Analyzing Arguments

Question: During colonial times in America, juries were encouraged to ask questions of the parties in the courtroom. The jurors were, in fact, expected to investigate the facts of the case themselves. If jurors conducted an investigation today, we would throw out the case.
This paragraph best supports the statement that
[A].

juries are less important today than they were in colonial times.

[B].

jurors today are less interested in court cases than they were in colonial times.

[C].

courtrooms today are more efficient than they were in colonial times.

[D].

jurors in colonial times were more informed than jurors today.

Answer: Option E

Explanation:

The paragraph focuses on the idea that the jury system is different from what it was in colonial times. There is no support given for choices a, b, and c. Choice d is incorrect because, even though jurors in colonial times were expected to investigate and ask questions, this does not necessarily mean that they were more informed than today’s jurors.

Question: Critical reading is a demanding process. To read critically, you must slow down your reading and, with pencil in hand, perform specific operations on the text. Mark up the text with your reactions, conclusions, and questions. When you read, become an active participant.
This paragraph best supports the statement that
[A].

critical reading is a slow, dull, but essential process

[B].

the best critical reading happens at critical times in a person’s life.

[C].

readers should get in the habit of questioning the truth of what they read.

[D].

critical reading requires thoughtful and careful attention.

Answer: Option D

Explanation:

This answer is implied by the whole paragraph. The author stresses the need to read critically by performing thoughtful and careful operations on the text. Choice a is incorrect because the author never says that reading is dull. Choices b, c, and e are not supported by the paragraph.

Question: Generation Xers are those people born roughly between 1965 and 1981. As employees, Generation Xers tend to be more challenged when they can carry out tasks independently. This makes Generation Xers the most entrepreneurial generation in history.
This paragraph best supports the statement that Generation Xers
[A].

work harder than people from other generations.

[B].

have a tendency to be self-directed workers

[C].

have an interest in making history

[D].

tend to work in jobs that require risk-taking behavior.

Answer: Option B

Explanation:

The support for choice b is given in the second sentence of the paragraph. Generation Xers like to work independently, which means they are self-directed. No support is given for either choice a or choice c. Choice d is not related to the paragraph. Although the paragraph mentions that Generation Xers like to be challenged, it does not say they like to challenge their bosses attitudes; therefore, choice e can be ruled out.

Question: One New York publisher has estimated that 50,000 to 60,000 people in the United States want an anthology that includes the complete works of William Shakespeare. And what accounts for this renewed interest in Shakespeare? As scholars point out, his psychological insights into both male and female characters are amazing even today.
This paragraph best supports the statement that
[A].

Shakespeare’s characters are more interesting than fictional characters today.

[B].

people even today are interested in Shakespeare’s work because of the characters.

[C].

academic scholars are putting together an anthology of Shakespeare’s work.

[D].

New Yorkers have a renewed interested in the work of Shakespeare.

Answer: Option B

Explanation:

The last sentence in the paragraph clearly gives support for the idea that the interest in Shakespeare is due to the development of his characters. Choice a is incorrect because the writer never makes this type of comparison. Choice c is wrong because even though scholars are mentioned in the paragraph, there is no indication that the scholars are compiling the anthology. Choice d is wrong because there is no support to show that most New Yorkers are interested in this work. There is no support for choice e either.

Question: One of the warmest winters on record has put consumers in the mood to spend money. Spending is likely to be the strongest in thirteen years. During the month of February, sales of existing single-family homes hit an annual record rate of 4.75 million.
This paragraph best supports the statement that
[A].

consumer spending will be higher thirteen years from now than it is today.

[B].

more people buy houses in the month of February than in any other month.

[C].

during the winter months, the prices of single-family homes are the lowest.

[D].

there were about 4 million homes for sale during the month of February.

Answer: Option E

Explanation:

This is clearly the best answer because the paragraph directly states that warm weather affects consumers inclination to spend. It furthers states that the sales of single-family homes was at an all-time high. There is no support for choice a or c. Choice b is wrong because even though there were high sales for a particular February, this does not mean that sales are not higher in other months. Choice d presents a misleading figure of 4 million. The paragraph states that the record of 4.75 million was at an annual, not a monthly, rate.

Question: A few states in this country are considering legislation that would prohibit schools from using calculators before the sixth grade. Other states take a different position. Some states are insisting on the purchase of graphing calculators for every student in middle school.
This paragraph best supports the statement that in this country
[A].

there are at least two opinions about the use of calculators in schools.

[B].

calculators are frequently a detriment to learning math.

[C].

state legislators are more involved in education than ever before.

[D].

the price of graphing calculators is less when schools buy in bulk.

Answer: Option A

Explanation:

The paragraph clearly states that there are two differing opinions with regard to the use of calculators in the classroom. Although some people may believe that choice b is true, the paragraph does not indicate this. Choice c has no relation to the paragraph. Choice d makes logical sense, but the paragraph says nothing about cost. Choice e is an opinion that is not given in the paragraph.

Question: In the past, consumers would rarely walk into an ice cream store and order low-fat ice cream. But that isn’t the case today. An increasing health consciousness combined with a much bigger selection of tasty low-fat foods in all categories has made low-fat ice cream a very profitable item for ice cream store owners.
This paragraph best supports the statement that
[A].

low-fat ice cream produces more revenue than other low-fat foods.

[B].

ice cream store owners would be better off carrying only low-fat ice cream.

[C].

ice cream store owners no longer think that low-fat ice cream is an unpopular item.

[D].

low-fat ice cream is more popular than other kinds of ice cream.

Answer: Option C

Explanation:

This choice is supported as the best answer because the paragraph indicates that low-fat ice cream was once an unpopular item, but now, because consumers are more health conscious and because there is a wider array of tasty low-fat foods, low-fat ice cream is a profitable item for ice cream store owners. There is no indication that choices a, b, d,or e are true based on the information given.

Question: It is well known that the world urgently needs adequate distribution of food, so that everyone gets enough. Adequate distribution of medicine is just as urgent. Medical expertise and medical supplies need to be redistributed throughout the world so that people in emerging nations will have proper medical care.
This paragraph best supports the statement that
[A].

the majority of the people in the world have never been seen by a doctor.

[B].

food production in emerging nations has slowed during the past several years.

[C].

most of the world’s doctors are selfish about giving time and money to the poor.

[D].

the medical-supply industry should step up production of its products.

Answer: Option E

Explanation:

This answer is implied by the statement that redistribution is needed so that people in emerging nations can have proper medical care. Choices a, b, and c are not mentioned in the passage. Choice d is also incorrect—the passage indicates that the distribution of medicine, not its production, is inadequate.