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UMAT: Section I - Sample QuestionsSection I of the UMAT: Logical Reasoning and Problem SolvingConsists of 44 questions, 65 minutes
This section of the UMAT consists of stimulus material derived from a variety of sources (newspapers, magazines and journal articles) which presents the UMAT candidate with a problem that requires an answer. UMAT Sample Question 1Coca Cola contains more sugar than Cottees cordial. But since Schwepps has more sugar than 25% orange juice, it follows that Coca Cola contains more sugar than 25% orange juice.
Any of the following, if introduced into the argument as an additional premise, makes the argument above logically correct EXCEPT: A) Coca Cola and Schwepps have the same amount of sugar. B) Cottees cordial has more sugar than Schwepps. C) Cottees cordial has more sugar than 25% orange juice. D) Cottees cordial and Schwepps have the same amount of sugar. E) Schwepps has more sugar than Coca Cola. The correct answer is (E). The question asks for a different premise that does not make the argument logically correct. Choice E leaves open the possibility that the conclusion of the argument is false. UMAT Sample Question 2A famous poet has recently won a lawsuit against a major beer manufacturer for commissioning an advertising company to design a slogan for a billboard which is identical to a short poem composed by the poet. As a result of the lawsuit, manufacturers will stop asking advertising companies to use copyright poetry in slogans. Therefore, the cost of billboard design will rise because employing the services of well-known poets for slogans will cost more than those of advertising companies to plagiarise.
The conclusion above is based on which of the following assumptions? A) Most people are unable to distinguish a famous poet's poem from a slogan on a billboard design. B) Manufacturers will use well-known poets' work in the promotion of their products. C) Manufacturers will continue to use advertising companies to plagiarise the work of famous poets. D) The original poems are unavailable for use in billboard advertising. E) Advertising with a famous poet's approval to use his/her work will be more effective than advertising with plagiarised slogans. The correct answer is (B). If option E wasn't assumed, the costs of the services of the famous poets would not be said to affect advertising costs. Since advertising costs are, however, projected to rise because of the relatively high cost of famous poets' services, choice E is assumed and is the best answer. UMAT Sample Question 3Parents of children from an Asian background have claimed that the sports teacher at their school is not objective and favours his Anglo-Saxon students with a higher participation in competitive team sports. However the record shows that 63% of the non-English-speaking background students have been given a chance to participate. This record demonstrates that the teacher has not discriminated against non-Anglo-Saxon students when selecting positions on team sports.
The argument above is flawed in that it ignored the possibility that: A) a large number of the selected children were the teacher's students from last year. B) Many teachers find it difficult to be objective when assigning positions to students C) The evidence shows that more than 63% of the students should have been given the chance to participate in a team sport. D) The majority of the non-Anglo-Saxon students have been given the position on a team due to the influence of the substitute-sports coach E) The teacher is biased against non-Anglo-Saxons in the case of only some of the team sports he teaches. The correct answer is (C). The flaw in the argument is that it assumes erroneously that a large % of non-Anglo Saxon students who are selected into a team sport demonstrates an absence of discriminatory behaviour on the behalf of the teacher. UMAT Sample Question 4Dear Editor, How does the letter writer feel about summer camp? The correct answer is (A). This is evident in the first sentence of the text "I object to your implications that attending specialized camps..." UMAT Sample Question 5In the past 10 years the government has focused on employing advertising companies to raise awareness against young people drinking socially. However advertising also plays a role in promoting a range of alcoholic drinks. Drinking is as prevalent among the youth today as it was 10 years ago.
Which of the following statements draws the most reliable conclusion from the information above? A) Advertising does not play a role in causing young people to start or continue drinking. B) Advertisements of alcoholic drinks cannot be the only factor that affects the prevalence of drinking among young people. C) 10 years ago, advertisements against young people drinking were not as heavily emphasized. D) More youth do not drink if they are exposed to anti-drinking advertisements than if they are not. E) Banning advertisements of alcoholic drinks will not decrease the rate of young people drinking. The correct answer is (B). Advertising can not be the only contributing factor to the youth's drinking habits, otherwise the anti-drinking campaigns employed over the last 10 years would have influenced a decrease in the rate of youth which drink, rather the rate has remained constant. UMAT Sample Question 6People who very rarely break their forearms tend to be adults who practice yoga. These individuals tend to build up their muscles and flex their joints in weekly yoga practice sessions, or privately at home.
A flaw in the argument above is that it A) gives reasons for the truth of its conclusion that presuppose the truth of that conclusion B) states that broken bones by themselves may only be caused in the presence of weak muscles or inflexible joints. C) assumes without proof that weak muscles and broken bones have a similar underlying cause D) concludes that one phenomenon is the cause of another when at most what has been established is an association between them E) does not account for other causes of fractures and broken bones The correct answer is (D). It is impossible to determine from the information supplies above whether yoga protects against bones in the arm. UMAT Sample Question 7Since last year, Paddy noticed that the profits of Paddy's Haircuts have decreased by 8%, as customers have increasingly turned to a competitor located in the same shopping complex. Paddy plans to reverse this trend by employing more qualified hairdressers and offering special deals on cuts and styles.
Which of me following, if true, most strengthens the viability of Paddy's plan? A) many hair salons have increased their customer attraction by offering sample shampoos and conditioners to customers B) Some customers who get their haircuts at the competitor consider it to be in a more convenient part of the mall C) Former customers have previously indicated that they have often been frustrated at the poor quality of their haircuts D) Hair salons have decreased their profits due to the emerging 'do-it-yourself' hair dying and styling products E) Since last year, there has been an increase in at-home treatment products. The correct answer is (C). Paddy's plan to employ more qualified hairdressers is a viable solution if former customers have indicated that this was why they had stopped getting their hair cut at their hair salon. UMAT Sample Question 8Over the last ten years, reports indicate that alcohol consumption in Russia has increased by 20 percent. But over that same period, liquor stores, where the vast majority of Russians purchase their alcohol they consume at home, reported only an 8 percent increase in alcohol sales.
Which of the following statements about the last ten years in Russia is best supported by the statements above? A) Russians have increased their purchasing of and spending on alcohol at bars, lounges, pubs and clubs B) Alcohol prices at liquor stores rose dramatically compared to prices at pubs C) Alcohol prices at liquor stores have remained the same as the prices at other places where alcohol may be purchased C) Liquor stores are unsuccessful at making alcohol shopping a convenience for the Russian alcohol consumer E) Liquor stores did not invest enough into advertising of the various alcoholic products they have to offer The correct answer is (A). If alcohol consumption has increased to a higher degree than the liquor store alcohol sales have, consumers must be purchasing their alcohol elsewhere. UMAT Sample Question 9The law of supply and demand is an economic principle that effects our daily lives. It determines the quantity of a good or service that is produced. Supply and demand also determines whether a good or service will have a high or low price. Supply is the amount of a good or service available. Demand refers to the desire and ability to pay for a particular good or service. People and businesses who create goods or services are producers. They supply goods or services at a particular price. They must earn a profit, both to cover the cost of production and to make money for themselves. People who buy goods or services are consumers. Consumers and producers have opposite points of view. Consumers want to save money by paying lower prices; producers want to make more money by raising prices. But producers can only sell at a price that consumers are willing and able to pay. The point at which supply equals demand means that an equilibrium price has been reached. This is the price at which producers are willing to sell and consumers are willing to buy. Both supply and demand affect price movement. For example, when yogurt was first introduced into U.S. markets it was expensive. Despite the cost, it became popular. Thanks to high demand, more companies began producing it and the price dropped. Some companies that produced yogurt stopped making it. With less yogurt produced there was less supply. Since there was less supply to meet demand, prices rose. After a while, yogurt reached an equilibrium price. The correct answer is (E). Paragraph 2 states that people who buy goods or services are consumers. Supermarket shoppers, moviegoers, and shoe buyers are all examples of consumers who demand goods and services.
The correct answer is (A). Paragraph 1 states, that demand refers to the desire and ability to pay for a particular good or service. If the popularity of a brand of jeans falls, demand would go down; less demand would translate to fewer sales. Thus supply would exceed demand. Why would a producer lower the price of a product? The correct answer is (A). Paragraph 3 states that producers can only sell as much of a good or services, as consumers are willing to buy. Consumers may be more willing and able to buy a product if the price is lowered. A producer would lower the price of a product to increase demand. Which event is most likely to follow? The correct answer is (E). Paragraph 4 states that both supply and demand affect price movement. Paragraph 4 also gives an example of a supply and demand cycle. At the point in a cycle when there is less supply available to meet demand prices rise. If there is a smaller supply of oranges, the event most likely to follow is: that the price of orange juice will go up. UMAT Sample Question 10Fewer students are studying Social Sciences. If the economy grows, more social workers will be needed than will be available. Some colleges have already started to respond to this situation by increasing an emphasis on computer technology in the course, to equip its students with additional skills. Their concern is a sure indicator that the economy is growing.
Which answer casts a doubt on the above argument? A) The fact that colleges are preparing for a possible rise in the economy does not mean that this development is already taking place B) The fact that some colleges are including additional course components to attract prospective students does not mean that they are willing to admit that their course was previously inadequate C) A decrease in the number of social workers does not mean that there will be no social workers available at all D) The fact that not enough students are studying Social Sciences does not mean that this is the lowest number it has ever been E) Having additional computer skills does not mean that those social workers will perform better at their jobs The correct answer is (A). Colleges are simply taking all precautions in the event of a possible rise in the economy.
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