question:The amount of electricity consumed in Millville on any day in August is directly proportional to peak humidity on that day. Since the average peak humidity this August was three points higher than the average peak humidity last August, it follows that more energy was consumed in Millville this August than last August. Which one of the following arguments has a pattern of reasoning most similar to the one in the argument above? A: The amount of art supplies used in any of the Aesthetic Institute's 25 classes is directly proportional to the number of students in that class. Since in these classes the institute enrolled 20 percent more students overall last year than in the previous year, more art supplies were used in the institute's classes last year than in the previous year. B: The fees paid by a student at the Aesthetic Institute are directly proportional to the number of classes in which that student enrolls. Since the number of students at the Aesthetic Institute is increasing, it follows that the institute is collecting a greater amount if fees paid by students that it used to. C: The number of instructors employed by the Aesthetic Institute in any term is directly proportional to the number of classes offered in that term and also directly proportional to the number of students enrolled at the institute. Thus, the number of classes offered by the institute in any term is directly proportional to the number of students enrolled in that term. D: The number of new students enrolled at the Aesthetic Institute in any given year is directly proportional to the amount of advertising the institute has done in the previous year. Hence, if the institute seeks to increase its student body it must increase the amount it spends on advertising. Choose A, B, C or D as your solution.

question:Fastfood restaurants make up 45 percent of all restaurants in Cantaria. Customers at these restaurants tend to be young; in fact, studies have shown that the older people get, the less likely they are to eat in fastfood restaurants. Since the average age of the Canatrian population is gradually rising and will continue to do so, the number of fastfood restaurants is likely to decrease. Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument? A: As the population of Canatria gets older, more people are eating at home. B: The overall population of Canatria is growing steadily. C: Fastfood restaurants in Canatria are getting bigger, so each one can serve more customers. D: Many people who rarely eat in fastfood restaurants nevertheless eat regularly in restaurants. Choose A, B, C or D as your solution.

question:f Suarez is not the most qualified of the candidates for sheriff, then Anderson is. Thus, if the most qualified candidate is elected and Suarez is not elected, then Anderson will be. The reasoning in which one of the following is most similar to the reasoning in the argument above? A: If Perez is not the lowest bidder on the catering contract, then Sullivan is. So if Sullivan does not get the contract and Perez does not get it either, then it will not be awarded to the lowest bidder. B: If the excavation contract does not go to the lowest bidder, then it will go to Caldwell. So if Qiu gets the contract and Caldwell does not, then the contract will have been awarded to the lowest bidder. C: If the lowest bidder on the sanitation contract is not Dillon, then it is Ramsey. So if the contract goes to the lowest bidder and it does not go to Dillon, then it will go to Ramsey. D: If Kapshaw is not awarded the landscaping contract, then Johnson will be. So if the contract goes to the lowest bidder and it does not go to Johnson, then it will go to Kapshaw. Choose A, B, C or D as your solution.

question:Twelve years ago and again five years ago, there were extended periods when the Darfir Republic' s currency, the pundra, was weak: its value was unusually low relative to the world' s most stable currencies. Both times a weak pundra made Darfir' s manufactured products a bargain on world markets, and Darfir' s exports were up substantially. Now some politicians are saying that, in order to cause another similarly sized increase in exports, the government should allow the pundra to become weak again. Which of the following, if true, provides the government with the strongest grounds to doubt that the politicians' recommendation, if followed, will achieve its aim? A: Several of the politicians now recommending that the pundra be allowed to become weak made that same recommendation before each of the last two periods of currency weakness. B: A sharp improvement in the efficiency of Darfir's manufacturing plants would make Darfir's products a bargain on world markets even without any weakening of the pundra relative to other currencies. C: The economy of a country experiencing a rise in exports will become healthier only if the country's currency is strong or the rise in exports is significant. D: After several decades of operating well below peak capacity, Darfir's manufacturing sector is now operating at nearpeak levels. Choose A, B, C or D as your solution.