PrepTest 157 Section 2

Choose a question

Explanations for every question, find them by number or text.

1. Q1:
   One should not do anything that has the potential to produce…Must be True

   One should not do anything with potential to produce serious harm to one's society.

2. Q2:
   The sculptor Barajas died before she could even begin…Weaken

   The statue probably looks like what Barajas would have made herself.

3. Q3:
   Although there are immediate short-term gains in crop yield…Complete the Argument

   The financial benefit from use of these pesticides is initially high, but decreases over time. [predicted conclusion]

4. Q4:
   Economist: Our country needs as much capital as possible…Weaken

   We should pass laws that make it more difficult for overseas investors to remove their capital.

5. Q5:
   Columnist: Many people with access to the Internet express…Identify the Conclusion

   Learning about other cultures probably will not satisfy their longing.

6. Q6:
   Democratic societies in which there is widespread discontent…Principle

   People more often blame politicians than they blame powerful figures who are equally or more responsible, because they feel they have more control over the politicians.

7. Q7:
   The mu mesons generated by cosmic rays just outside …Complete the Argument

   Mu mesons moving near the speed of light decay faster than mu mesons nearly at rest.

8. Q8:
   Buyer: As a buyer for a large chain of department stores…Parallel Reasoning

   I will not buy that dress.

9. Q9:
   Psychologists report that children in nine-month schools…Flawed Reasoning

   The twelve-month schedule is preferred for academic learning.

10. Q10:
    The Industrial Revolution decreased the value that society…Weaken

    Our most important intellectual skills will be devalued by electronic data-processing technology.

11. Q11:
    Wounds become infected because the break in the skin allows…Paradox

    Infections slow healing and are caused by bacteria entering through a break in the skin.

12. Q12:
    Art student: Great works of art evoke passionate responses …Flawed Reasoning

    Ezekiel Reilly's art is great.

13. Q13:
    In northern Europe, archaeologists have discovered…Strengthen

    The discovery of 400,000-year-old sharpened wooden poles effectively disproves the widespread belief that the humanlike precursors of *Homo sapiens* were entirely gatherers and scavengers and did not hunt.

14. Q14:
    Politician: Our public libraries are open only on weekdays…Principle

    No new taxes supporting the library system should be approved unless the library hours are changed to better suit taxpayers and their families.

15. Q15:
    The introduction of mass production techniques in modern…Complete the Argument

    The introduction of mass production techniques was not universally beneficial for workers [predicted conclusion].

16. Q16:
    Child psychologist: Psychologists have found that most children…Sufficient Assumption

    Most children should not have pets until they are at least six years old.

17. Q17:
    The average tax refund received by taxpayers who use …Flawed Parallel Reasoning

    If you want a large refund, you should use a tax prep service.

18. Q18:
    In an experiment, each of 200 randomly selected people…Sufficient Assumption

    Gesturing helps speakers find the phrases they want.

19. Q19:
    Committee chairperson: No new course will be approved…Must be True

    A new course will only be approved if a proposal for it has already been received by the Dean or the committee.

20. Q20:
    The olecranon process is a bony part of the mammalian…Flawed Reasoning

    *Megatherium* was probably a predator.

21. Q21:
    Essayist: Commitment to relationships or careers is commonly…Principle

    Commitments should be seen as morally neutral instead of virtuous.

22. Q22:
    Because of the ubiquity of television in modern households…Sufficient Assumption

    Few of today's children will develop a lifelong interest in literature.

23. Q23:
    Filmmaker: I use hidden cameras when filming documentaries…Principle

    The filmmaker's documentaries are more worthwhile than documentaries in which people speak to the camera.

24. Q24:
    The more profitable a corporation is, the more valuable its …Necessary Assumption

    Highly profitable companies can save money by giving employees expensive bonuses.

25. Q25:
    Columnist: Consent forms filled out by subjects prior to their…Flawed Reasoning

    Some medical ethicists' claim that many test subjects resent being given placebos or ineffective medicine is false.