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A year ago the government reduced the highway speed limit, and in the year since, there have been significantly fewer highway fatalities than there were in the previous year. Ttherefore, speed limit reduction can reduce traffic fatalities. | The argument is most vulnerable to the criticism that it takes for granted that | [
"highway traffic has not increased over the past year",
"the number of traffic fatalities the year before the new speed limit was introduced was not abnormally high",
"the new speed limit was more strictly enforced than the old",
"the majority of drivers obeyed the new speed limit"
] | 1 | train_500 |
Engineer: Semiplaning monohulls are a new kind of ship that can attain twice the speed of conventional ships. Due to increased fuel needs, transportation will be much more expensive on semiplaning monohulls than on conventional ships. Similarly, travel on jet airplanes was more expensive than travel on other planes at ... | Which one of the following most accurately describes the role played in the engineer's argument by the statement that transportation will be much more expensive on semiplaning monohulls than on traditional ships? | [
"It draws an analogy between semiplaning monohulls and conventional ships that constitutes an objection to the argument's main conclusion, one that is subsequently rejected by appeal to another analogy.",
"It constitutes a potential objection to the argument's main conclusion, but is subsequently countered by an ... | 1 | train_501 |
Fish currently costs about the same at seafood stores throughout Eastville and its surrounding suburbs. Seafood stores buy fish from the same wholesalers and at the same prices, and other business expenses have also been about the same. But new tax breaks will substantially lower the cost of doing business within the c... | For the purposes of evaluating the argument, it would be most useful to know whether | [
"Seafood stores within the city will in the future set prices that are lower than those at suburban seafood stores",
"Any people who currently own seafood stores in the suburbs surrounding Eastville will relocate their businesses nearer to the city",
"The wholesale price of fish is likely to fall in the future"... | 0 | train_502 |
A professional baseball team manager, in order to have the funds to sign a new second-baseman, discreetly arranged to trade one of the most popular outfielders on the team for a lesser-known player and an undisclosed amount of money. The manager secretly considered the outfielder to be overrated and overpaid. Reporters... | The reasoning in the argument is vulnerable to the criticism that the argument does which one of the following? | [
"The argument bases its conclusion on what the best decision is for the present on uncertain projections about what the best decision will be for the future.",
"The argument rejects a well-established way of achieving an end without explaining why an unconventional way is better suited for achieving the end.",
... | 3 | train_503 |
Quality control investigator: Upon testing samples of products from our supplier that were sent by our field inspectors from various manufacturing locations, our laboratory discovered that over 20 percent of the samples were defective. Since our supplier is contractually required to limit the rate of defects among item... | The reasoning in the quality control investigator's argument is flawed in that the argument | [
"presumes, without providing justification, that the field inspectors were just as likely to choose a defective item for testing as they were to choose a nondefective item",
"presumes, without providing justification, that the field inspectors made an equal number of visits to each of the various manufacturing si... | 2 | train_504 |
Pediatrician: Swollen tonsils give rise to breathing problems during sleep, and the surgical removal of children' s swollen tonsils has been shown to alleviate sleep disturbances. So removing children' s tonsils before swelling even occurs will ensure that the children do not experience any breathing problems during sl... | The pediatrician's argument is most vulnerable to the criticism that it | [
"fails to consider the possibility that there may be other medical reasons for surgically removing a child's tonsils",
"infers from the fact that an action has a certain effect that the action is intended to produce that effect",
"fails to consider the possibility that some breathing problems during sleep may b... | 2 | train_505 |
The Levant -- the area that borders the eastern Mediterranean-was heavily populated in prehistoric times. The southern Levant was abandoned about 6, 000 years ago, although the northern Levant, which shared the same climate, remained heavily populated. Recently archaeologists have hypothesized that the sudden depopulat... | If the statements above are true and the archaeologists' hypothesis is correct, which one of the following CANNOT be true? | [
"The sheep and goats herded by the peoples of the southern Levant until 6, 000 years ago grazed extensively on the seedlings and saplings of indigenous tree species.",
"Carbon dating of organic remains from the southern Levant reliably demonstrates that there were no forests present in that area prior to 6, 000 y... | 1 | train_506 |
If you know a lot about history, it will be easy for you to impress people who are intellectuals. But unfortunately, you will not know much about history if you have not, for example, read a large number of history books. Ttherefore, if you are not well versed in history due to a lack of reading, it will not be easy fo... | The argument's reasoning is flawed because the argument overlooks the possibility that | [
"it is more important to impress people who are not intellectuals than people who are intellectuals",
"many intellectuals are not widely read in history",
"there are other easy ways to impress intellectuals that do not involve knowing history",
"there are people who learn about history who do not impress inte... | 2 | train_507 |
The most successful economies have been, and will continue to be, those that train as many people as possible in the human skills required to research, to develop, and to apply new technology. Japan is a model for this sort of training effort. Europe as a whole is in a weaker position: there is a shortage of skilled la... | Which one of the following can be properly inferred from the passage? | [
"To be economically more successful, Europe needs to train more people in the new technologies.",
"Japan's successful economy depends upon an uncommonly narrow base of highly skilled labor.",
"Japan is not the best country against which to measure a country's economic success.",
"European countries have econo... | 0 | train_508 |
Not all tenured faculty are full professors. Ttherefore, although every faculty member in the linguistics department has tenure, it must be the case that not all of the faculty members in the linguistics department are full professors. | The flawed pattern of reasoning exhibited by the argument above is most similar to that exhibited by which one of the following? | [
"Although some cathedrals are not built of stone, every cathedral is impressive. Ttherefore, buildings can be impressive even though they are not built of stone.",
"Not all public buildings are well designed, but some poorly designed public buildings were originally intended for private use. Ttherefore, the poorl... | 3 | train_509 |
Councilperson X: We have an obligation to help ensure that electricity rates are the lowest possible. Since the proposed design for a new generating station would clearly allow for the lowest rates, it must be the design we endorse if we agree that we have no choice but to approve construction of a new plant. Councilpe... | Which one of the following is an issue about which the two councilpersons disagree? | [
"It is the council's responsibility to improve the community's quality of life.",
"If a new generating station is to be built, the council should endorse a plant of the type specified by the design in question.",
"A plant of the type specified by the design in question would allow for the lowest electricity rat... | 1 | train_510 |
Chemist: The molecules of a certain weed-killer are always present in two forms, one the mirror image of the other. One form of the molecule kills weeds, while the other has no effect on them. As a result, the effectiveness of the weed-killer in a given situation is heavily influenced by which of the two forms is more ... | Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the chemist's argument? | [
"Almost all of the data on the effects of the weed-killer are drawn from laboratory studies in which both forms of the weed-killer's molecules are equally concentrated in the soil and equally likely to break down in that soil.",
"In general, if the molecules of a weed-killer are always present in two forms, then ... | 0 | train_511 |
Preschool children who spend the day in daycare nurseries are ill more often than those who do not. They catch many common illnesses, to which they are exposed by other children in the nurseries. However, when these children reach school age they tend to be ill less often than their classmates who did not spend the day... | Which one of the following, if true, best explains the discrepancy in the information above? | [
"The number of infectious illnesses that children in a daycare nursery or school develop is roughly proportional to the number of children in the facility, and daycare nurseries are smaller than most schools.",
"Although in general the illnesses that children contract through contact with other children at daycar... | 3 | train_512 |
Diomedes Motors has just decided to start using Rapilux Tires on most models of its new cars. The tires cost the same as the previous tires, and the change in tires will not change the sticker price of any car, nor will it change the profit on the sale of any particular car. Nevertheless, the CEO of Diomedes Motors exp... | Which of the following, if true, provides the best reason for the expectation? | [
"The change to Rapilux Tires in most Diomedes models moves those models to the highest safety rating category; several national consumer advocacy groups give focused advertising to cars in this category.",
"Some of the tires previously used on these particular Diomedes models are being phased out by those tire ma... | 0 | train_513 |
Safety inspector: The number of laboratory samples of rabies virus sent through the university delivery service has recently grown dangerously high. We need to limit this use of the service. Biologist: There is no need for a limit. The university delivery service has been handling rabies virus samples for 20 years with... | As a rebuttal of the safety inspector's claim, the biologist's reasoning is flawed in that it | [
"fails to explain why the number of samples sent through the service has increased",
"offers no defense of the university's need for continued delivery of rabies virus samples",
"overlooks the possibility that there has been a change in the hazardousness of the rabies virus samples themselves",
"does not addr... | 3 | train_514 |
A new machine for harvesting corn will allow rows to be planted only fifteen inches apart, instead of the usual thirty inches. Corn planted this closely will produce lower yields per plant. Nevertheless, the new machine will allow corn growers to double their profits per acre because __. | Which of the following most logically completes the argument? | [
"with the larger number of plants growing per acre, more fertilizer will be required",
"with the closer spacing of the rows, the acreage on which corn is planted will be utilized much more intensively than it was before, requiring more frequent fallow years in which corn fields are left unplanted",
"with the cl... | 2 | train_515 |
Mammals cannot digest cellulose and ttherefore cannot directly obtain glucose from wood. Mushrooms can, however; and some mushrooms use cellulose to make highly branched polymers, the branches of which are a form of glucose called beta-glucans. Beta-glucan extracts from various types of mushrooms slow, reverse, or prev... | Which one of the following is most strongly supported by the information above? | [
"If extracts from a type of mushroom slow, reverse, or prevent the growth of cancerous tumors in mammals, then the mushroom is capable of using cellulose to make beta-glucans.",
"Any organism capable of obtaining glucose from wood can use cellulose to make beta-glucans.",
"The greater the degree of branching of... | 2 | train_516 |
Between 1951 and 1963, it was illegal in the country 25. of Geronia to manufacture, sell, or transport any alcoholic beverages. Despite this prohibition, however, the death rate from diseases related to excessive alcohol consumption was higher during the first five years of the period than it was during the five years ... | Each of the following, if true, weakens the argument EXCEPT: | [
"Death from an alcohol-related disease generally does not occur until five to ten years after the onset of excessive alcohol consumption.",
"The diseases that can be caused by excessive alcohol consumption can also be caused by other kinds of behavior that increased between 1951 and 1963.",
"Many who died of al... | 2 | train_517 |
Forty miles to the west of Tucson, a developer attempted to develop an "oasis" glade in the Sonoran Desert. He created a glade that, the developer claims, is as lush and plant-filled as the ambient 35 degree C temperatures allow. In particular, the developer planted several native fruit-bearing plants, such as prickly-... | The considerations given best serve as part of an argument that: | [
"the presence of the desert animals in the glade do not serve as evidence against the claim of the developer.",
"most of these desert animals in the glade would have perished if the glade had not been created in that location.",
"the shade from all the plants in the glade measurably reduces the ambient temperat... | 0 | train_518 |
Some scientists believe that 65 million years ago an asteroid struck what is now the Yucatan Peninsula, thereby causing extinction of the dinosaurs. These scientists have established that such a strike could have hurled enough debris into the atmosphere to block sunlight and cool the atmosphere. Without adequate sunlig... | Which one of the following, if true, most helps to resolve the apparent discrepancy between the scientists' beliefs and the scientists' results, as described above? | [
"Dinosaurs were susceptible to fatal respiratory problems caused by contamination of the air by asteroid debris.",
"A cloud of debris capable of diminishing sunlight by 20 percent would have cooled the earth's surface by 7 to 10 degrees Celsius.",
"Loss of the herbivorous dinosaurs would have deprived the carni... | 0 | train_519 |
The five senses have traditionally been viewed as distinct yet complementary. Each sense is thought to have its own range of stimuli that are incapable of stimulating the other senses. However, recent research has discovered that some people taste a banana and claim that they are tasting blue, or see a color and say th... | Which one of the following statements, if true, most seriously weakens the argument? | [
"Recent evidence strongly suggests that there are other senses besides sight, touch, smell, hearing, and taste.",
"Synesthesiacs can be temporarily rid of their synesthetic experiences by the use of drugs.",
"The particular ways in which sensory experiences overlap in synesthesiacs follow a definite pattern.",
... | 3 | train_520 |
"Multiple use" refers to the utilization of natural resources in combinations that will best meet the present and future needs of the public. Designating land as a wilderness area does not necessarily violate the multiple-use philosophy, for even when such use does not provide the greatest dollar return, it can provide... | Which one of the following is an assumption required by the argument? | [
"The multiple-use philosophy takes into account some nonfinancial needs of the public.",
"Natural resources should be used in combinations that will most greatly benefit present and future generations.",
"The present and future needs of the public would best be met by designating greater numbers of wilderness a... | 0 | train_521 |
The Ergonomic Society conducted a study that indicated that many people develop severe back problems during adulthood, and that virtually all such people who received chiropractic treatment showed great improvement. Ttherefore, in order to minimize the proportion of the population that suffers from back pain, the Ergon... | Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends? | [
"Severe back pain and other problems often cause individuals to miss workdays.",
"Chiropractic treatment is more effective in treating severe back problems when utilized over a long period of time, as opposed to sporadically.",
"Individuals who receive chiropractic or other treatment prior to developing severe ... | 2 | train_522 |
Essayist: It is much less difficult to live an enjoyable life if one is able to make lifestyle choices that accord with one' s personal beliefs and then see those choices accepted by others. It is possible for people to find this kind of acceptance by choosing friends and associates who share many of their personal bel... | Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps to justify the essayist's argument? | [
"One may choose for oneself the people with whom one will associate, if doing so could make it easier to live an enjoyable life.",
"No one should be denied the freedom to make lifestyle choices that accord with his or her personal beliefs.",
"If having a given freedom could make it less difficult for someone to... | 2 | train_523 |
Politician: The mandatory jail sentences that became law two years ago for certain crimes have enhanced the integrity of our system of justice, for no longer are there two kinds of justice, the kind dispensed by lenient judges and the kind dispensed by severe ones. Public advocate: But with judges stripped of discretio... | The public advocate responds to the politician's argument by doing which one of the following? | [
"arguing that leniency is not a trait of individuals but that, rather, it is a property of certain kinds of decisions",
"charging that the politician exaggerated the severity of a problem in order to justify a sweeping solution",
"claiming that the politician's evidence, properly analyzed, has no bearing on the... | 3 | train_524 |
Policy analyst: Increasing the size of a police force is only a stopgap method of crime prevention; it does not get at the root causes of crime. Ttherefore, city officials should not respond to rising crime rates by increasing the size of their city' s police force. | The flawed reasoning in which one of the following arguments most closely resembles the flawed reasoning in the policy analyst's argument? | [
"Because taking this drug does not cure the disease for which it is prescribed, but only reduces the disease's most harmful effects, doctors should not continue to prescribe this drug.",
"We will never fully understand what causes people to engage in criminal activity. Ttherefore, we should investigate other ways... | 0 | train_525 |
In preparation for a large-scale tree-planting project, Thomasville has recorded the location, species, and condition of every tree in its downtown area. The results will be compared with results of the last such tree census, taken 20 years ago. Planting trees primarily from the species that turns out to have the best ... | Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the claim that the tree-planting proposal will assure an abundant tree population? | [
"Because of strict laws governing industrial development, environmental conditions in Thomasville are unlikely to become harsher for trees than they have been during the last 20 years.",
"A number of trees from one of the species widespread in Thomasville 20 years ago reached the end of their natural life span in... | 3 | train_526 |
When butterfat was considered nutritious and healthful, a law was enacted requiring that manufacturers use the term "imitation butter" to indicate butter whose butterfat content had been diminished through the addition of water. Today, it is known that the high cholesterol content of butterfat makes it harmful to human... | Which one of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the argument? | [
"Most people deterred from eating \"imitation butter\" because of its name choose alternatives with a lower butterfat content than this product has.",
"Some individuals who need to reduce their intake of cholesterol are not deterred from using the reduced-butterfat product by the negative connotations of the term... | 0 | train_527 |
Although tales of wonder and the fantastic are integral to all world literatures, only recently has the fantasy genre had a commercial resurgence in North America. During the last 20 years, sales of fantasy-fiction books written for adults have gone from 1 to 10 percent of total adult-fiction sales. At the same time, t... | Which one of the following, if true, undermines the booksellers' explanation of the growth in sales of fantasy-fiction books for adults? | [
"Although the increase in the percentage of fantasy books sold has been substantial, publishers estimate that sales could increase even further.",
"Publishers often select a manuscript on the basis of whether they think that the published book will receive favorable reviews by book reviewers.",
"Few readers of ... | 2 | train_528 |
Air pollution from a rural factory may have caused increased levels of carbon dioxide in the air, but the argument that the increased level of carbon dioxide is harming the local livestock is clearly without merit; the amount of carbon dioxide near the factory is, in fact, less than that found in cities like Los Angele... | The argument is vulnerable to criticism because it | [
"uses generalizations about a class to draw conclusions about an individual entity in that class",
"uses a fact to support a conclusion when that fact's relevance has yet to be determined",
"in fact, grants a concession that is fatal to the argument's conclusion",
"supports its conclusion by using two conflic... | 1 | train_529 |
Columnist: Contrary to what many people believe, the number of species on Earth is probably not dwindling. Extinction is a natural process, and about as many species are likely to go extinct this year as went extinct in 1970. But the emergence of new species is also a natural process; there is no reason to doubt that n... | Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the columnist's argument? | [
"In 1970 fewer new species emerged than went extinct.",
"The regions of the world where new species tend to emerge at the highest rate are also where species tend to go extinct at the highest rate.",
"Scientists are now better able to identify species facing serious risk of extinction than they were in 1970.",
... | 0 | train_530 |
The Rienzi, a passenger ship, sank as a result of a hole in its hull, possibly caused by sabotage. Normally, when a holed ship sinks as rapidly as the Rienzi did, water does not enter the ship quickly enough for the ship to be fully flooded when it reaches the ocean floor. Full flooding can be achieved, however, by sab... | Which one of the following must be true on the basis of the information above? | [
"If the Rienzi was not sunk by sabotage, water flooded into it unusually fast.",
"The Rienzi was so strongly constructed as to resist imploding under deep-sea pressure.",
"If the Rienzi had sunk more slowly, it would have imploded.",
"If the Rienzi became fully flooded, it did so only after it reached the oce... | 0 | train_531 |
The workers at Bell Manufacturing will shortly go on strike unless the management increases their wages. As Bell' s president is well aware, however, in order to increase the workers' wages, Bell would have to sell off some of its subsidiaries. So, some of Bell' s subsidiaries will be sold. | The conclusion above is properly drawn if which one of the following is assumed? | [
"Bell's workers will not accept a package of improved benefits in place of their desired wage increase.",
"The workers at Bell Manufacturing will not be going on strike.",
"Bell's management will refuse to increase its workers' wages.",
"Bell Manufacturing will begin to suffer increased losses."
] | 1 | train_532 |
Congress has passed a law that scales back the tax credits offered to purchasers of hybrid cars. Because of this, the number of hybrid cars sold each year, which has approximately doubled in each of the last five years, is likely to flatten in the next few years. | Which of the following statements, if true, most weakens the conclusion that the number of hybrid cars sold annually is likely to flatten in the next few years? | [
"Manufacturers have significantly increased their budgets for advertisements touting the fuel efficiency of hybrid cars.",
"Hybrid vehicles have a reputation for having less power than comparable non-hybrid vehicles.",
"Most people buy hybrid cars for reasons other than to save money in the long run.",
"Gasol... | 2 | train_533 |
Psychologist: Phonemic awareness, or the knowledge that spoken language can be broken into component sounds, is essential for learning to read an alphabetic language. But one also needs to learn how sounds are symbolically represented by means of letters; otherwise, phonemic awareness will not translate into the abilit... | Which one of the following can be properly inferred from the psychologist's statements? | [
"The whole-language method invariably succeeds in teaching awareness of how spoken language can be broken into component sounds.",
"Some children who are taught by the whole-language method are not prevented from learning how sounds are represented by means of letters.",
"The whole-language method succeeds in t... | 1 | train_534 |
Five years ago, as part of a plan to encourage citizens of Levaska to increase the amount of money they put into savings, Levaska' s government introduced special savings accounts in which up to $3, 000 a year can be saved with no tax due on the interest unless money is withdrawn before the account holder reaches the a... | Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument? | [
"The rate at which interest earned on money deposited in regular savings accounts is taxed depends on the income bracket of the account holder.",
"Many Levaskans who already had long-term savings have steadily been transferring those savings into the special accounts.",
"Many of the economists who now claim tha... | 1 | train_535 |
A company plans to develop a prototype weeding machine that uses cutting blades with optical sensors and microprocessors that distinguish weeds from crop plants by differences in shade of color. The inventor of the machine claims that it will reduce labor costs by virtually eliminating the need for manual weeding. | Which of the following is a consideration in favor of the company's implementing its plan to develop the prototype? | [
"Selection and genetic manipulation allow plants of virtually any species to be economically bred to have a distinctive shade of color without altering their other characteristics.",
"There is a considerable degree of variation in shade of color between weeds of different species.",
"Farm laborers who are respo... | 0 | train_536 |
Numerous books describe the rules of etiquette. Usually the authors of such books merely codify standards of behavior by classifying various behaviors as polite or rude. However, this suggests that there is a single, objective standard of politeness. Clearly, standards of politeness vary from culture to culture, so it ... | The reasoning in the argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that the argument | [
"overlooks the possibility that authors of etiquette books are purporting to state what is correct behavior for one particular culture only",
"reaches a conclusion about how people actually behave on the basis of assertions regarding how they ought to behave",
"fails to justify its presumption regarding the inf... | 0 | train_537 |
I. Room air conditioners produced by Japanese manufacturers tend to be more reliable than those produced by United States manufacturers. II. The average lifetime of room air conditioners produced by United States manufacturers is about fifteen years, the same as that of room air conditioners produced by Japanese manufa... | Which one of the following, if true, would best reconcile the two statements above? | [
"Reliability is a measure of how long a product functions without needing repair.",
"Damage to room air conditioners during shipping and installation does not occur with great frequency in the United States or in Japan.",
"Production facilities of firms designated as United States manufacturers are not all loca... | 0 | train_538 |
The proposed change to the patent system is bound to have a chilling effect on scientific research. Under current rules, researchers have one full year after the initial publication of a new discovery to patent the discovery. This allows research results to be shared widely prior to the patent application. The proposed... | The conclusion drawn above follows logically if which one of the following is assumed? | [
"The proposed change will encourage more patent applications to be filed.",
"The current rules for patent applications facilitate progress in scientific research by rewarding the communication of discoveries.",
"Most researchers oppose the proposed change to the patent system.",
"Delays in the communication o... | 3 | train_539 |
The Maxilux car company' s design for its new luxury model, the Max 100, included a special design for the tires that was intended to complement the model' s image. The winning bid for supplying these tires was submitted by Rubco. Analysts concluded that the bid would only just cover Rubco' s costs on the tires, but Ru... | Which of the following, if true, most strongly justifies the claim made by Rubco's executives? | [
"When Maxilux awarded the tire contract to Rubco, the only criterion on which Rubco's bid was clearly ahead of its competitors' bids was price.",
"In any Maxilux model, the spare tire is exactly the same make and model as the tires that are mounted on the wheels.",
"The production facilities for the Max 100 and... | 3 | train_540 |
Antiwhaling activist: Not all species of whales are threatened with extinction. Nevertheless, given the highly mechanized technology used in whaling, a ban on the whaling of endangered species cannot be enforced without banning the whaling of all other species. Hence, since hunting endangered whale species should be ba... | Which one of the following principles, if established, would do the most to justify the conclusion drawn by the antiwhaling activist? | [
"If a certain activity ought to be prohibited, so should any other activity that interferes with the enforcement of that prohibition.",
"If a commercial form of a certain activity ought to be prohibited, then so should all noncommercial forms of that activity.",
"The fishing industry has a right to hunt members... | 0 | train_541 |
According to promotional material published by the city of Springfield, more tourists stay in hotels in Springfield than stay in the neighboring city of Harristown. A brochure from the largest hotel in Harristown claims that more tourists stay in that hotel than stay in the Royal Arms Hotel in Springfield. If both of t... | which of the following most logically completes the argument below? | [
"The royal arms hotel is the only hotel in Springfield.",
"The Royal Arms hotel is the largest hotel in Springfield",
"There is only one hotel in Harristown that is larger than the Royal Arms Hotel.",
"More tourists stay in hotels in Harristown than stay in the Royal Arms Hotel."
] | 0 | train_542 |
Data froma recent biodiversity study of the Ukuluku river estuary in Tritonia showed that last year the pollution rate of this environmentally sensitive region was significantly lower than in previous years. The Tritonian government, which spent millions of dollars last year to enforce laws against dumping waste into t... | Which one of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the government's claim? | [
"Government agents had to issue fines totaling over $27 million to 650 violators of the river dumping regulations.",
"Much of the money that was designated last year for estuary preservation has been spent on research and not enforcement.",
"Factory owner opposition to the government's anti-pollution efforts gr... | 3 | train_543 |
Meerkat "sentinels, " so-called because they watch for predators while other meerkat group members forage, almost never fall victim to those predators, yet the foragers often do. This advantage accruing to the sentinel does not mean that its watchful behavior is entirely self-interested. On the contrary, the sentinel' ... | Which one of the following is a questionable reasoning technique employed in the argument? | [
"concluding that a claim is false on the grounds that insufficient evidence has been offered to support it",
"appealing to evidence that tends to undermine rather than support the argument's conclusion",
"appealing to evidence that presupposes the truth of the argument's conclusion",
"inferring solely from an... | 3 | train_544 |
Does watching someone else eat fill one' s own stomach? In which one of the following does the reasoning most closely parallel that employed in the passage? | Some people believe that witnessing violence in movies will discharge aggressive energy. | [
"Some people think nationalism is defensible. Hasn't nationalism been the excuse for committing abominable crimes?",
"Some people think workaholics are compensating for a lack of interpersonal skills. However, aren't most doctors workaholics?",
"Some people think that economists can control inflation. Can meteo... | 2 | train_545 |
In constructing a self-driving robotic car, engineers face the challenge of designing a car that avoids common traffic problems like crashes and congestion. These problems can also affect fish traveling together in schools. However, the principles fish use to navigate in schools ensure that these problems are much less... | Which one of the following most logically completes the argument? | [
"the best drivers use the same navigational principles that fish use in schools",
"a self-driving robotic car using the navigational principles that fish use in schools would be better than a human-driven car at avoiding crashes and congestion",
"studying the principles fish use to navigate in schools could hel... | 2 | train_546 |
Branson: Most of the air pollution in this country comes from our largest cities. These cities would pollute less if they were less populated. So if many people in these cities were to move to rural areas, air pollution in the country as a whole would be reduced. | Which one of the following demonstrates most effectively by parallel reasoning that Branson's argument is flawed? | [
"Similarly, we could conclude that Karen's family would have more living space if they moved from an apartment to a single-family home. After all, single-family homes are typically larger than apartments.",
"Similarly, we could conclude that most of Ward's farm is planted with corn. After all, in Ward's county mo... | 3 | train_547 |
Acme' s bank loan must be immediately repaid in full if Acme' s earnings fall below $1 million per year. If Acme has to repay the entire loan immediately, it will have to declare bankruptcy. Acme had seemed safe from bankruptcy, having reported annual earnings of well over $1 million in each year it has had the bank lo... | The argument requires the assumption that | [
"Acme would be able to avoid bankruptcy if it did not have to repay the bank loan",
"Acme has other debts besides the bank loan",
"last year is not the only year for which Acme overstated earnings",
"Acme's earnings for last year, when accurately stated, are below $1 million"
] | 3 | train_548 |
Film Director: It is true that certain characters and plot twists in my newly released film The Big Heist are similar to characters and plot twists in Thieves, a movie that came out last year. Pointing to these similarities, the film studio that produced Thieves is now accusing me of taking ideas from that film. The ac... | Which of the following, if true, provides the strongest support for the directors position? | [
"Production work on Thieves began before production work on The B/g Heist was started",
"The director of Thieves worked with the director of The Big Heist on several earlier projects",
"Before Thieves began production, its script had been circulating for several years among various film studios, including the s... | 3 | train_549 |
At Tromen University this semester, some students taking French Literature 205 are also taking Biology 218. Every student taking Biology 218 at Tromen is a biology major. Ttherefore, some of the students taking French Literature 205 are not French-literature majors. | The conclusion drawn above follows logically if which one of the following is assumed to be true at Tromen University? | [
"It is not possible to major in both biology and French literature.",
"There are more biology majors than there are French-literature majors.",
"French Literature 205 is a required course for French-literature majors.",
"Only biology majors are allowed to take Biology 218."
] | 0 | train_550 |
Measurements of the extent of amino-acid decomposition in fragments of eggshell found at archaeological sites in such places as southern Africa can be used to obtain accurate dates for sites up to 200, 000 years old. Because the decomposition is slower in cool climates, the technique can be used to obtain accurate date... | The information above provides the most support for which one of the following conclusions? | [
"The amino-acid decomposition that enables eggshells to be used in dating does not take place in other organic matter found at ancient archaeological sites.",
"The oldest archaeological sites are not in southern Africa, but rather in cooler regions of the world.",
"If the site being dated has been subject to la... | 2 | train_551 |
A cup of raw milk, after being heated in a microwave oven to 50 degrees Celsius, contains half its initial concentration of a particular enzyme, lysozyme. If, however, the milk reaches that temperature through exposure to a conventional heat source of 50 degrees Celsius, it will contain nearly all of its initial concen... | Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument? | [
"Heating raw milk in a microwave oven to a temperature of 100 degrees Celsius destroys nearly all of the lysozyme initially present in that milk.",
"A liquid exposed to a conventional heat source of exactly 50 degrees Celsius will reach that temperature more slowly than it would if it were exposed to a convention... | 2 | train_552 |
Arbitrator: The shipping manager admits that he decided to close the old facility on October 14 and to schedule the new facility' s opening for October 17, the following Monday. But he also claims that he is not responsible for the business that was lost due to the new facility' s failing to open as scheduled. He blame... | Which one of the following principles underlies the arbitrator's argument? | [
"A manager should take foreseeable problems into account when making decisions.",
"A manager should be held responsible for mistakes made by those whom the manager directly supervises.",
"A manager, and only a manager, should be held responsible for a project's failure.",
"A manager should be able to depend o... | 0 | train_553 |
Beginning in the 1950s, popular music was revolutionized by the electrification of musical instruments, which has enabled musicians to play with increased volume. Because individual musicians can play with increased volume, the average number of musicians per band has decreased. Nevertheless, electrification has increa... | Which one of the following is most strongly supported by the statements above, if those statements are true? | [
"The number of amateur musicians who play popular music has decreased.",
"Many professional musicians play in more than one band.",
"The number of professional musicians in some bands has increased.",
"The total number of professional bands has increased as a result of electrification."
] | 3 | train_554 |
Economist: Although average hourly wages vary considerably between different regions of this country, in each region, the average hourly wage for full-time jobs increased last year. Paradoxically, however, in the country as a whole, the average hourly wage for full-time jobs decreased last year. | Which one of the following, if true of the economist's country, most helps to resolve the apparent paradox in the economist's statements? | [
"In the country as a whole, the average hourly wage for full-time jobs has decreased slightly for each of the last three years.",
"The year before last, the unemployment rate reached a ten-year low; last year, however, the unemployment rate increased slightly.",
"Last year, to reduce costs, employers moved many... | 2 | train_555 |
Activist: Accidents at the Three Mile Island and Chernobyl nuclear plants have shown the dangers of nuclear power. It was earlier argued that nuclear power was necessary because fossil fuels will eventually run out. Recently, however, a technology has been developed for deriving from sewage sludge an oil that can be us... | Which one of the following considerations is LEAST relevant in evaluating the degree of practicability of the hope expressed by the activist above? | [
"whether the current methods of disposing of sewage sludge by dumping do environmental damage",
"whether the burning of oil from sewage sludge would, in contrast to nuclear power production, produce gases that would have a harmful warming effect on climate worldwide",
"whether the processes that are used to tur... | 2 | train_556 |
Coherent solutions for the problem of reducing health-care costs cannot be found within the current piecemeal system of paying these costs. The reason is that this system gives health-care providers and insurers every incentive to shift, wherever possible, the costs of treating illness onto each other or any other part... | The argument proceeds by | [
"employing an analogy to characterize interrelationships",
"demonstrating that cooperation is feasible by citing an instance",
"attributing without justification fraudulent intent to people",
"showing that shifting costs onto the patient contradicts the premise of health-care reimbursement"
] | 0 | train_557 |
Fine short story writers are unlikely to become great novelists. Short story writers must master the ability to interweave the many small details that together allow mundane incidents to illuminate important truths. Because the novel drowns in such detail, novelists must focus on larger matters. Only a few writers poss... | The reasoning in which one of the following is most similar to the reasoning above? | [
"Because of the vast amount of medical knowledge one needs in order to become a successful specialist and because few people have the motivation required to obtain such knowledge, most people are unlikely to become successful specialists.",
"Those who excel at one sport are unlikely to excel at another, because i... | 1 | train_558 |
If the flowers Drew received today had been sent by someone who knows Drew well, that person would have known that Drew prefers violets to roses. Yet Drew received roses. On the other hand, if the flowers had been sent by someone who does not know Drew well, then that person would have sent a signed card with the flowe... | Which one of the following statements, if true, most weakens the argument? | [
"Some people who know Drew well have sent Drew cards along with flowers.",
"Some people send flowers for a reason other than the desire to please.",
"Most people send roses when they send flowers.",
"Someone who does not know Drew well would be unlikely to send Drew flowers."
] | 1 | train_559 |
Even those who believe that the art of each age and culture has its own standards of beauty must admit that some painters are simply superior to others in the execution of their artistic visions. But this superiority must be measured in light of the artist' s purposes, since the high merits, for example, of Jose Rey To... | The claim that some painters are superior to others in the execution of their artistic visions plays which one of the following roles in the argument? | [
"It is a claim that the argument derives from another claim and that it uses to support its conclusion.",
"It is a claim that, according to the argument, is to be understood in a manner specified by the conclusion.",
"It is a generalization, one sort of objection to which the argument illustrates by giving an e... | 1 | train_560 |
A promise is defined as any agreement that yields an obligation. It is acceptable not to keep one' s promise if either the person to whom the promise is made tells the promisor not to keep it, or the promisor is unable to fulfill the obligation due to circumstances beyond the promisor' s control. | Which one of the following is an application of the principle above pertaining to promising? | [
"Paul agreed to lend Tom $10. But Paul also owes Maria $10. So it is unacceptable for Paul to fulfill his promise to lend Tom $10 while he still owes Maria money.",
"Felicia agreed to tutor Alan in mathematics on Tuesday. However, on his way to the tutorial session, Alan was injured in a car accident and was unab... | 1 | train_561 |
Early in this century Alfred Wegener developed the concept of continental drift. His ideas were rejected vehemently because he postulated no identifiable force strong enough to make the continents move. We have come to accept Wegener' s theory, not because we have pinpointed such a force, but because new instruments ha... | The passage best illustrates which one of the following statements about science? | [
"Science, employing statistics and the laws of probability, is concerned not with the single event but with mass behavior.",
"In accepting a mathematical description of nature, science has become far more accurate at identifying underlying forces.",
"The aim of science is to define the manifold of nature within... | 3 | train_562 |
Dwight works at a mid-sized regional tech company. He approaches all tasks with unmatched enthusiasm and leads the company in annual sales. The top salesman is always the best employee. Ttherefore, Dwight is the best employee. | Which of the following most accurately describes how the argument proceeds? | [
"The argument proceeds by stating a general fact, offering specific anecdotes, and then drawing a conclusion.",
"The argument proceeds by stating several facts that serve as the basis for the conclusion at the end of the argument.",
"The argument proceeds by first stating a conclusion and then offering several ... | 3 | train_563 |
Unplugging a peripheral component such as a "mouse" from a personal computer renders all of the software programs that require that component unusable on that computer. On Fred' s personal computer, a software program that requires a mouse has become unusable. So it must be that the mouse for Fred' s computer became un... | The argument is most vulnerable to which one of the following criticisms? | [
"It attempts to support its conclusion by citing a generalization that is too broad.",
"It overlooks the possibility that some programs do not require a peripheral component such as a mouse.",
"It introduces information unrelated to its conclusion as evidence in support of that conclusion.",
"It treats an eve... | 3 | train_564 |
In the years following an eight-cent increase in the federal tax on a pack of cigarettes, sales of cigarettes fell ten percent. In contrast, in the year prior to the tax increase, sales had fallen one percent. The volume of cigarette sales is ttherefore strongly related to the after-tax price of a pack of cigarettes. | The argument above requires which of the following assumptions? | [
"As the after-tax price of a pack of cigarettes rises, the pretax price also rises.",
"The pretax price of a pack of cigarettes gradually decreased throughout the year before and the year after the tax increase.",
"During the year following the tax increase, the pretax price of a pack of cigarettes did not incr... | 3 | train_565 |
Alice will volunteer to work on the hospital fundraising drive only if her brother Bruce also volunteers and a majority of the others working on the drive promise to select Bruce to manage the drive. However, although Bruce is willing to volunteer, none of the others working on the drive will promise to select Bruce to... | In which one of the following arguments is the pattern of reasoning most similar to the pattern of reasoning in the argument above? | [
"Leon will go to the picnic only if Vera also goes. However, according to his friends Leon does not plan to go to the picnic: so it is certain that Vera is not planning to go.",
"Therese will work in the yard tomorrow only if Maria helps her and it is not raining. Although Maria does not like working in the yard,... | 2 | train_566 |
Legislator: We should not waste any more of the taxpayers' money on the government' s job-creation program. The unemployment rate in this country has actually risen since the program was begun, so the program has clearly been a failure. | Which of the following is an assumption on which the legislator's argument depends? | [
"Other government programs are no more effective in reducing unemployment than is the job-creation program.",
"The unemployment rate is higher now than at any time before the inception of the job-creation program.",
"If the job-creation program had been run more efficiently, it could have better served its purp... | 3 | train_567 |
When individual students are all treated equally in that they have identical exposure to curriculum material, the rate, quality, and quantity of learning will vary from student to student. If all students are to master a given curriculum, some of them need different types of help than others, as any experienced teacher... | If the statements above are both true, which one of the following conclusions can be drawn on the basis of them? | [
"The rate and quality of learning, with learning understood as the acquiring of the ability to solve problems within a given curriculum area, depend on the quantity of teaching an individual student receives in any given curriculum.",
"All students should have identical exposure to learn the material being taught... | 2 | train_568 |
The French novelist Colette (1873-1954) has been widely praised for the vividness of her language. But many critics complain that her novels are indifferent to important moral questions. This charge is unfair. Each of her novels is a poetic condensation of a major emotional crisis in the life of an ordinary person of h... | Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends? | [
"A novel that poetically condenses a major emotional crisis does not have to be indifferent to the important moral questions raised by that crisis.",
"To deserve the level of praise that Colette has received, a novelist's work must concern itself with important moral questions.",
"The vividness of Colette's lan... | 0 | train_569 |
Humans get Lyme disease from infected ticks. Ticks get infected by feeding on animals with Lyme disease, but the ease of transmission from host animal to tick varies. With most species of host animal, transmission of Lyme disease to ticks is extremely rare, but white-footed mice are an exception, readily passing Lyme d... | The information in the passage most strongly supports which of the following? | [
"Humans are less at risk of contracting Lyme disease in areas where biodiversity is high.",
"The greater the biodiversity of an area, the more likely any given host animal in that area is to pass Lyme disease to ticks.",
"Ticks feed on white-footed mice only when other host species are not available to them.",
... | 0 | train_570 |
Some video game makers have sold the movie rights for popular games. However, this move is rarely good from a business perspective. After all, StarQuanta sold the movie rights to its popular game Nostroma, but the poorly made film adaptation of the game was hated by critics and the public alike. Subsequent versions of ... | The reasoning in the argument is most vulnerable to criticism in that the argument | [
"infers that a product will be disliked by the public merely from the claim that the product was disliked by critics",
"takes for granted that products with similar content that are in different media will be of roughly equal popularity",
"restates as a conclusion a claim earlier presented as evidence for that ... | 3 | train_571 |
Industry Analyst: This summer is expected to be particularly hot and dry in the major orange-growing regions of Florida, the state accounting for the largest share of orange production in the United States. While hot and dry weather usually leads to a substantial drop in the yield of oranges, my projections indicate th... | Which of the following statements, if true, would support the claim of the Industry Analyst? | [
"This summer, Florida orange producers will employ a large number of migrant workers, a strategy that will substantially decrease their labor costs.",
"The hot weather is likely to increase the revenues of companies engaged in tourism and recreation that comprise the largest portion of the state economy.",
"Bec... | 3 | train_572 |
Comets do not give off their own light but reflect light from other sources, such as the Sun. Scientists estimate the mass of comets by their brightness: the greater a comet' s mass, the more light that comet will reflect. A satellite probe, however, has revealed that the material of which Halley' s comet is composed r... | The statements above, if true, give the most support to which one of the following? | [
"The reflective properties of the material of which comets are composed vary considerably from comet to comet.",
"Previous estimates of the mass of Halley's comet which were based on its brightness were too low.",
"The total amount of light reflected from Halley's comet is less than scientists had previously th... | 1 | train_573 |
Criminologist: Some legislators advocate mandating a sentence of life in prison for anyone who, having twice served sentences for serious crimes, is subsequently convicted of a third serious crime. These legislators argue that <b> such a policy would reduce crime dramatically </b>, since it would take people with a pro... | In the argument as a whole, the two boldfaced portions play which of the following roles? | [
"The first is a conclusion that the argument as a whole seeks to refute; the second is a claim that has been advanced in support of that conclusion.",
"The first is the main conclusion of the argument; the second is an objection that has been raised against that conclusion.",
"The first is the main conclusion o... | 3 | train_574 |
Researchers working in Western Australia have discovered the oldest fragments of the Earth' s early crust that have yet been identified: microdiamonds. These microscopic crystals measure only 50 microns across and were formed 4. 2 billion years ago. This discovery sheds light on how long it took for the Earth' s crust ... | If the statements above are true, which one of the following must also be true? | [
"The Earth's crust first formed in the area that is now Western Australia.",
"The Earth's crust took no longer than 300 million years to start to form.",
"All naturally occurring microdiamonds were formed at the time the Earth's crust was being formed.",
"The Earth's crust took billions of years to form."
] | 1 | train_575 |
Although water in deep aquifers does not contain disease-causing bacteria, when public water supplies are drawn from deep aquifers, chlorine is often added to the water as a disinfectant because contamination can occur as a result of flaws in pipes or storage tanks. Of 50 municipalities that all pumped water from the s... | Which one of the following can properly be concluded from the information given above? | [
"The regional government's standards allow some bacteria in municipal water supplies.",
"Chlorine is the least effective disinfecting agent.",
"Where accessible, deep aquifers are the best choice as a source for a municipal water supply.",
"A municipality's initial decision whether or not to use chlorine is b... | 0 | train_576 |
Last year a record number of new manufacturing jobs were created. Will this year bring another record? Well, a new manufacturing job is created either within an existing company or by the start-up of a new company. Within existing firms, new jobs have been created this year at well below last year' s record pace. At th... | In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles? | [
"The first is a prediction that, if accurate, would provide support for the main conclusion of the argument; the second is that main conclusion.",
"The first is a prediction that, if accurate, would provide support for the main conclusion of the argument; the second is a conclusion drawn in order to support that ... | 0 | train_577 |
Paper& Print is a chain of British stores selling magazines, books, and stationery products. In Britain, magazines' retail prices are set by publishers, and the retailer' s share of a magazine' s retail price is 25 percent. Since Paper& Print' s margin on books and stationery products is much higher, the chain'... | Which of the following, if true, most strongly argues that the plan, if put into effect, will not increase Paper& Print's profits? | [
"The publisher's share of a magazine's retail price is 50 percent, and the publisher also retains all of the magazine's advertising revenue.",
"In market research surveys, few consumers identify Paper&Print as a book or stationery store but many recognize and value the broad range of magazines it carries.",
"Re... | 1 | train_578 |
Novel X and Novel Y are both semiautobiographical novels and contain many very similar themes and situations, which might lead one to suspect plagiarism on the part of one of the authors. However, it is more likely that the similarity of themes and situations in the two novels is merely coincidental, since both authors... | Which one of the following most accurately expresses the conclusion drawn in the argument? | [
"Novel X and Novel Y are both semiautobiographical novels, and the two novels contain many very similar themes and situations.",
"It is less likely that one of the authors of Novel X or Novel Y is guilty of plagiarism than that the similarity of themes and situations in the two novels is merely coincidental.",
... | 1 | train_579 |
If there are any inspired performances in the concert, the audience will be treated to a good show. But there will not be a good show unless there are sophisticated listeners in the audience, and to be a sophisticated listener one must understand one' s musical roots. | If all of the statements above are true, which one of the following must also be true? | [
"If there are no sophisticated listeners in the audience, then there will be no inspired musical performances in the concert.",
"If there will be people in the audience who understand their musical roots, then at least one musical performance in the concert will be inspired.",
"If there are sophisticated listen... | 0 | train_580 |
The computer industry's estimate that it loses millions of dollars when users illegally copy programs without paying for them is greatly exaggerated. Most of the illegal copying is done by people with no serious interest in the programs. Thus, the loss to the industry is quite small, because__. | Which of the following best completes the passage below? | [
"the number of programs that are frequently copied illegally is low in comparison to the number of programs available for sale",
"the total market value of all illegal copies is low in comparison to the total revenue of the computer industry",
"most people who illegally copy programs would not purchase them eve... | 2 | train_581 |
The format of network television news programs generally allows advocates of a point of view only 30 seconds to convey their message. Consequently, regular watchers become accustomed to thinking of issues in terms only of slogans and catch phrases, and so the expectation of careful discussion of public issues gradually... | The argument assumes which one of the following? | [
"In network television news reports, it is not usual for a reporter to offer additional factual evidence and background information to develop a story in which opposing views are presented briefly by their advocates.",
"It is not possible for television to present public issues in a way that allows for the nuance... | 0 | train_582 |
An overwhelming proportion of the most productive employees at SaleCo' s regional offices work not eight hours a day, five days a week, as do other SaleCo employees, but rather ten hours a day, four days a week, with Friday off. Noting this phenomenon, SaleCo' s president plans to increase overall productivity by keepi... | Which of the following, if true, provides the most reason to doubt that the president's plan, if implemented, will achieve its stated purpose? | [
"Typically, a SaleCo employee's least productive hours in the workplace are the early afternoon hours.",
"Those SaleCo employees who have a four-day workweek do not take any of their office work to do at home on Fridays.",
"Employees at SaleCo are compensated not on the basis of how many hours a week they work ... | 3 | train_583 |
Wanda: It is common sense that one cannot create visual art without visual stimuli in one' s work area, just as a writer needs written stimuli. A stark, empty work area would hinder my creativity. This is why there are so many things in my studio. Vernon: But a writer needs to read good writing, not supermarket tabloid... | Are you inspired by the piles of laundry and empty soda bottles in your studio? Which one of the following most accurately expresses the principle underlying Vernon's response to Wanda? | [
"Supermarket tabloids should not be considered stimulating.",
"One should be able to be creative even in a stark, empty work area.",
"It is unhealthy to work in a cluttered work area.",
"The quality of the stimuli in an artist's environment matters."
] | 3 | train_584 |
Philosopher: Some of the most ardent philosophical opponents of democracy have rightly noted that both the inherently best and the inherently worst possible forms of government are those that concentrate political power in the hands of a few. Thus, since democracy is a consistently mediocre form of government, it is a ... | Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps to justify the philosopher's argument? | [
"The best form of government is the one that is most likely to produce an outcome that is on the whole good.",
"A society should adopt a democratic form of government if and only if most members of the society prefer a democratic form of government.",
"In choosing a form of government, it is better for a societ... | 2 | train_585 |
Peter: Because the leaves of mildly drought-stressed plants are tougher in texture than the leaves of abundantly watered plants, insects prefer to feed on the leaves of abundantly watered plants. Ttherefore, to minimize crop damage, farmers should water crops only just enough to ensure that there is no substantial thre... | Jennifer's comment is related to Peter's argument in which one of the following ways? | [
"It supports Peter's argument by offering an explanation of all of Peter's premises.",
"It offers information that supports each of the claims that Peter makes in his argument.",
"It supports Peter's argument by supplying a premise without which Peter's conclusion cannot properly be drawn.",
"It supports the ... | 3 | train_586 |
Traverton's city council wants to minimize the city's average yearly expenditures on its traffic signal lights and so is considering replacing the incandescent bulbs currently in use with arrays of light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as the incandescent bulbs burn out. Compared to incandescent bulbs, LED arrays consume signif... | Which of the following would it be most useful to know in determining whether switching to LED arrays would be likely to help minimize Traverton's yearly maintenance costs? | [
"Whether the crews that currently replace incandescent bulbs in Traverton's traffic signals know how to convert the existing fixtures so as to accept LED arrays",
"Whether the expected service life of LED arrays is at least as long as that of the currently used incandescent bulbs",
"Whether any cities have swit... | 1 | train_587 |
Employer: In the current economic climate, the best way to run a business is to pay employees the least amount possible to do the job. The supply of labor is far outpacing demand since the number of college graduates increases every year and the average age of retirement is also increasing. Applicants will typically ta... | Each of the following, if true, weakens the employer's argument EXCEPT: | [
"Training new employees costs more than giving existing employees a raise.",
"Paying employees the minimum will hurt the company's image amongst customers.",
"Dissatisfied employees lead to labor unrest, and the resulting protests disrupt business.",
"Automation is the leading cause for unemployment."
] | 3 | train_588 |
A newly discovered painting seems to be the work of one of two seventeenth-century artists, either the northern German Johannes Drechen or the Frenchman Louis Birelle, who sometimes painted in the same style as Drechen. Analysis of the carved picture frame, which has been identified as the painting's original seventeen... | Which of the following is an assumption that the argument requires? | [
"Sometimes a painting so resembles others of its era that no expert is able to confidently decide who painted it.",
"Drechen is unlikely to have ever visited the home region of Birelle in France.",
"The carving style of the picture frame is not typical of any specific region of Europe.",
"The frame was made f... | 3 | train_589 |
Government statistics show that the real (adjusted for inflation) average income for families has risen over the last five years. Ttherefore, since this year the Andersen family' s income is average for families, the family' s real income must have increased over the last five years. | The reasoning in the argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that the argument | [
"overlooks the possibility that most families' incomes are below average",
"fails to take into account inflation with respect to the Andersen family's income",
"presumes, without providing justification, that the government makes no errors in gathering accurate estimates of family income",
"fails to consider ... | 3 | train_590 |
Members of the Amazonian Akabe people commonly take an early-morning drink of a tea made from the leaves of a forest plant. Although they greatly enjoy this drink, at dawn they drink it only in small amounts. Anthropologists hypothesize that since this tea is extraordinarily high in caffeine, the explanation for the Ak... | Which one of the following, if true, most seriously calls the anthropologists' explanation into question? | [
"The leaves used for the tea contain a soluble narcotic.",
"The Akabe also drink the tea in the evening, after their day's work is done.",
"The drink is full of nutrients otherwise absent from the Akabe diet.",
"When celebrating, the Akabe drink the tea in large quantities."
] | 0 | train_591 |
Air traffic controllers and nuclear power plant operators are not allowed to work exceptionally long hours, because to do so would jeopardize lives. Yet physicians in residency training are typically required to work 80-hour weeks. The aforementioned restrictions on working exceptionally long hours should also be appli... | Which one of the following is an assumption the argument depends on? | [
"Resident physicians have a more direct effect on the lives of others than do air traffic controllers and nuclear power plant operators.",
"Those who are not engaged in work that has life- or-death consequences should only sometimes be allowed to work exceptionally long hours.",
"There is no indispensable aspec... | 2 | train_592 |
Statistical studies show that last year there was the greatest drop in the violent crime rate over the course of a year since such statistics were first gathered. But they also reveal that at the same time public anxiety about violent crime substantially increased. | Which one of the following, if true, most helps to resolve the apparent discrepancy described above? | [
"Longer prison sentences were the primary cause of the decrease in the violent crime rate over the course of last year.",
"As in the past, last year's increase in public anxiety about violent crime has been consistently underreported in the news media.",
"People who feel the most anxiety about violent crime usu... | 3 | train_593 |
Often patients with ankle fractures that are stable, and thus do not require surgery, are given follow-up x-rays because their orthopedists are concerned about possibly having misjudged the stability of the fracture. When a number of follow-up x-rays were reviewed, however, all the fractures that had initially been jud... | Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument? | [
"The healing of ankle fractures that have been surgically repaired is always checked by means of a follow-up x-ray.",
"Doctors who are general practitioners rather than orthopedists are less likely than orthopedists to judge the stability of an ankle fracture correctly.",
"X-rays of patients of many different o... | 2 | train_594 |
A significant number of Qualitex Corporation' s department heads are due to retire this year. The number of employees other than current department heads who could take on the position of department head is equal to only about half of the expected vacancies. Oualitex is not going to hire department heads from outside t... | Which of the following most logically completes the argument? | [
"reduces the average number of employees per department",
"reduces the number of its departments",
"raises the salary for department heads",
"promotes some current department heads to higher-level managerial positions"
] | 1 | train_595 |
It is illegal to advertise prescription medications in Hedland except directly to physicians, either by mail or in medical journals. A proposed law would allow general advertising of prescription medications. Opponents object that the general population lacks the specialized knowledge to evaluate such advertisements an... | Which of the following would it be most useful to establish in order to evaluate the argument? | [
"Whether advertisements for prescription medications are currently an important source of information about newly available medications for physicians",
"Whether some people might go to a physician for no reason other than to ask for a particular medication they have seen advertised",
"Whether physicians would ... | 2 | train_596 |
The energy an animal must expend to move uphill is proportional to its body weight, whereas the animal' s energy output available to perform this task is proportional to its surface area. This is the reason that small animals, like squirrels, can run up a tree trunk almost as fast as they can move on level ground, wher... | Which one of the following is an assumption on which the explanation above depends? | [
"The amount of energy needed to run at a given speed is proportional to the surface area of the running animal.",
"The ratio of surface area to body weight is smaller in large animals than it is in small animals.",
"Small animals can move more rapidly than large animals can.",
"There is little variation in th... | 1 | train_597 |
Because the native salmon in Lake Clearwater had nearly disappeared, sockeye salmon were introduced in 1940. After being introduced, this genetically uniform group of sockeyes split into two distinct populations that do not interbreed, one inhabiting deep areas of the lake and the other inhabiting shallow areas. Since ... | Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the researchers' hypothesis? | [
"Most types of salmon that inhabit lakes spend part of the time in shallow water and part in deeper water.",
"Neither of the two populations of sockeyes has interbred with the native salmon.",
"When the native salmon in Lake Clearwater were numerous, they comprised two distinct populations that did not interbre... | 1 | train_598 |
Consumer advocate: In some countries, certain produce is routinely irradiated with gamma rays in order to extend shelf life. There are, however, good reasons to avoid irradiated foods. First, they are exposed to the radioactive substances that produce the gamma rays. Second, irradiation can reduce the vitamin content o... | Each of the following, if true, weakens the consumer advocate's argument EXCEPT: | [
"Unique radiolytic products have seldom been found in any irradiated food.",
"Cancer and other serious health problems have many causes that are unrelated to radioactive substances and gamma rays.",
"A study showed that irradiation leaves the vitamin content of virtually all fruits and vegetables unchanged.",
... | 1 | train_599 |
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