| Critical Reasoning Butler: December 2025 |
| December 1 | CR 1 | CR 2 |
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CR 1 Mayor: Some of my critics claim that the city’s current budget deficit has been caused by my policies, and that I am responsible for the deficit. Although I admit that
the city has run a budget deficit during my tenure, I do not agree that I am at fault for this problem. The economic policies of the prior administration caused the current deficit, and
were it not for the economic policies of my administration, the current deficit would be even worse.
In the mayor’s argument, the two boldface portions play which of the following roles?
(A) The first is a premise that has been used against the mayor; the second supports the critics of the mayor.
(B) The first is a statement accepted by the mayor; the second is a consequence of the critics’ claims.
(C) The first is a fact that the mayor believes does not contradict his conclusion; the second offers support in consideration of that conclusion.
(D) The first is evidence of unlawful activity by the mayor; the second is evidence offered by the mayor to explain that activity.
(E) The first is evidence that undermines the mayor’s main position; the second is a statement that follows from that position.
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CR 2 Casino X advertises that it has the “loosest” one-dollar slot machines in town, which means that the statistical odds of winning money playing a one-dollar slot machine are greater at Casino X than at any other casino. Meanwhile, Casino Y claims to have the loosest five-dollar slot machines in town. In any event, the statistical odds are always against any slotmachine player. Elaine has five dollars to spend on gambling and has decided to play a five-dollar slot machine at Casino Y.
Assuming Elaine hopes to win money, which of the following, if true, provides the strongest evidence that she made a good decision as to how to gamble her money?
(A) Casino Y’s total gambling revenues far exceed those of Casino X.
(B) At Casino Y, more gamblers win money playing slot machines than at any other casino game.
(C) One of the two casinos is providing accurate information about its slot machines, but the other casino is not.
(D) Each of the two casinos has both types of slot machines: one-dollar and five-dollar.
(E) Casino X and Casino Y are the only two casinos in town that claim to have the loosest slot machines of any type.