| Critical Reasoning Butler: August 2025 |
| August 23 | CR 1 | CR 2 |
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CR 1 Because they can craft objects of a new design without having extrusion fittings custom-designed for that purpose,
3D printers have an application in building prototypes of new models of objects long before those new models are on production lines, and it was on this basis that they first captured the interest of the market. However, suitability for prototyping does not limit 3D printers to prototyping, and in fact their capability to craft items without specialized fittings for each design can allow them, in essence, to be the production line.
3D printers have this natural application to mass-production in part because they can produce items at a cost competitive with that of production lines.
In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?
A. The first and the second each describe evidence that has been used to challenge the position that the argument seeks to establish.
B. The first is evidence that forms the basis for an objection to the position that the argument seeks to establish; the second is that position.
C. The first is evidence that forms the basis for an objection to the position that the argument seeks to establish; the second is a consideration that is introduced to counter the force of that evidence.
D. The first and the second each provide evidence in support of the position that the argument seeks to establish.
E. The first provides evidence in support of the position that the argument seeks to establish; the second is that position.
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CR 2 Which of the following most logically completes the argument?
Loans extended from banks to individuals can allow individuals to take well-measured financial risks or pay off existing debts that carry higher interest rates. However, more aggressive banks extend freely to individuals loans that are too large for those individuals to pay back foreseeably, causing other problems. Therefore, the creation of a new department to monitor and restrict banks would benefit public well-being, since _______________.
A. the new department would aim to restrict only aggressive lending
B. aggressive banks cause individuals to establish less overall debt than credit card companies do
C. other banks, while not aggressive, may still ultimately extend more total dollars in loans to individuals than aggressive banks
D. the loans of aggressive banks to borrowers other than individuals, such as businesses, can also cause problems
E. other measures to curb aggressive banks might have the inadvertent effect of preventing deserving individuals from getting the loans they need