| Critical Reasoning Butler: July 2026 |
| July 24 | CR 1 | CR 2 |
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CR 1 Accountant: This company simply cannot afford to hire a new salesperson.With salespeople we not only incur the salary and healthcare costs, but also the costs of a new computer, a business cell phone plan, and mileage reimbursement for driving to sales appointments. This new salesperson could raise our monthly expenses by a full 10%.
Which of the following, if true, most undermines the accountant’s argument?
A. The cost of a computer is a one-time cost and would therefore not affect the company’s recurring monthly expenses.
B. Many sales appointments can be conducted via free video conferencing software, thereby reducing the expenses related to mileage reimbursement.
C. The company’s closest competitor employs nearly twice as many salespeople.
D. Because of the demand for the company’s products, a new salesperson is likely to account for several times as much revenue as the cost of employing her.
E. The company will not be able to reduce its existing expenses by enough to counterbalance the costs of a new salesperson.
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CR 2 A television news network has recently been criticized for failing to give as much time to individuals who do not believe climate change is occurring as they do to scientists who believe climate change is occurring, even though the network does give equal time to all sides of the debates over immigration, tax reform, and gun policy. The network claims that they only give equal time to both sides of a debate when one side cannot be definitively proven by existing scientific research.
Which of the following can be correctly inferred from the information given above?
A. The television news network believes that it is important to avoid debate on scientific discoveries.
B. There are no effective counter arguments against climate change that might sway viewers to believe that climate change is not occurring.
C. The television news network believes that the existence of climate change has been definitely proven by existing scientific research.
D. No individuals who spoke on the network and who did not believe climate change was occurring were scientists.
E. If the news network gave the same time it gave to scientists to individuals who don’t believe in climate change, it would increase its ratings.