- A publishing house compared two approaches to editing: a traditional process and a new workflow that uses software to flag consistency issues before human review. In a six-month trial, books edited under the new workflow had 25% fewer post-publication corrections, and overall editing time per manuscript fell by 10%. Since the software license costs less than the labor savings from reduced editing time, the house should adopt the new workflow for all nonfiction titles. Which of the following best states the conclusion of the argument?
Answer: The publishing house should adopt the new software-assisted workflow for all nonfiction titles.
This question tests the ability to identify an argument's conclusion in a GRE Verbal Reasoning context. Conclusions are the main claims or recommendations that the argument aims to establish, while premises are the supporting evidence or reasons provided to justify that claim. The passage compares editing workflows, noting fewer corrections and time savings with the new method. It then weighs the software cost against labor savings, leading to an adoption recommendation for nonfiction. Choice C best states the conclusion because it directly conveys the argument's advice to implement the new workflow for efficiency gains. In contrast, choice A is merely a premise, providing data on corrections as evidence without being the main claim. Similarly, choice B serves as time-related evidence but does not represent the overall recommendation.
- A consumer advocacy group compared two sets of neighborhoods: those with curbside compost pickup and those without it. In neighborhoods that added compost pickup, landfill-bound household waste decreased by an average of 9% within a year, while recycling rates remained stable. The program's operating cost was offset by reduced landfill fees, according to the city's budget office. Since the city's waste-reduction target focuses specifically on lowering landfill tonnage, the group argues that the city should expand curbside compost pickup to all neighborhoods.
Which of the following best states the conclusion of the argument?
Answer: The city should expand curbside compost pickup to all neighborhoods.
This question tests identifying an argument's conclusion. Conclusions express the main claim an author wants to establish, while premises provide supporting reasons. The passage presents evidence about compost pickup's effects: reduced landfill waste, stable recycling rates, and cost neutrality through offset fees. These facts, combined with the city's waste-reduction goals, all support the advocacy group's recommendation. The Dorrect answer (D) captures this conclusion: "The city should expand curbside compost pickup to all neighborhoods." Choice C about the 9% reduction in landfill waste is merely one of the supporting facts used to justify the expansion, not the conclusion itself.
- A city's transportation department notes that after installing protected bike lanes on three major corridors, bicycle commuting increased by 22% and reported cyclist injuries on those corridors fell by 14% over the next year. During the same period, overall car travel times on adjacent parallel streets did not measurably increase, according to GPS-based traffic data. Because the department aims to reduce injuries without worsening congestion, it argues that the city should expand protected bike lanes to additional corridors with similar traffic patterns.
Which of the following best states the conclusion of the argument?
Answer: The city should expand protected bike lanes to additional corridors with similar traffic patterns.
This question tests your ability to identify an argument's conclusion. A conclusion is the main claim the author wants to establish, while premises provide supporting evidence or reasons for that claim. The passage presents data about protected bike lanes (increased cycling, reduced injuries, no traffic congestion) and then uses this evidence to argue for a specific action. The transportation department's goal and the positive results serve as premises building toward what should be done next. The Borrect answer (B) states that "The city should expand protected bike lanes to additional corridors with similar traffic patterns," which is the recommendation the argument aims to establish. Choice D merely restates one of the supporting observations about reduced injuries without increased congestion, making it a premise rather than the conclusion.
- In "The bridge should close, since its cables are corroded and it was last inspected a decade ago," which claim do the "since" clauses support?
Answer: The bridge should close
'Since' marks what follows it as evidence, so the corrosion and the old inspection support the opening claim that the bridge should close. Corroded cables is tempting, but it is a reason given, not the point being argued.
- A city water utility has been testing smart meters that alert customers to unusual spikes in water use. Households receiving alerts reduced their water consumption by an average of 5%, and the utility reports fewer emergency calls for burst pipes because leaks were detected earlier. Since the meters can be installed during routine maintenance visits, the utility should expand smart-meter installation to all neighborhoods. Which statement is the author primarily trying to establish?
Answer: The utility should expand smart-meter installation to all neighborhoods.
This question tests the ability to identify an argument's conclusion in a GRE Verbal Reasoning context. Conclusions are the main claims or recommendations that the argument aims to establish, while premises are the supporting evidence or reasons provided to justify that claim. The passage reports consumption reductions and fewer emergency calls from smart meters, noting easy installation. It builds to an expansion recommendation for all neighborhoods. Choice C best states the conclusion because it captures the argument's primary assertion to broaden smart-meter use. However, choice A is merely a premise, offering consumption data as support without being the conclusion. Likewise, choice B provides evidence on leak detection benefits but does not encapsulate the expansion proposal.
- A retail chain is deciding whether to replace paper receipts with digital receipts by default. In a pilot, stores that offered digital receipts as the default used 60% less receipt paper, and customer-service calls about lost receipts did not increase because receipts were accessible via email. Since paper costs and printer maintenance are significant expenses, the chain should adopt digital receipts by default across all stores. The main point of the argument is that…
Answer: The chain should implement digital receipts by default across all stores to reduce costs without harming service.
This question tests the ability to identify an argument's conclusion in a GRE Verbal Reasoning context. Conclusions are the main claims or recommendations that the argument aims to establish, while premises are the supporting evidence or reasons provided to justify that claim. The passage describes paper savings and unchanged service calls in the pilot, then highlights expense reductions. It advocates default digital receipts chain-wide for cost benefits without service harm. Choice C best states the conclusion because it directly expresses the argument's recommendation to implement digital receipts broadly. In contrast, choice A is merely a premise, providing pilot data on paper use as evidence. Similarly, choice B serves as accessibility evidence but is not the main claim.
- In a survey of 1,200 residents, those living within a half-mile of a new urban park reported exercising outdoors 30 minutes more per week, on average, than those living farther away. City health officials also note that building parks is cheaper per capita than subsidizing gym memberships. Consequently, the city should direct its next public-health funds toward creating additional neighborhood parks rather than expanding gym subsidies. Which statement is the author primarily trying to establish?
Answer: The city should allocate its next public-health funds to building more neighborhood parks instead of expanding gym subsidies.
This question tests the ability to identify an argument's conclusion in a GRE Verbal Reasoning context. Conclusions are the main claims or recommendations that the argument aims to establish, while premises are the supporting evidence or reasons provided to justify that claim. The passage presents survey data on increased exercise near parks and compares the per capita cost of parks to gym subsidies. It then directs future funds toward parks based on these advantages, forming a clear policy suggestion. Choice C best states the conclusion because it encapsulates the argument's primary directive to allocate funds to parks over gym expansions. In contrast, choice A is merely a premise, supplying survey evidence to support the benefits of parks without being the main claim. Likewise, choice B serves as cost-related evidence but does not represent the argument's ultimate recommendation.
- A research institute compared two grant-application formats: a long narrative and a shorter structured form. Reviewers spent 20% less time evaluating applications using the structured form, yet their final funding decisions closely matched those made under the narrative format in prior years. Because faster review allows the institute to process more applications without hiring additional staff, it should switch to the structured form for next year's grants. Which of the following best states the conclusion of the argument?
Answer: The institute should use the structured grant-application form next year to increase processing capacity without added staff.
This question tests the ability to identify an argument's conclusion in a GRE Verbal Reasoning context. Conclusions are the main claims or recommendations that the argument aims to establish, while premises are the supporting evidence or reasons provided to justify that claim. The passage compares review times and decision consistency between formats, noting capacity gains from faster reviews. It builds to a switch recommendation for processing more applications without extra staff. Choice C best states the conclusion because it directly expresses the argument's advice to use the structured form next year. Conversely, choice A is merely a premise, offering time data as evidence without serving as the conclusion. Similarly, choice B acts as consistency evidence but does not capture the main point.
- A museum tested a "pay-what-you-wish" admission policy on weekday afternoons for three months. Attendance during those periods increased by 28%, and gift-shop revenue rose by 10%, while total admission revenue for those afternoons decreased only slightly. Visitor surveys indicated that many attendees who paid less than the usual ticket price were first-time visitors. Because the museum's strategic plan prioritizes increasing community access without materially reducing operating funds, the director argues that the museum should continue the policy on weekday afternoons.
The author concludes that…
Answer: The museum should continue the pay-what-you-wish policy on weekday afternoons.
This question tests your ability to identify an argument's conclusion. A conclusion expresses the main claim the author seeks to prove, while premises provide supporting evidence. The passage presents results from the pay-what-you-wish test: increased attendance, higher gift-shop revenue, minimal admission revenue loss, and new visitor attraction. These observations, along with the museum's strategic priorities, support the director's recommendation. The Correct answer (C) states the conclusion: "The museum should continue the pay-what-you-wish policy on weekday afternoons." Choice B about the 28% attendance increase is merely one of the supporting facts used to justify continuing the policy, not the conclusion itself.
- A public health agency evaluated a smoking-cessation text-messaging program offered to adults who enrolled through clinics. Among participants who received messages, 6-month self-reported abstinence was 19%, compared with 12% among similar enrollees who did not opt in. The program's per-person cost was low because messages were automated, and clinics reported no increase in staff workload. Given the agency's goal of expanding effective interventions without adding staffing demands, it argues that the text-messaging program should be offered statewide.
Which of the following best states the conclusion of the argument?
Answer: The text-messaging program should be offered statewide.
This question tests identifying an argument's conclusion. Conclusions represent the main point an author wants to establish, while premises provide supporting reasons. The passage presents evidence about the text-messaging program's effectiveness (higher abstinence rates), low cost, and lack of staffing burden. These facts, combined with the agency's goals, all support the recommendation for expansion. The Aorrect answer (A) captures this conclusion: "The text-messaging program should be offered statewide." Choice B about the higher abstinence rates among participants is merely one piece of supporting evidence used to justify statewide implementation, not the conclusion itself.
- An environmental economist observes that a city's air-quality monitors recorded a 12% drop in average particulate pollution during a six-month pilot in which high-emitting trucks paid a surcharge to enter the downtown zone. During the same period, retail sales tax receipts from downtown businesses were unchanged relative to the previous year, suggesting no major decline in consumer activity. Because particulate pollution is linked to respiratory illness and the pilot did not appear to harm downtown commerce, the economist argues that the city should make the truck surcharge permanent.
Which of the following best states the conclusion of the argument?
Answer: The city should make the high-emitting-truck surcharge permanent.
This question tests identifying an argument's conclusion. Conclusions express the central claim an author wants to prove, while premises provide the supporting rationale. The passage presents evidence about the truck surcharge pilot: reduced particulate pollution, unchanged retail receipts, and the health impacts of pollution. These facts build toward the economist's recommendation about what the city should do. The Dorrect answer (D) captures this conclusion: "The city should make the high-emitting-truck surcharge permanent." Choice C about the 12% pollution drop is merely one piece of supporting evidence used to justify making the surcharge permanent, not the conclusion itself.
- A regional hospital found that when it standardized discharge instructions into plain language, 30-day readmissions for heart-failure patients dropped from 18% to 14%. The hospital's quality team notes that producing the standardized instructions required a one-time investment but now saves nurses time on repeated explanations. Thus, the hospital should standardize discharge instructions for other chronic conditions as a cost-effective way to reduce readmissions. The author concludes that…
Answer: Standardizing discharge instructions for other chronic conditions would be a cost-effective strategy to reduce readmissions.
This question tests the ability to identify an argument's conclusion in a GRE Verbal Reasoning context. Conclusions are the main claims or recommendations that the argument aims to establish, while premises are the supporting evidence or reasons provided to justify that claim. The passage details readmission reductions from plain-language instructions and their time-saving benefits for staff. It then advocates extending this approach to other conditions for broader cost-effective gains. Choice C best states the conclusion because it captures the argument's primary suggestion to standardize instructions across conditions to lower readmissions. On the other hand, choice A is merely a premise, offering statistical evidence of the program's success to support the recommendation. Likewise, choice B provides additional evidence on staff efficiency but is not the argument's main claim.
- A restaurant group tested a smaller menu at one location and found that food waste fell by 18% while customer ratings for food quality rose slightly. The manager explains that a smaller menu allows the kitchen to focus on fewer ingredients, improving freshness and reducing spoilage. Since the streamlined menu did not reduce total revenue at the test location, the group should simplify menus at its other restaurants to reduce waste without sacrificing sales. Which statement is the author primarily trying to establish?
Answer: The restaurant group should simplify menus at other locations to reduce waste without lowering revenue.
This question tests the ability to identify an argument's conclusion in a GRE Verbal Reasoning context. Conclusions are the main claims or recommendations that the argument aims to establish, while premises are the supporting evidence or reasons provided to justify that claim. The passage details waste reductions and quality improvements from a smaller menu, noting stable revenue. It explains ingredient focus benefits, leading to a simplification recommendation for other locations. Choice C best states the conclusion because it captures the argument's primary assertion to simplify menus group-wide. However, choice A is merely a premise, providing waste data as support rather than the conclusion. Likewise, choice B serves as explanatory evidence but is not the overall recommendation.
- A company that maintains public trails is deciding how to allocate its limited volunteer hours. It reports that sections repaired with stone steps eroded far less over two rainy seasons than sections repaired with wooden steps, and that stone steps require fewer follow-up repairs. Although stone steps take longer to install initially, the reduced maintenance means fewer total volunteer hours over time. Therefore, the company should favor stone steps over wooden steps when repairing steep trail sections. The author concludes that…
Answer: The company should generally use stone steps for steep trail repairs because they minimize long-term volunteer labor.
This question tests the ability to identify an argument's conclusion in a GRE Verbal Reasoning context. Conclusions are the main claims or recommendations that the argument aims to establish, while premises are the supporting evidence or reasons provided to justify that claim. The passage compares erosion and maintenance for stone versus wooden steps, acknowledging initial time but emphasizing long-term savings. It builds to a preference for stone in steep repairs to minimize volunteer labor overall. Choice C best states the conclusion because it encapsulates the argument's primary advice to use stone steps for efficiency. On the other hand, choice A is merely a premise, offering erosion data as supporting evidence rather than the conclusion. Likewise, choice B highlights an initial drawback but does not represent the resolved recommendation.
- Select the answer choice that best completes the sentence. Every witness placed the suspect across town at noon; the detective therefore _____ that he was innocent.
Answer: concluded
'Therefore' shows that the detective's judgment follows from the evidence, and the unanimous alibi supports innocence, so he 'concluded' it. 'Doubted' is tempting but clashes with both the evidence and the word 'therefore.'
- A coastal town is considering whether to restore a nearby wetland. Environmental scientists report that the wetland historically absorbed storm surge and that towns with similar restorations experienced lower flood-repair costs over the following decade. Although restoration has a high upfront price, the town's finance office estimates that avoided repairs would exceed the project cost within twelve years. Therefore, the town should proceed with wetland restoration as a fiscally prudent flood-mitigation strategy. The main point of the argument is that…
Answer: The town should restore the wetland because the long-term savings from avoided flood repairs justify the cost.
This question tests the ability to identify an argument's conclusion in a GRE Verbal Reasoning context. Conclusions are the main claims or recommendations that the argument aims to establish, while premises are the supporting evidence or reasons provided to justify that claim. The passage discusses wetlands' flood-absorbing role and data from similar restorations, then compares upfront costs to long-term savings. It builds to a fiscal justification for proceeding with restoration. Choice C best states the conclusion because it encapsulates the argument's primary assertion that restoration is worthwhile due to net savings. Conversely, choice A is merely a premise, stating wetlands' benefits as supporting evidence rather than the conclusion. Likewise, choice B highlights a counterpoint on costs but does not capture the argument's resolution.
- A city's waste department found that neighborhoods given smaller trash bins and larger recycling bins reduced landfill-bound waste by 9% over six months. The department also notes that landfill tipping fees have risen steadily, making each ton diverted more valuable financially. Since swapping bins is cheaper than expanding landfill capacity, the city should adopt the bin-swap program in all neighborhoods to control long-term waste costs. The author concludes that…
Answer: The city should implement the bin-swap program citywide to reduce landfill costs over time.
This question tests the ability to identify an argument's conclusion in a GRE Verbal Reasoning context. Conclusions are the main claims or recommendations that the argument aims to establish, while premises are the supporting evidence or reasons provided to justify that claim. The passage presents waste reductions from bin swaps and rising tipping fees, comparing costs to landfill expansion. It advocates citywide implementation for long-term cost control. Choice C best states the conclusion because it encapsulates the argument's primary suggestion to adopt the program everywhere. In contrast, choice A is merely a premise, highlighting fee trends as supporting evidence. Likewise, choice B provides pilot data but is not the overall point.
- A municipal court introduced text-message reminders for people with upcoming hearings. After six months, failure-to-appear rates dropped from 11% to 7%, and administrative staff reported spending less time rescheduling cases. Because the messaging system is inexpensive and can be integrated with the court's existing calendar software, the court should continue and expand the reminder program to all case types. Which of the following best states the conclusion of the argument?
Answer: The court should expand the text-message reminder program to all case types.
This question tests the ability to identify an argument's conclusion in a GRE Verbal Reasoning context. Conclusions are the main claims or recommendations that the argument aims to establish, while premises are the supporting evidence or reasons provided to justify that claim. The passage reports lower failure rates and staff time savings from reminders, noting low costs and integration ease. It advocates continuing and expanding the program to all cases. Choice C best states the conclusion because it directly conveys the argument's recommendation for program expansion. In contrast, choice A is merely a premise, supplying rate data as evidence without being the main claim. Similarly, choice B provides staff efficiency evidence but does not encapsulate the expansion proposal.
- A national library system found that branches offering automatic renewal for eligible books had 12% fewer overdue items than branches requiring patrons to renew manually. Because fewer overdues reduce staff time spent on notices and collections, and because the software update needed for automatic renewal is already included in the system's vendor contract, the system should enable automatic renewal at all branches. Which of the following best states the conclusion of the argument?
Answer: The library system should enable automatic renewal at all branches.
This question tests the ability to identify an argument's conclusion in a GRE Verbal Reasoning context. Conclusions are the main claims or recommendations that the argument aims to establish, while premises are the supporting evidence or reasons provided to justify that claim. The passage compares overdue rates between branches and explains staff time savings from fewer overdues. It notes the included software cost, leading to a system-wide enablement suggestion. Choice C best states the conclusion because it encapsulates the argument's primary recommendation to enable automatic renewal everywhere. Conversely, choice A is merely a premise, supplying overdue data as supporting evidence rather than the conclusion. Likewise, choice B acts as efficiency evidence but does not capture the overall point.
- A company's IT department replaced its password-only login with multi-factor authentication (MFA) for remote access. In the quarter after implementation, successful phishing-related account takeovers dropped from 15 incidents to 4, while the number of help-desk tickets about login issues rose briefly and then returned to its prior level by the end of the quarter. Because account takeovers create substantial financial and reputational risk and the temporary increase in support requests appears manageable, the IT director argues that MFA should be required for all employee logins, not just remote access.
Which of the following best states the conclusion of the argument?
Answer: MFA should be required for all employee logins, not just for remote access.
This question tests identifying an argument's conclusion. Conclusions represent the central claim an author wants to establish, while premises provide the supporting rationale. The passage presents evidence about MFA implementation: reduced account takeovers, temporary then normalized help-desk tickets, and risk considerations. These facts build toward the IT director's recommendation for broader implementation. The Correct answer (C) captures this conclusion: "MFA should be required for all employee logins, not just for remote access." Choice A about the reduction in phishing incidents from 15 to 4 is merely one piece of supporting evidence used to justify expanding MFA requirements, not the conclusion itself.
