The city of Littleville wishes to institute a congestion charge, in which cars driving through the most crowded streets of Littleville, in the downtown area, would pay a fee when they did so. Proponents argue that, in these circumstances, most of the drivers in the city would choose to use outlying roads. This reduction in the traffic in downtown Littleville would help reduce the number of car accidents in the area.
The conclusion drawn in the above argument depends on which of the following assumptions?
A. The outlying roads in Littleville would not present a prohibitive inconvenience for most of the drivers in Littleville who normally use the downtown roads.
B. Most of Littleville's outlying roads are equipped only to handle cars and not the kind of commercial trucks that often have to make downtown deliveries.
C. Drivers in Littleville who can afford the congestion charge are less likely to be involved in a car accident than those who cannot.
D. Cars driving through downtown Littleville are at greater risk of being involved in a car accident than those that use outlying roads.
E. Implementing a congestion charge in Littleville would eventually create such traffic on the outlying roads that the number of car accidents would increase.
The conclusion drawn in the above argument depends on which of the following assumptions?
A. The outlying roads in Littleville would not present a prohibitive inconvenience for most of the drivers in Littleville who normally use the downtown roads.
B. Most of Littleville's outlying roads are equipped only to handle cars and not the kind of commercial trucks that often have to make downtown deliveries.
C. Drivers in Littleville who can afford the congestion charge are less likely to be involved in a car accident than those who cannot.
D. Cars driving through downtown Littleville are at greater risk of being involved in a car accident than those that use outlying roads.
E. Implementing a congestion charge in Littleville would eventually create such traffic on the outlying roads that the number of car accidents would increase.
D
******
Premise: most of the drivers in the city would choose to use outlying roads
Conclusion: reduction in the traffic in downtown Littleville => reduce the number of car accidents in the area.
A. The outlying roads in Littleville would not present a prohibitive inconvenience for most of the drivers in Littleville who normally use the downtown roads.
If choice A is true, most of the drivers would choose to use outlying reads. However, this choice doesn't help explain why the number of car accidents could be reduced.
B. Most of Littleville's outlying roads are equipped only to handle cars and not the kind of commercial trucks that often have to make downtown deliveries.
Same as choice A
C. Drivers in Littleville who can afford the congestion charge are less likely to be involved in a car accident than those who cannot.
This choice tries to explain the difference between who can afford the charge and who can't. However, this choice is irrelevent to the argument that traffic reduction in downtown could lead to the reduction in the number of car accidents in this area. Eliminated
D. Cars driving through downtown Littleville are at greater risk of being involved in a car accident than those that use outlying roads.
Correct. Reduction in cars driving through downtown could clearly reduce the number of car accidents because switching from downtown to outlying roads could reduce the risk of accident.
E. Implementing a congestion charge in Littleville would eventually create such traffic on the outlying roads that the number of car accidents would increase.
This choice seems to weaken the aregument.
The answer is D
Conclusion: reduction in the traffic in downtown Littleville => reduce the number of car accidents in the area.
A. The outlying roads in Littleville would not present a prohibitive inconvenience for most of the drivers in Littleville who normally use the downtown roads.
If choice A is true, most of the drivers would choose to use outlying reads. However, this choice doesn't help explain why the number of car accidents could be reduced.
B. Most of Littleville's outlying roads are equipped only to handle cars and not the kind of commercial trucks that often have to make downtown deliveries.
Same as choice A
C. Drivers in Littleville who can afford the congestion charge are less likely to be involved in a car accident than those who cannot.
This choice tries to explain the difference between who can afford the charge and who can't. However, this choice is irrelevent to the argument that traffic reduction in downtown could lead to the reduction in the number of car accidents in this area. Eliminated
D. Cars driving through downtown Littleville are at greater risk of being involved in a car accident than those that use outlying roads.
Correct. Reduction in cars driving through downtown could clearly reduce the number of car accidents because switching from downtown to outlying roads could reduce the risk of accident.
E. Implementing a congestion charge in Littleville would eventually create such traffic on the outlying roads that the number of car accidents would increase.
This choice seems to weaken the aregument.
The answer is D
*******
2
Ever since the new Marketing Head joined Crackwell Corporation, its profits have increased steadily. In fact, over the past three years that the Marketing Head has been with Crackwell, the company's profits have grown by almost 35% every year, a figure that used to hover around the 10% mark earlier. Pleased by this fact, the Board of Crackwell Corporation has decided to reward the Marketing Head with stock options in the company.
Which of the following, if true, casts the most serious doubts on the decision taken by the Board of Crackwell Corporation
(A) The Marketing Head is disliked by his team members because of his habit of criticising them in public
(B) Over the past three years, the profits of Crackwell's closest competitor have grown by 42% every year
(C) The CFO of Crackwell Corporation has taken several cost cutting measures over the last three years, including retrenchment of unproductive employees and renegotiation of prices with vendors.
(D) A strategy consulting firm, known to have turned around several poorly performing companies, has been recently hired by Crackwell Corporation
(E) Several new marketing campaigns, which gave a lot of international exposure to the company's products, have been successfully conducted by Crackwell Corporation over the past three years
Which of the following, if true, casts the most serious doubts on the decision taken by the Board of Crackwell Corporation
(A) The Marketing Head is disliked by his team members because of his habit of criticising them in public
(B) Over the past three years, the profits of Crackwell's closest competitor have grown by 42% every year
(C) The CFO of Crackwell Corporation has taken several cost cutting measures over the last three years, including retrenchment of unproductive employees and renegotiation of prices with vendors.
(D) A strategy consulting firm, known to have turned around several poorly performing companies, has been recently hired by Crackwell Corporation
(E) Several new marketing campaigns, which gave a lot of international exposure to the company's products, have been successfully conducted by Crackwell Corporation over the past three years
*****
Argument tells us that profits have increased since the new marketing head has joined. So the company board has decided to reward him.
Question: We need to cast doubt on the decision of the board i.e. we need to give a reason why the head should not be rewarded.
(A) The Marketing Head is disliked by his team members because of his habit of criticising them in public
This is no reason to not reward him. If this is producing results and profits are increasing, so be it.
(B) Over the past three years, the profits of Crackwell's closest competitor have grown by 42% every year
It doesn't matter what the profits of other people are. It is possible that the competitor had 42% or higher profits in the prior yrs too. This info does not tell us anything about the state of the economy. Had there been info that the economy has been doing particularly well for the last 3 yrs (and not before that), we could have debated that the increase in profit could be due to the improved economic conditions and not the head's efforts. All we know is that Cromwell's profit has been growing by 35% instead of 10%.
(C) The CFO of Crackwell Corporation has taken several cost cutting measures over the last three years, including retrenchment of unproductive employees and renegotiation of prices with vendors.
Profits increase when you either increase revenue or decrease costs or both. This tells us that the increase in profits could be because the CFO is cutting costs. The marketing head is supposed to push the top line i.e. increase the revenue by marketing the product better. This does make us doubt whether the increase in profit is because of the marketing head's efforts or because of the cost cutting done by CFO. So it does make us doubt the board's decision. Answer.
(D) A strategy consulting firm, known to have turned around several poorly performing companies, has been recently hired by Crackwell Corporation
Two things here - the firm has been recently hired so it can't be responsible for Crackwell's 3 yr performance. Also, we don't know whether the firm actually did any good for Crackwell. Just because it turned around other companies, it doesn't mean it was effective in this case too.
(E) Several new marketing campaigns, which gave a lot of international exposure to the company's products, have been successfully conducted by Crackwell Corporation over the past three years
Possibly, marketing head led these campaigns and hence, did a commendable job. There is no reason to not reward him.
Answer (C)
Question: We need to cast doubt on the decision of the board i.e. we need to give a reason why the head should not be rewarded.
(A) The Marketing Head is disliked by his team members because of his habit of criticising them in public
This is no reason to not reward him. If this is producing results and profits are increasing, so be it.
(B) Over the past three years, the profits of Crackwell's closest competitor have grown by 42% every year
It doesn't matter what the profits of other people are. It is possible that the competitor had 42% or higher profits in the prior yrs too. This info does not tell us anything about the state of the economy. Had there been info that the economy has been doing particularly well for the last 3 yrs (and not before that), we could have debated that the increase in profit could be due to the improved economic conditions and not the head's efforts. All we know is that Cromwell's profit has been growing by 35% instead of 10%.
(C) The CFO of Crackwell Corporation has taken several cost cutting measures over the last three years, including retrenchment of unproductive employees and renegotiation of prices with vendors.
Profits increase when you either increase revenue or decrease costs or both. This tells us that the increase in profits could be because the CFO is cutting costs. The marketing head is supposed to push the top line i.e. increase the revenue by marketing the product better. This does make us doubt whether the increase in profit is because of the marketing head's efforts or because of the cost cutting done by CFO. So it does make us doubt the board's decision. Answer.
(D) A strategy consulting firm, known to have turned around several poorly performing companies, has been recently hired by Crackwell Corporation
Two things here - the firm has been recently hired so it can't be responsible for Crackwell's 3 yr performance. Also, we don't know whether the firm actually did any good for Crackwell. Just because it turned around other companies, it doesn't mean it was effective in this case too.
(E) Several new marketing campaigns, which gave a lot of international exposure to the company's products, have been successfully conducted by Crackwell Corporation over the past three years
Possibly, marketing head led these campaigns and hence, did a commendable job. There is no reason to not reward him.
Answer (C)
****
A mathematical theorem proved by one mathematician should not be accepted until each step in its proof has been independently verified. Computer-assisted proofs generally proceed by conducting a vast number of calculations—surveying all the possible types of instances in which the theorem could apply and proving that the theorem holds for each type. In most computer-assisted proofs there are astronomically many types of instances to survey, and no human being could review every step in the proof. Hence, computer-assisted proofs involving astronomically many types of instances should not be accepted.
Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument relies?
(A) The use of the computer to assist in the proof of mathematical theorems has greatly simplified the mathematician's task.
(B) Most attempts to construct proofs of mathematical theorems do not result in demonstrations that the theorems are true.
(C) Computers cannot be used to assist in generating proofs of mathematical theorems that involve only a very limited number of steps.
(D) Any mathematical proof that does not rely on the computer cannot proceed by surveying all possible types of instances to which the candidate theorem might apply.
(E) The use of an independent computer program does not satisfy the requirement for independent verification of each step in a proof that is extended enough to be otherwise unverifiable.
Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument relies?
(A) The use of the computer to assist in the proof of mathematical theorems has greatly simplified the mathematician's task.
(B) Most attempts to construct proofs of mathematical theorems do not result in demonstrations that the theorems are true.
(C) Computers cannot be used to assist in generating proofs of mathematical theorems that involve only a very limited number of steps.
(D) Any mathematical proof that does not rely on the computer cannot proceed by surveying all possible types of instances to which the candidate theorem might apply.
(E) The use of an independent computer program does not satisfy the requirement for independent verification of each step in a proof that is extended enough to be otherwise unverifiable.
*****
1.Translate/simplify the argument:
- Fact 1: A theorem should be accepted only if each step in its proof has been verified independently
- Fact 2: Computer-assisted proofs work with vast numbers of calculations - (blah blah..surveying instances & proving theorem in each step)
- Fact 3: There are huge number of types of instances, and no one could review all of steps
- Claim: Computer-assisted proofs should not be accepted. (because no one could review all steps!!!)-> Conclusion
2. Quick reasoning (in mind): there is something missed between "independent verification" and "ability of human being". What if there is an alternative way? --> the assumption could eliminate/exclude some possible cases.(which could damage the conclusion)
3. POE:
(A) -> using of computer is not related to the reasoning here ->out of scope
(B) -> attempts to construct proofs blah blah...-> out of scope
(C) -> The argument tell about theorem as a whole, not special case (which involves limited number of steps) -> out of scope
(D) Any mathematical proof that does not rely on the computer cannot proceed by surveying all possible types of instances to which the candidate theorem might apply. ->something has been excluded, not sure it is the correct assumption -> try to negate:
Any proof (non-assisted by computer) can proceed by surveying instances -> so... people still can not review every step in the proof (assisted by computer) --> so... negating this can not damage the conclusion.
(E) The use of an independent computer program does not satisfy the requirement for independent verification of each step in a proof that is extended enough to be otherwise unverifiable. --> oh, it excluded something again -> try to negate:
The use of computer satisfy the requirement for independent verification of each step in a proof (that its extended enough to be otherwise unverifiable) --> yeah, people could not verify it in some cases (or numerous cases), but the fact that computer could satisfy the requirement of independent verification (in that cases) --> definitely destroy the conclusion
--> E is the correct answer
- Fact 1: A theorem should be accepted only if each step in its proof has been verified independently
- Fact 2: Computer-assisted proofs work with vast numbers of calculations - (blah blah..surveying instances & proving theorem in each step)
- Fact 3: There are huge number of types of instances, and no one could review all of steps
- Claim: Computer-assisted proofs should not be accepted. (because no one could review all steps!!!)-> Conclusion
2. Quick reasoning (in mind): there is something missed between "independent verification" and "ability of human being". What if there is an alternative way? --> the assumption could eliminate/exclude some possible cases.(which could damage the conclusion)
3. POE:
(A) -> using of computer is not related to the reasoning here ->out of scope
(B) -> attempts to construct proofs blah blah...-> out of scope
(C) -> The argument tell about theorem as a whole, not special case (which involves limited number of steps) -> out of scope
(D) Any mathematical proof that does not rely on the computer cannot proceed by surveying all possible types of instances to which the candidate theorem might apply. ->something has been excluded, not sure it is the correct assumption -> try to negate:
Any proof (non-assisted by computer) can proceed by surveying instances -> so... people still can not review every step in the proof (assisted by computer) --> so... negating this can not damage the conclusion.
(E) The use of an independent computer program does not satisfy the requirement for independent verification of each step in a proof that is extended enough to be otherwise unverifiable. --> oh, it excluded something again -> try to negate:
The use of computer satisfy the requirement for independent verification of each step in a proof (that its extended enough to be otherwise unverifiable) --> yeah, people could not verify it in some cases (or numerous cases), but the fact that computer could satisfy the requirement of independent verification (in that cases) --> definitely destroy the conclusion
--> E is the correct answer
***$
4
Companies that advertise on television complain that digital television recording
(DTR) services make it possible for consumers to watch television programs without
viewing the commercials that these advertisers have paid the television networks to
broadcast. The DTR service providers respond that their services may actually help the
advertisers, because without their service, many consumers would not have been able
to watch the programs—or the commercials in them—in the first place
Which of the following, if true, offers the most support to the advertisers' claims that the
DTR services are currently hurting their businesses?
A. Even the best commercials are usually less entertaining than the programs that consumers choose to watch for themselves.
B. DTR services charge such high rates that only a small percentage of consumers subscribe to them.
C. The average per-second cost of advertising on television has risen every year for the past two decades.
D. More than 90 percent of subscribers to DTR services opt to use a setting that automatically edits out commercials.
E. DTR services alter the television viewing experience by allowing customers to view the program of their choice at the time of their choosing.
(DTR) services make it possible for consumers to watch television programs without
viewing the commercials that these advertisers have paid the television networks to
broadcast. The DTR service providers respond that their services may actually help the
advertisers, because without their service, many consumers would not have been able
to watch the programs—or the commercials in them—in the first place
Which of the following, if true, offers the most support to the advertisers' claims that the
DTR services are currently hurting their businesses?
A. Even the best commercials are usually less entertaining than the programs that consumers choose to watch for themselves.
B. DTR services charge such high rates that only a small percentage of consumers subscribe to them.
C. The average per-second cost of advertising on television has risen every year for the past two decades.
D. More than 90 percent of subscribers to DTR services opt to use a setting that automatically edits out commercials.
E. DTR services alter the television viewing experience by allowing customers to view the program of their choice at the time of their choosing.
******
Advertisers complain --> Ads are not getting viewed by consumers.
DTR service providers --> Helping advertisers as without their services consumers cant view ads.
Question asks us to provide support to the advertisers claim.
A. Even the best commercials are usually less entertaining than the programs that consumers choose to watch for themselves. - Incorrect. Entertainment quotient is out of scope.
B. DTR services charge such high rates that only a small percentage of consumers subscribe to them. - Incorrect. If the small percentage of consumers who have subscribed to DTR services view the ads then it strengthens the claim of DTR service providers.
C. The average per-second cost of advertising on television has risen every year for the past two decades. - Incorrect. Advertising cost is not the issue here. Irrelevant.
D. More than 90 percent of subscribers to DTR services opt to use a setting that automatically edits out commercials. - Correct.
E. DTR services alter the television viewing experience by allowing customers to view the program of their choice at the time of their choosing. - Incorrect. Out of context. Viewing experience is not discussed.
Answer: D
DTR service providers --> Helping advertisers as without their services consumers cant view ads.
Question asks us to provide support to the advertisers claim.
A. Even the best commercials are usually less entertaining than the programs that consumers choose to watch for themselves. - Incorrect. Entertainment quotient is out of scope.
B. DTR services charge such high rates that only a small percentage of consumers subscribe to them. - Incorrect. If the small percentage of consumers who have subscribed to DTR services view the ads then it strengthens the claim of DTR service providers.
C. The average per-second cost of advertising on television has risen every year for the past two decades. - Incorrect. Advertising cost is not the issue here. Irrelevant.
D. More than 90 percent of subscribers to DTR services opt to use a setting that automatically edits out commercials. - Correct.
E. DTR services alter the television viewing experience by allowing customers to view the program of their choice at the time of their choosing. - Incorrect. Out of context. Viewing experience is not discussed.
Answer: D
*****
5
Although there is no record of poet Edmund Spenser's parentage, we do know that as a youth Spenser attended the Merchant Tailors' School in London for a period between 1560 and 1570. Records from this time indicate that the Merchant Tailors' Guild then had only three members named Spenser: Robert Spenser, listed as a gentleman; Nicholas Spenser, elected the Guild's Warden in 1568; and John Spenser, listed as a "journeyman cloth-maker." Of these, the last was likely the least affluent of the three—and most likely Edmund's father, since school accounting records list Edmund as a scholar who attended the school at a reduced fee.
Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?
(A) Anybody in sixteenth century London who made clothing professionally would have had to be a member of the Merchant Tailors' Guild.
(B) The fact that Edmund Spenser attended the Merchant Tailors' School did not necessarily mean that he planned to become a tailor.
(C) No member of the Guild could become Guild warden in sixteenth century London unless he was a gentleman.
(D) Most of those whose fathers were members of the Merchant Tailors' Guild were students at the Merchant Tailors' School.
(E) The Merchant Tailors' School did not reduce its fees for the children of the more affluent Guild members.
Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?
(A) Anybody in sixteenth century London who made clothing professionally would have had to be a member of the Merchant Tailors' Guild.
(B) The fact that Edmund Spenser attended the Merchant Tailors' School did not necessarily mean that he planned to become a tailor.
(C) No member of the Guild could become Guild warden in sixteenth century London unless he was a gentleman.
(D) Most of those whose fathers were members of the Merchant Tailors' Guild were students at the Merchant Tailors' School.
(E) The Merchant Tailors' School did not reduce its fees for the children of the more affluent Guild members.
******
Type: Assumption
Boil It Down: Attend at reduced fee -> Edmund's father was the least affluent of the 3
Missing Information: There is no other reason than being poorer that the fee would have been reduced. The reasoning also assumes: child at Tailors' School -> Parent in Tailors' Guild
Goal: Find the option that presents information this argument requires for the logic to hold.
Analysis: This prompt leaves out a great deal of information in the evidence, such as how we magically are left to assume a connection between Edmund Spencer's attendance at the school and that Edmund's father would have to be a member of the guild. The prompt also presumes that Edmund went to the school on a reduced fee because he came from a lesser affluent household, and that based on that assumption, Edmund's father would have had to have been John because he was the least affluent of the three Spensers.
Ⓐ We're not concerned with ANYONE who made clothing professionally having to be a member of the guild, we're concerned with the notion that: student is at the school → The father was a member of the guild. This option goes way too extreme.
Ⓑ Whether Edmund did or did not plan to become a tailor is in no way something that this argument hinges on. The argument works either way, so this couldn't be an assumption made in this argument.
Ⓒ The argument doesn't hinge on the parameters for someone to become a guild warden. TOTALLY irrelevant.
Ⓓ This option gets it backwards. The argument isn't assuming that if you had a father in the Guild, that you were a student. It's that if you were a student, then you had a father in the guild.
Ⓔ Yes! This option is absolutely assumed by the reasoning. The argument requires that only those who came from a lesser affluent family would receive a fee reduction, or in other words, the school did not reduce its fees for those who were more affluent. Let's say that the school was also willing to reduce fees for academic merit? Then the whole argument that we can use the fee reduction to say that Edmund's father had to have been the least affluent of the three collapses.
_________________
Boil It Down: Attend at reduced fee -> Edmund's father was the least affluent of the 3
Missing Information: There is no other reason than being poorer that the fee would have been reduced. The reasoning also assumes: child at Tailors' School -> Parent in Tailors' Guild
Goal: Find the option that presents information this argument requires for the logic to hold.
Analysis: This prompt leaves out a great deal of information in the evidence, such as how we magically are left to assume a connection between Edmund Spencer's attendance at the school and that Edmund's father would have to be a member of the guild. The prompt also presumes that Edmund went to the school on a reduced fee because he came from a lesser affluent household, and that based on that assumption, Edmund's father would have had to have been John because he was the least affluent of the three Spensers.
Ⓐ We're not concerned with ANYONE who made clothing professionally having to be a member of the guild, we're concerned with the notion that: student is at the school → The father was a member of the guild. This option goes way too extreme.
Ⓑ Whether Edmund did or did not plan to become a tailor is in no way something that this argument hinges on. The argument works either way, so this couldn't be an assumption made in this argument.
Ⓒ The argument doesn't hinge on the parameters for someone to become a guild warden. TOTALLY irrelevant.
Ⓓ This option gets it backwards. The argument isn't assuming that if you had a father in the Guild, that you were a student. It's that if you were a student, then you had a father in the guild.
Ⓔ Yes! This option is absolutely assumed by the reasoning. The argument requires that only those who came from a lesser affluent family would receive a fee reduction, or in other words, the school did not reduce its fees for those who were more affluent. Let's say that the school was also willing to reduce fees for academic merit? Then the whole argument that we can use the fee reduction to say that Edmund's father had to have been the least affluent of the three collapses.
_________________
6
Because no employee wants to be associated with bad news in the eyes of a superior, information about serious problems at lower levels is progressively softened and distorted as it goes up each step in the management hierarchy. the chief executive is therefore, less well informed about problems at lower levels than are his or her subordinates at those levels.
The conclusion drawn above is based on the assumption that
a) problems should be solved at levels in the management hierarchy at which they occur
b) employees should be rewarded for accurately reporting problems to their superiors
c) problems-solving ability is more important at higher levels than it is at lower levels of the management hierarchy
d) chief executives obtain information about problems at lower levels from no source other than their subordinates
e) some employees are more are concerned about truth than about the way they are perceived by their superiors
The conclusion drawn above is based on the assumption that
a) problems should be solved at levels in the management hierarchy at which they occur
b) employees should be rewarded for accurately reporting problems to their superiors
c) problems-solving ability is more important at higher levels than it is at lower levels of the management hierarchy
d) chief executives obtain information about problems at lower levels from no source other than their subordinates
e) some employees are more are concerned about truth than about the way they are perceived by their superiors
***
The first step in the process is understanding the passage or drawing a logical structure. The argument structure is of the form A->B->C. Let's draw it:
No employee wants to be associated with bad news in the eyes of a superior ------------>>>> information about serious problems at lower levels is progressively softened and distorted as it goes up each step in the management hierarchy ----------------->>>>>>> the chief executive is less well informed about problems at lower levels than are his or her subordinates at those levels.
Does the argument make sense? It says that employees don't want to be associated with bad news; so, they distort the bad news when they report to higher levels. Now, this means that chief executive would be less well informed about problems than his juniors (this is because the distortion in information increase as the information travels up the heirarchy).
Now, in these kind of causal arguments A->B: we need to consider all the statements which could break this relationship and negation of such statements would be assumption (since our conclusion is that the relation A->B holds, so anything which prevents such relationship, we assume it not to be true)
Now, if you can pre-think an assumption in this case, do it; if not, just move on to the options. However, for understanding purpose, let's see how prethinking can be done here:
Is there a way chief executive knows as well as his juniors even though information is distorted as it travels up?
The answer could be that if he has some other source of information than his immediate juniors. In this case, he'll probably know as well or better than his juniors.
Therefore the assumption for the conclusion to hold, would be that Chief executive has no other source of information than his juniors.
This is what is expressed by option D, which is the correct choice.
No employee wants to be associated with bad news in the eyes of a superior ------------>>>> information about serious problems at lower levels is progressively softened and distorted as it goes up each step in the management hierarchy ----------------->>>>>>> the chief executive is less well informed about problems at lower levels than are his or her subordinates at those levels.
Does the argument make sense? It says that employees don't want to be associated with bad news; so, they distort the bad news when they report to higher levels. Now, this means that chief executive would be less well informed about problems than his juniors (this is because the distortion in information increase as the information travels up the heirarchy).
Now, in these kind of causal arguments A->B: we need to consider all the statements which could break this relationship and negation of such statements would be assumption (since our conclusion is that the relation A->B holds, so anything which prevents such relationship, we assume it not to be true)
Now, if you can pre-think an assumption in this case, do it; if not, just move on to the options. However, for understanding purpose, let's see how prethinking can be done here:
Is there a way chief executive knows as well as his juniors even though information is distorted as it travels up?
The answer could be that if he has some other source of information than his immediate juniors. In this case, he'll probably know as well or better than his juniors.
Therefore the assumption for the conclusion to hold, would be that Chief executive has no other source of information than his juniors.
This is what is expressed by option D, which is the correct choice.
****
7
Auto industry executive: Statistics show that cars that were built smaller after 1977 to make them more fuel-efficient had a higher incidence of accident-related fatalities than did their earlier larger counterparts. For this reason we oppose recent guidelines that would require us to produce cars with higher fuel efficiency.
Which of the following, if true, would constitute the strongest objection to the executives argument?
A. Even after 1977, large automobiles were frequently involved in accidents that caused death or serious injury.
B. Although fatalities in accidents involving small cars have increased since 1977, the number of accidents has decreased.
C. New computerized fuel systems can enable large cars to meet fuel efficiency standards established by the recent guidelines.
D. Modern technology can make small cars more fuel-efficient today than at any other time in their production history.
E. Fuel efficiency in models of large cars rose immediately after 1977 but has been declining ever since.
Which of the following, if true, would constitute the strongest objection to the executives argument?
A. Even after 1977, large automobiles were frequently involved in accidents that caused death or serious injury.
B. Although fatalities in accidents involving small cars have increased since 1977, the number of accidents has decreased.
C. New computerized fuel systems can enable large cars to meet fuel efficiency standards established by the recent guidelines.
D. Modern technology can make small cars more fuel-efficient today than at any other time in their production history.
E. Fuel efficiency in models of large cars rose immediately after 1977 but has been declining ever since.
*****
C
Argument: we oppose recent guidelines that would require us to produce cars with higher fuel efficiency
Premise:
Auto industry executive: Statistics show that cars that were built smaller after 1977 to make them more fuel-efficient had a higher incidence of accident-related fatalities than did their earlier larger counterparts
Why do the executive oppose the guideliness? Guidelines require cars with high effeciency and for this card have to be made small
( Small car-higher effeciency)
Weaken argument:
We have to show that somehow effeciency can be achieved without making cars small
C clearly does it.
New tech system can help even large cars to be fuel effecient and hence adhere the guideliness
A, B-dont talk at all about effecieny..Omit
E-weakens to some extent..but not as much as C
Argument: we oppose recent guidelines that would require us to produce cars with higher fuel efficiency
Premise:
Auto industry executive: Statistics show that cars that were built smaller after 1977 to make them more fuel-efficient had a higher incidence of accident-related fatalities than did their earlier larger counterparts
Why do the executive oppose the guideliness? Guidelines require cars with high effeciency and for this card have to be made small
( Small car-higher effeciency)
Weaken argument:
We have to show that somehow effeciency can be achieved without making cars small
C clearly does it.
New tech system can help even large cars to be fuel effecient and hence adhere the guideliness
A, B-dont talk at all about effecieny..Omit
E-weakens to some extent..but not as much as C
*****
8
The Tricounty Bridge was supposed to relieve traffic in East Countway County. Although the bridge was opened last year, traffic in the county has gotten worse over
the last year. To relieve the traffic situation in East Countway, therefore, the traffic commission should order the Tricounty Bridge closed.
Which of the following, if true, gives the most support to the conclusion of the passage above?
A. The increased traffic seen in East Countway over the last year is largely attributable to a large casino and resort hotel that opened for business shortly after the opening of
the Tricounty Bridge.
B. The Tricounty Bridge allows inhabitants of heavily populated West Countway County to reach East Countway in less than a half-hour, as opposed to the two hours the trip
required before the opening of the bridge.
C. The bridge is only open for the periods 7–9 a.m. and 3–5 p.m. on weekdays.
D. Ship captains on the Countway River have complained that the bridge disrupts shipping on the river, thereby hurting the local economy.
E. The bridge is unlikely ever to pay for itself with the current low toll payment.
the last year. To relieve the traffic situation in East Countway, therefore, the traffic commission should order the Tricounty Bridge closed.
Which of the following, if true, gives the most support to the conclusion of the passage above?
A. The increased traffic seen in East Countway over the last year is largely attributable to a large casino and resort hotel that opened for business shortly after the opening of
the Tricounty Bridge.
B. The Tricounty Bridge allows inhabitants of heavily populated West Countway County to reach East Countway in less than a half-hour, as opposed to the two hours the trip
required before the opening of the bridge.
C. The bridge is only open for the periods 7–9 a.m. and 3–5 p.m. on weekdays.
D. Ship captains on the Countway River have complained that the bridge disrupts shipping on the river, thereby hurting the local economy.
E. The bridge is unlikely ever to pay for itself with the current low toll payment.
OA B
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9
The energy an animal must expend to move uphill is proportional to its body weight, whereas the animal's energy output available to perform this task is proportional to its surface area. This is the reason that small animals, like squirrel, can run up a tree trunk almost as fast as they can move on level ground, whereas large animals tend to slow down when they are moving uphill.
Which one of the following is an assumption on which the explanation above depends?
(A) The amount of energy needed to move uphill is no greater for large animals that it is for small animals.
(B) Small animals can move more rapidly than large animals can.
(C) The ratio of surface area to body weight is smaller in large animals than it is in small animals.
(D) There is little variation in the ratio of energy output to body weight among animals.
(E) The amount of energy needed to run at a given speed is proportional to the surface area of the running animal.
Which one of the following is an assumption on which the explanation above depends?
(A) The amount of energy needed to move uphill is no greater for large animals that it is for small animals.
(B) Small animals can move more rapidly than large animals can.
(C) The ratio of surface area to body weight is smaller in large animals than it is in small animals.
(D) There is little variation in the ratio of energy output to body weight among animals.
(E) The amount of energy needed to run at a given speed is proportional to the surface area of the running animal.
****
The energy an animal must expend to move uphill is proportional to its body weight, whereas the animal's energy output available to perform this task is proportional to its surface area. This is the reason that small animals, like squirrel, can run up a tree trunk almost as fast as they can move on level ground, whereas large animals tend to slow down when they are moving uphill.
Which one of the following is an assumption on which the explanation above depends?
(A) The amount of energy needed to move uphill is no greater for large animals that it is for small animals --> counterfact
(B) Small animals can move more rapidly than large animals can --> it's not about the speed of large animals to small animals, it's about speed of each in uphill in compared with each' speed in flat ground
(C) The ratio of surface area to body weight is smaller in large animals than it is in small animals -->the best. Because such ratio of large animals is not equal to that of small animals, large animals can;t remain its speed when moving uphill as can small animals when moving uphill
(D) There is little variation in the ratio of energy output to body weight among animals --> no influence
(E) The amount of energy needed to run at a given speed is proportional to the surface area of the running animal -->not qualified enough to be basis of the argument
Which one of the following is an assumption on which the explanation above depends?
(A) The amount of energy needed to move uphill is no greater for large animals that it is for small animals --> counterfact
(B) Small animals can move more rapidly than large animals can --> it's not about the speed of large animals to small animals, it's about speed of each in uphill in compared with each' speed in flat ground
(C) The ratio of surface area to body weight is smaller in large animals than it is in small animals -->the best. Because such ratio of large animals is not equal to that of small animals, large animals can;t remain its speed when moving uphill as can small animals when moving uphill
(D) There is little variation in the ratio of energy output to body weight among animals --> no influence
(E) The amount of energy needed to run at a given speed is proportional to the surface area of the running animal -->not qualified enough to be basis of the argument
*****
10
Doctor: Research shows that adolescents who play video games on a regular basis are three times as likely to develop carpal tunnel syndrome as are adolescents who do not play video games. Federal legislation that prohibits the sale of video games to minors would help curb this painful wrist condition among adolescents. The doctor's conclusion depends on which of the following assumptions?
A. The majority of federal legislators would vote for a bill that prohibits the sale of video games to minors.
B. Not all adolescents who play video games on a regular basis suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome.
C. Playing video games is the only way an adolescent can develop carpal tunnel syndrome.
D. Most parents would refuse to purchase video games for their adolescent children.
E. The regular playing of video games by adolescents does not produce such beneficial effects as better hand eye coordination and improved reaction time.
A. The majority of federal legislators would vote for a bill that prohibits the sale of video games to minors.
B. Not all adolescents who play video games on a regular basis suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome.
C. Playing video games is the only way an adolescent can develop carpal tunnel syndrome.
D. Most parents would refuse to purchase video games for their adolescent children.
E. The regular playing of video games by adolescents does not produce such beneficial effects as better hand eye coordination and improved reaction time.
OA D
Adolescents play video games regularly and thus are likely to develop some syndrome.
By prohibiting the sale to the MINORS would help curb this issue.
The assumption here is that these minors would not come in contact with the video games by any means. What if someone else buys for them or gift them? Then the argument fails.
Therefore correct choice would be one that states that there is no other way for these minors to come in contact with video games.
Choice D is correct as it states MOST (majority) of parents won't buy video games for their adolescent children.
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By prohibiting the sale to the MINORS would help curb this issue.
The assumption here is that these minors would not come in contact with the video games by any means. What if someone else buys for them or gift them? Then the argument fails.
Therefore correct choice would be one that states that there is no other way for these minors to come in contact with video games.
Choice D is correct as it states MOST (majority) of parents won't buy video games for their adolescent children.
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