1. Many people, especially children, suffer an allergic response when they consume peanuts or food that has been in contact with peanut dust. However, some factories that make food products have entirely banned peanuts from their premises. Therefore, people who have peanut allergies (and their parents) can safely buy and consume food from those companies.
Which of the following is most like the argument above in its logical structure?

2. A rare disease, Tabies, is diagnosed with increasing frequency. The diagnosis rate is four times what it was five years ago. The government should act now to provide greater funding to diagnose and treat Tabies.
Which of the following, if true, most weakens the argument that the government should provide greater funding to diagnose and treat Tabies?

3. Mosora Rocks Town Council recently decided to consider the removal of all fire alarm boxes. The Mosora Rocks Fire Department reports that 90 percent of all fire alarms emanating from fire alarm boxes turn out to be false. Since virtually everyone has a personal mobile phone now, the usefulness of the fire alarm boxes has passed and they are now merely a nuisance. The fire department recommends that the Council authorize the removal of all fire alarm boxes, which will reduce the number of false alarms without affecting people’s ability to report a fire.
Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the idea that the fire department’s proposal will have the desired effect?

4. A recent report published in the local newspaper determined that 80 percent of drivers on Colorado highways regularly use their seat belts. However, 65 percent of drivers pulled over on routine traffic stops were NOT using their seat belts. Clearly, drivers who drive recklessly often also do not wear their seat belts.
The conclusion drawn above depends on which of the following assumptions?

5. Joshua: I have spent a lot of time in Europe on tour with the men’s choir I am a part of. Having stayed at hotels throughout Scandinavia, I have noticed that there is a large discrepancy in the quality of the woodwork between hotels that were built before 1950 and those built after. It’s clear that carpenters who worked on hotels built before 1950 were far more skilled and took greater pride in their work than carpenters who worked on hotels built after 1950.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens Joshua’s argument?

6. Justin is an excellent amateur swimmer and is unbeaten in college swimming competitions. Last year school year, he won the all-around title at the Meyersville University Invitational. A month ago, Justin was in a minor car accident that caused him to break his wrist. It will be in a cast for the remainder of the school year. Consequently, when the Meyersville University Invitational is held next month, _______.
Which of the following best completes the passage?

7. Many people, especially children, suffer an allergic response when they consume peanuts or food that has been in contact with peanut dust. However, some factories that make food products have entirely banned peanuts from their premises. Therefore, people who have peanut allergies (and their parents) can safely buy and consume food from those companies.
Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

8. Gordon: I found three comic books at the store that I wanted. But they cost more than I wanted to pay, so I left them for now.
Ryan: What do you mean, “for now”?
Gordon: Well, I’ll go back in a week when the new issues have come out and buy the comics I wanted at 50 percent off.
Which of the following would best serve as a logical conclusion to Gordon’s argument?

9. For a travel ban against a certain country to succeed, both the American government and the travel industry must work together to prohibit American travelers from being able to travel to the banned country. While the American government has recently prohibited its citizens from traveling to Narvia, many travel agents are continuing to facilitate travel, often by booking circuitous flights to allow Americans to enter Narvia through another country. Therefore, the travel ban against Narvia is unlikely to be successful.
Any of the following, if true, is a valid reason to believe the ban will not be successful EXCEPT:

10. Mosora Rocks Town Council recently decided to consider the removal of all fire alarm boxes. The Mosora Rocks Fire Department reports that 90 percent of all fire alarms emanating from fire alarm boxes turn out to be false. Since virtually everyone has a personal mobile phone now, the usefulness of the fire alarm boxes has passed and they are now merely a nuisance. The fire department recommends that the Council authorize the removal of all fire alarm boxes, which will reduce the number of false alarms without affecting people’s ability to report a fire.
Which of the following is an assumption that enables the fire department to reach the conclusion that fire alarm boxes should be removed?

11. Ambiance Hotels has a customer loyalty program that rewards customers with a paper coupon for a free night at an Ambiance Hotel after spending four nights in one. The marketing department of the hotel chain notices that people have begun selling these coupons on the Internet for less than the cost of a night at an Ambiance Hotel. Therefore, the marketing department has advised that the hotel chain begin issuing web-based vouchers that are nontransferable.
Which of the following, if true, would present the best argument for the marketing department’s plan?

12. For a travel ban against a certain country to succeed, both the American government and the travel industry must work together to prohibit American travelers from being able to travel to the banned country. While the American government has recently prohibited its citizens from traveling to Narvia, many travel agents are continuing to facilitate travel, often by booking circuitous flights to allow Americans to enter Narvia through another country. Therefore, the travel ban against Narvia is unlikely to be successful.
Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument in the passage above?

13. Principal Ellington: If the student body wants to have more parking spots available to them, they need to raise money to buy the field next to the school so that it can be turned into a parking lot. There are no other options. The existent staff and faculty parking lot takes up half of the rear schoolyard area, with the student parking lot as it is now to the side. The front parking lot of the school must be left for visitors and parents.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens Principal Ellington’s argument?

14. Since 1970, the town of Hotspur, New Mexico, has drawn water from the Makalesh River, which feeds Lake William. If the town’s water use continues to grow at its present rate, in about 10 years the water level of Lake William will inevitably decrease to the point that it can no longer support its biologically fragile population of fish.
Which of the following presents the best conclusion to the argument above?

15. Ambiance Hotels has a customer loyalty program that rewards customers with a paper coupon for a free night at an Ambiance Hotel after spending four nights in one. The marketing department of the hotel chain notices that people have begun selling these coupons on the Internet for less than the cost of a night at an Ambiance Hotel. Therefore, the marketing department has advised that the hotel chain begin issuing web-based vouchers that are nontransferable.
What is the assumption underlying the marketing department’s logic in its plan?

16. Nutritionists advise people to eat as many vegetables as possible in the day, saying that there is no limit to how many one should consume. However, some people have contracted a nearly fatal disorder from eating carrots. Therefore, nutritionists should caution against the overconsumption of carrots while allowing the consumption of all other vegetables.
What can be said to be an underlying assumption in the argument above?

17. Since 1970, the town of Hotspur, New Mexico, has drawn water from the Makalesh River, which feeds Lake William. If the town’s water use continues to grow at its present rate, in about 10 years the water level of Lake William will inevitably decrease to the point that it can no longer support its biologically fragile population of fish.
The prediction above is based on which of the following assumptions?

18. A rare disease, Tabies, is diagnosed with increasing frequency. The diagnosis rate is four times what it was five years ago. The government should act now to provide greater funding to diagnose and treat Tabies.
The conclusion drawn above depends on which of the following assumptions?

19. Principal Ellington: If the student body wants to have more parking spots available to them, they need to raise money to buy the field next to the school so that it can be turned into a parking lot. There are no other options. The existent staff and faculty parking lot takes up half of the rear schoolyard area, with the student parking lot as it is now to the side. The front parking lot of the school must be left for visitors and parents.
In the argument presented above, what role does the boldfaced portion play?

20. Gordon: I found three comic books at the store that I wanted. But they cost more than I wanted to pay, so I left them for now.
Ryan: What do you mean, “for now”?
Gordon: Well, I’ll go back in a week when the new issues have come out and buy the comics I wanted at 50 percent off.
Which of the following, if true, would strengthen Gordon’s logic?