Question 1

Nelson is a very respected sociologist, but his latest work is a disgrace. He relied on previous work done by other colleagues, an unreliable method of gathering research data. The work those colleagues completed has never been peer-reviewed, so it is clearly without merit. Therefore Nelson's new work is clearly lacking in academic merit.
The reasoning above is flawed because it

Accepted Answer

A) Presumes, without providing justification, that popular opinion is an appropriate metric for judging a work. 
B) Presumes, without providing justification, that because research is not peer-reviewed it is unreliable. 
C) Bases a general conclusion from a single observation. 
D) Uses reputation instead of substance to judge research. 
E) Uses substance to judge a work while ignoring reputation.

Question 2

Tyler: "I don't have to pay for utilities in my apartment, so I don't care how much electricity I use. I always keep all the lights on as a way of getting the most money for what I pay in rent because my rent will stay the same regardless of how much electricity I use."
Mila: "But that doesn't make any sense. Even if you don't pay for utilities separately, if you constantly use electricity it will drive up the bill for the building, which will eventually be reflected in your rent."
Mia and Tyler disagree most over which of the following issues?

Accepted Answer

A) Whether electricity is included in the rent for Tyler's apartment. 
B) Whether Tyler's electricity use is a waste of resources. 
C) Whether Tyler's electricity use will cost him more money. 
D) Whether Tyler's electricity use will cost his neighbors extra money. 
E) Whether Tyler's electricity use will cost his landlord more money.

Question 3

A World Bank program in a poor nation aimed to provide clean water access to impoverished people in remote areas. In the past 10 years, the availability of clean water has increased due to the program, but half the population in rural areas still lacks access to clean water. Thus, the program is a failure.
The reasoning in the argument is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that the argument

Accepted Answer

A) Fails to consider that even if the program hasn't improved clean water access for everyone, it has increased water access for at least some of its intended beneficiaries. 
B) Overlooks the possibility that conditions outside of the World Bank's control could have prevented the full success of the program. 
C) Presumes, without providing justification, that the program failed due to problems with its implementation and not due to the program design itself. 
D) Takes for granted that if a program does not succeed in one country, it cannot succeed elsewhere. 
E) Presumes, without providing justification, that providing services for those in rural areas is more difficult than for those in urban areas.

Question 4

In a study of Brazil's frog population, it was reported that 90% of frogs had spotted backs. In a subsequent study, only 40% of the total population had spotted backs.
Each of the following explanations would contribute to an explanation for the above statistics EXCEPT:

Accepted Answer

A) The first study was conducted in April, when young frogs hatch, and young frogs have more spots than older frogs. 
B) The two studies used different criteria for determining whether a frog was spotted or not. 
C) The studies were conducted in different geographical areas of Brazil. 
D) The studies were both conducted at the same time of year by the same research team. 
E) Between the two studies, certain species of spotted frogs were decimated by deforestation.

Question 5

Human beings are happiest when surrounded by friends and family. However, many people become isolated after moving for a career or school and have few friends and family near them. Due to economic need, many people have little choice but to move and so it can be inferred that ____________________.
Which of the following most logically completes the argument?

Accepted Answer

A) Necessity dictates that people must sometimes sacrifice happiness for economic needs. 
B) People do not try hard enough to stay near friends and family. 
C) People make choices that are not in their own best interest. 
D) If given the option, people should always choose family over money. 
E) People would be happier if they were poor and near family.

Question 6

Therapist: "People suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or PTSD, often struggle with social anxiety. PTSD symptoms are especially severe for people who already struggled with anxiety prior to developing PTSD. PTSD is common in military veterans, so it is important for the military to test people for anxiety disorders before they join in order to prevent people who will be more heavily impacted by PTSD from suffering its consequences."
Which one of the following principles, if valid, most helps justify the conclusion of the argument?

Accepted Answer

A) Therapists have a duty to understand how and why some people suffer more from certain disorders than others. 
B) If people are likely to suffer a disease, steps should be taken to ensure that their risk is lessened. 
C) The military should not refuse people the opportunity to serve just because something is more likely to happen to them. 
D) Mental illnesses should be treated just like physical illnesses. 
E) The military has a duty to only accept the most qualified recruits, and social anxiety is a weakness that cannot be tolerated.

Question 7

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?

Accepted Answer

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 8

Manny has soccer practice until 7 PM and then ballet until 9 PM. Clearly Manny will still have time to complete his homework so long as he can stay awake until 10 PM.
Which of the following is an assumption made by the above passage?

Accepted Answer

A) Manny's soccer practice will end on time. 
B) Manny will go straight home after ballet practice. 
C) Manny has one hour or less of homework. 
D) Manny's homework is due tomorrow. 
E) Manny's homework is a bigger priority than going to sleep by 10 PM.

Question 9

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?

Accepted Answer

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 10

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

Accepted Answer

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 11

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?

Accepted Answer

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 12

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:

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 13

Activities that pose risks are acceptable only if each and every person participating chooses the risk for their self only, and does not endanger others.
Which of the following statements most closely conforms to the principle above?

Accepted Answer

A) A motorcyclist drives at over 100 MPH on a busy road. 
B) A pilot does stunt maneuvers dangerously close to a crowded coliseum. 
C) A motorcyclist tries to break a speed record on a deserted road. 
D) A scuba diver pushes a friend to attempt a dive that is far out of her comfort zone although safe for most people. 
E) A driver likes the thrill of driving fast, even with his children in the car.

Question 14

Children learn best when things are explained to them verbally and with physical demonstrations. Children score highest on standardized tests when teachers both explain a concept and demonstrate it, as opposed to taking only one approach.
The claim that children learn best when things are explained to them verbally and with physical demonstrations plays which role in the argument?

Accepted Answer

A) It is a premise of the argument. 
B) It is a statement that the evidence given is meant to support. 
C) It is an assumption of the argument. 
D) It is a statement of background information offering facts. 
E) It is an intermediate conclusion.

Question 15

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?

Accepted Answer

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 16

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?

Accepted Answer

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 17

Jim went to his doctor after feeling very tired for a few days. The doctor told Jim he had either a bacterial infection or mononucleosis. He administered a mononucleosis test, but Jim tested negative. The doctor then wrote Jim a prescription for antibiotics.
Which one of the following most accurately describes the method of reasoning used by Jim's doctor?

Accepted Answer

A) An observation about one symptom is used to make a determination about a similar symptom. 
B) A generalization is reached by understanding a specific case. 
C) A conclusion is reached by ruling out all other possible explanations. 
D) A test is used to determine which of many possibilities is correct. 
E) A generalization is rejected because it failed to apply to a specific case.

Question 18

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?

Accepted Answer

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 19

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."
Ben disagrees with Angela's position by

Accepted Answer

A) Showing that Angela's qualifications are really to her detriment. 
B) Showing that the position Angela wants is not suited for her background. 
C) Using his own experiences to discredit hers. 
D) Showing that her qualifications may not be as impressive as she thinks. 
E) Showing that Angela is not as qualified as she claimed.

Question 20

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?

Accepted Answer

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.

Exam 1: Logical Reasoning

In a study of Brazil's frog population, it was reported that 90% of frogs had spotted backs. In a subsequent study, only 40% of the total population had spotted backs. Each of the following explanations would contribute to an explanation for the above statistics EXCEPT:

Manny has soccer practice until 7 PM and then ballet until 9 PM. Clearly Manny will still have time to complete his homework so long as he can stay awake until 10 PM. Which of the following is an assumption made by the above passage?

Activities that pose risks are acceptable only if each and every person participating chooses the risk for their self only, and does not endanger others. Which of the following statements most closely conforms to the principle above?