Challenge Drill Pack

Question 1

The defendant's fingerprints were on the safe, so he must have robbed it. After all, innocent people do not leave fingerprints on safes they never touched.

The reasoning is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it

1. A. ignores the possibility that the fingerprints were left at a different time or for an innocent reason
2. B. assumes fingerprints are unique
3. C. attacks the defendant's character
4. D. relies on eyewitness testimony
5. E. confuses the safe with other objects

Answer: ______

Question 2

A school district claims its phonics program improved reading, citing rising third-grade scores since adoption.

Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the district's claim?

1. A. Teachers like the program.
2. B. Neighboring districts that kept the old program saw scores stay flat over the same period.
3. C. Phonics is a popular teaching method.
4. D. The district also reduced class sizes slightly.
5. E. Reading scores matter to parents.

Answer: ______

Question 3

A wine critic argues that expensive wines taste better, citing blind tastings where experts rated pricier wines higher.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the critic's argument?

1. A. Some cheap wines taste good.
2. B. In the tastings, the "experts" were told the price of each wine before rating it.
3. C. Wine critics disagree with each other.
4. D. Expensive wines are aged longer.
5. E. Taste is subjective.

Answer: ______

Question 4

The city's plan to reduce emissions by subsidizing electric cars will succeed, because electric cars produce no tailpipe emissions.

The plan's success depends on the assumption that

1. A. electric cars are affordable
2. B. the electricity charging the cars will not come from sources that offset the tailpipe savings
3. C. residents want electric cars
4. D. subsidies are popular
5. E. tailpipe emissions are the only pollutant

Answer: ______

Question 5

All of the committee's recommendations were adopted except those concerning the budget. The recommendation to hire an auditor concerned the budget.

Which of the following must be true?

1. A. The auditor was hired.
2. B. The auditor was not hired.
3. C. The recommendation to hire an auditor may or may not have been adopted.
4. D. All budget recommendations were rejected.
5. E. The committee made no other recommendations.

Answer: ______

Question 6

The company's stock will rise. Its earnings beat expectations, and stocks of companies that beat earnings always rise.

The conclusion follows logically if which of the following is assumed?

1. A. The company is well managed.
2. B. The "always rise" claim has no exceptions and applies to this company now.
3. C. Earnings beats are rare.
4. D. Investors pay attention to earnings.
5. E. The stock is currently undervalued.

Answer: ______

Question 7

Vera: "The dam should be removed because it blocks salmon migration, and the salmon run matters more than the dam's power." Walt: "Removing the dam would flood downstream farms during spring runoff, so the dam should stay."

Vera and Walt disagree about whether

1. A. the dam blocks salmon migration
2. B. salmon runs matter
3. C. removing the dam would flood downstream farms
4. D. the dam should be removed
5. E. the dam produces power

Answer: ______

Question 8

Most professional historians agree that the treaty was a mistake, so it must have been a mistake.

The reasoning is flawed because it

1. A. ignores what amateur historians think
2. B. treats expert consensus as decisive proof, though experts can share a mistaken view
3. C. attacks the historians personally
4. D. confuses treaties with wars
5. E. relies on a single historian

Answer: ______

Question 9

A researcher claims a new teaching method improves algebra scores, based on a single classroom's gains.

Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the claim?

1. A. The teacher is enthusiastic.
2. B. The classroom's students were randomly selected from the school, and their gains persisted on a delayed test months later.
3. C. Algebra is an important subject.
4. D. The method uses colorful materials.
5. E. Parents approved of the method.

Answer: ______

Question 10

The mayor claims the new park reduced crime, since crime near the park fell 20 percent after it opened.

Which of the following, if true, most weakens the mayor's claim?

1. A. Parks are expensive to maintain.
2. B. Police began foot patrols around the park the same month it opened.
3. C. Residents enjoy the park.
4. D. Crime fell 20 percent in the whole city that year.
5. E. The park is popular with families.

Answer: ______