| Critical Reasoning Butler: August 2025 |
| August 19 | CR 1 | CR 2 |
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CR 1 Following a period of lingering malaise after a recent remarkable economic upturn in the solar-powered energy sector, Company X, a major maker of solar-powered generators, claimed that its rapid upturn resulted from the inventory still on hand in its warehouse.
Which of the following, if it could be carried out, would be most useful in evaluating the company’s hypothesis as to the causes of its rapid economic upturn?
A. Comparing the length of the economic downturn experienced by Company X to the length of the upturn later experienced by Company X
B. Comparing the rapidity of the economic upturn for Company X to that of other major makers of solar-powered generators, which did not have inventory on hand
C. Calculating the average sales increases within the individual business units of Company X
D. Comparing the total number of solar-powered generator sales by Company X just before the economic upturn to the total number of solar-powered generator sales by Company X just after the economic upturn
E. Using economic theory to predict the most likely date of the next economic upturn for Company X
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CR 2 In 1994, TipTop Airlines reported an increase in the total number of passengers it carried from the year before, but a decrease in total revenues — even though prices for its tickets on all routes remained unchanged during the two-year period.
Which of the following, if true, best reconciles the apparent paradox described above?
A. TipTop Airlines was a victim of a mild recession in 1994.
B. Total passenger miles were up in 1994.
C. Fuel costs remained constant during the two-year period.
D. Passengers traveled shorter (and thus less expensive) distances in 1994.
E. TipTop did not buy any new airplanes or equipment in 1994.