Verbal Reasoning: Critical Section

This is an MCQ quiz for GMAT, which includes questions on the critical section which comes under verbal reasoning.

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A large company has recently increased its dividend payments to shareholders. Shareholders had previously been worried about the company"s stock price, but are now relieved since increasing dividends generally boosts a company"s stock price. However, the shareholders" optimism may be ill-founded since spending money on the payment of dividends often indicates that the company has exhausted more lucrative investments for its cash reserves and that the stock price will likely fall in the longer run. In the argument above, the two bold-faced portions play which of the following roles?

The first describes the circumstance that the argument seeks to explain; the second provides evidence in support of the explanation that the argument seeks to establish. The first is a premise that is accepted as true; the second seeks to clarify the original premise. The first is evidence that supports a conclusion; the second is that conclusion. The first describes evidence that supports a conclusion; the second gives a reason for questioning that support. The first is a premise that is accepted as true; the second is a conclusion that is contrary to the premise.

Recently, some economists have concluded that the major impediment to job growth in the U.S. is the enormous national debt. While many politicians would like to stimulate job growth by increasing government spending, these economists believe it will have the opposite effect and thus want to cut spending immediately. Historically, when total debt levels exceed 90% of domestic GDP, economic growth falls significantly causing job losses and overall economic malaise. The current U.S. debt is over 96% of GDP, so it is hard to argue the importance of decreasing this percentage and the economists are correct on this point. However, what these economists fail to understand is that cutting spending at this critical juncture would put too much pressure on a fragile economy. In the short term, spending should be left at current levels and revenue should be increased by increasing taxes on wealthy individuals and some corporations. As the economy strengthens, then spending can be decreased with the goal of reducing the debt percentage of GDP to a figure below 90%. The portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

The first boldfaced portion is an opinion that the author believes is correct; the second boldfaced portion is support for that opinion. The first boldfaced portion is the author’s conclusion; the second boldfaced portion is support for that conclusion. The first boldfaced portion is an opinion upon which the author’s conclusion is based; the second boldfaced portion is evidence that contradicts that conclusion. The first boldfaced portion is an opinion that the author of this argument believes is incorrect; the second boldfaced portion is support for that opinion. The first boldfaced portion is an opinion that the author of this argument believes is incorrect; the second boldfaced portion is support for the author’s conclusion.

Recently, motorists have begun purchasing more and more fuel-efficient economy and hybrid cars that consume fewer gallons of gasoline per mile traveled. With that trend, there has been debate as to whether we can conclude that these purchases will actually lead to an overall reduction in the total consumption of gasoline across all motorists. The answer is no, since motorists with more fuel-efficient vehicles are likely to drive more total miles than they did before switching to a more fuel-efficient car, negating the gains from higher fuel-efficiency. Which of the following best describes the roles of the portions in bold?

The first is a premise that is later shown to be false; the second is a conclusion that is later shown to be false. The first is a conclusion that is later shown to be false; the second is the evidence by which that conclusion is proven false. The first describes a premise that is accepted as true; the second introduces a conclusion that is opposed by the argument as a whole. The first is evidence that has been used to support a position that the argument as a whole opposes; the second provides information to undermine the force of that evidence. The first states a position taken by the argument; the second introduces a conclusion that is refuted by additional evidence.

Business School Dean: We are all in agreement that we must cut unnecessary costs in order to afford our popular international study programs, a hallmark of our unique offering that prospective students know us for. But cutting the marketing budget would be a terrible idea; after all, our unique international programs cannot attract prospective students if we do not properly market them. The portions highlighted in boldface play which of the following roles?

The first is a consideration that the dean agrees with; the second is support for the dean’s conclusion. The first is a conclusion that the dean opposes; the second is a conclusion that the dean supports. The first is a consideration that the dean agrees with; the second is the dean’s conclusion. The first is a conclusion that the dean supports; the second is evidence for that conclusion. The first is a consideration that supports the dean’s conclusion; the second is that conclusion.

In countries where healthcare is universal and provided free of charge by the government, visits per capita to the doctor are twice as frequent as they are in countries where healthcare is paid at least partly out-of-pocket by the consumer. Presently, governments do not have a reliable way of determining whether the symptoms for which these patients were treated for would have otherwise subsided without medical attention. However, this information does not warrant the conclusion by some universal healthcare critics that in the countries with a higher frequency of doctor visits, about half of them are unnecessary. Alternatively, in those countries where healthcare is not free, consumers often forego visits to the doctor except in cases of severe symptoms. In the argument above, the two boldfaced portions play which of the following roles?

The first is a premise, of which the implications are in dispute in the argument; the second is a claim presented in order to argue against deriving certain implications from that premise. The first is a finding, the accuracy of which is evaluated in the argument; the second is evidence presented to establish the accuracy of the finding. The first is a premise that the argument disputes; the second is a conclusion that has been based on that premise. The first is a premise that has been used to support a conclusion that the argument accepts; the second is that conclusion. The first is a conclusion that rests upon further evidence within the argument; the second supports that conclusion.

Hiker: With the storm approaching quickly we need to make a decision on how to proceed. We can try to descend the mountain to seek shelter, but then we will undo our progress and lose our chance to reach the summit – and we may not make it all the way down, anyway. We can continue on our current course and hope that the storm misses us or passes quickly, but doing so risks a true disaster. So we should bivouac here, using the time before the storm to set up a safe, secure camp to weather the elements. The hiker’s argument does which of the following?

Chooses a course of action based on experience in similar situations. Outlines the risks and benefits of all available courses of action. Makes a unilateral decision by dismissing the recommendations of others. Claims that her decision is the only logical course of action. Recommends a choice based on the elimination of alternative options.

Genetically-altered trees have been developed that can remove toxins from the air more quickly than naturally-occurring trees can. However, we will not know whether the modified trees adversely affect the environment without actually planting them and carefully monitoring the environment for at least several years. Since this might cause irrevocable harm to the surrounding area, we should resist the temptation to use these trees until long-term research in a closed environment has been completed. Which of the following best describes the method of argument used in the argument above?

A course of action is advised against unless a similar, but limited, course of action produces positive results. The benefits and disadvantages of two remedial courses of action are weighed. A possible future scenario is described as being unrealistic, while a different scenario is given more credence. After detailing concerns with two approaches to a problem, both are discarded in favor of an approach that does not raise the same concerns. An experiment is recommended to determine the benefits of a new approach to a longstanding problem for which no other comparable solution is known.

University X has announced that its library will not be open during the summer. Students attending classes during the summer have protested, saying that the library has research materials that cannot be borrowed from any public library in the area. The university administration has responded with an announcement that all university library materials will be accessible online through computers that are provided to all students for free by the university. Which of the following best describes a method of argument used by the university administration?

The administration counters a concern with an alternative. The administration makes an unwarranted assumption about the motives of some of the students. The administration incorrectly makes an assumption about students' preferences. The administration defends its actions by criticizing the logic of its opponents. The administration provides an explanation that it assumes will clarify its decision.

Incumbent candidate for governor: As the people of our great state know, my administration has created unprecedented economic prosperity and job growth. Just look at the unemployment rate, which has reached its lowest point in nearly twenty years! Opposing candidate for governor: That’s preposterous. You overlook the fact that the unemployment rate is just as much a function of the number of people in the labor market as it is of the number of people employed. Your greatest contribution to the economy has been a series of retirement parties and moves to other states! The opposing candidate’s reply to the incumbent proceeds by:

Pointing out that the incumbent cited a statistic that does not necessarily support his conclusion. Suggesting that the incumbent’s statistic is factually inaccurate. Supplying a statistic that undermines the incumbent’s conclusion. Offering a statistic that sheds additional light on the statistic supplied by the incumbent. Claiming that the incumbent used a statistic irrelevant to his conclusion.

Diet Company Executive: Our “12-Weeks-to-Skinny” diet plan is the best in the country. Each year we send out a comprehensive survey to everyone who enrolled in this plan. The survey contains questions about everything from the quality of food in the program to the percentage of weight lost during the 12 weeks. Amazingly, last year over 80% of the survey respondents lost more than 10% of their body weight during the 12-week period, a figure unprecedented among diet companies. The executive’s claim about the quality of the diet plan is most vulnerable to criticism on which of the following grounds?

It does not consider the data collected since the last survey was conducted. It does not consider whether the total number of people enrolled in its plan has decreased. It does not consider the total amount weight gained or lost by its participants. It does not consider whether dissatisfied customers are less likely to respond to the survey. It does not consider whether other diet companies have had superior results over the past year.

Quiz/Test Summary

Title: Verbal Reasoning: Critical Section

Questions: 10

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