The American Revolution

Question:
The American Revolution arose partly in response to British general search warrants, which gave arbitrary and intrusive powers to government officers. Thus, the founders created the Fourth Amendment to protect against unreasonable and warrant-less intrusions of privacy by a powerful and partisan federal government. During the 20th century, countless dictators have used arbitrary and intrusive surveillance to monitor and suppress dissidents. Any democracy that does not enforce equally extensive protections will systematically suppress dissent.

Which of the following, if true, best weakens the argument?

a) The United Kingdom’s parliamentary system does not have such extensive protections but has never systematically suppressed dissent.
b) Many dictators have been very beneficial and constructive leaders for their countries.
c) Many democracies have haphazardly used surveillance to monitor dissidents and suppress dissent during times of war.
d) Some dictators have been supported by the United States.
e) At least some countries in the former Soviet Union now have democratic elections but still suppress dissent.

Nematodes

Question: Nematodes

Potato cyst nematodes are a pest of potato crops. The nematodes can lie dormant for several years in their cysts, which are protective capsules, and do not emerge except in the presence of chemicals emitted by potato roots. A company that has identified the relevant chemicals is planning to market them to potato farmers to spread on their fields when no potatoes are planted; any nematodes that emerge will soon starve to death.

Which of the following, if true, best supports the claim that the company’s plan will be successful?

• (A) Nematodes that have emerged from their cysts can be killed by ordinary pesticides.
• (B) The only part of a potato plant that a nematode eats is the roots.
• (C) Some bacteria commonly present in the roots of potatoes digest the chemicals that cause the nematodes to emerge from their cysts.
• (D) Trials have shown that spreading even minute quantities of the chemicals on potato fields caused nine-tenths of the nematodes present to emerge from their cysts.
• (E) The chemicals that cause the nematodes to emerge from their cysts are not emitted all the time the potato plant is growing.

Fish consumption in Jurania

Question: Fish consumption in Jurania

From 1980 to 1989, total consumption of fish in the country of Jurania increased by 4.5 percent, and total consumption of poultry products there increased by 9.0 percent. During the same period, the population of Jurania increased by 6 percent, in part due to immigration to Jurania from other countries in the region.

If the statements above are true, which of the following must also be true on the basis of them?

• A. During the 1980’s in Jurania, profits of wholesale distributors of poultry products increased at a greater rate than did profits of wholesale distributors of fish.
• B. For people who immigrated to Jurania during the 1980’s, fish was less likely to be a major part of their diet than was poultry.
• C. In 1989 Juranians consumed twice as much poultry as fish.
• D. For a significant proportion of Jurania’s population, both fish and poultry products were a regular part of their diet during the 1980’s.
• E. Per capita consumption of fish in Jurania was lower in 1989 than in 1980.

Fresh Potatoes

Question:

Fresh potatoes generally cost about $2 for a 10-pound bag, whereas dehydrated instant potatoes cost, on average, about $3 per pound. It can be concluded that some consumers will pay 15 times as much for convenience, since sales of this convenience food continue to rise.

Which of the following, if true, indicates that there is a major flaw in the argument above?

• (A) Fresh potatoes bought in convenient 2-pound bags are about $1 a bag, or 2 1/2 times more expensive than fresh potatoes bought in 10-pound bags.
• (B) Since fresh potatoes are 80 percent water, one pound of dehydrated potatoes is the equivalent of 5 pounds of fresh potatoes.
• (C) Peeled potatoes in cans are also more expensive than the less convenient fresh potatoes.
• (D) Retail prices of dehydrated potatoes have declined by 20 percent since 1960 to the current level of about $3 a pound.
• (E) As a consequence of labor and processing costs, all convenience foods cost more than the basic foods from which they are derived.

Guidebook writer

Question:

Guidebook writer: I have visited hotels throughout the country and have noticed that in those built before 1930 the quality of the original carpentry work is generally superior to that in hotels built afterward. Clearly carpenters working on hotels before 1930 typically worked with more skill, care, and effort than carpenters who have worked on hotels built subsequently.

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

• A. The quality of original carpentry in hotels is generally far superior to the quality of original carpentry in other structures, such as houses and stores.
• B. Hotels built since 1930 can generally accommodate more guests than those built before 1930.
• C. The materials available to carpenters working before 1930 were not significantly different in quality from the materials available to carpenters working after 1930.
• D. The better the quality of original carpentry in a building, the less likely that building is to fall into disuse and be demolished.
• E. The average length of apprenticeship for carpenters has declined significantly since 1930.