| Critical Reasoning Butler: August 2026 |
| August 4 | CR 1 | CR 2 |
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CR 1 Carbon pollution from the burning of fossil fuels has contributed to the warming of the planet, which has melted ice in the Arctic Circle and unearthed caves and waterways that were previously inaccessible due to ice. Scientists researching these areas have found stores of carbon that had been trapped in the permafrost of these caves, and that are now being spread into the atmosphere by bacteria as the permafrost melts.
Which of the following can best be concluded by the information above?
A. The rate at which carbon is being released into the atmosphere is increasing.
B. Previously frozen carbon from permafrost will someday pose more of a threat to the environment than the carbon released from the burning of fossil fuels.
C. The amount of carbon being released into the atmosphere cannot be determined simply by calculating the amount of fossil fuel being burned.
D. The amount of carbon released into the atmosphere will increase until humans stop burning fossil fuels.
E. The amount of carbon released into the atmosphere from melting permafrost is about equal to the amount released from the burning of fossil fuels.
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CR 2 An analysis of the XO Candy Corporation divided its products into two categories: chocolate-based candies and non-chocolate-based candies. The analysis shows that, unlike the non-chocolate candies, few chocolate candies sold enough units to be profitable. Nevertheless, stopping production of the unprofitable chocolate candies will not necessarily make the entire company more profitable, because__________________ .
Which of the following most logically completes the passage?
(A) a large proportion of XO’s customers are those who initially bought XO’s chocolate candies and eventually went on to buy other candies made by XO.
(B) XO has recently removed its two lowest-selling chocolate candies from their product line and replaced them with different types of chocolate candies.
(C) the recipes of the chocolate candies date from the 19th century, while the non-chocolate candies were all developed more recently.
(D) the chocolate candies are distributed differently than the non-chocolate candies, as chocolates are more popular on the coasts.
(E) fewer people eat candy at all than they did a decade ago because of growing concern about obesity.