LOGICAL REASONING

DIRECTIONS. In this section you will be given brief statements or passages and be required to
evaluate the reasoning involved. In some instances, more than one choice will appear
to be a possible answer. You are to choose the best answer. Use common sense and
reasonableness in making your selection.

For Questions 1 – 2
The spate of bills in the legislature dealing with utility regulation shows that our lawmakers
recognize a good political issue when they see one. Among the least worthy is a proposal to
establish a new “Consumers Utility Board” to fight proposed increases in gas and electric rates.
It is hardly a novel idea that consumers need representation when rates are set for utilities
which operate as monopolies in their communities. That’s exactly why we have a state Public
Utilities Commission.
Supporters of the proposed consumer board point put that utility companies have the
benefit of lawyers and accountants on their payrolls to argue the case for rate increase before the
PUC. That’s true. Well, the PUC has the benefit of a $40 million annual budget and a staff of
900 –– all paid at taxpayer expense –– to find fault with these rate proposals if there is fault to be
found.

1. Which one of the following is the best example to offer in support of this argument against a
Consumers Utility Board?
A. the percentage of taxpayer dollars supporting the PUC
B. the number of lawyers working for the Consumers Utility Board
C. the number of concerned consumers
D. a PUC readjustment of rates downward
E. the voting record of lawmakers supporting the board

2. Which one of the following would most seriously weaken the above argument?
A. Private firms are taking an increasing share of the energy business.
B. Water rates are also increasing.
C. The PUC budget will be cut slightly along with other state agencies.
D. Half of the PUC lawyers and accountants are also retained by utilities.
E. More tax money goes to education than to the PUC.

3. Most of those who enjoy music play a musical instrument; therefore, if Maria enjoys music, she
probably plays a musical instrument.
Which one of the following most closely parallels the reasoning in the statement above?
A. The majority of those who voted for Smith in the last election oppose abortion; therefore, if
the residents of University City all voted for Smith, they probably oppose abortion.
B. If you appreciate portrait painting you are probably a painter yourself; therefore, your own
experience is probably the cause of your appreciation.
C. Most of those who join the army are male; therefore, if Jones did not join the army, Jones is
probably female.
D. Over 50% of the high school students polled admitted hating homework; therefore, a majority
of high school students do not like homework.
E. If most workers drive to work, and Sam drives to work, then Sam must be a worker.
4. “To be a good teacher, one must be patient. Some good teachers are good administrators.”
Which one of the following can be concluded from the above statement?
A. Some good teachers are not patient. D. Only good administrators are patient.
B. All good administrators are patient. E. Many good administrators are patient.
C. Some good administrators are patient.

5. “Good personal relations of an organization depend upon mutual confidence, trust, and goodwill.
The basis of confidence is understanding. Most troubles start with people who do not understand
each other. When the organization’s intentions or motives are misunderstood, or which reasons
for actions, practices, or policies are misconstrued, complete cooperation from individuals is not
forthcoming. If management expects full cooperation from employees, it has a responsibility of
sharing with them the information which is the foundation of proper understanding, confidence,
and trust. Personnel management has long since outgrown the days when it was the vogue to
‘treat them rough and tell them nothing.’ Up-to-date personnel management provides all possible
information about the activities, aims, and purposes of the organization. It seems altogether
creditable that a desire should exist among employees for such information which the best-
intentioned executive might think would not interest them and which the worst-intentioned would
think was none of their business.”
The above paragraph implies that one of the causes of the difficulty that an organization might
have with its personnel relations is that its employees
A. have not expressed interest in the activities, aims, and purposes of the organization
B. do not believe in the good faith of the organization
C. have not been able to give full cooperation to the organization
D. do not recommend improvements in the practice and policies of the organization
E. can afford little time to establish good relations with their organization

6. Of all psychiatric disorders, depression is the most common; yet, research on its causes and
cures is still far from complete. As a matter of fact, very few facilities offer assistance to those
suffering from this disorder.
The author would probably agree that
A. depression needs further study
B. further research will make possible further assistance to those suffering from depression
C. most facilities are staffed by psychiatrists whose specialty is not depression
D. those suffering from depression need to know its causes and cures
E. depression and ignorance go hand in hand

7. No brown-eyed people have red hair. Some short people have red hair.
Based on the foregoing information, all of the following must also be true EXCEPT
A. there are short people who do not have brown eyes
B. there are people without brown eyes who are short
C. there are people with red hair who do not have brown eyes
D. some brown-eyed people are short
E. there are people with red hair who are not short
8. IVAN: What the Church says is true because the Church is an authority.
MIKE: What grounds do you have for holding that the Church is a genuine authority.
IVAN: The authority of the Church is implied in the Bible.
MIKE: And why do you hold that the Bible is true?
IVAN: Because the Church holds that it is true.
Which one of the following is the best description of the reasoning involved in the argument
presented in the foregoing dialogue?
A. deductive C. vague E. circular
B. inductive D. pointed

9. MARY: All Italians are great lovers.

KATHY: That is not so. I have met some Spaniards who were magnificent lovers.
Kathy’s reply to Mary indicates that she has misunderstood Mary’s remark to mean that
A. every great lovers is an Italian
B. Italians are best at the art of love
C. Spaniards are inferior to Italians
D. Italians are more likely to be great lovers than are Spaniards
E. there is a relationship between nationality and love

For Questions 10 – 11
MR DIMPLE: Mrs. Wilson’s qualifications are ideal for the position. She is intelligent, forceful,
determined, and trustworthy. I suggest we hire her immediately.

10. Which one of the following, if true, would most weaken Mr. Dimple’s statement?
A. Mrs. Wilson is not interested in being hired.
B. There are two other applicants whose qualifications are identical to Mrs. Wilson’s.
C. Mrs. Wilson is currently working for a rival company.
D. Mr. Dimple is not speaking directly to the hiring committee.
E. Mrs. Wilson is older than many of the other applicants.

11. Which one of the following, if true, offers the strongest support of Mr. Dimple’s statement?
A. All the members of the hiring committee have agreed that intelligence, trustworthiness,
determination, and forcefulness are important qualifications for the job.
B. Mr. Dimple holds exclusive responsibility for hiring new employees.
C. Mr. Dimple has known Mrs. Wilson longer than he has known any of the other applicants.
D. Mrs. Wilson is a member of Mr. Dimple’s family.
E. Mrs. Dimple is intelligent, forceful, determined, and trustworthy.

12. All of the candidates for the spring track team must have participated in fall cross-country and
winter track. Some runners, however, find cross-country tedious, and refuse to run in the full.
Thus, some winter track runners who would like to be members of the spring track teams are not
permitted to try out.
In which one of the following is the reasoning most like that of this passage?
A. Mice become aggressive if confined in close quarters for an extended period of time, or if
they are deprived of protein-rich foods. Therefore, highly aggressive mice have been closely
confined and denied high-protein foods.
B. Roses grown in full sun are less susceptible to mildew than roses grown in partial shade.
Roses grown in partial shade are also more susceptible to black spot. Thus, roses should be
grown in full sun.
 C. To quality for the June primary, a candidate for office must reside in the district for six
months and gather 500 signatures of district residents who support the candidate. Thus, a
longtime district resident would not quality for the June primary if she gathered only 300
signatures.
D. A convenience store sells 3 chocolate bars for a dollar, and a large softdrink for 50 cents. A
competitor sells 4 chocolate bars for a dollar, and a medium-size softdrink for 50 cents.
Therefore, neither of the two stores offers more for the same price.
E. The Coty Council has passed an ordinance that allows cyclists to use the city bike paths only
if they are over 12 years old and are wearing bicycle helmets. Thus, parents with children
under 12 will be unable to cycle with their families on the city bike paths unless they wear
helmets.

13. When a dental hygienist cleans your teeth, you may not see much evidence that she is
supervised by a dentist. Hygienists often work pretty much on their own, even though they are
employed by dentists. Then why can’t hygienist practice independently, perhaps saving patients
a lot of money in the process? The patients would not have to pay the steep profit that many
dentists make on the hygienists’ labors.
Which one of the following statements weakens the argument above?
A. Some patients might get their teeth cleaned more often if it costs less.
B. Some dentists do not employ dental hygienists.
C. Hygienists must be certified by state examinations.
D. A dentist should be on hand to inspect a hygienist’s work to make sure the patient has no
problems that the hygienist is unable to detect.
E. In some states, there are more female hygienists than male.

14. There are those of us who, determined to be happy, are discouraged repeatedly by social and
economic forces that cause us nothing but trouble. And there are those of us who are blessed
with health and wealth and still grumble and complain about almost everything.
To which one of the following points can the author be leading?
A. Happiness is both a state of mind and a state of affairs.
B. Both personal and public conditions can make happiness difficult to attain.
C. Happiness may be influenced by economic forces and by health considerations.
D. No one can be truly happy.
E. Exterior forces and personal views determine happiness.

15. “Keep true, never be ashamed of doing right; decide on what you think is right and stick to it.”
––George Eliot
If one were to follow Eliot’s advice, one
A. would never change one’s mind
B. would do what is right
C. might never know what is right
D. would never be tempted to do wrong
E. would not discriminate between right and wrong
 16. To paraphrase Oliver Wendell Holmes, taxes keep us civilized. Just look around you, at well-
paved superhighways, air-conditioned schools, and modernized prisons, and you cannot help but
agree with Holmes.
Which one of the following is the strongest criticism of the statement above?
A. The author never actually met Holmes.
B. The author does not acknowledge those of us who do not live near highways, schools, and
prisons.
C. The author does not assure us that he has been in a modernized prison.
D. The author does not offer a biological sketch of Holmes.
E. The author does not define “civilized.”

For Questions 17 – 18
Information that is prohibited is part of the public record. But information that a reporter collects,
and sources that he contacts, must be protected in order for our free press to function free of fear.

17. The above argument is most severely weakened by which one of the following statements?
A. Public information is usually reliable.
B. Undocumented evidence may be used to convict an innocent person.
C. Members of the press act ethically in most cases.
D. The sources that a reporter contacts are usually willing to divulge their identity.
E. Our press has never been altogether free.

18. Which one of the following statements is consistent with the argument above?
A. Privileged information has long been an important and necessary aspect of investigative
reporting.
B. Not all information a reporter collects becomes part of the public record.
C. Tape-recorded information is not always reliable.
D. The victim of a crime must be protected at all costs.
E. The perpetrator of a crime must be protected at all costs.

For Questions 19 – 21
A federal court ruling that San Diego County can’t sue the government for the cost of medical
care of illegal aliens is based upon a legal technically that ducks the larger moral question. But
the U.S. Supreme Court’s refusal to review this decision has closed the last avenue of legal
appeal.
The medical expenses of indigent citizens or legally resident aliens are covered by state
and federal assistance programs. The question of who is to pay when an undocumented alien
falls ill remain unresolved, however, leaving California countries to bear this unfair and growing
burden.

19. The author implies that

A. the U.S. Supreme Court has refused to review the federal court ruling
B. the burden of medical expenses for aliens is growing
C. the larger moral question involves no legal technicalities
D. San Diego should find another avenue of appeal
E. the federal government is dodging the moral issue
20. Which one of the following arguments, if true, would most seriously weaken the argument above?
A. There are many cases of undocumented aliens being denied medical aid at state hospitals.
B. A private philanthropic organization has funded medical aid programs that have so far
provided adequate assistance to illegal aliens nationwide.
C. Illegal aliens do not wish federal or state aid, because those accepting aid risk detection of
their illegal status and deportation.
D. Undocumented aliens stay in California only a short time before moving east.
E. Judges on the Supreme Court have pledged privately to assist illegal aliens with a favorable
ruling once immigration laws are strengthened.

21. Which one of the following changes in the above passage could strengthen the author’s
argument?
A. adding interviews with illegal aliens
B. a description of the stages that led to a rejection by the Supreme Court
C. a clarification with numbers of the rate at which the burden of medical expenses is growing
D. the naming of those state and federal assistance programs that aid indigent citizens
E. the naming of those California counties that do not participate in medical aid to illegal aliens

22. History is strewn with the wreckage of experiments in communal living, often organized around
farms and inspired by religious or philosophical ideals. To the more noble failures can now be
added Mao Tse-tung’s notorious Chinese communes. The current rulers of China still undoing
the mistakes of the late Chairman, are quietly allowing their agricultural communes to _____.
Which one of the following is the most logical completion of the passage above?
A. evolve C. recycle E. organize
B. increase D. disintegrate

23. SAL: Herb is my financial planner.

KEITH: I’m sure he’s good; he’s my cousin.
Which one of the following facts is Keith ignoring in his response?
A. Financial planning is a professional, not a personal, matter.
B. Sal is probably flattering Keith.
C. Professional competence is not necessarily a family trait.
D. “Good” is a term with many meanings.
E. Sal’s financial planner is no one’s cousin.

24. Many effective prescription drugs are available to patients on a “one time only” basis. Suspicious
of drug abuse, physicians will not renew a prescription for a medicine that has worked effectively
for a patient. This practice denies a patient here right to health.
Which one of the following is a basic assumption made by the author?
A. A new type of medicine is likely to be more expensive.
B. Physicians are not concerned with a patient’s health.
C. Most of the patients who need prescription renewals are female.
D. Most physicians prescribe inadequate amounts of medicine
E. Patients are liable to suffer the same ailment repeatedly.
For Questions 25 – 26
Forty years ago, hardly anybody thought about going to court to sue somebody. A person could
bump a pedestrian with his Chrysler Airflow and the victim would say something like, “No harm
done,” and walk away. Ipso facto. No filing of codicils, taking of depositions or polling the jury.
Attorneys need not apply.

25. Which one of the following sentences most logically continues the above passage?
A. The Chrysler Airflow is no longer the harmless machine it used to be.
B. Fortunately, this is still the case.
C. Unfortunately, times have changed.
D. New legislation affecting the necessity for codicils is a sign of the times.
E. But now, as we know, law schools are full of eager young people.

26. Which one of the following details, if true, would most strengthen the above statement?
A. There were fewer courthouses then than now.
B. The marked increase in pedestrian accidents is a relatively recent occurrence.
C. Most citizens of 40 years ago were not familiar with their legal rights.
D. The number of lawsuits filed during World War II was extremely low.
E. Most young attorneys were in the armed forces 40 years ago.