| Critical Reasoning Butler: April 2025 |
| April 16 | CR 1 | CR 2 |
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CR 1 People with health insurance are drastically more likely to seek a second opinion, after being examined by a qualified physician. Proportionally, more people in the 40-60 year age range have health insurance than in the 20-40 year range. Yet, oddly enough, the latest records show that people in the 40-60 year age range are no more likely to seek a second opinion than are those in the 20-40 age range.
Of the following, which, if true, best resolves the paradox seen above?
A. People with no health insurance were more likely to buy health insurance if they were over the age of 40 than if they were under that age.
B. Some people in the 20-40 age range have health insurance that covers more ailments than do some people in the 40-60 age range.
C. People generally do not seek a second opinion, unless it is from a physician more qualified than the one who first examined them.
D. Among all people with health insurance, the proportion of adults who sought second opinions declined in the last few years.
E. People who believe they are too young to acquire health issues are more likely than others to seek a second opinion.
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CR 2 Looking to increase profits during a prolonged period of stagnated sales, the largest garment manufacturer in Britain has downsized the production staff of its factories. Although this strategy is inconsistent with the normal relationship between manpower and productivity, the manufacturer is confident that it will succeed.
The manufacturers' plan to increase profit margins relies on which of the following assumptions?
A. Garment manufacturers, out of necessity, reduce production staff whenever they do not have any new products to make.
B. The smaller garment manufacturers will continue taking away a large percentage of the largest manufacturer’s business.
C. Lower prices and more durable materials will attract many price-conscious consumers.
D. It will not be overly expensive for the manufacturer to install new factory safety regulations that will soon become mandatory for the garment industry.
E. The expenses saved by reducing the production staff will more than compensate for any decline in profit caused by lowered productivity.