7. The following appeared as part of an article in a daily newspaper:
The computerized onboard warning system that will be installed in commercial airliners1 will virtually solve the problem of midair plane collisions. One planes warning system can receive signals from anothers transpondera radio set that signals a planes coursein order to determine the likelihood of a collision and recommend evasive action.
Discuss how well reasoned . . . etc.
8. The following appeared in a presentation by the chief production manager of a machine parts manufacturing company at a management meeting:
Our factory in Cookville is our most advanced and efficient. It is capable of producing ten drill bits for each dollar of production cosplayts, whereas none of our other factories can produce more than seven drill bits per dollar of production cosplayts. Therefore, we can reduce our overall drill bit production cosplayts by devoting the Cookville factory entirely2 to drill bit production. Since reducing the production cosplayts of inpidual machine parts is the only way to achieve our larger goal of reducing our overall production cosplayts, dedicating the Cookville factory entirely to drill bit production and shifting all other machine part production to our other factories will help us to attain3 that larger goal.
Discuss how well reasoned . . .etc.
9.The following appeared in a memorandum4 to a team developing accounting5 software for SmartPro Software, Inc.:
Currently, more professional accountants use SmartPro accounting software than any other brand. However, in the market for personal accounting software for non-professionals to use in preparing their income tax returns, many of our competitors are outselling us. In surveys, our professional customers repeatedly say that they have chosen SmartPro Software because our most sophisticated software products include more advanced special features than competing brands. Therefore, the most effective way for us to increase sales of our personal accounting software for home users would clearly be to add the advanced special features that our professional software products currently offer.
Discuss how well reasoned . . .etc.
10. The following appeared in a memorandum from the marketing6 department of a childrens clothing manufacturer:
Our HuggyBunny brand is the bestselling brand of childrens clothing. Parents everywhere recognize the HuggyBunny logo as a mark of quality, and most of our customers show great brand loyalty7. Sales reports have shown that parents are more likely to buy childrens clothes with the familiar HuggyBunny brand and logo than otherwise identical clothes without it. Therefore, if we use the HuggyBunny brand name and logo for the new line of clothing for teenagers that our company will soon be introducing, that clothing will sell better than it would if we labeled it with a new brand name and logo.
Discuss how well reasoned . . .etc.
11.The following appeared in a letter to the editor of a local newspaper:
Our city councils neglect of the impoverished8 Railroad Flats neighborhood has left businesses with little incentive9 to locate there. Building a new professional football stadium in the neighborhood would solve this problem. Thousands
of football fans would travel to the area to see games, and they would buy from local merchants, encouraging new businesses to open. So our city council should move quickly to fund the construction of a professional football stadium in Railroad Flats in order to help the neighborhood develop a thriving economy.
Discuss how well reasoned . . .etc.
12.The following appeared in a research paper written for an introductory economics course:
For the past century, an increase in the number of residential10 building permits issued per month in a particular region has been a reliable indicator11 of coming improvements to that regions economy. If the monthly number of residential building permits issued rises consistently for a few months, the local unemployment rate almost always falls and economic production increases. This well-established connection reveals an effective method by which a regional government can end a local economic downturn: relax regulations governing all construction so that many more building permits can be issued.
Discuss how well reasoned . . .etc.
