Prep2012-Pack1-CR-026 VCR000660 Medium
Drug manufacturer: Television audiences are sure to realize that the “physician" recommending our brand of cough syrup in our advertisement is actually an actor playing a role. Hence they will not place undue trust in the advice given by this actor. Therefore, networks should relax their guidelines to permit our company to broadcast this advertisement.
Television executive: If the audience can tell that the actor is not a physician, then your advertisement need not have a physician figure recommending your product.
Which of the following is an argumentative strategy used by the television executive in response to the drug manufacturer?
A. Indicating that the reason the drug manufacturer offers for relaxing the guidelines conflicts with the manufacturer's presumed motive for presenting the image of a physician in the advertisement
B. Asserting that the drug manufacturer's expressed desire to broadcast the advertisement is motivated by self-interest rather than by genuine interest in the good of the audience
C. Invoking subjective opinions concerning audience reaction to television advertisements as if those opinions constituted objective evidence
D. Pointing out that the goals of the drug manufacturer's company differ from those of television networks
E. Questioning the ability of the drug manufacturer to make any sweeping generalization about what the many
different members of the audience may think
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-027 VCR000737 Medium
In Gandania, where the government has a monopoly on tobacco sales, the incidence of smoking-related health problems has risen steadily for the last twenty years. The health secretary recently proposed a series of laws aimed at curtailing tobacco use in Gandania. Profits from tobacco sales, however, account for ten percent of Gandania's annual revenues. Therefore, Gandania cannot afford to institute the proposed laws.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
A. All hearth care in Gandania is government-funded.
B. Implementing the proposed laws is not to cause a significant increase in the amount of tobacco Gandania exports.
C. The percentage of revenue Gandania receives from tobacco sales has remained steady in recent years.
D. Profits from tobacco sales far surpass any other single source of revenue for the Gandanian government.
E. No government official in Gandania has ever previously proposed laws aimed at curtailing tobacco use.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-028 VCR000739 Medium
Mall owner: Our mall's occupancy rate is so low that we are barely making a profit. We cannot raise rents because of an unacceptably high risk of losing established tenants. On the other hand, a mall that is fully occupied costs about as much to run as one in which a rental space here and a rental space there stands empty. Clearly, therefore, to increase profits we must sign up new tenants.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
A. The mall's operating costs could be cut by consolidating currently rented spaces in such a way that an entire wing of the mall could be closed up.
B. The mall is located in a geographic area in which costs incurred for air-conditioning in the hot summers exceed those incurred for heating in the mid winters by a wide margin.
C. The mall's occupancy rate, though relatively low, has been relatively stable for several years.
D. The mall lost tenants as a result of each of the two major rent increases that have occurred there.
E. None of the mall's established tenants is likely to need additional floor space there in the foreseeable future.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-029 VCR000806 Medium
In one state, all cities and most towns have antismoking ordinances. A petition entitled “Petition for Statewide
Smoking Restriction” is being circulated to voters by campaign workers who ask only, “Do you want to sign a petition for statewide smoking restriction?" The petition advocates a state law banning smoking in most retail establishments and in government that are open to the public.
Which of the following circumstances would make the petition as circulated misleading to voters who understand the proposal as extending the local ordinances statewide?
A. Health costs associated with smoking cause health insurance premiums to rise for everyone and so affect nonsmokers.
B. In rural areas of the state, there are relatively few retail establishments and government offices that are open to the public.
C. The state law would supersede the local antismoking ordinances, which contain stronger bans than the state law does.
D. There is considerable sentiment among voters in most areas of the state for restriction of smoking.
E. The state law would not affect existing local ordinances banning smoking in places where the fire authorities have determined that smoking would constitute a fire hazard.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-030 VCR000834 Medium
In preparation for a large-scale tree-planting project, Thomasville has recorded the location, species, and condition of every tree in its downtown area. The results will be compared with results of the last such tree census, taken 20 years ago. Planting trees primarily from the species that turns out to have the best record of survival will assure downtown Thomasville of an abundant tree population 20 years from now.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the claim that the tree-planting proposal will assure an abundant tree population?
A. Because of strict laws governing industrial development, environmental conditions in Thomasville are unlikely to become harsher for trees than they have been during the last 20 years.
B. Thomasville has reliable records to show which trees in existence 20 years ago were cut down to permit new construction downtown.
C. A number of trees from one of the species widespread in Thomasville 20 years ago reached the end of their natural life span in the intervening period.
D. Very few species of trees grow as well in urban conditions as in natural conditions.
E. A city with a high proportion of any one species of trees can have its tree population devastated by one outbreak of a disease.
答案解析
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-026 VCR000660 Medium
Reasoning
How does the television executive cal the drug manufacturer’s argument into question? The drug manufacturer argues that presenting the image of a physician is harmless because it will not unduly influence television audiences.
The television executive says that in that case, the advertisement does not need to present that image. The executive's point is that given that the purpose of any advertisement is to influence an audience, the reason the drug manufacturer gives for allowing an advertisement presenting an image of a physician to be broadcast actually conflicts with the motive for presenting such an image. Consider the answer options and find one that explains the executive's argumentative strategy in making this point.
A. Correct. The manufacturer's presumed motive for presenting the image of a physician is to make the advertisement more persuasive, but the reason the manufacturer offers for relaxing the guidelines is that the image will not be very persuasive. The executive points out this conflict.
B. The executive may implicitly question the manufacturer's intentions but does not actually say the manufacturer is motivated by self-interest
C. The executive merely points out an implication of the manufacturer's opinion about audience reactions without evaluating that opini0n's objectivity.
D. The executive does not say or imply anything about the goals of television networks.
E. The executive merely points out an implication of the manufacturer's sweeping generalization without evaluating that generalization's plausibility or the manufacturer's ability to make other generalizations.
The correct answer is A.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-027 VCR000737 Medium
Reasoning
Given the facts stated, what would make the proposed laws more likely to be affordable for Gandania? Because the argument is intended to establish that Gandania cannot afford to institute laws to curtail tobacco use, and you are
asked to find the answer choice that would weaken the argument, your should try to determine which answer choice most strongly suggests that it would be affordable for Gandania to institute the laws. The argument implies that the laws might reduce Gandania's profits from tobacco sales while also reducing the incidence of smoking-related health problems. The proposed laws would be more affordable if reducing smoking-related health problems would financially benefit Gandania, compensating for the reduced profits from tobacco sales.
A. Correct. If the government funds all health care in Gandania, then reducing smoking-related health problems might reduce the government's health care expenses and make the laws to curtail tobacco use more affordable.
B. If implementing the laws does not increase tobacco exports, then profits from tobacco exports probably would not increase to compensate for the declining profits from reduced domestic tobacco sales.
C. Although the percentage of revenue from tobacco sales has held steady in recent years, when the laws are implemented, the percentage will decline.
D. The argument says that profits from tobacco sales account for 10 percent of total annual revenues. Therefore, the other 90 percent must come from all other sources combined, no matter how comes from any individual source.
E. If no government officials had previously proposed laws to curtail tobacco use, that might be because such laws are clearly unaffordable.
The correct answer is A.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-028 VCR000739 Medium
Reasoning
Given the facts the mal owner has stated, what would make it more likely that the mal could increase profits without new tenants? The mall owner says the mall's occupancy rate is low, so there must be many vacancies. The owner rules out the possibility of raising rents and expresses concern about losing established tenants. The owner also points out that running a mall with scattered vacancies costs as much as running a fully occupied mall. Look for an answer choice suggesting how the owner could reduce expenses or make more money while neither changing the number of tenants nor raising rents.
A. Correct. If expenses can be reduced by consolidating existing tenants and closing a wing of the mall, then neither the number of tenants nor the rents need to change in order to increase profits.
B. The relative cost of air-conditioning to heating is largely irrelevant to the argument.
C. Although this suggests that the mall could stay in business without new tenants, it does not suggest a way for the mall to actually increase profits.
D. This supports the mall owner's concern that raising rents would drive away tenants, but we are looking for evidence to weaken the mall owner's argument, not to support it.
E. If the established tenants will not need to rent more space, it will not be feasible for the mall to charge them more without raising rents.
The correct answer is A.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-029 VCR000806 Medium
Reasoning
What could make the petition misleading to voters who assumed its purpose was to extend local antismoking ordinances statewide? The petition would mislead such voters if it were not intended to help extend local antismoking ordinances statewide as the voters assumed. The information provided suggests that the petition does genuinely support statewide smoking restriction and that the campaign workers are describing it accurately. But the petition could still mislead the voters if the proposed statewide smoking restriction would actually weaken local smoking ordinances.
A. This is a reason to support a smoking ban, not a reason why a petition to implement such a ban would be misleading.
B. Voters who assume that the ban would extend local ordinances might not assume that the ban would have a huge impact in rural areas.
C. Correct. If the proposed law would supersede and weaken local ordinances, then it would not extend them statewide as the voters assume. Therefore, the petition would be misleading.
D. This suggests that most voters would support a statewide smoking ban, not that a petition to implement such a ban would be misleading.
E. E This suggests that the state law would be compatible with local ordinances, just as voters who think that the law would extend those ordinances would assume.
The correct answer is C.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-030 VCR000834 Medium
Reasoning
What evidence suggests that trees might not be abundant in 20 years if the plan is implemented? The reasoning behind the plan is that if data show which tree species has the best survival record, and if many trees of that species are then planted, then the overall tree population will survive better than it would otherwise. This reasoning assumes that at least one tree species with a good survival record will be found and that abundantly planted trees of that species will survive at least as well over the next 20 years as local trees of the same species did during the past 20 years. Evidence casting doubt on either of these assumptions could suggest that the plan will not ensure an abundant tree population.
A. If environmental conditions for trees don't become harsher, then abundant trees are more likely to survive.
B. Although trees that were cut down 20 years ago cannot contribute to the tree population 20 years from now, the plan calls for planting many new trees.
C. The plan calls for planting many trees from the species with the best survival rate over the past 20 years. Therefore, it does not matter if there is one species that had a poor survival rate.
D. The plan requires only that the tree census find at least one tree species with a reasonably high 20-year survival rate; it does not require that any species grows as well in urban conditions as in natural conditions.
E. Correct. The plan calls for planting many trees of a single species. Therefore, if a disease could then devastate the trees, the plan will not ensure an abundant tree population in 20 years.
The correct answer is E.