Prep2012-Pack1-CR-009 VCR014015 Easy
Plant scientists have used genetic engineering on seeds to produce crop plants that are highly resistant to insect damage. Unfortunately, the plants require more fertilizer and water to grow well than normal ones do, and the seeds themselves are quite expensive, and for most farmers the savings on pesticides would not compensate for the higher seed costs and the cost of additional fertilizer. However, since consumer demand for grains, fruits, and vegetables grown without the use of pesticides continues to rise, the use of genetically engineered seeds of this kind is likely to become widespread. In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?
A. The first presents a development that the argument seeks to show will have certain disadvantages; the second is introduced as a consideration likely to offset one of those disadvantages.
B. The first presents a development that the argument predicts will have a certain impact; the second acknowledges a consideration that weighs against that prediction.
C. The first supplies a context for the argument; the second is a part of the evidence presented as support for the argument's conclusion.
D. The first is evidence provided to support an intermediate conclusion that is drawn in support of the argument's main conclusion; the second is that intermediate conclusion.
E. The first and the second each provide evidence in support of the argument's main conclusion.
Prep2012-Pack1-CR-010 VCR004721 Easy
Paper&Print is a chain of British stores selling magazines, books, and stationery products. In Britain, magazines' retail prices are set by publishers, and the retailer's share of a magazine's retail price 25 percent. Since Paper&Print's margin on books and stationery products is much higher, the chain's management plans to devote more of its stores' shelf space to books and stationery products and reduce the number of magazine titles that its stores carry.
Which of the following, if true, most strongly argues that the plan, if put into effect, will increase Paper&Print's profits?
A. Recently magazine publishers, seeking to increase share in competitive sectors of the market, have been competitively cutting the retail prices of some of the largest circulation magazines.
B. In market research surveys, few consumers identify Paper&Print as a book or stationery store but many recognize and value the broad range of magazines it carries.
C. The publisher's share of a magazine's price is 50 percent, and the publisher also retains all of the magazine's advertising revenue.
D. Consumers who subscribe to a magazine generally pay less per issue than they would if they bought the magazine through a retail outlet such as Paper&Print.
E. Some of Paper&Print's locations are in small towns and represent the only retail outlet for books within the community.
