| Critical Reasoning Butler: November 2025 |
| November 14 | CR 1 | CR 2 |
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CR 1 An artist who sells her paintings for a fixed price decides that she must increase her income. Because she does not believe that customers will pay more for her paintings, she decides to cut costs by using cheaper paints and canvases. She expects that, by cutting costs, she will increase her profit margin per painting and thus increase her annual net income.
Which of the following, if true, most weakens the argument above?
(A) Other area artists charge more for their paintings than the artist charges for hers.
(B) The artist has failed to consider other options, such as renting cheaper studio space.
(C) The artist’s plan will result in the production of inferior paintings which, in turn, will cause a reduction in sales.
(D) If the economy were to enter a period of inflation, the artist’s projected increase in income could be wiped out by increases in the price of art supplies.
(E) The artist considered trying to complete paintings more quickly and thus increase production, but concluded that it would be impossible.
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CR 2 Because of a quality control problem, a supplier of flu vaccines will not be able to ship any supplies of the vaccine for the upcoming flu season. This will create a shortage of flu vaccines and result in a loss of productivity as workers call in sick.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument above?
(A) The quality control problem of the supplier is not as severe as some experts had initially predicted.
(B) Other suppliers of flu vaccine have not been affected by the quality control problem.
(C) Last year there was also a shortage of flu vaccine available.
(D) The price of flu vaccines is expected to fall in the next ten years.
(E) The flu season is expected to last longer than usual this year.