Exam 1: Logical Reasoning

No student at Pinewoods High takes both biology and chemistry at the same time. Ramona and Quinn are both students at Pinewoods and neither takes biology, so they must both be enrolled in chemistry. Which one of the following arguments displays a flawed pattern of reasoning most similar to that in the argument above?

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:

An esthetician is an expert in skincare. Marla is an esthetician and she recommended that I use this medicated acne soap, so that soap is certain to improve the quality of my skin. Which of the following is a flaw in the above passage?

Politicians should not do anything to make their constituents lose respect for them. People can sense when someone is lying. Therefore, a politician should not lie and should always try to give honest answers in order to be respected. The conclusion is properly drawn if which of the following is assumed?

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

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?

Lee: "Newspaper editors should stop worrying about whether a story will be popular or help sell magazines. Great writers all write to tell a great story, not to be popular." Gertrude: "But newspaper editors do have to sell papers, or they would be out of a job. An editor is more like a business owner than a writer, and must consider what stories will make people want to read a paper." Gertrude asserts that Lee's argument is flawed because it

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 recent study showed that after construction to repair a roadway ends, accident rates on the roads rise in comparison to the rates prior to the construction. Which of the following, if true, most helps to explain the apparent discrepancy above?

Allergy sufferers are not allergic to all possible allergens, the most common of which are pollen, cat dander, and peanuts. While it is possible to take drugs that will reduce the chances of having a serious allergic reaction, it is not possible to eliminate an allergy entirely. All allergies can be dangerous, but the most dangerous allergic reactions occur when a person has trouble breathing. If the above information is true, then all of the following must be true EXCEPT:

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?

The legislature is considering a regulation prohibiting the consumption of alfalfa sprouts. Most recent outbreaks of E. coli have been attributed to alfalfa sprouts. While the sprouts may seem healthy, they are likely to harbor bacteria and are one of the biggest contributors to mass food borne illness outbreaks. Continuing to allow people to consume such a dangerous product is too risky for public health, and the legislature must act to protect the public. Which of the following is the main conclusion of the passage?

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 certain multiple choice test contains 30 biology questions, 40 math questions, and 30 physical science questions. In order to pass the exam, a student must answer at least 60% of the questions correctly, so they must get at least half of the questions correct in each section. Which of the following is a flaw in the passage's reasoning?

Most children are very entertained by stories involving dinosaurs. Parents are likely to want to take their children to the new movie about baby dinosaurs since children like dinosaurs so much. The above argument is based on which of the following assumptions?

Unless Patrick receives a raise for his job or gets a loan from a bank, he will be unable to pay his mortgage this month. Patrick's request for a raise was turned down, so he will not be able to pay his mortgage. The conclusion is properly drawn if which of the following is true?

Friday is the most common day of the week for car accidents to occur. Most people assume that people in a rush to get home to begin the weekend or to head out for a weekend trip are more likely to be involved in a car accident. However, recent research shows that even people who don't work Monday through Friday are most likely to be in a car accident on Fridays. Which one of the following, if true, best explains why the rate of car accidents is highest on Fridays even for people not ending their work week?

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

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:

Welton Hotels offers excellent opportunities to advance within the company. Just look at the current CEO, Melissa Johnson, who started her career as a housekeeper, progressed to managing the front desk, and is now in charge of the whole company. Which one of the following statements, if true, would most weaken the reasoning above?