GRE Big Book Critical Reasoning Test 14

GRE Critical Reasoning
Directions

Critical Reasoning questions test the ability to understand, analyze, and evaluate arguments. Some of the abilities tested by specific questions include identifying the roles played by specific phrases or sentences in an argument, recognizing the point of an argument, recognizing assumptions on which an argument is based" drawing conclusions and forming hypotheses, identifying methods of argumentation, evaluating arguments and counter-arguments, and analyzing evidence.

Each of the Critical Reasoning questions is based on a short argument, a set of statements, or a plan of action. For each question, select the best answer of the choices given.

 

Pauline and Lorraine are paid the same amount of wages per hour for working at the same company, but Pauline has a more difficult job than Lorraine. Pauline argues that because her job is more difficult, the company should pay her more than it pays Lorraine.

#1
If the second sentence in the paragraph above is factually correct, the answer to which of the following questions is most relevant in helping to determine whether or not the company violated Industry Standard No. 42 when it failed to correct the control-panel problem?

Scientists warn of a global warming, a “greenhouse effect” resulting from increased atmospheric pollutants, including carbon dioxide from the burning of wood, coal, and oil. A coal-industry spokesperson says that the effect need not cause concern in the near future if, as some scientists believe, the Earth faces another ice age within the next thousand years, since each calamity could cancel out tIle other.

#2
Which of the following, if true, casts the most serious doubt on the conclusion of the spokesperson?

Although part of the ivory available on world markets was taken from wild elephants that were killed illegally, some ivory is derived from sources that nearly all nations define as legal, such as elephants that have died natural deaths. The world’s few remaining wild elephant herds, therefore, are not endangered when those buying ivory at wholesale make a serious effort to limit their purchases to such legal ivory.

#3
The argument above depends on the assumption that

The result of flipping an evenly weighted, or “fair,” coin, a process commonly thought to be random, is, in fact, well determined by the impulse given the coin and by the height above the floor from which the coin starts. Yet it is difficult to predict the result of a fair coin flip.

#4
Which of the following, if true, contributes most to an explanation of why the outcome of a coin flip is difficult to predict even though it is well determined?

Police found that ninety percent of the burglaries and attempted burglaries over a five-year period in the city of Crowther occurred in houses that did not have burglar alarm systems. The police concluded that, in Crowther, the presence of a burglar alarm system is usually effective as a deterrent to burglary.

#5
The conclusion reached by the police presupposes which of the following?

Partha has withdrawn its troops from Baltia after five years of occupation. Earlier this year the country of Cardena began shipping mules to Baltia’s resistance fighters to facilitate transport of weapons across Baltia’s mountains to the battle areas. Cardena’s diplomats now claim that without Cardena’s aid to Baltia’s resistance fighters, Partha would not have withdrawn.

#6
Which of the following, if true, casts the most serious doubt on the accuracy of the assertion of Cardena's diplomats?

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