【每日逻辑练习第二季】【1-18】

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5. Researcher: People with certain personality disorders have more theta brain waves than those without such disorders. But my data show that the amount of one’s theta brain waves increases while watching TV. So watching too much TV increases one’s risk of developing personality disorders.
A questionable aspect of the reasoning above is that it

(A) uses the phrase “personality disorders” ambiguously

In fact, the researcher has pointed out that the “personality disorders” have more theta brain waves than those without such disorders.
(B) fails to define the phrase “theta brain waves”

It is irrelevant.
(C) takes a correlation to imply a causal connection

Yes, there is a correlation among watching TV, the amount of one’s theta brain waves, and personality disorders, but no evidence implies that the first causes the last.
(D) draws a conclusion from an unrepresentative sample of data

We do not know whether the data is unrepresentative.
(E) infers that watching TV is a consequence of a personality disorder

No, it is opposite to the argument.



69.
Excavation of the ancient city of Kourion on the island of Cyprus revealed a pattern of debris and collapsed buildings typical of towns devastated by earthquakes. Archaeologists have hypothesized that the destruction was due to a major earthquake known to have occurred near the island in A.D. 365.
Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the archaeologists' hypothesis?

(A) Bronze ceremonial drinking vessels that are often found in graves dating from years preceding and following A.D. 365 were also found in several graves near Kourion.

Bronze ceremonial drinking vessels dating from years preceding and following A.D.365 weakens the hypothesis.
(B) No coins minted after A.D. 365 were found in Kourion, but coins minted before that year were found in abundance.

Yes, in this case, the age of the coins reveals that a disaster probably happened in A.D.365, ruining the normal transaction in Kourion. BA
(C) Most modern histories of Cyprus mention that an earthquake occurred near the island in A.D. 365.

Even though there was an earthquake occurred near the island in A.D.365, the earthquake would not be the real cause for the devastation.
(D) Several small statues carved in styles current in Cyprus in the century between A.D. 300 and 400 were found in Kourion.

This is similar to A.
(E) Stone inscriptions in a form of the Greek alphabet that was definitely used in Cyprus after A.D. 365 were found in Kourion.

Stone inscriptions after A.D.365 are outside the scope of the argument.



70.
According to a review of 61 studies of patients suffering from severely debilitating depression, a large majority of the patients reported that missing a night's sleep immediately lifted their depression. Yet sleep-deprivation is not used to treat depression even though the conventional treatments, which use drugs and electric shocks, often have serious side effects.
Which of the following, if true, best explains the fact that sleep-deprivation is not used as a treatment for depression?

(A) For a small percentage of depressed patients, missing a night's sleep induces a temporary sense of euphoria.

Only a small percentage of depressed patients get benefit from miss a night’s sleep.
(B) Keeping depressed patients awake is more difficult than keeping awake people who are not depressed.

Keeping depressed patients awake is irrelevant.
(C) Prolonged loss of sleep can lead to temporary impairment of judgment comparable to that induced by consuming several ounces of alcohol.

Even though this answer points out a disadvantage of prolonged loss of sleep, a suitable loss of sleep may not have this disadvantage.

Is the disadvantage of prolonged loss of sleep related to the treatment for depression?

Besides, this answer choice assumes that the temporary impairment of judgment is worse than depression. But no evidence has been provided.
(D) The dramatic shifts in mood connected with sleep and wakefulness have not been traced to particular changes in brain chemistry.

The answer seems to weaken the argument, but even though the dramatic shifts in mood have not been traced, there is no evidence provided to reveal that sleep-deprivation has no advantage.
(E) Depression returns in full force as soon as the patient sleeps for even a few minutes.

Yes, in this case, it points out a disadvantage of sleep-deprivation. Since people need to sleep, while causing the full return of depression, the sleep-deprivation is useless. BA

1. Depression returns in full force as soon as the patient sleeps for even a few minutes.
2. A large majority of the patients reported that missing a night's sleep immediately lifted their depression

These statements are perfectly consistent with each other: a sleepless night keeps depression at bay, but, as soon as the person does sleep again -- whenever that might be -- the depression comes back.

71.
In many corporations, employees are being replaced by automated equipment in order to save money. However, many workers who lose their jobs to automation will need government assistance to survive, and the same corporations that are laying people off will eventually pay for that assistance through increased taxes and unemployment insurance payments.
Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the author's argument?

(A) Many workers who have already lost their jobs to automation have been unable to find new jobs.

Yes, in this case, unemployment rate would not decrease, thus burdening the government and the same corporations that are laying people off. BA
(B) Many corporations that have failed to automate have seen their profits decline.

The decline in profits caused by failure in automation is outside the scope of the argument.
(C) Taxes and unemployment insurance are paid also by corporations that are not automating.

This is irrelevant.
(D) Most of the new jobs created by automation pay less than the jobs eliminated by automation did.

This seems irrelevant. In fact, this will help corporations to save money, thus weakening the argument.
(E) The initial investment in machinery for automation is often greater than the short-term savings in labor costs.

But if the short-term savings in labor costs are greater than the initial investment in machinery for automation, this could weaken the argument.





72.
United States hospitals have traditionally relied primarily on revenues from paying patients to offset losses from unreimbursed care. Almost all paying patients now rely on governmental or private health insurance to pay hospital bills. Recently, insurers have been strictly limiting what they pay hospitals for the care of insured patients to amounts at or below actual costs.
Which of the following conclusions is best supported by the information above?

(A) Although the advance of technology has made expensive medical procedures available to the wealthy, such procedures are out of the reach of low-income patients.

The advance of technology is outside the scope of the argument.
(B) If hospitals do not find ways of raising additional income for unreimbursed care, they must either deny some of that care or suffer losses if they give it.

Yes, in this case, the answer choice accurately points out the probable result that hospitals would face in the future. Since their revenues from paying patients decrease, the ability of them to offset losses from unreimbursed care will be harmed. BA
(C) Some patients have incomes too high for eligibility for governmental health insurance but are unable to afford private insurance for hospital care.

The comparison between governmental health insurance and private insurance for hospital care is irrelevant.
(D) If the hospitals reduce their costs in providing care, insurance companies will maintain the current level of reimbursement, thereby providing more funds for unreimbursed care.

No evidence provided by the argument suggests this result.
(E) Even though philanthropic donations have traditionally provided some support for the hospitals, such donations are at present declining.

It may be true, but irrelevant.