T
HE
E
XAMS
165
(B) if finger patterns from fingerprints are not decipherable, then it is impossible to identify the
person to whom the fingerprints belong.
(C) if fingerprints are decipherable, then it is impossible to identify the person to whom they belong.
(D) if fingerprints can be classified by general shape and contour or by pattern type, then they
are not decipherable.
(E) if it is possible to identify the person to whom fingerprints belong, then the fingerprints
cannot be classified by general shape and contour or pattern.
The correct answer is response B. The essential information from which the answer can be inferred
is contained in the second and third sentences. These sentences state that "if finger patterns from
fingerprints are not decipherable, then they cannot be classified by general shape and contour or by pattern
type. If they cannot be classified by these characteristics, then it is impossible to identify the person to
whom they belong." Since response (B) refers to a condition in which finger patterns from fingerprints
are not decipherable, we know that, in that circumstance, they cannot be classified by general shape and
contour or by pattern type. From the paragraph, we can infer that, since they cannot be classified by these
characteristics, it is impossible to identify the person to whom the fingerprints belong.
Response (A) cannot be inferred because the paragraph does not give information about all the
circumstances under which it is impossible to identify the person to whom the fingerprints belong. It may
be that the person is not identifiable for reasons other than the decipherability of the person's fingerprints.
Response (C) is incorrect because the paragraph does not provide enough information to conclude
whether or not it would be possible to identify the person to whom the fingerprints belong from the mere
fact of the decipherability of the fingerprints.
Response (D) is wrong because it contradicts the information in the second sentence of the paragraph.
From that sentence, it can be concluded that, if fingerprints can be classified by general shape and contour
or by pattern type, they are decipherable.
Response (E) is incorrect for a similar reason; it contradicts the information presented in the third
sentence of the paragraph.
2.
Law enforcement agencies use scientific techniques to identify suspects or to establish guilt. One
obvious application of such techniques is the examination of a crime scene. Some substances found
at a crime scene yield valuable clues under microscopic examination. Clothing fibers, dirt particles,
and even pollen grains may reveal important information to the careful investigator. Nothing can be
overlooked because all substances found at a crime scene are potential sources of evidence.
The paragraph best supports the statement that
(A) all substances that yield valuable clues under microscopic examination are substances found
at a crime scene.
(B) some potential sources of evidence are substances that yield valuable clues under micro-
scopic examination.
(C) some substances found at a crime scene are not potential sources of evidence.
(D) no potential sources of evidence are substances found at a crime scene.
(E) some substances that yield valuable clues under microscopic examination are not sub-
stances found at a crime scene.
The correct answer is response B. The essential information from which the answer can be inferred
is contained in the third and fifth sentences. The third sentence tells us that "some substances found at a
crime scene yield valuable clues under microscopic examination." The fifth sentence explains that "...all
substances found at a crime scene are potential sources of evidence." Therefore, we can conclude that
"some potential sources of evidence are substances that yield valuable clues under microscopic
examination."
