CR – Strengthen Questions (Set 1) 1

Critical Reasoning
STRENGTHEN QUESTIONS
Set 1
1. Digital Video Recorders
Advertising Executive: More than 10 million households now own digital video recorders that can fast-forward over
television commercials; approximately 75% of these households fast-forward over at least one commercial per 30-minute
program. Because television commercials are not as widely watched as they used to be, they are much less cost-effective
today.
Which of the following, if true, strengthens the claim that television commercials are less cost-effective than they used to
be?
A Product placement within television programs is a viable alternative to traditional television commercials.
B The television programs preferred by consumers without digital video recorders are similar to those preferred by
consumers with the devices.
C Prior to the advent of digital video recorders, very few television viewers switched channels or left the room when
commercials began.
D The cost-effectiveness of television advertising is based less upon how many people watch a particular commercial
and more upon the appropriateness of the demographic.
E Many companies find it difficult to determine the exact return on investment for television commercials.

2. Digital Coupons
The redemption rate for e-mailed coupons is far lower than that for traditionally distributed paper coupons. One factor
is the "digital divide"—those who might benefit the most from using coupons, such as homemakers, the elderly, and
those in low-income households, often do not have the knowledge or equipment necessary to go online and receive
coupons.
Which of the following, if true, does the most to support the claim that the digital divide is responsible for lower electronic
coupon redemption rates?
A Computers are available for free in libraries, schools, and community centers.
B The redemption rate of ordinary coupons is particularly high among elderly and low income people that do not know
how to use computers.
C Many homes, including those of elderly and low income people, do not have high-speed internet connections.
D More homemakers than elderly people would use computers if they had access to them.
E The redemption rate for coupons found on the internet has risen in the last five years.

3. Machu Picchu
In 2001 the Peruvian government began requiring tourists to buy permits to hike the Inca Trail to the ancient city of
Machu Picchu. Only 500 people per day are now allowed to hike the Inca Trail, whereas before 2001 daily visitors
numbered in the thousands. The Peruvian government claims that this permit program has successfully prevented
deterioration of archaeological treasures along the Inca Trail.
Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument above?
A Since 2001, Incan ruins similar to Machu Picchu but without a visitor limit have disintegrated at a significantly greater
rate than those on the Inca Trail.
B Villages near Machu Picchu have experienced declines in income, as fewer tourists buy fewer craft goods and
refreshments.
C Many of the funds from the sale of Inca Trail permits are used to hire guards for archaeological sites without permit
programs.
D Since 2001, tourist guides along the Inca Trail have received 50% to 100% increases in take-home pay.
E The total number of tourists in Peru has risen substantially since 2001, even as the number of tourists hiking the Inca
Trail has remained constant.
 CR – Strengthen Questions (Set 1) 2

4. Continental Drift
According to the theory of continental drift, in prehistoric times, many of today’s separate continents were part of a
single huge landmass. As the plates on which this landmass rested began to move, the mass broke apart, and ocean water
filled the newly created chasms. It is hypothesized, for example, that South America was once joined on its east coast
with what is now the west coast of Africa.

Which one of the following discoveries, if it were made, would most support the above hypothesis about South America
and Africa?

A A large band of ancient rock of a rare type along the east coast of South America is of the same type as a band on the
west coast of Africa.
B Many people today living in Brazil are genetically quite similar to many western Africans.
C The climates of western Africa and of the east coast of South America resemble each other.
D Some of the oldest tribes of people living in eastern South America speak languages linguistically similar to various
languages spoken by certain western African peoples.
E Several species of plants found in western Africa closely resemble plants growing in South America.

5. Galanin
Galanin is a protein found in the brain. In an experiment, rats that consistently chose to eat fatty foods when offered a
choice between lean and fatty foods were found to have significantly higher concentrations of galanin in their brains than
did rats that consistently chose lean over fatty foods. These facts strongly support the conclusion that galanin causes rats
to crave fatty foods.

Which one of the following, if true, most supports the argument?

A The craving for fatty foods does not invariably result in a rat’s choosing those foods over lean foods.
B The brains of the rats that consistently chose to eat fatty foods did not contain significantly more fat than did the
brains of rats that consistently chose lean foods.
C The chemical components of galanin are present in both fatty foods and lean foods.
D The rats that preferred fatty foods had the higher concentrations of galanin in their brains before they were offered
fatty foods.
E Rats that metabolize fat less efficiently than do other rats develop high concentrations of galanin in their brains.

6. MBTE
Toxicologist: A survey of oil-refinery workers who work with MBTE, an ingredient currently used in some smog-reducing
gasolines, found an alarming incidence of complaints about headaches, fatigue, and shortness of breath. Since gasoline
containing MBTE will soon be widely used, we can expect an increased incidence of headaches, fatigue, and shortness of
breath.

Each of the following, if true, strengthens the toxicologist’s argument EXCEPT:

A Most oil-refinery workers who do not work with MBTE do not have serious health problems involving headaches,
fatigue, and shortness of breath.
B Headaches, fatigue, and shortness of breath are among the symptoms of several medical conditions that are
potentially serious threats to public health.
C Since the time when gasoline containing MBTE was first introduced in a few metropolitan areas, those areas reported
an increase in the number of complaints about headaches, fatigue, and shortness of breath.
D Regions in which only gasoline containing MBTE is used have a much greater incidence of headaches, fatigue, and
shortness of breath than do similar regions in which only MBTE-free gasoline is used.
E The oil-refinery workers surveyed were carefully selected to be representative of the broader population in their
medical histories prior to exposure to MBTE, as well as in other relevant respects.