| Critical Reasoning Butler: September 2025 |
| October 29 | CR 1 | CR 2 |
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CR 1 In the previous decade, tea-leaf growers in developing countries have put together a new model for the production of quality tea within a Fair Trade framework.
However, the cost of tea leaf production under such conditions is significantly higher than in other, less socially-aware business models. This fact may cause many distributors in developed countries to avoid undertaking the new model in order to cut down costs.
Fortunately, as social awareness is becoming a decisive factor in the product choice of consumers in developed countries, tea growers working according to the Fair Trade model are expected to be increasingly more desirable business partners.In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?
A. The first and the second both provide information which contradicts the opinion favored by the argument.
B. The first introduces a development that the argument predicts will have a certain outcome; the second acknowledges a consideration that may weigh against that prediction.
C. The first is the central prediction of the argument; the second provides evidence which contradicts that prediction.
D. The first is the central prediction of the argument; the second is another possible prediction based on new information.
E. The first provides information which leads to the argument's first prediction; the second provides further information to support that prediction.
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CR 2 A rise in the price of raw materials has recently caused hardship for glass manufacturers. A method of firing experienced workers and keeping those with the lowest salaries has been adopted by a number of companies, supposedly in order to contend with the economical difficulties. There is strong evidence that the raw materials will soon return to their former price, but before then,
companies will have lowered the quality of their products, and therefore reduced their sales value, by employing inexperienced workers.
It is unwise for glass manufacturers to filter the employment of workers by the lowest required salary.In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?
A. The first is evidence that has been used to support the argument's position; the second is that position.
B. The first is the result of an action opposed by the argument's position; the second is evidence which further supports that position.
C. The first is the prediction of the outcome of an action that the argument's conclusion opposes; the second is that conclusion.
D. The first describes a situation in order to challenge the position that the argument seeks to establish; the second is that position.
E. The first is a prediction that has been used as support for the argument's position; the second is an objection to that position.