6 月 20 日 GWD 讲稿
TEL：400-638-5988
讲座日期：2013年6月20日 晚19:00
讲座主题：解析曼哈顿Review 逻辑题 对复习的帮助与不足！
主 讲 人：管卫东
GMAT 讲稿资料
1.
The head baker at Barry’s Bagels can either purchase flour in-person from the local flour mill,
Larry’s Local Mill, or order a shipment of flour from an out-of-state mill, Isadore’s Interstate Mill.
The cost of the flour from Isadore’s Interstate Mill is 10 percent less than the cost of the flour
from Larry’s Local Mill. Even after shipping and handling fees are added, it is still cheaper to
order flour that has to be shipped from Isadore’s than to buy flour locally from Larry’s.
The statements above, if true, best support which of the following assertions?
Production costs at Isadore’s Interstate Mill are 10 percent below those at Larry’s Local
Mill.
Buying flour from Isadore’s Interstate Mill will eliminate 10 percent of the local flour mill
jobs.
The shipping and handling fees for a batch of flour purchased from Isadore’s Interstate
Mill are less than 10 percent of the cost of an identical batch of flour purchased from
Larry’s Local Mill.
The shipping and handling fees for a batch of flour purchased from Isadore’s Interstate
Mill are more than 10 percent of the cost of Isadore’s flour.
Isadore’s Interstate Mill produces flour 10% more efficiently than Larry’s Local Mill does.
解释：
The cost of flour from the local mill is higher than the cost of the flour from the out-of-state mill.
However, when purchasing from the out-of-state mill, Barry’s Bagels must pay shipping and
handling fees that would not apply to a purchase from the local mill. Purchasing the flour from the
out-of-state mill will only be cheaper if those shipping and handling fees are smaller than the
difference in the flour costs of the two suppliers. Also, we cannot assume any additional
information or move beyond the scope of the given premises in order to find the conclusion.
(A) Lower production costs could explain the lower price of the flour from Isadore’s Interstate
Mill, but there may be a variety of other reasons. We cannot state this conclusively.
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(B) It is possible that the number of local flour mill jobs would be decreased, but no evidence in
the passage leads to that conclusion.
(C) CORRECT. This statement properly identifies the point that, for ordering from an out-of-state
mill to be less expensive, the shipping and handling fees must be less than the difference in the
flour costs of the two suppliers. Say, for example, that a batch of flour costs $100 from Larry’s
Local Mill. The passage tells us that the same batch would cost $90 from Isadore’s Interstate Mill,
yet when purchasing from Isadore’s, shipping and handling fees would apply. We are told that
Isadore’s total cost is cheaper than Larry’s, so mathematically that is: $90 + Shipping & Handling
< $100, which means that Shipping & Handling < $10 = 10% of the cost of flour from Larry’s.
(D) If shipping and handling fees were more than 10 percent, purchasing from the out-of-state
supplier would be more expensive, not less.
(E) Higher efficiency could explain the lower price of the flour from Isadore’s Interstate Mill, but
there may be a variety of other reasons. We cannot state this conclusively.
2.
The West Indian manatee, a distant relative of the elephant, returned to the sea some 50 million
years ago. These thousand-pound herbivores inhabit the warm coastal waters where Americans
like to play. Despite conservation efforts, criminal penalties for harming these creatures, and an
overabundance of SAVE THE MANATEE! bumper stickers, none of these animals can be
considered safe.
Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the argument above?
Last year, several manatees were mysteriously killed by an unidentified toxin.
All manatees swim at depths that make them vulnerable to the blades of motorboat
engines.
Most tourists are unaware of the ongoing efforts to save the manatee.
The population of manatees in the wild has dwindled to fewer than 2,500 animals.
Although dozens of manatee deaths are documented each year, many more deaths go
unreported.
解释：
The argument concludes that, despite numerous protections, none of the manatees can be
considered safe. The correct answer choice must support the assertion that all manatees are
threatened.
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6 月 20 日 GWD 讲稿
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(A) The deaths of several manatees from a specific toxin in no way indicates that all manatees are
unsafe.
(B) CORRECT. This choice explicitly states that all manatees put themselves in harm’s way by
swimming at depths that make them vulnerable to the blades of motorboat engines.
(C) The awareness of programs to save the manatee is irrelevant to the argument.
(D) The simple fact that a limited number of manatees remains in the wild in no way suggests that
every one of the 2,500 remaining manatees is threatened.
(E) The deaths each year of a number of manatees, whether documented or undocumented, do not
indicate that all living manatees are threatened.
3.
Every year many people become ill because of airborne mold spores in their homes. After
someone becomes ill, specialists are often hired to eradicate the mold. These specialists look in
damp areas of the house, since mold is almost always found in places where there is substantial
moisture. To minimize the risk of mold poisoning in the home, then, one should make sure to keep
all internal plumbing in good condition to prevent leakage that could serve as a breeding ground
for mold.
Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?
Mold itself does not create moisture.
Most homeowners know enough about plumbing to determine whether theirs is in good
condition.
Mold cannot grow in dry areas.
No varieties of mold are harmless.
Mold spores cannot be filtered from the air.
解释：
(1) Identify the Question Type
The word assumption in the question stem indicates that this is a Find the Assumption question.
(2) Deconstruct the Argument
The argument indicates that mold spores in the home can cause illness; experts brought in to
eradicate the mold check damp areas because mold is almost always found in places where there is
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6 月 20 日 GWD 讲稿
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substantial moisture. The author then concludes that preventing leakages via plumbing problems
will minimize the risk of mold poisoning.
(3) State the Goal
On Find the Assumption questions, we're looking for something that the author must believe to be
true in order to draw the given conclusion. This argument assumes that wet areas occur first, with
plumbing leaks cited as one possible clause, causing mold to grow. The argument also assumes
that preventing any plumbing leaks will minimize the danger (as opposed to merely reducing it).
(4) Work from Wrong to Right
(A) CORRECT. The argument depends on the assumption that the reason mold and wetness are
observed together is that wet areas cause mold growth. If the reverse causation (mold causes
wetness) were true, then keeping all plumbing in good condition to prevent leakage might not
actually minimize mold growth. Rather, the mold would develop due to some unmentioned reason
and then that mold would cause dampness.
(B) If most homeowners know enough about plumbing to determine whether theirs is in good
condition, then the recommendation made in this argument would be more useful. However, this is
not an assumption on which the argument depends.
(C) The argument says only that mold is almost always found in web places and that preventing
leaks would minimize mold poisoning. The argument does not rely on the idea that it is impossible
for mold to grow in dry areas.
(D) The argument does not rely on the idea that every variety of mold is harmful; it merely
discusses what to do to avoid poisoning from those types of mold that are harmful.
(E) Whether mold spores can be filtered from the air may be relevant to a general discussion about
the health effects of mold in the home, but it is not directly relevant to the conclusion here, which
focuses on the potential for mold growth via plumbing leaks.
4.
The number of United States citizens suffering from the flu increased significantly this year over
last year. Since this increase did not occur among citizens of other countries, it is likely the result
of a particular flu virus confined to the United States.
Which of the following, if true, would cast the most serious doubt on the explanation for the
increase given above?
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6 月 20 日 GWD 讲稿
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Many non-US citizens took flu vaccines this year.
This year, the flu suffered by citizens of other countries was generally more severe than
that suffered by US citizens.
A large percentage of US citizens who suffered from the flu this year were living abroad.
Many US citizens who suffered from the flu this year also suffered from the flu last year.
The number of US citizens did not change significantly between last year and this year.
解释：
The argument concludes that the increase in the number of US citizens suffering from the flu is the
result of a particular flu virus that is physically confined to the United States. Note that the
argument refers to US citizens, not US residents. To undermine this argument, one must find some
information that disconnects the flu from the physical location of the United States.
(A) While flu vaccinations for non-US citizens might help to explain some data related to the
incidence of the flu among non-US citizens, it has no bearing on the conclusion of the argument,
which specifically relates to the increase in the number of US citizens who suffered from the flu.
This statement provides no information about whether US citizens took flu vaccines this year.
(B) The severity of the flu is not related to the argument's conclusion about why the number of flu
sufferers among US citizens increased.
(C) CORRECT. The fact that a large percentage of US citizens who suffered from the flu this year
were living abroad undermines the conclusion that the flu virus was somehow geographically
confined to the United States.
(D) Information about repeat flu-sufferers among US citizens has no bearing on why the total
number of US citizens who suffered from the flu increased.
(E) If the number of US citizens had increased significantly between last year and this year, then
this might have provided an alternate reason as to why the number of US citizens who suffered
from the flu increased. The fact that the number of US citizens did NOT change significantly
actually supports the argument's conclusion by eliminating an alternative explanation.
5.
The Breton Symphony Orchestra board of directors and the musicians’ union are currently in
contract negotiations. The musicians’ union is considering proposing a new contract that would
demand the following: a 10% increase in musician salaries, the creation of a new financial bonus
system for musicians who have been with the orchestra for at least six years, and a limit on the
number of rehearsals per week.
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6 月 20 日 GWD 讲稿
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The answer to which of the following questions is LEAST important in helping the union to
determine whether the board will be inclined to accept the new contract proposal?
Does the orchestra have the means to pay for a 10% increase in musician salaries?
Are there comparable musicians not currently with the orchestra who would be willing to
work under a less favorable contract?
What percentage of the orchestra’s revenue is generated from ticket sales?
What is the average duration of employment for Breton Symphony Orchestra musicians?
Is the proposed limit on the number of rehearsals per week reasonable when compared
with industry standards?
解释：
The union’s new contract proposal is based on three very specific demands: increasing salaries,
creating a bonus system, and limiting the number of rehearsals per week. Questions that will be
most important in determining whether the board will accept the contract will be directly related to
these three demands. The question that is LEAST important will not be directly related to any of
the three demands.
(A) The orchestra’s ability to pay for the salary increase is certainly relevant.
(B) If there are comparable musicians willing to work for less, the board will be less likely to
accept the demands proposed in the new contract.
(C) CORRECT. The percentage of revenue generated from ticket sales is not directly related to
any of the three demands.
(D) This is relevant. If the average duration of employment is at least six years, the board will
probably be less willing to accept the contract. Doing so would put the board in the unfavorable
position of having to grant financial bonuses to many of its employees.
(E) If the rehearsal limit is unreasonable according to industry standards, the board will probably
be less likely to accept this demand.
6.
The city's transportation department has noticed that the city's extensive public bus system
generally runs behind schedule on days when traffic is heavier in the city. The transportation
commissioner concluded that the traffic prevents the buses from reaching their stops on time,
despite the existence of a number of bus-only lanes throughout the city. He has therefore proposed
creating additional bus-only lanes on city streets to allow more buses to bypass traffic.
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6 月 20 日 GWD 讲稿
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The success of the commissioner's proposal depends on which of the following assumptions?
Similar proposals have been effectively implemented in other cities.
The city's bus-only lanes do not contribute substantially to gridlock by reducing the
number of lanes available to other traffic.
An increase in bus fare is not necessary as a result of the proposal.
The city owns enough buses to cover all established routes.
Automobile drivers will not object to the proposal.
解释：
The commissioner proposed creating additional bus-only lanes to allow more buses to bypass
traffic. In doing so, he hopes that the buses will be able to reach their stops on time. However, this
plan will work only if the proposed solution does not lead to additional traffic gridlock, which
could impede the buses even further. For example, if the lack of enough lanes for regular traffic
impedes bus traffic significantly, creating more bus-only lanes could make traffic even worse. In
order for the proposal to work, therefore, we must assume that it is not the bus-only
lanes themselves that create the heavy traffic.
(A) What has or has not occurred in other cities is not relevant to the success of this particular
proposal.
(B) CORRECT. This establishes that the bus-only lanes themselves are not the cause of the traffic.
Thus, the proposal could have the desired effect.
(C) The price of a bus trip is not relevant to the success of the proposal.
(D) Whether the city has enough buses to cover all of the routes is not relevant to the success of
the proposal.
(E) Automobile drivers do not have to embrace the proposal in order for it to be successful.
7.
Since 1995, Congress has exempted oil companies that have leases issued by the federal
government allowing them to drill for deep-water oil off the Gulf of Mexico from royalty
payments as an incentive to spur development in times of low oil and gas prices. These leases
were supposed to have included a provision that reinstates the royalties should the market prices
of oil and gas exceed a certain level. Because of an error by the federal government, however, the
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6 月 20 日 GWD 讲稿
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language that reinstates the royalties is missing from the more than 1,100 leases issued by the U.S.
government in 1998 and 1999. Since the market price of oil and gas has recently risen far above
the threshold levels, this error could allow the oil companies to reap a windfall of more than $10
billion through the life of the leases. In response, the government is pressuring the oil companies
to renegotiate the leases. The executives of the oil companies strongly oppose renegotiation; all
have issued statements stating that they expect the government to honor the terms of the contracts
and that renegotiating a duly signed agreement would set a bad precedent.
Which of the following statements best reflects the position of the oil company executives?
Opportunity seldom knocks twice.
Do unto others as you would have done unto you.
One man’s loss is another man’s gain.
You don’t change the rules in the middle of the game.
Revenge is so sweet.
解释：
The oil executives argue that the leases should not be renegotiated because a duly executed
contract should be strictly honored. The best answer choice will reflect this argument.
(A) This is a tempting answer because the windfall from the government error is certainly an
opportunistic event that is unlike to repeat itself. However, it does not reflect the argument that the
oil executives have made justifying their opposition to renegotiating the leases and therefore is not
the best answer.
(B) The oil company executives would not agree with this answer choice: should the positions be
reversed, they would certainly not want the government to hold them to a contract that contains an
error unfavorable to them.
(C) While it is true that the taxpayers’ loss is the oil companies’ gain, this answer choice does not
reflect the argument that the oil executives have made justifying their opposition to renegotiating
the leases and therefore is not the best answer.
(D) CORRECT. The executives argue that the government should strictly honor the agreement
already in place; i.e., they should not “change the rules in the middle of the game.”
(E) While the unexpected windfall may indeed be “sweet” to the oil executives, getting “revenge”
requires that some prior injustice was inflicted by the government upon the oil companies. There
is nothing in the passage that indicates or implies such.
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6 月 20 日 GWD 讲稿
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8.
Studies in restaurants show that the tips left by customers who pay their bill tend to be larger when
the bill is presented with the server’s name hand-written on the bill. Psychologists hypothesize
that simply seeing a hand-written name makes many consumers feel more of a personal
identification with the server, encouraging larger tips.
Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the psychologists’ interpretation of the
studies?
The effect noted in the studies applies to patrons paying with either credit cards or cash.
Nametags for servers have not been shown to have any effect on the size of the bill.
Greeting card companies have found that charities which send holiday cards with
handwritten signatures are more likely to receive donations than those which send cards
with printed signatures.
The studies indicated much larger average tips if the customer ordered alcoholic beverages
with his or her meal.
Many of the restaurants in which the studies were conducted are located in tourist areas,
where people are traveling for leisure activities.
解释：
This argument concerns a potential explanation for larger tips on the part of restaurant patrons.
The explanation provided is that customers are more generous toward servers that leave their
hand-written name on the bill due to a greater degree of personal identification with the server,
which encourages larger tips. The correct answer will either support the fact that a hand-written
name strengthens personal identification, or that personal identification encourages larger tips.
(A) The fact that the effect applies equally regardless of the method of payment is not relevant to
the conclusion.
(B) The argument does not address the size of the bill; rather, it addresses the size of the tip. This
choice is irrelevant.
(C) CORRECT. This answer choice provides further evidence that a hand-written name or
signature generates a greater form of personalization and emotional connection among recipients,
leading to more donations.
(D) The impact of alcoholic beverages on tipping behavior is irrelevant.
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(E) The location of the restaurants and leisure pursuits of the patrons are irrelevant to the
argument.
9.
A study of kindergarten students has shown that children from households that own many books,
an average of 54 books, show average or high reading achievement levels, while the households of
children with lower reading achievement levels tend to own fewer books, 5 books on average.
What additional information would strengthen the assertion that parents who don’t buy children’s
books to keep in the home cause their children to fall behind their peers in reading skills?
Many of the books in the homes of the high achieving readers from the study were
advanced science textbooks that were stored out of reach of the children.
When children have books of their own, they develop more advanced reading skills
because adults are more likely to read to them regularly.
The children in the study all had unlimited access to thousands of elementary school
library books.
Children whose parents buy them books feel happier about their lives.
The non-school hours of every child in the study were entirely filled with sports activities,
television watching, and playing with friends.
解释：
Because households that own more books tend to produce children with higher reading
achievement levels, it is assumed that lack of book ownership in the household prevents reading
skills from developing. To strengthen this argument, we need to show a cause-effect relationship:
that book ownership somehow made a difference in reading achievement for the children in the
study.
(A) If the high achieving readers only had access to some of the books owned by their household,
then their children’s book ownership rate was not necessarily different from the lower achieving
readers. Thus the conclusion - that owning many children's books has a positive effect on reading
skills (or that a lack of children’s books in the home has a negative effect) - is weakened.
(B) CORRECT. This information makes a link between book ownership and the development of
reading skills. It is shown that owning books has a positive effect on reading skills because adults
read these books to children, probably helping them develop their own interest in reading and
attain better reading skills.
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(C) Equal access to library books may indicate that the children in the study could all read many
of the same books at school. However, this fact neither strengthens nor weakens the conclusion
that children who own fewer books at home will lag the others in reading skills. This statement
does not provide the missing link between book ownership and reading achievement.
(D) Feeling “happier about their lives” does not necessarily lead to improved reading skills, since
it would require a very strong assumption that happier children become better readers. Remember,
the correct answer on the GMAT should not be based on additional assumptions that would be
difficult to justify. To illustrate, it is quite likely that children whose parents buy them ice cream
are happier about their lives but it is improbable that this feeling of happiness would result in a
significant difference in reading skills unless we prove that happier children become better readers.
(E) If the children in the study spent all of their free time doing non-reading activities, the number
of books owned by the household is irrelevant to the reading skills the children developed. In
other words, neither the low achieving readers nor the higher achieving readers spent any time
reading at home. Thus the conclusion - that simply owning many children’s books has a positive
effect on reading skills (or that a lack of children’s books in the home has a negative effect) - is
weakened.
10.
Surveys consistently show that the best-selling ice cream flavor is vanilla, although those who
prefer chocolate rarely order vanilla. Vanilla-flavored candy, then, probably sells better than
chocolate-flavored candy.
Which of the following is an assumption upon which the author of the argument relies?
Because someone prefers vanilla ice cream does not mean he prefers vanilla-flavored
candy.
Children who prefer vanilla ice cream also tend to like chocolate candy.
Those who prefer neither vanilla nor chocolate ice cream also prefer other flavors of
candy.
Someone who prefers vanilla ice cream may still order chocolate on occasion.
Preferences for certain ice cream flavors are similar to preferences for candy flavors.
解释：
We are given two premises based on survey results: first, vanilla is the best-selling flavor of ice
cream and, second, those who prefer chocolate usually don't order vanilla. The author concludes
that vanilla-flavored candy should sell better than chocolate-flavored candy. The author bases
this conclusion on the assumption that it is valid to extend the survey's results beyond ice cream to
include candy.
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(A) As a stand-alone, this choice makes common sense but, in the argument, it would undermine
the author's conclusion. We are asked to find an assumption upon which the author relies, which
means the correct assumption should support the author's conclusion.
(B) This choice is either irrelevant at best (the survey does not address children specifically) or
would undermine the author's conclusion, at worst. We are asked to find an assumption upon
which the author relies, which means the correct assumption should support the author's
conclusion.
(C) Preferences for flavors neither vanilla nor chocolate are outside of the scope of this argument.
(D) This choice addresses only ice cream preferences; it does not provide any information to tie
ice cream preferences to candy preferences.
(E) CORRECT. This assumption supports the author's conclusion by tying ice cream preferences
directly to candy preferences.
11.
Which of the following best completes the passage below?
In an exit poll of voters who had recently voted for governor, four-fifths said they would vote for a
gubernatorial candidate who uses a wheelchair. However, the poll may have overestimated the
proportion of voters who would vote for such a candidate, because ______________.
Some voters who would not vote for a candidate who uses a wheelchair might have
claimed to the pollster that they would.
Some voters who would vote for a candidate who uses a wheelchair may not have
accurately answered the pollster’s questions.
Some voters who said they would not vote for a candidate who uses a wheelchair also
would not vote for candidates who express certain types of beliefs.
Some people who are not registered voters also would probably not vote for a candidate
who uses a wheelchair.
Some voters who claim they would not vote for a candidate who uses a wheelchair might
vote for a candidate who uses a wheelchair if that candidate shared their beliefs.
解释：
The argument may be summarized as follows:
Exit poll: 4/5ths said they would vote for candidate who uses wheelchair
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Conclusion: poll may overestimate those who would vote for a candidate who uses a wheelchair
It is helpful before proceeding to the answer choices to attempt to anticipate the missing portion of
the argument: an unstated premise that would support our conclusion. Why would the poll have
overestimated those who would vote for a candidate who uses a wheelchair? Perhaps because
voters, wanting to look good for the pollster, were not truthful in answering the pollster’s
questions.
A: This explains why the poll would have overestimated the proportion of voters who would vote
for a candidate who uses wheelchair. Correct.
B: This choice implies that people who would vote for a candidate who uses wheelchair told the
pollster they wouldn’t, which would cause the poll to undercount, not overcount, the proportion of
voters who would vote for a candidate who uses wheelchair. Incorrect.
C: Providing additional information about people who reported that they would not vote for a
candidate who uses wheelchair does not support the conclusion that the proportion of people who
said they would vote for a candidate who uses a wheelchair was overestimated. Incorrect.
D: The conclusion is about registered voters; this statement is irrelevant. Incorrect.
E: The idea that voters who claimed that they would not vote for a candidate who uses wheelchair
might change their minds under some circumstances supports the idea that the proportion of voters
who would vote for a candidate who uses wheelchair has been undercounted, not
overcounted. Incorrect.
12.
On average, American consumers buy a new computer every four years even though older
computers are still perfectly capable of basic operations such as word processing and surfing the
Internet. This is the case despite the fact that most computers are designed to work for
approximately ten years.
The statements above, if true, best support which of the following as a conclusion?
Computers ought to be designed to break down more quickly than is presently the case.
Computers utilizing the latest technology represent substantial functional upgrades from
earlier computers.
A significant market exists for computer that are no longer used by their original owners.
Improved manufacturing techniques have led to computers lasting longer than was
possible in the past.
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American consumers are motivated to purchase new computers by some combination of
factors other than their current computer's ability to perform basic functions.
解释：
The argument identifies a situation where consumers purchase new computers every four years
despite the fact that computers are designed to operate for ten years. It also provides that older
computers are capable of basic operations.
(A) Despite the apparent mismatch between how frequently American consumers buy new
computers and how long computers are designed to last, there is no indication in the argument that
computers should be designed to break down sooner. It is possible that the situation does not
require any change, or that, if anything, American consumer behavior ought to change rather than
the way computers are designed.
(B) There is no indication as to whether computers utilizing the latest technology represent
substantial functional upgrades from earlier computers. It is possible that the functional upgrades
are incremental in nature, or that consumer behavior is determined by factors other than functional
improvements.
(C) The argument does not indicate whether or not there is a significant market for previously
owned computers. Though these computers can still be used for basic functions, it may be the
case that a market does not exist for these computers for various reasons (e.g. consumers do not
like the way old computers look).
(D) There is no indication in the argument that the lifespan of computers is the result of improved
manufacturing techniques.
(E) CORRECT. The argument states that American consumers buy a new computer on average
once every four years. This is the case despite the fact that computers last for ten years, and are
still capable of performing basic functions after four years. Thus, it must be the case that
consumers are motivated to buy new computers by a combination of factors (e.g. style,
performance, memory) other than their current computer's ability to perform basic functions.
13.
David: Fruity Circles and Sugar-Covered Wheat Squares both have the same amount of sugar in
them. Thus, both cereals are equally bad for you.
Dana: But Sugar-Covered Wheat Squares have substantially more fiber, so it is good for you,
regardless of the sugar content.
Dana responds to David by
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○ Demonstrating that David’s conclusion is not relevant to the evidence on hand.
○Challenging the plausibility of the evidence that David uses as the basis of his conclusion.
○ Suggesting that David is ignoring other mitigating factors that could be used to arrive at an
alternate conclusion.
○Reinforcing David’s conclusion by offering additional information.
○Agreeing with the David’s conclusion and finding additional information to strengthen it.
解释：
This argument, restated in very simple terms, reads as follows:
David: Offers evidence. Makes a conclusion.
Dana: Offers additional information and suggests a different conclusion.
Given this, any answer choice that suggests Dana questions the evidence, offers additional
evidence, or agrees with David’s conclusion will be incorrect.
(A) Dana does not discuss how the evidence relates to David’s conclusion.
(B) Dana does not challenge the evidence presented by David.
(C) CORRECT. Dana brings up a separate issue – that of fiber content – as a way to decide the
nutritional merit of a cereal. Given this other standard, Dana argues that Sugar-Covered
Wheat Squares would be considered healthy.
(D) As Dana disagrees with David’s conclusion, this answer can not be correct.
(E) Dana does not agree with David’s conclusion, nor does she offer information to strengthen it.
14.
The mayor of Coast Town has determined that the best way to pay for the construction of a new
library is to charge all residents and non-residents a fee for visiting Coast Town's well-regarded
beach. The mayor reasons that at current levels of visitation, the revenue generated from the
beach visitation fee will pay for the new library within three years.
Which of the following pieces of information would be most useful in evaluating the mayor’s
conclusion?
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The manner in which other towns in the state have funded the construction of their
libraries.
Whether visitors to Coast Town's beach will reduce the frequency of their visits in
response to the fee.
How many people visited Coast Town's beach last year.
How many other beaches lie within convenient driving distance from Coast Town.
The average level of household income of residents in Coast Town.
解释：
The mayor has concluded that the construction of a new library can best be financed by the
implementation of a beach visitation fee, and that the library can be paid for within three
years. This figure is arrived at based upon the current number of visitors the beach. Information
that would be useful in evaluating the conclusion would indicate whether or not the level of
visitation of Coast Town's beach will remain constant, rise, or fall if the fee is implemented.
(A) The manner in which other towns funded the construction of their own libraries is not relevant
to the mayor's conclusion that the beach visitation fee is the best way to finance the construction
of a library for Coast Town. Other towns are outside the scope of the argument.
(B) CORRECT. The response of visitors to the fee is important to determine whether or not the
mayor's conclusion is correct. It is quite possible that the number of visitors to the beach will
sharply drop, resulting in too little revenue to finance the library's construction in three years.
(C) The number of people that visited Coast Town's beach last year is irrelevant as to whether or
not the fee is the best way to finance the library's construction. It is established in the premises
that the number of visitors is enough to pay for the library within three years, if the number of
visitors stays constant.
(D) The proximity of other beaches near Coast Town may seem very relevant to the mayor's plan.
However, the argument is silent as to whether or not the other beaches near Coast Town are
free. It is possible that other beaches lie nearby, but are private or charge exorbitant fees and are
unattractive to the visitors to Coast Town's beach.
(E) The average level of household income of the residents of Coast Town is irrelevant for several
reasons. First, it is an average figure only, which would not determine how resident beach users
would be affected by the new fee. Second, even people with high incomes may be sensitive to a
new fee being implemented and change their behavior. Third, this answer choice only refers to
residents, and the argument states that non-residents also visit Coast Town's beach.
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