Question 1

Angela: "I am confident I will have no trouble finding a job after I graduate. I have a degree from a good school and I have many connections in my chosen field."
Ben: "That may be true, but many people have those qualifications and still struggle to find a position."
Which of the following, if true, would most help strengthen Angela's position?

Accepted Answer

A) The employment rate in Angela's field is much better than in Ben's field. 
B) The employment rate for Angela's field has improved in recent years. 
C) Angela's school has a 100% placement rate in her chosen field. 
D) Angela has connections to many family friends to help her find a position. 
E) Angela's friend Raquel easily found a job after graduation last year.

Question 2

Company president: "Despite the wishes of the shareholders, I believe that expanding our company from just catering into a sit-down restaurant is not a wise move. Expanding into a restaurant would be costly and the restaurant industry is incredibly volatile. Furthermore, we already had plans to expand our already successful catering business into other geographic areas, and opening a restaurant would take funds away from those endeavors."
If the president's statement is true, which of the following is most strongly supported by it?

Accepted Answer

A) The shareholders do not have the best interest of the company in mind. 
B) The restaurant industry is too competitive for new entrants to succeed. 
C) Only if the company expands into other geographic areas will the company continue to be successful. 
D) If the company wants to grow, it would be more successful expanding its catering business than opening a restaurant. 
E) The company will fail if it opens a restaurant.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

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 4

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?

Accepted Answer

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 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?

Accepted Answer

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

At a track event, runners, long jumpers, and throwers are present. All of the runners are long jumpers, and none of the throwers are runners.
If the statements above are true, then which of the following must also be true?

Accepted Answer

A) All of the long jumpers are runners. 
B) Most of the throwers are not long jumpers. 
C) Some of the long jumpers are not throwers. 
D) All of the runners are also throwers. 
E) None of the throwers are also long jumpers.

Question 7

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?

Accepted Answer

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 8

The government has recently begun a policy requiring all private bus companies to keep records of crashes and breakdowns, to allow consumers to make more informed decisions about their own transportation. The effort is misguided, however, because the policy will just encourage bus companies to be less rigorous in categorizing crashes or breakdowns, or to be less likely to report problems so they will not tarnish their image.
The reasoning in the argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it

Accepted Answer

A) Fails to consider that even if not complete, some information is better than no information for consumers. 
B) Presumes, without providing justification, that the public will pay attention to such reports. 
C) Fails to consider what the effect will be on revenue for the bus companies. 
D) Presumes, without providing justification, that the information is not already collected by a private source. 
E) Presumes, without providing justification, that the public has a right to access such information.

Question 9

A recent study of 5,000 auto accident victims showed that the driver of the car had only a 50% chance of injury in accidents, but passengers in the car were injured 75% of the time. This shows that riding as a passenger is more dangerous than driving because collisions are more likely to impact other parts of the car than the driver's seat.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

Accepted Answer

A) Small cars are much more dangerous to ride in than large cars, and are more common. 
B) Rear end accidents are much more common than head on collisions. 
C) Most cars are equipped with airbags for both the driver and front passenger. 
D) Drivers are likely to be more distracted with passengers in the car. 
E) Drivers are much more likely to wear a seatbelt than are their passengers.

Question 10

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?

Accepted Answer

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 11

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?

Accepted Answer

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 12

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?

Accepted Answer

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 13

The hole in the ozone layer is constantly expanding. Many environmental activists express alarm that the hole will one day become large enough to make any kind of sun exposure extremely dangerous. This fear is misguided, however. We have identified activities contribute to the hole's growth and people around the world are taking positive steps to change their behavior in order to stop the growth.
The claim that the hole will one day become large enough to make any kind of sun exposure extremely dangerous plays which one of the following roles in the argument?

Accepted Answer

A) It verifies the truth of supporting evidence used for the conclusion. 
B) It is a subsidiary conclusion. 
C) It is a claim that the conclusion is trying to refute. 
D) It is used to support the conclusion. 
E) It is the main conclusion of the argument.

Question 14

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?

Accepted Answer

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 15

A recent study found that supermarket shoppers who watched a television ad for a product are 50% more likely to buy the product than those who don't. Those who listened to radio ads for the product were only 25% more likely to buy it.
Which of the following is the most valid observation based on the information above?

Accepted Answer

A) Seeing a product makes someone more likely to buy any product than just hearing about it. 
B) If a company wants to advertise a product in a supermarket, they would be better off using a TV ad if the rates are similar. 
C) TV reaches a wider audience than radio. 
D) If a company wants to advertise a product in a supermarket, they would be better off using a TV ad even if the rate is double that of radio. 
E) Radio stations should charge less for advertisements than should TV stations.

Question 16

A biology department at a university recently received a large donation from a chemical company after agreeing to research the effects of an Alzheimer's drug recently developed by the company. After the research study was completed, other universities asserted that the study was biased due to the donation from the company. As proof of the unbiased nature of the study, the department president asserted that they did not receive funds from the company until after the study was completed.
Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the position of the department president?

Accepted Answer

A) Researchers in the study were not told of the possible donation until after the study was completed. 
B) Researchers in the study had previously worked for the chemical company making the donation. 
C) Another university conducted an independent study of the drug in question at the same time of the biology department. 
D) Claims of bias are common whenever drug research is funded by a private entity. 
E) The donation from the company will be used for new equipment, and not to conduct any studies.

Question 17

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?

Accepted Answer

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 18

In a review of popular music, researchers found that the common themes of love and betrayal accounted for the subject matter in roughly 80% of songs. Despite the common themes, many people still continue to spend money on new popular music.
Each of the following, if true, would contribute to an explanation of the apparent discrepancy above EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A) Even if the subject is the same, there are so many emotions related to love and betrayal it is possible to sing of them in many different ways. 
B) Many people like to listen to music expressing what they themselves find hard to express, which are often feelings of emotions such as love or loss. 
C) While love songs are always popular, the biggest hits of the past few years have all been songs with a political message. 
D) Although most songs are about love or betrayal, artists find new ways to engage the material, as many are now singing about love between people of the same gender or different races. 
E) People find comfort in listening to songs about love or betrayal after suffering a break-up, even if they have heard the subject matter many times before.

Question 19

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?

Accepted Answer

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 20

While many people believe that fraud is more common than ever before, it is actually much more difficult to complete a fraudulent transaction at a bank than in past years. Most banking systems are now automated, so there is less room for human error or manipulation. In addition, modern computer systems can detect suspicious activity and alert appropriate staff.
Each of the following statements would weaken the above passage EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

A) The percentage of people losing money to fraudulent bank transactions has actually increased in the past 30 years. 
B) Most bank tellers will now allow you to complete a transaction without an ID as long as you know a password. 
C) Computer programs detecting fraud are vulnerable to hackers and occasionally are successfully dismantled. 
D) Since most people now use debit cards instead of checks, the chances of a checkbook falling into the wrong hands have declined. 
E) Staff levels at banks have declined, so even if computer systems alert them to fraudulent transactions, the staff often has too many customers to notify.

Exam 1: Logical Reasoning

At a track event, runners, long jumpers, and throwers are present. All of the runners are long jumpers, and none of the throwers are runners. If the statements above are true, then which of the following must also be true?

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?