| Critical Reasoning Butler: April 2025 |
| April 9 | CR 1 | CR 2 |
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CR 1 Last year the total amount of bonuses offered by Xio Technologies reached a historic peak. Now, many wonder if this year will see a new record. All bonuses are given either to existing employees during their annual appraisals or to new, as a joining bonus. This year, the management has not been as generous in awarding annual bonuses as it was last year. Moreover, this year’s recruitment calendar indicates that the number of new employees joining the firm will be lower this year than it was the previous year, and
new recruits this year will definitely receive no higher joining bonus per employee than did those who joined last year. Hence, it can be established that
the total amount of bonuses distributed this year will not outdo last year’s record.
In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?
(A) The first is an objection rejected by the argument; the second is the argument’s main conclusion.
(B) The first is an objection rejected by the argument; the second presents a conclusion that could be drawn if that objection were allowed to stand.
(C) The first is a claim advanced to support a position opposed by the argument; the second is a claim advanced to support the argument’s main conclusion.
(D) The first is a prediction that, if accurate, would support the argument’s main conclusion; the second is that main conclusion.
(E) The first is a prediction that, if accurate, would support the argument’s main conclusion; the second is a conclusion the argument draws to support that main conclusion.
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CR 2 Medical article: Detailed psychological interviews with hundreds of physicians have shown that those who rated their attitude towards patients highly also reported higher levels of job satisfaction. This finding suggests that a better attitude towards patients helps physicians avoid circumstances that can lower job satisfaction.
In evaluating how strong the article’s argument is, it would be most useful to know whether
A. physicians rate their attitude towards patients higher than a professional assessment from their superiors would
B. physicians’ assessment of their own attitude towards patients may be influenced by factors they are ignorant of
C. physicians’ rating of their attitude towards patients tends to fall for some time during interactions with uncooperative patients
D. low job satisfaction has a significant negative impact on physicians’ attitude towards patients
E. beyond a certain level, maintaining a good attitude towards patients tends to lower physicians’ job satisfaction