5. We are taught that pedestrians should cross the street at a corner and that jaywalking, in the sense of crossing other than at a corner, is dangerous and illegal. It also seems true that drivers anticipate people crossing at corners more than drivers anticipate people crossing elsewhere. Thus we might infer that crossing at a corner is safer than jaywalking. Nevertheless, statistics show that more pedestrians die crossing at corners than while jaywalking.

Which one of the following, if true, most helps to explain the statistical claim cited above?

6. Poor writers often express mundane ideas with elaborate syntax and esoteric vocabulary. Inattentive readers may be impressed but may well misunderstand the writing, while alert readers will easily see through the pretentiousness. Thus, a good principle for writers is: ____________ .

Which one of the following completes the passage most logically?

7. The kind of thoughts that keep a person from falling asleep can arise in either half of the brain. Therefore, a person being prevented from sleeping solely by such thoughts would be able to fall asleep by closing the eyes and counting sheep, because this activity fully occupies the left half of the brain with counting and the right half of the brain with imagining sheep, thereby excluding the sleep-preventing thoughts.

According to the hypothesis, for a person to use counting imaginary sheep as an effective method of inducing sleep, which one of the following must be true?

8. The kind of thoughts that keep a person from falling asleep can arise in either half of the brain. Therefore, a person being prevented from sleeping solely by such thoughts would be able to fall asleep by closing the eyes and counting sheep, because this activity fully occupies the left half of the brain with counting and the right half of the brain with imagining sheep, thereby excluding the sleep-preventing thoughts.

Which one of the following most closely parallels the reasoning in the argument above?

9. Claude: To introduce greater public accountability into French foreign-policy decisions, France should hold referenda on major foreign-policy issues. Election results are too imprecise to count as a mandate, since elections are decided on multiple issues. Lorraine: The general public, unlike people in government, is unwilling or unable to become informed about foreign-policy issues. Therefore, the introduction of such referenda would lead to foreign-policy disaster.

Which one of the following responses by Claude would, if true, most strongly counter Lorraine’s objection?

14. Activist: Although the environmental bill before the legislature is popular with voters, it will have mainly negative economic consequences if it is passed, especially when we try to lure new businesses to our country. Great leaders have the courage to look beyond popularity to what is sound policy; legislators ought to do the same by not voting for this bill.

The activist’s argumentation is most vulnerable to criticism on the grounds that it

23. Councilperson X: We have an obligation to help ensure that electricity rates are the lowest possible. Since the proposed design for a new generating station would clearly allow for the lowest rates, it must be the design we endorse if we agree that we have no choice but to approve construction of a new plant. Councilperson Y: Helping to ensure the lowest electricity rates is not the council’s only job; we also have an obligation not to lower the quality of life of our community. A plant of the type specified by the design would damage our community’s air quality to such an extent that the benefit of lower rates would be outweighed.

Which one of the following is an issue about which the two councilpersons disagree?