Art Critic: The recent surge in popularity of minimalist digital art is driven not by genuine aesthetic appreciation, but by the speculative frenzy in the market for non-fungible tokens (NFTs). The valuation of these pieces has no connection to their artistic merit, which is often negligible. Therefore, this art trend is a bubble destined to burst, leaving many collectors with worthless assets.
A city implemented a 'congestion pricing' policy, charging vehicles a fee to enter the downtown core during business hours. A year later, traffic congestion in the downtown core had decreased by 15%, and air quality had improved by 10%. However, residents of neighborhoods just outside the downtown core reported a significant increase in traffic and a shortage of street parking. This shows that the congestion pricing policy was a failure.
A new smart-thermostat, the 'EcoTemp 5000', is advertised as saving homeowners up to 20% on their heating bills. The device uses machine learning to adapt to a household's schedule and preferences, optimizing when the furnace runs. To justify its high price, the manufacturer claims the EcoTemp 5000 will pay for itself in energy savings within two years. Which of the following findings would most weaken the manufacturer's claim? (Select TWO)
If a government wishes to reduce nationwide sugar consumption, it must either subsidize healthy food alternatives or tax sugary drinks. However, subsidizing healthy food is prohibitively expensive. Therefore, the government must tax sugary drinks if it wants to reduce sugar consumption.
It is a known fact that regular exercise improves cardiovascular health. It is also well-established that good cardiovascular health is strongly correlated with a longer lifespan. Therefore, anyone who exercises regularly will live longer than they would have if they had not exercised.
In the nation of Ostrania, the birth rate has been declining for a decade. At the same time, life expectancy has been steadily increasing. Consequently, the average age of the Ostranian population is rising. To counteract this trend, the Ostranian government has offered generous financial incentives for couples to have more children. Despite these incentives being in place for five years, the average age of the population has continued to increase. Which of the following, if true, does the most to resolve the apparent discrepancy?
Policy Analyst: For our city to thrive, we must attract more high-tech companies. These companies bring high-paying jobs, which in turn boosts the local economy. A recent survey shows that a key factor for these companies when relocating is the availability of a highly educated workforce. Therefore, the most effective way for our city to attract high-tech companies is to invest heavily in our local universities. Which of the following principles, if valid, would most support the policy analyst's argument?
Interviewer: We are looking for a candidate who is both highly creative and exceptionally detail-oriented. Maria, your portfolio demonstrates outstanding creativity. However, your resume contains several typographical errors. Therefore, you are not a suitable candidate for this position. The interviewer's reasoning is flawed because it:
A new law requires that all new buildings in the city meet a 'Green Star' energy efficiency standard. This standard necessitates the use of advanced, expensive materials and construction techniques. While the long-term goal is to reduce the city's overall energy consumption, an immediate consequence will be a sharp increase in the cost of new housing. Since the city already faces a severe housing affordability crisis, this new law will inevitably harm the city's poorest residents the most. The central claim of the argument is that:
Company policy states that any employee who accesses confidential client data must have both Level-2 security clearance and be working on that client's specific project. Jones is working on the Apex project and has Level-2 security clearance. Therefore, Jones is permitted to access confidential data for the Apex project. Which of the following must be true for the conclusion to be properly drawn?