1. In most factories, improving the technology of the assembly line increases labor productivity, the amount of goods a worker can produce per hour. In Libertore Factory, labor productivity is 20 percent higher than in Koltun Industries. Therefore, Libertore Factory must be further advanced technologically than Koltun Industries.
The argument above is most vulnerable to which of the following criticisms?

2. Casey: We have 20 teachers sharing a photocopy machine in the second floor teachers’ lounge. The machine is always breaking down, which means that 20 people is too many people to make use of one machine.
Corey: I don’t agree. We have 25 teachers sharing the copy machine in the first floor teacher’s lounge. However, our copy machine almost never breaks down. Our machine must be better made than yours.
Corey’s argument is most vulnerable to the objection that it fails to

3. Basilburg shop owner: If we want to save our downtown shopping area, we need to rally together to protest the opening of a DiscountPalace on the outskirts of town! Why, I looked into this issue, and did you know that DiscountPalace opened stores in the last five years in Mosora, Miggeville, and St. David? And all three of those towns experienced the bankruptcies of at least 20 percent of their downtown shopping area stores! They didn’t rally to protect their small businesses. Do we want that to happen in Basilburg?
The shop owner quoted above could strengthen her argument with which of the following facts, if true?

4. A community college is experiencing a high turnover rate among its journalism faculty members. To rectify this problem, the chairperson of the journalism department has proposed to the dean that beginning next year, starting salaries for journalism instructors be increased by 10 percent to provide a more competitive pay package.
Which of the following, if true, indicates a flaw in the department head’s plan?

5. Excavation of the ancient city of Kanala in western Ghana revealed a pattern of debris and collapsed buildings typical of towns destroyed by earthquakes. Archeologists have hypothesized that the destruction was due to a major earthquake known to have occurred in the area in AD 56.
Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the archeologists’ hypothesis?

6. The highway bypass was supposed to relieve traffic in East Allegheny County. Although the bypass opened last year, traffic in the county has gotten worse over the last year. To relieve the traffic situation in East Allegheny County, therefore, the traffic commission should order the highway bypass to be free to all travelers.
Which of the following, if true, most weakens the conclusion above?

7. The highway bypass was supposed to relieve traffic in East Allegheny County. Although the bypass opened last year, traffic in the county has gotten worse over the last year. To relieve the traffic situation in East Allegheny County, therefore, the traffic commission should order the highway bypass to be free to all travelers.
Which of the following, if true, gives the most support to the conclusion of the passage above?

8. Italian espresso is the gold standard for the beverage. People from all over the world purchased espresso machines made in Italy in hopes of learning to brew a perfect cup at home. Yet all over Italy, American coffee shops are on the rise. Many Italians prefer to start their day with a to-go cup of American coffee instead of the classic espresso. It is a shameful reduction of a culture to consume such a far inferior product.
Which of the following, if true, provides the most support for the argument made above?

9. Excavation of the ancient city of Kanala in western Ghana revealed a pattern of debris and collapsed buildings typical of towns destroyed by earthquakes. Archeologists have hypothesized that the destruction was due to a major earthquake known to have occurred in the area in AD 56.
Which of the following would it be most useful to know in order to evaluate the argument?

10. Basilburg shop owner: If we want to save our downtown shopping area, we need to rally together to protest the opening of a DiscountPalace on the outskirts of town! Why, I looked into this issue, and did you know that DiscountPalace opened stores in the last five years in Mosora, Miggeville, and St. David? And all three of those towns experienced the bankruptcies of at least 20 percent of their downtown shopping area stores! They didn’t rally to protect their small businesses. Do we want that to happen in Basilburg?
Which of the following is most like the passage in its logical structure?

11. Excavation of the ancient city of Kanala in western Ghana revealed a pattern of debris and collapsed buildings typical of towns destroyed by earthquakes. Archeologists have hypothesized that the destruction was due to a major earthquake known to have occurred in the area in AD 56.
Which of the following would it be most useful to know in order to evaluate the argument?

12. In the last five years, there has been a significant decrease in smoking. At the same time, the portrayal of smoking in movies and on television has decreased as well. Therefore, the decrease in smoking must have been caused by the decrease in the portrayal of smoking in media.
Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

13. Casey: We have 20 teachers sharing a photocopy machine in the second floor teachers’ lounge. The machine is always breaking down, which means that 20 people is too many people to make use of one machine.
Corey: I don’t agree. We have 25 teachers sharing the copy machine in the first floor teacher’s lounge. However, our copy machine almost never breaks down. Our machine must be better made than yours.
Which of the following, if true, would support Corey’s argument the most?

14. Julie’s horse, a tall gelding named Louis, can respond to over 50 commands. Julie cites this fact as evidence for her claim that Louis can understand the English language.
Which of the following, if true, casts the most doubt on Julie’s claim that Louis can understand the English language?

15. A community college is experiencing a high turnover rate among its journalism faculty members. To rectify this problem, the chairperson of the journalism department has proposed to the dean that beginning next year, starting salaries for journalism instructors be increased by 10 percent to provide a more competitive pay package.
Which of the following, if true, indicates a flaw in the department head’s plan?

16. Julie’s horse, a tall gelding named Louis, can respond to over 50 commands. Julie cites this fact as evidence for her claim that Louis can understand the English language.
Julie’s argument is based on which of the following assumptions?

17. Basilburg shop owner: If we want to save our downtown shopping area, we need to rally together to protest the opening of a DiscountPalace on the outskirts of town! Why, I looked into this issue, and did you know that DiscountPalace opened stores in the last five years in Mosora, Miggeville, and St. David? And all three of those towns experienced the bankruptcies of at least 20 percent of their downtown shopping area stores! They didn’t rally to protect their small businesses. Do we want that to happen in Basilburg?
The conclusion presented above is based on the assumption that

18. Excavation of the ancient city of Kanala in western Ghana revealed a pattern of debris and collapsed buildings typical of towns destroyed by earthquakes. Archeologists have hypothesized that the destruction was due to a major earthquake known to have occurred in the area in AD 56.
Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the archeologists’ hypothesis?

19. In the last five years, there has been a significant decrease in smoking. At the same time, the portrayal of smoking in movies and on television has decreased as well. Therefore, the decrease in smoking must have been caused by the decrease in the portrayal of smoking in media.
Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

20. Basilburg shop owner: If we want to save our downtown shopping area, we need to rally together to protest the opening of a DiscountPalace on the outskirts of town! Why, I looked into this issue, and did you know that DiscountPalace opened stores in the last five years in Mosora, Miggeville, and St. David? And all three of those towns experienced the bankruptcies of at least 20 percent of their downtown shopping area stores! They didn’t rally to protect their small businesses. Do we want that to happen in Basilburg?
Which of the following is most like the passage in its logical structure?