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Economist: Some critics of the media have contended that negative news reports on the state of the economy can actually harm the economy because such reports damage people' s confidence in it, and this lack of confidence in turn adversely affects people' s willingness to spend money. But studies show that spending tren... | The economist's argument is flawed in that it fails to consider the possibility that | [
"news reports about the state of the economy are not always accurate",
"people who have little confidence in the overall economy generally take a pessimistic view concerning their own immediate economic situations",
"an economic slowdown usually has a greater impact on the economic situations of individuals if ... | 1 | train_700 |
Attorneys for a criminal defendant charged that the government, in a cover-up, had destroyed evidence that would have supported the defendant in a case. The government replied that there is no evidence that would even tend to support the defendant in the case. | Which one of the following is the most accurate evaluation of the government' s reply? | [
"If true, it effectively disproves the charge made on behalf of the defendant.",
"It leaves open the question of whether the government had destroyed such evidence.",
"It shows that the attorneys did not know whether their charge was true.",
"It demonstrates the government's failure to search for evidence in ... | 1 | train_701 |
Administrators of educational institutions are enthusiastic about the educational use of computers because they believe that it will enable schools to teach far more courses with far fewer teachers than traditional methods allow. Many teachers fear computers for the same reason. But this reason is mistaken. Computerize... | The statement that the educational use of computers enables schools to teach far more courses with far fewer teachers figures in the argument in which one of the following ways? | [
"It is a statement offered in support of the argument's main conclusion.",
"It is the argument's main conclusion.",
"It is presented as a possible explanation for an observation that follows it.",
"It is a statement that the argument is designed to refute."
] | 3 | train_702 |
Before 1986 physicists believed they could describe the universe in terms of four universal forces. Experiments then suggested, however, a fifth universal force of mutual repulsion between particles of matter. This fifth force would explain the occurrence in the experiments of a smaller measurement of the gravitational... | Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument that there is a fifth universal force? | [
"No previously established scientific results are incompatible with the notion of a fifth universal force.",
"The extremely sophisticated equipment used for the experiments was not available to physicists before the 1970s.",
"The experiments were conducted by physicists in remote geological settings in which fa... | 0 | train_703 |
It has been argued that the immense size of Tyrannosaurus rex would have made it so slow that it could only have been a scavenger, not a hunter, since it would not have been able to chase down its prey. This, however, is an overly hasty inference. T. rex' s prey, if it was even larger than T rex, would probably have be... | rex could only have been a scavenger, not a hunter, plays which one of the following roles in the argument? | [
"It is offered as evidence that is necessary for drawing the conclusion advanced by the argument",
"It is a hypothesis that is claimed in the argument to be logically inconsistent with the conclusion advanced by the argument.",
"It is offered as evidence in support of a hypothesis that the argument concludes to... | 3 | train_704 |
Modern science is built on the process of posing hypotheses and testing them against observations -- in essence, attempting to show that the hypotheses are incorrect. Nothing brings more recognition than overthrowing conventional wisdom. It is accordingly unsurprising that some scientists are skeptical of the widely ac... | The information above provides the most support for which one of the following statements? | [
"Research in global warming is primarily driven by a desire for recognition in the scientific community.",
"Most researchers in climatology have substantial motive to find evidence that would discredit the global warming hypothesis.",
"There is evidence that conclusively shows that the global warming hypothesis... | 1 | train_705 |
Sasha: Handwriting analysis should be banned in court as evidence of a person' s character: handwriting analysts called as witnesses habitually exaggerate the reliability of their analyses. Gregory: You are right that the current use of handwriting analysis as evidence is problematic. But this problem exists only becau... | Gregory does which one of the following in responding to Sasha's argument? | [
"He defends a principle by restricting the class to which it is to be applied.",
"He shows that Sasha's argument itself manifests the undesirable characteristic that it condemns.",
"He identifies a self-contradictory statement in Sasha's argument.",
"He abstracts a general principle from specific evidence."
] | 0 | train_706 |
Historian: Anyone who thinks that the terrors of the ancient regime of Q were exclusively the work of fanatics is overlooking a basic truth: the regime was made up primarily of ordinary people enthusiastically seeking paradise. The regime executed many people in pursuit of its goal; but it later became clear that parad... | Which one of the following principles, if valid, provides the most support for the historian's argumentation? | [
"The pursuit of paradise does not justify murder.",
"The pursuit of paradise justifies fanaticism.",
"Execution in pursuit of what is later found to be unattainable constitutes murder.",
"Enthusiasm in pursuit of what is eventually found to be unattainable constitutes fanaticism."
] | 2 | train_707 |
The average hourly wage of television assemblers in Vernland has long been significantly lower than that in neighboring Borodia. Since Borodia dropped all tariffs on Vernlandian televisions three years ago, the number of televisions sold annually in Borodia has not changed. However, recent statistics show a drop in the... | Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends? | [
"Televisions assembled in Vernland have features that televisions assembled in Borodia do not have",
"The average number of hours it takes a Borodian television assembler to assemble a television has not decreased significantly during the past three years",
"The number of television assemblers in Vernland has i... | 1 | train_708 |
Claim: Country X' s government lowered tariff barriers because doing so served the interests of powerful foreign companies. Principle: In order for a change to be explained by the advantage some person or group gained from it, it must be shown how the interests of the person or group played a role in bringing about the... | Which one of the following, if true, can most logically serve as a premise for an argument that uses the principle to counter the claim? | [
"Although foreign companies benefited when Country X lowered tariff barriers, there is no other evidence that these foreign companies induced the change.",
"In the period since tariff barriers were lowered, price competition among importers has severely limited importers' profits from selling foreign companies' p... | 0 | train_709 |
The use of radar detectors in commercial vehicles was banned because commercial truck and bus drivers were using these devices to drive faster than the posted speed limit without fear of arrest. Since drivers of noncommercial vehicles also use radar detectors and since speeding decreases safety for any vehicle, use of ... | Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the argument above? | [
"Traffic accidents involving a truck or bus generally pose a greater threat of injury or death than do other accidents.",
"Radar detectors are sometimes set off by devices other than the law enforcement devices that the radar detectors were built to detect.",
"In many places airplanes or helicopters are used ra... | 3 | train_710 |
Environmental scientist: It is true that over the past ten years, there has been a sixfold increase in government funding for the preservation of wetlands, while the total area of wetlands needing such preservation has increased only twofold (although this area was already large ten years ago). Even when inflation is t... | Which one of the following, if true, most helps to reconcile the environmental scientist's conclusion with the evidence cited above? | [
"Over the past ten years, the salaries of scientists employed by the government to work on the preservation of wetlands have increased at a rate higher than the inflation rate.",
"The governmental agency responsible for administering wetland-preservation funds has been consistently mismanaged and run inefficientl... | 2 | train_711 |
Social media websites rely on user engagement. Increasing the number of users and those users' activity means more advertising revenue. Most social media websites offer the service at no cost in order to attract more users, relying exclusively on advertising revenue to make a profit. The most popular articles shared on... | Which one of the following best completes the argument? | [
"lying to advertisers about their user engagement.",
"surveying their users to determine what type of content they most prefer.",
"monitoring the ratio of sensationalized and factual articles.",
"prohibiting sensationalized articles."
] | 2 | train_712 |
Old rose varieties have less vibrant colors than modern rose varieties, but are superior in fragrance. This situation has arisen because the modern rose varieties were developed to meet customer demand and marketed mainly through catalogs: colors, but not fragrances, can be photographed. | Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the support for the causal claim made above? | [
"People in earlier times were interested in the fragrances of roses as well as their colors.",
"State-of-the-art photographic equipment makes possible unprecedentedly accurate color reproductions of roses.",
"Breeding roses to enhance one trait often has unanticipated consequences for other traits.",
"People ... | 2 | train_713 |
Last year the rate of inflation was 1. 2 percent, but during the current year it has been 4 percent. We can conclude that inflation is on an upward trend and the rate will be still higher next year. | Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the conclusion above? | [
"The 1. 2 percent rate of inflation last year represented a 10-year low.",
"The inflation figures were computed on the basis of a representative sample of economic data rather than all the available data.",
"Increases in the pay of some workers are tied to the level of inflation, and at an inflation rate of 4 p... | 3 | train_714 |
Nuts are high in calories. All else being equal, the more calories one consumes, the more likely one is to become overweight. However, studies have found that people who eat nuts regularly are actually less likely to be overweight than people who never eat nuts. | Which one of the following, if true, would most help to resolve the apparent discrepancy described above? | [
"If people who avoid a certain kind of food are more likely to be overweight than people who consume that food regularly, then that food should not be avoided for weight loss purposes .",
"The likelihood of becoming overweight depends not only on how many calories one consumes but also on how rapidly one burns th... | 3 | train_715 |
Ethicist: Only when we know a lot about the events that led to an action are we justified in praising or blaming a person for that action -- as we sometimes are. We must ttherefore reject Tolstoy' s rash claim that if we knew a lot about the events leading up to any action, we would cease to regard that action as freel... | Which one of the following, if assumed, enables the conclusion of the ethicist's argument to be properly drawn? | [
"People should not be regarded as subject to praise or blame for actions that were caused by conditions beyond their control.",
"The responsibility a person bears for an action is not a matter of degree; however, our inclination to blame or praise whoever performed the action varies with the amount of information... | 3 | train_716 |
Conservationist: The risk to airplane passengers from collisions between airplanes using the airport and birds from the wildlife refuge is negligible. In the 10 years since the refuge was established, only 20 planes have been damaged in collisions with birds, and no passenger has been injured as a result of such a coll... | The pilot counters the conservationist by | [
"disputing the accuracy of the figures cited by the conservationist",
"discrediting the moral principle on which the conservationist's argument is based",
"attempting to show that the conservationist's description of the facts is misleading",
"asserting that dangerous situations inevitably become more dangero... | 2 | train_717 |
Sydonie: Parents differ in their beliefs about the rules to which their children should be subject. So any disciplinary structure in schools is bound to create resentment because it will contradict some parental approaches to raising children. Stephanie: Your conclusion is incorrect; educational research shows that whe... | Stephanie's argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that | [
"it addresses a more general issue than that addressed in Sydonie's argument",
"it does not counter Sydonie's suggestion that parents have diverse ideas of what constitutes good discipline",
"the phrase \"high on the list\" is not specific enough to give useful information about what parents desire from a schoo... | 1 | train_718 |
Aristophanes' play The Clouds, which was written when the philosopher Socrates was in his mid-forties, portrays Socrates as an atheistic philosopher primarily concerned with issues in natural science. The only other surviving portrayals of Socrates were written after Socrates' death at age 70. They portrayed Socrates a... | Which one of the following, if true, would most help to resolve the apparent discrepancy between Aristophanes' portrayal of Socrates and the other surviving portrayals? | [
"Socrates had an influence on many subsequent philosophers who were primarily concerned with natural science.",
"Socrates was a much more controversial figure in the years before his death than he was in his mid-forties.",
"Socrates' philosophical views and interests changed sometime after his mid-forties.",
... | 2 | train_719 |
Roger Bacon, the thirteenth-century scientist, is said to have made important discoveries in optics. He was an early advocate of hands-on experimentation, and as a teacher warned his students against relying uncritically on the opinions of authorities. Nevertheless, this did not stop Bacon himself from appealing to aut... | The reasoning in the argument is flawed because the argument | [
"criticizes Bacon's character in order to question his scientific findings",
"uses Bacon's remarks to his students as evidence of his opinions",
"ignores the fact that thirteenth-century science may not hold up well today",
"attacks Bacon's uncritical reliance on authority opinion"
] | 0 | train_720 |
Despite increasing international efforts to protect the natural habitats of endangered species of animals, the rate at which these species are becoming extinct continues to rise. It is clear that these efforts are wasted. | Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the argument? | [
"Many countries do not recognize the increased economic benefit of tourism associated with preserved natural habitats.",
"Species that would have become extinct have been saved due to the establishment of animal refuges.",
"Scientists are better able to preserve the habitats of endangered species now than ever ... | 1 | train_721 |
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates the introduction of new therapeutic agents into the marketplace. Consequently, it plays a critical role in improving health care in the United States. While it is those in the academic and government research communities who engage in the long process of in... | Which one of the following statements can be inferred from the passage? | [
"Before new therapeutic agents reach the marketplace they do not help patients.",
"The FDA should work more closely with researchers to ensure that the quality of therapeutic agents is maintained.",
"If a new medical discovery has been transferred from the laboratory to the marketplace, it will help patients.",... | 0 | train_722 |
A group of 5, 000 undergraduate students was randomly selected from three universities in a large state and asked the question, "Do you plan to attain your master' s degree eventually? " More than 82 percent answered "Yes. " This shows that the overwhelming majority of students want to attain their master' s degree, an... | The reasoning of the argument above is questionable because it | [
"contradicts itself by admitting that there might be a low number of students earning master's degrees, while claiming that most students want to acquire such a degree",
"overlooks the possibility that there might, in fact, be a majority of students who will eventually earn a master's degree",
"treats universit... | 2 | train_723 |
Nutritionist: Your company's fruit-processing technologies add unacceptable amounts of copper to the orange juice you sell. Because copper blocks the absorption of Vitamin C, your advertising campaign claiming that your juice is a good source of Vitamin C is faulty and should be removed. Juice Manufacturer: Some amount... | The juice manufacturer's response is flawed as a refutation of the nutritionist's argument because it | [
"does not address the issue of whether sufficient amounts of copper are present to invalidate its advertising claims.",
"shows that the nutritionist's evidence about copper is irrelevant but fails to demonstrate any flaws in the nutritionist's assumptions.",
"addresses the nutritionist's argument in general ter... | 0 | train_724 |
Principle: When none of the fully qualified candidates for a new position at Arvue Corporation currently works for that company, it should hire the candidate who would be most productive in that position. Application: Arvue should not hire Krall for the new position, because Delacruz is a candidate and is fully qualifi... | Which one of the following, if true, justifies the above application of the principle? | [
"None of the candidates already works for Arvue, and Delacruz is the candidate who would be most productive in the new position.",
"Of all the candidates who do not already work for Arvue, Delacruz would be the most productive in the new position.",
"Krall works for Arvue, but Delacruz is the candidate who woul... | 0 | train_725 |
Start-up companies financed by venture capitalists have a much lower failure rate than companies financed by other means. Source of financing, ttherefore, must be a more important causative factor in the success of a start-up company than are such factors as the personal characteristics of the entrepreneur, the quality... | Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument above? | [
"The management structures of start-up companies are generally less formal than the management structures of ongoing businesses.",
"More than half of all new companies fail within five years.",
"Venture capitalists base their decisions to fund start. up companies on such factors as the characteristics of the en... | 2 | train_726 |
According to a survey of consumers conducted one week before the end of a national call-in campaign to decide the newest flavor of Freak Cola, more of those surveyed responded that they enjoyed the Citrusea Swirl flavor than responded that they enjoyed any other flavor choice. Regardless of the survey results, a differ... | Each of the following, if true, contributes to a resolution of the discrepancy described above EXCEPT: | [
"More than 60% of those responding to the survey in favor of Vanilla Bonanza stated they were likely to call in and vote, whereas only 25% of those supporting Citrusea Swirl claimed they would be calling in their votes.",
"Freak Cola made an announcement four days before the end of the call-in campaign stating th... | 2 | train_727 |
Due to the profitable but unlawful practice of selling elephant tusks, elephants have been hunted to near extinction by unlicensed poachers. Ttherefore, an efficient way to prevent the hunting of elephants would be to file down the tusks from time to time, thus removing any incentive for hunting elephants. | Which of the following is an assumption required by the argument? | [
"Elephants are only valued by poachers for their tusks.",
"Poachers often steal baby elephants to raise in captivity and later sell them for a profit.",
"Elephants whose tusks have been trimmed will be unable to defend themselves against poachers.",
"The demand for elephant tusks will decrease as supply dwind... | 0 | train_728 |
The mathematics of the scientific theory known as "complexity" describes those phenomena that are not quite stable and not quite chaotic. For example, the mathematics of complexity can be used to describe sand dunes: although sand dunes generally retain their shape, the addition of a tiny amount of sand can cause a san... | Which one of the following principles, if valid, most justifies the scientists' conclusion? | [
"If actual phenomena can be pictured as computerized models, computers themselves will eventually discover the mathematics of the correct theory explaining those phenomena.",
"If computers verify that there are mathematical errors in the calculations of scientists, then the theories of those scientists are probab... | 2 | train_729 |
Even in a democracy, it is necessary to restrict the dissemination of advanced technological knowledge that is of commercial or national-security value. Dissemination to certain countries, those that are or will be competitors or enemies, should be selectively prohibited. There must, however, be free exchange of scient... | In order to act in accordance with the position above, it would be necessary to be able to rely on each of the following EXCEPT: | [
"In a democracy, it is not necessary that the public have detailed knowledge of the country's advanced technology in order, for example, to make informed decisions about the direction public policy should take.",
"It is possible to distinguish with confidence, despite any changes in the international environment,... | 3 | train_730 |
A museum has been offered an undocumented statue, supposedly Greek and from the sixth century B. C. Possibly the statue is genuine but undocumented because it was recently unearthed or because it has been privately owned. However, an ancient surface usually has uneven weathering, whereas the surface of this statue has ... | Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument? | [
"The chemical bath that forgers use was at one time used by dealers and collectors to remove the splotchy surface appearance of genuinely ancient sculptures.",
"An allegedly Roman sculpture with a uniform surface Similar to that of the statue being offered to the museum was recently shown to be a forgery.",
"Mu... | 0 | train_731 |
Programmer: We computer programmers at Mytheco are demanding raises to make our average salary comparable with that of the technical writers here who receive, on average, 20 percent more in salary and benefits than we do. This pay difference is unfair and intolerable. Mytheco executive: But many of the technical writer... | Evaluating the adequacy of the Mytheco executive's response requires a clarification of which one of the following? | [
"how the Mytheco executive's salary compares with that of the programmers",
"how the average seniority of programmers compares with the average seniority of technical writers",
"whether any of the technical writers at Mytheco once worked as programmers at the company",
"whether the sorts of benefits an employ... | 1 | train_732 |
Large inequalities in wealth always threaten the viability of true democracy, since wealth is the basis of political power, and true democracy depends on the equal distribution of political power among all citizens. | The reasoning in which one of the following arguments most closely parallels the reasoning in the argument above? | [
"Honesty is important in maintaining friendships. But sometimes honesty can lead to arguments, so it is difficult to predict the effect a particular honest act will have on a friendship.",
"Repeated encroachments on one's leisure time by a demanding job interfere with the requirements of good health. The reason i... | 1 | train_733 |
The makers of Activite, a natural dietary supplement, claim that it promotes energy and mental alertness. To back up their claim, they offer a month' s supply of Activite free to new customers. Clearly, Activite must be effective, since otherwise it would not be in the company' s interest to make such an offer. | Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the argument? | [
"The makers of Activite charge a handling fee that is considerably more than what it costs them to pack and ship their product.",
"The mere fact that a dietary supplement contains only natural ingredients does not insure that it has no harmful side effects.",
"The nutrients in Activite can all be obtained from ... | 0 | train_734 |
The gu, the hu, and the jue are types of bronze libation vessels that were produced in China during the Shang dynasty, almost 4, 000 years ago. Close examination of authentic gu, hu, and jue vessels reveals that they all bear incised patterns symbolizing the taotie, a mythological beast of greed. It must be true then t... | The argument makes which one of the following errors of reasoning? | [
"treating the fact that some members of a category possess a certain characteristic as sufficient evidence that possession of the characteristic is necessary for membership in that category",
"basing a generalization on examples that the argument itself admits are atypical",
"treating the fact that some members... | 0 | train_735 |
Classicist: In the ancient Athenian democracy, unlike in any other political system in world history, the legislature consisted of all eligible voters. Athenian voters, not elected representatives, made all political decisions by direct vote after public debate in the Assembly. Thus, if the world has ever known true de... | The conclusion of the classicist's argument follows logically if which one of the following is assumed? | [
"Athens was the only city in ancient Greece that had a democratic political system.",
"Most political systems in world history have not been democracies.",
"Public debate is an essential part of any democratic decision-making process.",
"A political system is not a true democracy unless the eligible voters th... | 3 | train_736 |
Famous personalities found guilty of many types of crimes in well-publicized trials are increasingly sentenced to the performance of community service, though unknown defendants convicted of similar crimes almost always serve prison sentences. However, the principle of equality before the law rules out using fame and p... | The statements above, if true, most strongly support which one of the following conclusions? | [
"The principle of equality before the law can properly be overridden by other principles in some cases.",
"The sentencing of celebrities to community service instead of prison constitutes a violation of the principle of equality before the law in many cases.",
"The principle of equality before the law is rigoro... | 1 | train_737 |
Like a genetic profile, a functional magnetic-resonance image (fMRI) of the brain can contain information that a patient wishes to keep private. An fMRI of a brain also contains enough information about a patient' s skull to create a recognizable image of that patient' s face. A genetic profile can be linked to a patie... | The statements above, if true, most strongly support which one of the following? | [
"Patients are more concerned about threats to privacy posed by fMRIs than they are about those posed by genetic profiles.",
"In most cases patients cannot be reasonably sure that the information in a genetic profile will be kept private.",
"It is not important that medical providers apply labels to fMRIs of pat... | 3 | train_738 |
Anyone who knows Ellsworth knows that he is bursting with self-righteousness, touting the idealism of his generation over the greed of the previous generation. So no one who knows him will be surprised that Ellsworth is offended by the suggestions in the media that he has engaged in unethical business practices. | The conclusion drawn above follows logically if which one of the following is assumed? | [
"Hypocrites often hide behind righteous indignation.",
"Everyone suspects self-righteous people of being, in actuality, unethical.",
"Ellsworth is in fact innocent of all wrongdoing.",
"Everyone expects self-righteous people to be easily offended."
] | 3 | train_739 |
Columnist: Taking a strong position on an issue makes one likely to misinterpret or ignore additional evidence that conflicts with one' s stand. But in order to understand an issue fully, it is essential to consider such evidence impartially. Thus, it is best not to take a strong position on an issue unless one has alr... | The columnist's reasoning most closely conforms to which one of the following principles? | [
"It is reasonable to take a strong position on an issue if one fully understands the issue and has considered the evidence regarding that issue impartially.",
"One should try to understand an issue fully if doing so will help one to avoid misinterpreting or ignoring evidence regarding that issue.",
"To ensure t... | 3 | train_740 |
The result of flipping an evenly weighted, or "fair, " coin, a process commonly thought to be random, is, in fact, well determined by the impulse given the coin and by the height above the floor from which the coin starts. Yet it is difficult to predict the result of a fair coin flip. | Which of the following, if true, contributes most to an explanation of why the outcome of a coin flip is difficult to predict even though it is well determined? | [
"Coin flipping has been used as a prime example of a random process for decades.",
"That the results of coin flipping are well determined runs counter to the randomness that physicists have been finding in more and more processes once thought to be determined.",
"An accurate prediction of the result of a coin f... | 2 | train_741 |
Citizen: Each year since 1970, a new record has been set for the number of murders committed in this city. This fact points to the decreasing ability of our law enforcement system to prevent violent crime. City official: You overlook the fact that the city' s population has risen steadily since 1970. In fact, the numbe... | Which one of the following, if true, would most strongly counter the city official's response? | [
"If the health care received by assault victims last year had been of the same quality as it was in 1970, the murder rate in the city last year would have turned out to be several times what it actually was.",
"The incidence of fraud has greatly increased in the city since 1970.",
"Murders and other violent cri... | 0 | train_742 |
Some statisticians believe that the method called extreme value theory (EVT) is a powerful analytical tool. The curves generated by traditional statistical methods to analyze empirical data on human longevity predict that some humans would live beyond 130 years. According to the curves EVT generates, however, the limit... | Which one of the following can be properly inferred from the statements above? | [
"EVT is, in general, a more reliable method for projecting future trends based on past observations than are traditional statistical methods.",
"Traditional statistical methods of empirical data analysis should eventually be replaced by some version of EVT.",
"EVT fits the data about the highest observed human ... | 2 | train_743 |
Although Damon had ample time earlier in the month to complete the paper he is scheduled to present at a professional conference tomorrow morning, he repeatedly put off doing it. Damon could still get the paper ready in time, but only if he works on it all evening without interruption. However, his seven-year-old daugh... | The argument proceeds by | [
"showing that two situations are similar in order to justify the claim that someone with certain responsibilities in the first situation has similar responsibilities in the second situation",
"invoking sympathy for someone who finds himself in a dilemma in order to excuse that person's failure to meet all of his ... | 3 | train_744 |
Mary, a veterinary student, has been assigned an experiment in mammalian physiology that would require her to take a healthy, anesthetized dog and subject it to a drastic blood loss in order to observe the physiological consequences of shock. The dog would neither regain consciousness nor survive the experiment. Mary d... | Mary's decision most closely accords with which one of the following principles? | [
"The only sufficient justification for experimenting on animals is that future animal suffering is thereby prevented.",
"Practicing veterinarians have a professional obligation to strive to prevent the unnecessary death of an animal except in cases of severely ill or injured animals whose prospects for recovery a... | 2 | train_745 |
Jackson City has outgrown its current fire station. The existing station cannot be expanded to fit the city' s needs because of building code restrictions. Real estate in the area of the existing station is far more expensive than building space on the west side of the city. Since the price of a building is a considera... | Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the argument's conclusion? | [
"City residents have expressed approval of the plan to move the city's fire station to the west side of the city.",
"If the fire station is moved to the west side of the city, insurance rates will skyrocket because the west side of the city has higher arson and vandalism rates.",
"If the fire station is moved t... | 1 | train_746 |
Perkins: According to an article I read, the woolly mammoth's extinction in North America coincided with a migration of humans onto the continent 12, 000 years ago, and stone spearheads from this period indicate that these people were hunters. But the author' s contention that being hunted by humans contributed to the ... | Which of the following, if true, provides the strongest reason for discounting the evidence Perkins cites in arguing against the contention that being hunted by humans contributed to the North American extinction of woolly mammoths? | [
"Cave paintings in North America that date from 12, 000 years ago depict woolly mammoths as well as a variety of other animals, including deer and buffalo.",
"Because of the great effort that would have been required to produce each stone spearhead, hunters would have been unlikely to leave them behind.",
"At s... | 1 | train_747 |
Pieces of music consist of sounds and silences presented to the listener in a temporal order. A painting, in contrast, is not presented one part at a time to the viewer; there is thus no particular path that the viewer' s eye must follow in order to "read" the painting. Ttherefore, an essential distinction between the ... | The reasoning in the argument is flawed because | [
"relying on the metaphor of \"reading\" to characterize how a painting is viewed presupposes the correctness of the conclusion to be drawn on the basis of that characterization",
"the argument does not allow for the possibility of being immersed in experiencing a painting without being conscious of the passage of... | 2 | train_748 |
When volcanic lava solidifies, it becomes uniformly magnetized in the direction in which the Earth' s magnetic field points. There are significant differences in the direction of magnetization among solidified lava flows from different volcanoes that erupted at different times over the past several million years. Tther... | The argument that the direction of the Earth's magnetic field has changed over time requires the assumption that | [
"not all solidified lava has changed the direction of its magnetization unpredictably",
"only lava can be used to measure the direction of the Earth's magnetic field as it existed in the distant past",
"as lava flows down the side of a volcano, it picks up magnetized rocks",
"a single volcano can produce lava... | 0 | train_749 |
Electrical engineers have repeatedly demonstrated that the best solid-state amplifiers are indistinguishable from the best vacuum-tube amplifiers with respect to the characteristics commonly measured in evaluating the quality of an amplifier' s musical reproduction. Ttherefore, those music lovers who insist that record... | Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument? | [
"Many people cannot tell from listening to it whether a recording is being played with a very good solid-state amplifier or a very good vacuum-tube amplifier.",
"Some of the characteristics that are important in determining how music sounds to a listener cannot be measured.",
"The range of variation with respec... | 1 | train_750 |
Some educators have had remarkable success with an unusual approach to science education. For example, a physics lesson on the properties of waves might begin by plucking guitar strings. After observing the strings vibrate, students would begin to apply names to the phenomena they had witnessed, such as frequency and a... | Which one of the following principles is best illustrated by the example above? | [
"Familiarity with phenomena facilitates the learning of more formal treatments of these phenomena.",
"Students are unable to form abstract concepts concerning phenomena until they become familiar with these phenomena.",
"Students will understand abstract terms only if they are applicable to phenomena they have ... | 0 | train_751 |
Dobson: Some historians claim that the people who built a ring of stones thousands of years ago in Britain were knowledgeable about celestial events. The ground for this claim is that two of the stones determine a line pointing directly to the position of the sun at sunrise at the spring equinox. There are many stones ... | Which one of the following is an error of reasoning in Dobson's argument? | [
"Statements that absolutely establish Dobson's conclusion are treated as if they merely give some support to that conclusion.",
"The failure of cited evidence to establish a statement is taken as evidence that statement is false.",
"Something that is merely a matter of opinion is treated as if it were subject t... | 1 | train_752 |
For a television program about astrology, investigators went into the street and found twenty volunteers born under the sign of Gemini who were willing to be interviewed on the program and to take a personality test. The test confirmed the investigators' personal impressions that each of the volunteers was more sociabl... | Which one of the following, if true, indicates the most serious flaw in the method used by the investigators? | [
"People born under astrological signs other than Gemini have been judged by astrologers to be much less sociable than those born under Gemini.",
"There is not likely to be a greater proportion of people born under the sign of Gemini on the street than in the population as a whole.",
"People who are not sociable... | 2 | train_753 |
Quillium is the most popular blood pressure regulating prescription drug on the market. Giant Pharma, Inc. , the largest prescription drug manufacturer in the country, owns the patent on Quillium. Giant Pharma stock is hitting unprecedented high valuations. As a result, Quillium is by far the most effective drug availa... | Which of the following, if true, most weakens the argument? | [
"Giant Pharma gouges its customers on Quillium's price.",
"Quillium has numerous alternate applications.",
"The most lucrative and popular pharmaceuticals are not always the most effective.",
"Giant Pharma's high stock prices are attributable to recent patent acquisitions other than Quillium."
] | 2 | train_754 |
A recent study confirmed that salt intake tends to increase blood pressure and found that, as a result, people with high blood pressure who significantly cut their salt intake during the study had lower blood pressure by the end of the study. However, it was also found that some people who had very high salt intake bot... | Which one of the following, if true, contributes the most to an explanation of the results of the study? | [
"At the beginning of the study, some people who had very low salt intake also had very high blood pressure.",
"For most people who have high blood pressure, reducing salt intake is not the most effective dietary change they can make to reduce their blood pressure.",
"Persons suffering from abnormally low blood ... | 2 | train_755 |
Opposition leader: Our country has the least fair court system of any country on the continent and ought not to be the model for others. Thus, our highest court is the least fair of any on the continent and ought not to be emulated by other countries. | The flawed reasoning in which one of the following arguments is most similar to that in the opposition leader's argument? | [
"Domestic cats are closely related to tigers. Ttherefore, even though they are far smaller than tigers, their eating habits are almost the same as those of tigers.",
"The residents of medium-sized towns are, on average, more highly educated than people who do not live in such towns. Ttherefore, Maureen, who was b... | 2 | train_756 |
Between 1980 and 2000 the sea otter population of the Aleutian Islands declined precipitously. There were no signs of disease or malnutrition, so there was probably an increase in the number of otters being eaten by predators. Orcas will eat otters when seals, their normal prey, are unavailable, and the Aleutian Island... | Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument? | [
"The population of orcas in the Aleutian Islands has declined since the 1980s.",
"Seals do not eat sea otters, nor do they compete with sea otters for food.",
"Most of the surviving sea otters live in a bay that is inaccessible to orcas.",
"The population of sea urchins, the main food of sea otters, has incre... | 2 | train_757 |
In a certain wildlife park, park rangers are able to track the movements of many rhinoceroses because those animals wear radio collars. When, as often happens, a collar slips off, it is put back on. Putting a collar on a rhinoceros involves immobilizing the animal by shooting it with a tranquilizer dart. Female rhinoce... | In evaluating the argument, it would be most useful to determine which of the following? | [
"Whether male rhinoceroses in the wildlife park lose their collars any more often than the park's female rhinoceroses do",
"Whether radio collars are the only practical means that park rangers have for tracking the movements of rhinoceroses in the park",
"How often park rangers need to use tranquilizer darts to... | 2 | train_758 |
Jamal: It' s incorrect to maintain that current data suggest a weakness in the economy. Stocks are paying higher dividends than ever and corporations' profits are very high. Yet you criticize corporations on the basis of wage data, which are the only data showing a decline. Jennifer: You' re right that only wage data s... | Jamal's and Jennifer's statements provide the most support for holding that they agree about the truth of which one of the following? | [
"Corporations are currently making considerable profits.",
"The current priorities of many corporations are misplaced.",
"Statistical information tends to reflect the biases of its compilers.",
"The decline in wages is a worrisome economic trend."
] | 0 | train_759 |
In social science research, "highest education level attained" would refer to the most advanced grade or degree achieved by an individual-for some individuals, it may be a grade in grade school, and for other individuals, it may be a Bachelor' s Degree, a Master' s Degree, or Ph. D. (which is considered the highest edu... | Assuming the statements above are true, what conclusion can be drawn? | [
"An individual's proficiency at chess rises consistently during that individual's years of school, and levels off once that individual has finished her years of formal education.",
"If Jane has a Ph. D. , and Chris has not finished his undergraduate degree, then Jane will usually beat Chris in chess.",
"It is p... | 2 | train_760 |
Astronomer: Astronomical observations in many areas have become useless because light from nearby cities obscures the stars Many people argue that since streetlights are needed for safety, such interference from lights is inevitable. Here in Sandsville, however, the local observatory' s view remains relatively clear, s... | The astronomer's argument proceeds by | [
"offering a counter example to a general claim",
"proposing an alternative scientific explanation for a natural phenomenon",
"appealing to a scientific authority to challenge a widely held belief",
"making a distinction between terms"
] | 0 | train_761 |
From a book review: The authors blithely claim that there are "three basic ways to store energy: as heat, as electricity, or as kinetic energy. " However, I cannot call to mind any effective ways to store energy as electricity, whereas any capable student of physics could readily suggest a few more ways to store energy... | The reviewer makes which one of the following criticisms of a claim that appears in the book under review? | [
"Except possibly for electricity, all ways to store energy are equally effective and ttherefore equally basic.",
"There is no reason to consider any particular way to store energy any more basic than any other.",
"What needs to be considered is not whether various ways to store energy are basic but whether they... | 3 | train_762 |
Some people have maintained that private ownership of the means of production ultimately destroys any society that sanctions it. This may be true of a less technologically advanced society that must share its economic resources to survive. But since only private ownership of the means of production permits individuals ... | The proposition that private ownership of the means of production ultimately destroys any society that sanctions it plays which one of the following roles in the argument above? | [
"It is a generalization that the argument suggests is no more applicable to less technologically advanced societies than to more technologically advanced societies.",
"It is a general hypothesis that the argument suggests is inapplicable to societies more dependent for survival upon the introduction of new techno... | 1 | train_763 |
Of the two proposals for solving the traffic problems on Main Street, Chen' s plan is better for the city as a whole, as is clear from the fact that the principal supporter of Ripley' s plan is Smith Stores. Smith Stores, with its highly paid consultants, knows where its own interest lies and, moreover, has supported i... | The faulty reasoning in which one of the following is most parallel to that in the argument above? | [
"The planned light-rail system will clearly serve suburban areas well, since its main opponent is the city government, which has always ignored the needs of the suburbs and sought only to protect the interests of the city.",
"Nomura is clearly a better candidate for college president than Miller, since Nomura has... | 0 | train_764 |
Normally, businesses operate at a profit. In other words, they sell their products to customers for more money than the products initially cost. This pricing structure permits businesses to sustain themselves over time. The Stop and Go Supermarket, however, sells its milk for less money than it costs. | Which of the following, if true, would best explain why the pricing structure for milk makes economic sense for Stop and Go? | [
"Stop and Go directly competes with several lower-priced markets and feels it must match their prices in order to keep its customers.",
"Because Stop and Go does not carry premier brands of milk, it feels an obligation to sell its lesser brands at a loss.",
"Milk is a commodity good, and Stop and Go believes al... | 3 | train_765 |
A study was designed to establish what effect, if any, the long-term operation of offshore oil rigs had on animal life on the bottom of the sea. The study compared the sea-bottom communities near rigs with those located in control sites several miles from any rig and found no significant differences. The researchers co... | Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the researchers' conclusion? | [
"Commercially important fish depend on sea- bottom animals for much of their food, so a drop in catches of those fish would be evidence of damage to sea-bottom communities.",
"Only part of any oil discharged into the ocean reaches the ocean floor: some oil evaporates, and some remains in the water as suspended dr... | 3 | train_766 |
Industrialist: Environmentalists contend that emissions from our factory pose a health risk to those living downwind. The only testimony presented in support of this contention comes from residents of the communities surrounding the factory. But only a trained scientist can determine whether or not these emissions are ... | The reasoning in the industrialist's argument is flawed because the argument | [
"equivocates between two different notions of the term \"health risk\"",
"presents no testimony from scientists that the emissions are safe",
"fails to discuss the benefits of the factory to the surrounding community",
"does not consider the safety of emissions from other sources in the area"
] | 1 | train_767 |
Parents who consistently laud their children for every attempt to accomplish something, whether successful or not, actually erode the youngsters' sense of self-esteem. Children require commendation for their achievements, but if uniformly praised for both what they have accomplished and what they have merely attempted,... | Which one of the following most accurately expresses the overall conclusion of the argument? | [
"Children will develop low self-esteem if their parents do not praise them when they succeed.",
"Children's self-esteem will suffer if their parents uniformly praise their attempts to accomplish things regardless of their success or failure.",
"Parents should praise their children for their achievements.",
"C... | 1 | train_768 |
Benford's Law states that most phenomena in nature begin with '1's and '2' s. The law has been shown to apply very accurately to the amount of money listed on people's income statements. Investigators have used this fact when investigating financial fraud, and can often determine when people have fabricated numbers, si... | Which of the following, if true, casts the most doubt on the conclusion drawn by proponents of Benford's Law? | [
"In one financial fraud case, the numbers in which the amount was stated was not distributed evenly across '1's and '9's.",
"In the last year, several instances of financial fraud were discovered using other means besides Benford's Law.",
"Benford's Law, after being used in several notable cases, has become hig... | 2 | train_769 |
If something would have been justifiably regretted if it had occurred, then it is something that one should not have desired in the first place. It follows that many forgone pleasures should not have been desired in the first place. | The conclusion above follows logically if which one of the following is assumed? | [
"Everything that one desires and then regrets not having is a forgone pleasure.",
"One should never regret one's pleasures.",
"Many forgone pleasures would have been justifiably regretted.",
"Forgone pleasures that were not desired would not have been justifiably regretted."
] | 2 | train_770 |
Court analyst: Courts should not allow the use of DNA tests in criminal cases. There exists considerable controversy among scientific experts about how reliable these tests are. Unless there is widespread agreement in the scientific community about how reliable a certain test is, it is unreasonable for the courts to al... | The court analyst's reasoning is flawed because it fails to take into account that | [
"experts may agree that the tests are highly reliable while disagreeing about exactly how reliable they are",
"there are also controversies about reliability of evidence in noncriminal cases",
"the standard against which evidence in a criminal case is measured should not be absolute certainty",
"data should n... | 0 | train_771 |
According to the "bottom-up" theory of how ecosystems are structured, the availability of edible plants is what primarily determines an ecosystem' s characteristics since it determines how many herbivores the ecosystem can support, which in turn determines how many predators it can support. This theory also holds that ... | Which one of the following, if true, would provide evidence against the bottom-up theory? | [
"In an effort to build up the population of a rare species of monkey on Vahique Island, monkeys were bred in zoos and released into the wild. However, the effort failed because the trees on which the monkeys fed were also nearly extinct.",
"After many of the trees on Jaevix Island were cleared, the island's leaf-... | 3 | train_772 |
Builder: Within ten years, most of the new homes constructed in North America will have steel frameworks rather than wood ones. After all, two-by-fours and two-by-sixes -- the sizes of lumber most commonly used in home construction -- are deteriorating in quality and increasing in cost, while environment-friendly steel... | Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the builder's reasoning? | [
"Training home construction workers to work with steel is very costly.",
"Steel-framed homes do not have to be treated with pesticides or other chemicals that can contribute to indoor air pollution.",
"Because lumber prices have increased over the last decade, currently most new homes are built with steel frame... | 0 | train_773 |
Essayist: One of the drawbacks of extreme personal and political freedom is that free choices are often made for the worst. To expect people to thrive when they are given the freedom to make unwise decisions is frequently unrealistic. Once people see the destructive consequences of extreme freedom, they may prefer to e... | Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps to justify the essayist's reasoning? | [
"One should not support any political system whose destructive consequences could lead people to prefer totalitarian political regimes.",
"One should not support any political system that is based on unrealistic expectations about people's behavior under that system.",
"One should not support any political syst... | 0 | train_774 |
A recent study of perfect pitch -- the ability to identify the pitch of an isolated musical note -- found that a high percentage of people who have perfect pitch are related to someone else who has it. Among those without perfect pitch, the percentage was much lower. This shows that having perfect pitch is a consequenc... | Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument? | [
"People who have relatives with perfect pitch generally receive no more musical training than do others.",
"All of the researchers conducting the study had perfect pitch.",
"People with perfect pitch are more likely than others to choose music as a career.",
"People with perfect pitch are more likely than oth... | 0 | train_775 |
Salesperson: When a salesperson is successful, it is certain that that person has been in sales for at least three years. This is because to succeed as a salesperson, one must first establish a strong client base, and studies have shown that anyone who spends at least three years developing a client base can eventually... | The reasoning in the salesperson's argument is vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it fails to consider the possibility that | [
"it takes longer than three years for a salesperson to develop a strong client base",
"a salesperson who has not spent three years developing a client base may not succeed in sales",
"some salespeople require fewer than three years in which to develop a strong client base",
"salespeople who have spent three y... | 2 | train_776 |
The success of a private university depends on the relative long-term success of its graduates. This is evident from the fact that unless the majority of a private university' s graduates are successful, it will be impossible for the graduates to donate large sums of money to their alma mater. It should be obvious that... | The claim that a private university is successful only if its graduates donate large amounts of money to it plays which of the following roles in the argument? | [
"It is used to illustrate a consequence of the argument's conclusion.",
"It is a claim that must be rebutted for the argument's conclusion to stand.",
"It is the argument's conclusion.",
"It is designed to support the argument's conclusion."
] | 3 | train_777 |
Theoretically, analog systems are superior to digital systems. A signal in a pure analog system can be infinitely detailed, while digital systems cannot produce signals that are more precise than their digital units. With this theoretical advantage there is a practical disadvantage, however. Since there is no limit on ... | The statements above, if true, most strongly support which one of the following? | [
"Digital systems are the best information systems because error cannot occur in the emission of digital signals.",
"Analog representation of information is impractical because we do not need infinitely detailed information.",
"Many ideas that work well in theory do not work well in practice.",
"Digital system... | 3 | train_778 |
Advertisement: Anyone who thinks moisturizers are not important for beautiful skin should consider what happens to the earth, the skin of the world, in time of drought. Without regular infusions of moisture the ground becomes lined and cracked and its lush liveliness fades away. Thus your skin, too, should be protected... | The Dewyfresh advertisement exhibits which one of the following errors of reasoning? | [
"It relies on an analogy between two things that are insufficiently alike in the respects in which they would have to be alike for the conclusion to be supported.",
"It treats something that is necessary for bringing about a state of affairs as something that is sufficient to bring about that state of affairs.",
... | 0 | train_779 |
Drama critic: Audiences will enjoy Warner' s latest play, about the disintegration of a family, because of the superb acting. The chemistry between the actors could not be more intense, and Ziegler, who plays the child, captures convincingly the guilt and despair experienced as the family members grow more estranged fr... | Each of the following, if true, weakens the argument EXCEPT: | [
"The plot of the play is similar in some respects to plots of Warner's other works.",
"Audiences usually find drama critics' reviews unreliable.",
"Generally, audiences enjoy romantic comedies but find tragedies upsetting.",
"The company staging the play has an unbroken history of dull performances."
] | 0 | train_780 |
Researcher: Results indicate that the higher their educational level, the better are students' mathematical skills. These results do not prove that education improves mathematical skills, however, since it is possible that students who have better mathematical skills to start with are the students who reach higher educ... | The reasoning of the researcher's argument is most similar to that of which one of the following arguments? | [
"Results indicate that the quality of papers submitted for publication varies significantly from university to university. This may say nothing about the quality of education offered at different schools, but may only reflect a defect in the review process.",
"Results from competition indicate that professional a... | 1 | train_781 |
Client: The owners of the catering company we use decided to raise their rates. They argued that the increase was necessary to allow them to hire and train new staff to accommodate their expanding client base. They should reconsider that decision and not raise their rates. After all, the mission of the company is to pr... | Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main conclusion of the client's argument? | [
"The catering company's mission is to provide low-cost gourmet catering.",
"The catering company's mission will be jeopardized if its rates are increased.",
"The catering company's rates should not be raised.",
"The owners of the catering company decided to raise their rates."
] | 2 | train_782 |
Keeler wanted the institute to receive bad publicity. He and Greene were the only ones in a position to tell the press about the institute' s potentially embarrassing affiliations, but Greene had no reason to do so. Ttherefore, it must have been Keeler who notified the press. | Which one of the following arguments is most closely parallel in its reasoning to the argument above? | [
"Cutter and Rengo are the only serious candidates for designing the new monument. Rengo has designed several beautiful monuments and has connections to the selection committee. Ttherefore, it will probably be Rengo who is awarded the job of designing the monument.",
"Other than Helms and Lapinski, no one had acce... | 1 | train_783 |
Journalist: Can you give me a summary of the 25. novel you are working on? Novelist: Well, I assume that by "summary" you mean something brief and not a version of the novel itself. The reason I write novels is that what I want to communicate can be communicated only in the form of a novel. So I am afraid I cannot summ... | Which one of the following exhibits a pattern of reasoning that is most parallel to that used by the novelist? | [
"A banquet menu foretells the content of a meal, but some people collect menus in order to remind themselves of great meals they have eaten. Thus a banquet menu has a function not only before, but also after, a meal has been served.",
"Watching a travelog is not the same as traveling. But a travelog confers some ... | 3 | train_784 |
In Malsenia sales of classical records are soaring. The buyers responsible for this boom are quite new to classical music and were drawn to it either by classical scores from television commercials or by theme tunes introducing major sports events on television. Audiences at classical concerts, however, are continually... | The argument assumes which one of the following? | [
"Classical concerts in Malsenia are not limited to music that is readily available on recordings.",
"The classical records available in Malsenia are, for the most part, not recordings of actual public concerts.",
"To sell well in Malsenia, a classical record must include at least one piece familiar from televis... | 3 | train_785 |
Professor Robinson: A large meteorite impact crater in a certain region was thought to be the clue to explaining the mass extinction of plant and animal species that occurred at the end of the Mesozoic era. However, the crystalline structure of rocks recovered at the site indicates that the impact that formed this crat... | Each of the following is an assumption on which Professor Robinson' s argument depends EXCEPT: | [
"The crater indicates an impact of more than sufficient size to have caused the mass extinction.",
"No other event caused the rocks to melt after the impact formed the crater.",
"The recovered rocks melted as a result of the impact that formed the crater.",
"The recovered rocks recrystallized shortly after th... | 0 | train_786 |
Because dried peat moss, which is derived from sphagnum moss, contains no chemical additives and is a renewable resource, many gardeners use large amounts of it as a soil conditioner in the belief that the practice is environmentally sound. They are mistaken. The millions of acres of sphagnum moss in the world contribu... | Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps to justify the argument's reasoning? | [
"A practice is environmentally sound if it helps to protect rain forests that contribute large amounts of oxygen to the atmosphere.",
"A practice is not environmentally sound if it significantly reduces the amount of oxygen entering the atmosphere.",
"Using a product may be environmentally unsound even if the p... | 1 | train_787 |
Jane: According to an article in this newsmagazine, children' s hand-eye coordination suffers when they spend a great amount of time watching television. Ttherefore, we must restrict the amount of time Jacqueline and Mildred are allowed to watch television. Alan: Rubbish! The article says that only children under three... | Alan's argument against Jane's conclusion makes which one of the following errors in reasoning? | [
"It relies on the same source that Jane cited in support of her conclusion.",
"It confuses undermining an argument in support of a given conclusion with showing that the conclusion itself is false.",
"It fails to distinguish the consequences of a certain practice from the causes of the practice.",
"It makes a... | 1 | train_788 |
After an area has been hit by a natural disaster, there is often a great demand for plywood for repairing damaged homes. Retailers in the area often raise prices on new shipments of plywood to well above their predisaster prices, and some people denounce these retailers for taking advantage of a disaster to make more m... | Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends? | [
"The increase in the prices charged by retailers for plywood following a natural disaster does not exceed the increase in cost to those retailers.",
"Suppliers of plywood do not transport as much plywood to an area after it has been affected by a natural disaster as they did before it was so affected.",
"Retail... | 0 | train_789 |
Because of the recent transformation of the market, Quore, Inc. , must increase productivity 10 percent over the course of the next two years, or it will certainly go bankrupt. In fact, however, Quore' s production structure is such that if a 10 percent productivity increase is possible, then a 20 percent increase is a... | If the statements above are true, which one of the following must on the basis of them also be true? | [
"If a 20 percent productivity increase is unattainable for Quore, then it must go bankrupt.",
"Quore will not go bankrupt if it achieves a productivity increase of 20 percent over the next two years.",
"It is only Quore's production structure that makes it possible for Quore to survive the transformation of the... | 0 | train_790 |
A scientific team compared gold samples from several ancient artifacts with gold samples from an ancient mine in western Asia . The ratios of the trace elements in these samples were all very similar, and they were unlike the trace-element ratios from any other known mine. It is ttherefore likely that the gold in the a... | Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the argument? | [
"Much of the gold dug from the ancient mine in western Asia was transported to faraway destinations.",
"Ancient gold artifacts were often constructed from gold taken from earlier artifacts.",
"The ancient mine tapped into a large underground deposit that also supplied nearby riverbeds with significant quantitie... | 2 | train_791 |
Detective: People who repeatedly commit crimes like embezzlement or bribery without being caught tend to become more confident. With each success, they believe that getting caught is less likely. However, the more crimes a person commits, the greater the chance that one of those crimes will be solved. It is ttherefore ... | Which one of the following is an assumption required by the detective's argument? | [
"The majority of people who commit embezzlement or bribery do so repeatedly.",
"People who commit embezzlement or bribery tend to be people who feel confident.",
"People who repeatedly commit embezzlement or bribery become more and more careless the longer they avoid detection.",
"Embezzlement and bribery are... | 0 | train_792 |
One variety of partially biodegradable plastic beverage container is manufactured from small bits of plastic bound together by a degradable bonding agent such as cornstarch. Since only the bonding agent degrades, leaving the small bits of plastic, no less plastic refuse per container is produced when such containers ar... | Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument above? | [
"Technological problems with recycling currently prevent the reuse as food or beverage containers of the plastic from either type of plastic beverage container.",
"Many consumers are ecology-minded and prefer to buy a product sold in the partially biodegradable plastic beverage containers rather than in nonbiodeg... | 2 | train_793 |
Economist: Some people argue that when large countries split into several small countries, the world economy is harmed by increased barriers to free trade in the form of an increased number of national tariffs. But small countries do not think of themselves as economically self-sufficient. Ttherefore, such division of ... | Which one of the following, if assumed, enables the economist's conclusion to be properly drawn? | [
"Large countries tend to be more economically self-sufficient than small countries.",
"A country has the right to split into smaller countries even if some of the economic consequences of division would harm the world economy.",
"All countries that impose national tariffs or other barriers to free trade think o... | 2 | train_794 |
Principle: Even if an art auction house identifies the descriptions in its catalog as opinions, it is guilty of misrepresentation if such a description is a deliberate attempt to mislead bidders. Application: Although Healy' s, an art auction house, states that all descriptions in its catalog are opinions, Healy' s was... | Which one of the following, if true, most justifies the above application of the principle? | [
"Without consulting anyone with expertise in authenticating vases, Healy's described the vase as dating from the mid-eighteenth century merely in order to increase its auction price.",
"Although pottery that is similar to the vase is currently extremely popular among art collectors, none of the collectors who are... | 0 | train_795 |
Grant says that, as an engineer, he knows that no engineer enjoys fishing. And, since most engineers are linear thinkers, at least some of the people who enjoy fishing are not linear thinkers. | Which one of the following is most parallel in its reasoning to the flawed reasoning above? | [
"Sulema says that, as a marketing director, she knows that no marketing directors like to waste time. And since most marketing directors are ethical, at least some people who enjoy wasting time are ethical people.",
"Charlotte says that, as a florist, she knows that no white roses are as fragrant as the most frag... | 2 | train_796 |
Sparrow Airlines is planning to reduce its costs by cleaning its planes' engines once a month, rather than the industry standard of every six months. With cleaner engines, Sparrow can postpone engine overhauls, which take planes out of service for up to 18 months. Furthermore, cleaning an engine reduces its fuel consum... | The airline's plan assumes that | [
"the cost of monthly cleaning of an airplane's engines is not significantly greater in the long run than is the cost of an engine overhaul",
"Sparrow Airlines has had greater problems with engine overhauls and fuel consumption than other airlines have",
"engine cleaning does not remove an airplane from service"... | 0 | train_797 |
Historian: In rebuttal of my claim that West influenced Stuart, some people point out that West' s work is mentioned only once in Stuart' s diaries. But Stuart' s diaries mention several meetings with West, and Stuart' s close friend, Abella, studied under West. Furthermore, Stuart' s work often uses West' s terminolog... | Which one of the following propositions is most supported by the historian's statements, if those statements are true? | [
"Stuart's work was not entirely free from West's influence",
"Stuart's contemporaries were not influenced by West.",
"It is more likely that Stuart influenced West than that West influenced Stuart.",
"Stuart's discussions with Abella were one of the means by which West influenced Stuart."
] | 0 | train_798 |
Researcher: This fall I returned to a research site to recover the armadillos I had tagged there the previous spring. Since a large majority of the armadillos I recaptured were found within a few hundred yards of the location of their tagging last spring, I concluded that armadillos do not move rapidly into new territo... | Which one of the following is an assumption required by the researcher's argument? | [
"A large majority of the recaptured armadillos did not move to a new territory in the intervening summer and then move back to the old territory by the fall.",
"Predators did not kill any of the armadillos that had been tagged the previous spring.",
"The tags identifying the armadillos cannot be removed by the ... | 0 | train_799 |
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