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Egidio' s Gym has been in operation for seven years, and offers regular weekly weight training and aerobic classes, as well as occasional programs in dance and martial arts. The gym has seen a surge of new members in the past twelve months, despite keeping the same membership fee over the past three years. Of the 450 c... | Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends? | [
"None of the other gyms in this town saw any increase in membership during the past year.",
"Many of the new members joined because of personal recommendations of those who were already members.",
"Dance and martial arts have become particularly popular among the general public over the past year.",
"Fewer th... | 3 | train_4400 |
Anyone believing that no individual can have an effect on society' s future will as a result feel too helpless to act to change society for the better. Thus, anyone who wants to improve society should reject the belief that its future will be determined entirely by vast historical forces that individuals are powerless ... | Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps to justify the argument? | [
"Anyone who feels too helpless to act to change society for the better should reject the belief that its future will be determined by vast historical forces that individuals are powerless to change.",
"Each individual should act to improve society if individuals in general feel powerless in the face of vast histo... | 3 | train_4401 |
Even in ancient times, specialized farms (farms that grow a single type of crop or livestock) existed only where there were large commercial markets for farm products, and such markets presuppose urban populations. Ttherefore the extensive ruins in the archaeological site at Kadshim are probably the remains of a largel... | Which one of the following is an error of reasoning in the argument? | [
"drawing a conclusion that is simply a restatement of one of the premises on which the argument is based",
"taking the nonexistence of something as evidence that a necessary precondition for that thing also did not exist",
"taking the fact that something is true of one sample of a class of things as evidence th... | 1 | train_4402 |
Letter to the editor: I have never seen such flawed reasoning and distorted evidence as that which you tried to pass off as a balanced study in the article "Speed Limits, Fatalities, and Public Policy. " The article states that areas with lower speed limits had lower vehicle-related fatality rates than other areas. How... | The reasoning in the letter writer's argument is flawed because the argument | [
"does not present any claims as evidence against the opposing viewpoint",
"bases its conclusion on findings from the same article that it is criticizing",
"fails to consider the possibility that the vehicle-related fatality rates in other areas are also rising",
"fails to consider the possibility that automob... | 2 | train_4403 |
It is widely believed that eating chocolate can cause acne. Indeed, many people who are susceptible to acne report that, in their own experience, eating large amounts of chocolate is invariably followed by an outbreak of that skin condition. However, it is likely that common wisdom has mistaken an effect for a cause. S... | Of the following, which one most accurately expresses the main point of the argument? | [
"People are mistaken who insist that whenever they eat large amounts of chocolate they invariably suffer from an outbreak of acne,",
"Eating large amounts of chocolate is more likely to cause stress than it is to cause outbreaks of acne.",
"The more chocolate a person eats, the more likely that person is to exp... | 3 | train_4404 |
From 1973 to 1976, total United States consumption of cigarettes increased 3. 4 percent, and total sales of chewing tobacco rose 18. 0 percent. During the same period, total United States population increased 5. 0 percent. | If the statements above are true, which of the following conclusions can be properly drawn? | [
"A large percentage of United States smokers switched from cigarettes to chewing tobacco between 1973 and 1976.",
"Per capita consumption of cigarettes in the United States was lower in 1976 than in 1973.",
"The proportion of nonsmokers in the United States population dropped slightly between 1973 and 1976.",
... | 1 | train_4405 |
<b> Environmental organizations want to preserve the land surrounding the Wilgrinn Wilderness Area from residential development. </b> They plan to do this by purchasing that land from the farmers who own it. That plan is ill-conceived: if the farmers did sell their land, they would sell it to the highest bidder, and de... | In the argument as a whole, the two boldface proportions play which of the following roles? | [
"The first presents a goal, strategies for achieving which are being evaluated in the argument; the second is a judgment providing a basis for the argument's advocacy of a particular strategy.",
"The first presents a goal that the argument concludes cannot be attained; the second is a reason offered in support of... | 0 | train_4406 |
Because of the lucrative but illegal trade in rhinoceros horns, a certain rhinoceros species has been hunted nearly to extinction. Ttherefore an effective way to ensure the survival of that species would be to periodically trim off the horns of all rhinoceroses, thereby eliminating the motivation for poaching. | Which one of the following is an assumption required by the argument? | [
"Poachers hunt at least some immature rhinoceroses whose horns have not yet started to develop.",
"The demand for rhinoceros horns will remain constant even if the supply decreases after the periodic trimming-off of the rhinoceros horns has begun.",
"Rhinoceroses whose horns have been trimmed off are unable to ... | 3 | train_4407 |
Historian: Concern with achievement and power surged dramatically in the latter part of the eighteenth century, which is around the time that the Industrial Revolution began in Europe. So, it is clear that this surge in concern with achievement and power was a result of the Industrial Revolution. | The reasoning in the argument is flawed because | [
"it fails to adequately take into account that the beginning of the Industrial Revolution in Europe cannot be located with any great precision",
"it ignores the fact that the Industrial Revolution did not reach its full maturity until the nineteenth century",
"increasing concern with achievement and power may v... | 2 | train_4408 |
In the past, the railroads in Ostronia were run as regional monopolies and operated with little regard for what customers wanted. In recent years, with improvements to the Ostronian national highway network, the railroad companies have faced heavy competition from long-distance trucking companies. But because of govern... | If the statements above are true, which one of the following must also be true on the basis of them? | [
"Without government subsidies, railroad companies in Ostronia would have to increase the prices they charge their customers.",
"In recent years, some companies in Ostronia that have had little regard for the desires of their customers have nonetheless survived.",
"If the government of Ostronia ceases to subsidi... | 1 | train_4409 |
Advertisement: Today' s customers expect high quality. Every advance in the quality of manufactured products raises customer expectations. The company that is satisfied with the current quality of its products will soon find that its customers are not. At MegaCorp, meeting or exceeding customer expectations is our goal... | Which of the following must be true on the basis of the statements in the advertisement above? | [
"If a company becomes satisfied with the quality of its products, then the quality of its products is sure to decline.",
"A company that does not correctly anticipate the expectations of its customers is certain to fail in advancing the quality of its products.",
"MegaCorp's goal is possible to meet only if con... | 2 | train_4410 |
In a certain state, over 80% of the land is comprised of farms, but historically, large farm machinery has not sold well in this state. The percentage of land devoted to farms is not expected to increase. In fact, the number of farms in the state has been slowly declining over the past decade. A new manufacturer of lar... | Which of the following, if true, most helps to provide a justification for the manufacturer's and the industry analysts' optimistic expectations? | [
"The percentage of food imported into the state, from other states and from other countries, has increased significantly over the past 20 years.",
"The number of models of large farm machinery this manufacturer will offer is larger than the number of models offered by most other comparable manufacturers of large ... | 3 | train_4411 |
One thousand people in Denmark were questioned about their views on banning cigarette advertising. The sample comprised adults who are representative of the general population, and who, ten years previously, had been questioned on the same issue. Interestingly, their opinions changed little. Results show that 31 percen... | The survey results in the passage best support which one of the following conclusions? | [
"Most of Denmark's population favors some sort of ban on cigarette advertising.",
"Most of Denmark's population does not smoke cigarettes.",
"A minority of Denmark's population feels that banning cigarette advertising would set a bad precedent.",
"People's opinions never change very much."
] | 0 | train_4412 |
Bank deposits are credited on the date of the transaction only when they are made before 3 P. M. Alicia knows that the bank deposit was made before 3 P. M. So, Alicia knows that the bank deposit was credited on the date of the transaction. | Which one of the following exhibits both of the logical flaws exhibited by the argument above? | [
"It is clear that George knows he will be promoted to shift supervisor, because George will be promoted to shift supervisor only if Helen resigns, and George knows Helen will resign.",
"Journalists are the only ones who will be permitted to ask questions at the press conference. Since Marjorie is a journalist, sh... | 0 | train_4413 |
If the city starts requiring residents to sort the materials that they put out for recycling, then many residents will put more recyclables in with their regular garbage. This will result in more recyclables being buried in the city' s landfill. However, because of the cost of having city workers do the sorting, the sa... | Which one of the following statements logically follows from the information above? | [
"If the city implements the sorting requirement, the sanitation department will stay within its budget.",
"The amount of recyclables going to the city's landfill will increase if the sanitation department stays within its budget.",
"Most of the city's residents will continue to recycle even if a sorting require... | 1 | train_4414 |
Citizen: Our legislators need to act quickly to counter the effects of the recession, especially the present level of unemployment, which is the highest ever. We urgently need a major tax cut for our upper-income citizens. There would then be a correspondingly large increase in investment that would create new jobs. If... | The citizen's argument depends on the assumption that | [
"the recession in the citizen's country is the worst one in its history",
"upper-income citizens could use the money gained from the tax cut in ways that increase investment",
"in the past tax cuts for certain groups of people have tended to create new jobs",
"the greater the tax cut given to a group of peopl... | 1 | train_4415 |
In older commercial airplanes, the design of the control panel allows any changes in flight controls made by one member of the flight crew to be immediately viewed by the other crew members. In recently manufactured aircraft, however, a crew member' s flight control changes are harder to observe, thereby eliminating a ... | The statements above, if true, most strongly support which one of the following? | [
"How frequently an airplane's flight crew members will inform each other verbally about flight control changes depends in large part on how long it takes to perform those changes.",
"How often flight crew members must share information verbally about flight control changes depends in part on what other means for ... | 1 | train_4416 |
A county airport, designed to serve the needs of private aircraft owners, planned to cover its operating expenses in part by charging user fees to private aircraft using the airport. The airport was unable to pay its operating expenses because the revenue from user fees was lower than expected. | If the statements above are true, which one of the following must also be true? | [
"Private aircraft owners were unwilling to pay the user fees charged at the airport.",
"The number of owners of private aircraft who use the county's airport facilities will not change appreciably in the future.",
"Most of the county's citizens live a convenient distance from one or another airport now offering... | 3 | train_4417 |
Some psychologists claim that, in theory, the best way to understand another person would be through deep empathy, whereby one would gain a direct and complete grasp of that person' s motivations. But suppose they are right; then there would be no way at all to achieve understanding, since it is psychologically impossi... | The argument is most vulnerable to the criticism that it | [
"fails to adequately define the key phrase \"deep empathy\"",
"assumes something that it later denies, resulting in a contradiction",
"accepts a claim on mere authority, without requiring sufficient justification",
"confuses a theoretically best way of accomplishing something with the only way of accomplishin... | 3 | train_4418 |
Keith: Compliance with new government regulations requiring the installation of smoke alarms and sprinkler systems in all theaters and arenas will cost the entertainment industry $25 billion annually. Consequently, jobs will be lost and profits diminished. Ttherefore, these regulations will harm the country's economy. ... | Laura responds to Keith by | [
"suggesting that Keith's argument overlooks a mitigating consequence",
"demonstrating that Keith's conclusion is based on evidence that is not relevant to the issue at hand",
"agreeing with the main conclusion of Keith's argument but construing that conclusion as grounds for optimism rather than for pessimism",... | 0 | train_4419 |
Scientist: Laboratory animals have access to ample food, and they get relatively little exercise. These factors can skew the results of research using animals, since such studies often rely on the assumption that the animal subjects are healthy. For instance, animal studies that purport to show that extreme caloric res... | The scientist's argument requires assuming which one of the following? | [
"Laboratory animals are healthy if they are fed a carefully restricted diet and get plenty of exercise.",
"Laboratory conditions that provide animals with ample food but relatively little exercise can be unhealthy for the animals.",
"Some animal studies take into consideration the differences between the living... | 1 | train_4420 |
A certain experimental fungicide causes no harm to garden plants, though only if it is diluted at least to ten parts water to one part fungicide. Moreover, this fungicide is known to be so effective against powdery mildew that it has the capacity to eliminate it completely from rose plants. Thus this fungicide, as long... | Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends? | [
"The effectiveness of the fungicide does not depend on its being more concentrated than one part in ten parts of water.",
"When the fungicide is sufficiently diluted, it does not present any risk of harm to people, animals, or beneficial insects.",
"If a fungicide is to be effective against powdery mildew on ro... | 0 | train_4421 |
Lakshmi: I know that wildflowers are threatened because of the reduced number of suitable spaces where they can grow and that people should generally leave them where they are growing. This large field, however, is full of plants of one wildflower species, and it would be all right for me to take just one plant, since ... | Malini's criticism proceeds by | [
"contending that Lakshmi is presupposing that an exception can properly be made for her but not for anyone else",
"relying on the principle that a selfish act is wrong even when it has no harmful effect",
"pointing out that apparently insignificant individual acts of a certain kind can have a large cumulative e... | 2 | train_4422 |
Biographer: Arnold' s belief that every offer of assistance on the part of his colleagues was a disguised attempt to make him look inadequate and that no expression of congratulations on his promotion should be taken at face value may seem irrational. In fact, this belief was a consequence of his early experiences with... | The flawed reasoning in the biographer's argument is most similar to that in which one of the following? | [
"As a child, Joan was severely punished whenever she played with her father's prize Siamese cat. Ttherefore, since this information makes her present belief that cats are not good pets completely understandable, that belief is justified.",
"Emily suspected that apples are unhealthy ever since she almost choked to... | 0 | train_4423 |
A recently discovered fossil, which is believed by some to come from Archaeoraptor liaoningensis, a species of dinosaur, can serve as evidence that birds evolved from dinosaurs only if the entire fossil is from a single animal. However, the fossil is a composite of bones collected from various parts of the discovery si... | The conclusion drawn in the argument follows logically if which one of the following is assumed? | [
"If the entire fossil is from a single animal, then it is a well-preserved specimen.",
"The only paleontologists who believe that the entire fossil is from a single animal are those who were already convinced that birds evolved from dinosaurs.",
"The fossil was stolen from the discovery site and sold by someone... | 3 | train_4424 |
If the city builds the proposed convention center, several national professional organizations will hold conventions there. And if several large conventions are held in the city, the total number of visitors will of course increase. Tax revenues will certainly increase if the number of visitors increases. Thus, buildin... | The conclusion of the argument follows logically if which one of the following is assumed? | [
"People who are now regular visitors to the city will continue to visit the city if the new convention center is built.",
"The city's tax revenues will not increase unless the convention center is built.",
"If several national professional organizations hold their conventions in the convention center, those con... | 2 | train_4425 |
A leading critic of space exploration contends that it would be wrong, given current technology, to send a group of explorers to Mars, since the explorers would be unlikely to survive the trip. But that exaggerates the risk. There would be a well-engineered backup system at every stage of the long and complicated journ... | The reasoning in the argument is flawed in that the argument | [
"infers that something cannot occur merely from the fact that it is unlikely to occur",
"rejects a view merely on the grounds that an inadequate argument has been made for it",
"draws a conclusion about what must be the case based on evidence about what is probably the case",
"infers that something is true of... | 3 | train_4426 |
Fact: Asthma, a bronchial condition, is much less common ailment than hay fever, an allergic inflammation of the nasal passages. Fact: Over 95 percent of people who have asthma also suffer from hay fever. | If the information given as facts above is true, which of the following must also be true? | [
"The percentage of people suffering from hay fever who also have asthma is lower than 95 percent.",
"The number of people who have both of these ailments is greater than the number of people who have only one of them.",
"Hay fever is a prerequisite for the development of asthma.",
"Those who have neither hay ... | 0 | train_4427 |
A professor of business placed a case-study assignment for her class on her university' s computer network. She later found out that instead of reading the assignment on the computer screen, 50 out of the 70 students printed it out on paper. Thus, it is not the case that books delivered via computer will make printed b... | Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument? | [
"Some people get impaired vision from long periods of reading printed matter on computer screens, even if they use high quality computer screens.",
"Studies consistently show that most computer users will print reading material that is more than a few pages in length rather than read it on the computer screen.",
... | 1 | train_4428 |
An article claims that many medical patients have an instinctual ability to predict sudden changes in their medical status. But the evidence given is anecdotal and should not be trusted. The case is analogous to empirically disproven reports that babies are born in disproportionately high numbers during full moons. Onc... | The argument requires the assumption that | [
"the idea that medical patients have an instinctual ability to predict sudden changes in their medical status is not a widely held belief",
"the patients in the article were not being serious when they predicted sudden changes in their medical status",
"patients' predictions of sudden changes in their medical s... | 2 | train_4429 |
The Kiffer Forest Preserve, in the northernmost part of the Abbimac Valley, is where most of the bears in the valley reside. During the eight years that the main road through the preserve has been closed the preserve' s bear population has nearly doubled. Thus, the valley' s bear population will increase if the road is... | Which one of the following, if true, most undermines the argument? | [
"Only some of the increase in the preserve's bear population over the past eight years is due to migration of bears from outside the Abbimac Valley.",
"The bear population in areas of the Abbimac Valley outside the Kiffer Forest Preserve has decreased over the past eight years.",
"The bear population in the Abb... | 2 | train_4430 |
If rational-choice theory is correct, then people act only in ways that they expect will benefit themselves. But this means that rational-choice theory cannot be correct, because plenty of examples exist of people acting in ways that result in no personal benefit whatsoever. | The argument above is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it | [
"takes for granted that people who are acting in ways that are personally beneficial expected that their actions would be personally beneficial",
"presumes, without justification, that examples of people acting in ways that are not personally beneficial greatly outnumber examples of people acting in ways that are... | 3 | train_4431 |
Advertisement: VIVVY, a video-based foreign language course for children, was introduced seventeen years ago. Amy, Matt, and Evelyn were among the first children to use VIVVY. Now they are successful university students. So if your child uses VIVVY, you can expect him or her to become a successful university student. | Which one of the following demonstrates most effectively by parallel reasoning that the argument in the advertisement is flawed? | [
"Similarly, you could conclude that Eric, Diane, and Martin are the only employees who will be laid off. After all, any employee hired within the last year can expect to be laid off, and these three employees are the only ones who were hired within the last year.",
"Similarly, you could conclude that Jesse should... | 3 | train_4432 |
Most hospitals have treatment options for cancer patients. All hospitals are able to treat all kinds of burn victims as well as all kinds of Neurology disorders. Ttherefore, there must be some hospitals that treat both cancer and burn victims and some hospitals that treat both cancer and Neurology disorders. | The pattern of flawed reasoning in which of the following arguments is most parallel to that in the argument above? | [
"Most insects are helpful to humans. Nearly all insects have an exoskeleton and a body made up of three parts: a head, thorax, and abdomen. Ttherefore, unless there are some insects that are both helpful to humans and have an exoskeleton, there must be some insects that are both helpful to humans and are made up of... | 1 | train_4433 |
The imposition of quotas limiting imported steel will not help the big American steel mills. In fact, the quotas will help "mini-mills" flourish in the United States. Those small domestic mills will take more business from the big Americal steel mills than would have been taken by the foreign steel mills in the absence... | Which of the following, if true, would cast the most serious doubt on the claim made in the last sentence above? | [
"Domestic \"mini-mills\" produce low-volume, specialized types of steels that are not produced by the big American steel mills.",
"American quotas on imported goods have often induced other countries to impose similar quotas on American goods.",
"Domestic \"mini-mills\" consistently produce better grades of ste... | 0 | train_4434 |
In the last decade, the country of Alumba has undergone a massive construction boom. In one city, Semanta, hundreds of new buildings have been erected and, as a result, the ambient light at night has increased from 0. 10 lux to 10 lux, causing migratory birds flying to alter their traditional path and fly into Semanta,... | Which of the following, is necessary, to evaluate the mayor's proposal for limiting the amount of night light that Semanta emits? | [
"Whether there are any other cities in Alumba that might also emit enough ambient light to confuse migrating birds.",
"Whether the period in which birds migrate is consistent each year.",
"Whether there are any other migratory birds flying through Alumba.",
"The percent of birds flying through Alumba that are... | 0 | train_4435 |
If the concrete is poured while the ground is wet, it will not form a solid foundation. If the concrete does not form a solid foundation, it will either settle unevenly or crack. So if the concrete settles evenly, either it was poured while the ground was dry or it will crack. | Which one of the following arguments is most closely parallel in its reasoning to the reasoning in the argument above? | [
"The film will not be properly exposed if the camera is not working properly. If the film is not properly exposed, then the photograph will be either blurred or dark. So if the photograph is not blurred, either the camera is working properly or the photograph will be dark.",
"If the camera is working properly, th... | 0 | train_4436 |
Anderson maintains that travel writing has diminished in quality over the last few decades. Although travel writing has changed in this time, Anderson is too harsh on contemporary travel writers. Today, when the general public is better traveled than in the past, travel writers face a challenge far greater than that of... | Which one of the following most accurately describes the role played in the argument by the statement that the general public is better traveled today than in the past? | [
"It is cited as evidence that contemporary travel writing is intended for a wider readership.",
"It is claimed to be a result of good travel writing.",
"It is cited as a reason that travel writing flourishes more today than it has in the past.",
"It is cited as a condition that has transformed the task of the... | 3 | train_4437 |
This region must find new ways to help business grow. After all, shoe manufacturing used to be a major local industry, but recently has experienced severe setbacks due to overseas competition, so there is a need for expansion into new manufacturing areas. Moreover, our outdated public policy generally inhibits business... | Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main conclusion drawn in the argument? | [
"Outdated public policy inhibits business growth in the region.",
"The region needs to find new ways to enhance business growth.",
"Shoe manufacturing is no longer a major source of income in the region.",
"Business in the region must expand into new areas of manufacturing."
] | 1 | train_4438 |
In some jurisdictions, lawmakers have instituted sentencing guidelines that mandate a penalty for theft that is identical to the one they have mandated for bribery. Hence, lawmakers in those jurisdictions evidently consider the harm resulting from theft to be equal to the harm resulting from bribery. | Which one of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument? | [
"If lawmakers mandate penalties for crimes that are proportional to the harm resulting from those crimes, crime in those lawmakers' jurisdictions will be effectively deterred.",
"Often, in response to the unusually great harm resulting from a particular instance of a crime, lawmakers will mandate an increased pen... | 2 | train_4439 |
Editorial: In rejecting the plan proposed by parliament to reform the electoral process, the president clearly acted in the best interests of the nation. Anyone who thinks otherwise should remember that the president made this decision knowing it would be met with fierce opposition at home and widespread disapproval ab... | The reasoning in the editorial is in error because | [
"it fails to distinguish between evidence concerning the courage required to make a certain decision and evidence concerning the wisdom of making that decision",
"it confuses a quality that is merely desirable in a political leader with a quality that is essential to effective political decision-making",
"it ig... | 0 | train_4440 |
The National Farm Administration (NFA) has been concerned over the last decade with the struggles of barley growers. Plan: In an effort to support these barley growers, two years ago, the NFA began a program of sending them, each autumn, a free special mix of fertilizer and enzymes designed to multiply barley yield, to... | <u> Further information:</u> All barley growers received the shipments, and all used them. Weather conditions have been fair to optimal for barley growth over the past two years. In light of the further information, which of the following, if true, does most to explain the result that followed the implementation of the... | [
"This was the second such NFA program to aid barley growers; the first one, 14 years ago, was started with high hopes, but did little to change their situation.",
"This program was implemented at a time when more than half of barley growers nationwide were reported barely breaking even in their yearly expenses.",... | 2 | train_4441 |
Although custom prosthetic bone replacements produced through a new computer-aided design process will cost more than twice as much as ordinary replacements, custom replacements should still be cost-effective. Not only will surgery and recovery time be reduced, but custom replacements should last longer, thereby reduci... | Which of the following must be studied in order to evaluate the argument presented above? | [
"The amount by which the cost of producing custom replacements has declined with the introduction of the new technique for producing them",
"The degree to which the use of custom replacements is likely to reduce the need for repeat surgery when compared with the use of ordinary replacements",
"The amount by whi... | 1 | train_4442 |
Cereal advertisement: Fitness experts say that regular exercise is the most effective way to become physically fit, and studies have shown that adults who eat cereal every day exercise more regularly than adults who do not eat cereal. So by eating Fantastic Flakes every morning, you too will be on the most effective pa... | The argumentation in the advertisement is flawed in that it | [
"presumes, without providing justification, that Fantastic Flakes are more nutritious than other cereals",
"infers a cause from a mere correlation",
"draws a conclusion about all adults from a sample that is too small to be representative",
"infers that a given factor is the sole predictor of a result merely ... | 1 | train_4443 |
People are usually interested in, and often even moved by, anecdotes about individuals, whereas they rarely even pay attention to statistical information, much less change their beliefs in response to it. However, although anecdotes are generally misleading in that they are about unrepresentative cases, people tend to ... | Which one of the following, if true, would most help to explain why people tend to have accurate beliefs about society despite the facts described above? | [
"The more emotionally compelling an anecdote is, the more likely it is to change a person's beliefs.",
"Statistical information tends to obscure the characteristics of individuals.",
"Most people recognize that anecdotes tend to be about unrepresentative cases.",
"People tend to base their beliefs about other... | 2 | train_4444 |
Medical researcher: Scientists compared a large group of joggers who habitually stretch before jogging to an equal number of joggers who do not stretch before jogging. Both groups of joggers incurred roughly the same number of injuries. This indicates that stretching before jogging does not help to prevent injuries. | Which one of the following, if true, would most weaken the medical researcher's argument? | [
"Most jogging injuries result from falls, collisions, and other mishaps on which the flexibility resulting from stretching would have little if any effect.",
"For both groups of joggers compared by the scientists, the rate of jogging injuries during the study was lower than the overall rate of jogging injuries.",... | 3 | train_4445 |
Most respondents to a magazine survey who had recently listened to a taped reading of a certain best-selling novel said that they had enjoyed the novel, while most respondents who had recently read the novel themselves said they had not enjoyed it. These survey results support the contention that a person who listens t... | Which one of the following, if true, would most weaken the argument? | [
"Most people can read a novel in considerably less time than it would take them to listen to a taped reading of it.",
"Most of the respondents who had listened to a taped reading of the novel had never read it, and most of the respondents who had read the novel had never listened to a taped reading of it.",
"Th... | 2 | train_4446 |
Genuine happiness consists not in pleasurable feelings but instead in one' s sense of approval of one' s character and projects. Thus the happy life, in fact, tends to be the good life, where the good life is understood not -- as it usually is these days -- as a life of material well-being but rather as a morally virtu... | Which one of the following is an assumption required by the argument? | [
"A morally virtuous life requires the rejection of material well-being.",
"People who approve of their own character and projects tend to lead morally virtuous lives.",
"Attaining happiness is the real goal of people who strive for material well-being.",
"Approval of one's own character and projects tends not... | 1 | train_4447 |
The heavy traffic in Masana is a growing drain on the city' s economy--the clogging of the streets of the central business district alone cost the economy more than $1. 2 billion over the past year. In order to address this problem, officials plan to introduce congestion pricing, by which drivers would pay to enter the... | Which of the following, if true, would most strongly indicate that the plan will be a success? | [
"Planners expect that, without congestion pricing, traffic in Masana is likely to grow by 6 percent in the next five years.",
"In other urban areas, congestion pricing has strongly encouraged carpooling (sharing of rides by private commuters).",
"Over 30 percent of the vehicles in the city's center are occupied... | 1 | train_4448 |
Spiders of many species change color to match the pigmentation of the flowers they sit on. The insects preyed on by those spiders, unlike human beings, possess color discrimination so acute that they can readily see the spiders despite the seeming camouflage. Clearly, then, it must be in evading their own predators tha... | Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument? | [
"Certain animals that feed on color-changing spiders do so only sparingly in order to keep from ingesting harmful amounts of spider venom.",
"The color discrimination of certain birds that feed on color-changing spiders is no more acute than that of human beings.",
"Color-changing spiders possess color discrimi... | 1 | train_4449 |
Columnist: People should avoid using a certain artificial fat that has been touted as a resource for those whose medical advisers have advised them to reduce their fat intake. Although the artificial fat, which can be used in place of fat in food preparation, has none of the negative health effects of fat, it does have... | In evaluating the columnist's position, it would be most useful to determine which of the following? | [
"Whether the vitamins that the artificial fat absorbs are present in foods that contain the fat",
"Whether increasing one's intake of the vitamins can compensate for the effects of the artificial fat",
"Whether there are any foods that cannot be prepared using the artificial fat as a substitute for other fats",... | 1 | train_4450 |
Smokers of pipes or cigars run a distinctly lower risk to their health than do cigarette smokers. However, whereas cigarette smokers who quit smoking altogether sharply reduce their risk of smoking related health problems, those who give up cigarettes and take up pipes or cigars remain in as much danger as before. | Which one of the following, if true, offers the best prospects for an explanation of why the two changes in smoking habits do not both result in reduced health risks? | [
"Cigarette smokers who quit smoking for a time and who then resume cigarette smoking do not necessarily reduce their risk of smoking-related health problems.",
"The kinds of illnesses that smokers run an increased risk of contracting develop no earlier in cigarette smokers than they do in smokers of pipes or ciga... | 3 | train_4451 |
Millions of irreplaceable exhibits in natural history museums are currently allowed to decay. Yet without analyses of eggs from museums, the studies linking pesticides with the decline of birds of prey would have been impossible. Ttherefore, funds must be raised to preserve at least those exhibits that will be most val... | The argument presupposes that | [
"the decay of organic material in natural history exhibits is natural and cannot be prevented",
"the scientific analysis of museum exhibits can be performed in a nondestructive way",
"if a museum exhibit is irreplaceable, its preservation is of an importance that overrides economic considerations",
"it can be... | 3 | train_4452 |
Most of the mines that Moradco operates in the province of Velyena have never violated environmental regulations. Every one of the gold mines that Moradco operates throughout the world has at some time or another violated environmental regulations. | Which one of the following statements follows logically from the statements above? | [
"Most of the gold mines that Moradco operates are not located in Velyena.",
"Moradco operates more mines in Velyena than any other company operates there.",
"Most of the mines that Moradco operates throughout the world are not gold mines.",
"Most of the mines that Moradco operates in Velyena are not gold mine... | 3 | train_4453 |
The tiny country of Minlandia does not produce its own television programming. Instead, the citizens of Minlandia, who generally are fluent not only in their native Minlandian, but also in Boltese, watch Boltese-language television programs from neighboring Bolta. Surveys show that the Minlandians spend on average more... | The explanation offered by the psychologist accounts for the Minlandians' behavior only if which one of the following is assumed? | [
"At least some of what the Minlandians read for pleasure is in the Minlandian language.",
"The study of Boltese is required of Minlandian children as part of their schooling.",
"The proportion of bilingual residents to total population is greater in Minlandia than anywhere else in the world.",
"When Minlandia... | 0 | train_4454 |
The irradiation of food kills bacteria and thus retards spoilage. However, it also lowers the nutritional value of many foods. For example, irradiation destroys a significant percentage of whatever vitamin B1 a food may contain. Proponents of irradiation point out that irradiation is no worse in this respect than cooki... | Which of the following most logically completes the argument? | [
"many of the proponents of irradiation are food distributors who gain from food's having a longer shelf life",
"for food that is both irradiated and cooked, the reduction of vitamin B1 associated with either process individually is compounded",
"it is clear that killing bacteria that may be present on food is n... | 1 | train_4455 |
The number of North American children who are obese -- that is, who have more body fat than do 85 percent of North American children their age -- is steadily increasing, according to four major studies conducted over the past 15 years. | If the finding reported above is correct, it can be properly concluded that | [
"the incidence of obesity in North American children tends to increase as the children grow older",
"when four major studies all produce similar results, those studies must be accurate",
"the number of North American children who are not obese increased over the past 15 years",
"over the past 15 years, the nu... | 2 | train_4456 |
Artist: Avant-garde artists intend their work to challenge a society' s mainstream beliefs and initiate change. And some art collectors claim that an avant-garde work that becomes popular in its own time is successful. However, a society' s mainstream beliefs do not generally show any significant changes over a short p... | The reference to the claim of certain art collectors plays which one of the following roles in the artist's argument? | [
"It identifies a view that is ultimately disputed by the argument.",
"It provides support for the initial premise in the argument.",
"It provides support for a counterargument to the initial premise.",
"It identifies a position supported by the initial premise in the argument."
] | 0 | train_4457 |
Nutritionist: The healthiest soups all contain spinach and various other vegetables. Few vegetable soups are thought to be rich in nutrients. The lower the nutritional benefit of a food, the less healthy it is. No vegetable soup that does not contain spinach then should be considered healthy. | Which one of the following would it be most relevant to investigate in evaluating the conclusion of the nutritionist's argument? | [
"Is spinach the only high-nutrient vegetable that is used in soup?",
"Which vegetables contain the least nutrients?",
"Do substances added during the canning process make soup healthier?",
"Are cream soups healthier than vegetable soups?"
] | 0 | train_4458 |
Politician: Of the candidates running, Thompson is the best person to lead this nation. For one thing, Thompson opposes higher taxes whereas the other candidates support them. Many would agree that anyone who opposes higher taxes will make a better leader than someone who supports them. | Which one of the following, if true, casts the most doubt on the politician's argument? | [
"All of the past leaders who supported higher taxes were hardworking.",
"All of the past leaders who supported higher taxes performed their jobs adequately.",
"Being opposed to higher taxes is not a sufficient condition for good leadership.",
"Opposing higher taxes is not a factor contributing to good leaders... | 3 | train_4459 |
According to the rules of the university' s housing lottery, the only students guaranteed dormitory rooms are fourth-year students. In addition, any fourth-year student on the dean' s list can choose a dormitory room before anyone who is not a fourth-year student. | Which one of the following inferences is most strongly supported by the rules described above? | [
"Anissa is a fourth-year student who is on the dean's list. Thus, since Jehan is a second-year student who is also on the dean's list, he can choose a dormitory room before Anissa.",
"Ivan and Naomi are both fourth-year students but only Naomi is on the dean's list. Ttherefore, Ivan can choose a dormitory room be... | 3 | train_4460 |
Musicologist: Classification of a musical instrument depends on the mechanical action through which it produces music. So the piano is properly called a percussion instrument, not a stringed instrument. Even though the vibration of the piano' s strings is what makes its sound, the strings are caused to vibrate by the i... | Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main conclusion of the musicologist's argument? | [
"Musical instruments should not be classified based on the way musicians interact with them.",
"It is correct to classify the piano as a percussion instrument rather than as a stringed instrument.",
"The piano should be classified as a stringed instrument rather than as a percussion instrument.",
"Some people... | 1 | train_4461 |
Commentator: If a political administration is both economically successful and successful at protecting individual liberties, then it is an overall success. Even an administration that fails to care for the environment may succeed overall if it protects individual liberties. So far, the present administration has not c... | If all of the statements above are true, then which one of the following must be true? | [
"If the present administration is economically successful, then it is an overall success.",
"If the present administration had been economically successful, it would have cared for the environment.",
"The present administration is not an overall success.",
"The present administration is economically successfu... | 0 | train_4462 |
Every brick house on River Street has a front yard. Most of the houses on River Street that have front yards also have two stories. So most of the brick houses on River Street have two stories. | Which one of the following is most appropriate as an analogy demonstrating that the reasoning in the argument above is flawed? | [
"By that line of reasoning, we could conclude that most politicians have run for office, since all legislators are politicians and most legislators have run for office.",
"By that line of reasoning, we could conclude that not every public servant has run for office, since every legislator is a public servant but ... | 3 | train_4463 |
Advertisement: HomeGlo Paints, Inc. , has won the prestigious Golden Paintbrush Award given to the one paint manufacturer in the country that has increased the environmental safety of its product most over the past three years for HomeGlo Exterior Enamel. The Golden Paintbrush is awarded only on the basis of thorough t... | The flawed reasoning in the advertisement most closely parallels that in which one of the following? | [
"The ZXC audio system received the overall top ranking for looks, performance, durability, and value in Listeners' Report magazine's ratings of currently produced systems. Ttherefore, the ZXC must have better sound quality than any other currently produced sound system.",
"Jerrold's teachers recognize him as the ... | 1 | train_4464 |
Aesthetician: Zahib' s rejection of contemporary literature' s aesthetic value depends on his claim that today' s writing generally fails to grapple seriously enough with life' s deepest ethical questions -- whereas great books, he maintains, present profound moral lessons and "the stuff of conscience. " But what resou... | The aesthetician criticizes Zahib's position by arguing that it depends on the questionable premise that | [
"only novels that have aesthetic value fail to present profound moral lessons",
"today's writing generally fails to confront deep ethical questions",
"for a literary work to have aesthetic value it must present a profound ethical message",
"there is no distinction between engaging stories and profound moral l... | 2 | train_4465 |
Many mountain climbers regard climbing Mount Everest as the ultimate achievement. But climbers should not attempt this climb since the risk of death or serious injury in an Everest expedition is very high. Moreover, the romantic notion of gaining "spiritual discovery" atop Everest is dispelled by climbers' reports that... | Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps to justify the reasoning above? | [
"Profound spiritual experiences can be achieved without undergoing the serious danger involved in mountain climbing.",
"Activities that are extremely dangerous ought to be legally prohibited unless they are necessary to produce spiritual enlightenment.",
"Dangerous activities that are unlikely to result in sign... | 2 | train_4466 |
Naturalist: The recent claims that the Tasmanian tiger is not extinct are false. The Tasmanian tiger' s natural habitat was taken over by sheep farming decades ago, resulting in the animal' s systematic elimination from the area. Since then naturalists working in the region have discovered no hard evidence of its survi... | Which one of the following is an assumption on which the naturalist's argument depends? | [
"Those who have reported sightings of the Tasmanian tiger are not experienced naturalists.",
"Every naturalist working in the Tasmanian tiger's natural habitat has looked systematically for evidence of the tiger's survival.",
"Some scavengers in Tasmania are capable of destroying tiger carcasses without a trace... | 3 | train_4467 |
How the pigment known as Han purple was synthesized by the ancient Chinese of the Qin and Han dynasties has puzzled scientists. The Chinese chemists employed the same chemical ingredients used for Han purple in the production of a common type of white glass during that period. Both were produced in processes that invol... | Which one of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument? | [
"Chemical analysis shows that most of the known fragments of both Han purple and the white glass were produced within a small geographical radius.",
"The technique used for producing Han purple was known to very few people during the Qin and Han dynasties.",
"The ingredients used in producing both Han purple an... | 0 | train_4468 |
Journalist: It is unethical for journalists to lie -- to say something untrue with the purpose of deceiving the listener -- to get a story. However, journalists commonly withhold relevant information in interviews in order to elicit new information. Some argue that this, like lying, is intentional deception and ttheref... | The journalist argues by | [
"defining a concept and then showing that under this definition the concept applies to all of the cases under discussion",
"pointing out a difference between the two cases being compared in order to show that a conclusion based on their similarities should not be drawn",
"clarifying and defending a moral princi... | 1 | train_4469 |
Colorless diamonds can command high prices as gemstones. A type of less valuable diamonds can be treated to remove all color. Only sophisticated tests can distinguish such treated diamonds from naturally colorless ones. However, only 2 percent of diamonds mined are of the colored type that can be successfully treated, ... | A serious flaw in the reasoning of the argument is that | [
"information about the rarity of treated diamonds is not combined with information about the rarity of naturally colorless, gemstone diamonds",
"the currently available method for making colorless diamonds from colored ones is treated as though it were the only possible method for doing so",
"comparisons betwee... | 0 | train_4470 |
Once people habitually engaged in conversation; now the television competes for their attention. When the television is on, communication between family members stops. Where there is no communication, family ties become frayed and eventually snap. Ttherefore, the only solution is to get rid of the television. | Which one of the following is most closely parallel in its reasoning to the flawed reasoning in the argument above? | [
"Once sports enthusiasts regularly engaged in sports, but now they watch spectator sports when they could be getting physical exercise. Without physical exercise, health deteriorates. Ttherefore, the only remedy is to eliminate spectator sports.",
"Once people listened to the radio while pursuing other activities... | 0 | train_4471 |
Educator: If there is a crisis in education today, it is one of maintaining quality. People love to reduce serious learning to degrees and certificates. But one also can obtain these credentials by plodding through courses without ever learning much of value. When that happens, the credentials one receives are almost m... | If the educator's statements are true, then which one of the following must be true? | [
"A person benefits from an education only to the extent that he or she invests effort in it.",
"Degrees and certificates do not guarantee that a person has acquired much worthwhile knowledge.",
"It has become easier for students to complete their coursework without learning anything of importance.",
"Educatio... | 1 | train_4472 |
Farmer: In the long run, it is counterproductive for farmers to use insecticides. Because insects' resistance to insecticides increases with insecticide use, farmers have to use greater and greater amounts of costly insecticides to control insect pests. | Which one of the following most accurately describes the role played in the farmer's argument by the proposition that farmers have to use greater and greater amounts of costly insecticides to control insect pests? | [
"It identifies a phenomenon for which the argument's main conclusion offers a causal explanation.",
"It is the argument's only conclusion.",
"It is a claim for which a causal explanation is provided and which itself is used as direct support for the argument's only conclusion.",
"It is the argument's main con... | 2 | train_4473 |
The only motives that influence all human actions arise from self-interest. It is clear, ttherefore, that self-interest is the chief influence on human action. | The reasoning in the argument is fallacious because the argument | [
"denies that an observation that a trait is common to all the events in a pattern can contribute to a causal explanation of the pattern",
"undermines its own premise that a particular attribute is present in all instances of a certain pattern or class of events",
"concludes that a characteristic of a pattern or... | 3 | train_4474 |
Essayist: Winners of a Nobel prize for science, who are typically professional scientists, have all made significant contributions to science. But amateur scientists have also provided many significant contributions. And unlike professional scientists, who are often motivated by economic necessity or a desire for fame,... | If the essayist's statements are true, then which one of the following must also be true? | [
"The love of discovery is the motive behind many significant contributions to science.",
"Typically, winners of a Nobel prize for science are not motivated at all by the love of discovery.",
"A professional scientist is more likely to make a significant contribution to science if he or she is motivated by the l... | 0 | train_4475 |
Researchers gave 100 first-graders after-school lessons in handwriting. They found that those whose composition skills had improved the most had learned to write letters the most automatically. This suggests that producing characters more automatically frees up mental resources for other activities. | Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument? | [
"Over the course of the lessons, the first-graders who showed greater improvement in their ability to write letters automatically also generally showed greater improvement in their composition skills.",
"The first-graders who wrote letters the most automatically before receiving the after-school lessons in handwr... | 0 | train_4476 |
You should not praise an act of apparent generosity unless you believe it is actually performed out of selfless motives, and you should not condemn an act of apparent selfishness unless you believe it is actually performed out of self-centered motives. | Which one of the following judgments conforms to the principle stated above? | [
"Caroline rightly blamed her coworker Monica for failing to assist her in doing a time-consuming project, even though she knew that Monica had offered to help in the project earlier but that her offer had been vetoed by their supervisor.",
"Albert correctly criticized Louise for adopting an abandoned dog because ... | 2 | train_4477 |
Infotek, a computer manufacturer in Katrovia, has just introduced a new personal computer model that sells for significantly less than any other model. Market research shows, however, that very few Katrovian households without personal computers would buy a computer, regardless of its price. Ttherefore, introducing the... | Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends? | [
"Infotek achieved the lower price of the new model by using components of lower quality than those used by other manufacturers.",
"Most personal computers purchased in Katrovia are intended for home use.",
"Katrovians in households that already have computers are unlikely to purchase the new Infotek model as an... | 2 | train_4478 |
Although the number of large artificial satellites orbiting the Earth is small compared to the number of small pieces of debris in orbit, the large satellites interfere more seriously with telescope observations because of the strong reflections they produce. Because many of those large satellites have ceased to functi... | Which of the following most logically completes the argument below? | [
"the only way to make telescope observations without any interference from debris in orbit is to use telescopes launched into extremely high orbits around the Earth",
"a greatly increased number of small particles in Earth's orbit would result in a blanket of reflections that would make certain valuable telescope... | 1 | train_4479 |
The town of Stavanger, Norway, was quiet and peaceful until the early 1960' s, when Stavanger became Norway' s center for offshore oil exploration. Between then and now, violent crime and vandalism in Stavanger have greatly increased. Clearly, these social problems are among the results of Stavanger' s oil boom. | Which of the following, if it occurred between the early 1960's and now, gives the strongest support to the argument above? | [
"Violent crime and vandalism have remained low in Norwegian towns that had no oil boom.",
"Norwegian sociologists expressed grave concern about the increase in violent crime and vandalism in Stavanger.",
"The people of Stavanger rarely regret that their town was chosen to be Norway's center for offshore oil exp... | 0 | train_4480 |
Following several years of declining advertising sales, the Greenville Times reorganized its advertising sales force two years ago. Before the reorganization, the sales force was organized geographically, with some sales representatives concentrating on city-center businesses and others concentrating on different outly... | In assessing whether the improvement in advertising sales can properly be attributed to the reorganization, it would be helpful to find out each of the following EXCEPT: | [
"Two years ago, what proportion of the Greenville Times's total revenue was generated by advertising sales?",
"Has the circulation of the Greenville Times increased substantially in the last two years?",
"Has there been a substantial turnover in personnel in the advertising sales force over the last two years?"... | 0 | train_4481 |
If the regulation of computer networks is to be modeled on past legislation, then its model must be either legislation regulating a telephone system or else legislation regulating a public broadcasting service. If the telephone model is used, computer networks will be held responsible only for ensuring that messages ge... | The passage is structured to lead to which one of the following conclusions? | [
"Regulation of computer networks is required in order to ensure the privacy of the messages transmitted through such networks.",
"Legislators who do not have extensive experience with computers should not attempt to write legislation regulating computer networks.",
"The regulation of computer networks should no... | 2 | train_4482 |
The average size of marine life that washes up on the shore of the Japanese island Ryukyu is smaller than the average size that washes up on the Western coast of Australia. Giant squid have recently been found washed up on the shores of Ryukyu as well as the Western coast of Australia. It can be concluded that the aver... | The argument above can be attacked on the grounds that it does which of the following? | [
"It assumes that a general pattern is likely to hold true in a specific case.",
"It fails to distinguish between giant squids and more diminutive variants.",
"It mistakenly asserts that one instance holds true for all cases.",
"It discounts the possibility that the largest giant squid was found on the shores ... | 0 | train_4483 |
In our solar system only one of the nine planets -- Earth -- qualifies as fit to sustain life. Nonetheless, using this ratio, and considering the astonishingly large number of planetary systems in the universe, we must conclude that the number of planets fit to sustain some form of life is extremely large. | The argument is questionable because it presumes which one of the following without providing justification? | [
"Life similar to Earth's could evolve under conditions very different from those on Earth.",
"If a planet is Earthlike, then life will arise on it.",
"Our solar system is similar to many other planetary systems in the universe.",
"Most other planetary systems in the universe have nine planets."
] | 2 | train_4484 |
Electric stovetop burners would cause fewer fires if their highest temperature were limited to 350 degree C (662 degree F), which provides more than enough heat for efficient and effective cooking. The lowest temperature at which cooking oil and most common fibers ignite is 387 degree C, and electric burners on high go... | Which one of the following most accurately expresses the conclusion drawn in the argument? | [
"A maximum temperature of 350 degree C provides more than enough heat for efficient and effective cooking.",
"Electric stovetop burners cause fires because they go well above 700 degree C when set on high.",
"Electric stovetop burners would cause fewer fires if their highest temperature were limited to 350 degr... | 2 | train_4485 |
Eurasian watermilfoil, a weed not native to Frida Lake, has reproduced prolifically since being accidentally introduced there. In order to eliminate the weed, biologists proposed treating infested parts of the lake with a certain herbicide that is nontoxic for humans and aquatic animals. However, the herbicide might da... | Which of the following, if true, points out the most serious weakness in the officials' grounds for rejecting the biologists' proposal? | [
"The continuing spread of Eurasian watermilfoil in Frida Lake threatens to choke out the lake's rare plant species.",
"Because of ecological conditions prevailing in its native habitat, Eurasian watermilfoil is not as dominant there as it is in Frida Lake.",
"Unless Eurasian watermilfoil is completely eliminate... | 0 | train_4486 |
Researcher: Each subject in this experiment owns one car, and was asked to estimate what proportion of all automobiles registered in the nation are the same make as the subject' s car. The estimate of nearly every subject has been significantly higher than the actual national statistic for the make of that subject' s c... | Which one of the following most accurately expresses a reasoning flaw in the researcher's argument? | [
"The argument attempts to draw its main conclusion from a set of premises that are mutually contradictory.",
"The argument treats a result that supports a hypothesis as a result that proves a hypothesis.",
"The argument applies a statistical generalization to a particular case to which it was not intended to ap... | 1 | train_4487 |
To hold criminals responsible for their crimes involves a failure to recognize that criminal actions, like all actions, are ultimately products of the environment that forged the agent' s character. It is not criminals but people in the law-abiding majority who by their actions do most to create and maintain this envir... | The reasoning in the argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that | [
"the way it distinguishes criminal from crimes implicitly denies that someone becomes a criminal solely in virtue of having committed a crime",
"it exploits an ambiguity in the term \"environment\"by treating two different meanings of the word as though they were equivalent",
"it fails to distinguish between ac... | 3 | train_4488 |
When surveyed about which party they would like to see in the legislature, 40 percent of respondents said Conservative, 20 percent said Moderate, and 40 percent said Liberal. If the survey results are reliable, we can conclude that most citizens would like to see a legislature that is roughly 40 percent Conservative, 2... | Which one of the following most accurately describes a flaw in the reasoning of the argument? | [
"The argument uses evidence that supports only rough estimates to draw a precisely quantified conclusion.",
"The argument draws a conclusion that merely restates a premise presented in favor of it.",
"The argument takes for granted that the preferences of a group as a whole are the preferences of most individua... | 2 | train_4489 |
Hoping to increase his company' s market share, the CEO of QuikFashion has decided to hold a month-long sale in which all of the clothing in QuikFashion' s stores will be discounted by at least 50 percent. Although this discount will mean that the company is selling clothing at cost, the CEO hopes that this broadly adv... | In assessing the CEO's ability to achieve his goals with this plan, it would be most useful to know which of the following? | [
"Whether QuikFashion's competitors would respond by discounting their own clothing.",
"Whether some items of clothing will be discounted more than others.",
"Whether QuikFashion can cut the cost of production sufficiently to still make profits from its discounted clothing.",
"Whether following a different pla... | 0 | train_4490 |
For one academic year all the students at a high school were observed. The aim was to test the hypothesis that studying more increased a student' s chances of earning a higher grade. It turned out that the students who spent the most time studying did not earn grades as high as did many students who studied less. Nonet... | Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain why the researchers drew the conclusion described above? | [
"In each course, the more a student studied, the better his or her grade was in that course.",
"The students who spent the least time studying tended to be students with no more than average involvement in extracurricular activities.",
"Students who spent more time studying understood the course material better... | 0 | train_4491 |
Activist: All drugs should be legalized. Despite the current crackdown, the black market has filled the supply, ensuring that people can obtain any drug at any time, if desired. The government currently incarcerates millions of nonviolent drug users at the cost of $50, 000 per year per prisoner. This figure doesn' t ev... | Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the activist's argument? | [
"Legalized drugs would be more potent than what currently exists on the black market.",
"Legalizing drugs would increase the number of drug users.",
"Legalizing drugs would raise government healthcare expenditures.",
"Some drugs are more dangerous than others."
] | 2 | train_4492 |
Whole wheat bread is more nutritious than white bread, which has a taste that many people prefer. Bread made from whole-grain white wheat flour, newly available, provides nutrition comparable to whole wheat bread but tastes just like white bread. Once consumers try whole-grain white wheat bread, they will prefer eating... | The conclusion of the argument above is properly drawn if which of the following is assumed? | [
"Some people prefer the taste of whole wheat bread to that of white bread.",
"Consumers will prefer eating foods that are more nutritious to eating foods that are less nutritious when the foods taste the same.",
"Whole-grain white wheat flour costs consumers more than does white flour but less than does whole w... | 1 | train_4493 |
Gallery owner: Because this painting appears in no catalog of van Gogh' s work, we cannot guarantee that he painted it. But consider: the subject is one he painted often, and experts agree that in his later paintings van Gogh invariably used just such broad brushstrokes and distinctive combinations of colors as we find... | The reasoning used by the gallery owner is flawed because it | [
"neglects to cite expert authority to substantiate the claim about the subject matter of the painting",
"ignores the fact that there can be general agreement that something is the case without its being the case",
"attempts to establish a particular conclusion because doing so is in the reasoner's self-interest... | 3 | train_4494 |
Parent: I had tried without success to get my young child to brush her teeth. I had hoped that she would imitate me, or that she would be persuaded by reason to brush her teeth. Then, I made a point of brushing her teeth for her immediately before reading her a story before her naps and at night. After several weeks, w... | The parent's experience with the child most closely conforms to which one of the following generalizations? | [
"Children more readily adopt a behavior through habit and repetition than through other means.",
"Children often imitate the behavior of others rather than listening to reason.",
"Children ordinarily act contrary to their parents' expectations in order to get more attention.",
"Children are too young to under... | 0 | train_4495 |
NorthAir charges low fares for its economy class seats, but it provides very cramped seating and few amenities. Market research shows that economy passengers would willingly pay more for wider seating and better service, and additional revenue provided by these higher ticket prices would more than cover the additional ... | Which of the following, if true, would most help to explain NorthAir ' s decision in light of its objectives? | [
"The number of people who would be willing to pay the high fares NorthAir charges for its business-class seats would decrease if its economy-class seating were more acceptable.",
"A few of NorthAir' s economy-class passengers are satisfied with the service they receive, given the low price they pay.",
"Very few... | 0 | train_4496 |
A study found that patients referred by their doctors to psychotherapists practicing a new experimental form of therapy made more progress with respect to their problems than those referred to psychotherapists practicing traditional forms of therapy. Therapists practicing the new form of therapy, ttherefore, are more e... | Which one of the following most accurately describes a flaw in the argument? | [
"It ignores the possibility that the patients referred to therapists practicing the new form of therapy had problems more amenable to treatment than did those referred to therapists practicing traditional forms.",
"It ignores the possibility that therapists practicing the new form of therapy systematically differ... | 0 | train_4497 |
In comparing different methods by which a teacher' s performance can be evaluated and educational outcomes improved, researchers found that a critique of teacher performance leads to enhanced educational outcomes if the critique is accompanied by the information that teacher performance is merely one of several factors... | Which one of the following best illustrates the principle illustrated by the finding of the researchers? | [
"People are generally more willing to accept a negative characterization of a small group of people if they do not see themselves as members of the group being so characterized.",
"It is easier to correct the mistakes of an athlete if it is made clear to him that the criticism is part of an overarching effort to ... | 1 | train_4498 |
Editorialist: Some people argue that ramps and other accommodations for people using wheelchairs are unnecessary in certain business areas because those areas are not frequented by wheelchair users. What happens, however, is that once ramps and other accommodations are installed in these business areas, people who use ... | Which one of the following is most strongly supported by the editorialist's statements? | [
"Businesses that install proper accommodations for wheelchair users have greater profits than those that do not.",
"Some business areas are not frequented by wheelchair users because the areas lack proper accommodations.",
"Most businesses are not modified to accommodate wheelchair users.",
"Owners of busines... | 1 | train_4499 |
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