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Instructor: Kieu Kim Lan
STRENGTHEN 2.1-10 questions/l2'l. One economic analyst, studying
the levels of trade between England and China, has identified a
trend toward
increased irnportation into England of textiles and cloth made
in China" Over the past ten years alone, the levelof these
rnaterials made in Clrirra and sold iri England lras doubled.
Thercfore, the analyst predicts from this datathat within the next
ten years, the level of tlre textiles and cloth originating in
Clrina and sold in England willdouble again.
Which of the following statements, if il'ue, most effectively
supports tlre analyst's prediction?
(A) Chinese cloth products arc generally recognized as being of
a higher quality than the same products nrade inauy other
country.
(B) Economic trends in international trade generally remain
stable over long periods of time.(C) England and China have never
been enemies in any internatioltal military conflict.(D) The
standard of living in China is nruch tower than in England, so that
the cost of labor ando therefore, cost
. of the products conring fror-n Cliina will be muclr lower.
(E) The science of predictiou trends in international trade has
become much more accurate in recent years tlranwlren it began
approximately 100 years ago.
Women should not serve in the military in active duty combat
roles because women cannot perfonn allof thesarne ptrysical tasks
that men can. Because rnen are genetically larger and stronger,
only men should be allowedto participate in active duty combat
roles.
Which of the following statements, if true, provides the most
support for the above argument?
(A) For the entire history of armed conflict iii the world, only
meii have participated in active combat roles.(B) Modern military
confliet involves many more electronic, computerized tools, and
weapons than ever before, so '"
that coordination and skill are better indicators of an abilify
to succeed than sheer strengtlr.(C) Cr"rltural biases and
traditions support the lirnitations on placing women in active
combat roles because
tvonlen are traditionally pictured as more nufiuring and caring
individuals.(D) Advar,ces iir elestioiiic ieclino!o gy l'oave
resulted iri additional eq'-iipnient that soldiers in combat
positions are required
to carry, increasing tfte size and weight of haldlreld weapons
and backpacks.(E) Fsychological tests have shown tlrat women better
demonstrate the characteristics that are recognized as
essential for leaderslrip positions.
Republican ancl democratic senators argued extensively over an
increase in tlie national minimum wage salary.'fhe denrou?is
argueci that tlte'rninimum wage needs to be incteased try at least
fifty cents each year for the nexttliilee years in order to keep up
with the current rate of inflation. The republicans responded that
no increase wasnecessaly because the curreut both parents eanted
minirnuln wage for 40 hours per week, well above the federalpoverty
lirnit.
Which ot-the following statemerrts, if true, would most
stnengtlten tlre Cemocrats' position on the issue of theminirnum
wage increase?
(A) The federal poverty lirnit is scaled so that the required
income level increases for larger farnilies.(B) The last increase
in tlre federalminimum wage salary level was more than five years
ago.(C) The president, who is a dernocrat, has stated that he will
veto any additional spending proposals unless
Congress first irrcreases the minimum wage salary.(D) The
fedelal poverty limit is set well below the average standard of
living and is not considered adequate for
a family to live orr.(E) Tlre size of the average family in
America has beert declinilrg over tlte past decade, so that instead
of four
rnembers it is down to three.
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Instructor: Kieu Kirn Lan Strengthen 2. l, 2
4. If National Financing does not agree to lend money to
Enterprise, Inc., then Enterprise, Inc., will be forced to goout of
business. Enterprise, Inc., cannot continue its operatiofls without
receiving temporary loans of at least$200,000 eaclr month.
Which of the following statements, iftrue, would most strengthen
the conclusion of the above argument?
(A) National Financing is the only company from which
Enterprise, Inc., could received any financial assistance.(B)
Enterprise, Inc., provides a service that is essential to many
local businesses.(C) While operating, Enterprise, [nc., can
generate a monthly profit of more than $20,000.(D) Enterprise,
Inc., and National financing are corporations from different
states.(E) The president of Enterprise, Inc., is also the president
of National Financing.
5. It has always been believed that the yellow-snouted sloth and
the Bigsby lemur exist only in Madagascar.However, a yellow-snouted
sloth was recently discovered living in the wilds of Western
Mozambique. There isno evidence that the sloth had been recently
transported to Mozambique. Therefore, we should expect to find
theBigsby lemur also living in Mozambique.
Which of the fol.lowing, if true, most strengthens the argument
above?
(A) Neither the yellow-snouted sloth nor the Bigsby lemur is
particularly suited to the climate of Mozambique.(B) The rnajor
source of food for the Bigsby lemur is the discarded remnants of
the fruit eaten by the yellow-
snouted sloth.(C) A large portion of Mozambique has not been
adequately mapped.(D) Due to governmental securigr, it is very
difficult to smuggle indigenous wildlife out of Madagascar.(E) The
yellow-snouted sloth depends on the abandoned nests of the Bigsby
lemur to raise its own young.
6. Principal Glasser: The local high school students have been
clamoring for the freedom to design their own curricula.Allowing
this would be as disastrous as allowing three-year-olds to choose
their own diets. These students haveneither the maturity nor the
experience to equal that of the professional educators now doing
the job.
Which of the following statements, if true, would most
strengthen the above argument?
(A) High school students have less formal education than those
who cumently design the curricula.(B) Tlre ability to design good
curicula develops only after years of familiarity with educational
institutions and
adult life.(C) The local high school students are less
intelligent than the average teenager.(D) Individu alized curricula
are more beneficial to high school students than are the standard
curricula, which are
needlessly rigid and unresponsive to their particular strengths
and weaknesses.(E) Three-year-olds do not, if left to their own
devices, choose healthful diets.
7. The average math score on statewide proficiency exam for
students attending Middlebury High School last year was20 points
higher than the average math score for students attending nearby
Ellingsford High School. Therefore, anystudent at Ellingsford High
School wishing to achieve a better math score on next September's
proficiency examshould transfer to Middlebury High School over the
summer.
Which to the following statements, if true, would most
significantly strengthen the conclusion drawn in tlie passage?(A)
One{hird of all the students who have transferred to Middlebury
High School the summer before taking the
test got scores that are at least 20 points higher than the
average score at Ellingsford High School.(B) Middlebury High School
students who transfer to Ellingsford High School in the summer
before they take
the proficiency exam get average scores that are comparable to
the average scores of students who remain atMiddlebury.
(C) Middlebury High School offers its students a unique,
weeklong course just before they take the proficiency' exaln that
has consistently proven effective in raising student scores.(D) In
the past five years, the average score at Ellingsford High School
has been rising at a faster rate than has
the average score at Middlebury High School.(E) Students wanting
better proficiency exam scores are transferring to Middlebury High
School at a high rate,
which will ultirnately result in a lowering of the school's
average score.
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Irrstructor;: Kieu Kirn Lan Strengthen 2.1, 3
8. Research indicates that individuals who have served in the
Peace Corps tend to be more liberal politically thanother citizens
of tlre same age. Obviously, the experience of,seling in the Peace
Corps had a radicalizinginfluence on these individuals.
Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen tlre
conclusion?
(A) Individuals who volunteer for the Peace Corps are rnore
knowledgeable than other citizens on questions of. geography.(B)
Individuals who have served in the Peace Corps are more tolerant of
ethnic and cultural differences than are
other citizens.(C) The researclr also indicated that those who
did not serve in tlre Peace Corps were more interested in
making
money.(D) Peace Corps volunteers, but not the other individuals,
probably realized that the questions tlrey were asked
related to the political influence of tlre Peace Corps
experience.(E) Individuals wlro volunteer for the Peace Corps are
not more radical than other citizens prior to serving in the
Peace Corps
9. When three Everett-owned Lightning-built airplanes crashed in
the same month, the Everett compairy ordered threenew
Lightning-built airplanes as replacements. This decision surprised
many in the airline industry because,ordinarily when a product is
involved in accidents, users become reluctant to buy that
product.
Which of the following, if true, provides the best indication
that the Everett company's decision was logicallywellsupported?
(A) Altlrough during the previous year only one Lightning-built
airplane crashed, competing manufacturers hada perfect safety
record.
(B) The Lightning-built airplane crashed due to pilot error, but
because of the excellent quality of the planesthere were many
survivors.
(C) The Federal Aviation Association issued new guidelines for
airlines in order to standardize safetyrequirements governing prefl
ight inspections.
(D) Consumer advocates pressured two-major airlines into
purchasing safer airplanes so that the public would besafer while
flying.
(E) Many Lightning Airplane Company employees had to be replaced
because they found jobs with the competition.i 0. Research
indicates that individuals who have served in the anny tend to be
more physically fit than other citizens
of the same age. Obviously, the experience of serving in the
arrny lrad an influence on the physical conditiorringof these
individuals.
Which of the follorving, if true, would most strengthen the
conclusion?
(A) Individuals who volunteer for the army are more
knowledgeable than other citizens about the berrefits of'
exercise.
(B) lndividuals who have serued in the army are more aware of
the need to maintain good eating habits than areother citizens.
(C) The research also indicated that those who did not serve in
the army were more likely to smoke cigarettes.(D) The research
results have been criticized as unreliable because of a bias in the
recruiting of individuals for
the research.(E) Individuals who volunteer for the anny are not
more physically fit than other people prior to serving in the
army.
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Instructor: Kieu Kim Lan Weakening 2.1, I
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WEAKENING 2.1-10 ques tionsll2'Some who favor putting
governmental enterprises into private hands suggest that
eonservation objectives would ingeneral be better served ifprivate
environmental groups were put in charge ofoperating and financing
the nationalpark system, which is now run by the govemment.
Which of the following, assuming that it is a realistic
possibility, argues most strongly against the suggestionabove?
(A) Those seeking to abolish all restrictions on exploiting the
natural resources of the parks might join the privateenvironmental
groups as members and eventually take over their leadership.
(B) Private environmental groups might not always agree on the
best ways to achieve conservation objectives.(C) If they wished to
extend the park system, the private environmental groups might have
to seek contributions
form major donors and the general public.(D) There might be
competition among private environmental groups for control of
certain park areas.(E) Some endangered species, such as the
California condor, might die out despite the best efforts of the
private
environmental groups, even ifthose groups are not hampered by
insufficient resources.
Since the mayor's publicity campaign for Greenville's bus
service began six months ago, morning automobiletraffic into the
midtown area of the city has decreased seven percent. During the
same period, there has been anequivalent rise in the number of
persons riding buses into the midtown area. Obviously, the mayor's
publicitycampaign has convinced many people to leave their cars at
home and ride the bus to work.
Which of the following, if true, casts the most serious doubt on
the conclusion drawn above?
(A) Fares for all bus routes in Greenville have risen an average
of five percent during the past six months.(B) The mayor of
Greenville rides the bus to City Hall in the city's midtown
area.(C) Road reconstruction has greatly reduced the number of
lanes available to commuters in major streets leading to
the midtown area during the past six months.(D) The number of
buses entering the midtown area of Greenville during the morning
hours is exactly the same
now as it was one year ago.(E) Surveys show that longtime bus
riders are no more satisfied with the Greenville bus service than
they were
before the mayor's publicity campaign began.
Some people have questioned the judge's objectivity in cases of
sex discrimination against women. But the recordshows that in sixty
percent of such cases, the judge has decided in favor of the women.
This record demonstratesthat the judge has not discriminated
agairtst women in cases of sex discrimination against women.The
argument above is flawed in that it ignored the possibility
that
(A) a large number ofthe judge's cases arose out of allegations
of sex discrimination againsf women(B) many judges find it
difficult to be objective in cases of sex discrimination against
women(C) the judge is biased against women defendants or plaintiffs
in cases that do not involve sex discrimination(D) the majority of
the cases of sex discrimination against women that have reached the
judge's court have been
appealed from a lower court(E) the evidence show that the women
should have won in more than sixty percent of the judge's cases
involving
sex discrimination against women
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4.
Instructor: Kieu Kirn Lan Weakening 2.1,2
Orr the basis of a decrease in the college-age population, many
colleges now anticipate increasingly smaller freshmanclasses each
year. Surprised by a 40 percent increase in qualified applicants
over the previous year, however,administrators at Nice College now
plan to hire more faculty for courses taken by all freshmen.
Whiclr of the following statements about Nice College's current
qualifies applicants, if true, would stronglysuggest that the
adrninistrators' plan is flawed?
(A) A substantially higher percentage than usual plan to study
for advanced degrees after graduation from college.(B) Accotding to
their applications, their level of pafticipation in extracurricular
activities and varsity sports is
unusually high.(C) According to their applications, none of them
lives in a foreign country.(D) A substantially lower percentage
than usual rate Nice College as their first choice among the
colleges to wlrich
they are applying.(E) A substantially lower percentage than
usual list mathematics as their intended major.The irnposition of
quotas limiting imported steel will not help the big American steel
rnill. In fact, the quotas willhelp "mini-mills" flourish in the
United States. Those small domestic mills will take more business
from the bigAmerican steel mills than would have been taken by the
foreign steel mills in the absence of quotas.
Which of the following if true, would cast the most serious
doubt on the claim made in the last sentence above?
(A) Quality rather than price is a major factor in determining
the type of steel to be used for a particular application.(B)
Foreign steel mills have long produced grades of steel comparable
in quality to the steel produced by the bigAmerican mills.
(C) Arnerican quotas on imported goods have often induced other
countries to impose similar quotas on Americangoods.
(D) Domestic "mini-mills" consistently produce better grades of
steel than do the big American mills.(E) Domestic "mini-mills"
produce low-volume, specialized types of steels that are not
produced by the big
American steel mills.
Treatment for hyperlension forestalls certain medical expenses
by preventing strokes and heart disease. Yet anytl'loney so saved
amounts to only one-fourth of the expenditures required to treat
the hypertensive population.Tlrerefore. there is no economic
justification for preventive treatment for hypertension.
Wlrich of the following, if true, is most damaging to the
conclusion above?
(A) The many fatal strokes and heart attacks resulting from
untreated hypertension cause insignificant medicalexpenditures but
large economic losses of other sorts.
(B) The cost, per patient, of preventive treatment for
hypertension would remain constant eveh if such treatmentwere
instituted on a large scale.
(C) In matters of health care, economic considerations should
ideally not be dominant.(D) Effective prevention presupposes early
diagnosis, and programs to ensure early diagnosis are costly.(E)
The net savings in medical resources achieved by some preventive
health measures are
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Kieu Kim Lan Weakeni
7' 'Since the deregulation of airlines, delays at the nation's
increasingly busy airports have increas edby 25 percent.To.combat
this problem, more of the takeoffand landing slots at the busiest
airports must be allocated tocommercial airlines.
Which of the following, if true, casts the most doubt on the
effectiveness of the solution proposed above?(A) The major causes
of delays at the nation's busiest airports are bad weather and
overtaxed air trafiic control
equipment.(B) Since airline deregulation began, the number of
airplanes in operation has increase dby 25 percent.(C) Over 60
percent of the takeoffand landing slots at the nation'i busiest
airports are reserved for commercial airlines.(D) After a small
midwestem airport doubled its allocation of takeoffand landing
slots, the number of delays that
were reported decreased by 50 percent.(E) Since deregulation the
average length of delay at the nation's busiest airports has
doubled.
8. The spoils system is the practice of awarding public offices
for party services. When a new party comes to office,the elected
leaders may find places for faithfui followers.
Which of the following constitutes the rnost serious
disadvantage for employing the spoils system?
(A) A major disadvantage of utilizing the spoils system is that
it is illegal at all levels in our country.(B) The victorious party
must shape policies to satisff its supporters and be held
accountable.(C) It is sometimes difficult to ascertain who is
deserving ofrewards for party services.(D) Since the spoils system
is less than ten years old in t[e United States, it has not had a
chance to be proven good or bad.(E) The chief disadvantage of the
spoils system in the United States is that it is appropriate at
times bui not at other times.9. Many persons have advocated
simpliffing English words so that they are spelled exactly as they
sound. For
instance, knock would be spelled nock.
The most serious disadvantage of modifying the English language
to achieve this end would be which of the following?
(A) Such modification would be confusing to people who do not
speak the English language.(B) The modification may result in
having to change the type on typewriters.(C) Pronunciations of
words change over time and may vary from one region to another.(D)
Most spelling modification programs have not been carefully
thoughtout by the advocates.(E) Modification may be confusing to
young children.10. Of the graduating students from Governor Smith
Academy, a private high school, 93 percent go on to college.
From
Eastern High, the public high school in the same city, only 74
percentgo on to attendiollege.-As a result, ,iunyparents with
children about to enter high school believe that Governor
Smith.Academy givJs students a bettereducation than they can get at
Eastem High School
Which of the following statements, if true, would cast the most
doubt on the conclusion about Governor Smith Academy?(A) Until-
1992, Govemor Smith Academy was exclusively a girls' school, but
Eastern High School has always
been coeducational.(B) Governor Smith Academy requires students
to pass an admissions examination before entering, but Eastern
High School admits all applicants who live in the city.(C)
Eastern High School has problems with severe student violence
during school hours.(D) Governor Smith Academy has a higher
percentage of students attending Ivy League colleges than any
otherhigh school in the state.
(E) Eastern High School receives its funding from local property
taxes, while Governor Smith Academy receivesfunding from tuition
costs and from alumni donations.