!

Critical Reasoning!
Put on your!
Thinking!
Caps!!
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A Reasoning Teaser!
Socrates arrives at a bridge guarded by a powerful lord, Plato, and begs to be allowed to cross.
Plato replies:!
I swear that if the next utterance you make is true I shall let you cross, but if it is false I shall throw
you in the water.!
Socrates replies:!
You are going to throw me in the water.!
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A Reasoning Teaser!
Socrates arrives at a bridge guarded by a powerful lord, Plato, and begs to be allowed to cross.
Plato replies:!
I swear that if the next utterance you make is true I shall let you cross, but if it is false I shall throw
you in the water.!
Socrates replies:!
You are going to throw me in the water.!
What happens next?!
Is Socrates thrown in the water or not?!
If Plato does not throw him in the water, Socrates has spoken falsely and should be thrown in; but
if he is thrown in, Socrates has spoken truly and should not be thrown in.!
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A Reasoning Teaser!
Socrates arrives at a bridge guarded by a powerful lord, Plato, and begs to be allowed to cross.
Plato replies:!
I swear that if the next utterance you make is true I shall let you cross, but if it is false I shall throw
you in the water.!
Socrates replies:!
You are going to throw me in the water.!
What happens next?!
Is Socrates thrown in the water or not?!
If Plato does not throw him in the water, Socrates has spoken falsely and should be thrown in; but
if he is thrown in, Socrates has spoken truly and should not be thrown in.!
This is what we call a PARADOX.!
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Key Terms: Revised!
Premise!
Each CR argument contains at least one premise. Premises are pieces of information that provide
evidence used to support the conclusion of the argument. For the purposes of Critical Reasoning
arguments, premises are facts not subject to dispute.!
Conclusion!
The conclusion is the endpoint of the line of reasoning of an argument. Think of it as the result of
the argument. The line of reasoning leading to a conclusion is often where errors in logic are made.!
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Key Terms: Revised!
Assumption!
Assumptions are unstated facts and logical connections in an argument. In order for the conclusion
of an argument to be true, the assumptions upon which that argument is based must also be true.!
Argument!
Central to every CR question is the argument. An argument is an ordered line of reasoning
composed of premises, assumptions, and a conclusion. Understanding the elements of an
argument is essential to performing well in this section.!

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Deductive Logic vs. Critical Reasoning: A comparative!
Have a look at the argument below:!
1. Most actors are celebrities.!
2. Aamir is an actor.!
3. Therefore Aamir is a celebrity.!
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Deductive Logic vs. Critical Reasoning: A comparative!
Have a look at the argument below:!
1. Most actors are celebrities.!
2. Aamir is an actor.!
3. Therefore Aamir is a celebrity.!
The argument above is Deductively invalid as it is not consistent.!
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Deductive Logic vs. Critical Reasoning: A comparative!
Have a look at the argument below:!
1. Most actors are celebrities.!
2. Aamir is an actor.!
3. Therefore Aamir is a celebrity.!
The argument above is Deductively invalid as it is not consistent.!
The argument above is a fairly good Critical Reasoning (CR)argument as the conclusion is more
than likely to occur.!
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Deductive Logic vs. Critical Reasoning: A comparative!
Have a look at the argument below:!
1. Most actors are celebrities.!
2. Aamir is an actor.!
3. Therefore Aamir is a celebrity.!
The argument above is Deductively invalid as it is not consistent.!
The argument above is a fairly good Critical Reasoning (CR)argument as the conclusion is more
than likely to occur.!
Additional premises can strengthen and weaken the original argument, in case of an CR argument.!
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Deductive Logic vs. Critical Reasoning: A comparative!
Have a look at the argument below:!
1. Most actors are celebrities.!
2. Aamir is an actor.!
3. Therefore Aamir is a celebrity.!
The argument above is Deductively invalid as it is not consistent.!
The argument above is a fairly good Critical Reasoning (CR)argument as the conclusion is more
than likely to occur.!
Additional premises can strengthen and weaken the original argument, in case of an CR argument.!
For logicians, the term valid is only applicable to Deductive arguments.!
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A practical Approach to Critical Reasoning questions!
Sample Argument:!
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands. They must be committed to
each other and must be in a relationship. !
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A practical Approach to Critical Reasoning questions!
Sample Argument:!
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands. They must be committed to
each other and must be in a relationship. !
Step 1: Identify the Premise!
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A practical Approach to Critical Reasoning questions!

Sample Argument:!
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands. They must be committed to
each other and must be in a relationship. !
Step 1: Identify the Premise!
Premise Indicator words:!
because!
since! for!
for example!
In that given that!
as indicated by!
due to! !
owing to!
we know this by!
this can be seen from!for the reason that! !
The premises of the argument are: A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding
hands.!
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A practical Approach to Critical Reasoning questions!
Sample Argument:!
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands. They must be committed to
each other and must be in a relationship. !
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A practical Approach to Critical Reasoning questions!
Sample Argument:!
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands. They must be committed to
each other and must be in a relationship. !
Step 2: Identify the Conclusion!
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A practical Approach to Critical Reasoning questions!
Sample Argument:!
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands. They must be committed to
each other and must be in a relationship. !
Step 2: Identify the Conclusion!
Conclusion Indicator words:!
thus! therefore!
hence! consequently! as a result!
so!
accordingly! clearly! must be that! !
shows that conclude that!
follows that! for this reason !
The conclusion of the argument is: They must be committed to each other and must be in a
relationship. !
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Sample Argument:!
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands in public. They must be
committed to each other and must be in a relationship.!
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Sample Argument:!
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands in public. They must be
committed to each other and must be in a relationship.!
Step 3: Identify the assumption!
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Sample Argument:!
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands in public. They must be
committed to each other and must be in a relationship.!
Step 3: Identify the assumption!
Keep in mind:!
An assumption is an unstated premise of the argument: that is, an integral component of the
argument that the author leaves for granted and unsaid.!
In other words, the Argument can be analogized to a house; the Premises are like walls, the
conclusion is like the roof, and the Assumptions are like the foundation (the hidden part of the
structure).!
Identify the Assumption Answer: !
In this case, the girl assumes that anyone who holds hands has to be !
a girlfriend-boyfriend (that is in a relationship). !

No that wise an assumption, is it?!

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Sample Argument:!
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands in public. They must be
committed to each other and must be in a relationship.!
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Sample Argument:!
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands in public. They must be
committed to each other and must be in a relationship.!
Step 4: Weaken the argument!
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Sample Argument:!
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands in public. They must be
committed to each other and must be in a relationship.!
Step 4: Weaken the argument!
Keep in mind:!
The key to weaken an argument is to undermine the conclusion, not necessarily destroy it.!
Following are some examples of words or phrases used to indicate that your!
task is to weaken the argument:!
Weaken!
attack! undermine!
refute! counter!
Challenge!
damage!
call into question!
argue against! cast doubt!
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Sample Argument:!
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands in public. They must be
committed to each other and must be in a relationship.!
Step 4: Weaken the argument!
Keep in mind:!
The key to weaken an argument is to undermine the conclusion, not necessarily destroy it.!
Following are some examples of words or phrases used to indicate that your!
task is to weaken the argument:!
Weaken!
attack! undermine!
refute! counter!
Challenge!
damage!
call into question!
argue against! cast doubt!
One way to weaken an argument is to attack the assumption of the argument.!
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Sample Argument:!
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands in public. They must be
committed to each other and must be in a relationship.!
Step 4: Weaken the argument!
Keep in mind:!
The key to weaken an argument is to undermine the conclusion, not necessarily destroy it.!
Following are some examples of words or phrases used to indicate that your!
task is to weaken the argument:!
Weaken!
attack! undermine!
refute! counter!
Challenge!
damage!
call into question!
argue against! cast doubt!
One way to weaken an argument is to attack the assumption of the argument.!
Weaken the argument Answer: !
All we need to say is something as simple as this:!
A cousin was helping another by holding her hand. !
(This way they do not have to be in a relationship)!
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Sample Argument:!
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands in public. They must be
committed to each other and must be in a relationship.!
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Sample Argument:!

A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands in public. They must be
committed to each other and must be in a relationship.!
Step 5: Strengthen the argument!
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Sample Argument:!
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands in public. They must be
committed to each other and must be in a relationship.!
Step 5: Strengthen the argument!
Keep in mind:!
Strengthen questions ask you to support the argument in any way possible. Speaking in numerical
terms, any answer choice that strengthens the argument, whether by 1% or by 100%, is correct.!
Following are some examples of words or phrases used to indicate that your!
task is to strengthen the argument:!
Strenghten! support!
helps! most justifies!
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Sample Argument:!
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands in public. They must be
committed to each other and must be in a relationship.!
Step 5: Strengthen the argument!
Keep in mind:!
Strengthen questions ask you to support the argument in any way possible. Speaking in numerical
terms, any answer choice that strengthens the argument, whether by 1% or by 100%, is correct.!
Following are some examples of words or phrases used to indicate that your!
task is to strengthen the argument:!
Strenghten! support!
helps! most justifies!
One way to strengthen an argument is to support the assumption of the argument.!
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Sample Argument:!
A girl said to her friend: See that boy and girl. They are holding hands in public. They must be
committed to each other and must be in a relationship.!
Step 5: Strengthen the argument!
Keep in mind:!
Strengthen questions ask you to support the argument in any way possible. Speaking in numerical
terms, any answer choice that strengthens the argument, whether by 1% or by 100%, is correct.!
Following are some examples of words or phrases used to indicate that your!
task is to strengthen the argument:!
Strenghten! support!
helps! most justifies!
One way to strengthen an argument is to support the assumption of the argument.!
Strengthen the argument: All we need to say is something as simple as this:!
In modern times, holding hands in public has become the symbol of relationships.!
(This way they do not have to be in a relationship)!
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PRACTICE QUESTIONS!
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Q1. Bicycles are safer than scooters. 50 percent of scooter accidents result in death, while only 10
percent of bicycle accidents result in death. !
Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument above?!
Bicycles are inspected more often than scooters. !
The number of bicycle accidents is several hundred thousand times higher than the number of
scooter accidents.!
Many bicycle owners are known not to stop on traffic lights whereas a most scooter owners follow
the regulation. !
Scooter accidents are generally the fault of car owners, who bang into them and not those of the
ones driving the scooters. !
Bicycles do not carry pillions generally but scooters do. !
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Q1. Bicycles are safer than scooters. 50 percent of scooter accidents result in death, while only 10
percent of bicycle accidents result in death. !
Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument above?!
Bicycles are inspected more often than scooters. !
The number of bicycle accidents is several hundred thousand times higher than the number of
scooter accidents.!
Many bicycle owners are known not to stop on traffic lights whereas a most scooter owners follow
the regulation. !
Scooter accidents are generally the fault of car owners, who bang into them and not those of the
ones driving the scooters. !
Bicycles do not carry pillions generally but scooters do. !
Correct Answer: B !
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Q2. A world-renowned painter recently won a lawsuit against an ice-cream manufacturer for
commiserating another graphic designer to design the ice-creams packing in a style similar to the
painter. Because of the judgment of the case, manufacturers will have to stop asking graphic
designers now to copy the freely available designs of famous painters. And the end result will an
increase in the cost of package design as employing the services of known artists would cost more
than those of graphic designer that merely imitate their style. !
The conclusion above is based on which of the following assumptions? !
People cannot distinguish between an original work and its imitation. !
Manufacturers will continue to use well-known painting styles in their packaging. !
Ice-ream manufacturers around the country are shocked by this judgment. !
Manufacturers will continue to use graphic artists to imitate the artistic style of famous painters.!
The sale of the product depends on its packaging. !
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Q2. A world-renowned painter recently won a lawsuit against an ice-cream manufacturer for
commiserating another graphic designer to design the ice-creams packing in a style similar to the
painter. Because of the judgment of the case, manufacturers will have to stop asking graphic
designers now to copy the freely available designs of famous painters. And the end result will an
increase in the cost of package design as employing the services of known artists would cost more
than those of graphic designer that merely imitate their style. !
The conclusion above is based on which of the following assumptions? !
People cannot distinguish between an original work and its imitation. !
Manufacturers will continue to use well-known painting styles in their packaging. !
Ice-ream manufacturers around the country are shocked by this judgment. !
Manufacturers will continue to use graphic artists to imitate the artistic style of famous painters.!
The sale of the product depends on its packaging. !
Correct Answer: B !
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Q3. Navneet Pencils manufactures and sells the same pencils as Camlin does. Employee wages
account for forty percent of the cost of manufacturing pencils at both factories. Navneet is seeking
a competitive edge over Camlins supply. Therefore, to promote this end, Navneets should lower
employee wages. !
Which of the following, if true, seriously weakens the argument above? !
!
Because they make a small number of specialty artists pencils, pencil manufacturers cannot
receive volume discounts on raw materials. !
Lowering wages would reduce the quality of employee work and this reduced quality would lead to
lowered sales. !
Navneets Pencils has taken away twenty percent of Camlins Supply business over the last year. !
Camlins Supply pays its employees, on average, ten percent more than does Navneets Pencils. !
Many people who work for manufacturing plants live in areas in which the manufacturing plant they
work for is the only industry. !
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Q3. Navneet Pencils manufactures and sells the same pencils as Camlin does. Employee wages
account for forty percent of the cost of manufacturing pencils at both factories. Navneet is seeking
a competitive edge over Camlins supply. Therefore, to promote this end, Navneets should lower
employee wages. !
Which of the following, if true, seriously weakens the argument above? !
!
Because they make a small number of specialty artists pencils, pencil manufacturers cannot
receive volume discounts on raw materials. !
Lowering wages would reduce the quality of employee work and this reduced quality would lead to
lowered sales. !
Navneets Pencils has taken away twenty percent of Camlins Supply business over the last year. !
Camlins Supply pays its employees, on average, ten percent more than does Navneets Pencils. !
Many people who work for manufacturing plants live in areas in which the manufacturing plant they
work for is the only industry. !
Correct Answer: B!
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Q4. In some cities, many writers have been winning acclaim as artists. But since writing must be
useful, writers must exercise their craft with an eye to the practical utility of their product. For this
reason, writing is not an art. !
Which of the following is an assumption that supports drawing the conclusion above from the
reason given for that conclusion? !
!
Some books are written to be placed in research labs where they will not be used by anyone. !
Some writers are more concerned than others with the practical utility of the products they
produce. !
Writers should be more concerned with the practical utility of their products than they currently are. !
Artists are not concerned with the monetary value of their products. !
An object is not an art object if its maker pays attention to the objects practical utility. !
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Q4. In some cities, many writers have been winning acclaim as artists. But since writing must be
useful, writers must exercise their craft with an eye to the practical utility of their product. For this
reason, writing is not an art. !
Which of the following is an assumption that supports drawing the conclusion above from the
reason given for that conclusion? !
!
Some books are written to be placed in research labs where they will not be used by anyone. !
Some writers are more concerned than others with the practical utility of the products they
produce. !
Writers should be more concerned with the practical utility of their products than they currently are. !
Artists are not concerned with the monetary value of their products. !
An object is not an art object if its maker pays attention to the objects practical utility. !
Correct Answer: E!
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5. Unlike the price of gold, the price of silver has fallen considerably in the last year. Thus, although
the retail price of jewelry made with silver other than gold has not yet fallen, it will inevitably fall. !
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument above? !
!
Changes in retail prices always lag behind changes in raw-material prices.!
The price of gold is typically higher than that of the same volume of silver. !
The operating costs of the average retail jewelry shop have remained constant during the last year. !
The cost of mining all expensive metals other than gold has increased in the last year. !
The cost of processing silver has increased during the last year.!
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5. Unlike the price of gold, the price of silver has fallen considerably in the last year. Thus, although
the retail price of jewelry made with silver other than gold has not yet fallen, it will inevitably fall. !
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument above? !

!
Changes in retail prices always lag behind changes in raw-material prices.!
The price of gold is typically higher than that of the same volume of silver. !
The operating costs of the average retail jewelry shop have remained constant during the last year. !
The cost of mining all expensive metals other than gold has increased in the last year. !
The cost of processing silver has increased during the last year.!
Correct Answer: E!
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6. Physician: In itself, exercise does not cause heart attacks; rather, a sudden increase in an
exercise regimen can be a cause. When people of any physical condition suddenly increase their
amount of exercise, they also increase their risk of heart attack. As a result, there will be an
increased risk of heart attack among employees of this company due to the new health program.!
!
The conclusion drawn by the physician follows logically if which one of the following is assumed?!
(A) Employees will abruptly increase their amount of exercise as a result of the new health
program.!
(B) The exercised involved in the new health program are more strenuous than those in the
previous health program.!
(C) The new health program will force employees of all levels of health to exercise regularly.!
(D)The new health program constitutes a sudden change in the companys policy!
(E) All employees, no matter what their physical condition, will participate in the new health
program.!
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6. Physician: In itself, exercise does not cause heart attacks; rather, a sudden increase in an
exercise regimen can be a cause. When people of any physical condition suddenly increase their
amount of exercise, they also increase their risk of heart attack. As a result, there will be an
increased risk of heart attack among employees of this company due to the new health program.!
!
The conclusion drawn by the physician follows logically if which one of the following is assumed?!
(A) Employees will abruptly increase their amount of exercise as a result of the new health
program.!
(B) The exercised involved in the new health program are more strenuous than those in the
previous health program.!
(C) The new health program will force employees of all levels of health to exercise regularly.!
(D)The new health program constitutes a sudden change in the companys policy!
(E) All employees, no matter what their physical condition, will participate in the new health
program.!
Correct Answer: A!
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7. Economist: Technology now changes so rapidly that workers need periodic retraining. Such
retraining can be efficient only if it allows individual companies to meet their own short-term needs.
Hence, large governmental job retraining programs are no longer a viable option in the effort to
retrain workers efficiently.!
!
Which one of the following is an assumption required by the economists argument?!
(A) Workers did not need to be retrained when the pace of technological change was slower than it
is currently.!
(B) Large job retraining programs will be less efficient than smaller programs if the pace of
technological change slows.!
(C) No single type of retraining program is most efficient at retraining technological workers.!
(D) Large governmental job retraining programs do not meet the short-term needs of different
individual companies.!
(E) Technological workers are more likely now than in the past to move in order to find work for
which they are already trained.!
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7. Economist: Technology now changes so rapidly that workers need periodic retraining. Such
retraining can be efficient only if it allows individual companies to meet their own short-term needs.
Hence, large governmental job retraining programs are no longer a viable option in the effort to
retrain workers efficiently.!
!
Which one of the following is an assumption required by the economists argument?!
(A) Workers did not need to be retrained when the pace of technological change was slower than it
is currently.!
(B) Large job retraining programs will be less efficient than smaller programs if the pace of
technological change slows.!
(C) No single type of retraining program is most efficient at retraining technological workers.!
(D) Large governmental job retraining programs do not meet the short-term needs of different
individual companies.!
(E) Technological workers are more likely now than in the past to move in order to find work for
which they are already trained.!
Correct Answer: D!
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8. Thirty years ago, the percentage of the British people who vacationed in foreign countries was
very small compared with the large percentage of the British population who travel abroad for
vacations now. Foreign travel is, and always has been, expensive from Britain. Therefore, British
people must have, on average, more money to spend on vacations now than they did 30 years
ago.!
!
The argument requires assuming which one of the following?!
(A) If foreign travel had been less expensive 30 years ago, British people would still not have had
enough money to take vacation abroad.!
(B) If travel to Britain were less expensive, more people of other countries would travel to Britain for
their vacations.!
(C) If the percentage of British people vacationing abroad was lower 30 years ago, then the British
people of 30 years ago must have spent more money on domestic vacations.!
(D) If more of the British people 30 years ago had had enough money to vacation abroad, more
would have done so.!
(E) If British people are now wealthier than they were 30 years ago, then they must have more
money to spend on vacations now than they did 30 years ago.!
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8. Thirty years ago, the percentage of the British people who vacationed in foreign countries was
very small compared with the large percentage of the British population who travel abroad for
vacations now. Foreign travel is, and always has been, expensive from Britain. Therefore, British
people must have, on average, more money to spend on vacations now than they did 30 years
ago.!
!
The argument requires assuming which one of the following?!
(A) If foreign travel had been less expensive 30 years ago, British people would still not have had
enough money to take vacation abroad.!
(B) If travel to Britain were less expensive, more people of other countries would travel to Britain for
their vacations.!
(C) If the percentage of British people vacationing abroad was lower 30 years ago, then the British
people of 30 years ago must have spent more money on domestic vacations.!
(D) If more of the British people 30 years ago had had enough money to vacation abroad, more
would have done so.!
(E) If British people are now wealthier than they were 30 years ago, then they must have more
money to spend on vacations now than they did 30 years ago.!
Correct Answer: D!
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9. Some teachers claim that students would not learn curricular content without the incentive of
grades. But students with intense interest in the material would learn it without this incentive, while

the behavior of students lacking all interests in the material is unaffected by such an incentive. The
incentive of grades, therefore, serves no essential academic purpose.!
!
The reasoning in the argument is flawed because the argument!
(A) take for granted that the only purpose of school is to convey a fixed body of information to
students!
(B) takes for granted that students who are indifferent to the grades they receive are genuinely
interested in the curricular material!
(C) fails to consider that the incentive of grades may serve some useful nonacademic purpose!
(D) ignore the possibility that students who lack interest in the curricular material would be quite
interested in it if allowed to choose their own curricular material!
(E) fails to consider that some students may be neither fascinated by nor completely indifferent to
the subject being taught!
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9. Some teachers claim that students would not learn curricular content without the incentive of
grades. But students with intense interest in the material would learn it without this incentive, while
the behavior of students lacking all interests in the material is unaffected by such an incentive. The
incentive of grades, therefore, serves no essential academic purpose.!
!
The reasoning in the argument is flawed because the argument!
(A) take for granted that the only purpose of school is to convey a fixed body of information to
students!
(B) takes for granted that students who are indifferent to the grades they receive are genuinely
interested in the curricular material!
(C) fails to consider that the incentive of grades may serve some useful nonacademic purpose!
(D) ignore the possibility that students who lack interest in the curricular material would be quite
interested in it if allowed to choose their own curricular material!
(E) fails to consider that some students may be neither fascinated by nor completely indifferent to
the subject being taught!
Correct Answer: E!
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10. Last year a large firm set a goal of decreasing its workforce by 25%. Three divisions, totaling
25% of its workforce, were to be eliminated and no new people hired. These divisions have since
been eliminated and no new people have joined the firm, but its workforce has decreased by only
15%.!
!
Which one of the following, if true, contributes most to an explanation of the difference in the
planned versus the actual reduction in the workforce?!
(A)The three divisions that were eliminated were well run and had the potential to earn profits.!
(B)Normal attrition in the retained divisions continued to reduce staff because no new people were
added to the firm.!
(C)Some of the employees in the eliminated divisions were eligible for early retirement and chose
that option.!
(D)As the divisions were being eliminated some of their employees were assigned to other
divisions.!
(E) Employees in the retained divisions were forced to work faster to offset the loss of the
eliminated divisions.!
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10. Last year a large firm set a goal of decreasing its workforce by 25%. Three divisions, totaling
25% of its workforce, were to be eliminated and no new people hired. These divisions have since
been eliminated and no new people have joined the firm, but its workforce has decreased by only
15%.!
!
Which one of the following, if true, contributes most to an explanation of the difference in the
planned versus the actual reduction in the workforce?!
(A)The three divisions that were eliminated were well run and had the potential to earn profits.!

(B)Normal attrition in the retained divisions continued to reduce staff because no new people were
added to the firm.!
(C)Some of the employees in the eliminated divisions were eligible for early retirement and chose
that option.!
(D)As the divisions were being eliminated some of their employees were assigned to other
divisions.!
(E) Employees in the retained divisions were forced to work faster to offset the loss of the
eliminated divisions.!
Correct Answer: D!
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11. Every year, new reports appear concerning the health risks posed by certain substances, such
as coffee and sugar. One year an article claimed that coffee is dangerous to ones health. The next
year, another article argued that coffee has some benefits for ones health. From these
contradictory opinions, we see that experts are useless for guiding ones decisions about ones
health.!
!
Which one of the following most accurately describes a flaw in the argument above?!
(A) The argument takes for granted that coffee is dangerous to ones health.!
(B) The argument presumes, without providing warrant, that one always wants expert guidance in
making decisions about ones health.!
(C) The argument fails to consider the nature of expert opinion in areas other than health.!
(D) The argument presumes, with out providing justification, that because expert opinion is
trustworthy in one case, it must therefore be trustworthy in all cases.!
(E) The argument fails to consider that coffee may be harmful to ones health in some respects and
beneficial in others.!
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11. Every year, new reports appear concerning the health risks posed by certain substances, such
as coffee and sugar. One year an article claimed that coffee is dangerous to ones health. The next
year, another article argued that coffee has some benefits for ones health. From these
contradictory opinions, we see that experts are useless for guiding ones decisions about ones
health.!
!
Which one of the following most accurately describes a flaw in the argument above?!
(A) The argument takes for granted that coffee is dangerous to ones health.!
(B) The argument presumes, without providing warrant, that one always wants expert guidance in
making decisions about ones health.!
(C) The argument fails to consider the nature of expert opinion in areas other than health.!
(D) The argument presumes, with out providing justification, that because expert opinion is
trustworthy in one case, it must therefore be trustworthy in all cases.!
(E) The argument fails to consider that coffee may be harmful to ones health in some respects and
beneficial in others.!
Correct Answer: E!
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12. Mystery stories often feature a brilliant detective and the detectives dull companion. Clues are
presented in the story, and the companion wrongly infers an inaccurate solution to the mystery
using the same clues that the detective uses to deduce the correct solution. Thus, the authors
strategy of including the dull companion gives readers a chance to solve the mystery while also
diverting them from the correct solution.!
!
Which one of the following is most strongly supported by the information above?!
(A) Most mystery stories feature a brilliant detective who solves the mystery presented in the story.!
(B) Mystery readers often solve the mystery in a story simply by spotting the mistakes in the
reasoning of the detectives dull companion in that story.!
(C) Some mystery stories give readers enough clues to infer the correct solution to the mystery.!
(D) The actions of the brilliant detective in a mystery story rarely divert readers from the actions of
the detectives dull companion.!

(E) The detectives dull companion in a mystery story generally uncovers the misleading clues that
divert readers from the mysterys correct solution.!
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12. Mystery stories often feature a brilliant detective and the detectives dull companion. Clues are
presented in the story, and the companion wrongly infers an inaccurate solution to the mystery
using the same clues that the detective uses to deduce the correct solution. Thus, the authors
strategy of including the dull companion gives readers a chance to solve the mystery while also
diverting them from the correct solution.!
!
Which one of the following is most strongly supported by the information above?!
(A) Most mystery stories feature a brilliant detective who solves the mystery presented in the story.!
(B) Mystery readers often solve the mystery in a story simply by spotting the mistakes in the
reasoning of the detectives dull companion in that story.!
(C) Some mystery stories give readers enough clues to infer the correct solution to the mystery.!
(D) The actions of the brilliant detective in a mystery story rarely divert readers from the actions of
the detectives dull companion.!
(E) The detectives dull companion in a mystery story generally uncovers the misleading clues that
divert readers from the mysterys correct solution.!
Correct Answer: C!
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13. In speech, when words or sentences are ambiguous, gesture and tone of voice are used to
indicate the intended meaning. Writers, of course, cannot use gesture or tone of voice and must
rely instead on style; the reader detects the writers intention from the arrangement of words and
sentences.!
!
Which one of the following statements is most strongly supported by the information above?!
(A) The primary function of style in writing is to augment the literal meanings of the words and
sentences used.!
(B) The intended meaning of a piece of writing is indicated in part by the writers arrangement of
words and sentences.!
(C) It is easier for a listener to detect the tone of a speaker than for a reader to detect the style of
the writer.!
(D) A writers intention will always be interpreted differently by different readers.!
(E) The writers arrangement of words/sentences completely determines the aesthetics of writing.!
!
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13. In speech, when words or sentences are ambiguous, gesture and tone of voice are used to
indicate the intended meaning. Writers, of course, cannot use gesture or tone of voice and must
rely instead on style; the reader detects the writers intention from the arrangement of words and
sentences.!
!
Which one of the following statements is most strongly supported by the information above?!
(A) The primary function of style in writing is to augment the literal meanings of the words and
sentences used.!
(B) The intended meaning of a piece of writing is indicated in part by the writers arrangement of
words and sentences.!
(C) It is easier for a listener to detect the tone of a speaker than for a reader to detect the style of
the writer.!
(D) A writers intention will always be interpreted differently by different readers.!
(E) The writers arrangement of words/sentences completely determines the aesthetics of writing.!
!
Correct Answer: B!
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14. Bureaucratic mechanisms are engineered to resist change. Thus, despite growing
dissatisfaction with complex bureaucratic systems, it is unlikely that bureaucracies will be
simplified.!

!
The claim that bureaucratic mechanisms are engineered to resist change plays which one of the
following roles in the argument?!
(A) It is a premise offered in support of the claim that it is unlikely that bureaucracies will be
simplified.!
(B) It is a conclusion for which the only support offered is the claim that dissatisfaction with
complex bureaucratic systems is growing.!
(C) It is cited as evidence that bureaucratic systems are becoming more and more complex.!
(D) It is used to weaken the claim that bureaucracies should be simplified.!
(E) It is a conclusion for which the claim that bureaucracies are unlikely to be simplified is offered
as support.!
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14. Bureaucratic mechanisms are engineered to resist change. Thus, despite growing
dissatisfaction with complex bureaucratic systems, it is unlikely that bureaucracies will be
simplified.!
!
The claim that bureaucratic mechanisms are engineered to resist change plays which one of the
following roles in the argument?!
(A) It is a premise offered in support of the claim that it is unlikely that bureaucracies will be
simplified.!
(B) It is a conclusion for which the only support offered is the claim that dissatisfaction with
complex bureaucratic systems is growing.!
(C) It is cited as evidence that bureaucratic systems are becoming more and more complex.!
(D) It is used to weaken the claim that bureaucracies should be simplified.!
(E) It is a conclusion for which the claim that bureaucracies are unlikely to be simplified is offered
as support.!
Correct Answer: A!
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15. Philosopher: Scientists talk about the pursuit of truth, but like most people, they are selfinterested. Accordingly, the professional activities of most scientists are directed toward personal
career enhancement, and only incidentally toward the pursuit of truth. Hence, the activities of the
scientific community are largely directed toward enhancing the status of that community as a
whole, and only incidentally toward the pursuit of truth.!
!
The reasoning in the philosophers argument is flawed because the argument!
(A) Improperly infers that each and every scientist has a certain characteristic from premise that
most scientists have that characteristic!
(B) Improperly draws an inference about the scientific community as a whole from a premise about
individual scientists!
(C) Presumes, without giving justification, that the aim of personal career enhancement never
advances the pursuit of truth!
(D) Illicitly takes advantage of an ambiguity in the meaning of self-interested!
(E)Improperly draws an inference about a cause from premises about its effects!
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15. Philosopher: Scientists talk about the pursuit of truth, but like most people, they are selfinterested. Accordingly, the professional activities of most scientists are directed toward personal
career enhancement, and only incidentally toward the pursuit of truth. Hence, the activities of the
scientific community are largely directed toward enhancing the status of that community as a
whole, and only incidentally toward the pursuit of truth.!
!
The reasoning in the philosophers argument is flawed because the argument!
(A) Improperly infers that each and every scientist has a certain characteristic from premise that
most scientists have that characteristic!
(B) Improperly draws an inference about the scientific community as a whole from a premise about
individual scientists!

(C) Presumes, without giving justification, that the aim of personal career enhancement never
advances the pursuit of truth!
(D) Illicitly takes advantage of an ambiguity in the meaning of self-interested!
(E)Improperly draws an inference about a cause from premises about its effects!
Correct Answer: B!
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us:mentor@wordpandit.com!
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