答案解析
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-066 VCR003941 Hard
Reasoning
What roles do the two boldfaced portions play in the passage? The passage's first sentence just introduces the general topic of prices for new, technologically advanced products. In the second sentence, the first boldfaced portion explicitly recommends a strategy for maximizing overall profit from such products. The third sentence describes a popular alternative strategy. In the fourth sentence, the second boldfaced portion explicitly describes a drawback of that alternative strategy.
A. Correct. The argument advocates the strategy recommended in the first boldfaced portion; the second boldfaced portion states a drawback of an alternative strategy and thus presents grounds for rejecting the position that the alternative strategy is effective.
B. The second boldfaced portion is not an alternative position, but rather a reason for rejecting an alternative position.
C. The second boldfaced portion presents a drawback not to the strategy presented in the first boldfaced portion, but rather to an alternative strategy.
D. The second boldfaced portion does not present any reason to prefer a goal other than maximizing presents a drawback to a strategy for attaining that goal.
E. The first boldfaced portion presents a strategy the argument recommends, and the second presents a reason why an alternative strategy might be ineffective.
The correct answer is A.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-067 VCR005068 Hard
Reasoning
What most supports the claim that the poll data indicate that the rail system expansion may not reduce congestion?
The expansion will not reduce highway congestion unless it results in fewer people driving during congested periods, such as rush hours when many people commute. Therefore, look for an answer option that takes the poll results as suggesting that not many drivers would switch to commuting on the expanded rail system.
A. Correct. This shows that the poll data indicate that most of the residents who favor the new rail system plan to keep commuting by car—thus still contributing to highway congestion.
B. The fact that 10 percent of the residents "have no opinion" provides no evidence that the poll data indicate the rail system expansion would not reduce congestion.
C. The claim that the time needed for daily commutes has doubled says nothing at all about the interpretation of the poll data—and therefore nothing about what the poll data might indicate about the possible failure of the rail expansion to reduce congestion. It is thus irrelevant.
D. This claim says nothing at all about the interpretation of the poll data and is incorrect because irrelevant.
E. This claim says nothing at all about the interpretation of the poll data and is incorrect because irrelevant.
The correct answer is A.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-068 VCR005084 Hard
Reasoning
What would make it least likely that government measures to reduce cheap steel imports would protect both steelmakers and overall industrial employment in Krenland? The edit0rla|'s reasoning is that cheap steel imports are hurting steelmakers and steelmaking jobs. Since steelmaking jobs contribute to industrial employment, the editorial infers that government measures to protect steelmaking jobs will also help protect industrial employment in general.
But this inference may be incorrect if the measures would reduce employment in industries other than steelmaking.
Therefore, look for an answer option that suggests how measures to reduce cheap steel imports might hurt other Krenlandian industries.
A. If Krenland exports very steel, then Krenlandian steelmakers will not be hurt, even if other nations retahate with restrictions against Krenlandian steel imports. Therefore, this would strengthen the editorial's argument.
B. This is compatible with the success of the strategy that the editorial’s argument suggests. Even if the treaties do not specify any penalties, they may not forbid whatever penalties Krenland's government chooses to impose. Thus the government may be able to act as the editorial recommends without any special risk of international sanctions.
C. Correct. This suggests that reducing cheap steel imports would hurt other Krenlandian industries by driving up their raw material costs, which in turn could reduce employment in those industries and thereby reduce overall industrial employment in Krenland—contrary to what the editorials conclusion claims.
D. This fact is compatible with the success of the strategy that the editorial suggests. It helps explain why the imports hurt domestic steelmakers. But it provides no reason to think that the import-reduction strategy would be ineffective in attaining its objectives.
E. This fact is compatible with the success of the strategy that the editorial suggests. The editorial says that the imports are cheaper than Krenlandian steel. Therefore, reducing these cheaper imports could help protect Krenlandian steelmakers, even if wage differences do not account for the imports’ tower prices.
The correct answer is C.
