答案解析
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-041 VCR003936 Medium
Reasoning
How are Raoul's statements related to Sonya's argument? First, Raoul accepts and restates the first part of Sonya's argument, that the increased tax probably will not reduce smoking. But then Raoul gives a reason to doubt Sonya's final conclusion that government revenue from the tax will increase. Raoul‘s point is that the increased tax might increase sales of illegally smuggled cigarettes, which the government could not tax. Raoul implies that if the increased sales of illegal cigarettes reduce sales of legal, taxed cigarettes, then government revenue from the tax might not increase after all.
A. Raoul does not discuss the distinction between no change and no decrease. However, even if he did, it would not call Sonya‘s conclusion into question. If smoking does not decrease, then either it does not change at all, or it increases; and if it increased, then revenue from the tax would likely increase as well, which is what Sonya's conclusion states.
B. Correct. As explained above, Raoul suggests that the change in the tax might increase sales of untaxed illegal cigarettes and thus potentially reduce tax revenues from legal sales. Therefore, he calls Sonya's conclusion into question.
C. Raoul nowhere suggests that Sonya should cite a precedent.
D. Raoul points out a factor that might decrease government revenue from the tax, not another cause that might increase the revenue as Sonja claims.
E. Both Sonya and Raoul imply that a bolder, higher tax increase could have an effect opposite the one Sonya predicts.
The correct answer is B. Prep2012-Pack1-CR-042 VCR003964 Medium
Reasoning
What would most help explain why alcohol-related traffic deaths have declined among people under 21 even though people in that age group still drink just as much alcohol? Alcohol-related traffic deaths depend not just on the amount of drinking, but on the amount of drunk driving. Even if people under 21 are drinking just as much, they may be driving drunk less often. Therefore, consider the answer options and find one that explains why that would happen.
A. This does not help explain why alcohol-related traffic deaths have declined among people under 21.
B. Correct. If people under 21 are drinking less often in bars and restaurants, then they are probably driving home drunk from bars and restaurants less often, and drinking more at home where they don't have to drive afterwards.
C. This suggests that people under 21 are driving more and hence may be driving drunk more, since they are still drinking just as much as ever.
D. Since people under 21 still drink just as much as people in that age group did before, this does not explain why alcohol-related deaths have declined in that age group.
E. Increased alcohol-related traffic deaths among people over 21 would not help explain declining alcohol-related
traffic deaths among people under 21.
The correct answer is B. Prep2012-Pack1-CR-043 VCR004534 Medium
Reasoning
What must be true in order for the given information to justify the conclusion that changes in Tufe's environmental conditions have affected the heights of sunflowers? The argument implies that the drying of Tufe's climate has made the sunflowers shorter than sunflowers on Tufe used to be. In comparing the heights of Tufe Island's sunflowers to those of mainland sunflowers, the argument assumes that on the mainland today, the sunflowers are the same height as sunflowers on Tufe Peninsula were two centuries ago, or at least no taller.
A. Even if the dry climate of Tufe Island has stunted the sunflowers, it may have benefited other vegetation.
B. The argument does not discuss the number of sunflowers, only their average heights.
C. Correct. If changes in the mainland's environment had made mainland sunflowers taller than they used to be, then the mainland sunflowers’ greater height would not justify the conclusion that sunflowers on Tufe Island are shorter than they used to be.
D. Even if the dry of Tufe Island has stunted the sunflowers, the soil may be no different from that on the mainland.
E. The dry cfimate of Tufe Island could both stunt the sunflowers and change them in other ways not affecting mainland sunflowers.
The correct answer is C.
