| 1 |
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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| 2 |
Ira is taller than Sam. Elliot is taller than Harold. Harold is shorter than Gene. Sam and Gene are of the same height. If the above is true, which of the following conditions, must also be true?
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A. Elliot is taller than Gene
B. Elliot is taller than Ira
C. Sam is shorter than Elliot
D. Ira is taller than Harold
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| 3 |
During the incumbent president's term of office he succeeded in limiting annual increases in the defense budget by an average of 5 percent. His predecessors experienced annual increases of 8 percent. Therefore, the incumbent president should be given credit for the downturn in defense outlays. Which of the following statements, if true would most seriously weaken the above conclusion ?
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A. Some generals have claimed that the country's defense has weakened in the past year.
B. More soldiers were drafted during the former president's term of office.
C. The incumbent president advocates peaceful resolution of international disputes.
D. The average annual inflation rate during the incumbent president's term was 4 percent, while during his predecessor's term it was 10 percent
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| 4 |
The movement to ownership by unions is the latest step in the progression form management ownership to employee ownership. Employee ownership can save depressed and losing companies. All the following statements, if true, provide support for the claim above except:
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A. Employee-owned companies generally have higher productivity.
B. Employee participation in management raises morale.
C. Employee union ownership drives up salaries and wages.
D. Employee union ownership enables workers to share in the profits.
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| 5 |
Farmers in the North have observed that heavy frost is usually preceded by a full moon somehow generates the frost. Which of the following, if true, would weaken the farmers conviction ?
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A. The temperature must fall below 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit) for frost to occur.
B. Absence of a cloud cover cools the ground which causes frost.
C. Farmers are superstitious.
D. No one has proven that the moon causes frost.
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| 6 |
Typically, the entrepreneur is seen as an individual who owns and operates a small business. But, simply to own and operate a small business-or even a big business-does not make someone an entrepreneur. If this person is a true entrepreneur, then new products are being created, new ways of providing services are being implemented. Which of the following conclusions can best be drawn from the above passage?
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A. An owner of large business may be an entrepreneur.
B. Someone who develops an enterprise may be considered an entrepreneur.
C. Entrepreneurs do not own and operate small businesses.
D. Entrepreneurs are the main actors in economic growth
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| 7 |
Prompted by proposal to convert a shipyard into a complex of condominiums with full-service marina and boat repair center and by concern about the proposal from local residents, baymen, and environmentalists, the town is considering a one-year building moratorium for the water front area. Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken opposition to the complex ?
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A. Condominiums would sell for $350,000 each.
B. There is a large demand for boat repair services.
C. A growing population results in the closure of shellfish.
D. There are already 1,200 moorings on the waterfront.
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| 8 |
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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| 9 |
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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| 10 |
The states of New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and California provide extensive free higher education to their residents. Threes states are representative of different geographic areas of the united states. There is little reason why most states cannot provide the same service to their residents. Which of the following, it true, would weaken the above argument ?
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A. Free education is not guaranteed by the constitution.
B. New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and California have more qualified high school graduates than other states.
C. Most other states do not have the tax base that new york, ohio, Pennsylvania, and California have.
D. Other states do not have as many high school graduates.
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