Deck 1: Logical Reasoning

Question 1

Melody applied to be an education policy consultant in the mayor's office. The mayor has instituted a requirement that anyone employed by her office must have a bachelor's degree and two years of relevant work experience, and must pass a drug test. The mayor's hiring manager rejected Melody's application because she only had one year of relevant work experience and so did not qualify to become an employee.
The hiring manager's conclusion is logical if which of the following is assumed?

A)If Melody had two years of experience, she would have been hired by the mayor's office.
B)A consultant is an employee of the mayor's office.
C)The mayor agreed with the hiring manager's decision.
D)The position of education policy consultant requires a graduate degree in addition to the other requirements.
E)Melody's work experience did not adequately prepare her for the position.

Answer 1

A consultant is an employee of the mayor's office.

Question 2

This September, as a part of an initiative to protect the environment, the state of West Dakota banned citizens from using wood fireplaces unless the temperature falls below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. In the three months following the new regulations, the level of air pollution increased in West Dakota.
Each of the following, if true, would contribute to an explanation of the increase in air pollution EXCEPT:

A)West Dakota experienced unseasonably cold weather following the regulation, averaging 10 degrees Fahrenheit each day.
B)A province of West Dakota faced a raging wildfire for more than three weeks in October.
C)Many citizens turned to using a wood stove to heat their homes, but wood stove emissions are higher than those of wood fireplaces.
D)West Dakota is home to an anti-government militia that protested the ban by openly violating the regulation and burning firewood every day.
E)The price of firewood is fixed in the state.

Answer 2

The price of firewood is fixed in the state.

Question 3

Announcer: "The Wilson vacuum is the best vacuum of any on the market today. It is quiet, light to carry, and works on hardwood floors, tile, or carpet. We asked 100 people to try the Wilson in our showroom and 99 of them told us the floors and carpets looked cleaner than their own. There is no better value on the market today for consumers wanting a clean home, and you will be 100% satisfied with your new Wilson."
The announcer's reasoning is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it fails to consider whether:

A)The consumers tested were aware of the price of the vacuum.
B)The Wilson vacuum costs more than most other vacuums.
C)The consumers tested were able to compare it to another vacuum.
D)Any of the consumers had the opportunity to ask questions about the vacuum.
E)The consumers knew that they were using a Wilson vacuum.

Answer 3

The consumers tested were able to compare it to another vacuum.

Question 4

Both Studio X and Studio Y produced movies about aliens fighting famous superheroes. Studio Y's movie, Aliens vs. Heroman, came out on January 1st and Studio X's film, Martians and Warriors, premiered on March 1st. Yet despite the similarity in the titles and the subjects, it is unlikely that Studio X copied their ideas from Studio Y because both aliens and superheroes are common subjects for movies and many superhero and alien movies make a lot of money at the box office.
Which one of the following most accurately expresses the conclusion expressed above?

A)Studio X and Studio Y collaborate on their ideas for movies.
B)Both Studio X and Studio Y like to make movies based on popular characters.
C)Studio X's film premiered before Studio Y's film.
D)Despite the similarity of the films, Studio X and Studio Y both made blockbuster movies.
E)The films' similarity is most likely due to the fact that both aliens and superheroes are popular movie subjects that are lucrative to produce.

Question 5

Most drivers drive fewer than 30,000 miles per year. Some drivers also purchase car insurance or pay for oil changes every 5,000 miles. A few drivers have a car accident each year. If a driver drives less than 30,000 miles per year, they receive a discount on their car insurance. All drivers must be licensed by one or more states.
If the preceding passage is true, then which of the following MUST be true?

A)Each person who purchases car insurance also pays for an oil change every 5,000 miles.
B)Most drivers purchase car insurance.
C)A few drivers receive a discount on car insurance every year.
D)Some drivers who pay for oil changes every 5,000 miles also drive less than 30,000 miles.
E)Some drivers are licensed by one or more states, drive less than 30,000 miles per year, and purchase car insurance.

Question 6

Parent: "Students these days do not study nearly as hard as they did when I was young. When I was 15, I spent five hours a day just completing my homework. Now all the kids can finish it in three hours or less. This generation is lazier than my generation."
Student: "It's true that we spend less time on homework. But we study more subjects in school and are actually required to learn more. We're not lazy, but we spend less time on homework because we have more technology, like graphing calculators and the Internet to make our work faster."
In responding to the parent, the student does which of the following?

A)Uses an ad hominem attack to undermine the parent's argument.
B)Agrees with the conclusion of the parent, but not the reasoning.
C)Provides an alternative explanation for the phenomenon the parent is describing.
D)Refutes the broad generalizations made by the parent by giving a specific example.
E)Compares the phenomenon to an event that is better understood.

Question 7

Two scientists designed a study to investigate the impact of a recent sewage spill in a local river. They compared species diversity in the affected river to species diversity in a nearby river not affected by the spill, and found that the species diversity in the two rivers was roughly the same. The researchers concluded that the sewage spill had little to no effect on the health of the affected river.
Each of the following, if true, would undermine the researchers' conclusion EXCEPT:

A)Prior to the sewage spill, a study had documented greater species diversity in the affected river than was found in this study.
B)The control river experienced a similar sewage spill two years ago.
C)The full damage to an eco-system after a sewage spill can take years, if not decades, to manifest.
D)A sewage spill tends to affect all species equally.
E)The two rivers were remarkably similar in all features and were located in the same geographical area.

Question 8

Nutritionist: "The vitamin content in organic foods and non-organic foods is the same. Therefore, it is a waste of money to pay for organic food products. Organic products are usually more expensive, and so a consumer will pay more for the same nutritional content."
The nutritionist is making which of the following assumptions?

A)There are no other nutritional benefits to organic food besides vitamin content.
B)Organic products are always more expensive than their non-organic counterparts.
C)All consumers have a choice of organic and non-organic products.
D)All consumers are motivated by price more than any other factor when purchasing food.
E)Some producers of organic products are guilty of false advertising.

Question 9

Museum Director: "The City Council's vote to close the Natural History Museum on January 1st was foolish and will harm the city. Our museum is the premier natural history museum in the country; every year it attracts tourists and researchers, bringing their spending power into the city. It is an excellent place for our city's children to learn about the world around them. And finally, the museum's operating budget is completely paid for by private donations and admission tickets."
Which of the following is the main point of the Museum Director's argument?

A)The museum is the premier natural history museum in the country.
B)The museum does not cost any money to the city.
C)The museum is one of the town's main tourist attractions.
D)Closing the museum was not a wise decision.
E)The museum helps the city to earn money and balance its budget.

Question 10

Educator: "Children will not excel at learning other languages unless they are exposed to those languages at a very young age. Grace had a babysitter who spoke Spanish to her as a young child, so she will grow up to be fluent in Spanish."
Which of the following passages most closely parallels the flawed reasoning exhibited above?

A)Flowers cannot grow well unless they are watered at least three times a week. Grace's flowers did not grow well, so she must have forgotten to water them.
B)Flowers cannot grow well unless they are watered at least three times a week. Grace watered her flowers four times a week, so her flowers will grow well.
C)Flowers grow best when they are watered three or more times per week. Grace watered her flowers once per week, so her flowers will not grow well.
D)Flowers grow best when they are watered three or more times per week. Grace's flowers grow well, so she must water them at least three times per week.
E)Flowers will not grow unless they are watered at least three times each week. Grace always takes great care of her flowers, so they will grow well.

Question 11

Some scientists believe that all mammal species have already been discovered and named. Recently, however, a biologist in Southeast Asia published a photograph of what appears to be a new species of cat. Claiming that the cat is in fact a new species is premature though, because _____________________.
Which one of the following, if true, most logically completes the sentence?

A)Biologists cannot determine the existence of a new species without examining the animal itself, not just a photograph.
B)It was not previously known that large cats still lived in that area of Southeast Asia.
C)Other biologists still assert that all mammal species have already been discovered.
D)Prior research initiatives in Southeast Asia did not document the existence of this new species.
E)Several biologists observed the photograph and stated that they believe it is in fact a new species.

Question 12

Librarian: "Basing restrictions on loaning books to library patrons on the books' content is absurd. The library is a place of learning and free access to information. If we place restrictions on that access, no matter how well intentioned, the result is to stifle education."
Concerned parent: "But many parents agree that reading books containing vulgarities is offensive and we do not want our children exposed to such language."
The concerned parent's rebuttal is flawed because it:

A)Attacks the librarian's character and not her argument.
B)Uses hyperbolic and inflammatory language in order to distract from the issue at hand.
C)Makes a generalization from one anecdotal situation.
D)Uses reasoning that does not respond to the librarian's main point.
E)Uses an ad hominem attack instead of responding to the argument.

Question 13

New Homes Inc. just completed construction of a new, 150-unit apartment building located in a suburb of a major city. Just after construction, one of the city's main employers went bankrupt, damaging the entire city's economy and putting many residents out of work. Despite this, all 150 units have now been rented and New Homes is making a profit on the building.
Which of the following, if true, would resolve this apparent paradox?

A)The building is located in a convenient location, near a shopping mall, movie theater, and park.
B)The building's suburb is an area with a low cost of living, and during the recession many residents sought to move into such areas.
C)Both before and during the recession, the housing supply in the area stayed consistent.
D)Public transportation links the new building with that of the now bankrupt business.
E)New Homes furnished the units with very desirable features, such as heated floors and walk-in closets.

Question 14

In the year 2000, 50% of people paid their bills by mail, and bills accounted for 25% of the overall mail volume. By 2010, 75% of people were using the Internet to pay all of their bills. However, bills remained 25% of mail volume overall.
Which of the following, if true, would help resolve the apparent paradox in the passage above EXCEPT?

A)The overall amount of mail declined between 2000 and 2010.
B)In 2005, the U.S. Postal Service changed the way it counted pieces of mail and stopped counting packages as part of the mail.
C)In the 2000s, reliance upon mail alternatives, such as package delivery services, increased.
D)Many businesses stopped mailing coupons and fliers through the mail, and instead put more of their advertising budget into online ads.
E)The US population increased between 2000 and 2010.

Question 15

Keisha: "The wetlands located on the south side of the football field need to be preserved at any cost. They are an important habitat for many species of birds, and if the wetlands are lost, the environmental impacts will be enormous. Plus, many residents appreciate the peaceful walking trails through the wetlands."
Bill: "But our town is facing an economic recession. We do not have enough affordable housing, and many areas are becoming crowded. We do not have the economic resources to pay for any maintenance costs for the wetlands, and they could also be turned into an affordable housing unit, which is desperately needed."
Keisha's statement most closely agrees with which of the following principles?

A)The environment should be preserved only when it is economically feasible to do so.
B)Even if economically costly, environmental protection is important for wildlife as well as for people.
C)While people do not benefit from environmental protection, it is important to preserve natural spaces for animals.
D)Environmental protection cannot be a priority in economically trying times.
E)If environmental concerns need to be weighed against economic concerns, economic concerns should prevail.

Question 16

Keisha: "The wetlands located on the south side of the football field need to be preserved at any cost. They are an important habitat for many species of birds, and if the wetlands are lost, the environmental impacts will be enormous. Plus, many residents appreciate the peaceful walking trails through the wetlands."
Bill: "But our town is facing an economic recession. We do not have enough affordable housing, and many areas are becoming crowded. We do not have the economic resources to pay for any maintenance costs for the wetlands, and they could also be turned into an affordable housing unit, which is desperately needed."
Which of the following is the main point at issue between Keisha and Bill?

A)Whether or not the town is in an economic recession.
B)Whether or not a walking path in the wetlands is appreciated in the community.
C)Whether or not building affordable housing is a priority.
D)Whether or not maintaining the wetlands should remain a priority, when the town has many other concerns.
E)Whether or not the wetlands are an important habitat for birds.

Question 17

At Southeastern College, students in the School of Engineering pay tuition that is 50% higher than that of other students. The administration believes the cost is justified, as the materials and classrooms necessary for the engineering program cost more than that of other programs. Historically, 25% of students at Southeastern have been enrolled in the School of Engineering. This year, however, only 15% of students were engineering students.
Which of the following can be inferred from the above passage?

A)If not for the high prices paid by engineering students, the school could not afford the engineering program.
B)The higher prices in the engineering program have resulted in fewer students enrolling.
C)If tuition prices remained the same, Southeastern College is taking in less tuition revenue this year than last year.
D)The administration is justified in having a higher cost for the engineering program due to the higher material costs.
E)Professors in the Engineering school enjoy higher salaries than their peers in other departments.

Question 18

In recent years, the deer population in West Dakota has increased more than 200%. The deer are beginning to become a nuisance, and car accidents involving motorists hitting deer have increased more than 100%. Fearing for motorists' safety, the state increased the hunting season for deer, allowing residents with a hunting permit to hunt deer for four months instead of three. Following the prolonged hunting season, the number of car accidents involving deer dropped by 75%, prompting state officials to declare that the deer population had been reduced substantially.
Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the conclusion drawn by the state?

A)Historical data exists to show that recording the amount of deer hit by cars can give a reliable figure for how many deer exist in total in the state.
B)Hunting is a popular activity in the state, and every year thousands of residents obtain deer hunting licenses.
C)The longer hunting season also justified a higher priced hunting license, resulting in increased revenue for the state.
D)Deer have few known predators in the state, allowing their population to grow quickly.
E)Hitting a deer with a car can result in serious injury or death to the driver or passengers in a car, justifying the state's response.

Question 19

Although it is now known that using a mobile phone on an aircraft is safe, people should still be prevented from using one. Sitting next to someone talking on a phone for hours is annoying, and mobility is so limited on a plane that many passengers will be forced to listen to long conversations that they cannot avoid.
Which one of the following principles, if established, would justify the reasoning in the preceding passage?

A)If an activity is possible in a situation, then it should be allowed in that situation.
B)In certain situations, people should be banned from engaging in otherwise acceptable activity if the consequences for that activity are sufficiently bothersome to others.
C)All activity that is a potential nuisance should be banned.
D)People who regularly engage in a bothersome activity should be forced to stop that activity.
E)In certain situations, people must accept that while an activity is bothersome or a nuisance, it does not stop that person from having the right to behave as he pleases, so long as the behavior is not a danger.

Question 20

Many skin cancer patients were found to have used a certain kind of sun protection cream. A lab researcher decided to experiment by using the cream, and after six months, also developed skin cancer. The researcher concluded that the cream caused skin cancer.
Which of the following, if true, most supports the conclusion reached by the researcher?

A)The researcher did not develop any other illnesses after using the cream.
B)The researcher has a good reputation within his field.
C)There is no evidence that the cream results in cancer for laboratory animals.
D)Many sufferers of skin cancer also suffer from other health problems.
E)The researcher also conducted a study of 1,000 people without skin cancer, and found that none of them had ever used the cream.

Question 21

In a survey of 2,000 high school teachers, the majority of the teachers gave lack of lesson planning time as their top complaint. Therefore, despite popular opinion, teachers are not underpaid, as this was not their top complaint.
Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

A)Part of the reason teachers complain of a lack of lesson planning time is that they must complete their lesson planning during their free, unpaid, time.
B)Teachers also complained of a lack of training opportunities.
C)Teachers do not have a high salary, and many jobs requiring a comparable education and skill level pay much more.
D)The teachers in the survey worked in a variety of school districts, some of which pay much more than others.
E)Workers are not likely to complain about their jobs unless they feel their jobs are secure, and many teachers across the country have been laid off recently.

Question 22

In August, the desert city of Rojo saw greater rainfall than in any other August on record. However, by September, city officials became alarmed that the city's water supply was critically low, prompting the city to issue water restrictions for all residents.
Which one of the following, if true, helps explain why the city's water supply was so low even after August's rainfall?

A)Rojo residents have always been careful about their use of water due to their location in the desert.
B)The heavy rains in August prompted residents to use more water than they had in previous years.
C)The city had instituted a more moderate quota on water usage in February.
D)People had less need to water their lawns than is normally the case because of the heavy rains in August
E)August is a popular time for Rojo residents to take a vacation, and the city's population actually decreased temporarily.

Question 23

Law professor: "I am hiring a law student as a research assistant for an article on the intersection between copyright law and patent law. The student must be in the top 10% of the class and have taken an intellectual property law course or a patent law course. The student must also have a bachelor's degree in a science field, such as chemistry or biology, or five years of work experience in a science related field."
Which of the following applicants meets the requirement for the position?

A)Max graduated with a bachelor's degree in chemistry from an Ivy League university and was the top student in his intellectual property law class.
B)Monica holds a Bachelor of Science in biology and before law school she worked as a researcher for an AIDS foundation for ten years.
C)Laura is in the top 5% of the class and has a Bachelor of Arts in history. She has taken patent law.
D)Eduardo is ranked #19 in a class of 200 but received the lowest grade for his patent law class. He also completed a BS in environmental science but never worked in the field.
E)Tania was #1 in both intellectual property law and patent law last year, and finished a Bachelor's in neuroscience summa cum laude.

Question 24

The average person today spends approximately ten hours a week watching TV, and the average household has three televisions. Thirty years ago, the average person spent twenty hours a week watching TV, but the average house only had one television.
Each of the following, if true, helps resolve the apparent discrepancy above EXCEPT:

A)Televisions are difficult to dispose of or recycle, so many people keep televisions even if they are not in use.
B)There were fewer TV channels thirty years ago, and most Americans only watched mainstream programming, thus needing fewer television sets.
C)The statistics for television watching today do not include television programs watched online or on DVDs.
D)Many Americans today have larger houses with guest rooms with television sets that are rarely, if ever, used.
E)The quality of television programming has decreased over the past thirty years, making it less popular than movies or video games.

Question 25

Pundit: "Recent cuts to the food stamp program are regrettable but will not have a large effect. For the past two years, food stamp benefits have been cut by 5% each year. This year's 5% cut is the same as in previous years, giving us no reason to believe that the effects will be any more severe. Food stamp beneficiaries have adjusted to the previous cuts and learned to shop more efficiently. They will successfully do the same this year."
The pundit's reasoning is most vulnerable to criticism on which of the following grounds?

A)The pundit does not take into account that the proposed cut's dollar amount is lower than that of previous years.
B)The pundit relies without justification on the probability that the economy will improve.
C)The pundit does not raise the issue of whether the food stamp program should exist at all.
D)The pundit does not answer why the food stamp program is repeatedly targeted for cuts.
E)The pundit fails to consider the cumulative effect of the cuts and recognize that the effects for a third year of cuts could be more severe than that of previous years.

Question 26

Doctoral programs have low graduation rates, and by some estimates, as many as 50% of entrants fail to complete their doctorates. This is one of the reasons why doctoral programs need to shorten their time to completion. In the humanities, a Ph.D. can take nine or ten years to complete, meaning that students spend a long time earning little money. It is next to impossible for students to focus on their field for ten years on meager salaries when they have financial and familial obligations that can distract them from their ultimate goal. Doctoral programs are only valuable if they can produce future successful academics, and they are currently failing to meet this goal.
The claim that doctoral programs need to shorten their time to completion fulfills which of the following roles of the argument?

A)It is what the argument tries to establish.
B)It provides essential support for the main point.
C)It provides evidence that Ph.D. programs are not valuable.
D)It is background information not relevant to the main point of the passage.
E)It is an example of how humanities Ph.D. programs are failing their students.

Question 27

Letter writer: "In a recent op-ed piece, your newspaper asserted that the United States government is justified in requiring that academic researchers only receive public funding if they are not conducting research whose results may be harmful to the United States. Many researchers have proposed researching the effects of drone strikes on civilian populations in the Middle East, but have been denied any kind of federal funding to do so. Your newspaper justified this by stating that the United States needs to restrict research in order to 'ensure fundamental freedoms.' But isn't one of those fundamental freedoms the freedom to conduct research without fear of the government? I don't understand how your newspaper can put forth this opinion."
The letter writer criticizes the op-ed by:

A)Disputing the facts upon which the op-ed was based.
B)Describing an exception to the general rule described in the op-ed.
C)Pointing out an inconsistency in the op-ed.
D)Refuting an assumption upon which the op-ed was based.
E)Using an ad hominem attack on the author.

Question 28

A student organization planned to partially fund an upcoming trip by having a bake sale on campus everyday. The organization was unable to go on the trip because the bake sale revenues were lower than expected.
If the statements above are true, which one of the following must also be true?

A)The organization did not charge enough for the products in the bake sale.
B)The trip's cost was greater than the revenue raised from funding sources other than the bake sale.
C)The organization solely relied on the bake sale to fund the trip.
D)The organization exhibited poor planning in choosing the time, place, or products for the bake sale.
E)Students on campus were unwilling to buy baked goods and support the organization.

Question 29

Bus passenger: "Cutting off bus routes to the most distant suburbs is short sighted and hurts our citizens. Those routes may not have been the most profitable, but they were vital for residents in those suburbs to get to work and to school. Now, many citizens have no affordable way to commute."
City councilman: "Cutting off the bus routes was the only way to protect our citizens. The unprofitable bus routes were causing the bus fares to increase at exorbitant rates, making it difficult for all citizens to afford the bus. Cutting off the unprofitable routes allows most citizens to still utilize the bus services at a reasonable price. Keeping the unprofitable routes would have meant raising the cost to where residents in the distant suburbs could not afford the bus anyway."
The city councilman's claim disputes which aspect of the bus passenger's argument?

A)Whether the bus routes to distant suburbs were profitable.
B)Whether citizens in the distant suburbs have other ways to commute.
C)Whether cutting off the bus routes was good for residents in distant suburbs.
D)Whether cutting off the bus routes hurts citizens.
E)Whether the unprofitable bus routes were difficult to maintain.

Question 30

Bus passenger: "Cutting off bus routes to the most distant suburbs is short sighted and hurts our citizens. Those routes may not have been the most profitable, but they were vital for residents in those suburbs to get to work and to school. Now, many citizens have no affordable way to commute."
City councilman: "Cutting off the bus routes was the only way to protect our citizens. The unprofitable bus routes were causing the bus fares to increase at exorbitant rates, making it difficult for all citizens to afford the bus. Cutting off the unprofitable routes allows most citizens to still utilize the bus services at a reasonable price. Keeping the unprofitable routes would have meant raising the cost to where residents in the distant suburbs could not afford the bus anyway."
Pointing out that unprofitable bus routes were causing bus fares to increase plays what role in the city councilman's argument?

A)It is the main point of the argument.
B)It is a principle that justifies the councilman's argument.
C)It is evidence in support of the councilman's main point.
D)It is an ad hominem attack against the bus passenger.
E)It responds to a specific question raised by the bus passenger's claim

Question 31

Airline spokeswoman: "We recognize that it is difficult to maintain a quality level of service while also providing low cost tickets. However, in the past five years, although we have had to reduce our number of flight attendants by 25%, the number of passengers making repeat bookings with us has increased by 25%. Clearly, despite staffing cuts, our customer service has remained satisfactory to our customers."
The spokeswoman's argument is based upon which of the following assumptions?

A)Some people will not fly with an airline again if they are dissatisfied with the quality of service.
B)Reducing the number of flight attendants does not affect the quality of service.
C)Customers are more motivated by price than they are by quality service.
D)The increase in repeat bookings will result in increased revenue for the airline.
E)Most passengers are not concerned with the number of flight attendants on board a flight.

Question 32

Music teacher: "Even though this concerto's composer is listed as 'Anonymous,' we know that Mozart himself is the composer. First, it was found in an archive along with many of Mozart's known original works. Second, it uses similar melodies to that of many of Mozart's concertos. These facts make it certain that Mozart did in fact write this concerto, and its discovery is astounding."
The music teacher's reasoning is flawed because it

A)Neglects to mention whether music history experts agree with his assertion.
B)Equates evidence allowing something to be possible with evidence proving that it is certain.
C)Uses a general principle to apply to a specific situation without providing justification.
D)Uses a specific situation to make a general principle without providing justification.
E)Fails to consider that many anonymous compositions were later found to be written by well-known composers before they became famous.

Question 33

Each and every time Joel goes to the grocery store, he buys bananas, apples, and bread. When his wife Katie arrived home from work, she saw bananas, apples, and bread on the kitchen counter and knew that Joel had done the shopping.
Katie's flawed reasoning in the passage is most similar to which of the following statements?

A)Emily always brings a pie to any potluck event she attends. Elena invited Emily to her potluck dinner because she knew that Emily would bring a delicious pie.
B)Emily usually brings a pie to any potluck event she attends. For tomorrow's banquet, Emily will probably bring a pumpkin pie.
C)Emily always brings a pie to any potluck event she attends. When Elena arrived at the potluck dinner, she saw an apple pie on the table and knew that Emily must have attended.
D)Emily always brings a pie to any potluck event she attends. When Elena arrived at the potluck dinner, she saw Emily and knew that they would be having pie for dessert.
E)Emily never brings a salad to a potluck. When Elena invited her to a potluck party, she knew that Emily would be bringing a dessert.

Question 34

In a five-year weight loss study, half of the significantly overweight participants weighed themselves once a week, while the other participants never weighed themselves. All of the participants had the same diet and exercise plan. After five years, the individuals who weighed themselves once a week maintained their weight loss much more often than those who did not.
Which of the following, if true, most helps to explain the study's finding?

A)The group who weighed themselves was more likely to avoid fattening foods.
B)Participants who weighed themselves found it motivational to see their progress, and thus were less likely to cheat on their diet and exercise plans.
C)While weight loss was drastic in the first year, in subsequent years many participants in both groups gained the weight back.
D)Participants weighed themselves much more often in the beginning of the study than at the end.
E)All of the participants lost weight in the study.

Question 35

Oil is necessary for many aspects of modern life, yet it is a limited resource, and we will one day run out. Therefore, unless we find enough untapped oil reserves to continue fueling our modern lifestyle, we will one day have to live at a standard below that which we enjoy today.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

A)Unlike oil, some vital resources are renewable.
B)It is possible to find alternative renewable fuel sources to substitute for oil.
C)It is possible that our modern lifestyle is not desirable and we would be better off with a simpler standard of living.
D)It will be at least a few hundred years before we run out of our oil supply.
E)Oil is not necessary to run every aspect of modern day life.

Question 36

In the 1990s, deaths from cocaine overdosed decreased dramatically. Clearly, fewer people were using cocaine in the 1990s than in previous decades.
Which of the following, if true, would account for the statistic above without supporting the conclusion?

A)Many cocaine users are afraid to seek emergency help, making them more likely to die from drug overdoses than are users of prescription drugs.
B)While deaths from cocaine overdoses decreased, deaths from complications related to heroin usage increased.
C)In 1992, many insurance companies started covering drug treatment counseling and rehabilitation, allowing those with serious addictions to get help for their addictions.
D)In 1992, a more potent version of cocaine became popular, increasing the risk of an overdose.
E)Most cocaine users end up in hospitals due to poor nutrition and other health problems, not overdoses.

Question 37

In the 1990s, deaths from cocaine overdosed decreased dramatically. Clearly, fewer people were using cocaine in the 1990s than in previous decades.
The conclusion in the passage's argument is properly drawn if which of the following is assumed?

A)The number of cocaine overdose deaths reliably estimates the number of cocaine users.
B)Many cocaine users overdose more than once.
C)The potency of cocaine has remained relatively consistent for the past few decades.
D)Drug users overdose from cocaine at similar rates to that of other drugs.
E)Medical personnel can reliably test whether a death is due to an overdose or to other complications related to cocaine usage.

Question 38

It is unreasonable to label some foods as healthy and others as unhealthy. All foods provide calories, which are necessary for human survival. If a food allows a human to survive, then it is by its very nature healthy, and common "healthy" foods are no different than their "unhealthy" counterparts.
The argument proceeds by

A)Explaining why a commonly held perception is true.
B)Explaining why unhealthy foods are actually more healthy than "healthy" foods.
C)Redefining a term in a way that is favorable to the argument.
D)Showing that a necessary condition for applying the term "healthy" is not always satisfied.
E)Showing that because something is true for everything, it must be true for a specific example.

Question 39

After completing both an admissions test and an admissions interview, Rebecca will have fulfilled the requirements to enter medical school. She is not allowed to schedule the admissions interview until she receives her score for her admissions test. As the scores will not be released for another two months, after the deadline for enrollment, Rebecca will not be able to enroll in medical school until next year.
If the statements above are all true, which one of the following must also be true?

A)The scores for the admissions test take exactly two months to score.
B)The admissions test will be discussed during the admissions interview.
C)An admissions test and an admissions interview are the most important qualifications for entrance to medical school.
D)The admissions test is an easier requirement than an admissions interview.
E)Regardless of whether Rebecca receives a good score on her test, she will not be able to enroll in medical school until at least next year.

Question 40

Those convicted of a felony should not have their voting rights suspended. Felons often have difficulty finding jobs and supporting themselves after their convictions, therefore having different concerns than other adults. Those who do not understand the concerns of felons cannot be expected to look out for their interests while voting. The only way to address the concerns felons face is to allow them to vote.
The argument relies on which of the following assumptions?

A)The right to vote is the most important right in a democracy.
B)The right to vote is a right that everyone should enjoy.
C)Felons at one time had the right to vote.
D)Felons should have their interests represented.
E)Non-felons do not have difficulty finding jobs.

Question 41

Those convicted of a felony should not have their voting rights suspended. Felons often have difficulty finding jobs and supporting themselves after their convictions, therefore having different concerns than other adults. Those who do not understand the concerns of felons cannot be expected to look out for their interests while voting. The only way to address the concerns felons face is to allow them to vote.
The statement that felons have different concerns than other adults plays which part in the argument?

A)It is the main point of the argument.
B)It defines a key term in the argument.
C)It creates a distraction from the point at issue.
D)It provides one of the justifications for the argument.
E)It contradicts the main point of the argument.

Question 42

In the Ridgewood Elementary School, teachers earn an average of $40,000, while librarians earn $32,000 per year. However, the average salary for Ridgewood employees is only $25,000.
If the above information is correct, then which of the following must be true?

A)There are more librarians than there are teachers.
B)At least one Ridgewood employee earns less than $25,000.
C)At least one teacher earns less than the average salary of a Ridgewood librarian.
D)At least one librarian earns more than the average Ridgewood teacher.
E)Only half of Ridgewood employees are librarians or teachers.

Question 43

Donna: "Every year, many people die due to carbon monoxide poisoning in their homes. A carbon monoxide detector can detect harmful levels of the gas and alert people before it is too late. Every home should be required to have a carbon monoxide detector because it would save lives."
Tom: "That is ridiculous. We cannot mandate that every person install a carbon monoxide detector. We cannot prevent every tragedy and besides, more people die every year from smoke inhalation than carbon monoxide."
Tom's response to Donna is flawed because it

A)Uses an ad hominem attack instead of attacking the substance of Donna's argument.
B)Attacks only the reasoning behind Donna's argument but not her conclusion.
C)Uses an improper comparison by comparing carbon monoxide detectors to smoke detectors.
D)Disagrees with the premise of the argument, but not the principle behind it.
E)Claims that because the problem Donna proposes to fix is not the largest problem and is not completely fixable, her argument is completely without merit.

Question 44

At the end of each quarter, Merkin's Tire Shop rewards its top salespersons with a $100 gift card to an expensive restaurant. In previous years, at least five salespersons qualified each quarter. In the past year, an average of two salespersons qualified for the $100 gift card. Worried about the effect of declining motivation on his sales staff, Merkin's owner issued a bulletin reminding the sales staff that despite the decline in the number of gift cards distributed, the criterion for issuing the gift cards has never changed, and encouraged them to try to improve their sales.
If the preceding passage is true, which of the following must also be true?

A)The number of salespersons at Merkin's has declined over the last few years.
B)The number of salespersons at Merkin's has increased over the last few years.
C)Some of the best salespersons have left the company.
D)There are external factors, such as an economic recession in the area, negatively affecting Merkin's tire sales.
E)Merkin's expenses from issuing rewards to top salespersons have declined in the past year.

Question 45

At the end of each quarter, Merkin's Tire Shop rewards its top salespersons with a $100 gift card to an expensive restaurant. In previous years, at least five salespersons qualified each quarter. In the past year, an average of two salespersons qualified for the $100 gift card. Worried about the effect of declining motivation on his sales staff, Merkin's owner issued a bulletin reminding the sales staff that despite the decline in the number of gift cards distributed, the criterion for issuing the gift cards has never changed, and encouraged them to try to improve their sales.
If Merkin's total sales of tires have always remained the same, each of the following could explain how that could occur EXCEPT?

A)In prior years a few salespersons were clear standouts, but now most salespersons sell an almost equal amount of tires.
B)Merkin's built a website in the past year, and sales from the website are not attributed to any individual salesperson.
C)Merkin's does not attribute the sale of snow tires to any individual salesperson, and sales of snow tires have increasingly made up a larger percentage of Merkin's business.
D)Fewer salespersons now work at Merkin's than in years prior.
E)More salespersons now work at Merkin's than in years prior.

Question 46

All doctors are very educated people and all educated people are interesting. However, it is true that some very timid people are doctors.
If the statements above are true, each of the following must be true EXCEPT:

A)Some timid people are interesting.
B)Some timid, interesting people are not doctors.
C)Some educated doctors are timid.
D)All people who are not interesting are not doctors.
E)Some interesting people are timid.

Question 47

Dietician: "Recent studies have shown that people can lose weight solely by changing their diet alone, without having to increase their amount of activity. In two recent studies, overweight but otherwise healthy people cut their caloric intake and all participants lost weight without having to change their activity level, showing that weight loss through diet alone is possible."
Critic: "That is not true. While some people may have been successful, the study only covered otherwise healthy people who were likely to succeed. What about other people, who have tried to change their diets without exercising, and failed to lose weight?"
Which of the following is the best evaluation of the critic's argument?

A)The critic misses the point entirely, so resorts to an ad hominem attack on the dietician.
B)The critic shows that the results would have different if the studies had included more people.
C)The point at issue is only to show that something is possible, not to show that it will work in every case.
D)The critic demonstrates that the studies are not relevant for most people.
E)The critic assumes, without justification, that the studies were conducted by fraudulent researchers.

Question 48

Dietician: "Recent studies have shown that people can lose weight solely by changing their diet alone, without having to increase their amount of activity. In two recent studies, overweight but otherwise healthy people cut their caloric intake and all participants lost weight without having to change their activity level, showing that weight loss through diet alone is possible."
Critic: "That is not true. While some people may have been successful, the study only covered otherwise healthy people who were likely to succeed. What about other people, who have tried to change their diets without exercising, and failed to lose weight?"
Which of the following, if true, would most undermine the dietician's argument?

A)Upon further evaluation of the study, participants divulged that they tried to exercise more than normal during the study
B)The studies were conducted with a diverse study group from various ethnic and racial backgrounds.
C)A later study evaluating whether exercise alone can cause weight loss found that changing exercise without diet can also cause weight loss.
D)A later study that included exercise and dieting found that participants lose weight the fastest when they combine diet and exercise.
E)The studies were completed by multiple researchers and peer evaluated.

Question 49

Constance: "Current movies will never be as durable as cinema from the early days of Hollywood. Those classic movies continue to be remade and reinterpreted by subsequent generations, showing just how popular they are."
Ben: "It may be true that current movies won't be remade as often, but current movies play to a wider audience than those of years past, and many original movies continue to be watched and loved long past their release. A movie can be durable in its original form, and does not always have to be remade to show its longevity as a classic."
Ben responds to Constance by:

A)Completely misinterpreting her claim.
B)Suggesting an alternative standard for judging the point at issue.
C)Calling into question the appropriateness of an analogy.
D)Questioning Constance's knowledge of the subject at issue.
E)Undermining her argument by pointing out inaccuracies in the facts upon which she bases her claim.

Question 50

Ilana: "I just read an article in the newspaper which claims that children who listen to rap music are more prone to violence. We should make sure our children are not exposed to rap music with violent lyrics."
Michael: "We will do no such thing. That article only applied to children under the age of 10, and the youngest of our kids is 11. We don't have to prevent them from listening to rap music."
The point at issue between Ilana and Michael is

A)Whether the study included children of all ages.
B)Whether children who listen to rap music are more prone to violence.
C)Whether they should restrict their children's exposure to rap music.
D)Whether the newspaper which published the study is a reliable source of information.
E)Whether the study applies to their own children.

Question 51

Ilana: "I just read an article in the newspaper which claims that children who listen to rap music are more prone to violence. We should make sure our children are not exposed to rap music with violent lyrics."
Michael: "We will do no such thing. That article only applied to children under the age of 10, and the youngest of our kids is 11. We don't have to restrict them from listening to rap music."
Michael's argument against Ilana makes which of the following errors in reasoning?

A)It relies upon the same source as Ilana used in her argument.
B)It confuses undermining an argument in support of a conclusion for undermining the conclusion itself.
C)It does not address the main point of Ilana's argument.
D)It criticizes Ilana's character without criticizing her argument.
E)It fails to distinguish the consequences and causes of a practice.

Question 52

Melanie, an administrative assistant with ABC Pharmaceuticals, is planning to take a long cruise through the Caribbean, using all of her accumulated vacation time. She has worked at ABC for two years, and is entitled to three weeks of vacation at this time. All non-senior management employees at ABC are entitled to two weeks of vacation each year, but can use any unused vacation time from previous years.
If all of the preceding information is true, then which of the following must be true?

A)Melanie is considered senior management.
B)Melanie did not use one week of her vacation time last year.
C)Melanie did not take a vacation last year.
D)ABC Pharmaceuticals regularly grants extra vacation time for their top employees.
E)Next year Melanie will only be allowed to take one week of vacation.

Question 53

Students at Glenmont High School spend nine hours a day at school, five days per week, while students at Ridgewood High School only spend seven hours a day at school, five days per week. On a recent test, students at both high schools had the same scores in math and reading. Therefore, Glenmont High School could reduce the amount of time students spend in class without reducing the quality of instruction in all subjects.
The argument above is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it

A)Equates the value of math scores with reading scores.
B)Compares two things which are not similar enough to warrant comparison.
C)Presumes, without providing justification, that math and reading scores are always constant.
D)Presumes, without providing justification, that what is true for some subjects is true for all.
E)Confuses the quality of instruction with time spent in a classroom.

Question 54

All oil-based paint can stain clothing. All watercolor paint can be cleaned from clothing. This paint is a mix of oil-based and watercolor paints. Therefore, it will stain clothing but not as severely as pure oil-based paint.
Which of the following passages uses flawed reasoning that most closely resembles the above passage?

A)All children who eat nutritious food have a lot of energy. But some children who eat poorly also have a lot of energy. Abigail eats food that is somewhat nutritious. Therefore, Abigail is somewhat energetic.
B)Spinach is a very healthy food. White rice, however, is not very nutritious. If Barbara eats a dish made from spinach and white rice, it will be moderately nutritious.
C)All employees of XYZ Manufacturing are welders. All employees of ABC Construction are contractors. Reggie has brothers employed as both welders and contractors. Thus, Reggie must have family employed by both XYZ and ABC.
D)Roy keeps his shoes polished and in excellent condition. Raymond does not and never polishes his shoes. In this closet, half the shoes are polished and half unpolished. The polished half must be Roy's and the unpolished half Raymond's shoes.
E)All nurses take coursework in biology. All architects take coursework in math. Evette was a nurse but went back to school to become an architect. She must have taken coursework in both biology and in math.

Question 55

Graduation from college is in many ways similar to retirement from a career. Just as graduating college students look back on knowledge gained and friendships made during college, a new retiree ___________________.
Which of the following most accurately completes the passage?

A)Fears what will come next.
B)Reminisces about their time in college.
C)Focuses on what the future will bring.
D)Reflects on how their career could have been different.
E)Reflects on the history of their now ending career.

Question 56

Oxgen Pharmaceuticals recently released a report concluding that Jeloco Pharmaceuticals' products are unsafe and are known to cause birth defects. This report cannot be trusted, however, since Oxgen is Jeloco's rival and they are currently in competition for a large grant for drug research. Oxgen's report is biased, and so it is clear that there is nothing wrong with Jeloco's products and they do not cause birth defects.
The reasoning in the preceding passage is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it

A)Treats evidence showing bias as evidence showing falsehoods.
B)Draws an conclusion from an unrepresentative sample.
C)Fails to take into account the untrustworthy nature of studies regarding birth defects.
D)Presumes, without providing justification, that Oxgen had reason to embellish its claims against Jeloco.
E)Presumes, without providing justification, that two competitors would have reason to criticize the other.

Question 57

Anyone who eats a sweet potato microwaved to an internal temperature of 200°F does not consume the same amount of vitamin A as a person eating a raw sweet potato. However, any other method of heating a sweet potato to the same temperature, such as boiling or baking, does not cause a decrease in consumption of vitamin A. Therefore, it is the microwave, not simply heat, that destroys vitamin A in a sweet potato.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

A)Sweet potatoes taste relatively similar whether they are baked or microwaved.
B)People do not eat the vitamin A-rich skin of a microwaved sweet potato due to its odd texture after heating, but do eat the skin after baking or boiling the potato.
C)It takes much more time to boil or bake a sweet potato than to microwave it.
D)People are more likely to microwave a sweet potato rather than boil or bake them because of the decreased time required, prompting more people to eat them even if they are lower in vitamin A.
E)Vitamin A decreases in all foods the longer it cooks by any method.

Question 58

Miguel: "My mother is worried that I will hurt myself because I always ride my bicycle without a helmet. But I heard that deadly bike accidents are more common with mountain bikes than with road bikes, so I probably will be safe while riding my road bike. Wearing a helmet would not do anything to lessen my risk of an accident."
Which of the following is a flaw in Miguel's argument?

A)He presumes that his mother is a biased source of information.
B)He mistakes evidence for something being likely for evidence of it being certain.
C)He mistakes evidence for one activity being safer than another as evidence of that activity's absolute safety.
D)He mistakes a sufficient condition for one that is necessary.
E)He mistakes the rate of deadly bike accidents with the rate of overall bike accidents.

Question 59

Situation: A person on a limited budget takes his date to an expensive restaurant, even though there are many more reasonable but still enjoyable establishments in the area.
Analysis: Some people are willing to sacrifice necessities in order to impress another.
Which of the following most closely conforms to the above analysis?

A)Mitchell's favorite food is steak and he wanted to celebrate his birthday at his favorite steakhouse. However, he was unemployed this year so he instead bought a steak at the supermarket and cooked it at home.
B)Maria prefers to take the faster express train to work even though the standard train is half the cost.
C)In order to afford a professional haircut, Carrie skipped breakfast and lunch for two weeks to save the money.
D)Marla convinced her boyfriend to buy her a new dress for their anniversary dinner.
E)Shevon always carpools to work because she is concerned about the environmental impact of driving alone.

Question 60

Marcus noticed many young men in his neighborhood dropping out of school, so he saved his money in order to give each neighborhood child who graduated high school a small scholarship to cover the cost of books in college. Seeing Marcus's generosity, many parents in the neighborhood began shopping at his convenience store more often to show their appreciation for his good deeds.
Which of the following propositions is illustrated by the passage?

A)The only way to get kids to stay in school is to offer them financial incentives.
B)Anyone doing a good deed has an ulterior motive.
C)It takes broad community support to get a child to succeed in school.
D)Altruistic actions can have positive but unintended consequences.
E)The cost of college has increased to where most families cannot afford it without help.

Question 61

Fossils of early crocodiles show that early crocodiles must have eaten a mainly vegetarian diet, as they are not found near any fossils of living creatures that would have served as the crocodiles' prey. Instead, they are found near fossils of different kinds of vegetation, many of which no longer exist today. Skeletons of modern crocodiles, on the other hand, are often found near those of other animals, showing that the diet of crocodiles has changed over thousands of years.
The argument assumes that

A)Skeletons of crocodiles' prey are always found directly surrounding a crocodile fossil or skeleton.
B)Fossils or skeletons found near a predatory animal can give an idea of what prey comprised an animal's diet.
C)Crocodiles have existed in their present form for thousands of years.
D)Crocodiles cannot consume plant life and other animals together.
E)Fossils and skeletons are not reliable indicators for interpreting the lives of animals.

Question 62

Fossils of early crocodiles show that early crocodiles must have eaten a mainly vegetarian diet, as they are not found near any fossils of living creatures that would have served as the crocodiles' prey. Instead, they are found near fossils of different kinds of vegetation, many of which no longer exist today. Skeletons of modern crocodiles, on the other hand, are often found near those of other animals, showing that the diet of crocodiles has changed over thousands of years.
Which one of the following, if true, would strengthen the conclusion of the preceding paragraph?

A)Recent research has shown that crocodiles have remained virtually the same size and shape for thousands of years.
B)Skeletons of ancient animals are rare, as most deteriorated or were eaten by scavengers before fossilizing.
C)Scientists cannot reliably estimate the age of a fossil.
D)Modern crocodiles have been shown to eat both plants and animals.
E)In research completed across hundreds of species, paleontologists have proven that animal and plant fossils and skeletons found near predator animals are a reliable indicator of their food source.

Question 63

Some artists also excel at science and become successful inventors. All inventors have an imaginative, creative mind. Anyone with an imaginative, creative mind is more likely to become an artist than those who do not.
Based on the preceding passage, which of the following must be true?

A)All artists have imaginative, creative minds.
B)Most inventors are also artists.
C)At least one person with an imaginative, creative mind must have become an artist.
D)Everyone with an imaginative, creative mind becomes both an inventor and an artist.
E)Everyone with an imaginative, creative mind becomes either an inventor or an artist, but not both.

Question 64

A charter school requires all of its teachers to grade each of their six classes on a curved scale. The top 15% of each class receives an A and the bottom 5% fails the class. This system is not fair. If a student is in an exceptionally gifted class, they could fail or receive a poor grade even if they did good work, while a student in an easier class could receive an A for poor work. Furthermore, grades are always arbitrary and teachers are likely to reward students they like better with higher marks.
Which of the following most accurately expresses the conclusion drawn in the argument?

A)Some schools require their teachers to rank students.
B)A fair ranking system involves a certain proportion of students receiving an A and some students receiving an F.
C)No matter what ranking system is used, teachers are likely to reward their favorite students with high marks.
D)A quota system for each of a teacher's classes is not a fair way to grade students.
E)More students deserve to fail than this system allows.

Question 65

Psychologist: "A study of college students revealed that those students suffering from depression are more likely to eat junk food as opposed to healthier snacks. Another recent study proved that workers who work overnight shifts have higher rates of depression than those who work day or evening shifts. Thus it is very likely that poor eating habits are a cause of depression, as overnight workers also often have a poor diet due to their inability to keep a consistent schedule and easily share meals with others."
The reasoning in the psychologist's argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it

A)Presumes, without providing justification, that university students have a higher rate of depression than do overnight workers.
B)Fails to consider the possibility that poor eating habits are an effect, not a cause, of depression.
C)Fails to give a definition for what constitutes depression.
D)Presumes that all depression is caused by the same thing in all people.
E)Presumes that overnight workers are less healthy than those who work other shifts.

Question 66

Psychologist: "A study of college students revealed that those students suffering from depression are more likely to eat junk food as opposed to healthier snacks. Another recent study proved that workers who work overnight shifts have higher rates of depression than those who work day or evening shifts. Thus it is very likely that poor eating habits are a cause of depression, as overnight workers also often have a poor diet due to their inability to keep a consistent schedule and easily share meals with others."
If added to the original passage, which of the following would most strengthen the psychologist's argument?

A)In another study, depression sufferers who tracked their eating habits found that when they ate more nutritious foods their symptoms of depression decreased.
B)People with depression often suffer from other illnesses as well.
C)Another study showed that students with depression were more likely to have lower grades and lower participation levels in student activities.
D)In another study, overnight workers who exercised at least three times a week had lower rates of depression than those who did not.
E)Depression is often under diagnosed and the rates of depression in the general population is probably much greater than is currently known.

Question 67

In a public library, one of the duties of a librarian is to acquire books library patrons will find enjoyable and important. It goes without saying then that acquiring the most popular works is part of a librarian's job.
Which of the following is an assumption made by the passage above?

A)Library patrons will not be satisfied unless librarians acquire only works of important, groundbreaking literature.
B)Library patrons will find at least some popular works to be enjoyable and important.
C)Library patrons will not be satisfied unless their library carries all current popular works.
D)The work of a librarian is still essential for modern day libraries.
E)There are no books that are both popular and important.

Question 68

Insurance manager: "Our system estimates a 'risk rate' for each car owner based on their driving history. Some may question the ability of a computer system to reliably estimate each driver's risk of an accident. However, the figures provided by the program are remarkably consistent, so we can be sure the program is reliable."
The reasoning in the insurance manager's argument is flawed because

A)Fails to establish whether reliability or consistency is a more important trait for a computer program.
B)Regards reliability as the sole criterion for judging the efficacy of a computer program.
C)Fails to consider that a computer program could produce consistent results without those results being reliable.
D)Fails to consider that a computer program can never substitute for human knowledge.
E)Fails to consider that driving history is not an appropriate metric to use to predict a driver's risk of an accident.

Question 69

Everyone in Masonville is permitted to use the basketball courts each day. However, no children under 12 are allowed to use the courts between noon and 3 PM, the hours of 3 PM to 6 PM are reserved for those over 55, and finally, after 6 PM the courts are reserved for teens aged 12 to 20.
If all of the sentences above are true, which of the following must also be true?

A)The majority of people in Masonville do not have small children.
B)No one in Masonville has a child under 12.
C)The courts are most popular after 6 PM.
D)The courts are in use everyday.
E)A 15 year old can use the courts anytime except for between 3 PM and 6 PM.

Question 70

Whenever Josephine's house is cleaned, it is always cleaned by Happy Maids. She never allows anyone else to clean her house, and she never cleans it herself. Josephine's house was cleaned yesterday, so Happy Maids cleaned Josephine's house yesterday.
The pattern of reasoning exhibited by the argument above is most similar to that exhibited by which of the following?

A)Whenever Charlie washes his car, he takes it to either Superwash or Maxwash. Maxwash was closed this morning, so Charlie must have taken his car to Superwash.
B)Wanda is grumpy whenever she can't eat breakfast, and she can't eat breakfast whenever she has to arrive at work before 8 AM. Therefore, Wanda is only grumpy on days she has to arrive at work before 8 AM.
C)There are no bananas in Rosa's kitchen. Since Rosa always eats at least one banana per day, and she always keeps her bananas on the counter, someone else must have eaten all of Rosa's bananas.
D)Kurt's boots are covered in mud, and they only get muddy when he goes to his cousin's farm. Kurt's boots were muddy this morning, so he must have visited the farm.
E)Alyssa went to either the grocery store or the deli today, but not both. Since she came home with deli meat, it is clear she went to the deli and not the grocery store.

Question 71

A recent study revealed that test scores for students at small, rural schools were lower than that for students in large, urban or suburban schools.
Each of the following, if true, contributes to an explanation of the difference in test scores EXCEPT:

A)Rural schools are small, so teachers are better able to pay attention to the individual needs of students.
B)A large school has multiple administrators, allowing each of them to focus on certain aspects of the school rather than being pulled in many directions.
C)Teachers at large schools make more money than those at small schools, giving the schools a more talented pool of applicants.
D)Teachers at large schools tend to have more teaching assistants and programs in place to help them aid struggling students.
E)Large schools are able to place struggling students in special sections, which allow them to receive extra attention.

Question 72

Some anthropologists believe that ancient humans did not practice monogamy, and point to cave drawings of men surrounded by multiple women as proof of their theory. However, many modern works of art also depict men taking multiple lovers, yet many modern humans do practice monogamy. Therefore, _____________________________________.
Which of the following most logically completes the argument?

A)Clearly ancient humans did practice monogamy.
B)We will never know whether ancient humans practiced monogamy or not.
C)It is unclear at what point humans went from a mainly polyamorous to a monogamous lifestyle.
D)Ancient cave drawings are not a reliable source for proving that ancient humans practiced monogamy.
E)At most only a few ancient humans practiced monogamy.

Question 73

All people want to be perceived as friendly and personable. Those people who are perceived as shy or quiet often come across as less friendly, even if this is not true. Thus, it is important to try to talk to people, even if conversation does not come easily to a shy person.
Which one of the following assumptions is necessary for the argument's conclusion to be properly drawn?

A)It is important to be perceived as friendly and personable.
B)People who are outgoing are also friendly.
C)Talkative people are always friendly and personable.
D)People who are perceived as shy or quiet are often not friendly.
E)It is not important to talk to people if one is already perceived as friendly.

Question 74

All of a town's residents entered a yearlong weight loss challenge. The goal was to test whether exercising more increased a participant's chances of losing weight. In the end, although the participants who exercised the most did not lose the most weight, the challenge organizers determined that more exercise did lead to greater weight loss.
Which of the following, if true, most helps explain how the organizers drew the above conclusion?

A)The participants who did not exercise did lose a small amount of weight.
B)For each participant, the more he or she exercised, the more weight he or she lost.
C)The participants' weight loss tended to slow as the year progressed.
D)Participants who exercised more enjoyed other benefits, such as increased happiness and a more active lifestyle.
E)The participants who lost the most weight also changed their diets.

Question 75

Mayor: "Many on the town council are arguing that our city should start making decisions by direct ballot, as opposed to votes by the town council. I think this is an excellent idea. Giving each person one vote on each issue is more likely to recognize each individual voice, as opposed to just the voices of those powerful enough or popular enough to hold sway with the town council."
Which one of the following principles helps justifies the mayor's reasoning?

A)Electoral procedures should equally represent all viewpoints.
B)Voting procedures should take into account the fact that some members of society are more able to make good decisions than others.
C)Important issues should only be decided by those with knowledge of the problem and able to make informed decisions.
D)An elected body is unable to accurately represent the concerns of citizens unless it consists of a representative sample of the overall population.
E)It is important to make economically appropriate decisions regarding voting procedures.

Question 76

Mayor: "Many on the town council are arguing that our city should start making decisions by direct ballot, as opposed to votes by the town council. I think this is an excellent idea. Giving each person one vote on each issue is more likely to recognize each individual voice, as opposed to just the voices of those powerful enough or popular enough to hold sway with the town council."
Which of the following, if true, would most support the mayor's argument?

A)In past elections, the town's voter turnout has been extremely low.
B)Most members of the town council oppose the mayor's proposal, as it would diminish their influence.
C)Members of the town council often vote in accordance with the wishes of their major campaign funders.
D)The town is very well educated and so citizens are able to articulate their viewpoints.
E)Most town council members serve an average of ten-year terms.

Question 77

The California Condor should not be displayed in any zoo. The bird was recently nearly extinct, and its population is only increasing now due to sustained efforts and governmental regulation. Displaying the bird in a zoo would make people believe that there are more California Condors in the wild than is really the case, and may prompt people to be more likely to hunt the bird or stop contributing to its preservation.
The reasoning above most closely conforms to which of the following examples?

A)Zoos are cruel to animals and should not be patronized.
B)Zoos should not display endangered animals.
C)Protection of an animal species should take priority over displaying the animal in a zoo.
D)Enjoyment of the public should take priority over the protection of endangered animals.
E)A zoo should focus on displaying large, exotic animals and not bird species native to this country.

Question 78

Nutritionist: "Many consumers drink diet drinks with fake sweeteners in the hopes that these drinks will help them cut calories and maintain a healthier diet for weight loss. They are mistaken, however, because even though the drinks might have fewer calories, the chemicals in the drinks trigger the mind to desire sweet or fattening foods. Research has shown that when people drink diet sodas, they are more likely to crave unhealthy food."
Which of the following is the main point of the passage?

A)If people want to lose weight, it is nearly impossible to do so.
B)Diet sodas are more unhealthy than regular sodas.
C)Diet sodas are unlikely to assist a person in their weight loss goals.
D)Diet sodas contain hidden calories not apparent to the consumer.
E)People tend to consume the same amount of calories, whether dieting or not dieting.

Question 79

Analyst: "Credit card companies often offer new customers great incentives, such as 0% interest or large amounts of cash back. This is not a wise practice, however, as new customers are the most likely to default on their bills, and the majority of a credit card company's revenue comes from keeping long term customers, who do not benefit from the new customer offers."
Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the analyst's argument?

A)Most credit card companies do not offer new member bonuses.
B)A credit card company cannot offer 0% financing to everyone or it could not make a profit.
C)Most people remain loyal to their credit card companies regardless of the incentives offered.
D)Some credit card companies obtain many new members from these special offers.
E)New customers who sign up during these special periods have a bankruptcy rate double that of those who sign up without special incentives.

Question 80

Critic: "Works of historical research published by mainstream publishers are less likely to be cited by other academics than those published by the academic press. Clearly, it appears that academics are strongly prejudiced against mainstream works, and judge historical works in the mainstream press as having no academic merit."
The critic's argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it

A)Argues against a counterargument that does not exist.
B)Relies on an ad hominem attack to discredit mainstream publishers.
C)Fails to consider the possibility that mainstream historical publications have less academic merit than others.
D)Fails to consider the possibility that mainstream publishers are prejudiced against serious academics.
E)Uses circular logic to arrive at its conclusion.