Prep2012-Pack1-CR-001 VCR07575 Easy
According to the Tristate Transportation Authority, making certain
improvements to the main commuter rail line would increase
ridership dramatically. The authority plans to finance these
improvements over the course of five years by raising automobile
tolls on the two highway bridges along the route the rail line
serves. Although the proposed improvements are indeed needed, the
authority's plan for securing the necessary funds should be
rejected because it would unfairly force drivers to absorb the
entire cost of something from which they receive no benefit.
Which of the following, if true, would cast the most doubt on the
effectiveness of the authority's plan to finance the proposed
improvements by increasing bridge tolls?
A. Before the authority increases tolls on any of the area bridges,
it is required by law to hold public hearings at which objections
to the proposed increase can be raised.
B. Whenever bridge tolls are increased, the authority must pay a
private contractor to adjust the automated toll-collecting
C. Between the time a proposed toll increase is announced and the
time the increase is actually put into effect, many commuters buy
more tokens than usual to postpone the effects of the
D. When tolls were last increased on the two bridges in question,
almost 20 percent of the regular commuter switched to a slightly
longer alternative route that has since been improved.
E. The chairman of the authority is a member of the Tristate
Automobile Club that has registered strong opposition to the
proposed toll increase.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-002 VCR07580 Easy
Roland: The alarming fact is that 90 percent of the people in this
country now report that they know someone who is unemployed.
Sharon: But a normal, moderate level of unemployment is 5 percent,
with 1 out of 20 workers unemployed. So at any given time if a
person knows approximately 50 workers, 1 or more will very be
unemployed.
Sharon's argument is structured to lead to which of the following
as a conclusion?
A. The fact that 90% of the people know someone who is unemployed
is not an indication that unemployment is abnormally high.
B. The current level of unemployment is not moderate.
C. If at least 5% of workers are unemployed, the result of
questioning a representative group of people cannot be the
percentage Roland cites.
D. It is unlikely that the people whose statements Roland cites are
giving accurate reports.
E. If an unemployment figure is given as a certain percent, the
actual percentage of those without jobs is even higher.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-003 Vcr07609 Easy
Guitar strings often go “dead”—become less responsive and bright in
tone—after a few weeks of intense use. A researcher whose son is a
classical guitarist hypothesized that dirt and oil, rather than
changes in the material properties of the string, were
responsible.
Which of the following investigations is most likely to yield
significant information that would help to evaluate the
researcher‘s hypothesis?
A. Determining if a metal alloy is used to make the strings used by
classical guitarists
B. Determining whether classical guitarists make their strings go
dead faster than do folk guitarists
C. Determining whether identical lengths of string, of the same
gauge, go dead at different rates when strung on various brands of
D. Determining whether a dead string and a new string produce
different qualities of sound
E. Determining whether smearing various substances on new guitar
strings causes them to go dead
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-004 Vcr07638 Easy
Increases in the level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) in the
human bloodstream lower bloodstream cholesterol levels by
increasing the body's capacity to rid itself of excess cholesterol.
Levels of HDL in the bloodstream of some individuals are
significantly increased by a program of regular exercise and weight
reduction.
Which of the following can be correctly inferred from the
statements above?
A. Individuals who are underweight do not run any risk of
developing high levels of cholesterol in the bloodstream.
B. Individuals who do not exercise regularly have a high risk of
developing high levels of cholesterol in the bloodstream late in
C. Exercise and weight reduction are the most effective methods of
lowering bloodstream cholesterol levels in humans.
D. A program of regular exercise and weight reduction lowers
cholesterol levels in the bloodstream of some individuals.
E. Only regular exercise is necessary to decrease cholesterol
levels in the bloodstream of individuals of average
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-005 VCR07639 Easy
In Asia, where palm trees are non-native, the trees’ flowers have
traditionally been pollinated by hand, which has kept palm fruit
productivity unnaturally low. When weevils known to be efficient
pollinators of palm flowers were introduced into Asia in 1980, palm
fruit productivity increased— by up to 50 percent in some areas—but
then decreased sharply in 1984.
Which of the following statements, if true, would best explain the
1984 decrease in productivity?
A. Prices for palm fruit fell between 1980 and 1984 following the
rise in production and a concurrent fall in demand.
B. Imported trees are often more productive than native trees
because the imported ones have left behind their pests and diseases
in their native lands.
C. Rapid increases in productivity tend to deplete trees of
nutrients needed for the development of the fruit-producing female
D. weevil population in Asia remained at approximately the same
level between 1980 and 1984.
E. Prior to 1980 another species of insect pollinated the Asian
palm trees, but not as efficiently as the species of weevil that
was introduced in 1980.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-006 VCR07640 Easy
Which of the following best completes the passage below?
People buy prestige when they buy a premium product. They want to
be associated with something special. Mass-marketing techniques and
price reduction strategies should not be used
because________.
A. Affluent purchasers currently represent a shrinking portion of
the population of all purchasers
B. continued sales depend directly on the maintenance of an aura of
exclusivity
C. purchasers of premium products are concerned with the quality as
well as with the price of the products
D. expansion of the market niche to include a broader spectrum of
consumers will increase profits
E. manufacturing a premium brand is not necessarily more costly
than manufacturing a standard brand of the same product
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-007 VCR07642 Easy
Reviewer: The book Art's Dedine argues that European painters today
lack skills that were common among European painters of preceding
centuries. In this the book must be right, since its analysis of
100 paintings, 50 old and 50 contemporary, demonstrates
convincingly that none of the contemporary paintings are executed
as skillfully as the older paintings.
Which of the following points to the most serious logical flaw in
the reviewer's argument?
A. The paintings chosen by the book's author for analysis could be
those that most support the book's thesis.
B. There could be criteria other than the technical skill of the
artist by which to evaluate a painting.
C. The title of the book could cause readers to accept the book's
thesis even before they read the analysis of the paintings that
supports it.
D. The particular methods currently used by European painters could
require less artistic skill than do methods used by painters in
other parts of the world.
E. A reader who was not familiar with the language of art criticism
might not be convinced by the book's analysis of the 100
paintings.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-008 VCR07644 Easy
Many breakfast cereals are fortified with vitamin supplements. Some
of these cereals provide 100 percent of the recommended daily
requirement of vitamins. Nevertheless, a well—balanced breakfast,
including a variety of foods, is a better source of those vitamins
than are such fortified breakfast cereals alone.
Which of the following, if true, would most strongly support the
position above?
A. In many foods, the natural combination of vitamins with other
nutrients makes those vitamins more usable by the body than are
vitamins added in vitamin supplements.
B. People who regularly eat cereals fortified with vitamin
supplements sometimes neglect to eat the foods in which the
vitamins occur naturally.
C. Foods often must be fortified with vitamin supplements because
naturally occurring vitamins are removed during processing.
D. Unprocessed cereals are naturally high in several of the
vitamins that are usually added to fortified breakfast
E. Cereals containing vitamin supplements are no harder to digest
than similar cereals without added vitamins.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-009 VCR014015 Easy
Plant scientists have used genetic engineering on seeds to produce
crop plants that are highly resistant to insect damage.
Unfortunately, the plants require more fertilizer and water to grow
well than normal ones do, and the seeds themselves are quite
expensive, and for most farmers the savings on pesticides would not
compensate for the higher seed costs and the cost of additional
fertilizer. However, since consumer demand for grains, fruits, and
vegetables grown without the use of pesticides continues to rise,
the use of genetically engineered seeds of this kind is likely to
become widespread.
In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of
the following roles?
A. The first presents a development that the argument seeks to show
will have c the second is introduced as a
consideration likely to offset one of those disadvantages.
B. The first presents a development that the argument predicts will
h the second acknowledges a consideration that
weighs against that prediction.
C. The first supplies a cont the second is a
part of the evidence presented as support for the argument's
conclusion.
D. The first is evidence provided to support an intermediate
conclusion that is drawn in support of the argument’s main
the second is that intermediate conclusion.
E. The first and the second each provide evidence in support of the
argument’s main conclusion.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-010 VCR004721 Easy
Paper&Print is a chain of British stores selling magazines,
books, and stationery products. In Britain, magazines’ retail
prices are set by publishers, and the retailer’s share of a
magazine's retail price 25 percent. Since Paper&Print’s margin
on books and stationery products is much higher, the chain's
management plans to devote more of its stores’ shelf space to books
and stationery products and reduce the number of magazine titles
that its stores carry.
Which of the following, if true, most strongly argues that the
plan, if put into effect, will increase Paper&Print’s profits?
A. Recently magazine publishers, seeking to increase share in
competitive sectors of the market, have been competitively cutting
the retail prices of some of the largest circulation
magazines.
B. In market research surveys, few consumers identify
Paper&Print as a book or stationery store but many recognize
and value the broad range of magazines it carries.
C. The publisher’s share of a magazine's price is 50 percent, and
the publisher also retains all of the magazine's advertising
D. Consumers who subscribe to a magazine generally pay less per
issue than they would if they bought the magazine through a retail
outlet such as Paper&Print.
E. Some of Paper&Print’s locations are in small towns and
represent the only retail outlet for books within the
community.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-011 VCR005442 Easy
An influential stock analyst recommends the purchase of three
infrequently traded stocks in each of his weekly magazine columns.
Unusually large amounts of these stocks are often purchased one day
before the magazine appears on the newsstands. This pattern has
recurred over a period.
Suppose that the information presented above is accurate. Each of
the following statements, if true, could help to explain why the
unusually large purchases occurred EXCEPT: A. Workers at the
company that prints the magazine have used their advance knowledge
of the analyst's column to guide their own stock purchases.
B. Workers at the company that prints the magazine often sell
advance copies of the magazine to stockbrokers.
C. One hundred copies of each issue of the magazine are circulated
in the publishing company's office a day before the issue appears
on newsstands.
D. The analyst refuses to submit his column for editorial review
before it is printed.
E. Twenty people in the publishing company have access to the
analyst's column before it is printed.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-012 VCR005853 Easy
The faster a car is traveling, the less time the driver has to
avoid a potential accident, and if a car does crash, higher speeds
increase the risk of a fatality. Between 1995 and 2000, average
highway speeds increased significantly in the United States, yet,
over that time, there was a drop in the number of car-crash
fatalities per highway mile driven by cars.
Which of the following, if true about the United States between
1995 and 2000, most helps to explain why the fatality rate
decreased in spite of the increase in average highway speeds?
A. The average number of passengers per car on highways
increased.
B. There were increases in both the proportion of people who wore
seat belts and the proportion of cars that were equipped with
airbags as safety devices.
C. The increase in average highway speeds occurred as legal speed
limits were raised on one highway after another.
D. The average mileage driven on highways per car increased.
E. In most locations on the highways, the density of vehicles on
the highway did not decrease, although individual vehicles, on
average, made their trips more quickly.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-013 VCR006844 Easy
Traces of cultivated emmer wheat have been found among the earliest
agricultural remains at many archaeological sites in Europe and
Asia. The only place where the wild form of emmer wheat has been
found growing is a relatively narrow strip of southwest Asia. Since
the oldest remains of cultivated emmer wheat yet found are from
village sites in the same narrow strip, it is clear that emmer
wheat was first domesticated somewhere in that strip.
Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the
A. The present-day distribution of another wild wheat, einkorn,
which was also domesticated early in the development of
agriculture, covers a much larger area of southwest Asia.
B. Wild emmer wheat can easily be made to yield nearly as much as
modern domestic strains.
C. At the time when emmer wheat was first cultivated, it was the
most nutritious of all the varieties of grain that were then
cultivated.
D. In the strip where wild emmer wheat has been found, climatic
conditions have changed very little since before the development of
agriculture.
E. It is very difficult, without genetic testing, to differentiate
the wild form of emmer wheat from a closely related wild wheat that
also grows in southwest Asia.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-014 VCR007679 Easy
The Acme Corporation has found that improvements in its information
technology infrastructure allow its employees to make more
decisions that are both sound and well-informed than was previously
feasible. Consequently, the corporation plans to improve employee
productivity by introducing new managerial techniques that delegate
much of the decision-making to lower levels of the organizational
hierarchy. Managers will simply set clear standards and guidelines
and then allow employee teams to undertake tasks without
centralized control.
Which of the following, if true, would most strongly support a
prediction that the Acme Corporation's plan will achieve its
A. The corporation will be able to cut its managerial staff only if
the managers’ sole function is to set clear standards and
guidelines for employees.
B. After Acme’s information technology infrastructure was improved,
very few of Acme’s managers continued to believe that only managers
should make most decisions.
C. Most of the tasks currently performed by the corporation's
employees require few if any significant decisions to be
D. When employees can make decisions themselves, rather than
submitting the same matters for decision to managers, there is more
time available for directly productive activities.
E. Some other companies that have better employee productivity than
does the Acme Corporation also plan to use the new managerial
techniques.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-015 VCR007798 Easy
The recent rise of low-cost airlines in Country Y has led to great
increases in the number of air travelers and flights. However, a
“hidden cost” of flying and certain other forms of travel is the
significant amount of air pollution, which contributes to global
warming. To make people pay these hidden costs—and in the process
discourage the explosive growth in flying—the government of Country
Y plans to impose fees on all air travel. There is a problem,
however, in that many residents of Country Y would then use
automobile transportation instead, without paying the hidden costs
of the resulting air pollution.
Which of the following additions to the government's plan would be
likely to help most in overcoming the problem referred to in the
final sentence above?
A. Restricting the number of daily flights permitted in Country
B. Using the fees imposed on air travel to educate the public about
the effects of air pollution on global warming
C. Setting clear, specific recommendations for the long-term
reduction in exhaust emissions by automobile transportation in the
D. Asking airplane manufacturers to study the possibility of
creating airplanes that produce less air pollution
E. Imposing substantial fees on all forms of motorized
transportation, in proportion to the amount of pollution caused by
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-016 VCR007831 Easy
Fashion company executive: The number of competing brands of
clothing is increasing much more quickly than is consumer demand
for new clothing. As a result, it is becoming ever more for our
clothing company to keep consumers focused on our products. To
increase our sales, therefore, our company plans to introduce
innovative, eye-catching lines of clothing much more
frequently.
To evaluate whether the plan described by the executive would be
likely to achieve its goal, it would be most useful to know which
of the following?
A. Whether other, competing clothing companies will more frequently
introduce newlines of clothing
B. To what extent consumers’ attention tends to be focused on
innovative, eye-catching products in other industries
C. Why the number of competing brands of clothing is increasing
more quickly than consumer demand for new clothing
D. How much more likely most consumers are to buy innovative,
eye-catching lines of clothing than they are to buy conventional,
familiar clothing
E. Whether the executive's company is currently selling any
innovative and eye-catching fines of clothing
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-017 VCR007918 Easy
A physically active lifestyle has been shown to help increase
longevity. In the Wistar region of Bellaria, the average age at
death is considerably higher than in any other part of the country.
Wistar is the only mountainous part of
Bellaria. A mountainous terrain makes even such basic activities as
it essentially imposes a physically
active lifestyle on people. Clearly, this circumstance explains the
long lives of people in Wistar.
Which of the following, true, most seriously weakens the
A. In Bellaria all medical expenses are paid by the government, so
that personal income does not affect the quality of health care a
person receives.
B. People living in Wistar do not have a significantly better diet
than people living in other parts of Bellaria.
C. Many people who live in the Wistar region have moved there in
middle age or upon retirement.
D. The many opportunities for hiking, skiing, and other outdoor
activities that Wistar’s mountains offer make it a favorite
destination for vacationing Bellarians.
E. Per capita spending on recreational activities is no higher in
Wistar than it is in other regions of Bellaria.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-018 VCR014017 Easy
Airport official: Local residents have been complaining that night
fights into Plainsville airport disturb their sleep and should be
sharply reduced in number. This complaint is completely
unreasonable—there have been night flights coming into the airport
from the very beginning, twenty years ago, and these residents
should have taken that fact into account when buying their
Which of the following is an assumption on which the airport
argument depends?
A. There are fewer night flights now than there were
originally.
B. The residents who are complaining have been in their current
homes fewer than twenty years.
C. The residents who are complaining are ignoring the benefits they
gain from the presence of the airport.
D. The economic success of the airport depends entirely on the
existence of the night flights.
E. People buying houses in Plainville all avoid buying houses near
the airport if they can.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-019 VCR008048 Easy
Paper and plastic grocery bags are a continuing problem for the
city, both as litter and in landfills. To discourage their use, the
city has proposed a tax on each bag, to be paid by the supermarkets
that supply them. Several environmental groups, however, oppose the
tax, despite having brought the issue to the council's attention in
the first place.
Which of the following, if true, would best explain the
environmental groups’ opposition to the proposed tax?
A. The city's current tax revenue is insufficient to pay the cost
of recycling paper and plastic grocery bags.
B. The cost to the city of collecting and disposing of a grocery
bag is greater than the proposed tax per bag.
C. Plastic bags account for 90 percent of the grocery bags that
litter the city's streets and take up space in landfills.
D. Only supermarkets distributing more than a certain number of
grocery bags each month would be subject to the proposed tax.
E. Supermarkets plan to pass the tax on to consumers, who are
unlikely to change their behavior based on the small increase in
their grocery bills.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-020 VCR008063 Easy
Public health official: Some researchers suspect that magnetic
fields from high-voltage power lines can cause health problems for
people who five especially near the fines. However, this is
extremely unlikely: Beyond a distance of a
few feet, the strength of the magnetic fields from high-voltage
power lines is less than the average strength of magnetic fields in
homes that are not located near such lines.
Which of the following would it be most useful to establish in
order to evaluate the public health argument?
A. Whether magnetic fields in homes that are not located near
high-voltage power lines can cause health problems for the
residents of those homes
B. What proportion of people who live near high-voltage power fines
believe that those fines may cause health problems
C. Whether high-voltage power lines are routed near residential in
urban areas
D. What specific diseases or conditions are suspected by some
researchers to result from exposure to magnetic fields from
high-voltage power lines
E. What is the average strength of magnetic fields in workplaces
that are not located near high-voltage power lines
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-021 VCR014018 Easy
Manager: Although our corporation lists rules in an orientation
booklet, few employees read the booklet carefully enough to
familiarize themselves with all the rules. Lecturing employees for
inadvertent rule violations often makes them resentful and less
cooperative. Thus, to improve employee adherence to rules, we plan
to issue gentle reminders about various rules in each issue of our
weekly newsletter.
Which of the following would it be most helpful to discover about
the employees in the corporation in order to evaluate the
likelihood that the plan will succeed?
A. Whether most of them who are lectured for inadvertent rule
violations are deterred from violating the same rule again
B. Whether most of them who inadvertently violate rules already
feel resentful and uncooperative
C. Whether most of them violate at least some rules with which they
are familiar
D. Whether most of them who regularly read the weekly newsletter
are familiar with at least some rules
E. Whether most of them would usually read with sufficient care the
portions of the weekly newsletter that are reminders of rules
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-022 VCR008516 Easy
Letter to the editor: Our city plans to allow major commercial
development along the south waterfront and, in so doing, to
increase its tax revenue.
But, to succeed commercially, the development would inevitably
create far more road traffic than the existing roads to the
waterfront can handle, causing serious congestion. Providing enough
roads or public transportation to the area would cost far more than
the city could gain from the increased tax revenue.
Which of the following, if added to the city's plan, would be most
likely to help solve the problem the letter describes?
A. Funding construction of new roads to the waterfront with a
system of tolls on the new roads to the waterfront
B. Allowing residential development along the waterfront so that
there will be waterfront residents who can walk to the commercial
development
C. Giving tax breaks to developers of businesses along the
waterfront to offset any tax levied on them for construction of
roads or public transportation
D. Evaluating the net benefits that the commercial development
would bring to the city in terms of improved quality of life for
the city's residents rather than in financial terms
E. Allowing commercial development in other city neighborhoods
whose roads are not seriously congested with traffic
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-023 VCR00710 Medium
Products sold under a brand name used to command premium prices
because, in general, they were superior to nonbrand rival products.
Technical expertise in product development has become so
widespread, however, that special quality advantages are very hard
to obtain these days and even harder to maintain. As a consequence,
brand-name products generally neither offer higher quality nor sell
at higher prices. Paradoxically, brand names are a bigger marketing
advantage than ever.
Which of the following, if true, most helps to resolve the paradox
A. Brand names are taken by consumers as a guarantee of getting a
product as good as the best rival products.
B. Consumers recognize that the quality of products sold under
invariant brand names can drift over time.
C. In many acquisitions of one corporation by another, the
acquiring corporation is interested more in acquiring the right to
use certain brand names than in acquiring existing production
facilities.
D. In the days when special quality advantages were easier to
obtain than they are now, it was also easier to get new brand names
established.
E. The advertising of a company's brand-name products is at times
transferred to a new advertising agency, especially when sales are
declining.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-024 VCR00762 Medium
A museum has been offered an undocumented statue, supposedly Greek
and from the sixth century B.C. Possibly the statue is genuine but
undocumented because it was recently unearthed or because it has
been privately owned. However, an ancient surface usually has
uneven weathering, whereas the surface of this statue has the
uniform quality characteristically produced by a chemical bath used
by forgers to imitate a weathered surface. Therefore, the statue is
probably a forgery.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the
A. Museums can accept a recently unearthed statue only with valid
export documentation from its country of origin.
B. The subject's pose and other aspects of the subject's treatment
exhibit all the most common features of Greek statues of the sixth
century B.C.
C. The chemical bath that forgers use was at one time used by
dealers and collectors to remove the splotchy surface appearance of
genuinely ancient sculptures.
D. Museum officials believe that forgers have no technique that can
convincingly simulate the patchy weathering characteristic of the
surfaces of ancient sculptures.
E. An allegedly Roman sculpture with a uniform surface similar to
that of the statue being offered to the museum was recently shown
to be a forgery.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-025 VCR06878 Medium
Manufacturers of mechanical pencils make most of their profit on
pencil leads rather than on the pencils themselves. The Write
Company, which cannot sell its leads as cheaply as other
manufacturers can, plans to alter the design of its mechanical
pencil so that it will accept only a newly designed Write Company
lead, which will be sold at the same price as the Write Company's
current lead.
Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the Write
Company's projection that its plan will lead to an increase in its
sales of pencil leads?
A. First-time buyers of mechanical pencils tend to buy the least
expensive mechanical pencils available.
B. Annual sales of mechanical are expected to triple over the next
five years.
C. Write Company executive is studying ways to reduce the cost of
manufacturing pencil leads.
D. A rival manufacturer recently announced similar plans to
introduce a mechanical pencil that would accept only the leads
produced by that manufacturer.
E. In extensive test marketing, mechanical-pencil users found the
new Write Company pencil markedly superior to other mechanical
pencils they had used.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-026 VCR000660 Medium
Drug manufacturer: Television audiences are sure to realize that
the “physician" recommending our brand of cough syrup in our
advertisement is actually an actor playing a role. Hence they will
not place undue trust in the advice given by this actor. Therefore,
networks should relax their guidelines to permit our company to
broadcast this advertisement.
Television executive: If the audience can tell that the actor is
not a physician, then your advertisement need not have a physician
figure recommending your product.
Which of the following is an argumentative strategy used by the
television executive in response to the drug manufacturer?
A. Indicating that the reason the drug manufacturer offers for
relaxing the guidelines conflicts with the manufacturer's presumed
motive for presenting the image of a physician in the
advertisement
B. Asserting that the drug manufacturer's expressed desire to
broadcast the advertisement is motivated by self-interest rather
than by genuine interest in the good of the audience
C. Invoking subjective opinions concerning audience reaction to
television advertisements as if those opinions constituted
objective evidence
D. Pointing out that the goals of the drug manufacturer's company
differ from those of television networks
E. Questioning the ability of the drug manufacturer to make any
sweeping generalization about what the many different members of
the audience may think
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-027 VCR000737 Medium
In Gandania, where the government has a monopoly on tobacco sales,
the incidence of smoking-related health problems has risen steadily
for the last twenty years. The health secretary recently proposed a
series of laws aimed at curtailing tobacco use in Gandania. Profits
from tobacco sales, however, account for ten percent of Gandania's
annual revenues. Therefore, Gandania cannot afford to institute the
proposed laws.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the
A. All hearth care in Gandania is government-funded.
B. Implementing the proposed laws is not to cause a significant
increase in the amount of tobacco Gandania exports.
C. The percentage of revenue Gandania receives from tobacco sales
has remained steady in recent years.
D. Profits from tobacco sales far surpass any other single source
of revenue for the Gandanian government.
E. No government official in Gandania has ever previously proposed
laws aimed at curtailing tobacco use.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-028 VCR000739 Medium
Mall owner: Our mall's occupancy rate is so low that we are barely
making a profit. We cannot raise rents because of an unacceptably
high risk of losing established tenants. On the other hand, a mall
that is fully occupied costs about as much to run as one in which a
rental space here and a rental space there stands empty. Clearly,
therefore, to increase profits we must sign up new tenants.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the
A. The mall's operating costs could be cut by consolidating
currently rented spaces in such a way that an entire wing of the
mall could be closed up.
B. The mall is located in a geographic area in which costs incurred
for air-conditioning in the hot summers exceed those incurred for
heating in the mid winters by a wide margin.
C. The mall's occupancy rate, though relatively low, has been
relatively stable for several years.
D. The mall lost tenants as a result of each of the two major rent
increases that have occurred there.
E. None of the mall's established tenants is likely to need
additional floor space there in the foreseeable future.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-029 VCR000806 Medium
In one state, all cities and most towns have antismoking
ordinances. A petition entitled “Petition for Statewide Smoking
Restriction” is being circulated to voters by campaign workers who
ask only, “Do you want to sign a petition for statewide smoking
restriction?" The petition advocates a state law banning smoking in
most retail establishments and in government that are open to the
Which of the following circumstances would make the petition as
circulated misleading to voters who understand the proposal as
extending the local ordinances statewide?
A. Health costs associated with smoking cause health insurance
premiums to rise for everyone and so affect nonsmokers.
B. In rural areas of the state, there are relatively few retail
establishments and government offices that are open to the
C. The state law would supersede the local antismoking ordinances,
which contain stronger bans than the state law does.
D. There is considerable sentiment among voters in most areas of
the state for restriction of smoking.
E. The state law would not affect existing local ordinances banning
smoking in places where the fire authorities have determined that
smoking would constitute a fire hazard.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-030 VCR000834 Medium
In preparation for a large-scale tree-planting project, Thomasville
has recorded the location, species, and condition of every tree in
its downtown area. The results will be compared with results of the
last such tree census, taken 20 years ago. Planting trees primarily
from the species that turns out to have the best record of survival
will assure downtown Thomasville of an abundant tree population 20
years from now.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the
claim that the tree-planting proposal will assure an abundant tree
population?
A. Because of strict laws governing industrial development,
environmental conditions in Thomasville are unlikely to become
harsher for trees than they have been during the last 20
B. Thomasville has reliable records to show which trees in
existence 20 years ago were cut down to permit new construction
C. A number of trees from one of the species widespread in
Thomasville 20 years ago reached the end of their natural life span
in the intervening period.
D. Very few species of trees grow as well in urban conditions as in
natural conditions.
E. A city with a high proportion of any one species of trees can
have its tree population devastated by one outbreak of a
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-031 VCR000875 Medium
Which of the following most logically completes the passage
One name-brand cereal manufacturer is about to reduce wholesale
prices for its cereals by 20 percent because consumers have been
switching from its cereals to cheaper store brands. The success of
this strategy relies on the assumption that supermarkets will pass
on all of the savings by lowering the prices they charge consumers
for the manufacturer's cereals. Although supermarkets usually pass
on such savings, in this case it is likely that supermarkets not do
so because________________.
A. several other name-brand cereal manufacturers are about to
reduce the wholesale prices of their cereals
B. the average price per box of name-brand cereals has increased
significantly in the last 10 years
C. total annual sales of cereal—including both name-brand and
store-brand cereals—have increased over the past 10 years
D. supermarkets make far more profit on sales of store-brand
cereals than on sales of name-brand cereals
E. the current prices of the manufacturer's cereals are comparable
to the prices of name-brand cereals produced by other cereal
manufacturers
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-032 VCR000886 Medium
In Teruvia, the quantity of rice produced per year is currently
just large enough to satisfy domestic demand. Teruvia's total rice
acreage will not be expanded in the foreseeable future, nor will
rice yields per acre increase appreciably. Teruvia's population,
however, will be increasing significantly for years to come.
Clearly, therefore, Teruvia will soon have to begin importing
Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument
A. No pronounced trend of decreasing per capita demand for rice is
imminent in Teruvia.
B. Not all of the acreage in Teruvia currently planted with rice is
well suited to the cultivation of rice.
C. None of the strains of rice grown in Teruvia are exceptionally
high-yielding.
D. There are no populated regions in Teruvia in which the
population will not increase.
E. There are no major crops other than rice for which domestic
production and domestic demand are currently in balance in
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-033 VCR001179 Medium
Theatergoer: In January of last year, the Megaplex chain of movie
theaters started popping its popcorn in canola oil, instead of the
less healthful coconut oi that it had been using until then. Now
Megaplex is planning to switch back, saying that the change has
hurt popcorn sales. That claim is false, however, since according
to Megaplex's own sales figures, Megaplex sold five percent more
popcorn last year than in the previous year.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the
theaterg0er‘s argument?
A. When it switched from using coconut oil to using canola oil,
Megaplex made sure that the chain received a great deal of
publicity stressing the health benefits of the change.
B. Megaplex makes more money on food and beverages sold at its
theaters than it does on sales of movie tickets.
C. In a survey to determine pubic response to the change to canola
oil, very few of Megapiex's customers said that the change had
affected their popcorn-buying habits.
D. Total sales of all food and beverage items at Megaplex's movie
theaters increased by less than five percent last year.
E. Total attendance at Megaplex's movie theaters was more than 20
percent higher last year than the year before.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-034 VCR001296 Medium
In polluted environments, dolphins gradually accumulate toxins in
their body fat, and the larger the dolphin the more accumulated
toxins it can tolerate. Nearly 80 percent of the toxins a female
dolphin has accumulated pass into the fat-rich milk her nursing
calf ingests. Therefore, the unusually high mortality rate among
dolphin calves in the industrially contaminated waters along
Florida's Gulf Coast is probably the result of their being poisoned
by their mother's milk.
Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the
A. The survival rate of firstborn dolphin calves in the area along
Florida's Gulf Coast is highest for those whose mothers were killed
before they were weaned.
B. The rate at which adult dolphins living in the waters along
Florida's Gulf Coast accumulate toxins is no higher than that of
adult dolphins in comparably polluted waters elsewhere.
C. Among dolphin calves born in the area along Florida's Gulf
Coast, the mortality rate is highest among those with living
D. As dolphins age, they accumulate toxins from the environment
more slowly than when they were young.
E. Dolphins, other marine mammals, have a higher proportion of body
fat than do most land mammals.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-035 VCR001345 Medium
Perkins: According to an article I read, the woolly mammoth‘s
extinction in North America coincided with a migration of humans
onto the continent 12,000 years ago, and stone spearheads from this
period indicate that these people were hunters. But the author's
contention that being hunted by humans contributed to the woolly
mammoth‘s extinction is surely wrong since, as paleontologists
know, no spearheads have ever been found among the many mammoth
bones that have been unearthed.
Which of the following, if true, provides the strongest reason for
discounting the evidence Perkins cites in arguing against the
contention that being hunted by humans contributed to the North
American extinction of woolly mammoths?
A. At sites where mammoth bones dating from 12,000 years ago have
been unearthed, bones of other mammals have rarely been
B. The stone from which stone spearheads were made is unlikely to
have disintegrated over the course of 12,000 years.
C. Conditions in North America 12,000 years ago were such that
humans could not have survived there on a diet that did not include
substantial amounts of meat.
D. Cave paintings in North America that date from 12,000 years ago
depict woolly mammoths as well as a variety of other animals,
including deer and buffalo.
E. Because of the great effort that would have been required to
produce each stone spearhead, hunters would have been to leave them
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-036 VCR002665 Medium
A proposed change to federal income tax laws would eliminate
deductions from taxable income for donations a taxpayer has made to
charitable and educational institutions. If this change were
adopted, wealthy individuals would no longer be permitted such
deductions. Therefore, many charitable and educational institutions
would have to reduce services, and some would have to close their
The argument above assumes which of the following?
A. Without the incentives offered by federal income tax laws, at
least some wealthy individuals would not donate as much money to
charitable and educational institutions as they otherwise would
B. Money contributed by individuals who make their donations
because of provisions in the federal tax laws provides the only
source of funding for many charitable and educational
institutions.
C. The primary reason for not adopting the proposed change in the
federal income tax laws cited above is to protect wealthy
individuals from having to pay higher taxes.
D. Wealthy individuals who donate money to charitable and
educational institutions are the only individuals who donate money
to such institutions.
E. Income tax laws should be changed to make donations to
charitable and educational institutions the only permissible
deductions from taxable income.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-037 VCR002883 Medium
Certain politicians in the country of Birangi argue that a 50
percent tax on new automobiles would halt the rapid increase of
automobiles on Birangi’s roads and thereby slow the deterioration
of Birangi’s air quality. Although most experts agree that such a
tax would result in fewer Birangians buying new vehicles and
gradually reduce the number of automobiles on Birangi’s roads, they
contend that it would have little impact on Birangi’s air-quality
Which of the following, if true in Birangi, would most strongly
support the experts’ contention about the effect of the proposed
automobile tax on Birangi's air-quality problem?
A. Automobile emissions are the largest single source of air
pollution.
B. Some of the proceeds from the new tax would go toward expanding
the nonpolluting commuter rail system.
C. Currently, the sales tax on new automobiles is considerably
lower than 50 percent.
D. Automobiles become less fuel efficient and therefore contribute
more to air pollution as they age.
E. The scrapping of automobiles causes insignificant amounts of air
pollution.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-038 VCR002878 Medium
Surveys in Domorica indicate that only 10 percent of Domoricans in
their twenties read a newspaper regularly, while more than half of
all Domoricans over thirty read a newspaper regularly. Although
Domoricans in their twenties constitute a large proportion of the
population, newspaper publishers nonetheless predict that ten years
from now, the percentage of Domoricans who regularly read a
newspaper will probably be no lower than it is today.
Which of the following, if true, provides the strongest grounds for
the newspaper publishers’ prediction?
A. The number of Domoricans in their twenties is less than the
number of Domoricans over thirty.
B. The number of newspapers in Domorica has been gradually
increasing over the past several decades.
C. The proportion of Domoricans in their twenties who regularly
read a newspaper has always been low.
D. The surveys defined a regular reader of a newspaper as someone
who reads a newspaper more than twice a week.
E. The proportion of Domoricans who regularly read a newspaper was
higher 20 years ago than it is today.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-039 VCR003744 Medium
Which of the following most logically completes the passage?
Each species of moth has an optimal body temperature for effective
flight, and when air temperatures fall much below that temperature,
the moths typically have to remain inactive on vegetation for
extended periods, leaving them highly vulnerable to predators. In
general, larger moths can fly faster than smaller ones and hence
have a better chance of evading flying predators, but they also
have higher optimal body temperatures, which explains
why-___________.
A. large moths are generally able to maneuver better in flight than
smaller moths
B. large moths are proportionally much more common in warm climates
than in cool climates
C. small moths are more likely than large moths to be effectively
camouflaged while on vegetation
D. large moths typically have wings that are larger in proportion
to their body size than smaller moths do
E. most predators of moths prey not only on several different
species of moth but also on various species of other insects
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-040 VCR003839 Medium
In the late 1980s, the population of sea otters in the North
Pacific Ocean began to decline. Of the two plausible explanations
for the decline— increased predation by killer whales or
disease—disease is the more likely. After all, a concurrent sharp
decline in the populations of seals and sea lions was almost
certainly caused by a pollution-related disease, which could have
spread to sea otters, whereas the population of killer whales did
not change noticeably.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the
reasoning?
A. Killer whales in the North Pacific usually prey on seals and sea
lions but wil, when this food source is scarce, seek out other
B. There is no indication that substantial numbers of sea otters
migrated to other locations from the North Pacific in the
C. Along the Pacific coast of North America in the 19805, sea
otters were absent from many locations where they had been
relatively common in former times.
D. Following the in the population of the sea otters, there was an
increase in the population of sea urchins, which are sea otters’
main food source.
E. The North Pacific populations of seals and sea lions cover a
wider geographic area than does the population of sea otters.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-041 VCR003936 Medium
Sonya: The government of Copeland is raising the cigarette tax.
Copeland's cigarette prices will still be reasonably low, so
cigarette consumption will probably not be affected much.
Consequently, government revenue from the tax will increase.
Raoul: True, smoking is unlikely to decrease, because Copeland's
cigarette prices will stil not be high. They will, however, no
longer be the lowest in the region, so we might begin to see
substantial illegal sales of smuggled cigarettes in Copeland.
Raoul responds to Sonya's argument by doing which of the
following?
A. Questioning the support for Sonya's conclusion by distinguishing
carefully between no change and no decrease
B. Calling Sonya's conclusion into question by pointing to a
possible effect of a certain change
C. Arguing that Sonya's conclusion would be better supported if
Sonya could cite a precedent for what she predicts will
D. Showing that a cause that Sonya claims will be producing a
certain effect is not the only cause that could produce that
E. Pointing out that a certain initiative is not bold enough to
have the effect that Sonya predicts it will have
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-042 VCR003964 Medium
In Berinia, the age at which people could begin to drink alcohol
legally used to be 18. In 1990, in an attempt to reduce alcohol
consumption and thereby to reduce alcohol-related traffic deaths
among Berinlans under 21, the legal drinking age was raised to 21.
Alcohol-related traffic deaths among people under 21 have decreased
significantly since 1990. Nevertheless, surveys show that people in
that age-group drink just as much alcohol as they did before
Which of the following, if true of Berinia, most helps to resolve
the apparent discrepancy?
A. For the population as a whole, annual alcohol consumption is no
lower now than it was in 1990.
B. Alcohol consumption away from home, for example in bars and
restaurants, is much lower among people under 21 than it was in
C. The proportion of people under 21 who own a car is higher now
than it was in 1990.
D. Alcohol consumption is lower among people under 21 than among
adults in most other age-groups.
E. Alcohol-related deaths among people over 21 have increased since
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-043 VCR004534 Medium
Two centuries ago, Tufe Peninsula became separated from the
mainland, isolating on the newly formed Tufe Island a population of
sunflowers.
This population's descendants grow to be, on average, 40
centimeters shorter than sunflowers found on the mainland. Tufe
Island is significantly drier than Tufe Peninsula was. So the
current average height of sunflowers is undoubtedly at least
partially attributable to changes in Tufe’s environmental
conditions.
Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument
A. There are no types of vegetation on Tufe Island that are known
to benefit from dry conditions.
B. There were about as many sunflowers on Tufe Peninsula two
centuries ago as there are on Tufe Island today.
C. The mainland‘s environment has not changed in ways that have
resulted in sunflowers on the mainland growing to be 40 centimeters
taller than they did two centuries ago.
D. The soil on Tufe Island, unlike that on the mainland, lacks
important nutrients that help sunflowers survive and grow tall in a
dry environment.
E. The 40-centimeter height difference between the sunflowers on
Tufe Island and those on the mainland is the only difference
between the two populations.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-044 VCR005074 Medium
The Nile Delta of Egypt was invaded and ruled from 1650 to 1550
B.C. by a people called the Hyksos. Their origin is uncertain, but
archaeologists hypothesize that they were Canaanites. In support of
this hypothesis, the archaeologists point out that excavations of
Avaris, the Hyksos capital in Egypt, have uncovered large numbers
of artifacts virtually identical to artifacts produced in Ashkelon,
a major city of Canaan at the time of the Hyksos invasion.
In order to evaluate the force of the archaeologists’ evidence, it
would be most useful to determine which of the following?
A. Whether there were some artifacts found at Avaris that were
unlike those produced in Ashkelon but that date to before 1700
B. Whether the Hyksos ruled any other part of Egypt besides the
Delta in the period from 1650 to 1550 B.C.
C. Whether Avaris was the nearest Hyksos city in Egypt to
D. Whether Ashkelon after 1550 B.C. continued to produce artifacts
similar to those found at Avaris
E. Whether many of the artifacts found at Avaris that are similar
to artifacts produced in Ashkelon date to well before the Hyksos
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-045 VCR005479 Medium
Three large companies and seven small companies currently
manufacture a product with potential military applications. If the
government regulates the industry, it will institute a single set
of manufacturing specifications to which all ten companies will
have to adhere. In this case, therefore, since none of the seven
small companies can afford to convert their production lines to a
new set of manufacturing specifications, only the three large
companies will be able to remain in business.
Which of the following is an assumption on which the author's
argument relies?
A. None of the three large companies will go out of business if the
government does not regulate the manufacture of the product.
B. It would cost more to convert the production lines of the small
companies to a new set of manufacturing specifications than it
would to convert the production fines of the large companies.
C. Industry lobbyists will be unable to dissuade the government
from regulating the industry.
D. Assembly of the product produced according to government
manufacturing specifications would be more complex than current
assembly procedures.
E. None of the seven small companies currently manufactures the
product to a set of specifications that would match those the
government would institute if the industry were to be
regulated.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-046 VCR005617 Medium
A study of high blood pressure treatments found that certain
meditation techniques and the most commonly prescribed drugs are
equally effective if the selected treatment is followed as directed
over the long term. Half the patients given drugs soon stop taking
them regularly, whereas eighty percent of the study's participants
who were taught meditation techniques were still regularly using
them five years later. Therefore, the meditation treatment is the
one likely to produce the best results.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the
A. People who have high blood pressure are usually advised by their
physicians to make changes in diet that have been found in many
cases to reduce the severity of the condition.
B. The participants in the study were selected in part on the basis
of their willingness to use meditation techniques.
C. Meditation techniques can reduce the blood pressure of people
who do not suffer from high blood pressure.
D. Some of the participants in the study whose high blood pressure
was controlled through meditation techniques were physicians.
E. Many people with dangerously high blood pressure are unaware of
their condition.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-047 VCR005663 Medium
Mayor: Migrating shorebirds stop at our beach just to feed on
horseshoe-crab eggs, a phenomenon that attracts tourists. To bring
more tourists, the town plans to undertake a beach reclamation
project to double the area available to crabs for nesting.
Birdwatcher: Without a high density of crabs on a beach, migrating
shorebirds will go hungry because shorebirds only eat eggs that a
crab happens to uncover when it is digging its own nest.
Which of the following, if true, would provide the mayor with the
strongest counter to the birdwatcher's objection?
A. Every year a certain percentage of crabs are caught by fishermen
as bait for eel traps.
B. Horseshoe crabs are so prolific that given favorable
circumstances their numbers increase rapidly.
C. On average, tourists who come to the town in order to watch
birds spend more money there than tourists who come for other
D. The additional land made available by the reclamation project
will give migrating shorebirds more space.
E. Some of the migrating shorebirds make only one stop during their
migration from South America to Canada.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-048 VCR005666 Medium
FastMart, a convenience store chain, is planning to add pancake
syrup to the items it sells. FastMart stores do not have shelf
space to stock more than one variety of syrup. Surveys of FastMart
customers indicate that one-fourth of them prefer low-calorie
syrup, while three-fourths prefer regular syrup. Since FastMart's
highest priority is to maximize sales, the obvious strategy for it
is to stock regular syrup.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the
A. People buying pancake syrup at convenience stores, those buying
it at supermarkets, generally buy it only a few times.
B. People who prefer low-calorie syrup generally use about the same
amount of syrup on their pancakes as those who prefer regular
C. Regular syrup does not sell for a higher price per unit than
low-calorie syrup.
D. In general, customers who prefer regular syrup buy low-calorie
syrup if regular is unavailable, but those who prefer low-calorie
will not buy regular syrup.
E. Sales of syrup are not expected to account for a large
proportion of total dollar sales at the average FastMart
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-049 VCR005745 Medium
Which of the following, if true, most logically completes the
Aroca County's public schools are supported primarily by taxes on
property. The county plans to eliminate the property tax and
support schools with a new three percent sales tax on al retail
items sold in the county. Three percent of current retail sales is
less than the amount collected through property taxes, but
implementation of the plan would not necessarily reduce the amount
of money going to Aroca County public schools,
because____________.
A. many Aroca County residents have already left the county because
of its high property taxes
B. a shopping mall likely to draw shoppers from neighboring
counties is about to open in Aroca County
C. at least some Aroca County parents are to use the money they
will save on property taxes to send their children to private
schools not funded by the county
D. a significant proportion of parents of Aroca County public
school students do not own their homes and consequently do not pay
property taxes
E. retailers in Aroca County are not to absorb the sales tax by
reducing the pretax price of their goods
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-050 VCR006430 Medium
The OLEX Petroleum Company has recently determined that it could
cut its refining costs by closing its refinery and consolidating
all refining at its Tasberg refinery. Closing the Grenville
refinery, however, would mean the immediate loss of about 1,200
jobs in the area. Eventually the lives of more than 10,000 people
would be seriously disrupted. Therefore, OLEX's decision, announced
yesterday, to keep open shows that at OLEX social concerns
sometimes outweigh the desire for higher profits.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the
argument given?
A. The Grenville refinery, although it operates at a higher cost
than the Tasberg refinery, has nevertheless been moderately
profitable for many years.
B. Even though OLEX could consolidate all its refining at the
Tasberg plant, doing so at the Grenville plant would not be
C. The Tasberg refinery is more favorably situated than the
refinery with respect to the major supply routes for raw
petroleum.
D. If the Grenville refinery were ever closed and operations at the
Tasberg refinery expanded, job openings at Tasberg would to the
extent possible be filled with people formerly employed at
E. Closure of the Grenville refinery would mean compliance, at
enormous cost, with demanding local codes regulating the cleanup of
abandoned industrial sites.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-051 VCR006443 Medium
Which of the following most logically completes the passage
Heavy rains during Centralia's corn planting season prevented some
farmers there from planting corn. It is now the planting season for
soybeans, another of Centralia's principal crops, and those fields
originally intended for corn are dry enough for planting.
Nonetheless, even though soybean prices are unusually high at
present, the farmers wil leave most of these fields empty rather
than plant them with soybeans, since_____________.
A. the extensive rains have led to an increase in the price of
B. some Centralian farmers anticipate serious financial losses due
to the extremely wet spring planting season
C. chemicals that were used to prepare the fields for corn planting
would stunt the growth of soybeans
D. the majority of Centralia's corn farmers were able to plant corn
as they had intended, despite the wet planting season
E. many Centralian farmers grow both corn and soybeans
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-052 VCR07545 Hard
Consumer advocate: It is generally true, at least in this state,
that lawyers who advertise a specific service charge less for that
service than lawyers who do not advertise. It is also true that
each time restrictions on the advertising of legal services have
been eliminated, the number of lawyers advertising their services
has increased and legal costs to consumers have declined in
consequence. However, eliminating the state requirement that legal
advertisements must specify fees for specific services would almost
certainly increase rather than further reduce consumers’ legal
costs. Lawyers would no longer have an incentive to lower their
fees when they
begin advertising and if no longer required to specify fee
arrangements, many lawyers who now advertise would increase their
In the consumer advocate’s argument, the two portions in boldface
play which of the following roles?
A. The first is a generalization that the consumer advocate accepts
the second is presented as a consequence that follows from
the truth of that generalization.
B. The first is a pattern of cause and effect that the consumer
advocate argues will be repeated
the second
acknowledges a circumstance in which that pattern would not
C. The first is a pattern of cause and effect that the consumer
advocate predicts will not hold
the second
offers a consideration in support of that prediction.
D. The first is evidence that the consumer advocate offers in
support of
the second is that
prediction.
E. The first acknowledges a consideration that weighs against the
main position that the consumer