| Critical Reasoning Butler: June 2026 |
| June 4 | CR 1 | CR 2 |
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CR 1 Landlord: Lead-based paint is the cause of many respiratory infections for our tenants, ranging from persistent coughs to even the onset of emphysema and lung cancer. In addition to the suffering of our residents, the lead-based paint in our buildings exposes us to the threat of lawsuits, which could jeopardize the building entirely and has already forced us to divert property-improvement funds to pay for a legal retainer. Because of the threat that lead paint poses to our community, we should therefore treat each affected wall with a coat of sealant.
Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the landlord’s argument?
(A) Exposure to lead-based paint is particularly harmful to infants, children, and the elderly, groups that make up a disproportionate percentage of the building’s tenants.
(B) Removing lead-based paint is a less costly option than is paying to litigate or settle tenant claims of negligence.
(C) Sealing lead-based paint prevents lead chips and dust from being released into the air and vents, where it is most easily breathed by tenants.
(D) Every unit in the building has at least one wall that has been painted with lead-based paint.
(E) Other nearby buildings that have removed lead paint from their walls have reported massive decreases in the incidence of respiratory problems among tenants.
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CR 2 Hiker: With the storm approaching quickly we need to make a decision on how to proceed. We can try to descend the mountain to seek shelter, but then we will undo our progress and lose our chance to reach the summit – and we may not make it all the way down, anyway. We can continue on our current course and hope that the storm misses us or passes quickly, but doing so risks a true disaster. So we should bivouac here, using the time before the storm to set up a safe, secure camp to weather the elements.
The hiker’s argument does which of the following?
A. Claims that her decision is the only logical course of action.
B. Chooses a course of action based on experience in similar situations.
C. Makes a unilateral decision by dismissing the recommendations of others.
D. Recommends a choice based on the elimination of alternative options.
E. Outlines the risks and benefits of all available courses of action.