LNAT CRITICAL

REASONING

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 LNAT Critical Reasoning

Critical Reasoning
Critical Reasoning Topic 6: Paradox

1. Greek tragedy, one of the enduring pillars of our belief system, dramatized the concept that the misfortune a
person suffers is not an accident, but rather a logical outcome of flaws in that person’s nature; the misfortune is
thus that person’s “fault.” Nonetheless, today the public broadly supports bankruptcy protection, family welfare
and other “social safety net” programs that shield the destitute in the face of their hardships, at taxpayer expense.
Which of the following, if true, would best resolve the paradox in the statements above?
A. The ancient Greeks had few, if any, such social safety net programs in their society.
B. The majority of the public is more familiar with the works of Shakespeare than those of Greek tragedy.
C. Some people insist that society, not the individual, is to blame for most accidents.
D. Many people in financial difficulties feel too ashamed to declare bankruptcy or to take advantage of other social
safety net programs.
E. The religions practiced by most people today strongly encourage people to contribute to charities that assist
innocent people injured in natural disasters, such as hurricanes.
2. A certain pharmaceutical firm recently developed a new medicine, Dendadrine, that provides highly effective
treatment of severe stomach disorders that were previously thought to be incurable. However, to develop the new
medicine, the company spent nearly $5 billion in research and development costs. Given the size of the market for
Dendadrine and the amount of the initial investment in its development, the company would need to sell Dendadrine
at a price that is at least 5 times greater than its variable costs just to break even. Yet the company’s management
claims that Dendadrine will soon become the major driver of the firm’s profits. Which of the following statements
best reconciles the management’s claim with the evidence on the expenditures associated with the development
of Dendadrine?
A. The pharmaceutical firm has been granted a patent to become the sole producer and distributor of Dendadrine,
and drugs under patent protection typically sell at prices that are at least 10 times greater than their variable
costs.
B. Development of some pharmaceutical products involves substantial initial expenditures on research, testing, and
approval.
C. In issues related to personal health, corporate profits should not become the primary consideration.
D. Several other pharmaceutical companies are working on new medicines that may become effective substitutes for
Dendadrine.
E. While Dendadrine can be highly effective in treating stomach disorders, it may also result in serious side effects
such as dizziness and hallucinations.

3. Small community hospitals in poor urban areas almost always operate at a loss due to an unfortunate cycle of
factors. High revenue specialists, such as surgeons, flock to hospitals that are more prestigious and can afford to
pay higher salaries. Aware of this, local residents patronize the more affluent nearby hospitals when they need
specialty care or forgo care entirely, while only utilizing the local hospital for low-margin routine care. Further, a
significant majority of the community uses government health plans, which reimburse poorly for routine care, or
lacks insurance entirely and cannot pay. The local hospital then loses money and cannot afford to hire specialists
to conduct the higher-margin specialty care. Which of the following, if it could be accomplished, would best help
small community hospitals to break the pattern described above?
A. Negotiate higher reimbursement rates for specialty care with both government health plans and private insurers.
B. Advertise the hospital’s specialty care services in the local community as well as nearby communities to attract
more business.
C. Partner with a nearby affluent hospital to contract its specialists on a part-time, as-needed basis, which is more
affordable than hiring these specialists full time.
D. Launch a community outreach campaign to educate the public about the low reimbursement rates of government
health plans compared with the high rates paid by private insurers.
E. Negotiate with private insurers for higher reimbursement rates for routine care.
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4. The climbing season of 2006 was the deadliest on record for those attempting to conquer Mount Everest, the
world’s tallest mountain, as more people perished attempting to reach the summit in 2006 than in any other year.
Interestingly, most mountaineering experts attribute the high number of fatalities, almost all of which occurred in
the unforgiving “death-zone” above 26,000 feet, directly to the exceptionally good weather prevalent during the
2006 climbing season. Which of the following, if true, best helps to explain the conclusion of the mountaineering
experts?
A. All of the forecasts were for extremely bad weather; the good weather was a significant surprise to all of the
climbers.
B. The good weather prompted significantly more people than ever to try to reach the summit and enter the “death-
zone,” many of whom would have turned back at a lower altitude in poorer weather.
C. The good weather caused the “death-zone” to have warmer temperatures and less intense winds than in recent
years.
D. Modern equipment is particularly effective in protecting climbers from the elements in bad weather.
E. Many accomplished climbers don’t attempt Mt. Everest during good weather because they feel it is not a challenge.
5. The exchange rate between the currency of Country X and that of Country Y has historically favored the currency
of Country Y. Because of this, citizens of Country Y often take their vacations in Country X, where the exchange rate
makes hotels and restaurants more affordable. Yet, citizens of Country Y rarely purchase clothing or electronics in
Country X, despite the fact that those items are more expensive in their home country, even when sales taxes are
taken into account. Which of the following, if true, would best explain the buying habits of the citizens of Country
Y?
A. Citizens of Country Y prefer the fashions available in their own country.
B. Stores in Country X receive the latest fashions and technology several months after they are available in Country
Y.
C. The citizens of Country X resent the buying power of the currency of Country Y.
D. The government of Country Y imposes tariffs on imported goods.
E. The currencies of Country X and Country Y are both weak compared to the currency of Country Z.

6. When Bob’s Bistro opened in the town of Montrose last year, the proprietors of Andrew’s Eatery, the only other
restaurant in town, feared that their business would suffer. Surprisingly though, in the past year the average
number of meals per day served at Andrew’s Eatery has actually increased significantly. Which of the following, if
true, provides the best explanation for this occurrence?
A. The meals at Andrew’s Eatery are substantially lower in price than those offered at Bob’s Bistro.
B. Bob’s Bistro is closed on Sundays, and so for Sunday brunch residents of Montrose would either go to Andrew’s
Eatery or venture to a neighboring town.
C. The profit per meal is higher, on average, at Bob’s Bistro than it is at Andrew’s Eatery.
D. Bob’s Bistro attracts a large number of patrons that had never dined in Montrose before, and on many days Bob’s
Bistro attracts more customers than it can seat.
E. Andrew’s Eatery serves considerably more meals on weekends than it does on weekdays, which is not the case at
Bob’s Bistro.

7. On average, residents of City X devote a greater percentage of their yearly incomes to housing costs than do
residents of City Y, though the costs of insurance and fuel generally are exorbitant in both commuter-heavy cities.
Yet in Wealth Magazine’s annual list of the country’s least affordable cities, City Y is deemed less affordable than
City X. Which of the following, if true, best explains the contrast described above?
A. A greater percentage of residents of City Y send their children to private schools than is the case in City X.
B. Unlike City Y, City X has an efficient and inexpensive public transportation system.
C. The average price of a new house is higher in City X than in City Y.
D. A number of high-priced restaurants and boutiques have recently opened in City Y.
E. Several large businesses have recently relocated from City Y to City X.

8. Certain oil companies have been called poor corporate citizens because they have opposed government action to
limit global warming by undermining scientific research that characterizes the issue as severe. However, these
same oil companies have also invested millions of dollars in scientific research to address the long term effects of
climate change. Which of the following best explains the apparent discrepancy in the situation described above?
A. The oil companies only recently began investing in scientific research to address climate change issues.
B. The research dollars invested by the oil companies are specifically earmarked for developing practical technologies
that might be used to combat global warming.
C. The government action opposed by the oil companies would negatively impact their profits.
D. The scientific research that characterizes global warming as a severe problem has not been definitively proven.
E. The oil companies don’t believe that any scientific research related to climate change will ultimately serve their
interests.
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9. Country X contains many rivers that flow down from its high mountains. These rivers have been dammed to
harness the hydroelectric power that can be derived from this resource. More than enough power is generated
from these dams to meet the country’s energy needs. Yet, citizens of Country X often experience power shortages
or even outages. Which of the following, if true, best explains the situation described above?
A. The flow of the rivers is heavier in the spring than at other times of year.
B. Citizens of Country X rely heavily on electronic appliances in their homes.
C. Country X has not invested in alternate sources of energy.
D. Most of the electricity generated in Country X is sold to other countries.
E. Some of the most powerful rivers in Country X have yet to be dammed.
10. As a result of consumers’ increased awareness of the health risks associated with heavy consumption of red meat,
the meat of the ostrich has become increasingly popular as a low-fat, low-cholesterol alternative to beef. Accordingly,
the number of ostrich farms in the United States has nearly quadrupled since 1980, flooding markets with ostrich
products. However, the price-per-pound of ostrich meat, adjusted for inflation, has not decreased at all over the
past several years. Which of the following, if true, would best explain the steady price-per-pound of ostrich meat?
A. The demand for ostrich products has outpaced the supply.
B. Ostriches are especially difficult to breed in captivity.
C. Other types of meat, such as pork and poultry, have decreased in price over the past several years.
D. Purveyors of beef have not attempted to counter beef’s poor public image.
E. The number of supermarkets that carry ostrich meat has increased steadily since 1980.

11. Life in an urban center, with daily experiences of subways, crowded sidewalks and dense living, provides countless
opportunities for social contact and connection. Exurban life, by contrast, exists in the openness of freeways and
one-acre lots, exhibiting little that would suggest social commonality. Yet studies show that people who live in
exurbia consistently rate their feeling of connectedness to their community as strong whereas urban dwellers
more frequently express feelings of isolation. Which of the following, if true, contributes most to an explanation of
the difference in the reported feelings of connectedness between urban and exurban dwellers?
A. The cost of living in exurbia is significantly lower than that in urban areas.
B. Rates of attendance at houses of worship are much higher in exurban areas than in urban ones.
C. Exurban school districts often spend more per capita on their students than do those in urban areas.
D. The rate of violent crime is much lower in exurban areas than in urban ones.
E. Many people who live in exurbia moved there from urban areas.

12. When Americans filed their tax returns this year, the United States Treasury Department collected $315.1 billion in
tax revenue, a 13.4% increase over last year. Yet the number of tax returns filed by employees did not increase
significantly over the past year. Each of the following, if true, could explain the simultaneous increase in tax
revenue collection and the unchanged number of employee tax returns filed EXCEPT:
A. During this year, the number of women who re-entered the workforce as employees, after taking time off to raise
children, was greater than the number of people who retired from the workforce.
B. Many retired workers owed more in taxes this year due to an increase in dividends and capital gains on their stock
investments.
C. Last year, tax revenues were unusually low because the stock market experienced a marked decline, and many
taxpayers reduced their taxable income with capital losses.
D. Compared with previous years, a greater percentage of the total tax revenue this year was collected from small
businesses and corporations.
E. The employees who filed tax returns were paid higher wages this year than they were in the past, and thus owed
more to the government in taxes per person.

13. Amtown’s public schools are supported primarily by town property taxes. The town plans to eliminate the property
tax and support schools with a new four-percent sales tax on all retail items sold in town. Four percent of current
retail sales is substantially less than the amount currently collected through property taxes, but town planners
believe that adopting this plan will not have a negative impact on the funds available for the town’s public schools
because . Which of the following most logically completes the argument?
A. a new shopping center that will draw shoppers from neighboring towns will open this year in Amtown
B. many Amtown residents are planning to leave town due to high property taxes
C. a number of parents who currently send their children to Amtown’s public schools do not pay property taxes.
D. the sales tax in neighboring towns is much higher than four percent
E. Amtown was recently featured in a magazine as one of the top 10 weekend getaways from a nearby city.
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14. In recent years, the Holdsville Transportation Authority (HTA) has noted consistent delays on its Holdsville-River
Valley bus, which runs from downtown Holdsville to the suburb of River Valley. In order to decrease the commuting
time from Holdsville to River Valley, the HTA recently eliminated the James Street stop on the Holdsville-River
Valley line. However, data show that the average commuting time from Holdsville to River Valley has actually
increased since the elimination of the stop. Which of the following provides the best explanation for the increase
in commuting time from Holdsville to River Valley?
A. Almost all of the commuters who previously used the James Street stop now use the adjacent Green Street stop,
causing overcrowding and excessive boarding and de-boarding delays at the Green Street stop.
B. A small percentage of the commuters who previously used the James Street stop now use alternate modes of
transportation to commute from Holdsville to River Valley.
C. 90% of Holdsville-River Valley commuters were in favor of eliminating the James Street stop.
D. The Holdsville-River Valley bus route runs along River Street, which is always congested with heavy automobile
traffic.
E. The Johnstown bus line, another line operated by the HTA, has also experienced an increase in average commuting
time since eliminating a stop on its route.

15. City Controller: 63% of our residents voted to approve the developer’s request to build a national chain hotel on
the site of the old consignment store. The hotel will increase our revenue base and, therefore, provide more
money for schools and community services.
Mayor: But our recent survey showed that the most important reason people want to live here is our small-town
feel resulting from the local ownership of the vast majority of businesses.
What is the best explanation for the apparent contradiction in opinions cited by the controller and the mayor?
A. Most people believe having a small-town feel is more important than having quality schools.
B. A locally-owned business might be able to generate as much revenue as a well-known hotel chain.
C. The recent survey did not ask about preferences for a chain hotel versus a locally-owned bed and breakfast.

D. An increase in the town’s revenue base may not result in additional money for the schools.
E. The recent survey cited by the mayor polled people who are considering moving to the town.

16. In 1963, Congress approved the Community Mental Health Centers Act, which outlined plans to release the mentally
ill from institutions, incorporate these individuals into their communities, and provide outpatient treatment. Leading
associations of mental health professionals overwhelmingly applauded these goals and approved of these plans
because, the experts said, the treatment rather than the institutional environment was the crucial element for the
welfare of these patients. Within twenty years, state authorities succeeded in discharging 95% of these patients
from institutional care. In 1983, however, executives from these same professional associations said that the plight
of the mentally ill was worse than ever. Which if the following, if true, best resolves the paradox in the above
passage?
A. More people were diagnosed with psychiatric disorders in 1983 than in 1963.
B. Many mental health professionals believe that if their peers had administered the project rather than the state
authorities, the results would have been better.
C. The state budget allocation for services to the mentally ill has not increased faster than the rate of inflation.
D. Congress agreed to fund these outpatient services, provided that the money come from cuts in other domestic
programs; these cuts, however, never materialized.
E. Many of the released patients had, at some time, been addicted to illegal narcotics.

17. Company X manufactures swim wear and planned to launch a new line of women’s bathing suits in March, which
is typically the peak time of year for swim wear sales. The company conducted consumer polls, which returned
favorable results for both style and price, and took out advertisements in major fashion magazines and television
stations. Yet the launch was disappointing: sales in March did not exceed even half of the company’s sales during
the same period in the previous year. Each of the following, if true, could explain the disappointing sales of the new
swim wear line EXCEPT:
A. None of the stores carrying the new swim wear line displayed it prominently.
B. The company’s manufacturing plants experienced difficulty in obtaining dyes in the advertised colors and so
substituted different colors.
C. A major competitor launched a line of similar swim wear at a lower price in February.

D. A scene in which a major actress was to wear one of the new swimsuits in a much anticipated movie to be
released in February was never filmed.

E. The prediction of a cool, rainy summer by meteorologists received much attention in the national media