| 1 |
In August 1980, according to a new your. Times/CBS news poll, 36 percent of the voters called themselves Republicans or said they were independents leaning toward being Republicans. In November 1984, the Republican figure rose to 47 percent. But in the latest Times/CBS survey, the Republicans were down to 38 percent. Therefore, the Democrats are likely to win the next election. Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the above conclusion ?
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A. Republicans were a minority in 1984, but a Republican president was elected.
B. People tend to switch their votes at the last minute.
C. People vote for the best candidate, not for a political party.
D. No one can predict how people will vote.
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| 2 |
An economist was quoted as saying that the Consumer Price Index (CPI) will go up next month because of a recent increase in the price of fruit and vegetables. Which of the following cannot be inferred from the statement ?
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A. The cost of fruits and vegetables has risen sharply.
B. Consumers have decreased their consumption of fruits and vegetables.
C. The cost of fruit and vegetables is a major item in the CPI.
D. Food cost changes are reflected quickly in the CPI.
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| 3 |
Ali is a terrible driver. He has had at least five traffic violations, int he past year. Which of the following can be said about the above claim ?
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A. This is an example of an argument that is directed against the source of the claim rather than the claim itself.
B. The statement is fallacious because it contains an illegitimate appeal to authority.
C. The above argument obtains its strength from a similarity of two compared situations.
D. The argument is built upon an assumption that is not stated but rather is concealed.
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| 4 |
In the human body, platelets, promote blood clotting by clumping together. Aspirin has been found to prevent clotting by making platelets less sticky. Research has now shown that heart attacks and strokes caused by blood clots could be avoided by taking one aspirin a day. Statistics show that the incidence of second heart attacks Unfortunately, the drug has several unpleasant side effects, including nausea, gastric bleeding, and, in severe cases, shock. In children, it has been linked to Reye Syndrome, a rare, but occasionally fatal, childhood illness. One balance, however, for men aged 40 and over, an aspirin a day may present an excellent prophylactic measure for a disease that affects 1.5 million Americans yearly and claims the lives of about 540,000. Which of the following conclusions can most properly be drawn from the information above ?
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A. All people should take an aspirin a day to prevent heart attacks.
B. Painkillers prevent heart attacks.
C. Smokers can safely continue smoking, provided that they take at least one aspirin a day.
D. The majority of people suffering second subsequent cardiac arrests could have been saved by taking an aspirin a day.
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| 5 |
You have three boxes, each containing two balls, one containing a black pair; one, a white pair; and third, one white ball and one black ball. On each box are pictures of two balls - either two black ones, two white ones, or one white and one black. You are told that the markings on the boxes are all wrong. You are asked to ascertain the colors of the balls contained in each box. Which of the following statements can be inferred form the above ?
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A. You can take out one ball from the box marked with two black balls and, without looking at the second ball, know that each box actually contains.
B. You can take out one ball from the box marked with two white balls and, without looking at the second ball, know what each box actually contains.
C. You can take out one ball from the box marked with one while ball and one black ball and, without looking at the second ball, know what each box contains.
D. You cannot know which balls are contained in which box until you take a ball out of more than one box.
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| 6 |
Forty years after African colonies began emerging as nations, modern loyalties still often go first to the tribe. From Angola to Ethiopia, ethnic hatred has forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee their homes, making Africa the continent with the world's largest number of refugees. Which of the following statements best summarizes the above ?
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A. Africa is best characterized ethnic fractionalization.
B. Angola and Ethiopia have the worst record of inter ethnic strife in Africa.
C. Continued warfare has made Africa a nation of refugees.
D. Africa is best characterized as a federation of many states.
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| 7 |
Significant beneficial effect of smoking occur primarily in the area of mental health, and the habit originates in a search for contentment. The life expectancy of our people has increased greatly in recent years; it is possible that the relaxation and contentment and enjoyment produced by smoking has lengthened many lives. Smoking is beneficial. Which of the following, it true, weaken the above conclusion ?
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A. That cigarettes are a major health hazard cannot be traced to the willfull act of any human or organization.
B. The government earns millions of dollars from the tobacco tax and tens of thousands of civilians are employed in the tobacco industry.
C. The evidence cited in the statement covers only one example of the effects of cigarette smoking.
D. No mention is made of possible harmful side-effects of smoking.
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| 8 |
Every town with a pool hall has its share of unsavory characters. This is because the pool hall attracts gamblers and all gamblers are unsavory. Which of the following, if true, cannot be inferred from the above ?
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A. All gamblers are unsavory,
B. All pol halls attract gamblers.
C. Every town has unsavory characters.
D. All gamblers are attracted by pool halls.
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| 9 |
Average family income is right where it was 20 years ago, even though in most families these days, husbands and wives are working. The above statement implies all of the following, except:
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A. Even though nominal family income may have increased, inflation has risen at an equal rate.
B. More husbands and wives are working today than 20 years ago.
C. It was more prevalent for one spouse-to-work 20 yeas ago than today.
D. Wives earn more than husbands today.
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| 10 |
Most large retail stores hold sales in the month of January. The original idea of price reduction campaigns in January became popular when it was realized that sales or products would generally slow down following the Christmas rush, were it no for some incentive. The lack of demand could be solved by the simple solution of reducing prices. There is now an increasing tendency among major department stores in large urban centers to have their January sales being before Christmas, some time before the end of the calendar year. The idea behind this trend is to endeavor to sell the maximum amount of stock at a profit, even if that may not be at the maximum profit. Which of the following conclusions cannot be drawn from the above ?
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A. The incidence of early January sales results in the lower holdings of stocks with the corollary of lower stock holding costs.
B. Demand is a function of price; as you lower price, demand increases.
C. Major stores seem to think it makes sense to have to January sales campaigns pre-Christmas.
D. It is becoming less popular to star the January sales in the New Year.
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