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Critical Reasoning Strengthen Mock Tests

24 questions available

Critical Reasoning Strengthen Mock Test 1

Questions: 24

Sample Questions

GRE Verbal Reasoning
A team of researchers studied the reading habits of 500 children aged 5 to 10. They found that children who were read to by a parent at least 20 minutes per day scored, on average, 15 percent higher on standardized vocabulary tests than children who were read to for less than 5 minutes per day. The researchers concluded that regular parental reading during early childhood causally improves later vocabulary development. Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the researchers' conclusion?
A Children from higher-income families tend to have more books at home and also receive more parental reading time.
B The study controlled for factors such as parental education level, household income, and the child's baseline cognitive ability at the start of the study.
C Some children who were read to for 20 minutes per day still scored below the average of children read to for less than 5 minutes.
D Standardized vocabulary tests are widely regarded as an unreliable measure of true language ability.
GRE Verbal Reasoning
The new policy was intended to reduce traffic congestion by encouraging commuters to use public transportation. However, six months after implementation, surveys showed that the majority of commuters still preferred driving their own cars. The policy maker therefore claimed that the policy had failed to change commuter habits. Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the policy maker's argument?
A Public transportation ridership in the city had declined by 5 percent during the same period.
B The policy included a subsidy program that provided financial incentives for car owners to sell their vehicles.
C The cost of maintaining public transit infrastructure had increased by 15 percent since the policy was introduced.
D Commuters who did use public transportation reported satisfaction with the service but cited inconsistent schedules as a barrier to making it their primary mode of transport.
GMAT Verbal Reasoning
The new education policy requires all high school students to complete a semester-long course in financial literacy before graduating. The superintendent argues that this will prepare students for the financial decisions they will face as adults, such as managing bank accounts, understanding credit cards, and planning for retirement. Critics counter that adding this requirement will overcrowd the curriculum and force students to drop other important subjects. Which of the following, if true, most supports the superintendent's argument?
A A pilot program in three districts showed that students who completed financial literacy courses demonstrated significantly better money management skills in their first year of adulthood.
B Many high school students currently lack access to financial education outside of school.
C The cost of developing financial literacy curricula is lower than the cost of many other new course requirements.
D College freshmen who took financial literacy courses in high school report higher confidence in managing student loans.
GMAT Verbal Reasoning
A city implemented a congestion pricing scheme requiring drivers to pay a fee to enter the downtown core during peak hours. Within three months, traffic volume in the zone decreased by 18%, and air quality improved measurably. The city transportation department plans to expand the program to additional zones and increase the fee over time, arguing that the higher costs will further reduce traffic and generate revenue for public transit improvements. Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the transportation department's plan?
A A similar congestion pricing program in London reduced traffic by 30% in its first year and generated revenue that was successfully reinvested in public transit.
B Some residents who work downtown have complained that the fee represents a regressive tax that disproportionately affects lower-income workers.
C Public transit ridership in the city has increased by 10% since the congestion pricing program began, suggesting that some drivers have switched to transit.
D The fee level in the city is currently lower than the fee charged in Stockholm, which implemented a similar program in 2006.
GMAT Verbal Reasoning
The government is considering imposing a tax on sugary beverages to combat rising obesity rates. Public health officials cite evidence from countries that have implemented similar taxes, where sugary drink consumption declined by an average of 20 percent. However, beverage industry lobbyists argue that obesity is a multifactorial problem and that a tax on sugary drinks alone will have negligible impact. Which of the following, if true, most supports the beverage industry lobbyists' argument?
A Sugary beverages account for less than 10 percent of the daily caloric intake of the average person in the country.
B Countries that implemented sugary beverage taxes also launched comprehensive public education campaigns about nutrition and exercise.
C The price elasticity of demand for sugary beverages is higher among low-income populations, who are disproportionately affected by obesity.
D Obesity rates have continued to rise in countries that have implemented sugary beverage taxes.
GRE Verbal Reasoning
A city replaced incandescent streetlights with energy-efficient LED lights. After the switch, the city reported a 40 percent reduction in electricity costs for street lighting. The city's public works director attributed this reduction entirely to the higher energy efficiency of LED technology. Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the director's attribution?
A The number of streetlights in the city remained constant during the period before and after the replacement.
B The initial purchase cost of LED lights was significantly higher than that of incandescent bulbs.
C Incandescent bulbs typically need to be replaced more frequently than LED lights.
D Some residents complained that the LED lights were too bright and changed the character of their neighborhoods.
GMAT Verbal Reasoning
Company X plans to reduce employee absenteeism by offering flexible work hours. The company president argues that since many employees report that rigid schedules are the primary cause of their absences, allowing them to choose their own hours will significantly reduce the number of days missed. Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the president's argument?
A Some employees have flexible schedules at other companies and report higher job satisfaction.
B Employees who currently have flexible schedules at Company X show a 30% lower absenteeism rate than those with rigid schedules.
C Other companies that implemented flexible hours also saw improvements in employee retention.
D Rigid schedules are the most common complaint among Company X's employees, regardless of attendance records.
GMAT Verbal Reasoning
The pharmaceutical company invested heavily in clinical trials for its new drug, yet the drug failed to demonstrate statistically significant improvement over existing treatments. Nevertheless, the company proceeded with the marketing campaign, arguing that patient preference data showed a 60 percent favorability rating. Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the company's decision to proceed with marketing?
A Competing drugs in the same therapeutic category have been associated with severe side effects in a significant minority of patients.
B Patient preference is an unreliable indicator of a drug's clinical effectiveness and should not influence marketing decisions.
C The clinical trials included a diverse population, which increases the generalizability of the results.
D Marketing campaigns for drugs with marginal clinical benefits consistently underperform in terms of prescription uptake.

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