| Critical Reasoning Butler: March 2025 |
| March 19 | CR 1 | CR 2 |
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CR 1 Many health experts have recently suggested that plastic water bottles begin to break down over time, releasing a chemical called bisphenol A that can cause heightened risks of diabetes and cancer. The experts found that this breakdown usually begins a year into the bottle’s use. Thus, people should stop using plastic water bottles after a year.
Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the conclusion above?
A. The health experts found that among those using plastic bottles that had begun to release bisphenol A, the incidence of diabetes and cancer was no higher than among people who did not.
B. The health experts did not investigate the possible effects of other chemicals used in making plastic bottles, such as epoxy resins.
C. The health experts failed to determine why the breakdown of the plastic usually began only after the bottles had been in use for a year.
D. The health experts found that bottles stored in cool, safe places were as likely to break down and release bisphenol A as were bottles that were stored in hot places and subject to physical damage.
E. The health experts found that after eighteen months of use, greater length of the usage of a water bottle did not correlate with a higher level of bisphenol A being present.
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CR 2 Purebred Derby horses, horses with unmixed lineage, are highly prized as racehorses and are bred and sold by specialized ranchers. Unfortunately, purebred Derby horses are susceptible to genetically induced orthopedic conditions that can severely limit their racing capabilities. Ranchers plan to reassure worried buyers by testing all horses for signs of such conditions before selling them. However, these conditions are not typically detectable until the horse is at least a year old. And many purebred Derby horses are sold before they are nine months old.
Which of the following actions, if taken by the ranchers, could logically be expected to overcome the problem with their plan to test for genetic orthopedic conditions?
A. Making a public announcement that purebred Derby horses less than a year old cannot be effectively tested for orthopedic conditions.
B. Requiring all purebred Derby horses less than one year old to be marked as such.
C. Researching potential methods for testing orthopedic conditions in purebred Derby horses younger than one year.
D. Recommending to potential buyers, horses with mixed lineage that have been negatively tested for genetically induced orthopedic conditions.
E. Not selling purebred Derby horses before they are one year old.