Consumer advocate: Businesses are typically motivated primarily by the desire to make as great a profit as possible, and advertising helps businesses to achieve this goal. But it is clear that the motive of maximizing profits does not impel businesses to present accurate information in their advertisements. It follows that consumers should be skeptical of the claims made in advertisements.
Summarize Argument
Consumers should be critical of what advertisements say. This is because advertising helps businesses fulfill their profit-generating goals, and these goals do not require presenting accurate information.
Notable Assumptions
The advocate assumes that just because the goal of generating profit does not motivate businesses to present accurate information in their ads, there is no other factor that does.
A
Businesses know that they can usually maximize their profits by using inaccurate information in their advertisements.
This strengthens the argument. It reinforces the premises by noting that businesses are aware that deception in advertisements can lead to larger profits, and we already know that businesses are motivated primarily to maximize profit.
B
Businesses have often included inaccurate information in their advertisements.
This strengthens the argument. It reinforces the conclusion that consumers should be skeptical of advertisements’ claims, as businesses have been shown to present false information in their ads.
C
Many consumers have a cynical attitude toward advertising.
This does not affect the argument. Whether or not consumers are already skeptical of advertisements is not relevant to the advocate’s argument, which is about whether consumers should be skeptical of the claims made in advertisements.
D
Those who create advertisements are less concerned with the accuracy than with the creativity of advertisements.
This strengthens the argument. (D) says that accuracy is not the biggest priority for those developing ads, which suggests that accuracy could be compromised in favor of creativity. This strengthens the conclusion that consumers should be skeptical of the claims made in ads.
E
The laws regulating truth in advertising are not applicable to many of the most common forms of inaccurate advertising.
This strengthens the argument. It suggests that current laws are insufficient to protect consumers from inaccurate claims in advertising. Thus, consumers should be skeptical of advertisements’ claims.
Frederick: Art museums ought to devote their limited resources to acquiring the works of recognized masters in order to ensure the preservation of the greatest artworks.
Speaker 1 Summary
Elaine concludes that museums should try to get and display the best examples of artworks from each art period and genre, even if some pieces are not considered masterpieces. This is because the purpose of art museums is to preserve artworks and make them available to the public.
Speaker 2 Summary
Fred says art museums should use their resources only to get works of those recognized to be masters. This is because the purpose of art museums is to preserve the greatest artworks.
Objective
We’re looking for a disagreement. The speakers disagree about whether the purpose of art museums involves collecting more than just the greatest artworks and about whether art museums should try to collect more than just the artworks of recognized masters.
A
many artistic masterpieces are not recognized as such by art experts
Neither speaker expresses an opinion. Elaine says that some works might not be recognized as masterpieces, but that doesn’t imply she thinks those works are or should be masterpieces. Fred doesn’t speak about works recognized as masterpieces, only artists recognized as masters.
B
museums should seek to represent all genres of art in their collections
This is a point of disagreement. Elaine thinks museums should collect art of all genres. Fred thinks museums should only try to collect the greatest artworks. He doesn’t put any weight on the collection of different genres.
C
art museums should seek to preserve works of art
Both speakers agree. Elaine thinks the purpose of art museums is to preserve artworks. Fred thinks the purpose is to preserve the greatest artworks.
D
an art museum ought to acquire an unusual example of a period or genre if more characteristic examples are prohibitively expensive
Elaine expresses no opinion. She says to acquire the best examples from a period or genre, but she doesn’t comment on the cost of an artwork and whether that should influence the choice of example. Fred has no opinion on the choice between unusual vs. best example.
E
all of the artworks that experts identify as masterpieces are actually masterpieces
Neither expresses an opinion. Elaine doesn’t say anything suggesting whether there exist wrongly identified masterpieces. Fred speaks only of artists recognized as masters, not artworks identified as masterpieces.
Summarize Argument
The author concludes that it’s clear why humans share diseases with cats. Many diseases are genetically based, and cats and humans are relatively close genetic relatives.
Notable Assumptions
In order for the reason why humans and cats share so many diseases to be “clear,” the author must assume that the diseases humans and cats share are genetically based diseases. The author must also assume that humans and cats, by virtue of having exact gene counterparts, are susceptible to the exact same diseases.
A
Cats have built up resistance to many of the diseases they have in common with humans.
We don’t care how resistant cats are. We care why they share these diseases with humans in the first place.
B
Most diseases that humans have in common with cats have no genetic basis.
If the diseases humans and cats share aren’t genetic, then the author’s conclusion—that it’s clear why humans and cats share so many diseases—doesn’t follow. The author’s entire argument is predicated on the idea these diseases are genetic.
C
Cats have more diseases in common with nonhuman primates than with humans.
Even if this were true, humans and cats still share many diseases. We need to weaken the author’s argument—that these diseases are clearly shared due to genetics.
D
Many of the diseases humans have in common with cats are mild and are rarely diagnosed.
Even if these diseases are mild, humans still share them with cats. We need to weaken the author’s argument that this is clearly for genetic reasons.
E
Humans have more genes in common with nonhuman primates than with cats.
This is stated in the stimulus.
Summarize Argument
The author argues that the region needs to find new ways to help business grow. The author provides two main ideas to support this argument. First, he references shoe manufacturing, which used to be a major industry, but is no longer as successful due to international competition. Secondly, as further support for the conclusion, the author says that the region’s public policy is detrimental for business growth.
Identify Conclusion
The conclusion is that the region needs to implement changes that support business growth: “This region must find new ways to help business grow.”
A
The region needs to find new ways to enhance business growth.
This is the claim that the rest of the argument works to support, so this is the main conclusion. The rest of the argument provides a reason for why the reader should believe this idea.
B
Shoe manufacturing is no longer a major source of income in the region.
This is a premise that provides support for the idea that there is a need for expansion into new manufacturing areas. This answer provides support for a sub-conclusion, so it is not the main conclusion
C
Shoe manufacturing in the region has dramatically declined due to overseas competition.
This is a premise that gives an explanation for why shoe manufacturing has declined, so this is not the main conclusion.
D
Business in the region must expand into new areas of manufacturing.
The argument does say that there is a need for expanding into new manufacturing areas, but saying that this “must” happen is too strong and is unsupported. Further, this idea is not the main conclusion.
E
Outdated public policy inhibits business growth in the region.
This is a premise that provides support for the conclusion; the fact that the public policy is outdated is a reason that the region must find new ways to help business grow.
Summary
Modern medicine has caused more people to be able to live long, pain-free lives. However, the resulting increase in life expectancy has caused a steady increase in the proportion of old people in the general population. This population shift has the potential to cause devastating financial problems for some social welfare programs.
Strongly Supported Conclusions
Sometimes the remedy for one problem can unintentionally cause a different problem.
A
Technical or scientific innovation cannot be the solution to all problems.
This answer is unsupported. We don’t know whether the resulting problem mentioned in the last sentence cannot be solved by technical or scientific innovation.
B
Implementing technological innovations should be delayed until the resulting social changes can be managed.
This answer is unsupported. We don’t know from the stimulus what should or should not be done. The information here is presented matter-of-fact.
C
Every enhancement of the quality of life has unavoidable negative consequences.
This answer is unsupported. The stimulus is limited to one example of a positive improvement resulting in a negative consequence. We don’t know if this pattern of cause-and-effect occurs in every enhancement.
D
All social institutions are affected by a preoccupation with prolonging life.
This answer is unsupported. The stimulus only mentions one social institution affected by the increase in life expectancy. We don’t know if other social institutions are or are not affected.
E
Solving one set of problems can create a different set of problems.
This answer is strongly supported. The stimulus establishes a causal chain beginning with solving one set of problems (prolonging people’s lives) and resulting in a different set of problems (devastating financial problems for some social welfare programs.)