Part 1
Following is a group of simulated Logical Reasoning questions, along with a complete
explanation for each question. Do not time yourself at this stage. Work through the
questions carefully and select the best answer from among the choices. Use the explanations
at the end of the chapter to help you to understand any errors that you make so
that you’ll be stronger on test day.
Directions: The questions in this section are based on the logical reasoning contained in
brief statements or passages. For some questions, there could be more than one possible
answer. However, you are to select the best answer; that is, the response that most accurately
and completely answers the question. You should not make assumptions that
cannot be supported by the statements or passages. After you have selected the best
answer, fill in the corresponding circle on your answer sheet.
1. Business Analyst: In a recent survey, employees of Company X were asked to state which one of the following two scenarios they would prefer: (1) Company X is the industry leader with gross revenues of $100 million, and Company Y is second
with gross revenues of $90 million; or (2) Company Y is the industry leader with
gross revenues of $120 million and Company X is second with gross revenues of
$110 million. Despite the fact that, under the scenario 2, Company X would have
higher gross revenue than under scenario 1, the majority of respondents stated that
they preferred scenario 1.
Which of the following, if true, would most help to explain the surprising survey
results described by the business analyst?
(A) Most employees of Company X believe that their company has a higher
growth rate than Company Y.
(B) Most employees of Company X want their company to have gross revenue
of more than $120 million.
(C) Most employees of Company X believe that their personal welfare is not
connected to the company’s gross revenue.
(D) Most employees of Company X want their company to be more powerful
than Company Y.
(E) Most employees of Company X want their company to make products of
the highest quality.
2. Attorneys who represent violent criminals cannot both respect their clients’ right
to confidentiality and be sincerely concerned for the welfare of victims of future
violent crimes. Reporting a client’s unreported crimes violates the client’s trust, but
remaining silent leaves the dangerous client out of prison, free to commit more
crimes.
Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the argument?
(A) Most attorneys who represent violent criminals are assigned this task by a
court.
(B) Violent criminals are no more likely to be represented by an attorney than
are nonviolent criminals.
(C) Victims of future violent crimes also have a right to confidentiality should
they need legal representation.
(D) The right of victims of violent crimes to compensation is as important as
the right of criminals to confidentiality.
(E) An attorney who has gained a violent criminal’s trust can persuade that
criminal not to commit repeat offenses.
3. Civil libertarian: As electronic surveillance of public places becomes more common
and pervasive, we hear more and more attempted justifications of this practice by
government officials. Surveillance, they explain, keeps the public honest and polite
to one another. Such explanations are obviously self-serving, and so should not be
taken to justify these unwarranted invasions of privacy.
A questionable technique used in the civil libertarians argument is to
(A) attack an argument different from that actually offered by government
officials
(B) presume that members of the public are never dishonest or rude to one
another
(C) insist that modern government practices meet moral standards far higher
than those accepted in the past
(D) attack government officials’ motives instead of addressing their arguments
(E) make a generalization based on a sample that there is reason to believe is
biased
4. Physician: Research has shown that substance X causes cancer in rabbits. Even
though similar research has never been done on humans, and probably never will
be, the use of substance X should be banned.
That substance X causes cancer in rabbits figures in the argument in which one of
the following ways?
(A) It is presented as the hazard that the physician is concerned with preventing.
(B) It is presented as a benefit of not acting on the recommendation of that
conclusion.
(C) It is presented as evidence for the claim that similar research will never be
done on humans.
(D) It is presented as a finding that motivates the course of action advocated in
the conclusion.
(E) It is presented as evidence for the claim that similar research has never been
done on humans.
5. Sulema: The real estate market is the best place to invest your money these days;
although it is often volatile, it provides the opportunity to make a large profit
quickly.
Antonietta: I agree that the real estate market provides the opportunity to make
large profits quickly, but one is just as likely to take a large loss. I think that it is
better to invest in precious metals, which tend to provide a constant, reliable
appreciation over a long period of time.
Sulema’s and Antonietta’s statements provide the most support for holding that
they disagree about whether
(A) the real estate market is often volatile but provides the opportunity to make
a large profit quickly
(B) precious metals can provide a large return on one’s investment
(C) the real estate market provides the opportunity for an investor to make a
constant, reliable income over a long period of time
(D) it is safer to invest in precious metals than to invest in the real estate market
(E) it is preferable to choose an investment offering a reliable income over a
more risky opportunity to make a large profit quickly
Answers and Explanations
1. The best answer is D. This is a paradox question. The fact that most employees
of Company X want their company to be more powerful than Company Y would
explain why they prefer a situation in which their company is ahead of Company Y
in terms of gross revenue. Each of the other answer choices is irrelevant. Answer
choice A is outside the scope of the stimulus because there is no information
presented on the growth rate of either company. Answer choice B is outside the
scope of the stimulus because even if employees of Company X do want their gross
revenue to be higher than $120 million, they would prefer the scenario in which
the revenue is already at $120 million rather than the scenario in which the
revenue is only $100 million. Answer choice C is irrelevant because it would not
explain why employees would choose one scenario over the other. Answer choice E
is irrelevant because the scenarios are based on gross revenue, not quality.
2. The best answer is E. This is a weaken question. Each of the other answer
choices is irrelevant to the relationship between the stated evidence concerning a
client’s right to confidentiality, and the conclusion that the attorney’s duty of confidentiality
and any genuine concern for victims is mutually exclusive.
3. The best answer is D. This is a method of argument question. The only statement
offered in support of the civil libertarians’ position is that the public officials’
explanation is self-serving. This is an attack on the motives of the officials. The
civil libertarians have not offered any refutation to the assertion that electronic
surveillance of public places has some beneficial effects. Each of the other choices
describes a questionable argumentation technique other than the one used by the
civil libertarians.
4. The best answer is D. This is a role of fact question. The finding that X causes
cancer in rabbits is the motivation for the proposed course of action: banning the
use of X. Answer choice A is incorrect because the conclusion of the physician’s
argument is that X should be banned not to save rabbits, but to save humans from
a similar fate. Answer choice B is incorrect because the physician does not assert or
imply that cancer in lab rabbits is a benefit to anyone. Answer choices C and E are
not correct because the claim that similar research will never be done on humans is
not actually supported at all. In fact, the physician uses the word “probably” in the
statement as a way to avoid having to offer conclusive support.
5. The best answer is E. This is a point of contention question. Both Sulema and
Antonietta agree on the fact that real estate can yield a significant profit or a significant
loss. Sulema uses the term “volatile” to indicate that she recognizes this fact.
However, the two speakers do not agree on which investment option is best.
Antonietta clearly prefers investment options that are more steady and predictable,
whereas Sulema prefers the opportunity for large profit offered by the more
volatile real estate market.
Following is a group of simulated Logical Reasoning questions, along with a complete
explanation for each question. Do not time yourself at this stage. Work through the
questions carefully and select the best answer from among the choices. Use the explanations
at the end of the chapter to help you to understand any errors that you make so
that you’ll be stronger on test day.
Directions: The questions in this section are based on the logical reasoning contained in
brief statements or passages. For some questions, there could be more than one possible
answer. However, you are to select the best answer; that is, the response that most accurately
and completely answers the question. You should not make assumptions that
cannot be supported by the statements or passages. After you have selected the best
answer, fill in the corresponding circle on your answer sheet.
1. Business Analyst: In a recent survey, employees of Company X were asked to state which one of the following two scenarios they would prefer: (1) Company X is the industry leader with gross revenues of $100 million, and Company Y is second
with gross revenues of $90 million; or (2) Company Y is the industry leader with
gross revenues of $120 million and Company X is second with gross revenues of
$110 million. Despite the fact that, under the scenario 2, Company X would have
higher gross revenue than under scenario 1, the majority of respondents stated that
they preferred scenario 1.
Which of the following, if true, would most help to explain the surprising survey
results described by the business analyst?
(A) Most employees of Company X believe that their company has a higher
growth rate than Company Y.
(B) Most employees of Company X want their company to have gross revenue
of more than $120 million.
(C) Most employees of Company X believe that their personal welfare is not
connected to the company’s gross revenue.
(D) Most employees of Company X want their company to be more powerful
than Company Y.
(E) Most employees of Company X want their company to make products of
the highest quality.
2. Attorneys who represent violent criminals cannot both respect their clients’ right
to confidentiality and be sincerely concerned for the welfare of victims of future
violent crimes. Reporting a client’s unreported crimes violates the client’s trust, but
remaining silent leaves the dangerous client out of prison, free to commit more
crimes.
Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the argument?
(A) Most attorneys who represent violent criminals are assigned this task by a
court.
(B) Violent criminals are no more likely to be represented by an attorney than
are nonviolent criminals.
(C) Victims of future violent crimes also have a right to confidentiality should
they need legal representation.
(D) The right of victims of violent crimes to compensation is as important as
the right of criminals to confidentiality.
(E) An attorney who has gained a violent criminal’s trust can persuade that
criminal not to commit repeat offenses.
3. Civil libertarian: As electronic surveillance of public places becomes more common
and pervasive, we hear more and more attempted justifications of this practice by
government officials. Surveillance, they explain, keeps the public honest and polite
to one another. Such explanations are obviously self-serving, and so should not be
taken to justify these unwarranted invasions of privacy.
A questionable technique used in the civil libertarians argument is to
(A) attack an argument different from that actually offered by government
officials
(B) presume that members of the public are never dishonest or rude to one
another
(C) insist that modern government practices meet moral standards far higher
than those accepted in the past
(D) attack government officials’ motives instead of addressing their arguments
(E) make a generalization based on a sample that there is reason to believe is
biased
4. Physician: Research has shown that substance X causes cancer in rabbits. Even
though similar research has never been done on humans, and probably never will
be, the use of substance X should be banned.
That substance X causes cancer in rabbits figures in the argument in which one of
the following ways?
(A) It is presented as the hazard that the physician is concerned with preventing.
(B) It is presented as a benefit of not acting on the recommendation of that
conclusion.
(C) It is presented as evidence for the claim that similar research will never be
done on humans.
(D) It is presented as a finding that motivates the course of action advocated in
the conclusion.
(E) It is presented as evidence for the claim that similar research has never been
done on humans.
5. Sulema: The real estate market is the best place to invest your money these days;
although it is often volatile, it provides the opportunity to make a large profit
quickly.
Antonietta: I agree that the real estate market provides the opportunity to make
large profits quickly, but one is just as likely to take a large loss. I think that it is
better to invest in precious metals, which tend to provide a constant, reliable
appreciation over a long period of time.
Sulema’s and Antonietta’s statements provide the most support for holding that
they disagree about whether
(A) the real estate market is often volatile but provides the opportunity to make
a large profit quickly
(B) precious metals can provide a large return on one’s investment
(C) the real estate market provides the opportunity for an investor to make a
constant, reliable income over a long period of time
(D) it is safer to invest in precious metals than to invest in the real estate market
(E) it is preferable to choose an investment offering a reliable income over a
more risky opportunity to make a large profit quickly
Answers and Explanations
1. The best answer is D. This is a paradox question. The fact that most employees
of Company X want their company to be more powerful than Company Y would
explain why they prefer a situation in which their company is ahead of Company Y
in terms of gross revenue. Each of the other answer choices is irrelevant. Answer
choice A is outside the scope of the stimulus because there is no information
presented on the growth rate of either company. Answer choice B is outside the
scope of the stimulus because even if employees of Company X do want their gross
revenue to be higher than $120 million, they would prefer the scenario in which
the revenue is already at $120 million rather than the scenario in which the
revenue is only $100 million. Answer choice C is irrelevant because it would not
explain why employees would choose one scenario over the other. Answer choice E
is irrelevant because the scenarios are based on gross revenue, not quality.
2. The best answer is E. This is a weaken question. Each of the other answer
choices is irrelevant to the relationship between the stated evidence concerning a
client’s right to confidentiality, and the conclusion that the attorney’s duty of confidentiality
and any genuine concern for victims is mutually exclusive.
3. The best answer is D. This is a method of argument question. The only statement
offered in support of the civil libertarians’ position is that the public officials’
explanation is self-serving. This is an attack on the motives of the officials. The
civil libertarians have not offered any refutation to the assertion that electronic
surveillance of public places has some beneficial effects. Each of the other choices
describes a questionable argumentation technique other than the one used by the
civil libertarians.
4. The best answer is D. This is a role of fact question. The finding that X causes
cancer in rabbits is the motivation for the proposed course of action: banning the
use of X. Answer choice A is incorrect because the conclusion of the physician’s
argument is that X should be banned not to save rabbits, but to save humans from
a similar fate. Answer choice B is incorrect because the physician does not assert or
imply that cancer in lab rabbits is a benefit to anyone. Answer choices C and E are
not correct because the claim that similar research will never be done on humans is
not actually supported at all. In fact, the physician uses the word “probably” in the
statement as a way to avoid having to offer conclusive support.
5. The best answer is E. This is a point of contention question. Both Sulema and
Antonietta agree on the fact that real estate can yield a significant profit or a significant
loss. Sulema uses the term “volatile” to indicate that she recognizes this fact.
However, the two speakers do not agree on which investment option is best.
Antonietta clearly prefers investment options that are more steady and predictable,
whereas Sulema prefers the opportunity for large profit offered by the more
volatile real estate market.
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