Prep2012-Pack1-CR-074 VCR006175 Hard
Reasoning
What would suggest that putting all employees on the same schedule as the most productive employees would not increase overal productivity? The plan assumes that the most productive employees are more productive because of their work schedule; that changing to the same schedule would have the same effect on other employees; and that putting all employees on the same schedule as each other would not lower productivity somehow. Therefore, look for an answer option that casts doubt on one or more of these assumptions.
A. The schedule change will not make employees more productive while they are on vacation—the point is to make
them more productive while they are at work. This answer option is therefore irrelevant.
B. If the employees on the four-day schedule are more productive even though they did not volunteer for it, other employees put onto the schedule without volunteering for it may also become more productive, which would make the plan more likely to succeed.
C. Correct. This suggests that one reason the four-day schedule has boosted productivity for some employees is that most employees are not on it; if all employees are put on the same schedule, distractions from fellow employees will increase, and consequently productivity is likely to decrease.
D. The employees work forty hours per week on either schedule, and the plan would not change the compensation scheme.
E. This suggests that the plan might boost the morale of some employees, which might make them more productive and hence make the plan more likely to succeed.
The correct answer is C.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-075 VCR006358 Hard
Reasoning
What roles do the boldface portions play in the argument? The second sentence of the passage states the argument's conclusion: pesticides should be regulated at a local rather than a national level. The first boldface portion does not support this conclusion but rather conflicts with it, suggesting a reason to regulate pesticides at the national level. The word nevertheless before the conclusion draws attention to this conflict. The remaining sentences of the passage, including the second boldface portion, give reasons to regulate pesticides at a local level and therefore support the argument's conclusion.
A. As explained above, the first boldface portion conflicts with the argument's conclusion, while the second supports the conclusion.
B. As explained above, the first boldface portion conflicts with the argument's conclusion.
C. As explained above, the second boldface portion does not state the argument's conclusion, but rather supports it.
D. Correct. The first boldface portion identifies grounds for the potential objection that local pesticide regulation would not address pesticide impacts in distant localities; the second boldface portion gives one reason why pesticide regulation at the local level is nonetheless desirable.
E. As explained above, the first boldface portion conflicts with the argument's conclusion
The correct answer is D.
