47110.A nature conservancy expert found little support for his campaign to protect toads. He suggested that, even thought the campaign highlighted the vital role the toads played in the ecology of the region, people were unenthusiastic about saving toads as these animals are perceived as unpleasant creatures, and people seldom feel passionate about animals with which they have no positive feelings.
The expert`s opinion would be most strengthened by which of the following observations?
The expert`s opinion would be most strengthened by which of the following observations?
Ecological conservation is an increasingly important concern in the region.
A recent campaign to save bats achieved a measure of success only after a cartoon bat was adopted as the mascot of the local football team.
Snakes and lizards also need protection in this region as a result of human activity.
The campaign to protect toads has been in existence for over five years and yet the toad population continues to decline.
The children in the local schools were found to have a greater aversion to toads than to snakes.
47111.Jay: We have too many people working on each of our computers in the office. The high frequency of breakdowns is due to too many people handling the same hardware.
Ada: We have just as many people working in our office, yet we hardly need any repairs to our systems. Our systems must be more robust than yours.
Jay apparently believes that
Ada: We have just as many people working in our office, yet we hardly need any repairs to our systems. Our systems must be more robust than yours.
Jay apparently believes that
he has the best available hardware
the frequency of breakdowns in his office is above average
software specifications are not important in his office
no other office has a similar ratio of computers to users
he does not need more people working in his office
47112.It has been suggested that long-term prisoners, on release from jail, be given a reasonable state pension to reduce the likelihood of their resorting to crime. Most people instinctively reject the suggestion as they feel it would be like rewarding criminal activity.
The supporters of the prisoners` pension scheme have criticized those who reject this possibility, by claiming that for the critics......
Which of the following is the most logical completion of the sentence above?
The supporters of the prisoners` pension scheme have criticized those who reject this possibility, by claiming that for the critics......
Which of the following is the most logical completion of the sentence above?
emotion is more important than justice
punishment for criminals is more important than crime prevention
crime prevention is not an important issue
money has too high a value
the law should not be concerned with what happens after jail
47113.It is not unusual to see the ball fall into a black slot on a roulette wheel four times in a row. But for it to fall five or six times in a row into the same color is very unusual. Therefore you can win money by waiting for a run of five of the same color and then betting against that color.
If the roulette wheel in question is a fair wheel, which of the following observations or facts, if it were true, would best reveal a fallacy in the logic?
If the roulette wheel in question is a fair wheel, which of the following observations or facts, if it were true, would best reveal a fallacy in the logic?
If there were a reliable way to win at roulette it would be well-known by now.
It is hard for a player to keep track of what went before for the time required.
The probability of getting a particular color decreases with the number of times the color has appeared.
The probability of getting a particular color is always the same no matter what has gone before.
A person who makes money this way once or twice, will carry on to lose that money after a few more times.
47114.On the basis of the Big Bang theory scientists predicted levels of Helium-3 in the universe that are ten times greater than the levels actually observed. According to the original model, Helium-3 is produced when low-mass stars burn up hydrogen and become `red giants`, as well as being produced in the Big Bang itself. Researchers have now produced a new model in which the Helium-3 produced by a red giant is pushed to the star`s interior and burnt up. Hence the Big Bang theory is no longer undermined by Helium-3 data.
The two portions in bold-face are related to each other in which of the following ways?
The two portions in bold-face are related to each other in which of the following ways?
The first highlights an observation that tends to undermine a particular theory. The second is that theory.
The first is a fact that undermines a theory. The second is context for accepting that theory.
The first points to an inconsistency in a particular model; the second is the author`s main conclusion.
The first is a challenge to a classic theory; the second resolves that challenge.
The first is a position that the author does not accept; the second is the author`s position.
47115.Crops can be traded on the futures market before they are harvested. If a poor corn harvest is predicted, prices of corn futures rise; if a bountiful corn harvest is predicted, prices of corn futures fall. This morning meteorologists are predicting much-needed rain for the corn-growing region starting tomorrow. Therefore, since adequate moisture is essential for the current crop’s survival, prices of corn futures will fall sharply today.
Which of the following, if true, most weakens the argument above?
Which of the following, if true, most weakens the argument above?
Corn that does not receive adequate moisture during its critical pollination stage will not produce a bountiful harvest.
Futures prices for corn have been fluctuating more dramatically this season than last season.
The rain that meteorologists predicted for tomorrow is expected to extend well beyond the corn-growing region.
Agriculture experts announced today that a disease that has devastated some of the corn crop will spread widely before the end of the growing season.
Most people who trade in corn futures rarely take physical possession of the corn they trade.
Explanation:
The argument, in predicting a drop in the price of corn futures, relies on news suggesting a good-sized corn crop. This prediction is undermined if there is, at the same time, news suggesting a small crop. Choice D presents such news and is therefore the best answer.
Choice A provides background information describing a stage at which rains are essential, and choice C makes rain over the entire corn-growing area seem more certain. Both are fully compatible with the argument and do nothing to weaken it. Past price changes (choice B) and details of who handles harvested corn (choice E) cannot affect the eventual size of this year’s corn crop, so neither is relevant to the argument.
The argument, in predicting a drop in the price of corn futures, relies on news suggesting a good-sized corn crop. This prediction is undermined if there is, at the same time, news suggesting a small crop. Choice D presents such news and is therefore the best answer.
Choice A provides background information describing a stage at which rains are essential, and choice C makes rain over the entire corn-growing area seem more certain. Both are fully compatible with the argument and do nothing to weaken it. Past price changes (choice B) and details of who handles harvested corn (choice E) cannot affect the eventual size of this year’s corn crop, so neither is relevant to the argument.
47116.Many people report that exposure to certain foods such as cheese, red wine, and chocolate, are associated with the onset of migraine headaches. Other people report that exposure to certain smells (especially strong perfumes) seems to trigger a migraine headache, and some note that exposure to bright and flickering lights can be followed by a migraine. It would seem that a person with a tendency to get migraines should try to find which of these situations is associated with the onset of the headache and then avoid this stimulus.
All of the following, if true, would indicate potential problems with the recommendation above except
All of the following, if true, would indicate potential problems with the recommendation above except
the time delay between the trigger and the onset of the headache can make it exceptionally difficult to identify the trigger
the presence of a known trigger doesn`t always cause a migraine
in many cases an internal hormonal change triggers a migraine
in a high proportion of cases the patients report multiple triggers for their headaches
most of the known triggers are common and almost unavoidable features of modern life
47117.The number of people diagnosed with dengue fever (which is contracted from the bite of an infected mosquito) in North India this year is twice the number diagnosed last year. The authorities have concluded that measures to control the mosquito population have failed in this region.
All of the following, if true, would cast doubt on the authorities` conclusion except
All of the following, if true, would cast doubt on the authorities` conclusion except
more cases are now reported because of increases in administrative efficiency
a very high proportion of the cases were in people who had recently returned from neighboring countries
an effective diagnostic test was introduced about nine months ago
the disease is prevalent only in some industrialized areas which have shown a dramatic increase in population due to migration
the incidence (number of cases per thousand) of malaria, also contracted from mosquito bites, has increased
47118.Early data on seat-belt use showed that seat-belt wearers were less likely to be killed in road accidents. Hence, it was initially believed that wearing a seat-belt increased survival chances in an accident. But what the early analysts had failed to see was that cautious drivers were more likely to wear the belts and were also less likely to cause `big accidents`, while reckless drivers were more likely to be involved in `big` accidents and were less likely to wear the belts.
Which of the following, if true, could an opponent of the view presented above best cite as a reason for recommending continued use of seat-belts?
Which of the following, if true, could an opponent of the view presented above best cite as a reason for recommending continued use of seat-belts?
Careful drivers who are involved in accidents caused by reckless drivers, would be more likely to survive if wearing a belt
All drivers should be required by law to wear a belt
The ratio of `big` to `small` road accidents is very small
In fatal accidents seat-belt wearers in the front seat are less likely to survive than those wearing seat belts in the back seat
On average, careful drivers pay lower insurance premiums than do drivers who have been involved in accidents.
47119.The committee on sexual discrimination in the workplace has highlighted Supremo Company as a chief offender. Of the twenty senior executives in the firm, only one is a woman. And of the forty junior executives, only five are female.
Supremo could best defend itself against the charges by showing that
Supremo could best defend itself against the charges by showing that
male and female executives at the same level have the same qualifications
they pay the same salary to senior men and senior women
ten times more men than women apply for jobs with the company
the work pressures and long hours make jobs with the company unattractive to married women
all job applicants who were rejected had fewer qualifications than those accepted
47120.Red is a color which has powerful effects on human beings as well as animals. A group of psychologists carried out an experiment which confirms the subconscious effects of this color on human behavior. They provided selected sports teams at school and college level with either red or blue shorts and recorded the outcome of the games. The teams wearing red won in a disproportionate number of matches. The psychologists suggested that either the teams wearing red subconsciously felt themselves more powerful, or that the non-red teams were subconsciously intimidated by the red color.
Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the psychologists` suggestion?
Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the psychologists` suggestion?
Each team wore red in some matches and blue in others.
The color blue has the subconscious effect of making human beings less competitive.
The effect was only observed if all the team members wore white shirts.
Red signifies danger in some cultures whereas it signifies happiness in others.
In a subsequent study, teams with all-red outfits were more likely to report that they thought they would win no matter what color the opponents wore.
47121.The cotton farms of Country Q became so productive that the market could not absorb all that they produced. Consequently, cotton prices fell. The government tried to boost cotton prices by offering farmers who took 25 percent of their cotton acreage out of production direct support payments up to a specified maximum per farm.
The government’s program, if successful, will not be a net burden on the budget. Which of the following, if true, is the best basis for an explanation of how this could be so?
The government’s program, if successful, will not be a net burden on the budget. Which of the following, if true, is the best basis for an explanation of how this could be so?
Depressed cotton prices meant operating losses for cotton farms, and the government lost revenue from taxes on farm profits.
Cotton production in several counties other than Q declined slightly the year that the support-payment program went into effect in Q.
The first year that the support-payment program was in effect, cotton acreage in Q was 5% below its level in the base year for the program.
The specified maximum per farm meant that for very large cotton farms the support payments were less per acre for those acres that were withdrawn from production than they were for smaller farms.
Farmers who wished to qualify for support payments could not use the cotton acreage that was withdrawn from production to grow any other crop.
Explanation:
If the government’s program of support payments to cotton farmers succeeded in raising revenue for the government that would, in the absence of the program, not be raised, this could explain why the program will not be a net burden on the budget. Choice A suggests that the program would raise revenue: by raising the price of cotton, the direct support payments will boost cotton framers’ profits and thereby increase the tax revenues the government receives from cotton farmers. Therefore, A is the best answer.
None of the other choices provides a source of revenue to the government or suggests that savings would be realized in a governmental expense category, so choices B, C, D, and E are all incorrect.
If the government’s program of support payments to cotton farmers succeeded in raising revenue for the government that would, in the absence of the program, not be raised, this could explain why the program will not be a net burden on the budget. Choice A suggests that the program would raise revenue: by raising the price of cotton, the direct support payments will boost cotton framers’ profits and thereby increase the tax revenues the government receives from cotton farmers. Therefore, A is the best answer.
None of the other choices provides a source of revenue to the government or suggests that savings would be realized in a governmental expense category, so choices B, C, D, and E are all incorrect.
47122.Most scientists agree that new lines of interdisciplinary research are the need of the hour. Even government committees on science have stressed the need for more interdisciplinary projects. Yet, of ten proposals for new interdisciplinary projects last year, only one was successfully funded. Some have suggested that this means that as yet researchers are not coming up with sufficiently persuasive projects, or that their proposals are not of high enough quality, or even that the reputations of these researchers is not high enough. However, the real reason probably lies in the way funding is organized. Funding is still allocated according to the old categories and there are no funds specifically for research that overlaps different subject areas.
The two parts in bold-face are related to each other in which of the following ways?
The two parts in bold-face are related to each other in which of the following ways?
The first is a finding that the author finds unacceptable; the second is the author`s own position
The first is a finding that the author attempts to account for; the second is a finding that contradicts the author`s main conclusion.
The first is a fact that the author attempts to account for. The second is data that explicitly supports the author`s main conclusion.
The first is a position that the author opposes; the second is the author`s main position.
The first is a situation that the author finds paradoxical; the second is an assumption that the author uses to reinforce the paradox.
47123.The Dean claimed that, as a result of continued cutbacks in the budget for pure science research, fewer students are choosing a career in physics, and therefore the number of postgraduate students studying physics is likely to decline.
Which of the following, if true, casts most doubt on the Dean`s conclusion?
Which of the following, if true, casts most doubt on the Dean`s conclusion?
The number of students majoring in physics at the undergraduate level has been increasing steadily over the years, a trend that is expected to continue.
The number of students studying chemistry declined even before cutbacks in research funding were noted.
Most postgraduate students of physics move to careers in computer science and engineering.
The Dean`s own university has recently increased the number of staff members teaching physics.
The budget cutbacks are less severe for the pure sciences than for applied sciences.
47124.Sue: Commercial flights currently contribute more carbon dioxide to the atmosphere in one year than does the whole of Africa. If we want to reduce global warming we need to restrict the number of flights we take.
Dave: Did you know that by taking one inter-continental flight you cause more pollution than you would in twelve months of car travel?
Dave`s response to Sue`s comment serves to
Dave: Did you know that by taking one inter-continental flight you cause more pollution than you would in twelve months of car travel?
Dave`s response to Sue`s comment serves to
reinforce Sue`s contention that flights are a major contributor to increased carbon dioxide levels
add more weight to her contention that we should reduce the number of flights we take
mitigate the force of her argument by suggesting that there is an alternative approach
suggest an alternative that will reduce the effect of pollution
question whether she really understands the severity of global warming
47125.Division manager: I want to replace the Microton computers in my division with Vitech computers.
General manager: Why?
Division manager: It costs 28 percent less to train new staff on the Vitech.
General manager: But that is not a good enough reason. We can simply hire only people who already know how to use the Microton computer.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the general manager’s objection to the replacement of Microton computers with Vitechs?
General manager: Why?
Division manager: It costs 28 percent less to train new staff on the Vitech.
General manager: But that is not a good enough reason. We can simply hire only people who already know how to use the Microton computer.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the general manager’s objection to the replacement of Microton computers with Vitechs?
Currently all employees in the company are required to attend workshops on how to use Microton computers in new applications.
Once employees learn how to use a computer, they tend to change employers more readily than before.
Experienced users of Microton computers command much higher salaries than do prospective employees who have no experience in the use of computers.
The average productivity of employees in the general manager’s company is below the average productivity of the employees of its competitors.
The high costs of replacement parts make Vitech computers more expensive to maintain than Microton computers.
Explanation:
The general manager’s objection is based on avoiding training costs altogether. But if, as choice C says, hiring experienced users of Microton computers is significantly more costly than hiring otherwise qualified people who would have to be trained to use Vitech computers, the force of the objection is weakened. Choice C, therefore, is the best answer.
Choices A, B, and D are all incorrect; none of them provides information relevant to an evaluation of Microton computers as compared with Vitech computers. Choice E argues independently against replacing Microton computers with Vitech and thus is also incorrect.
The general manager’s objection is based on avoiding training costs altogether. But if, as choice C says, hiring experienced users of Microton computers is significantly more costly than hiring otherwise qualified people who would have to be trained to use Vitech computers, the force of the objection is weakened. Choice C, therefore, is the best answer.
Choices A, B, and D are all incorrect; none of them provides information relevant to an evaluation of Microton computers as compared with Vitech computers. Choice E argues independently against replacing Microton computers with Vitech and thus is also incorrect.
47126.A marriage counselor noted that couples who have occasional violent arguments are less likely to divorce within the next six months than those who have frequent but less violent arguments. He concluded that frequent arguing is a major factor in the causation of severe marital disharmony.
The counselor`s conclusion is most weakened by which of the following observations?
The counselor`s conclusion is most weakened by which of the following observations?
Couples who have already come to the point of divorce argue continuously over small matters.
People who have recently divorced are more likely to argue violently when they meet.
Many people in happy marriages have occasional violent arguments.
Recently divorced people rarely cite frequent arguments as a cause of marital disharmony
A significant fraction of couples close to divorce do not talk to each other.
47127.United States hospitals have traditionally relied primarily on revenues from paying patients to offset losses from unreimbursed care. Almost all paying patients now rely on governmental or private health insurance to pay hospital bills. Recently, insurers have been strictly limiting what they pay hospitals for the care of insured patients to amounts at or below actual costs.
Which of the following conclusions is best supported by the information above?
Which of the following conclusions is best supported by the information above?
Although the advance of technology has made expensive medical procedures available to the wealthy, such procedures are out of the reach of low-income patients.
If hospitals do not find ways to raising additional income for unreimbursed care, they must either deny some of that care of suffer losses if they give it.
Some patients have incomes too high for eligibility for governmental health insurance but are unable to afford private insurance for hospital care.
If the hospitals reduce their costs in providing care, insurance companies will maintain the current level of reimbursement, thereby providing more funds for unreimbursed care.
Even though philanthropic donations have traditionally provided some support for the hospitals, such donations are at present declining.
Explanation:
The passage explains that the primary way hospitals have covered the cost of unreimbursed care in the past is no longer available to them. It follows that they have three options: finding a new way to cover that cost, reducing it by giving less unreimbused care, or suffering a loss. This is essentially what choice B concludes, so B is the best answer.
The passage touches neither on kinds of medical procedures administered in hospitals (choice A) nor on revenue other than that received from patients or their insurers (choice E), so neither choice is correct. The passage gives no hint of who the paying patients are how do not rely on insurance, so choice C is unsupported. Concerning choice D, the passage actually suggests that it is false.
The passage explains that the primary way hospitals have covered the cost of unreimbursed care in the past is no longer available to them. It follows that they have three options: finding a new way to cover that cost, reducing it by giving less unreimbused care, or suffering a loss. This is essentially what choice B concludes, so B is the best answer.
The passage touches neither on kinds of medical procedures administered in hospitals (choice A) nor on revenue other than that received from patients or their insurers (choice E), so neither choice is correct. The passage gives no hint of who the paying patients are how do not rely on insurance, so choice C is unsupported. Concerning choice D, the passage actually suggests that it is false.
47128.Josh has twenty years of typing experience behind him; therefore, if you are looking for an efficient typist to enter your data into the new system, you need look no further.
The speaker assumes that
The speaker assumes that
Twenty years of practice ensures typing efficiency
The type of typing required for the new system is identical to what Josh has been doing
Josh`s job profile is the best that the new employer is going to get
Josh is an outstandingly fast and accurate typist
Josh will fit well into the new office
47129.It is strange that in Sentacity there are so many corner shops selling food items. After all there are many supermarkets in the city which sell food at cheaper prices, and many of these supermarkets are open 24-hours.
Which of the following, if true, would be of least help in explaining the paradoxical observation?
Which of the following, if true, would be of least help in explaining the paradoxical observation?
The corner shops are selling specialist food items not available in the supermarkets.
The supermarkets are mostly located on the outskirts of the city and require residents to use cars or public transport to reach them.
The main business of the local shops is newspaper distribution and food items represent a small part of their turnover.
The corner shops are mainly family-owned businesses and have been there for much longer than the supermarkets and are perceived as an important feature of the community.
The corner shops are willing to make home deliveries.