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Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT)
In the verbal section you will have 75 minutes to answer 41 questions.
11 of these questions are experimental and would not be counted towards your score.
There is no way to identify which questions are experimental as they are mixed in
randomly through out the section.
This section includes three types of questions: sentence correction, critical reading, and
reading comprehension. Sentence correction questions test your ability to spot
grammatical mistakes. The Critical reasoning questions test your ability to understand
and analyze arguments. And the reading comprehension tests your ability to find
information in a long passage.
One can calculate the exact answer for a math question but the credited answers for a
verbal question seem very subjective and arbitrary. Here an answer choice is correct
because it is better than other four answer choices.
The basic approach:
For sentence correction:
- to identify a grammar problem or rule � Eliminate answer choices containing that
error.
- Compare the remaining answers,- choose the best answer.
For Critical Reasoning :
- Break the argument in conclusion, premise and assumptions, - state the answer
in your words
- Eliminate the answer choices that do not match with your answer.
For reading Comprehension:
- Read the passage quickly to get the main idea, read and decipher the question
- Find the answer in the passage � write answer in your own words.
- Eliminate the answer choices that do not match your answer.
Best of luck
Verbal Section
This question presents a sentence, part of which or all of which is underlined. Beneath
the sentence you will find five ways of rephrasing the underlined part. The first of these
repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose
option A, else pick one of the others.
1. John and Tim went to the bank and he made a deposit.
A. he
B. they
C. it
D. their
E. you
2. Although the average Girl Scout joins the organization at age 14, they have
already been Brownies for several years.
A. they have already been Brownies
B. they were Brownies
C. she has already been a Brownie
D. she had already been a Brownie
E. she was in the Brownies
3. In 1980, the Netherlands agreed to limit fishing in certain Atlantic Ocean beds,
but in 1981, they terminated the agreement.
A. they terminated the agreement.
B. they decided to terminate the agreement.
C. it terminated the agreement.
D. it was terminated.
E. it decided the agreement was terminated.
4. While brokers, as a rule, are not permitted to know executive access codes, in
many instances they are widely known.
A. they are widely known
B. they are widely known to be
C. they are widely known by many
D. the codes are able to be widely known
E. the codes are widely known
5. Despite seeming tame and intelligent, the state troopers had no choice but to shoot
the loose Gorilla.
A. Despite seeming tame and intelligent
B. Despite a tame and intelligent appearance
C. Although appearing to be tame and intelligent
D. Although it seemed tame and intelligent
E. However tame and intelligent in appearance
6 . The number of workers have increased steadily each year.
A. have increased steadily
B. steadily have increased
C. have been increasing steadily
D. has increased steadily
E. has steadily been going through an increase
7. The commercial airliner flew too close to the military base, an act that the army
saw as a violation of its air space.
A.as
B. as if it was
C. to be
D. that it was
E. for
The questions in this group are based on the content of a passage. After reading
the passage, choose the best answer to each question. Answer all questions
following the passage on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage.
8. For the past five years, US consumption of eggs has decreased. The National
Egg Council plans to reverse this trend by launching an advertising campaign
extolling the healthful benefits of eggs.
Which one of the following, if true, will provide the strongest support for the
National Egg Council's plan?
A. Eggs are a good source of protein.
B. Many former egg eaters now make omelets using egg
substitutes.
C. Most people stopped eating eggs because they thought eggs
were unhealthy.
D. Eggs contain unhealthy levels of cholesterol.
E. Eggs substitute makers launched an extensive marketing
campaign six years ago.
9. In an effort to reduce the amount of fat and the number of calories that they
consume, many citizens of the United States are making significant changes in
their diets. For them staying in shape and looking fit now take precedence over
eating foods that are filling and that taste good. It is likely that if they maintain
these new priorities with consistent regard for other health issues, the length and
quality of their lives will increase significantly.
Which one of the following is an assumption upon which the argument is based?
A. Eating foods that are filling and tastes good is inconsistent with
staying in shape and looking fit.
B. Controlling the quality of one's life requires more than mere
dietary adjustments.
C. A combination of diet and exercise is necessary if one wishes to
stay in shape and look fit.
D. Many citizens of the United States have only recently discovered
the importance of diet to living a longer, healthier life.
E. Staying in shape and looking good are current goals for most
citizens of the United States.
10. Singing in the Rain Umbrella Corp. plans to institute a marketing campaign in
which it sells umbrellas at the exits of subway stations during rainy weather. The
umbrellas will be sold at a price that is slightly higher than normal. The company
thinks the sales of these higher � priced umbrellas will be greater than normal
sales of umbrellas, because the purchasers of these umbrellas will be forced to
buy them if they do not want to get wet.
The author assumes which of the following about the purchasers of the umbrellas
in predicting the sales of the umbrellas?
A. Customers who do not feel immediate pressure to purchase will
not do so.
B. Normally priced umbrellas are not profitable for singing in the
Rain Umbrellas Corp.
C. Very few people buy Singing in the Rain's normally priced
umbrellas.
D. Singing in the Rain Umbrellas Corp. will have to stop selling
normally priced umbrellas when it starts selling higher priced
umbrellas.
E. Most potential customers of Singing in the Rain's higher priced
umbrellas will not have acquired an umbrella previously.
11. A leading cement manufacture has been having problems processing manufacturing
and delivery records since it expanded its operations. To solve this problem it plans to
install a new platform on its central computing system which will run its tracking program
five times faster than the current system does.
Which one of the following castes the most serious doubt on the manufacture's
plan?
A. Not all computer platforms can make the company's tracking programs
run more quickly
B. The cost of the new computer platform will require the cement
manufacture to raise prices for its products.
C. The cement company's computer system does not have the capability to
run the new platform and cannot be updated.
D. The company has been increasing the sales of cement by 1.5 percent a
month for the past 18 months.
E. A completely new computer system could make the program run 6 times
faster than it does currently.
12. Critics insist that government regulation of business has made it more difficult for
American businesses to operate profitably and has destroyed their ability to compete
with foreign producers of consumer goods. This argument is not compelling.
Government regulation of business was never as active in this nation as it was between
the years 1975 and 1985, and in those years the average net worth of American family
increased more than it had in any previous decade.
The author's argument would be most seriously weakened if it were true that
A. 80 percent of all businesses started during the decade 1975-1985 lost
money in their first year.
B. More businesses declared bankruptcy during the period 1975-1985 than
in any previous decade.
C. During the decade 1975-1985, America imported more consumer goods
than it exported.
D. The increase in net worth of average American families during the years
1975-1985 was largely due to an increase in the value of residential
homes.
E. The average interest rate charged on business and home mortgage loans
was higher during the decade 1975-1985 than it had been in any previous
decade.
13. A recession is not caused by any economic force other than nation wide loss of
confidence. If the economy is perceived as being unstable, banks are
conservative in lending money, investors take fewer risks and hence economic
growth is slowed.
Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument above.
A. A recession is getting effected by the response of the Federal Reserve's
setting of interest rates.
B. A recession can be brought on by the failure of a major bank that had been
loaning money.
C. Slowed economic growth is not the only result of a recession.
D. When investors begin taking greater risks it is enough to stimulate economic
growth.
E. It is a fallacy to assume that economic growth is necessary for economic
stability.
14. In an effort to increase revenues, Sky Air recently partnered with several airlines
to create a joint frequent-flier program. In the new program, miles earned on all
partner airlines can be combined for reward tickets valid on any airline in the
partnership. Sky Air's CEO cites a recent increase in the number of passengers
on all the partner airlines as evidence that the new frequent-flier program is
having the desired effect. Industry analysts doubt the CEO's claim.
Which of the following, if true, best supports the analysts' positions?
A. Air travel tends to be seasonal, with more passengers traveling during
warmer months and holiday periods.
B. The recent increase in passenger rates for all the partner airlines was
predicted by the lowest rates of air travel in the last decade.
C. Many travelers achieved reward tickets more quickly under the new
frequent-flier program and redeemed them recently for free travel.
D. Travelers redeemed frequent-flier rewards on Sky Air's partners more
frequently than on Sky Air.
E. A study of frequent-flier programs showed that they generally result in
increased long-term airline revenues.
This question presents a sentence, part of which or all of which is underlined.
Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of rephrasing the underlined part.
The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the
original is best, choose option A, else pick one of the others
15. Neither my mother nor my father, both of whom are English professors, agree
with my contention that James Joyce's novel Ulysses is overrated.
A. Both of whom are English professors, agree with my contention that
James Joyce's novel Ulysses is overrated.
B. Both of whom are English professors, agrees with my contention that
James Joyce's novel Ulysses is overrated.
C. Both of whom are English professors, agree with my contention that
Ulysses, a novel by James Joyce is overrated.
D. Each of whom is an English professor, agree with my contention that
James Joyce's novel Ulysses is overrated.
E. English professors the both of them agrees with my contention that
James Joyce's novel Ulysses is overrated.
16. A number of military personnel who served in Operation Desert Storm has
encountered a series of unexplainable symptoms that were attributed to Gulf War
syndrome.
A. has encountered a series of unexplainable symptoms that were attributed
to
B. has unexplainably encountered a series of symptoms that have been
attributed as
C. have encountered a series of unexplained symptoms that have been
attributed as
D. have encountered a series of unexplainable symptoms that have been
attributed to
E. have encountered unexplainably a series of symptoms that were
attributed as
17. Although Smith once championed the charity, he changed his mind after journalist
linked its origin to a corrupt individual.
A. once championed the charity
B had once championed the charity
C has once championed the charity
D was a champion of the charity
E championed the charity at one time
18. A swarm of desert honeybees, a phenomenon seen by few of the select scientists
and entomologists, occur when a portion of the colony leave the current nest to find a
new home.
A. few of the select scientists and entomologists, occur when a portion of the
colony leave
B. a select few scientists and entomologists, only occurs when portions of the
colony leaves
C very few selected scientists and entomologists, occur when portions of the
colony leave
D. only very few selected scientists and entomologists, occurs when a portion of
the colony leaves
E. only a select few scientists and entomologists, occurs when a portion of the
colony leaves
19. During the State of the Union address every February the president announced the
amount of the new programs the administration planned to create and the amounts of
money it invested in each one.
A. announced the amount of the new programs the administration planned to
create and the amounts of money it invested in each one
B. announced the amount of the new programs the administration had created
and the amount of money that was invested in each one
C. announces the number of the new programs the administration plans to create
and the amount of money to be invested in each one
D. announces the amount of the new programs created by the administration and
the amount of money invested in them
E. had announced the administration's plans for a number of new programs and
the amounts of money that were to be invested in them
20.Of the numerous decisions facing the Supreme Court this term, the question of an
individual's right to die is for certain the more perplexing.
A. the question of an individual's right to die is for certain the more perplexing
B. it seems certain that the more perplexing is the question of an individual's right
to die
C. the question of an individual's right to die is certainly the most perplexing
D. it seems certain the question of an individual's right to die is the most
perplexing
E. the question of an individual's right to die is certainly the more perplexing
21. In response to losing a significant part of its market share to a competitor, the soft
drink company has cut costs by withholding executive bonuses, changed their
advertising agency, and have redesigned the company logo.
A. changed their advertising agency, and have
B. changing their advertising agency, as well as
C. has changed its advertising agency, and
D. and changed its advertising agency, and has
E. changed its advertising agency, and
22. Now even directors of off- Broadway productions, desperate for actors who are
talented, charismatic, and aspiring more to a solid career in the theater than to the
lucrative rewards and stardom proffered by movie moguls and studios, are turning to
independent casting directors for guidance in assembling their casts.
A. are talented, charismatic, and aspiring
B. are talented, who have charisma, and who are aspiring
C. have talent and are charismatic and aspire
D. are talented and have charisma, and whose aspirations are
E. are talented and charismatic, and who aspire
23. The Supreme Court can effectively rule on a case in two ways, either by
deciding to hear the case and handling down its judgment, or rather to simplify
refuse to hear the case at all.
A. either by deciding to hear the case and handing down its judgment, or
rather to simplify refuse
B. either by deciding to hear the case and handing down its judgment, or
by simplify refusing
C. by either deciding to hear the case and hand down its judgment or to
simplify refuse
D. to hear a case and to hand down its judgment, or to refuse simply
E. either by deciding to hear the case and hand down its judgment, or the
simple refuse
24. The establishment of land trusts in New England has been praised not
because of its restricting overdevelopment but because it allows the inheritance by
future generations of the property.
A. not because of its restricting overdevelopment but because it allows the
inheritance by future generations of
B. because of not only is restricting overdevelopment and also allows the
inheritance by future generations of
C. because it does not only restrict overdevelopment, it also allows future
generations for inheriting
D. because of not only the restrictions on over development but also
because future generations can inherit
E. Not only because it restricts overdevelopment but also because it
allows future generations to inherit
25. Some students of literary criticism consider the theories of Blaine to be a huge
advance in modern critical thinking and question the need to study the discounted
theories of Rauthe and Wilson.
A. to be a huge advance in modern critical thinking and question
B. as a huge advance in modern critical thinking and question
C. as being a huge advance in modern critical thinking and questioned
D. a huge advance in modern critical thinking and question
E. are a huge advance in modern critical thinking and questioned
26. One of the possible results of the further depletion of the ozone in the atmosphere
would be a sharp increase in the demand for sunscreens. Many of the ingredients in
sunscreens are natural, and the demand for these products will require strict
conservation laws. This will represent the victory for those who desire greater protection
for the environment.
Which one of the following best states the conclusion in the passage above?
A. Industries that produce ozone-depleting chemicals should be encouraged to
continue doing so.
B. Regulation of ozone-depleting chemicals should be handled on a federal level.
C. The natural ingredients in sunscreen products should be replaced by synthetic
substitutes.
D. The effects of ozone depletion on the environment are not categorically negative.
E. The few positive effects of ozone depletion are far outweighed by the myriad
negative effects.
27. The American division of the Acme running shoe company should begin
marketing running shoes with double-thick soles. Acme's Swedish division is
selling a large number of these items, and is enjoying its most profitable quarter
ever.
Which of the following is an assumption made by the author of the argument
above?
A. Acme's Brazilian division is also selling a large number of
running shoes with double-thick soles.
B. Swedes and Americans have similar tastes in music.
C. Acme is the only running shoe company that manufacturers
double-thick soles.
D. The running shoe market in America tends to follow the same
trends as does the market in Sweden.
E. Acme has experienced financial troubles in the last three
quarters.
28. Currently about 70 percent of all urban households recycle some portion of their
garbage, 25 percent more than did ten years ago. This increase can be
attributed , in part , to the fact that a larger portion of the population is now under
the age of 47.
Of the following, which can be most properly inferred from the passage
above?
A. Of those who currently recycle, at least 70 percent recycle less than 25
percent of what is potentially recyclable.
B. Younger people are generally more conscientious about waste disposal
than are older people.
C. People under the age of 47 are more likely to recycle than are their older
counterparts.
D. The overall population has risen by at least 25 percent in the past ten
years.
E. People currently over the age of 47 recycled more often ten years ago.
29. State colleges have lower tuitions than do private colleges because many of
their operating costs are covered by federal and state funds.
Which of the following inferences is best supported by the statement made
above?
A. Private colleges have higher operating costs than do state
colleges.
B. Many more people matriculate at state colleges than do at
private colleges.
C. Tuition fees and operating costs are directly related.
D. the cost of attending state college is always more than the cost
of
attending private college.
E. If private colleges are to lower their tuitions , they must receive
outside support.
30. Many people feel that hard work deserves a reward. However, this is not true.
Hard work should be its own reward, because such work intrinsically gives the
worker satisfaction when it is performed satisfactorily.
The author of the argument draws his or her conclusion by
A. Claiming than what is commonly believed is false for that very
reason.
B. Pointing out the inconsistencies in a counterargument.
C. Challenging the definition of the word "reward" as something
extrinsic to a task.
D. Repeating a premise that was previously stated.
E. Allowing a counterclaim to weaken his or her argument.
31 . If we reduce the salaries of our employees, then profits will increase by 35 percent.
Because we must increase our profits, it is clear that employee salaries must be
reduced.
Which of the following most closely parallels the reasoning used in the argument
above?
A. If I eat less food, I will lose weight. Since I started skipping breakfast, I
have lost ten pounds.
B. If I work four more hours each week, I will earn enough money to afford
a new hobby. Because I would like a new hobby, I will collect coins.
C. If god does not exist, then there is no basis for morality. Because some
actions are morally wrong, God must exist.
D. If there is an economic recession, then salaries will be reduced.
Because salaries are not decreasing, there is not an economic
recession.
E. If there were more commercials, the number of television watchers
would decline. Because the number of television watchers should be
reduced, the number of commercials should be increased.
This question presents a sentence, part of which or all of which is underlined.
Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of rephrasing the underlined part.
The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think
the original is best, choose option A, else pick one of the others
32. As we traveled the back roads of Arkansas, each of us were equipped with a
canteen, a knife, and a compass.
A. Each of us were equipped
B. Equipping ourselves
C. Every one of were equipped
D. Each of us was equipped
E. Equipped as we are
33. The best labor negotiators are the ones that have the ability of settling even the
most irreconcilable stalemates.
A. The ones that have the ability of settling even
B. Them that are able even to settle
C. Those who have the ability to settle even
D. Those that are able to even settle
E. The ones who have the ability of even settling
34. Many small companies expand their client bases not so much by aggressive
marketing as by networking and word of mouth.
A. So much by aggressive marketing as by
B. As much with marketing aggressively as with
C. Much by aggressive marketing that instead by
D. So aggressively with marketing but with
E. In marketing aggressively but rather in
Reading Comprehension
The questions in this group are based on the content of a passage. After reading the
passage, choose the best answer to each question. Answer all questions following the
passage on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage.
Until recently corporate ideology in the United States
has held that bigger is better. This traditional view of the
primacy of big, centralized companies is now being
challenged as some of the giants of American business
5. are being out formed by a new generation of smaller,
streamlined business. If it was the industrial revolutions
that spawned the area of massive industrialize companies,
then perhaps it is the information revolutions of the 1990s
that is spawning the area of the small company.
10. For most of this century, big companies dominated an
American business scene that that seemed to thrive on its own
Grandness of scale. The expansion westward, the growth
of railroad and steel industries, an almost limitless
supply of cheap raw materials, plus a populations boom
15.That provided an ever increasing demand for new products
(although not cheap source of labor) all coincided to
encourage the growth of large companies.
But rapid developments in the market place have begun
to change the accepted rules of business and have under-scored
20. the need for fast reaction times. Small companies without
huge overhead and inventory, can respond quickly to a
technologically advanced age in which new products
and technologies can become outmoded within a year
of their being brought to market.
25. Of course, successful emerging small companies face a
potential dilemma in that their very success will tend to turn
them into copies of the large corporate dinosaurs they are now
supplanting. To avoid this trap, small companies may look to
the example of several CEOs of large corporations who
30. have broken down their sprawling organizations into small
semi-independent divisions capable of making their way
into the twenty first century.
1. The primary purpose of the passage is to
? Present evidence that resolves a contradiction in business theory
? Discuss reasons why an accepted business pattern is changing
? Describe a theoretical model and method whereby that model can be
tested.
? Argue that a traditional ideology deserve new attentions
? Resolve two conflicting explanations for a phenomenon
2. The author's attitude toward emerging small companies is one of the
? Disappointment
? Optimism
? Uncertainty
? Criticism
? Elation
3. Which of the following best describes the organization of the first paragraph of
the passage?
? A conventional model is described and an alternative is introduced.
? An assertion is made and general supporting example is given.
? Two contradictory points of view are presented and evaluated.
? A historical overview is given to explain a phenomenon.
? A new theory is described and then qualified.
Passage 2
One recent example of industrial hyper growth has taken place in the
recycling industry, led by the rapid expansion of the recycled paper market.
Though many laws were enacted in the late 1980s to encourage
(and in some cases require) the collection of waste paper for recycling,
there were not, at that time, companies with sufficient capacity to recycle
it all. Consequently the collected paper accumulated in storage, usually
at the expense of the recycling companies, thereby adding to their overhead
and squeezing their already thin profit margins.
Today a different situation exists. Fifty-seven new paper mills have been
built since 1991, and of these, at least twenty-nine use recycled fiber.
This surge in capacity has resulted in a concurrent rise in profits. The price per
Ton of waste paper has quadrupled in the past year, as have the prices of
corrugated cardboard and used newsprint. Trash haulers have benefited from
these conditions by combining their trash hauling and recycling operations.
Recycling centers are connected both to the clients to whom they sell end-
products and to those from whom they collect refuse; thus, the company gets
paid twice for the same trash, once for hauling the waste and once for selling the
usable material. Industry profits have increased more than tenfold during this period. As
the industry has become more competitive, some haulers have chosen to rebate a
portion of this money to their clients in the hopes of ensuring their loyalty.
1. According to the passage, which of the following is a reason for the increase in
profits in the trash hauling business?
(A) Haulers' ability to sell both services and products.
(B) Money offered by haulers to preferred customers.
(C) Foresight exhibited by the leaders of the industry.
(D) Haulers' willingness to adapt technology to a changing industry.
(E) Passage of stricter environmental legislation.
2. It can be inferred from the passage that the price of waste paper
(A) will increase steadily over the next few years
(B) will increase as more companies get involved in the industry
(C) is closely related to the availability of trash haulers
(D) is not as important to trash haulers as the price they charge for hauling waste
(E) is sometimes set by the weight of the product
3. The author of the passage would most likely agree with which of the following?
A. Competition between trash haulers and recyclers will prevent the recycled paper
industry from reaching its full economic potential.
B. Pressure from anti-environmental groups has increased pressure on the government
to oppose recycled paper initiatives.
C. The recycled paper industry may continue to grow at its present rate as long as the
industry remains profitable.
D. The profit-seeking of recyclers have overshadowed environmental concerns in the
recycled paper industry.
E. Government negligence prevented the recycled paper industry from becoming
successful until the early 1990's.
4. According to the passage, all of the following are results of the increase in the number
of new mills using recycled finer except
A. The price of waste paper has risen dramatically.
B. Trash haulers are earning increased revenues.
C. Profits at recycling centers have increased more than tenfold.
D. The price of corrugated cardboard has risen.
E. Trash haulers have been forced to compete with recyclers.
Answer key:
1. (B). Who made a deposit? You can't tell. They is the only pronoun that creates a clear
reference and agreement.
2. (C). Use the 2/3 split. The pronoun refers to the average Girl Scout, so it should be
she. Eliminate (A) and (B). One difference among the others is has vs. had. vs. was. The
verb tense needs to be consistent with joins, so use has and choose (C).
3. (C). They Netherlands is an it (as is the United States) not a they. Eliminate (A) and
(B). (D) terminates the Netherlands, always a bad idea. (E) is passive, so choose the
active (C).
4. (E). Step 1: The 2/3 split shown in italics (which doesn't happen on the real test) is
they vs. the codes. You want the codes because they is ambiguous; it could refer to
brokers or codes. Step 2: Eliminate (A), (B), and (C). Step 3: The difference between (D)
and (E) is able to be. Codes aren't able (only people are), so choose (E).
5. (D). (A) has a misplaced modifier because it suggests that the troopers were tame
and intelligent. (B), (C), and (E) change the words around a little , but they still repeat
this error.(D) fixes the misplaced modifier by turning the phrase into a clause. The
pronoun it is okay because the only noun it could match is the loose gorilla.
6. (D). Subject is The number, which is singular (a number is plural). Eliminate (A), (B),
and (C). (D) is shorter and simpler than (E).
7. (A). The idiom is see/saw�as and only (A) gets it right.
8. (C). Support for the argument are the identifying words. C: Increase egg consumption
with health ads. P: None worth mentioning. A: Health is an issue for potential egg-eaters.
(A) and (B) aren't bad, but they require you to infer a connection between eggs, health,
and consumers' concerns rather than stating it outright. (C) clearly shows consumers are
concerned with eggs' health effects. (D) weakens the argument. (E) is out of scope.
9. (A) ID the question: Assumption is an obvious key word. Work the argument: C: If
people maintain the new priorities (changes in diet), the length and quality of their lives
will increase. P: People are making changes to their diets (a subsidiary conclusion)
because they'd rather be fit than eat foods that are filling and taste good. Gap: better
diet��longer life and changes to diet��filling, good-tasting foods. POE:
(B) is irrelevant. If anything, this weakens by suggesting that changes in diet aren't
enough. (C) is irrelevant. This goes along with the general idea, but it's not strictly
necessary. In (D), the time of discovery is irrelevant. In (E), the goals of most citizens are
irrelevant. You're only interested in the people who are acting on their goals. (A) fills in
the assumption needed to make the subsidiary conclusion true. If eating filling, goodtasting
foods is inconsistent with staying in shape and looking fit, people who want to
stay in shape and be fit are willing to give them up. They will maintain good habits
and live longer, better lives.
10. (A) ID the question: Assume is an obvious key word. Work the argument: C: Sales of
umbrellas at subway exits while it's raining will be greater than normal sales. P: People
will be forced to buy umbrellas if they don't want to get wet. A: They don't have
umbrellas with them. They are unwilling to get wet. POE: In (B), profitability of normally
priced umbrellas is irrelevant. In (C), sales of normally priced umbrellas are irrelevant.
(D) doesn't deal with the issue. (E) looks good, but it's not right. Potential customers
might have umbrellas, but the issue is whether they have an umbrella with them. (A)
makes the link. If it's raining and you don't have an umbrella, you feel the pressure to
make a purchase. On some assumption questions, you may have a lot of difficulty
spotting the necessary assumption due to the way the answers are worded. This is
particularly true with answer choices containing negative words such as not and never.
One way to check whether an answer choice is a necessary assumption is to negate, or
reverse, that answer. If the negation would weaken the argument, that answer is a
necessary assumption.
11. (C ) ID the question: The keys words are casts the most doubt. Work the argument:
C: The company will install the faster platform on its computer system. P: The company
can't process its records fast enough anymore. Gap: New platform��fixing current
problems. A: (1) Speed won't compromise accuracy; (2) the computer can run the
program. (C) attacks assumption #2. (B) strengthens the argument; (A) is irrelevant
(what if the platform the company has in mind can do the job?). (D) only addresses the
company's expansion, and (E) is irrelevant.
12. (D) ID the question: The key words are most seriously weakened. Work the
argument: C: The idea that government regulation hinders profits is invalid. P: From
1975�1985, when government regulation was very active, the average net worth of
American families rose. Gap: Business profits��families' net worth. A: The profitability
of businesses caused the average net worth of American families to rise. (D) provides an
alternate reason why families were richer. (A) Is 80% better or worse than normal?
Irrelevant. (B) Isn't strong enough because it doesn't list bankruptcies as a percentage of
the whole. (C) Is out of the scope. If (E) were true, how would average net worth of
families rise?
13. (D) Identify the question: The key word is strengthen. Work the argument: C: A
recession is caused only by a national loss of confidence. P: If people think the economy
is sluggish, they won't invest. (D) strengthens the link between investor confidence and
economic growth by stating that greater investment strengthens the economy. (A) and
(B) weaken the conclusion by offering other causes for a recession. (C) is backward; we
don't care what recessions cause; we care what causes a recession. In (E), economic
stability is never mentioned.
14. (D) Read the question carefully. It asks you to support the analyst's position, not the
CEO's. The analysts argue that the CEO is wrong to say that increase in passengers on
partner airlines is evidence that the program is working to increase revenues. P: The
joint frequent flier program allows miles earned on partner airlines to be combined for
reward tickets on any airline. There's been an increase in the number of passengers on
the partner airlines. You need to show that the frequent flier plan is NOT increasing
revenues for Sky Air. POE: (A) is irrelevant. (B) is irrelevant. (C) goes along the CEO's
position, not that of the analysts. (E) supports the CEO's position. Only (D) supports the
analysts' position.
15. (B) Another common subject-verb agreement issue arises when a sentence has a
compound subject. The split is agree/agrees. With neither...nor, the verb agrees with the
subject closest to it, so father is the subject. Eliminate choices with plural verbs. (A), (C),
and (D) are out. Choice (E) contains awkward, unidiomatic wording (English professors
the both of them). (B) is the answer.
16. (D) The number/a number is an ETS favorite. A number is plural; eliminate (A) and
(B). The next split is attribute...as/attribute...to. The idiom is attribute to, so (C) and (E)
are out. (D) is the answer.
17. ( B) The tense shifts in the answer choices. Two events happened in the past, and
one happened earlier than the other did (Smith championed the charity, and then he
changed his mind). The past perfect tense is best to convey this meaning. (A), (C), (D),
and (E) don't use the correct tense. Choose (B).
18. (E) This example has modifier problems because only moves around in the answer
choices and because of the select/selected split. Only should emphasize a select few
scientists . However, it's probably easier to work the subject-verb error first. Start with the
leave/leaves or occur/occurs split. The subject, swarm, is singular. Eliminate (A) and (C)
because occurs is plural. Eliminate (B) because portions does not agree with leaves.
The choice between (D) and (E) comes down to meaning. Selected means a group
chosen by someone, while select means a special group. (E) is better at conveying the
meaning of a small group of scientists who have been lucky enough to witness the
swarm.
19. (C ) The errors are tense (announce/announces/had announced) and quantity words
(amount/number). Programs are countable and should be modified by number. Eliminate
(A), (B), and (D). Since the action occurs every February, it's ongoing, and present tense
is best. Eliminate (E).
20(C ) There's a comparative vs. superlative split (more/most). The sentence compares
more than two things (Numerous decisions), so choose most. Eliminate (A), (B), and (E).
(D) is unidiomatic and unnecessarily wordy, so (C) is the best answer.
21( E) This one is tricky because withholding is a red herring. The three verbs are cut,
changed, and redesigned.
(A) and (B) have pronoun trouble because company is singular; therefore, the proper
pronoun is it. (C) and (D) aren't parallel. (E) is the answer.
22. ( E) Ideally, you want the list to have three adjectives. However, there's no form of
aspiring that fits in the sentence. You're left looking for the answer that sucks the least.
You can keep the two adjectives and refer to aspire separately. (A), (B), and (D) are not
parallel, and the two and's in (C) are redundant. For parallel construction in lists, use the
"apples to apples, oranges to oranges" mnemonic.
23. (B) The either/or option of deciding or refusing needs parallel construction. (A), (C),
and (E) are not parallel. (E) uses the gerund form the refusing, which is not parallel to
the verb deciding. (D) does not make the options clear. (B) keeps by deciding and by
refusing parallel.
24. (E) This example serves as a lead-in to idiom errors. Not only...but also demands
parallel construction. (B) and (C) don't have the correct idiom. (A) and (D) are not
parallel. (E) keeps restricts and allows parallel.
25. (D) The idiom is consider�(nothing), so eliminate everything but (D). The changing
prepositions at the beginning of each answer are the giveaway.
26. (D) THE Results aren't all bad because they will require stricter conversation laws.
Use POE to eliminate the other answers. (A) The author never encourages ozone
depletion. Also, should is extreme. (B) Level of government is never mentioned. Also,
should is extreme. (C) Synthetics aren't mentioned and should is extreme. (E) The
relative positive/ negative balance is not mentioned and far outweighed is extreme.
27. (D) Conclusion: The American division should sell the thick- soled shoes. Premise:
The thick- soled shoes are selling like crazy in Sweden. Assumption: Americans and
Swedes have comparable tastes in shoes.
28.(C ) The second sentence connects the propensity to recycle to age. So,( c)is true.
(A) We don't know anything about the potential amount of recycling . (B) Waste disposal
is too general; we only know about recycling. (D) We don't know about overall
population, only the age distribution within the population . (E) We don't know about
these people in the past.
29. (C) State colleges can lower their tuition costs because the federal and state funds
cover some of the colleges' costs. The two must therefore be related. (A) fits with the
real world, but the argument never mentions it. (B) never mentioned. (D) never
mentioned , and always is extreme.( E) might seem to make sense , but we don't know
private colleges raise their funds. If they were to lower tuition, they could make up for it
firing teachers or making other cutbacks.
30.(C ) The author's impression of a reward is different from the more widely held belief.
In the author's estimation, a job well done is the reward. Extrinsic to the task means that
the work isn't enough. You need to get a prize.
31. (E) C: Employee salaries must be reduced. P: We want to increase profits. If we
reduce salaries, profits will increase. In its general form the argument says, "If A,
then B. Want B, so do A." (A), (B), and (C) don't match. (D) might look attractive
because it mentions salaries. However, don't be drawn to answer choices that
use words or topics similar to those in the question. In fact, they're usually
wrong. (E) matches. C: The number of commercials should be increased. P: The
number of television watchers should be reduced. If there were more
commercials, the number of television watchers would decline.
32.(D)Each is a singular pronoun, so each�. were doesn't agree;(A) dies. (C) has the
same problem, because every is also singular.( B) and (E) create sentence fragments
without a main subject/ verb arrangement.
33.(C) Get rid of (A) right away, because the ones is awkward. The idiom is ability to,
not ability of. Use the 2/3 split and get rid of (A) and (E) .When you refer to people, it's
proper to use who, not that; eliminate (B) and (D). (D) also has a split infinitive (which
we'll also talk about later.
34. (A) The idiom is not so much_____ as ______, and (A) is parallel; not so much
by�as by.
Answer for RC 1
1 (B). Make a map of the passage. There are no contradictions that are being talked
about, so A is out. The passage is not testing any model hence C is out. D is a trap
answer it talks about "traditional ideology" while the passage is about "corporate
ideology" and traditional views. Option E is out as no conflicting explanation for a
phenomenon has been discussed in the passage.
2 (B). Option (E) is out as too extreme. The author's attitude is not critical or negative
hence options (A) and (D) are out. (C) is a trap answer as it uses language from the
passage � dilemma .
3 (A). Option (B) is out as the author is not asserting himself. Option C is not correct as
there are no evaluations being made. (D) is a trap answer as it talks about historical
overview . A student would be attracted to this answer as the first paragraph talks about
traditional view, gives dates and events etc. ( E ) is again not the correct option as no
new theory is being described.
Answers for RC 2
1. (A). Look for the cause of increased profits for trash haulers. This is discussed in lines
16-22. (A) paraphrases the idea that the companies haul the trash (services) and sell the
recycled paper (products). (B) is a trap because preferred customers is a recognizable
phrase from a different part of the passage. (C), (D), and (E) are all out of scope.
2. (E). Look for the price of waste paper. It's discussed in lines 14-16. In step 3, students
will answer that prices have increased a lot. (A) and (B) come close to that, but they
make predictions rather than describing the past. (C) and (D) are out of scope. (E) is true
(price per ton), even though it may seem trivial.
3.(C). (A) says the opposite of the passage: they cooperate more than they compete.
(B), (D), and (E) are all out of scope. (C) isn't great, but it's probably true (you gotta love
may) and consistent with the author's description.
4. (E). With EXCEPT questions, find each of the wrong answers in the passage before
you cross them off. The remaining, correct answer may either contradict the passage or
just be out of scope. (A) is supported by lines 14-16. (B) is supported by lines 20-23. (C)
is supported by lines 22-23. (D) is supported by lines 15-16. (E) contradicts the idea of
cooperation between trash haulers and recyclers.
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