| Critical Reasoning Butler: April 2025 |
| April 14 | CR 1 | CR 2 |
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CR 1 A study of energy consumption revealed that homeowners living within 100 miles of the Gulf of Mexico used less energy from November 1 to April 30 than did homeowners in any other region of the United States. The same study found that from May 1 to October 31, those same homeowners used more energy than any other homeowners.
Which of the following, if true, would most contribute to an explanation of the facts above?
(A) People who own homes near the Gulf of Mexico often own second homes in cooler locations, where they spend the summers.
(B) Air conditioning a home is a more energy efficient process than heating a similarly sized home.
(C) Homes near the Gulf of Mexico require very little heating during the warm winters, but air conditioners must run longer in the summer to cool the warm, humid air.
(D) The average daily temperature is lower year-round near the Gulf of Mexico than in other areas of the United States.
(E) Because of the large number of refineries located in the Gulf region, the price of energy there is less than in any other area of the country.
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CR 2 Carnigan International Airport was once the busiest airport in the region, but two major airlines have relocated to nearby airports, reducing the number of fights in and out of Carnigan by more than half. The gates at Carnigan were built more than thirty years ago and cannot accommodate the largest modern aircraft. In an effort to bring in more business, Carnigan officials plan to build dozens of gates to accommodate modern aircraft and offer reduced-rate leases to airlines willing to make long-term commitments.
Which of the following, if true, most threatens the plan's likelihood of success?
(A) Most of the airlines operating out of nearby airports have long-term leases on gates at the other airports.
(B) The existing gates at Carnigan rent at rates that are, on average, much lower than the proposed rates for the new gates to be built there.
(C) Because of highway congestion and changing development patterns that make Carnigan inconvenient to access, airline customers prefer to depart from other
airports.
(D) Of the 18 airlines that serve Carnigan or nearby airports, none serve more than one airport in the area.
(E) If the proposed addition is completed, Carnigan will be the largest airport, as measured both by gates and square footage, in the region.