| Critical Reasoning Butler: January 2025 |
| January 15 | CR 1 | CR 2 |
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CR 1 As part of a study conducted by the Lexington University’s Psychology Department, two groups of volunteers from the university’s classical music program performed Claude Debussy’s Claire de Luna. Then, one group was provided verbal feedback in a jovial tone, while the other was provided verbal feedback in a neutral tone. Some volunteers, chosen randomly from each group, were then encouraged to enjoy a warm beverage of their choice. Among those who received verbal feedback in a neutral tone, those who accepted a beverage were significantly less likely to volunteer for another, similar experiment than those who did not accept a beverage. The researchers concluded that some of the volunteers chose not to volunteer again, partly because they received feedback in a neutral tone.
Which of the following would, if true, most help to support the researchers' conclusion?
A. Among the volunteers who received feedback in a jovial tone, those who accepted a beverage were significantly less likely to volunteer for another, similar experiment than those who did not accept a beverage.
B. Just as many volunteers from one group were encouraged to enjoy warm beverages as from another group.
C. Most of the volunteers encouraged to enjoy a beverage accepted one.
D. The volunteers were not more disposed to drinking warm beverages under typical circumstances than the general population was.
E. Those who received feedback in a jovial tone were, on average, more likely to volunteer for another, similar experiment than those who received feedback in a neutral tone were.
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CR 2 Looking to improve student performance in the suburb of Backport, the Mayor of Grantsville has decided to initiate a series of improvement projects for the three public schools that serve the suburb. The Mayor plans to fund these improvements over the course of the next four years by raising property taxes in the neighboring suburb of Gadsen. Although these improvements are surely needed, the Mayor’s plan to fund them should be rejected because it would unfairly force the residents of Gadsen to absorb the entire cost of initiatives from which they receive no benefit.
Which of the following, if true, would provide the Mayor with the strongest counter to the objection that her plan is unfair?
A. Even with the proposed tax increase, property taxes in Gadsen would remain less than property taxes levied in most of the other suburbs of the city.
B. The public schools that serve the suburb of Gadsen are overcrowded and residents of the suburb benefit when some families choose to send their children to schools in neighboring suburbs.
C. The residents of Gadsen benefit from the commuter roads leading to the city center, and the maintenance of these roads is funded out of general income tax revenues from both Backport and Gadsen.
D. Any attempt to finance the improvements by raising property taxes in Backport would result in fewer families with school-going children moving to Backport and so would be at least partially self-defeating.
E. The only alternative way to fund the proposed improvement initiatives now being considered is through a regional income tax surcharge, which would affect the residents of Backport and the residents of Gadsen alike.