Argument Evaluation

Analyze the four logical arguments below. Each argument contains a specific causal gap or unstated vulnerability. Match each argument to the single piece of new evidence that most robustly strengthens its conclusion by resolving that specific gap.

Macroeconomist: A national currency cannot achieve global reserve status unless its issuing central bank operates completely independent of short-term political pressures. Some analysts argue that the newly launched Solarian Credit will achieve global reserve status because it is backed by vast physical commodity reserves. However, any currency backed by vast physical commodity reserves inherently subjects its valuation to unpredictable global market fluctuations. Furthermore, no central bank can successfully prioritize long-term economic stability if its currency's valuation is subjected to such unpredictable market fluctuations. Therefore, the Solarian Credit cannot achieve global reserve status.

Which of the following, if assumed, enables the macroeconomist's conclusion to be properly drawn?

Analyze the four arguments below. Match each argument (Left) to the specific piece of new evidence (Right) that most severely weakens its conclusion by exposing its underlying logical flaw.

Archaeologist: Any ancient civilization that possessed a centralized government was capable of organizing large-scale public works. Extensive excavations in the region historically inhabited by the Moradi civilization have revealed absolutely no evidence of monumental architecture, such as pyramids, large temples, or administrative palaces. Therefore, it is clear that the Moradi did not possess a centralized government.

The archaeologist's conclusion is properly drawn if which one of the following is assumed?

Automotive Industry Analyst: Five years ago, the government introduced a subsidy to encourage the production of electric vehicles (EVs). Since then, the percentage of newly manufactured EVs that fail their initial quality assurance inspections has fallen from 12 percent to 4 percent. Therefore, the subsidy program has successfully decreased the total number of EVs failing these critical safety inspections.

Which one of the following most accurately describes a flaw in the analyst's reasoning?

Historian: The rapid population growth in the Aethelian Valley during the 11th century was almost certainly driven by the introduction of the heavy iron plow. Prior to its introduction in 1012, the valley's population had been stagnant for over two centuries. By 1050, the population had nearly doubled. The heavy plow allowed farmers to cultivate the dense, clay-rich soils of the valley floor, significantly increasing the total agricultural yield and thus supporting a much larger population.

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

Ornithologist: A recent study found that urban crows living in close proximity to fast-food restaurants have significantly higher average body weights than crows living in rural habitats. The diet of these urban crows consists heavily of discarded processed foods, which are notoriously high in calories. Therefore, it is clear that the consumption of these high-calorie processed foods is the primary cause of the increased body weight in these urban crows.

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

Human Resources Director: Six months ago, our company replaced its open-plan office layout with private cubicles in an effort to boost employee productivity. Recent observational data reveals that employees are currently spending 30 percent less time engaging in casual conversations in the office corridors than they did before the renovation. Clearly, the transition to private cubicles has successfully increased overall worker productivity by reducing social distractions.

Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the human resources director's argument?

Public Health Official: In our city, individuals who regularly engage in community gardening experience noticeably lower rates of stress-related illnesses compared to individuals who do not. This clearly demonstrates that the practice of community gardening directly reduces a person's vulnerability to stress-related conditions.

Which of the following most accurately describes a flaw in the public health official's reasoning?

Nutritionist: Residents of the mountainous region of Vargia consume an unusually high amount of the local root vegetable kalian, and they also boast the lowest rates of heart disease in the country. To combat rising rates of heart disease nationwide, the government should subsidize the cultivation of kalian and promote its consumption among the general population.

Which one of the following, if true, most weakens the nutritionist's argument?

Anthropologist: The recently discovered Makuri manuscripts, dated to the 12th century, contain numerous loanwords from the coastal Zandian dialect. Because inland Makuri villages were separated from the coast by the treacherous High Ridge mountains, historians previously believed there was no interaction between these groups before the 15th century. However, the presence of these loanwords proves that an extensive trade network must have connected these two groups by the 12th century.

Which one of the following is an assumption on which the anthropologist's argument depends?

Medical Researcher: A recent observational study found that individuals who drink green tea on a daily basis have a significantly lower incidence of heart disease compared to those who rarely or never drink it. Green tea is uniquely rich in a specific antioxidant compound known as EGCG. Based on these findings, we can conclude that the consumption of EGCG actively helps to prevent the development of heart disease.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the medical researcher's argument?

Match each logical argument (on the left) with the additional premise (on the right) that most strongly bridges its logical gap and supports its conclusion.

The recent discovery of monumental stone enclosures at a prehistoric site challenges the consensus that centralized political leadership emerged only after societies transitioned to agriculture. Radiocarbon dating confirms these structures predate domesticated crops by millennia. However, quarrying and transporting such massive pillars would have required the sustained, coordinated effort of numerous distinct nomadic bands. Therefore, the successful construction of these enclosures demonstrates that these pre-agricultural hunter-gatherers had already developed a centralized political authority capable of directing large-scale communal labor.

Which one of the following is an assumption required by the argument?

A local wine shop recently alternated the background music it played, switching between classical music and pop music. The store's records show that on days when classical music was played, the average price of a purchased bottle of wine was 20 percent higher than on days when pop music was played. The store owner concludes that listening to classical music induces customers to purchase more expensive wines.

Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the store owner's argument?

Argument: The new Z-100 electric vehicle has a maximum battery range of 400 miles per charge, which is 100 miles greater than the range of any other electric vehicle currently on the market. Based on this significant advantage, industry analysts conclude that the Z-100 will become the top-selling electric vehicle next year.

Statement: A logically necessary assumption of this argument is that consumers consider battery range to be the only important factor when deciding which electric vehicle to purchase.

Conservationist: The Azure Warbler relies exclusively on the Silver Birch tree for nesting. Over the last decade, a fungal disease has destroyed roughly 30 percent of the Silver Birch trees in the regional park. Because of this significant loss of nesting habitats, the population of Azure Warblers in the park will inevitably decline over the next few years.

Which one of the following is an assumption on which the conservationist's argument depends?

To combat the invasive lionfish damaging local marine ecosystems, coastal authorities introduced a financial bounty for every lionfish captured by recreational divers. In the twelve months following the program's implementation, the number of lionfish recorded during standardized visual surveys of the local reefs decreased by roughly 40 percent. Based on this decline, officials concluded that the bounty program successfully motivated divers to catch enough lionfish to significantly diminish their overall population in the area.

Which one of the following is an assumption required by the officials' argument?

A local bakery recently replaced its conventional flour with organic flour for all its bread recipes. In the month following this change, the bakery's daily bread sales volume increased by 20 percent. The bakery's owner concludes that the new bread sells better because customers prefer the taste of organic flour over conventional flour.

Which of the following statements, if true, would most strengthen the bakery owner's argument? (Select all that apply)

A recent study of a popular mobile game showed that players who purchased the game's premium subscription played for an average of fifteen hours per week. In contrast, players who did not purchase the subscription played for an average of only four hours per week. Based on these findings, the game's developers concluded that the premium subscription directly causes players to engage more deeply with the game.

Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the developers' conclusion?