21. One method of dating the emergence of species is to compare the genetic material of related species. Scientists theorize that the more genetically similar two species are to each other, the more recently they diverged from a common ancestor. After comparing genetic material from giant pandas, red pandas, raccoons, coatis, and all seven bear species, scientists concluded that bears and raccoons diverged 30 to 50 million years ago. They further concluded that red pandas separated from the ancestor of today's raccoons and coatis a few million years later, some 10 million years before giant pandas diverged from the other bears.

Which one of the following can be properly inferred from the passage？

（A） Giant pandas and red pandas are more closely related than scientists originally thought they were.

（B） Scientists now count the giant panda as the eighth species of bear.

（C） It is possible to determine, within a margin of just a few years, the timing of divergence of various species.

（D） Scientists have found that giant pandas are more similar genetically to bears than to raccoons.

（E） There is substantial consensus among scientists that giant pandas and red pandas are equally related to raccoons.

Questions 22-23

Despite improvements in treatment for asthma, the death rate form this disease has doubled during the past decade from its previous rate. Two possible explanations for this increase have been offered. First, the recording of deaths due to asthma has become more widespread and accurate in the past decade than it had been previously. Second, there has been an increase in urban pollution. However, since the rate of deaths due to asthma has increased dramatically even in cities with long-standing, comprehensive medical records and with little or no urban pollution, one must instead conclude that the cause of increased deaths is the use of bronchial inhalers by asthma sufferers to relieve their symptoms.

22. Each of the following , if true, provides support to the argument EXCEPT：

（A） Urban populations have doubled in the past decade.

（B） Records of asthma deaths are as accurate for the past twenty years as for the past ten years.

（C） Evidence suggests that bronchial inhalers make the lungs more sensitive to irritation by airborne pollen.

（D） By temporarily relieving the symptoms of asthma, inhalers encourage sufferers to avoid more beneficial measures.

（E） Ten years ago bronchial inhalers were not available as an asthma treatment.

23. Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends？

（A） Urban pollution has not doubled in the past decade.

（B） Doctors and patients generally ignore the role of allergies in asthma.

（C） Bronchial inhalers are unsafe, even when used according to the recommended instructions.

（D） The use of bronchial inhalers aggravates other diseases that frequently occur among asthma sufferers and that often lead to fatal outcomes even when the asthma itself does not.

（E） Increased urban pollution, improved recording of asthma deaths, and the use of bronchial inhalers are the only possible explanations of the increased death rate due to asthma.

24. There is little point in looking to artists for insights into political issues. Most of them hold political views that are less insightful than those of any reasonably well-educated person who is not an artist. Indeed, when taken as a whole, the statements made by artists, including those considered to be great, indicate that artistic talent and political insight are rarely found together.

Which one of the following can be inferred from the passage？

（A） There are no artists who have insights into political issues.

（B） A thorough education in art makers a person reasonably well educated.

（C） Every reasonably well-educated person who s not an artist has more insight into political issues than any artist.

（D） Politicians rarely have any artistic talent.

（E） Some artists are no less politically insightful than some reasonably well-educated persons who are not artists.