| Critical Reasoning Butler: January 2025 |
| January 28 | CR 1 | CR 2 |
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CR 1 The introduction of ladybugs into a garden ecosystem is an excellent method of protecting ornamental flowers from aphids. Unfortunately, the ladybugs will only prey on the aphids for a week before flying away, and no aphid infestation severe enough to warrant the deployment of ladybugs can be cleared in a single week. However, although synthetic pesticides are not much longer lasting, they can be easily reapplied whenever the aphids reappear. Clearly, therefore, for protecting ornamental flowers from aphids, introducing ladybugs can play no useful role.
The argument is most vulnerable to the objection that it fails to
A. consider that there might be less severe aphid infestations that can be cleared in a week
B. allow for the possibility of combining the two aphid-control methods it mentions
C. distinguish among the several varieties of synthetic pesticides
D. mention any alternative aphid control method that could be utilized in place of the rejected method
E. allow for the possibility that the introduction of insects other than ladybugs might have the same effect.
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CR 2 Environmentalist: Cod prices in our area need to be increased significantly.
The cod population in the nearby ocean has been falling for years because cod is being fished at unsustainable levels. Due to the low price of cod,
few consumers have been affected by the introduction of the hefty environmental tax on the sale of this endangered fish.
The two sections in boldface play which of the following roles in the environmentalist’s argument?
(A) The first is a conclusion that the argument provides support for, and which in turn provides support for the main conclusion; the second is the main conclusion.
(B) The first is the only conclusion; the second provides an explanation for the first.
(C) The first is an observation that the second provides an explanation for; the second is the main conclusion but not the only conclusion.
(D) The first is a premise that supports the main conclusion of the argument; so is the second.
(E) The first is the main conclusion; the second is a conclusion supported by the argument, and which in turn supports the first.