---------------------------------------------------------------
Logical Reasoning - Volume 02
---------------------------------------------------------------
Directions :All sample logical reasoning question in this part of the assessment starts with a reading passage containing the information to be used to choose between correct and incorrect logical conclusions. These conclusions are based on the information in the passage. After this reading passage, you are given a lead-in phrase that tells you to choose from among five different responses. These possible responses are generated by correctly or incorrectly applying logical thought to the information in the passage at the beginning of the question. They can be thought of as different ways of completing a sentence that begins with the lead-in phrase.
---------------------------------------------------------------
11) Although most of the fastest growing jobs in today's economy will require a college degree, many of the new jobs being created-from home health aide to desktop publisher-require knowledge other than that gained from earning a degree. For workers in those jobs, good basic skills in reading, communication, and mathematics play an important role in getting a job and developing a career.
From the information given above it can be validly concluded that, in today's economy,
A. skills in reading, communication, and mathematics play an important role in developing a career as a desktop publisher
B. the majority of the new jobs being created require knowledge other than that gained from earning a college degree
C. a job as a home health aide will rely more on communication skills than on basic skills in reading and mathematics
D. if a job is one of the fastest growing jobs, it will require a college degree
E. desktop publisher jobs and home health aide jobs are not among the fastest growing jobs
Ans : A12) According to the National Agricultural Aviation Society (NAAS), without the use of crop protection products to control insects, weeds, and diseases, crop yields per acre will drop by more than 50 percent. The first aerial application of insecticide occurred in 1921, and it was a huge success. By contrast, in today's economy all aircraft that are classified as aerial applicators do more than just apply insecticide; today, they also spread seed and apply fertilizer.
From the information given above it CANNOT be validly concluded that
A. in today's economy, if an aerial applicator is used, then it will be able to spread seed and to apply fertilizer
B. according to the NAAS, if crop yields per acre never drop by more than 50 percent, then crop protection products have been used to control insects, weeds, and diseases
C. in today's economy, any aircraft that cannot be used to apply fertilizer cannot be classified as an aerial applicator
D. in 1921, if an aircraft was used for the application of insecticide, then it was not also used to spread seed
E. according to the NAAS, if crop yields per acre drop by more than 50 percent, then crop protection products have not been used to control insects, weeds, and diseases.
Ans : E13) No national productivity measures are available for underground industries that may exist but remain unreported. On the other hand, at least some industries that are run entirely by self-employed industrialists are included in national productivity measures.
From the information given above, it can be validly concluded that
A. there are at least some industries run entirely by self-employed industrialists that are underground industries
B. no industries that are run entirely by self-employed industrialists operate underground
C. there are at least some industries other than those run entirely by self-employed industrialists that are underground industries
D. there are at least some industries run entirely by self-employed industrialists that are not underground industries
E. there are at least some underground industries for which national productivity measures are available
Ans : D14) Lou observes that if flight 409 is canceled, then the manager could not possibly arrive in time for the meeting. But the flight was not canceled. Therefore, Lou concludes, the manager will certainly be on time. Evelyn replies that even if Lou's premises are true, his argument is fallacious. And therefore, she adds, the manager will not arrive on time after all.
Which of the following is the strongest thing that we can properly say about this discussion?
A. Evelyn is mistaken in thinking Lou's argument to be fallacious, and so her own conclusion is unwarranted.
B. Evelyn is right about Lou's argument, but nevertheless her own conclusion is unwarranted.
C. Since Evelyn is right about Lou's argument, her own conclusion is well supported.
D. Since Evelyn is mistaken about Lou's argument, her own conclusion must be false.
E. Evelyn is right about Lou's argument, but nevertheless her own conclusion is false.
Ans : B15) Sally has never received a violation from the Federal Aviation Administration during her 16-year flying career. Sally must be a great pilot.
Which of the following can be said about the reasoning above?
A. The definitions of the terms create ambiguity.
B. The argument uses circular reasoning.
C. The argument works by analogy.
D. The argument is built upon hidden assumptions.
E. This is an example of an argument that is directed against the source of the claim rather than the claim itself.
Ans : D16) The Japanese economic model created strong domestic industries through subsidies from its Ministry of Trade and by closing off competitive foreign firms to its domestic market. This strategy promised to help economic growth by incubating domestic industries. New Japanese industries could count on a known local demand and would be protected from competition by tariffs and other barriers. The program could reduce the amount of imports and therefore improve the nation's balance of trade.
Which of the following, based on the passage above, is a weakness in this economic strategy?
A. A protectionist policy will create animosity among other nations.
B. Fast growth of small industries will create a class of millionaires and increase the inequality of income.
C. Subsidies and import constraints keep domestic prices high and impose a burden on consumers.
D. Quotas are more regressive than tariffs.
E. The demand for the products made by the incubated industries would not be known.
Ans : C17) Historically, famines have generally been followed by periods of rising wages, because when a labor force is diminished, workers are more valuable in accordance with the law of supply and demand. The Irish potato famine of the 1840s is an exception; it resulted in the death or emigration of half of Ireland's population, but there was no significant rise in the average wages in Ireland in the following decade.
Which one of the following, if true, would LEAST contribute to an explanation of the exception to the generalization?
A. Improved medical care reduced the mortality rate among able-bodied adults in the decade following the famine to below prefamine levels.
B. Eviction policies of the landowners in Ireland were designed to force emigration of the elderly and infirm, who could not work, and to retain a high percentage of able-bodied workers.
C. Advances in technology increased the efficiency of industry and agriculture, and so allowed maintenance of economic output with less demand for labor.
D. The birth rate increased during the decade following the famine, and this compensated for much of the loss of population that was due to the famine.
E. England, which had political control of Ireland, legislated artificially low wages to provide English-owned industry and agriculture in Ireland with cheap labor.
Ans : D18) Cars are safer than planes. Fifty percent of plane accidents result in death, while only one percent of car accidents result in death.
Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument above?
A. Planes are inspected more often than cars.
B. The number of car accidents is several hundred thousand times higher than the number of plane accidents.
C. Pilots never fly under the influence of alcohol, while car drivers often do.
D. Plane accidents are usually the fault of air traffic controllers, not pilots.
E. Planes carry more passengers than cars do.
Ans : B19) The body of anyone infected by virus X will, after a week, produce antibodies to fight the virus; the antibodies will increase in number for the next year or so. There is now a test that reliably indicates how many antibodies are present in a person's body. If positive, this test can be used during the first year of infection to estimate to within a month how long that person has had the virus.
Which one of the following conclusions is best supported by the statements above?
A. Antibodies increase in number only until they have defeated the virus.
B. Without the test for antibodies, there is no way of establishing whether a person has virus X.
C. Antibodies are produced only for viral infections that cannot be fought by any other body defenses.
D. If a person remains infected by virus X indefinitely, there is no limit to the number of antibodies that can be present in the person's body.
E. Anyone infected by virus X will for a time fail to exhibit infection if tested by the antibody test.
Ans : E20) Ever since I arrived at the college last week, I've been shocked by the poor behavior of the students. The student population is completely lacking in proper social skills.
Which of the following, if true, would weaken the above conclusion?
A. Students who are away from their parents often exhibit rude behavior.
B. The college numbers over 50,000 students.
C. The narrator is a student and has interacted with many students.
D. Social skills should not be expected of college students.
E. The narrator was reluctant to stay at the college.
Ans : B
