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Practice Test for Critical Reasoning- 2 - GMAT MCQ


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10 Questions MCQ Test - Practice Test for Critical Reasoning- 2

Practice Test for Critical Reasoning- 2 for GMAT 2024 is part of GMAT preparation. The Practice Test for Critical Reasoning- 2 questions and answers have been prepared according to the GMAT exam syllabus.The Practice Test for Critical Reasoning- 2 MCQs are made for GMAT 2024 Exam. Find important definitions, questions, notes, meanings, examples, exercises, MCQs and online tests for Practice Test for Critical Reasoning- 2 below.
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Practice Test for Critical Reasoning- 2 - Question 1

Thousands of people have tonsillectomies every year and all live normal lives after the operation. We can conclude, from this observation, that the tonsils have no function in the body.

The argument would be most weakened by which of the following, if it were true?

Detailed Solution for Practice Test for Critical Reasoning- 2 - Question 1

The conclusion states that the tonsils have no function in the body. To weaken this conclusion we should try to show that the tonsils do have a function, at least at some point in human life. Comparison with another organ is not really useful, as other organs might or might not have a demonstrable function, and might be very different from tonsils, and what happens in other animals is also not directly relevant. Thus we can discard A and C. The statement in E is clearly irrelevant in deciding whether tonsils have a function. So that leaves B and D. An organ might develop as part of a system and yet have no function (like the appendix or muscles that wiggle the ear), and so D is not convincing, whereas B suggests that there is a function even though this function can be taken over by another part of the body. Thus B is the answer.

Practice Test for Critical Reasoning- 2 - Question 2

A rare disease, malicitis, is being diagnosed with increasing frequency. The number of cases reported this year is more than double the number reported four years ago. The government should now allocate more funds for treatment and prevention of malicitis.

All of the following, if true, would weaken the conclusion except

Detailed Solution for Practice Test for Critical Reasoning- 2 - Question 2

Be careful with 'except' questions. In this case, first find the four statements that would weaken the conclusion; these will be wrong answers Then check that what is left does NOT weaken the conclusion; this will be the right answer. The statements that weaken the conclusion will show that the government should not allocate more funds. Choice A clearly indicates that there is no need for more funds, and so does E. Statements B and C both show that there is doubt about whether the disease is increasing in a way that needs more funds because they suggest the numbers are not a cause for alarm. What a committee suggested four years ago is not really relevant, and so D is the correct answer.

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Practice Test for Critical Reasoning- 2 - Question 3

A marriage counselor noted that couples who have occasional violent arguments are less likely to divorce within the next six months than those who have frequent but less violent arguments. He concluded that frequent arguing is a major factor in the causation of severe marital disharmony.

The counselor's conclusion is most weakened by which of the following observations?

Detailed Solution for Practice Test for Critical Reasoning- 2 - Question 3

The counselor suggests that frequent arguments are a cause of marital disharmony. One way to weaken that conclusion is to show that the disharmony came before the arguments (i.e. the disharmony caused the arguments). This is suggested in A which is the best answer.

Practice Test for Critical Reasoning- 2 - Question 4

A nature conservancy expert found little support for his campaign to protect toads. He suggested that, even thought the campaign highlighted the vital role the toads played in the ecology of the region, people were unenthusiastic about saving toads as these animals are perceived as unpleasant creatures, and people seldom feel passionate about animals with which they have no positive feelings.

The expert's opinion would be most strengthened by which of the following observations?

Detailed Solution for Practice Test for Critical Reasoning- 2 - Question 4

We are looking for something to strengthen the idea that people are unenthusiastic about campaigns related to animals that are not viewed in a positive light. Answer B relates a similar situation in which people were unenthusiastic about a creature until it was seen in a new (presumably positive) way. Giving a similar example is one way to support an argument, and it is the best option available here.

Practice Test for Critical Reasoning- 2 - Question 5

It is strange that in Sentacity there are so many corner shops selling food items. After all there are many supermarkets in the city which sell food at cheaper prices, and many of these supermarkets are open 24-hours.

Which of the following, if true, would be of least help in explaining the paradoxical observation?

Detailed Solution for Practice Test for Critical Reasoning- 2 - Question 5

First look for the statements that help explain why there continues to be a large number of corner shops. Choice A suggests that they stock different things; B suggests that they are more conveniently located; C suggests their main business does not compete with supermarkets'; D suggests that they find favor with the community who would be likely to patronize them. The least relevant (and therefore what we are looking for) is the fact that they make home deliveries because it is not clear whether the supermarkets do the same.

Practice Test for Critical Reasoning- 2 - Question 6

It is often thought that our own modern age is unique in having a large number of people who live into old age. It has frequently been assumed that plagues, wars, and harsh working conditions killed off most people in previous ages before they could reach old age. However, recent research shows that in 17th century Europe, for example, people over sixty comprised 10 percent of the population. The studies also revealed that although infant mortality remained high until the 20th century in Europe, people who survived to adulthood could expect to live to be old.

The portions in boldface (underlined) play which of the following roles in the argument above?

Detailed Solution for Practice Test for Critical Reasoning- 2 - Question 6

The first part is a statement of the viewpoint of some people and as such could be called a position, a conclusion or something similar. Since it is not an assumption or a finding we can eliminate B and C. The author presents evidence to suggest that this point of view is not correct and so we can eliminate A. The second part is a finding of some research and is not an assumption, hence we can choose D.

Practice Test for Critical Reasoning- 2 - Question 7

The Dean claimed that, as a result of continued cutbacks in the budget for pure science research, fewer students are choosing a career in physics, and therefore the number of postgraduate students studying physics is likely to decline.

Which of the following, if true, casts most doubt on the Dean's conclusion?

Detailed Solution for Practice Test for Critical Reasoning- 2 - Question 7

The Dean concludes that the number of postgraduates studying physics is likely to decline. To weaken that conclusion we need to show that there need not be a decline. The best answer is C because it shows that physics students mainly choose careers in applied areas rather than a career in pure science, and it is the pure science that is affected by the cuts. The number of undergraduate students is really irrelevant unless we know something about the percentage that continue in the same field (eliminate A). What is happening in Chemistry is not clearly linked to Physics (eliminate B). Even if staff members increase we cannot be sure that postgraduate students will increase as the staff might be teaching undergraduates or the move might be to improve the staff/student ratio (eliminate D).

Practice Test for Critical Reasoning- 2 - Question 8

Many people report that exposure to certain foods such as cheese, red wine, and chocolate, are associated with the onset of migraine headaches. Other people report that exposure to certain smells (especially strong perfumes) seems to trigger a migraine headache, and some note that exposure to bright and flickering lights can be followed by a migraine. It would seem that a person with a tendency to get migraines should try to find which of these situations is associated with the onset of the headache and then avoid this stimulus.

All of the following, if true, would indicate potential problems with the recommendation above except

Detailed Solution for Practice Test for Critical Reasoning- 2 - Question 8

The argument recommends that migraine sufferers should try to find the one trigger for their headaches and then avoid this trigger. This would still be a good plan even if the trigger did not always cause a headache " it is better to be safe than sorry" and so the best answer is B. The other choices present actual problems. If it is almost impossible to identify triggers then the recommendation is futile (eliminate A). This recommendation would be a problem if the triggers are so common that it is almost impossible to avoid (eliminate E). It is also a problem if the recommendation is for a person to avoid one trigger when, in fact there are many triggers for that same person (eliminate D). Internal hormonal triggers are not something that can be found and avoided (eliminate C).

Practice Test for Critical Reasoning- 2 - Question 9

Which of the following most logically completes the argument?

A new machine for harvesting corn will allow rows to be planted only fifteen inches apart, instead of the usual thirty inches. Corn planted this closely will produce lower yields per plant. Nevertheless, the new machine will allow corn growers to double their profits per acre because ________.

Detailed Solution for Practice Test for Critical Reasoning- 2 - Question 9

When creating GMAT critical reasoning questions, test writers know exactly what you will be thinking about when certain scenarios are developed, and they deviously use your own mind against you. You must learn to fight this natural instinct: always question the first thing you think about in a critical reasoning question…it is usually a trap! Just as the positive/negative number properties were used to distract you in the DS sample question covered here, so the “obvious” answer plays the same role here. 

Most people immediately gravitate to (D) in this question (you are looking for a premise that improves the quality of the conclusion): if farmers are able to plant twice as much corn because they have reduced the width between rows, then that would explain how they can make a lot more profit. Answer choice (D) seems perfect and most people pick it: “with the spacing between rows cut by half, the number of plants grown per acre will almost double.” 

However, in critical reasoning you must learn to be extremely particular with the given conclusion. The conclusion in this stimulus is the following: “the new machine will allow corn growers to double their profits per acre.” Yet, you are also given an important fact in the argument that will qualify the statement in (D): “Corn planted this closely will produce lower yields per plant.” If you plant twice as much corn but you know for a fact that the closer rows will mean a lower yield per plant, then it is impossible to double profits from twice as many plants in closer rows. Additionally, the answer in (D) states “almost double,” which makes it even weaker. You want the answer to be (D) because that is what your mind anticipates, but numerous elements make it conclusively incorrect. It is really not telling you anything new and it does not at all explain how the farmers can still double profits even if yields are lower per plant. 

The correct answer (A) is not expected nor particularly satisfying, but it is the only one that works. If the need for costly weed control is lessened by the narrow rows, then the combination of more corn and lower expenses can explain how profits would be doubled by farmers even with lower yields per plant. Remember that profits involve two components: revenue, which in this argument cannot explain the doubling of profits by itself, and costs, which if reduced along with increased revenue from more corn can explain a doubling of profit even with reduced yields. With practice, you will learn to be very suspicious about your first reaction when reading GMAT critical reasoning questions. 

Practice Test for Critical Reasoning- 2 - Question 10

Editorial in Krenlandian Newspaper:

Krenland’s steelmakers are losing domestic sales because of lower-priced imports, in many cases because foreign governments subsidize their steel industries in ways that are banned by international treaties. But whatever the cause, the cost is ultimately going to be jobs in Krenland’s steel industry. Therefore, it would protect not only steel companies but also industrial employment in Krenland if our government took measures to reduce cheap steel imports.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the editorial’s argument?

Detailed Solution for Practice Test for Critical Reasoning- 2 - Question 10

This moderately difficult CR question presents a great example of one of the oldest tricks in the CR playbook: the “word shift” con. It is extremely common for test writers to develop a detailed and elaborate argument that then involves a subtle shift in wording or scope when moving from the premises to the conclusion. 
When attacking a “weaken” question like this, you should always start by deconstructing the argument and understanding exactly the line of reasoning. To summarize this argument:
Premise One: Krenland’s steelmakers are losing domestic sales because of lower priced imports that often result from unfair practices banned by international treaties.
Premise Two: These imports are going to result in job losses in Krenland’s steel industry
Conclusion: The government should reduce cheap steel imports in order to protect not only the steel industry but also industrial employment in Krenland.
Did you notice that shift in wording and scope in bold? If you do, this problem is relatively easy; if you don’t, you will waste a lot of time and probably get it wrong. Because the whole argument is about the steel industry, many people overlook the change in shift and wording from “employment in the steel industry” to “industrial employment.” They are not the same thing! If you see this shift, then you will recognize that the conclusion has a serious flaw: how do we know that stopping cheap steel imports is good for other industrial companies in Krenland and thus industrial employment in general?
The goal of this question (which you should be crystal clear on before moving to answer choices) is to attack the line of reasoning and expose a flaw in the argument. If you notice the shift in scope, then you can anticipate the answer: what if most industries in Krenland greatly benefit from the cheap steel because their products become more competitive domestically and internationally? In other words, it is entirely possible that stopping cheap steel imports will HURT industrial employment, which the conclusion suggests this action will protect.
Answer choice (C) perfectly exposes this potential scenario and is thus correct. 
When analyzed carefully, you see that none of the other answers do anything to show why stopping cheap imports will NOT protect steelmakers or industrial employment. Most of these incorrect answers seek to explain why the imports are cheap, which is not important but is satisfying for many test-takers who don’t notice the word shift:
(A) does nothing to weaken the argument because the issue at play for steel makers is their domestic sales, not their exports.
(B) the international treaties are not relevant to the conclusion – why the imports are cheap does not matter.
(A) again, it is not important to know how or why the imports are cheap – the conclusion is just to stop them
(B) this can again explain the difference in prices for steel, but does not address the conclusion.

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