Luis: The basic goal of government support of scientific research is to generate technological advances that will benefit society as a whole. So only research that is expected to yield practical applications in fields such as agriculture and medicine ought to be funded.
A
The government should help fund pure theoretical research because such research might have unforeseen practical applications in fields such as agriculture and medicine.
B
A proposed study of the effects of chemical fertilizers on crops, for the purpose of developing more-resistant and higher-yielding breeds, should not receive government funding.
C
Although some research projects in theoretical science yield practical benefits, most do not, and so no research projects in theoretical science should be funded by the government.
D
Research for the sole purpose of developing new technologies ought to be financed exclusively by corporations.
E
Knowledge gained through basic scientific research need not be expected to lead to new and useful technologies in order for the research to merit government funding.
Consumer activist: When antilock brakes were first introduced, it was claimed that they would significantly reduce the incidence of multiple-car collisions, thereby saving lives. Indeed, antilock brakes have reduced the incidence of multiple-car collisions. I maintain, however, that to save lives, automobile manufacturers ought to stop equipping cars with them.
"Surprising" Phenomenon
If antilock brakes have reduced the incidence of multiple-car collisions, why does the consumer activist maintain that, to save lives, automobile manufacturers ought to stop equipping cars with antilock brakes?
Objective
The correct answer must identify how manufacturing cars without antilock brakes could directly or indirectly save more lives than manufacturing cars with antilock brakes even though antilock brakes have reduced the occurrence of multiple-car collisions.
A
Drivers and passengers in automobiles with antilock brakes feel less vulnerable, and are thus less likely to wear seat belts.
If fewer people wear seat belts while driving with antilock brakes than without, the lack of seatbelt usage could cause more lost lives than the number of lives saved from the reduction in multiple-car collisions because of antilock brakes.
B
Under some circumstances, automobiles with traditional brakes stop just as quickly as do automobiles with antilock brakes.
The stimulus tells us that antilock brakes have led to a decrease in multiple-car collisions, so this is irrelevant.
C
For inexperienced drivers, antilock brakes are easier to use correctly than are traditional brakes.
The level of difficulty of correctly using antilock brakes doesn’t matter. We want to know why the consumer activist advises that, to save lives, automobile manufacturers ought to stop equipping cars with antilock brakes.
D
Antilock brakes are considerably more expensive to manufacture than are traditional brakes.
The cost of manufacturing antilock brakes is irrelevant. We need an answer that helps explain how producing cars without antilock brakes could save more lives than producing cars with antilock brakes.
E
Antilock brakes are no more effective in preventing multiple-car accidents than in preventing other kinds of traffic accidents.
The stimulus tells us that antilock brakes have led to a reduction in multiple-car accidents, so (E) doesn’t matter.
Cookie Cutter Review
Causation
(A) direct cause
(B) alternate cause
(D) direct cause
(E) corroborating data
Cookie Cutter Review
Causation
(A) direct cause
(B) alternate cause
(D) direct cause
(E) corroborating data
A
HDLs, unlike LDLs, help the body excrete cholesterol.
B
Persons who are overweight tend to have a higher risk of early death due to coronary heart disease and stroke, and tend to have low levels of HDLs.
C
HDLs are less easily removed from the bloodstream than are LDLs.
D
A high level of HDLs mitigates the increased health risks associated with LDLs.
E
Men whose level of HDLs is equal to the average level for women have been found to have a lower risk of coronary heart disease and stroke than that of most men.