| Critical Reasoning Butler: November 2025 |
| November 27 | CR 1 | CR 2 |
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CR 1 In the sport of maxiball, in which the objective is to score more goals than the opposing team, each team member faces off against one member of the other team. The coach for the Panthers predicts victory over the Cougars in an upcoming match between these two maxiball teams.
The chief reason for the coach’s prediction is that the Cougars’ best defensive player will not be defending against Fonsica, who is the Panthers’ highest scoring player.
Which of the following, if true, would cast most doubt on the prediction made by the Panthers’ coach?
(A) The Panthers have defeated fewer opponents than the Cougars this year.
(B) Fonsica is the Panther’s best defensive player.
(C) The Panthers’ best defensive player will not be defending against the Cougars’ highest scoring player.
(D) Fonsica is not the Panthers’ best defensive player.
(E) The Cougars’ highest scoring player will not be defending against Fonsica.
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CR 2 Theme-park spokesperson: We regret that four visitor fatalities occurred last year in separate accidents at our company’s theme parks. All four deaths involved roller coasters on which riders stand rather than sit, and all victims were children under age 12. We have since closed down all of our “standing” roller coasters, and our new policies prohibit any child under age 12 from riding any of our coasters. I can confidently state that all coasters currently operating at our parks are perfectly safe for
any person age 12 or older.
Which of the following investigations would be most useful in evaluating the spokesperson’s safety assessment of the roller coasters currently operating at the company’s parks?
(A) Surveying park visitors to determine the extent to which they are concerned about their safety when riding roller coasters
(B) Determining the specific cause of death in the case of each of the four roller-coaster accidents
(C) Comparing industry-wide safety records for “standing” roller coasters to safety records for coasters in which riders sit
(D) Scrutinizing the repair and maintenance records for the roller coasters involved in the fatal accidents
(E) Determining the incidence of nonfatal accidents involving all roller coasters at the company’s parks that are currently in operation