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Logic
100

The supernova event of 1987 is interesting in that there is still no evidence of the neutron star that current theory says should have remained after a supernova of that size. This is in spite of the fact that many of the most sensitive instruments ever developed have searched for the tell-tale pulse of radiation that neutron stars emit. Thus, current theory is wrong in claiming that supernovas of a certain size always produce neutron stars.

Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?

  1. Most supernova remnants that astronomers have detected have a neutron star nearby.
  2. Sensitive astronomical instruments have detected neutron stars much farther away than the location of the 1987 supernova.
  3. The supernova of 1987 was the first that scientists were able to observe in progress.
  4. Several important features of the 1987 supernova are correctly predicted by the current theory.
  5. Some neutron stars are known to have come into existence by a cause other than a supernova explosion.

B) Sensitive astronomical instruments have detected neutron stars much farther away than the location of the 1987 supernova.

200

Political scientist: As a political system, democracy does not promote political freedom. There are historical examples of democracies that ultimately resulted in some of the most oppressive societies. Likewise, there have been enlightened despotisms and oligarchies that have provided a remarkable level of political freedom to their subjects.

The reasoning in the political scientist’s argument is flawed because it

  1. confuses the conditions necessary for political freedom with the conditions sufficient to bring it about     
  2. fails to consider that a substantial increase in the level of political freedom might cause a society to become more democratic
  3. appeals to historical examples that are irrelevant to the causal claim being made
  4. overlooks the possibility that democracy promotes political freedom without being necessary or sufficient by itself to produce it

D)

300

Palmistry—the art of understanding an individual's present personality and predicting his or her future state through the study of the shape, size, and lines of the hands—is an unscientific technique. In a study, most palmists' assertions about the present financial status of the individuals in the sample population were found to be mere intelligent guesses.

Which one of the following is an assumption necessary to the argument?

AIndividuals with the same financial status usually do not have a similar personality.

BThere is a stable correlation between an individual's personality and his or her financial status.

CPalmistry is an effective means of predicting how personalities of individuals evolve over the long term.

DThere are numerous other methods for understanding the personality of an individual that are more precise than palmistry.

EThe financial future of a person is one of the most important concerns that papalmists address. 

B

400

Each year, the number of students caught copying in examination is nearly the same as the number of students caught driving without a valid driving license and the number of students caught traveling without a valid ticket. Therefore, the outcry about copying in examination ought to be put to rest, as the act of copying in examination is in fact almost as mundane as the acts of driving without a valid driving license or traveling without a valid ticket.

Which one of the following, if true, would most effectively undermine the author's argument?

AAlthough the number of students caught driving without a valid driving license each year is very small, the total number of incidences of students traveling without a valid ticket is many times greater.

B The punishments upon being caught copying in examination are graver than those upon being caught driving without a valid driving license or traveling without a valid ticket.

B