boldavian attitudes toward lefthandedness... | Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the variation in incidence of left-handedness among Boldavians? | [
"In Boldavia, left-handed people are no more likely than right-handed people to be involved in accidents",
"Ambidexterity is highly valued in Boldavia.",
"Left-handed people have never accounted for more than 18 percent of the population of Boldavia.",
"In Boldavia, where men have a shorter average life expec... | 3 | train_3585 |
Why should the government, rather than industry or universities, provide the money to put a network of supercomputers in place? Because there is a range of problems that can be attacked only with the massive data-managing capacity of a supercomputer network. No business or university has the resources to purchase by it... | Which one of the following indicates a weakness in the argument? | [
"It overlooks the possibility that businesses or universities, or both, could cooperate to build the network.",
"It does not establish the impossibility of creating a supercomputer network as an international network.",
"It does not furnish a way in which the dilemma concerning the establishment of the network ... | 0 | train_3586 |
In a poll of eligible voters conducted on the eve of a mayoral election, more of those polled stated that they favored Panitch than stated that they favored any other candidate. Despite this result, another candidate, Yeung, defeated Panitch by a comfortable margin. | Each of the following, if true, contributes to a resolution of the discrepancy described above EXCEPT: | [
"A third candidate, Mulhern, conducted a press conference on the morning of the election and withdrew from the race.",
"The poll, conducted on a Monday, surveyed persons in the downtown area, and the percentage of Yeung's supporters who work downtown is lower than that of Panitch's supporters.",
"Of the poll re... | 3 | train_3587 |
Editorial: Teenagers tend to wake up around 8: 00 A. M. , the time when they stop releasing melatonin, and are sleepy if made to wake up earlier. Since sleepiness can impair driving ability, car accidents involving teenagers driving to school could be reduced if the school day began later than 8: 00 A. M. Indeed, when ... | Which one of the following, if true, provides the most support for the argument in the editorial? | [
"Teenagers start releasing melatonin later at night and stop releasing it later in the morning than do young children.",
"Car accidents involving teenage drivers rose in the region surrounding Granville during the time they declined in Granville.",
"Many of the car accidents involving teenage drivers in Granvil... | 1 | train_3588 |
It is a principle of economics that a nation can experience economic growth only when consumer confidence is balanced with a small amount of consumer skepticism. | Which one of the following is an application of the economic principle above? | [
"Any nation in which consumer confidence is balanced with a small amount of consumer skepticism will experience economic growth.",
"Any nation in which the prevailing attitude of consumers is not skepticism will experience economic growth.",
"Any nation in which the prevailing attitude of consumers is exclusive... | 2 | train_3589 |
Storytelling appears to be a universal aspect of both past and present cultures. Comparative study of traditional narratives from widely separated epochs and diverse cultures reveals common themes such as creation, tribal origin, mystical beings and quasi-historical figures, and common story types such as fables and ta... | The evidence cited above from the study of traditional narratives most supports which one of the following statements? | [
"Certain human concerns and interests arise in all of the world's cultures.",
"Storytelling was no less important in ancient cultures than it is in modern cultures.",
"Storytellers have long understood that the narrative is a universal aspect of human culture.",
"The best way to understand a culture is to und... | 0 | train_3590 |
The Eurasian ruffe, a fish species inadvertently introduced into North America' s Great Lakes in recent years, feeds on the eggs of lake whitefish, a native species, thus threatening the lakes' natural ecosystem. To help track the ruffe' s spread, government agencies have produced wallet-sized cards about the ruffe. Th... | Which of the following, if true, would provide most support for the prediction that the agencies' action will have its intended effect? | [
"Ruffe generally feed at night, but most recreational fishing on the Great Lakes is done during daytime hours.",
"The ruffe is one of several nonnative species in the Great Lakes whose existence threatens the survival of lake whitefish populations there.",
"The bait that most people use when fishing for whitefi... | 3 | train_3591 |
Over the last 10 years, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of people over the age of 65 living in this region. This is evident from the fact that during this time the average age of people living in this region has increased from approximately 52 to 57 years. | Which one of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument? | [
"The number of people in the region under the age of 18 has increased over the last 10 years.",
"The birth rate for the region decreased significantly over the last 10 years.",
"The total number of people living in the region has decreased over the last 10 years.",
"The average age for people in the region is... | 0 | train_3592 |
Australia has considerably fewer species of carnivorous mammals than any other continent does but about as many carnivorous reptile species as other continents do. This is probably a consequence of the unusual sparseness of Australia' s ecosystems. To survive, carnivorous mammals must eat much more than carnivorous rep... | Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main conclusion of the argument? | [
"The reason that carnivorous mammals are at a disadvantage in ecosystems in which there is relatively little food is that they must eat much more in order to survive than carnivorous reptiles need to.",
"The unusual sparseness of Australia's ecosystems is probably the reason Australia has considerably fewer carni... | 1 | train_3593 |
Counselor: Many people assume that personal conflicts are inevitable, but that assumption is just not so. Personal conflicts arise primarily because people are being irrational. For instance, people often find it easier to ascribe bad qualities to a person than good ones -- even when there is more evidence of the latte... | Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main conclusion drawn in the argument? | [
"Personal conflicts are not inevitable.",
"It is irrational to allow a single instance to turn one's suspicion that a friend is unreliable into a feeling of certainty.",
"Even when there is more evidence of good qualities than of bad ones, people find it easier to ascribe bad qualities than good ones.",
"Unli... | 0 | train_3594 |
Until recently, endosulfan was one of the most widely used pesticides. Some others -- toxaphene, dieldrin, and chlordane -- were banned or restricted in many countries in the 1980s but linger in the environment. All four have a weak effect individually in increasing estrogen levels in women. Scientists have found, howe... | Which one of the following is most strongly supported by the information above? | [
"Any two pesticides in combination pose greater health risks than do the same pesticides uncombined.",
"If certain pesticides combine in the environment, they may constitute greatly increased human health hazards.",
"Pesticides that boost estrogen levels are more dangerous than others.",
"Because of its hazar... | 1 | train_3595 |
Journalist: In physics journals, the number of articles reporting the results of experiments involving particle accelerators was lower last year than it had been in previous years. Several of the particle accelerators at major research institutions were out of service the year before last for repairs, so it is likely t... | Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the journalist's argument? | [
"The number of physics journals was the same last year as in previous years.",
"Every article based on experiments with particle accelerators that was submitted for publication last year actually was published.",
"Recent changes in the editorial policies of several physics journals have decreased the likelihood... | 2 | train_3596 |
The young orchestral conductor Sabado Domingo is a true prodigy, able to recognize when any single instrument in his orchestra is even a bit out of tune. In a recent test, an orchestra played a hundred selections from different well-known classical pieces; in approximately half of the selections, exactly one instrument... | Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the conclusion of the argument above? | [
"During the test, the orchestra was arranged in a traditional arrangement, similar to the arrangement in which they would be seated in a classical concert.",
"Because the test was performed in an empty concert hall, the acoustics of the concert hall differed somewhat from those of a concert hall populated by an a... | 3 | train_3597 |
Budget constraints have made police officials consider reassigning a considerable number of officers from traffic enforcement to work on higher-priority, serious crimes. Reducing traffic enforcement for this reason would be counterproductive, however, in light of the tendency of criminals to use cars when engaged in th... | Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument given? | [
"When the public becomes aware that traffic enforcement has lessened, it typically becomes lax in obeying traffic rules.",
"The great majority of persons who are stopped by officers for traffic violations are not guilty of any serious crimes.",
"Those willing to break the law to commit serious crimes are often ... | 2 | train_3598 |
Hotco oil burners, designed to be used in asphalt plants, are so efficient that Hotco will sell one to the Clifton Asphalt plant for no payment other than the cost savings between the total amount the asphalt plant actually paid for oil using its former burner during the last two years and the total amount it will pay ... | Which of the following, if it occurred, would constitute a disadvantage for Hotco of the plan described above? | [
"The Clifton Asphalt plant's need for more than one new burner",
"A steady increase in the price of oil beginning soon after the new burner is installed",
"Another manufacturer's introduction to the market of a similarly efficient burner",
"A decrease in the demand for asphalt"
] | 1 | train_3599 |
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