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[
"Fewer pigweed plants will grow in the field if it is plowed at all than if it is plowed only at night.",
"Fewer pigweed plants will grow in the field if it is plowed only at night than if it is plowed during the day.",
"Fewer pigweed plants will grow in the field if it is plowed just before sunrise than if it is plowed just after sunset.",
"The pigweed seeds that are churned up to the surface of the soil during the plowing will not geminate unless they are redeposited under the surface of the soil."
] | When soil is plowed in the spring, pigweed seeds that have been buried in the soil all winter are churned up to the surface and redeposited just under the surface. The brief exposure of the seeds to sunlight stimulates receptors, which have become highly sensitive to sunlight during the months the seeds were buried in the soil, and the stimulated receptors trigger germination. Without the prolonged darkness, followed by exposure to sunlight, the seeds do not germinate. | 1 | train_4500 | The statements above, if true, most strongly support which one of the following statements about a field that will be plowed in the spring and in which pigweed seeds have been buried in the soil all winter? |
[
"Communities that collect all discarded plastic containers for potential recycling later dump in landfills plastics with higher-numbered codes only when it is clear that no recycler will take them.",
"A plastic container almost always has a higher code number after it is recycled than it had before recycling because the recycling process causes a degradation of the quality of the plastic.",
"The cost of collecting, sorting, and recycling discarded plastics is currently higher than the cost of manufacturing new plastics from virgin materials.",
"Many consumers are unaware of the codes that are stamped on the plastic containers."
] | Most disposable plastic containers are now labeled with a code number (from 1 to 9) indicating the type or quality of the plastic. Plastics with the lowest code numbers are the easiest for recycling plants to recycle and are thus the most likely to be recycled after use rather than dumped in landfills. Plastics labeled with the highest numbers are only rarely recycled. Consumers can make a significant long-term reduction in the amount of waste that goes unrecycled, ttherefore, by refusing to purchase those products packaged in plastic containers labeled with the highest code numbers. | 1 | train_4501 | Which one of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the conclusion above? |
[
"the farmer obtains all of his information about problems with fruit quality from no source other than the pickers.",
"the farmer, concerned with maximizing profits from sales, would want fewer apples left to rot in the field.",
"the pickers are more qualified to assess the quality of the fruit sold by the farmer than is the farmer.",
"during a complete year, the farmer spends more time in the field than any single seasonal picker."
] | At HappyDay farms, seasonal staff is employed to pick apples during the harvest season each year. This staff is trained to identify and select only high quality apples, table-worthy apples. As part of this process, apples that have been visibly damaged by insects or disease are left to rot in the fields. The farmer who owns the property and sells the fruit is, ttherefore, less well informed about potential problems with his crops, such as insect infestations, than are the pickers themselves. | 0 | train_4502 | The conclusion drawn above is based on the assumption that |
[
"a correlation between two phenomena and a causal relationship between them",
"changes in our knowledge of objects and changes in the objects themselves",
"a cause and an effect",
"a condition necessary for a phenomenon and one that is sufficient for it"
] | In the last year, biologists have learned that there are many more species of amphibians in existence than had previously been known. This definitely undermines environmentalists' claim that pollution is eliminating many of these species every year. | 1 | train_4503 | The reasoning in the argument above is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it involves a confusion between |
[
"Often the purchaser of a product, such as a landlord buying an appliance, chooses on the basis of purchase price because the purchaser is not the person who will pay for energy used by the product.",
"When energy prices rise, consumers of energy tend to look for new ways to increase energy efficiency, such as by adding insulation to their houses.",
"Whenever a new mode of generating energy, such as a new fuel, is introduced, a number of support systems, such as a fuel-distribution system, must be created or adapted.",
"It would be unrealistic to expect society to make the changes necessary to achieve maximum energy efficiency all at once."
] | Using fossil energy more efficiently is in the interest of the nation and the global environment, but major improvements are unlikely unless proposed government standards are implemented to eliminate products or practices that are among the least efficient in their class. Objection: Decisions on energy use are best left to the operation of the market. | 0 | train_4504 | Which one of the following, if true, most directly undermines the objection above? |
[
"Most high-speed highways are used by both commercial vehicles and passenger vehicles.",
"Most households whose members do any long- distance driving own at least two passenger vehicles.",
"Some automobile manufacturers designed prototypes for fuel-efficient passenger vehicles more than two decades ago.",
"There are more cars using high-speed highways today than there were two decades ago."
] | Automobile manufacturers who began two decades ago to design passenger vehicles that were more fuel-efficient faced a dilemma in the fact that the lighter, more efficient vehicles were less safe on high-speed highways. However, the manufacturers avoided this dilemma by producing two types of passenger vehicles: a lighter vehicle for medium-speed, local transportation, and a heavier, safer vehicle for long-distance travel. Since most automobile traffic is local, a net savings in fuel use was achieved with no loss in safety. | 1 | train_4505 | Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument? |
[
"In matters of health care. Economic considerations should ideally not be dominant.",
"The many fatal strokes and heart attacks resulting from untreated hypertension cause insignificant medical expenditures but large economic losses of other sorts.",
"The net savings in medical resources achieved by some preventive health measures are smaller than the net losses attributable to certain other measures of this kind.",
"The cost, per patient, of preventive treatment for hypertension would remain constant even if such treatment were instituted on a large scale."
] | Treatment for hypertension forestalls certain medical expenses by preventing strokes and heart disease. Yet any money so saved amounts to only one-fourth of the expenditures required to treat the hypertensive population. Ttherefore, there is no economic justification for preventive treatment for hypertension. | 1 | train_4506 | Which of the following, if true, is most damaging to the conclusion above? |
[
"Its management hires new workers but lacks the time to train them properly.",
"Its management sponsors a monthly safety award for each division in the factory.",
"Its employees ask for higher wages than they do at other times.",
"Its old machinery is replaced with modern, automated models."
] | When demand for a factory's products is high, more money is spent at the factory for safety precautions and machinery maintenance than when demand is low. Thus the average number of on-the-job accidents per employee each month should be lower during periods when demand is high than when demand is low and less money is available for safety precautions and machinery maintenance. | 0 | train_4507 | Which of the following, if true about a factory when demand for its products is high, casts the most serious doubt on the conclusion drawn above? |
[
"Most of the birds startled while feeding at bird feeders placed in suburban gardens are startled by loud noises rather than by predators.",
"The windowpanes of many houses clearly reflect surrounding vegetation.",
"The bird feeders in some suburban gardens are placed at a considerable distance from the houses.",
"Predator attacks are as likely to occur at bird feeders surrounded by dense vegetation as they are at feeders surrounded by little or no vegetation."
] | Birds startled by potential predators generally try to take cover in nearby vegetation. Yet many birds that feed at bird feeders placed in suburban gardens are killed when, thus startled, they fly away from the vegetation in the gardens and into the windowpanes of nearby houses. | 1 | train_4508 | Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the anomalous behavior of the birds that fly into windowpanes? |
[
"One cannot pursue the good life without the rule of law.",
"There can be no social integrity without the rule of law.",
"Social integrity is possible only if individual freedom prevails.",
"There can be no rule of law without social integrity."
] | There can be no individual freedom without the rule of law, for there is no individual freedom without social integrity, and pursuing the good life is not possible without social integrity. | 1 | train_4509 | The conclusion drawn above follows logically if which one of the following is assumed? |
[
"Those people who are experienced in a field rarely overlook creative solutions.",
"The experience required for effective problem-solving in a field does not vary depending on the field's complexity.",
"The more experience a person has in a field, the more creatively that person can solve problems in the field.",
"Creative solutions in a field always come from people with experience in that field."
] | Outsiders in any field often believe that they can bring in fresh, useful solutions that have been overlooked by insiders. But in fact, attempts at creativity that are not grounded in relevant experience are futile. Problems can be solved only by people who really understand them, and no one gains such understanding without experience. | 3 | train_4510 | Which one of the following is most strongly supported by the information above? |
[
"Qualified teachers could not be persuaded to relocate in significant numbers to the educator's region to take teaching jobs.",
"Students place a greater value on having qualified teachers than on having smaller classes.",
"At least some qualified teachers in the school district would be able to improve the overall achievement of students in their classes if class sizes were reduced.",
"Class sizes in the school district should be reduced only if doing so would improve overall student achievement."
] | Educator: Reducing class sizes in our school district would require hiring more teachers. However, there is already a shortage of qualified teachers in the region. Although students receive more individualized instruction when classes are smaller, education suffers when teachers are underqualified. Ttherefore, reducing class sizes in our district would probably not improve overall student achievement. | 0 | train_4511 | Which one of the following is an assumption required by the educator's argument? |
[
"no evidence has been offered to show that any decline in unemployment over the past four years was uniform throughout all areas of the city",
"the evidence cited in support of the conclusion actually provides more support for the denial of the conclusion",
"the possibility has not been addressed that any increase in the number of people employed is due to programs supported by the opposition party",
"the issue of how much unemployment in the city is affected by seasonal fluctuations is ignored"
] | Politician: From the time our party took office almost four years ago the number of people unemployed city-wide increased by less than 20 percent. The opposition party controlled city government during the four preceding years, and the number of unemployed city residents rose by over 20 percent. Thus, due to our leadership, fewer people now find themselves among the ranks of the unemployed, whatever the opposition may claim. | 1 | train_4512 | The reasoning in the politician's argument is most vulnerable to the criticism that |
[
"argues that a certain action ought to be undertaken merely on the grounds that it would be popular",
"overlooks the possibility that student preference is not the only factor to be considered when it comes to deciding which food vendor the university should hire",
"overlooks the possibility that there is disagreement among students concerning the issue of food vendors",
"overlooks the possibility that the students surveyed were unaware that only Hall Dining Services could be hired if the current vendor were not hired"
] | University spokesperson: Most of the students surveyed at the university said they would prefer that the current food vendor be replaced with a different food vendor next year. Several vendors have publicly expressed interest in working for the university. For a variety of reasons, however, the only alternative to the current vendor is Hall Dining Services, which served as the university' s food vendor up until this past year. Since, other things being equal, the preferences of the majority of students should be adhered to, we should rehire Hall Dining next year. | 3 | train_4513 | The spokesperson's argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it |
[
"Children whose parents have allergies have an above-average likelihood of developing allergies themselves.",
"Children from small families who entered day care before age one were less likely to develop allergies than children from small families who entered day care later.",
"Children in small families generally eat more kinds of very allergenic foods than children in large families do.",
"Some allergies are life threatening, while many diseases caused by germs produce only temporary discomfort."
] | Researchers have found that children in large families -- particularly the younger siblings -- generally have fewer allergies than children in small families do. They hypothesize that exposure to germs during infancy makes people less likely to develop allergies. | 1 | train_4514 | Which one of the following, if true, most supports the researchers' hypothesis? |
[
"In free societies, many of a government's citizens disapprove of their government's acts of paternalism.",
"The good of citizens is usually not advanced by the practice of paternalism.",
"The goals of free societies and the goals of their citizens always conflict.",
"In free societies, many of a government's citizens know what activities are in their own best interests better than their government does."
] | Paternalism is the practice by some governments of imposing regulations meant to promote their citizens' own good regardless of whether the citizens consent to those regulations. However, many members of free societies disapprove when individual freedom is curtailed for the sake of what the government deems to be the citizens' own good. They generally believe that they, not the government, know what activities are in their best interest. | 0 | train_4515 | If the statements above are true, which one of the following must also be true? |
[
"The refuse incinerated this year will generate no more residual ash per truckload incinerated than did the refuse incinerated last year.",
"The total quantity of refuse collected by Shelbyville city services this year will be no greater than that collected last year.",
"This year, no materials that city services could separate for recycling will be incinerated.",
"Refuse collected by city services will contain a larger proportion of recyclable materials this year than it did last year."
] | Last year all refuse collected by Shelbyville city services was incinerated. This incineration generated a large quantity of residual ash. In order to reduce the amount of residual ash Shelbyville generates this year to half of last year's total, the city has revamped its collection program. This year city services will separate for recycling enough refuse to reduce the number of truckloads of refuse to be incinerated to half of last year's number. | 0 | train_4516 | Which of the following is required for the revamped collection program to achieve its aim? |
[
"the contract does not oblige Jones to repair any defects in the house's nonexterior walls after ownership of the house has been transferred",
"Jones did not know of any defects in the roof or roof-supporting components of the house at the time the contract was written",
"Smith will be obligated to repair all structural defects in the house within a year after ownership is transferred, except those for which Jones is responsible",
"although other components of the house may contain defects, the roof and roof-supporting components of the house are currently free from such defects"
] | Jones is selling a house to Smith. The contract between the two specifies that for up to a year after ownership is transferred, Jones will be responsible for repairing any "major structural defects, " defined as defects in the roof or roof-supporting components of the house, that might be found. Jones is not responsible for any other repairs. The house has a truss roof, which means that the only walls that support the roof are the exterior walls. | 0 | train_4517 | It can be properly concluded from the information above that |
[
"The first is a view that the author opposes; the second is the main conclusion.",
"The first is an ironic description of what could happen in the marketplace; the second is a more realistic description of what actually happens.",
"This first is a piece of evidence supporting the main conclusion; the second is the main conclusion.",
"The first is a general rule, the violation of which seems to indicate a paradox; the second is the resolution of that apparent paradox."
] | In economics, a "Veblen good" is an item which people buy in greater quantity when the price goes up. <b> According to the Law of Supply and Demand, when the price of an ordinary item goes up, demand drops, i. e. people buy fewer of them. </b> A Veblen good is a luxury item to which status is attached, such as a designer outfit or luxury car. As the price of such an item increases, its prestige increases, which makes the item that much more desirable. <b> Ttherefore, as the price increases, the demand also increases, and more of these items are sold. </b> | 3 | train_4518 | In the argument, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles? |
[
"calling into question the motives of those presenting certain information, and concluding for this reason that the information is likely to be false",
"calling into question a certain type of evidence by drawing an analogy between that evidence and other evidence that the argument shows is usually false",
"inferring that an attitude would be justified in all situations of a given type on the grounds that this attitude is justified in a hypothetical situation of that type",
"pointing out that a certain attitude would presumably be adopted in one situation, in order to support the claim that a similar attitude would be justified in an analogous situation"
] | Columnist: If you received an unsigned letter, you would likely have some doubts about the truth of its contents. But news stories often include statements from anonymous sources, and these are usually quoted with the utmost respect. It makes sense to be skeptical of these sources, for, as in the case of the writer of an unsigned letter, their anonymity makes it possible for them to plant inaccurate or slanted statements without ever having to answer for them. | 3 | train_4519 | The columnist's argument proceeds by |
[
"Most physicians recommend a balanced diet for those who want to remain in good health. Yet many people find that nontraditional dietary regimens such as extended fasting do their health no serious harm. Ttherefore, there is no need for everyone to avoid nontraditional dietary regimens.",
"Overweight people are at higher risk of developing heart disease than other people. However, more than half of all overweight people never develop heart disease. Hence it is unnecessary for physicians to be more careful to emphasize the danger of heart disease to their overweight patients than to their other patients.",
"Many people swim daily in order to stay physically fit. Yet people who swim daily increase their risk of developing ear infections. Hence people who want to remain in good health are better off not following fitness programs that include swimming daily.",
"Foods rich in cholesterol and fat pose a serious health threat to most people. However, many people are reluctant to give up eating foods that they greatly enjoy. Ttherefore, people who refuse to give up rich foods need to spend more time exercising than do other people."
] | Crimes in which handguns are used are more likely than other crimes to result in fatalities. However, the majority of crimes in which handguns are used do not result in fatalities. Ttherefore, there is no need to enact laws that address crimes involving handguns as distinct from other crimes. | 1 | train_4520 | The pattern of flawed reasoning displayed in the argument above most closely resembles that in which one of the following? |
[
"TPA is a slightly more effective clot-dissolving agent than ASA.",
"Relatives of a patient who has died grieve more if the patient received ASA rather than TPA.",
"The extra expense of TPA cannot be weighed simply against the few additional lives saved.",
"ASA should never be given to postoperative cardiac patients in place of TPA."
] | Ethicist: Both ASA and TPA are clot-dissolving agents. Recent studies show that the more expensive agent, TPA, would save at most two more lives than would ASA out of every 50 cardiac patients to whom they are postoperatively administered. However, since the relatives of the patients who die simply because they were given the less expensive medicine would be particularly grieved, the financial saving involved in using ASA over TPA must also be weighed against such considerations. | 2 | train_4521 | Which one of the following most accurately expresses the conclusion of the ethicist's argument? |
[
"A space the size of this meadow would be suitable for a playground or a picnic area. However, a playground would be noisy and a picnic area would create litter. So it will be best for the area to remain a meadow.",
"Any path along this embankment must be either concrete or stone. But a concrete path cannot be built in this location. So if there is to be a path on the embankment, it will be a stone path.",
"If there is to be an entrance on the north side of the building, it will have to be approached by a ramp. However, a ramp would become impossibly slippery in winter, so there will be no entrance on the north side.",
"If visitors are to travel to this part of the site by automobile, there will be a need for parking spaces. However, no parking spaces are allowed for in the design. So if visitors are likely to come by automobile, the design will be changed."
] | Landscape architect: If the screen between these two areas is to be a hedge, that hedge must be of either hemlocks or Leyland cypress trees. However, Leyland cypress trees cannot be grown this far north. So if the screen is to be a hedge, it will be a hemlock hedge. | 1 | train_4522 | In which one of the following is the pattern of reasoning most similar to that in the landscape architect's argument? |
[
"Every mutual fund manager knows someone who trades on inside information, and no one who trades on inside information is unknown to every mutual fund manager. One must conclude that no mutual fund manager is unknown to everyone who trades on inside information.",
"All of the rural districts are free of major air pollution problems because such problems occur only where there is a large concentration of automobiles, and there are no such places in the rural districts.",
"All rock stars who are famous have their own record companies, and all rock stars with their own record companies receive company profits over and above their regular royalties. This implies that receiving large regular royalties is a necessary condition of being a famous rock star.",
"All of the ungulates are herbivores, and most herbivores would not attack a human being. It follows that any animal that would attack a human being is unlikely to be an ungulate."
] | Economist: No economic system that is centrally planned can efficiently allocate resources, and efficient allocation of resources is a necessary condition for achieving a national debt of less than 5 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It follows that any nation with a centrally planned economy has a national debt that is at least 5 percent of GDP. | 1 | train_4523 | The pattern of reasoning exhibited by the economist's argument is most similar to that exhibited by which one of the following? |
[
"dismisses the proposals because of their source rather than because of their substance",
"uses emotive language in labeling the proposals",
"assumes without any justification that since two texts are similar one of them must be influenced by the other",
"appeals to the authority of Tsarque Inc. 's chief without giving evidence that this person's opinion should carry special weight"
] | Magazine article: The Environmental Commissioner' s new proposals are called "Fresh Thinking on the Environment, "and a nationwide debate on them has been announced. Well, "fresh thinking"from such an unlikely source as the commissioner does deserve closer inspection. Unfortunately we discovered that these proposals are virtually identical to those issued three months ago by Tsarque Inc. under the heading "New Environmentalism" (Tsarque Inc. ' s chief is a close friend of the commissioner). Since Tsarque Inc. ' s polluting has marked it as an environmental nightmare, in our opinion the "nationwide debate" can end here. | 0 | train_4524 | A flaw in the magazine article's reasoning is that it |
[
"Most people in kirlandia who are currently earning the minimum wage have been employed at their current jobs for less than a year.",
"Some firms in Kirlandia have paid workers considerably less than KD5. 00 per hour, in violation of kirlandic employment regulations.",
"The greatest growth in Kirlandia's economy in recent years has been in those sectors where workers earn wages that tend to be much higher than the minimum wage.",
"Many businesses hire trainees at or near the minimum wage but must reward trained workers by keeping their paylevels above the pay level of trainees."
] | In two months, the legal minimum wage in the country of Kirlandia will increase from five Kirlandic dollars(KD5. 00) Per hour to KD5. 50 per hour. Opponents of this increase have argued that the resulting rise in wages will drive the inflation rate up. In fact its impact on wages will probably be negligible, since only a very small proportion of all Kirfandic workers are currently receiving less than KD5. 50 per hour. | 3 | train_4525 | Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument? |
[
"Some kinds of asbestos, when disturbed, pose greater health risks than do other kinds.",
"Much of the time, removed asbestos is buried in landfills and forgotten, with no guarantee that it will not be disturbed again.",
"Asbestos can pose a health threat to workers who remove it without wearing required protective gear.",
"Asbestos poses far less risk to health than does smoking, drug and alcohol abuse, improper diet, or lack of exercise."
] | Asbestos, an almost indestructible mineral once installed as building insulation, poses no health risk unless the asbestos is disturbed and asbestos fibers are released into the environment. Since removing asbestos from buildings disturbs it, thereby releasing asbestos fibers, the government should not require removal of all asbestos insulation. | 1 | train_4526 | Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument? |
[
"Many agriculturally beneficial insects go through a caterpillar stage.",
"Since caterpillars of different species emerge at different times, several sprayings would be necessary.",
"Many agricultural pests do not go through a caterpillar stage.",
"Although the enzyme has been synthesized in the laboratory, no large-scale production facilities exist as yet."
] | Caterpillars of all species produce an identical hormone called "juvenile hormone" that maintains feeding behavior. Only when a caterpillar has grown to the right size for pupation to take place does a special enzyme halt the production of juvenile hormone. This enzyme can be synthesized and will, on being ingested by immature caterpillars, kill them by stopping them from feeding. | 0 | train_4527 | Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the view that it would NOT be advisable to try to eradicate agricultural pests that go through a caterpillar stage by spraying croplands with the enzyme mentioned above? |
[
"Unlike cerebral edema, ordinary mountain sickness involves no disruption of blood circulation in the brain.",
"The treatment for ordinary mountain sickness differs from the treatment for cerebral edema.",
"Most people who suffer from ordinary mountain sickness recover without any special treatment.",
"Cerebral edema can cause those who suffer from it to slip into a coma within a few hours."
] | Ordinary mountain sickness, a common condition among mountain climbers, and one from which most people can recover, is caused by the characteristic shortage of oxygen in the atmosphere at high altitudes. Cerebral edema, a rarer disruption of blood circulation in the brain that quickly becomes life-threatening if not correctly treated from its onset, can also be caused by a shortage of oxygen. Since the symptoms of cerebral edema resemble those of ordinary mountain sickness, cerebral edema is especially dangerous at high altitudes. | 1 | train_4528 | Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends? |
[
"The blood test for the protein has been in use for some time to monitor the condition of patients who have been diagnosed as having cancer of the gland.",
"Before the blood test became available, about one third of all cases of cancer of the gland were detected in early stages.",
"So far, no patients whose protein levels were found to be normal have subsequently developed cancer of the gland.",
"Enlargement of the gland, a common condition infrequently associated with cancer, results in high levels of the protein."
] | When a certain gland becomes cancerous in humans, it produces high levels of a particular protein. A blood test can determine the level of this protein well before a cancer of the gland could be detected by other means. Some doctors recommend that aggressive anticancer treatment should be begun as early as possible for anyone who is tested and is found to have high levels of the protein. | 3 | train_4529 | Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the doctors' recommendation? |
[
"Any journalism that intentionally misrepresents the facts of a case deserves to be criticized.",
"Journalism that neither satisfies the public's curiosity nor provides accurate information can never be considered good journalism.",
"Good journalism will always provide people with information that they desire or need.",
"Any journalism that provides accurate information on a subject about which there is considerable interest is good journalism."
] | Editorial: One of our local television stations has been criticized for its recent coverage of the personal problems of a local politician' s nephew, but the coverage was in fact good journalism. The information was accurate. Furthermore, the newscast had significantly more viewers than it normally does, because many people are curious about the politician' s nephew' s problems. | 3 | train_4530 | Which one of the following principles, if valid, would most help to justify the reasoning in the editorial? |
[
"People with the tactile ability to discriminate symbols in braille have an ability to discriminate similar patterns on a flat heated surface.",
"Only people who currently use braille as their sole medium for reading text will have the capacity to adapt to the use of the thermal screen.",
"Eventually it will be possible to train people to read braille by first training them in the use of the thermal screen.",
"Some symbol systems encode a piece of text by using dots that replicate the shape of letters of the alphabet."
] | Braille is a method of producing text by means of raised dots that can be read by touch. A recent development in technology will allow flat computer screens to be made of a material that can be heated in patterns that replicate the patterns used in braille. Since the thermal device will utilize the same symbol system as braille, it follows that anyone who is accustomed to reading braille can easily adapt to the use of this electronic system. | 0 | train_4531 | Which one of the following is an assumption on which the conclusion depends? |
[
"Balanced reporting presents the public with a picture of the world in which all sides to a conflict have equal justification.",
"Balanced reporting is an ideal that cannot be realized, because judgments of balance are necessarily subjective.",
"Common sense tells us that balance is especially needed when reporting the background of civil wars and conflicts.",
"Balanced reporting requires impartially revealing injustices where they occur no less than fairly presenting the views of each party in a conflict."
] | Balance is particularly important when reporting the 5. background of civil wars and conflicts. Facts must not be deliberately manipulated to show one party in a favorable light, and the views of each side should be fairly represented. This concept of balance, however, does not justify concealing or glossing over basic injustices in an effort to be even-handed. If all the media were to adopt such a perverse interpretation of balanced reporting, the public would be given a picture of a world where each party in every conflict had an equal measure of justice on its side, contrary to our experience of life and, indeed, our common sense. | 3 | train_4532 | Which one of the following best expresses the main point of the argument? |
[
"denying the truth of one of the stated premises of Zachary's argument",
"demonstrating the Zachary's conclusion is not consistent with the premises he uses to support it",
"challenging the definition of a key term in Zachary's argument",
"calling into question an assumption on which Zachary's conclusion depends"
] | Zachary: The term "fresco" refers to paint that has been applied to wet plaster. Once dried, a fresco indelibly preserves the paint that a painter has applied in this way. Unfortunately, additions known to have been made by later painters have obscured the original fresco work done by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel. Ttherefore, in order to restore Michaelangelo' s Sistine Chapel paintings to the appearance that Michelangelo intended them to have, everything except the original fresco work must be stripped away. Stephen: But it was extremely common for painters of Michelangelo' s era to add painted details to their own fresco work after the frescos had dried. | 3 | train_4533 | Stephen's response to Zachary proceeds by |
[
"Other towns and cities nearby have yet to embark on any comparable plans to attract new citizens.",
"Most developers see the extra expense of providing municipal facilities as simply one of the many costs of doing business.",
"Studies show that purchasers of new houses, especially first-time buyers, rank recreational resources as an important factor in deciding to buy a particular house.",
"Developers would pass along their costs to the buyer, thereby raising the cost of housing units beyond the ability of likely purchasers to afford them."
] | A city plans to attract new citizens with new housing and new facilities such as parks, recreation centers, and libraries. One component of the city' s plan is to require that developers seeking permission to build this new housing provide these additional facilities at no cost to the city. | 3 | train_4534 | Which of the following, if true, would point to a possible flaw in the city's plan? |
[
"The subjects who did not exercise regularly during the study tended to have diets that were more unhealthy.",
"A person who exercises regularly is probably doing so out of concern for his or her own health.",
"A large number of the deaths recorded were attributable to preexisting conditions or illnesses.",
"Whether or not a given subject was to exercise during the study was determined by the researchers on a random basis."
] | A recently completed study of several hundred subjects, all of approximately the same age, showed that those who exercised regularly during the study were much less likely to die during the study. This indicates that exercise can actually increase one' s life span. . | 3 | train_4535 | Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument? |
[
"John's father, brothers, and male cousins all look like professional bodybuilders, and none of them have ever worked out.",
"John works out five times every week.",
"John weighed considerably less before he started working out.",
"The average professional bodybuilder is considerably heavier and taller than the average NFL linebacker."
] | John looks like a professional bodybuilder. He weighs 210 pounds and stands six feet tall, which is the size of an NFL linebacker. John looks huge when he enters the room. Years of gym time have clearly paid off in spades. | 0 | train_4536 | Which of the following, if true, weakens the argument? |
[
"If you are not able to write your essays using a word processing program, you have no keyboarding skills.",
"If you are able to write your essays using a word processing program, you have at least some keyboarding skills.",
"If you are not able to write your essays using a word processing program, you are not able to use a computer.",
"If you have some keyboarding skills, you will be able to write your essays using a word processing program."
] | If you have no keyboarding skills at all, you will not be able to use a computer. And if you are not able to use a computer, you will not be able to write your essays using a word processing program. | 1 | train_4537 | If the statements above are true, which one of the following must be true? |
[
"assails legislation on the basis of the questionable character of supporters of the legislation",
"attacks legislation by calling into question the integrity of the originators of the legislation",
"attempts to discredit legislation by appealing to public sentiment for those who would be adversely affected",
"presupposes that legislation is bad legislation whenever it has only a small number of supporters outside the country's national legislative body"
] | Columnist: The country is presently debating legislation that, if passed, would force manufacturers to increase the number of paid vacation days for employees, to pay higher overtime wages, and to pay all day-care expenses for children of each employee. This legislation is being supported by members of groups that have resorted to violent tactics in the past, and by individuals who are facing indictment on tax-evasion charges. We must defeat this legislation and what it stands for. | 0 | train_4538 | The columnist's argument is flawed because it |
[
"The argument contradicts itself about whether there are in fact differences between economic systems in different countries.",
"The argument ignores the possibility that groups of people may share the same goal but not agree about how best to achieve that goal.",
"The argument bases a general conclusion about economic systems on one example of such a system, which there is reason to think is atypical.",
"The argument depends on using the key term \"economic system\" in two incompatible senses."
] | Professor: Different countries have different economic systems, but all economic systems have prosperity as their primary goal. Because people all want the same thing, there cannot be radical disagreement among people from different economic systems about practical economic matters. Thus all apparent disagreement in practical economic issues is illusory. | 1 | train_4539 | Which one of the following most accurately describes a reasoning error in the professor's argument? |
[
"Very few species of North American animals not hunted by the new arrivals from Asia were extinct 2, 000 years after the first migrations.",
"Individual humans and animals can carry a disease-causing microorganism without themselves suffering from the disease.",
"Animals weakened by disease are not only less able to avoid hunters but are also less able to avoid their other predators.",
"Human beings generally have a substantial degree of biological immunity to the diseases carried by other species."
] | Essayist: When the first prehistoric migrations of humans from Asia to North America took place, the small bands of new arrivals encountered many species of animals that would be extinct only 2, 000 years later. Since it is implausible that hunting by these small bands of humans could have had such an effect, and since disease-causing microorganisms not native to North America were undoubtedly borne by the new arrivals as well as by the animals that followed them, these microorganisms were probably the crucial factor that accounts for the extinctions. | 0 | train_4540 | Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the essayist's argument? |
[
"Many members of the clergy in medieval Europe spent more time among peasants than among people of any other social class.",
"Documents produced by clergy in medieval Europe contain detailed descriptions of participation by peasants and others in religious activities .",
"Historians cannot develop a reliable account of the religious attitudes held during any given historical period unless they have consulted all of the relevant surviving records from that period .",
"Written records produced by clergy in medieval Europe very rarely portray merchants or nobles as being dedicated to religion."
] | The prevailing view among historians is that medieval European peasants were deeply dedicated to religion . But the record keepers in medieval Europe were members of the clergy. It should not surprise us that chroniclers who were professionally occupied with religion would exaggerate people' s religious devotion. Thus, there is reason to doubt the prevailing view of medieval peasants' piety. | 3 | train_4541 | Which one of the following, if true, would most weaken the argument above? |
[
"The brains of older bees that stop foraging to take on other responsibilities do not become smaller after they stop foraging.",
"In some species of bees, the brains of older bees are only marginally larger than those of younger bees.",
"Those bees that travel a long distance to find food do not have significantly larger brains than do bees that locate food nearer the hive.",
"The brains of older bees that never learn to forage are the same size as those of their foraging counterparts of the same age."
] | Scientists have shown that older bees, which usually forage outside the hive for food, tend to have larger brains than do younger bees, which usually do not forage but instead remain in the hive to tend to newly hatched bees. Since foraging requires greater cognitive ability than does tending to newly hatched bees, it appears that foraging leads to the increased brain size of older bees. | 3 | train_4542 | Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument above? |
[
"mistakes a situation that almost certainly affects many people for one that affects a particular person alone",
"overlooks the possibility that someone might occasionally adopt a given course of action without having a good reason for doing so",
"ignores the fact that people often know that something is the case without considering all the consequences that follow from its being the case",
"treats evidence that someone will adopt a particular course of action as though that evidence excluded the possibility of an alternative course of action"
] | Marion knows that the bridge on her usual route is closed and that, unless she takes the train instead of driving, she can get to work on time only by leaving at least 45 minutes early. She must go to her neighborhood bank before leaving for work, however, and the bank will not be open in time for her to do so if she leaves 45 minutes early. Ttherefore, since she hates taking the train, Marion cannot avoid being late for work. | 3 | train_4543 | The reasoning in the argument is flawed because the argument |
[
"minute amounts of some contaminants can be poisonous",
"the only contaminants worth measuring are generated by industry",
"industry currently meets the standards that have been set by environmental authorities",
"there are effective ways to take into account all of the relevant risks posed by allowing different levels of contaminants"
] | In setting environmental standards for industry and others to meet, it is inadvisable to require the best results that state-of-the-art technology can achieve. Current technology is able to detect and eliminate even extremely minute amounts of contaminants, but at a cost that is exorbitant relative to the improvement achieved. So it would be reasonable instead to set standards by taking into account all of the current and future risks involved. | 3 | train_4544 | The argument given concerning the reasonable way to set standards presupposes that |
[
"The predator insects from Brazil could survive in the ecological environment found in the United States.",
"The imported insects would not prove more damaging to the environment in the United States than are the fire ants themselves.",
"The rate of increase of the fire-ant population would not exceed the rate at which the predator insects could kill the ants.",
"The predator insects would stop the increase of the ant population before the ants spread to states that are farther north."
] | Fire ants from Brazil now infest the southern United States. Unlike queen fire ants in Brazil, two queens in the United States share a nest. Ants from these nests are more aggressive than those from single-queen nests. By destroying virtually all insects in the nest area, these aggressive ants gain sole access to food sources, and the ant population skyrockets. Since certain predator insects in Brazil limit the fire-ant population there, importing such predator insects into the United States would be of overall benefit to the environment by stopping the increase of the fire-ant population in the United States. | 3 | train_4545 | Each of the following is an assumption made in the argument EXCEPT: |
[
"citing various facts that could not obtain if the anthropologist's conclusion were correct",
"applying one of the anthropologist's reasoning steps in another argument in an attempt to show that it leads to an absurd conclusion",
"offering another argument that has as its premise the denial of the thesis that the anthropologist defends",
"suggesting that the anthropologist's argument relies on a misinterpretation of a key scientific term"
] | Anthropologist: After mapping the complete dominance hierarchy for a troupe of vervet monkeys by examining their pairwise interaction, we successfully predicted more complex forms of their group behavior by assuming that each monkey had knowledge of the complete hierarchy. Since our prediction was so accurate, it follows that the assumption we used to reach it was in fact true. Primatologist: Although I agree that your assumption helped you make those predictions, your conclusion does not follow. You might as well argue that since we can predict the output of some bank cash machines by assuming that these machines actually want to satisfy the customers' requests, these cash machines must really have desires. | 1 | train_4546 | The primatologist uses which one of the following argumentative techniques in countering the anthropologist's argument? |
[
"Specialization within international trade comes with risks.",
"Some countries rely on a small number of products for the export-based sectors of their economies.",
"When international trade is free, countries can specialize in what they export.",
"A small country's supply of raw materials can be used up in a short period."
] | Although free international trade allows countries to specialize, which in turn increases productivity, such specialization carries risks. After all, small countries often rely on one or two products for the bulk of their exports. If those products are raw materials, the supply is finite and can be used up. If they are foodstuffs, a natural disaster can wipe out a season' s production overnight. | 0 | train_4547 | Which one of the following most accurately expresses the conclusion of the argument as a whole? |
[
"If the current model of the most popular low-priced car is redesigned to make it more powerful, then its price will be raised. A higher price for this model may lead to decreased sales. Ttherefore, this model should not be redesigned.",
"Studies are producing contrary results about the level of exercise that is optimal for maintaining fitness. Ttherefore, it is better to concentrate on diet as a means of maintaining fitness.",
"Life will be much more convenient for Javier if he buys a new car, but he will save a lot of money if he buys no car. Ttherefore, to have more convenience and save some money, Javier should buy a used car.",
"If Donna's supervisor learns that Donna is applying for another job, then the supervisor might offer Donna incentives to stay in her current position. However, the supervisor might react negatively to the news. Because of this possibility, Donna should keep her plans from her supervisor."
] | Some studies show that students are more creative after being given monetary rewards for their academic performance, but other studies show that students are less creative after receiving monetary rewards. Ttherefore, to avoid the risk of discouraging students' creativity, monetary rewards should not be given to them for academic performance. | 3 | train_4548 | The reasoning in which one of the following is most similar to that in the argument above? |
[
"The shipping and handling fees for a batch of flour purchased from Isadore's Interstate Mill are less than 10 percent of the cost of an identical batch of flour purchased from Larry's Local Mill.",
"Isadore's Interstate Mill produces flour 10% more efficiently than Larry's Local Mill does.",
"Production costs at Isadore's Interstate Mill are 10 percent below those at Larry's Local Mill.",
"The shipping and handling fees for a batch of flour purchased from Isadore's Interstate Mill are more than 10 percent of the cost of Isadore's flour."
] | The head baker at Barry's Bagels can either purchase flour in-person from the local flour mill, Larry's Local Mill, or order a shipment of flour from an out-of-state mill, Isadore's Interstate Mill. The cost of the flour from Isadore's Interstate Mill is 10 percent less than the cost of the flour from Larry's Local Mill. Even after shipping and handling fees are added, it is still cheaper to order flour that has to be shipped from Isadore's than to buy flour locally from Larry's. | 0 | train_4549 | The statements above, if true, best support which of the following assertions? |
[
"The growth of Smalltown's population has primarily been due to a higher birth rate, which has traditionally been associated with a drop in crime.",
"Businesses in Smalltown whose members did not attend these monthly meetings regularly saw their profits increase only 2% above inflation.",
"The effects of taxes on local businesses may not be immediately apparent in all cases, particularly when populations are fluctuating.",
"Crime has decreased throughout the state, and the businesses in other towns with similar populations have seen similar profits in the past ten years."
] | President of the Smalltown Chamber of Commerce: In the past decade, the businesses in Smalltown have reported average profits of 15% above inflation. The mayor of Smalltown has explained this by citing decreased crime and a growing population, but he is incorrect. In reality, this increase in profitability is not due to these factors, but rather to the sharing of business acumen and market research that occurs at the monthly Chamber of Commerce meetings. | 1 | train_4550 | Which of the following, if true, best supports the President of the Smalltown Chamber of Commerce's attribution of the increased profits to her organization's meetings? |
[
"bicycle advertisements are probably more effective if they appear before the arrival of warm spring weather",
"most bicycle purchasers decide on the brand and model of bicycle that they will buy before beginning to shop for a bicycle",
"in general, once a bicycle purchaser has decided which bicycle he or she intends to purchase, it is difficult to bring about a change in that decision",
"spring and summer are the time of year in which bicycle riding as a leisure activity is most popular"
] | Most people who ride bicycles for pleasure do not ride until the warm weather of spring and summery arrives. Yet it is probably more effective to advertise bicycles earlier in the year. Most bicycles are purchased in the spring, but once shoppers are ready to shop for a bicycle, they usually have already decided which brand and model of bicycle they will purchase. By then it is generally too late to induce them to change their minds. | 0 | train_4551 | The main point of the argument is that |
[
"does not explain how it is that the trade group could have inadvertently sent out a secret document",
"does not present any evidence that the document names every member of the trade group",
"gives no reason to think that Bruch Industries would want to belong to the trade group",
"takes for granted the accuracy of a statement by a representative who had a reason to withhold information"
] | Journalist: A manufacturers' trade group that has long kept its membership list secret inadvertently sent me a document listing hundreds of manufacturing companies. A representative of the trade group later confirmed that every company listed in the document does indeed belong to the trade group. Because Bruch Industries is not listed on the document, it is evidently not a member of the trade group. | 1 | train_4552 | The journalist's reasoning in the argument is flawed in that the journalist |
[
"There are not strong voices opposing the death penalty in the United States.",
"The legal status of capital punishment in the United States and the Philippines aligns with how the majority of citizens in those respective countries view the death penalty.",
"There are more murders per year in the United States than in the Philippines.",
"The legal standard used to determine whether a criminal should be sentenced to the death penalty in the United States is similar to the legal standard used in the Philippines before capital punishment was abolished there."
] | The legislature of the Philippines voted recently to abolish the death penalty. In contrast, the death penalty remains legal in the United States. The difference in the legality of capital punishment demonstrates that the majority of American citizens believe in the death penalty, while the majority of Filipino citizens do not. | 1 | train_4553 | Which of the following is an assumption upon which the above argument depends? |
[
"Marine biologists are not familiar with all of the environments that the Indonesian mimic octopuses inhabit, since it is known to swim into crevices deep in the ocean's floor.",
"An observational study that tracked a mimic octopus over the course of a week found that it changed the color of its skin even when there were no predators in the area.",
"The Indonesian mimic octopus engages in other forms of behavior that seem to serve no purpose, yet several marine biologists are reluctant to describe such behavior as play.",
"The color pattern an Indonesian mimic octopus assumes when a predator is nearby, but that does not match its immediate environment, has been found to parallel that of various jellyfish venomous to the octopus's predators."
] | The Indonesian mimic octopus is able to camouflage itself from predators by blending into the background. Sometimes, though, even when a predator is nearby, the mimic octopus takes on a color pattern that is not present in the immediate environment. A marine biologist of cephalopods claims that this behavior is a sign of an octopus engaging in play, meaning that the behavior does not confer any specific advantage. | 3 | train_4554 | Which of the following, if true, would most call in to doubt the marine biologist's claim? |
[
"If one is trying to improve one's personality by removing imperfections, one should not try to remove them all. For while each imperfection makes one's personality worse, it is no longer worth one's time to remove imperfections if there are only a few left.",
"It is a mistake to try to remove every imperfection from one's personality. Personality imperfections make life difficult sometimes, but people cannot be truly happy if their personalities lack defects.",
"One who is trying to improve one's personality by removing imperfections should not try to remove them all. Granted, the fewer imperfections one's personality has, the happier one will be. However, it is never possible to remove all of the imperfections from one's personality.",
"When one is trying to improve one's personality, one should not try to remove imperfections that do not cause one serious difficulties. Often, removing such an imperfection will only lead to greater imperfections."
] | When weeding a vegetable garden, one should not try to remove all the weeds. It is true that the more weeds, the less productive the garden. Nevertheless, avoiding the painstaking effort of finding and pulling every single weed more than compensates for the slight productivity loss resulting from leaving a few. | 0 | train_4555 | The principle underlying which one of the following arguments is most similar to the principle underlying the argument above? |
[
"In Country Q, the amount of coal consumed in 1990 was greater than the amount of coal consumed in 1991.",
"In Country Q, more coal was consumed during the first half of 1991 than was consumed during the first half of 1990.",
"In Country Q, the amount of coal consumed in 1991 was greater than the amount of coal mined in 1991.",
"In Country Q, more coal was mined in 1990 than was mined in 1991."
] | Each December 31 in Country Q, a tally is made of the country' s total available coal supplies -- that is, the total amount of coal that has been mined throughout the country but not consumed. In 1991 that amount was considerably lower than it had been in 1990. Furthermore, Country Q has not imported or exported coal since 1970. | 2 | train_4556 | If the statements above are true, which one of the following must also be true on the basis of them? |
[
"the sort of school environment that most fosters children's creativity",
"the extent to which teachers should direct schoolchildren's education",
"the extent to which schoolchildren are interested in fundamental academic subjects",
"the importance of having qualified teachers involved in schoolchildren's education"
] | Gaby: In school, children should be allowed fully to follow their own interests, supported by experienced teachers who offer minimal guidance. This enables them to be most successful in their adult lives. Logan: I disagree. Schoolchildren should acquire the fundamental knowledge necessary for future success, and they learn such fundamentals only through disciplined, systematic instruction from accredited teachers. | 1 | train_4557 | Gaby's and Logan's comments provide most support for the claim that they disagree about |
[
"It is impossible to be fluent in a language without knowing its grammatical rules. A person who knows the grammatical rules of a language has learned them by means of exhaustive and difficult study or else by growing up in an environment in which the language is spoken. There are two major ways, ttherefore, for a person to become fluent in a language.",
"In the City Ballet Company any dancer who has danced in Giselle has also danced in Sleeping Beauty, and some dancers who have danced in Sleeping Beauty have also danced in Swan Lake. Ttherefore, some dancers in the City Ballet Company who have danced in Giselle have also danced in Swan Lake.",
"An ice-sculpture artist cannot reach the yellow level of achievement without first achieving the green level. The green level is impossible to achieve unless the white level has already been achieved. Ttherefore, an ice-sculpture artist who has reached the yellow level must have previously achieved the white level.",
"A doctor cannot prescribe porozine for a patient without first prescribing anthroxine for that patient. Unfortunately, anthroxine makes most patients who take it feel either extremely drowsy or else extremely nervous. It is likely, ttherefore, that a patient who has taken porozine has felt extremely nervous."
] | An air traveler in Beijing cannot fly to Lhasa without first flying to Chengdu. Unfortunately, an air traveler in Beijing must fly to Xian before flying to Chengdu. Any air traveler who flies from Beijing to Lhasa, ttherefore, cannot avoid flying to Xian. | 2 | train_4558 | The pattern of reasoning exhibited by the argument above is most similar to that exhibited by which one of the following? |
[
"The beginning readers made more pronunciation errors than the more experienced readers did in reading both the paragraph and the list.",
"Because several words were used more than once in the paragraph but only once in the list, the list was shorter than the paragraph.",
"The more experienced readers sounded out difficult words, while the beginning readers relied solely on context to guess at difficult words.",
"In reading the paragraph, the more experienced readers were better at using context to guess at difficult words than were the beginning readers."
] | Each child in a group of young children read aloud both a short paragraph and a list of randomly ordered words from the paragraph. The more experienced readers among them made fewer pronunciation errors in whichever task they performed second, whether it was the list or the paragraph. The order in which the two tasks were performed, however, had no effect on the performance of beginning readers, who always made fewer pronunciation errors when reading the paragraph than when reading the list. | 2 | train_4559 | Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain why the order in which the tasks were performed was not significant for the beginning readers? |
[
"During the fifteenth century in Europe, mapmakers simplified the borders of sovereignty by drawing clear lines of demarcation between political powers.",
"Seventeenth-century treatises and other sources of political authority describe areas of sovereignty rather than illustrate them using maps.",
"Borders did not become codified in Europe until certain treaties were signed in the early nineteenth century.",
"During the medieval period, various authorities in Europe claimed power over collections of cities and towns, not contiguous territories."
] | Historian: Fifteenth-century advances in mapmaking contributed to the rise of modern nation-states. In medieval Europe (from the fifth to the fifteenth century), sovereignty centered in cities and towns and radiated outward, with boundaries often ambiguously defined. The conceptual shift toward the modern state began in the late fifteenth century, when mapmakers learned to reflect geography accurately by basing maps on latitude-longitude grids. By the midseventeenth century, nearly all maps showed boundary lines. | 0 | train_4560 | Which of the following would, if true, most strengthen the historian's reasoning? |
[
"It addresses a weakness in the biologists' announcements that stems from their ambiguous use of the word \"external. \"",
"It provides evidence that the animals' activities given as examples are purposeful.",
"It is the conclusion of the argument.",
"It calls into question the basis of the biologists' conception of a tool."
] | Biologists often announce that a certain kind of animal has been found capable of using tools; this usually refers to something like using a stick to hunt for ants in a log, or a stone to crack nuts. But such announcements are completely unsurprising, since all animals use tools. Birds build nests, fish hide in the mud to escape predators, and squirrels use buildings as shortcuts between trees. If an animal executes its purpose by means of an external physical object, then that object can reasonably be regarded as a tool. | 2 | train_4561 | Which one of the following most accurately describes the role played in the argument by the claim that the biologists' announcements that a certain animal has been found capable of using tools are unsurprising? |
[
"The argument relies on two different uses of the term \"selfish. \"",
"The claim that selfishness has been present throughout history is not actually relevant to the argument.",
"The argument mentions only humans and does not consider the behavior of other species.",
"No statistical evidence is provided to show that humans act selfishly more often than they act unselfishly."
] | The 1980s have been characterized as a period of selfish individualism that threatens the cohesion of society. But this characterization is true of any time. Throughout history all human actions have been motivated by selfishness. When the deeper implications are considered, even the simplest "unselfish" acts prove to be instances of selfish concern for the human species. | 0 | train_4562 | Which one of the following is a flaw in the argument? |
[
"one of the projected results cited in support of the proposal made is entailed by the other and ttherefore does not constitute independent support of the proposal",
"of the two projected results cited in support of the proposal made, one works against the other",
"any resourceful large contributor can circumvent caps on individual contributions by sending in smaller amounts under various names",
"it overlooks the possibility that large contributors will stop contributing if they cannot contribute at will"
] | Political advocate: Campaigns for elective office should be subsidized with public funds. One reason is that this would allow politicians to devote less time to fund-raising, thus giving campaigning incumbents more time to serve the public. A second reason is that such subsidies would make it possible to set caps on individual campaign contributions, thereby reducing the likelihood that elected officials will be working for the benefit not of the public but of individual large contributors. Critic: This argument is problematic: the more the caps constrain contributions, the more time candidates have to spend finding more small contributors. | 1 | train_4563 | The critic objects that the advocate's argument is flawed because |
[
"Participating in risky sports is not the only way to confront one's fears.",
"In general, people who currently participate in risky sports had above-average self-confidence even before participating in any risky sport.",
"Most of those who do not participate in risky sports believe that they lack the capacity to excel in such activities.",
"Most people who refrain from engaging in risky sports refrain from doing so for reasons other than a fear of death or injury."
] | Those who participate in risky sports often do so to confront their fears. For example, rock climbers are more likely than others to have once suffered from a fear of heights. Those who participate in such risk-taking activities also have more self-confidence than others, so it is probably true that confronting one' s fears increases one' s self-confidence. | 1 | train_4564 | Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the reasoning above? |
[
"Most oil-refinery workers who do not work with MBTE do not have serious health problems involving headaches, fatigue, and shortness of breath.",
"Since the time when gasoline containing MBTE was first introduced in a few metropolitan areas, those areas reported an increase in the number of complaints about headaches, fatigue, and shortness of breath.",
"Headaches, fatigue, and shortness of breath are among the symptoms of several medical conditions that are potentially serious threats to public health.",
"The oil-refinery workers surveyed were carefully selected to be representative of the broader population in their medical histories prior to exposure to MBTE, as well as in other relevant respects."
] | Toxicologist: A survey of oil-refinery workers who work with MBTE, an ingredient currently used in some smog-reducing gasolines, found an alarming incidence of complaints about headaches, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Since gasoline containing MBTE will soon be widely used, we can expect an increased incidence of headaches, fatigue, and shortness of breath. | 2 | train_4565 | Each of the following, if true, strengthens the toxicologist's argument EXCEPT: |
[
"Under most employers' plans, vision insurance payments stop when a visually impaired employee reaches the usual retirement age of 65.",
"Medical advances have improved the average person's vision beyond what it was 20 years ago.",
"The treatment of newly incurred visual impairments is more successful now than in the past in restoring vision.",
"For persons receiving vision insurance benefit payments, those payments on average represent a smaller share of their income now than was the case 20 years ago."
] | A person is more likely to become visually impaired as that person ages. Among adults in the state of Illinois, however, the proportion receiving benefit payments from their vision insurance shrinks from 56 percent among 50-64 year olds to 24 percent for those aged 65-79, and 13 percent for those aged 79 and older. The explanation of this discrepancy is that the proportion of jobs offering such an insurance benefit has greatly increased in recent years. | 0 | train_4566 | Which one of the following, if true about Illinois, shows that the explanation above is, at best, incomplete? |
[
"The fatality rate in highway accidents involving motorists driving faster than 55 miles per hour is much higher than in highway accidents that do not involve motorists driving at such speeds.",
"There was no decline in the rate of highway fatalities during the twelfth year following the reduction in the speed limit.",
"Motorists are more likely to avoid accidents by matching their speed to that of the surrounding highway traffic than by driving at faster or slower speeds.",
"The 1974 fuel shortage cut driving sharply for more than a year."
] | In 1974 the speed limit on highways in the United States was reduced to 55 miles per hour in order to save fuel. In the first 12 months after the change, the rate of highway fatalities dropped 15 percent, the sharpest one-year drop in history. Over the next 10 years, the fatality rate declined by another 25 percent. It follows that the 1974 reduction in the speed limit saved many lives. | 0 | train_4567 | Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument? |
[
"The proportion of domestic smoke detectors that are inoperative has increased in the past ten years.",
"Fifteen percent of domestic smoke detectors were installed less than 10 years ago.",
"Not all of the smoke detectors in homes are battery operated.",
"Unlike automatic water sprinklers, a properly functioning smoke detector cannot by itself increase fire safety in a home."
] | The National Association of Fire Fighters says that 45 percent of homes now have smoke detectors, whereas only 30 percent of homes had them 10 years ago. This makes early detection of house fires no more likely, however, because over half of the domestic smoke detectors are either without batteries or else inoperative for some other reason. | 0 | train_4568 | In order for the conclusion above to be properly drawn, which one of the following assumptions would have to be made? |
[
"infers that a part has a certain quality merely on the grounds that the whole to which it belongs has that quality",
"draws a general conclusion about government waste on the basis of a single instance of such waste",
"attacks the mayor's character rather than assessing the strength of the evidence supporting the mayor's claim",
"rejects a position on the grounds that the motives of the person who has advanced the position were not disinterested"
] | The mayor was not telling the truth when he said that the bridge renovation did not waste taxpayers' money. The very commission he set up to look into government waste reported that the Southern Tier Project, of which the bridge renovation was a part, was egregiously wasteful. | 0 | train_4569 | The reasoning in the argument is flawed in that the argument |
[
"It is imperative that the company ship fitness and exercise books on time.",
"The company should do whatever is required in order to adopt its competitors' shipping practices.",
"The company should make shipping books its highest priority.",
"The company will be outsold if it does not maintain its competitors' high level of organization."
] | Publisher: The new year is approaching, and with it the seasonal demand for books on exercise and fitness. We must do whatever it takes to ship books in that category on time; our competitors have demonstrated a high level of organization, and we cannot afford to be outsold. | 0 | train_4570 | Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main conclusion drawn in the publisher's argument? |
[
"In many surveys, people say that they would prefer a high-wage job to an otherwise identical job with lower wages.",
"Jobs that pay the same salary often vary considerably in their other financial benefits.",
"Even high wages do not enable people to obtain all the goods they desire.",
"Some people are not aware that jobs with high salaries typically leave very little time for recreation."
] | Many economists claim that financial rewards provide the strongest incentive for people to choose one job over another. But in many surveys, most people do not name high salary as the most desirable feature of a job. This shows that these economists overestimate the degree to which people are motivated by money in their job choices. | 1 | train_4571 | Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the argument? |
[
"purchasers of premium products are concerned with the quality as well as with the price of the products",
"continued sales depend directly on the maintenance of an aura of exclusivity",
"affluent purchasers currently represent a shrinking portion of the population of all purchasers",
"manufacturing a premium brand is not necessarily more costly than manufacturing a standard brand of the same product"
] | People buy prestige when they buy a premium product. They want to be associated with something special. Mass-marketing techniques and price-reduction strategies should not be used because__. | 1 | train_4572 | Which of the following best completes the passage below? |
[
"Mountain lions are dissimilar in size and color to other wild animals found near the suburban outskirts.",
"No person who claimed to have seen a mountain lion had anyone else with them at the purported sighting.",
"Farmers in the suburban outskirts mostly raise cattle and hogs, which when fully grown are generally not attacked by mountain lions.",
"There have been no regional reports in the past year of mountain lions migrating to the area."
] | Farmer: Several people in the past few years have claimed to have seen a mountain lion in the suburban outskirts-the latest just last month-and, while mountain lions were thought to have been driven from this entire region about twenty years ago, there is no reason for the people who reported seeing a mountain lion to have deliberately concocted a false report. Ttherefore, local wildlife managers should begin to urgently address the mountain lion' s presence. | 1 | train_4573 | Which of the following would, if true, most seriously weaken the farmer's argument? |
[
"Excessive blinking has been shown to be a mostly reliable indicator of a lack of confidence.",
"Blinking too infrequently during televised debates has the same effect on viewers' judgments of candidates as blinking excessively.",
"Viewers' judgments about candidates' debate performances are generally not affected by how knowledgeable the candidates appear to be.",
"Voters' judgments about candidates' debate performances rarely affect the results of national elections."
] | Psychologists have found that candidates for top political offices who blink excessively during televised debates are judged by viewers to have done less well than competing candidates who exhibit average blink rates. Any impact this phenomenon has on election results is surely deleterious: Many features -- knowledgeableness, confidence, and so forth -- contribute to a political official' s ability to perform well in office, but having an average blink rate is certainly not such a feature. | 0 | train_4574 | Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the argument? |
[
"People's love of the wilderness can be used to engender political support for conservation efforts.",
"Without increased public sympathy for conservation, the needs of many symbolic species will go unmet.",
"The conservation of bald eagles is the first necessary step in conserving other endangered species.",
"Because bald eagles symbolize freedom, conservation efforts should be concentrated on them rather than on other, more obscure species."
] | As symbols of the freedom of the wilderness, bald eagles have the unique capacity to inspire people and foster in them a sympathetic attitude toward the needs of other threatened species. Clearly, without that sympathy and the political will it engenders, the needs of more obscure species will go unmet. The conservation needs of many obscure species can only be met by beginning with the conservation of this symbolic species, the bald eagle. | 2 | train_4575 | Which one of the following is the main point of the passage as a whole? |
[
"There was no dietician at Happywell last year who earned less than the average for a physical therapist.",
"At least one Happywell employee earned less than the average for a physical therapist last year.",
"At least one dietician earned more than the highest-paid Happywell physical therapist last year.",
"There were more physical therapists than dieticians at Happywell last year."
] | At Happywell, Inc. , last year the average annual salary for dieticians was $50, 000, while the average annual salary for physical therapists was $42, 000. The average annual salary for all Happywell employees last year was $40, 000. | 1 | train_4576 | If the information above is correct, which one of the following conclusions can properly be drawn on the basis of it? |
[
"Because the new coating has a viscosity similar to that of a traditional top coat, aircraft manufacturers can apply it using the same equipment as is used for a traditional top coat.",
"A layer of primer on an airliner weighs more than a layer of the new coating would by an amount large enough to make a difference to that airliner's load-bearing capacity.",
"A single layer of the new coating provides the aluminum skin of the airliner with less protection against corrosion than does a layer of primer of the usual thickness.",
"Unlike the old process, the new process was originally invented for use on spacecraft, which are subject to extremes of temperature to which airliners are never exposed."
] | Paint on a new airliner is usually applied in two stages: first, a coat of primer, and then a top coat. A new process requires no primer, but instead uses two layers of the same newly developed coating, with each layer of the new coating having the same thickness and weight as a traditional top coat. Using the new process instead of the old process increases the price of a new aircraft considerably. | 1 | train_4577 | Which of the following, if true, most strongly indicates that it is in an airline's long-term economic interest to purchase new airliners painted using the new process rather than the old process? |
[
"Alzheimer's disease tends to increase the levels of homocysteine in the blood.",
"Many Alzheimer's patients have normal homocysteine levels.",
"B vitamins and folic acid are not metabolized by the body very efficiently when taken in the form of vitamin-mineral supplements.",
"People whose relatives contracted Alzheimer's disease are much more likely to develop Alzheimer's than those whose relatives did not."
] | People with higher-than-average blood levels of a normal dietary by-product called homocysteine are twice as likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer' s disease as are those with average or below-average homocysteine levels. Thus, it is likely that the risk of developing Alzheimer' s disease could be reduced by including in one' s diet large amounts of B vitamins and folic acid, which convert homocysteine into substances known to have no relation to Alzheimer' s disease. | 0 | train_4578 | Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument? |
[
"All patients taking antidepressant drugs should diet to maintain their weight.",
"A physician should not prescribe any antidepressant drug for a patient if that patient is overweight.",
"At least some patients taking antidepressant drugs gain weight as a result of taking them.",
"The weight gain experienced by patients taking antidepressant drugs should be attributed to lack of dieting."
] | Most antidepressant drugs cause weight gain. While dieting can help reduce the amount of weight gained while taking such antidepressants, some weight gain is unlikely to be preventable. | 2 | train_4579 | The information above most strongly supports which one of the following? |
[
"Which pattern a historian imposes upon events is affected by that historian's presuppositions.",
"Historians have many presuppositions in common with one another.",
"Most historians cannot become aware of the presuppositions that they bring to their narratives.",
"There is no way to determine with certainty whether a pattern described by a historian is actually present in and not merely imposed upon the events."
] | Critic: Historians purport to discover the patterns inherent in the course of events. But historians actually impose, rather than find, such patterns by choosing what to include in and exclude from their historical narratives. Thus, properly understood, histories reveal more about the presuppositions underlying different historians' attempts to understand what happened than about what actually happened. | 0 | train_4580 | The critic's argument depends on which one of the following assumptions? |
[
"Astronomers often draw inferences about the earlier years of our solar system on the basis of recently collected data. Unfortunately, they have been able to infer comparatively little about the origin of our solar system.",
"One crucial clue to the extent of the ancient Egyptians' mathematical knowledge came from studying the pyramids. The more we studied such structures, the more impressed we were by how much the Egyptians knew.",
"To understand a literary text one needs to understand the author's world view. However, the farther that world view gets from one's own the less one will be able to appreciate the text.",
"We often extrapolate from ordinary sensory experience to things beyond such experience and form a rash judgment, such as the claim that the earth is the center of the universe because it appears that way to us."
] | Some people mistakenly believe that since we do not have direct access to the distant past we cannot learn much about it. Contemporary historians and archaeologists find current geography, geology, and climate to be rich in clues about a given region' s distant history. However, the more distant the period we are studying is, the less useful the study of the present becomes. | 0 | train_4581 | Of the following, which one most closely conforms to the principle that the passage illustrates? |
[
"All great writers had to be taught to become better writers.",
"Some bad writers can never become great writers.",
"All bad writers can become better writers.",
"Some great writers can be taught to be even better writers."
] | A few people who are bad writers simply cannot improve their writing, whether or not they receive instruction. Still, most bad writers can at least be taught to improve their writing enough so that they are no longer bad writers. However, no one can become a great writer simply by being taught how to be a better writer, since great writers must have not just skill, but also talent. | 1 | train_4582 | Which one of the following can be properly inferred from the passage above? |
[
"Werdix, Inc. , has offered Arno a choice between a job in sales and a job in research. Arno would like to work at Werdix but he would never take a job in sales when another job is available, so if he accepts one of these jobs, it will be the one in research.",
"Samuel wants to take three friends to the beach. His mother owns both a sedan and a convertible. The convertible holds four people so, although the sedan has a more powerful engine, if Samuel borrows a vehicle from his mother, he will borrow the convertible.",
"Rose can either take a two-week vacation in July or wait until October and take a three-week vacation. The trail she had planned to hike requires three weeks to complete but is closed by October, so if Rose takes a vacation, it will not be the one she had planned.",
"If Teresa does not fire her assistant, her staff will rebel and her department's efficiency will decline. Losing her assistant would also reduce its efficiency, so, if no alternative solution can be found, Teresa's department will become less efficient."
] | Carl' s Coffee Emporium stocks only two decaffeinated coffees: French Roast and Mocha Java. Yusef only serves decaffeinated coffee, and the coffee he served after dinner last night was far too smooth and mellow to have been French Roast. So, if Yusef still gets all his coffee from Carl' s, what he served last night was Mocha Java. | 0 | train_4583 | The argument above is most similar in its logical structure to which one of the following? |
[
"presumes, without sufficient warrant, that one event will lead to a particular causal sequence of events",
"dismisses a claim because of its source rather than because of its content",
"fails to make a needed distinction between deserved exceptions and undeserved ones",
"contains premises that contradict one another"
] | City council member: The Senior Guild has asked for a temporary exception to the ordinance prohibiting automobiles in municipal parks. Their case does appear to deserve the exception. However, if we grant this exception, we will find ourselves granting many other exceptions to this ordinance, some of which will be undeserved. Before long, we will be granting exceptions to all manner of other city ordinances. If we are to prevent anarchy in our city, we must deny the Senior Guild' s request. | 0 | train_4584 | The city council member's argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it |
[
"\"good\" does not apply to any of the same things that \"pleasure\" does",
"\"good\" and \"evil\" do not bear the same relationship to one another that \"pleasure\" and \"pain\" do to one another",
"\"pleasure\" and \"pain\" possess a property not possessed by any other possible pair of concepts",
"it is merely accidental that \"pleasure\" and \"pain\" are applied in the same way as \"good\" and \"evil\" are applied"
] | Some thinkers hold that whatever brings pleasure to people is good, and vice versa, and that whatever brings pain is evil, and vice versa. This, however, is obviously untenable. The concepts of good and evil are contradictory, whereas those of pleasure and pain are not. Clearly it is possible to be in a state of pleasure and pain at once. | 1 | train_4585 | The argument challenges a claim that two pairs of concepts are equivalent by claiming that |
[
"does not show that the benefits that would follow from Professor Clemens's recommendation would be offset by any disadvantages",
"confuses the notion of saving lives with the expense associated with the remedy",
"is not supported by any evidence that seatbelts do, in fact, save more lives",
"does not offer any additional way of lessening the risk associated with traffic accidents"
] | Professor Clemens: Many people die in traffic accidents each year. Since airbags can prevent deaths in traffic accidents, motor vehicles should be equipped with airbags. Professor Sanford: Your recommendation is useless. It is true that airbags may save some lives in traffic accidents, but seatbelts can prevent far more deaths each year than can airbags. | 0 | train_4586 | Professor Sanford's response fails to establish that Professor Clemens's recommendation should not be implemented because her response |
[
"the type of equipment used in \"smart highway\" systems would vary from one city to another",
"on \"smart highways\" there would not be the breakdowns of vehicles that currently cause traffic congestion",
"traffic flow in and around cities is not now so congested that significant improvement is impossible",
"older vehicles could not be fitted with equipment to receive signals sent by a \"smart highway\" system"
] | Eva: A "smart highway" system should be installed, one that would monitor areawide traffic patterns and communicate with computers in vehicles or with programmable highway signs to give drivers information about traffic congestion and alternate routes. Such a system, we can infer, would result in improved traffic flow in and around cities that would do more than improve drivers' tempers; it would decrease the considerable loss of money and productivity that now results from traffic congestion. Louis: There are already traffic reports on the radio. Why would a "smart highway" system be any better? . | 2 | train_4587 | Eva's argument depends on the assumption that |
[
"Polling data shows that most voters cannot identify Peterson's positions on campaign issues.",
"Polling data shows that Peterson's present popularity will probably diminish over time.",
"Peterson's opponents are discussing some of the same issues as Peterson is discussing.",
"Polling data shows that some voters consider Peterson competent and trustworthy."
] | Tommy: Many people claim that the voting public is unable to evaluate complex campaign issues. The radio advertisements for Peterson in the national campaign, however, discuss complex campaign issues, and Peterson is currently more popular than the other candidates. Jamie: Yes, Peterson is the most popular. However, you are incorrect in claiming that this is a result of Peterson' s discussion of complex campaign issues. Peterson simply strikes the voters as the most competent and trustworthy candidate. | 0 | train_4588 | Which one of the following, if true, most supports Jamie's counter to Tommy? |
[
"At least some veteran employees do not consider work environment an important factor in choosing a job.",
"At least some people who consider work environment an important factor in choosing a job consider vacation policy an important factor as well.",
"No one for whom salary is an important factor in choosing a job also considers stress level an important factor.",
"All people who consider work environment an important factor in choosing a job also consider salary an important factor."
] | Human resources director: While only some recent university graduates consider work environment an important factor in choosing a job, they all consider salary an important factor. Further, whereas the only workers who consider stress level an important factor in choosing a job are a few veteran employees, every recent university graduate considers vacation policy an important factor. | 1 | train_4589 | If all of the statements of the human resources director are true, then which one of the following must be true? |
[
"failing to exclude the possibility that what appears to be the result of a given market condition may in fact be the cause of that condition",
"mistaking a condition required if a certain result is to obtain for a condition that by itself is sufficient to guarantee that result",
"taking evidence that a claim is believed to be true to constitute evidence that the claim is in fact true",
"treating the failure to establish that a certain claim is false as equivalent to a demonstration that that claim is true"
] | Harrold Foods is attempting to dominate the softdrink market by promoting "Hero, " its most popular carbonated drink product, with a costly new advertising campaign. But survey results show that, in the opinion of 72 percent of all consumers, "Hero" already dominates the market. Since any product with more than 50 percent of the sales in a market is, by definition, dominant in that market, Harrold Foods dominates the market now and need only maintain its current market share in order to continue to do so. | 2 | train_4590 | The argument commits which one of the following errors in reasoning? |
[
"Governments should try to prevent the advertisement of cigarettes by means of financial disincentives rather than by legal prohibition.",
"The advertisement of fattening foods, unlike that of cigarettes, should not be prevented, because fattening foods, unlike cigarettes, are not addictive.",
"Any advertisement that encourages people to engage in an unhealthy practice should be made illegal, even though the legality of some such advertisements is currently uncontroversial.",
"Governments should place restrictions on cigarette advertisements so as to keep them from encouraging people to engage in unhealthy practices, but should not try to prevent such advertisements."
] | Kendrick: Governments that try to prevent cigarettes from being advertised are justified in doing so, since such advertisements encourage people to engage in an unhealthy practice. But cigarette advertisements should remain legal since advertisements for fatty foods are legal, even though those advertisements also encourage people to engage in unhealthy practices. | 0 | train_4591 | Which one of the following, if true, most helps to resolve the apparent conflict between Kendrick's statements? |
[
"faster and more accurate order processing would be financially beneficial to their business",
"electronic order processing is faster and more accurate than is manual order processing",
"their business has an obligation to be as profitable as possible",
"switching to electronic order processing would be financially beneficial to their business"
] | Hazel: Faster and more accurate order processing would help our business. To increase profits, we should process orders electronically rather than manually, because customers' orders will then go directly to all relevant parties. Max: We would lose money if we started processing orders electronically. Most people prefer to interact with human beings when placing orders. If we switch to electronic order processing, our business will appear cold and inhuman, and we will attract fewer customers. | 3 | train_4592 | Hazel and Max disagree over whether |
[
"questioning the historian's motivation for determining whether a standard of behavior has been raised or lowered",
"arguing that applying the historian's principle would require a knowledge of the past that is necessarily inaccessible to current scholarship",
"showing that the principle the historian invokes, when applied to Alexander, does not justify the assertion that he was heroic",
"claiming that one of the historian's criteria for judging Alexander is inconsistent with the principle that the historian has advanced"
] | Historian: Alexander the Great should not be judged by appeal to current notions of justice. Alexander, an ancient figure of heroic stature, should be judged by the standards of his own culture. That is, did he live up to his culture' s ideals of leadership? Did Alexander elevate the contemporary standards of justice? Was he, in his day, judged to be a just and wise ruler? Student: But you cannot tell whether or not Alexander raised the contemporary standards of justice without invoking standards other than those of his own culture. | 3 | train_4593 | Which one of the following argumentative strategies does the student use in responding to the historian? |
[
"If one breed of dog is more closely related to wolves than to another breed of dog, then the former breed of dog has more recent undomesticated wolf ancestors than the latter breed has.",
"Any breed of dog descended from wolves that were domesticated is more closely related genetically to at least some other breeds of dog than to wolves.",
"Any two breeds of dog that are more closely related to each other than to wolves are both descended from wolves that were domesticated long ago.",
"If one breed of dog is more closely related to wolves than another breed of dog is, then the former breed of dog is more closely related to wolves than to the latter breed of dog."
] | Biologist: Researchers believe that dogs are the descendants of domesticated wolves that were bred to be better companions for humans. It has recently been found that some breeds of dog are much more closely related genetically to wolves than to most other breeds of dog. This shows that some dogs are descended from wolves that were domesticated much more recently than others. | 0 | train_4594 | Which one of the following principles underlies the biologist's argument? |
[
"putting disagreements cited by S in perspective by emphasizing similarities",
"reasoning in a circle by accepting evidence only if it agrees with a desired conclusion",
"accepting S's conclusion while disputing the reasons offered for it",
"relying on authorities whose views conflict with the views of the authorities cited by S"
] | S: It would be premature to act to halt the threatened "global warming trend, " since that alleged trend might not be real. After all, scientists disagree about it, some predicting over twice as much warming as others, so clearly their predictions cannot be based on firm evidence. W: Most scientists consider discussions of accepted ideas boring, and prefer to argue about what is not known. According to the International Science Council, there is a consensus among reputable investigators that average global warming in the next century will be from 1. 5 degree to 4. 5 degree C. | 0 | train_4595 | W's rejoinder proceeds by |
[
"Since parapsychology raises clearly statable questions, they can be tested in controlled experiments.",
"Any field of study that employs scientific methods is a genuine scientific enterprise.",
"Any enterprise that does not use controlled experiments and statistical tests is not genuine science.",
"If a field of study can conclusively answer the questions it raises, then it is a genuine science."
] | Although parapsychology is often considered a pseudoscience, it is in fact a genuine scientific enterprise, for it uses scientific methods such as controlled experiments and statistical tests of clearly stated hypotheses to examine the questions it raises. | 1 | train_4596 | The conclusion above is properly drawn if which of the following is assumed? |
[
"Most writers whose readers' enjoyment does not depend on attaining a precise understanding of the writers' words are poets.",
"Readers who have a precise understanding of what a writer has written derive their enjoyment from that understanding.",
"No writer who ever uses words ambiguously has any reader whose enjoyment depends on attaining a precise understanding of what the writer means.",
"Writers whose purpose is personal expression are unconcerned with whether anyone enjoys reading their works."
] | Any writer whose purpose is personal expression sometimes uses words ambiguously. Every poet' s purpose is personal expression. Thus no poetry reader' s enjoyment depends on attaining a precise understanding of what the poet means. | 2 | train_4597 | The conclusion can be properly inferred if which one of the following is assumed? |
[
"People in the country where the outbreak occurred often consume foods produced from animals that eat antibiotics-laden livestock feed.",
"Physicians in the country where the outbreak occurred have become hesitant to prescribe antibiotics since they are frequently in short supply.",
"Drug-resistant strains of salmonella have not been found in countries in which antibiotics are not generally available.",
"Use of antibiotics in two countries that neighbor the country where the outbreak occurred has risen over the past decade."
] | Microbiologist: A lethal strain of salmonella recently showed up in a European country, causing an outbreak of illness that killed two people and infected twenty-seven others. Investigators blame the severity of the outbreak on the overuse of antibiotics, since the salmonella bacteria tested were shown to be drug-resistant But this is unlikely because patients in the country where the outbreak occurred cannot obtain antibiotics to treat illness without a prescription, and the country' s doctors prescribe antibiotics less readily than do doctors in any other European country. | 0 | train_4598 | Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the microbiologist's reasoning? |
[
"A proposed study of the effects of chemical fertilizers on crops, for the purpose of developing more-resistant and higher-yielding breeds, should not receive government funding.",
"Knowledge gained through basic scientific research need not be expected to lead to new and useful technologies in order for the research to merit government funding.",
"The government should help fund pure theoretical research because such research might have unforeseen practical applications in fields such as agriculture and medicine.",
"Although some research projects in theoretical science yield practical benefits, most do not, and so no research projects in theoretical science should be funded by the government."
] | Cynthia: Corporations amply fund research that generates marketable new technologies. But the fundamental goal of science is to achieve a comprehensive knowledge of the workings of the universe. The government should help fund those basic scientific research projects that seek to further our theoretical knowledge of nature. Luis: The basic goal of government support of scientific research is to generate technological advances that will benefit society as a whole. So only research that is expected to yield practical applications in fields such as agriculture and medicine ought to be funded. | 1 | train_4599 | Cynthia's and Luis's statements provide the most support for the contention that they would disagree with each other about the truth of which one of the following statements? |