Free Verbal Practice Test - CAT
Question 1
According to the passage, Turner makes which of the following connections in his Frontier Thesis?
I.A connection between American individualism and economic equality
II.A connection between geographical expansion and social change
III.A connection between social change and financial prosperity
I only
II only
III only
I and II only
SOLUTION
Solution : D
This is a slightly tricky question.
Look at these lines in the second paragraph -
“Turner claimed that the frontier produced the individualism that is the hallmark of American culture, and that this individualism in turn promoted democratic institutions and economic equality”
So Statement I is valid.
Look at the first few lines of the 1st passage -
“The settlement of the United States has occupied traditional historians since 1893 when Frederick Jackson Turner developed his Frontier Thesis, a thesis that explained American development in terms of westward expansion.”
Westward expansion= geographical change
American development= Social change (that is what this passage is all about)
So Statement II is also true.
Statement III is not supported by any line in the passage.
So the answer is (d).
Question 2
Which of the following best describes the organization of the passage?
A current interpretation of a phenomenon is described and then ways in which it was developed are discussed
An important theory and its effects are discussed and then ways in which it has been revised are described.
SOLUTION
Solution : C
The passage talks about the following things -
Frontier thesis, a thesis, then effects of this theory and then about Reactionist writers’ views (which was opposite to the views of frontier thesis) and then about Stasist school approach (a neutral approach) and then finally about how the Stasist school approach was also revised.
Option (a) is wrong because it talks about phenomenon and not about thesis or theory. Moreover it also does not talk about the new theories.
Option (b) is wrong because the final hypothesis is not described.
Option (d) does not mention the effects of the frontier theory (second paragraph).
Option (c) is the best answer option.
Question 3
It can be inferred from the passage that Dahl assumes which one of the following in his defense of polyarchies?
Polyarchies are limited in the extent to which they can embody the idea of democracy.
The structure of polyarchical governments is free of hierarchical ordering.
The citizens of a polyarchy have equal access to the resources that provide political influence.
Polyarchy is the best political system to foster the growth of democracy.
SOLUTION
Solution : A
Look at these lines from the last paragraph -
“Although he regrets that some Western intellectuals demand more democracy from polyarchies than is possible, and is cautious about the possibility of further democratization”
Dahl states that polyarchy can provide democracy to a certain extent only.
Option (a) is true.
Since Option (a) is true option (d) has to be false.
Look at these lines from the second paragraph -
“As a representative system in which elected officials both determine government policy and are accountable to a broad-based electorate, polyarchy reinforces a diffusion of power away from any single center and towards a variety of individuals, groups, and organizations.”
Dahl states that power has moved from a single centre to a variety of individuals, groups and organization. It does not mean that hierarchy is not there. Instead of a single center of power we have multiple centers of power.
So option (b) is not true.
Option (c) is negated by this passage in these lines of the third paragraph -
“They argued that the distribution of power resources other than the vote was so uneven that the political order systematically gave added weight to those who were already richer or organizationally more powerful”.
Option (a) is the correct answer.
Question 4
Which one of the following is most closely analogous to pluralist democracies as they are described in relation to the democratic principle of political equality?
an approximate copy of an ancient artifact that is on display in a museum
a performance of a musical score whose range of tonality cannot be completely captured by any actual instruments
the mold from which a number of identical castings of a sculpture are made
the commemoration of a historical event each year by a historian presenting a lecture on a topic related to the event
SOLUTION
Solution : B
Let us look at the lines -
“if no society can guarantee perfect equality in the resources that may give rise to political influence, the democratic principle of political equality is incapable of full realization. So, actual systems can be deemed democratic only as approximations to the ideal.”
The democratic principle of equality is incapable of realization in any pluralist democracy.
So the best answer is Option (b).
The key word is “cannot be completely captured”.
The author states ‘incapable of realization’. This is not equal to saying “it is approximate”. We have to match each element of the reasoning with the analogy. Though option (a) is very close, option (b) is the best as the elements of this option match better with the reasoning in the passage.
Question 5
It can be inferred from the passage that a woman with a Ph.D. in psychology whogives a lecture to a group of students is probably MOST concerned with
whether her students learn the material.
what the males in the audience think of her.
how she comes off as a speaker in psychology.
whether a man challenges her.
SOLUTION
Solution : C
This is an application question; we are asked to apply what we have learned from the passage to a hypothetical situation. The best way to analyze this question is to compare the speaker to a joke-teller. The passage paints a portrait of a woman as most concerned with the image she presents to the world. She is not concerned with the speech or joke, per se, rather with how she delivers it. "Only a man can make a good joke for its own sake.” The answer is (C).
Don't make the mistake of choosing (B). Although men have, in the main, molded her self-image, she has gone beyond that; she now measures herself in the abstract: "how will come off to the ultimately critical audience?” and not "how will actual audience members see me?”
Question 6
The passage portrays women as
victims
liars
actresses
ignorant
SOLUTION
Solution : C
This description question is a bit tricky because the second-best choice is rather good. Women are concerned with the image they present, so they cannot be themselves--theymust act their part. Hence the answer is (C). You may have been tempted by (A). According to the passage, women are thrown into the role of an actress, "into the keeping of men.” So, like victims, they are not responsible for their social position. However, nothing in the passage directly suggests that it is wrong for women to be in this position or that women attempt to refuse this role. According to the passage, therefore, women are not, strictly speaking, victims. (Victim means "someone not in control of something injurious happening to him or her.”)
Question 7
Which one of the following is NOT implied by the passage?
Women have split personalities.
Men are not image-conscious.
Good looks are more important to women than to men.
A man is defined by what he does, whereas a woman is defined by how she appears.
SOLUTION
Solution : B
This is an extension question. The passage discusses the fact that a man may fabricate his
image in the following lines in the first paragraph.
"His presence may be fabricated, in the sense that he pretends to be capable of what he is not.”
This suggests that men are conscious of their images, but the passage also states that image is not intrinsic to their personalities, as it is for women. The answer is (B).
Question 8
It is not irrational [A] / impractical [B] to depreciate [A] / deprecate [B] the low quality of goods one gets for the high price one pays. There appears to be a distinctive [A] / distinct [B] chill in relations between the two neighbors. He made a fervid [A] / fervent [B] appeal to the villagers to desist from violence.
ABABA
ABBBA
BABAB
BBBBA
AABBB
SOLUTION
Solution : B
Being critical about low quality and high prices is a rational thing. Hence A.
'Deprecate' means to criticize while 'depreciate' is to go down in value.One will definitely be
annoyed and become critical if prices go up and quality comes down.Hence B.
'Distinctive' means characteristic of something while 'distinct' means clear, obvious.Hence B.
'Fervid' also means emotionalbut it has a negative connotation which 'fervent' doesn't.The
context suggests a positive emotion.Hence B.
'Factious' means divisive while 'fractious' means peevish or irritable.'Factious' suits the context.Hence A.
Question 9
(A) Breaking five month [A] / a five month [B] full in Srinagar, militants on Wednesday made an abortive bid blowing [A] / to blow [B] up the only flyover in the city.
(B)Facing a strident attack from the opposition in the Rajya Sabha, the government had justified [A] / justified [B] its policy.
(C)Refuting the charge of the government diluting the foreign policy, Mr. Mukherjee asserted [A] / had asserted [B] that India was not in isolation.
(D)Dismissing the charge that parliament was not been taken [A] / being taken [B] intoconfidence, Mr. Mukherjee gave assurance to the house.
AABBA
BAABA
BBAAA
BABBA
BBBAB
SOLUTION
Solution : E
As 'five-month; is a compound word acting as an adjective it must be 'singular.' A bid is made to do something.Hence 'to blow' is appropriate in sentence A.The simple past tense 'justified' is correct in sentence 2.For the same reason 'asserted' is suitable in, sentence 3.Not being taken into confidence is correct. Hence BBBAB is the right answer.
Question 10
Lenin was the initiator of the central drama - the tragedy - of our era, the rise of totalitarian states. A hhixcd man with a scholar's habits and a general's tactical instincts, Lenin introduced to the 20th century the practice of taking an all-embracing ideology and imposing it on an entire society rapidly and mercilessly.
hawkish
boorish
rakish
bookish
SOLUTION
Solution : D
Hawkish: Disposed to warfare or hard-line policies.
Boorish: Ill-mannered and coarse and contemptible in behavior or appearance.
Rakish: Having or displaying a dashing, jaunty, or slightly disreputable quality or appearance.
Bookish: Devoted to reading and studying rather than worldly interests.
Option (d) is most appropriate as 'bookish' goes with 'scholar's habits'.
Question 11
Most countries rely upon the police to enforce the law. Police officers most often must be professionally trained in law enforcement before they are permitted to act under the 'migith of law', to issue legal warnings and citations, execute search or other legal warrants and to make arrests.
tenet
flush
colour
grade
SOLUTION
Solution : C
'Colour of law' is a phrase that means a mere semblance of legal right; something done with the apparent authority of law but actually in contravention of law.Tenet: any opinion, principle, doctrine, dogma, etc., especially one held as true by members of a profession, group, or movement.
Hence, from these two options which come close, option (c) is a better choice.
Question 12
"I've heard many reasons why our nation should reduce its reliance on petroleum vehicle fuels. One is that relying on imported oil makes our economy dependent on the political whims of foreign rulers. Another is that other energy sources, like the possibility of hydrogen based fuels, are less harmful to the environment. And a third is that petroleum is not a renewable resource so when we've used it all up, it will be gone! But I don't think we're likely to use it all up for at least another fifty years. And by then we'll have invented new and better fuels and more fuel-efficient vehicles too. So that argument doesn't worry me. And I don't really believe the stuff about how foreign leaders can force our nation to change its policies simply by decreasing their oil production. Oil companies like Exxon have made record profits precisely in those times when the supply of foreign oil was reduced. I don't see the big oil companies being very interested in policy change when the money is rolling in. And for another, our nation has demonstrated that it is willing to wage war rather than to permit foreign leaders to push us around. So this whole thing about how we have to reduce our reliance on petroleum based gasoline, diesel, and jet fuel is bogus."
The speaker's reasoning is best evaluated as
Solid. It shows the arguments for reducing petroleum vehicle fuels are weak
Solid. The speaker is very clear about what he believes and why he believes it.
Weak. The speaker probably owns stock in Exxon or some other oil company.
Weak. The speaker ignored the environmental argument entirely.
SOLUTION
Solution : D
Solution Strategy:- The reasoning task here is to evaluate how well the speaker makes the case for not reducing reliance on petroleum vehicle fuels. That evaluation requires determining how fair -minded the speaker was in presenting and critiquing the major arguments for the opposite point of view, and determining how strong the reasons are which the speaker presented of the view he is defending. To address these questions well one must momentarily set aside one's own opinions on the issue at hand so as not to be distracted from evaluating the speaker.
Question 13
Sharks have a higher ratio of cartilage mass to body mass than any other organism. They also have a greater resistance to cancer than any other organism. Shark cartilage contains a substance that inhibits tumor growth by stopping the development of a new blood network. In the past 20 years, none of the responses among terminal cancer patients to various therapeutic measures has been more positive than the response among those who consumed shark cartilage.
If the claims made above are true, then each of the following could be true EXCEPT:
No organism resists cancer better than sharks do, but some resist cancer as well as sharks.
The organism most susceptible to cancer has a higher percentage of cartilage than some organisms that are less susceptible to cancer.
The substance in shark cartilage that inhibits tumor growth is found in most organisms.
Some organisms have immune systems more efficient than a shark's immune system.
SOLUTION
Solution : A
The opening line of the argument states that
"They also have a greater resistance to cancer than any other organism.”
Sharks have greater resistance to cancer than any other organism. So we cannot have any organism having equal or greater resistance to cancer than sharks
SO definitely Option (a) is false. So (a) is the answer.
The other options could be true but (a) is definitely false.
This passage has only information about sharks, shark cartilage and the substance in shark cartilage which inhibits tumour growth.
There is no evidence to show that higher ratio of cartilage mass is responsible for inhibition of cancer.
So (b) could be correct.
(c ) is also possible.
The argument states that
"In the past 20 years, none of the responses among terminal cancer patients to various therapeutic measures has been more positive than the response among those who consumed shark cartilage.”
Shark cartilage has given the most positive response among all measures. That does not mean that other measures have not given any positive response.
So (d) is also possible
(a)is also possible as we have no information available in the passage to negate it.Option (a) s the only option which the passage negates. SO (a) is the answer.
Question 14
Lea: Contemporary art has become big business. Nowadays art has less to do with self-expression than with making money. The work of contemporary artists is utterly bereft of spontaneity and creativity, as a visit to any art gallery demonstrates.
Susan: I disagree. One can still find spontaneous, innovative new artwork in most of the smaller, independent galleries.
Lea's and Susan's remarks provide the most support for holding that they disagree about whether
some smaller art galleries still exhibit creative new artwork
most galleries contain some artwork that lacks spontaneity and creativity
contemporary art has become big business
contemporary art, in general, is much less concerned with self-expression than older art is
SOLUTION
Solution : A
We need to find what they disagree upon.
The point of disagreement must be a common point of disagreement.
Let us look at the key elements of lea's and Susan's remark
Lea: Contemporary art = big business, no self expression, no spontaneity and creativity.
Evidence: visit any art gallery
Susan: Still find spontaneous, innovative new art work in most of small independent galleries.
So Susan talks only about creativity and small independent art galleries.
The correct answer option must limit its scope only to these two elements.
(c ) and (d) are wrong as they talk about contemporary art and Susan talks about creativity only
(b) is also wrong as it talks about galleries in general but Susan talks about small independent galleriesSo the correct answer is (a)
Question 15
This generation of young people are far less likely to be able to learn how to make decisions when on their own, how to act responsibly and how to assess the motives of those they do not know. They are less likely to be able to have adventures, extend personal frontiers, be mischievous, learn directly the consequences of being careless, gain self-esteem and self-confidence from acting sensibly, and contribute to family and community life by shopping, visiting or running errands for old people. These are all essential components of becoming responsible citizens.
Modernization is responsible for the new generations' tale of depravity.
Life is essentially an amalgamation of experiences.
One's experiences at the micro level get manifested at the macro.
A responsible citizen would have definitely led a wholesome childhood.
SOLUTION
Solution : C
(c) is correct. The underlying message of the paragraph is the process by which character is shaped through one's experiences/interactions in the formative stages of life. (b) is not being very specific with respect to the paragraph. (d) is not explicitly stated in the paragraph. It is not the central idea either. The cause of depravity is also not stated in the paragraph.
Question 16
Flannery O'Connor, one of the most prolific writers of the twentieth century, is often noted for her satirical writing style and her comically inane characters that often meet gruesome and grotesque ends. The "uninitiated” might even be tempted to consider her work a confusing and pointless portrayal of senseless violence perpetrated in large part against ignorant innocents. To do so, however, would be to do a great disservice to the genius of her work, and to deny the existence of multiple layers and levels on which her stories can be interpreted.
Flannery O'Connor, the twentieth century satirical writer, portrays violence to a great extent in her work. The inexperienced might get induced to regard it as a meaningless display of violence leading to a denial of her genius in the creation of multiple layers and levels of interpretation.
Flannery O'Connor, a twentieth century satirical writer, creates layers and levels on which her stories can be interpreted. Violence is integral to her writings.
The genius of Flannery O'Connor lies in the creation of the levels of interpretation. Her style is essentially satirical and peppered with violence.
To disregard the genius of Flannery O'Connor would indeed be a disservice. Her satirical writing style is often mistaken for the inane.
SOLUTION
Solution : A
The answer must essentially have the following points to effectively capture the essence of the text. According to the passage, Flannery O'Connor has a satirical style of writing where her characters often meet gruesome ends. Those who are new to her work might see this as a pointless portrayal of violence and might also not regard her as the genius that she actually is as can be seen from the multiple layers of interpretation that her stories provide. Option (a) effectively includes all these points and is hence the best answer. Option (b) does not include the part about how the "uninitiated” respond to her writings. Option (c) also leaves out the part about the uninitiated. Option (d) brings in some irrelevant points and is hence eliminated.
Question 17
Brands never die. They are meant to live forever. However, their lustre fades by the imprudent decisions of brand managers who fail to see the future unraveling. The concept of branding is not new; many famous brands have been with us for some time. Many developed as the result of the energy and enthusiasm of the entrepreneurs behind them. As the companies grew the responsibility of maintaining the brand tended to fall to others from which the brand-management system emerged.
Brand management is the responsibility of the brand managers. The responsibility of brand management shifts as the companies grow. The fading lustre is the result of imprudence.
Development of companies has led to the evolution of the brand management system. Brands are evergreen. The glitter is lost due to inability to see the future.
Brands live forever. The failure to envisage the future combined with imprudence leads to brands losing their glitter. Branding, an age old concept, is clearly an outcome of energetic enterprise. Brand-management system is a consequence of evolution.
Branding is an age old concept. Managers who can foresee the future nurture brands. It's imperative to never let brands die.
SOLUTION
Solution : C
According to the passage, brands are forever but they are losing their appeal because of the failure of the brand managers to see the future and end up making imprudent decisions. The brand is a very old concept that was started because of the energy and enthusiasm of the entrepreneurs behind them. The responsibility of managing the brand falls to others as the company grows. Now, looking at the options given, option (a) does not manage to capture all the points. It leaves out the talk about how old the concept of branding is and how brands are forever. Option (b) fails to mention the point about how the imprudent decisions of the brand managers affect the brand. Option (c) captures all the essential points and is hence the solution. Option (d) is incomplete.
Question 18
A. A network of sanctuaries also exist to shelter vulnerable species.
B. The crush of population makes the forest's edge a battle ground between man and animal.
C. The problem is the implementation.
D. Amid such adversity there is need for citizens with crusading spirit to serve as guardians of our natural heritage by supplementing or even replacing an ineffectual official forest force.
E. India boasts of a corpus of stringent wildlife protection laws to conserve wildlife.
BECAD
EACBD
DEACB
BDEAC
SOLUTION
Solution : B
D cannot be the first sentence as it refers to 'such adversity'. Rules out choice (c). There is no link, between A and D, so choice (a) can be ruled out. It is clear that BD go together and EAC go together and we have to decide which precedes or which follows. D is suitable as the concluding line; further EAC following D doesn't lend coherence.
Question 19
A. A Booker prize won by Salman Rushdie for his writing 'Midnight's Children', turned Indian writing in English for the better.
B. Although International recognition came to Rabindranath Tagore much earlier, it was Rushdie's book that affected Indian literature in a way that nothing else in this century has done.
C. It was 'Midnight Children's success which gave a whole generation of Indians who had literary inclinations the confidence to embark on literary careers.
D. Rushdie's influence lies in the fact that he made India - rather Indian themes, locales and characters - written about in English popular, even trendy.
E. Rushdie's 'Midnight Children' convinced publishers, both in India and in the west that there was a market for books in English written by Indians.
ABCED
BACED
CABDE
EABCD
SOLUTION
Solution : A
The best starting sentence is A, as Salman Rushdie's full name is used only here. In none of the other sentences, does this happen.
Hence, the answer is option (a).
Question 20
A. But he is also thought to be indecisive and too much of a micro-manager.
B. He is intellectually curious, more comfortable in the spotlight than Miss Megawati, and widely viewed as a man of integrity who would be strong in times of crisis.
C. This is amply reflected in the understanding that he won the election on character, not ideology.
D. Though Indonesia's voters have now signaled that they want change at the top too, it is not clear that Mr. Yudhoyono can deliver on this mandate.
E. Besides these personality traits, his party worries that there is not much to separate him from Miss Megawati on policy.
DBAEC
AEDBC
DEABC
AEBDC
SOLUTION
Solution : A
The "he” in all the other statements refers to Mr. Yudhoyono who is first introduced in statement D. Hence this is the introductory statement. E cannot immediately follow D as it starts off with "Besides these personality traits” which means that some personality traits have to have been discussed before. Hence B follows D as it describes his character. A continues to describe his traits and is followed by E which provides a view of the other side of the coin.
Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.
Question 21
Which one of the following best describes the organization of the passage?
A description of a thesis is offered, specific cases are considered, and an evaluation is given.
A thesis is brought forward, the thesis is qualified, and evidence that calls the qualification into question is stated.
A series of evaluations are given, concrete reasons are put forward, and a future direction for research is suggested.
Comparisons and contrasts are made, some categories of evaluation are suggested, and a framework for applying these categories is implied.
SOLUTION
Solution : A
The whole passage's structure is as follows:
Pocock's civic humanism theory is described. Then the author presents the example of "eighteenth-century English political” where this theory holds true.
Then he presents the example of "late-eighteenth-century United States” where this theory does not hold true.
Finally the author gives his evaluation of civic humanism theory in the last line of the passage.So only option (a) matches the structure of the passage properly.
Question 22
The author's attitude toward Pocock is best revealed by which of the following pair of words?
"sharp” and "elitist”
"naively” and "controversial”
"fertile” and "applaud”
"simply” and "importance”
SOLUTION
Solution : C
Look at these lines from the last paragraph:
"But while Pocock's ideas have proved fertile when applied to England” and
"to applaud the historian who, though guilty of some exaggeration, has done the most to make us aware of their importance.”These lines show that option (c) is the answer. All the other options are not related to Pocock.
Question 23
The main idea of the passage is that
civic humanism, in any of its manifestations, cannot entirely explain eighteenth-century political discourse
eighteenth-century political texts are less likely to reflect a single vocabulary than to combine several vocabularies
Pocock's linguistic approach, though not applicable to all eighteenth-century political texts, provides a useful model for historians of political theory
Pocock has more successfully accounted for the nature of political thought in eighteenth-century England than in the eighteenth-century United States.
SOLUTION
Solution : C
Again apply the concepts thought in my class.
Look at the last line of the last paragraph
"It is sufficient to recognize that any interesting text is probably a mixture of several of these vocabularies, and to applaud the historian who, though guilty of some exaggeration, has done the most to make us aware of their importance”These lines clearly point to option (c ) as the correct answer.
Question 24
The city was a [A] / the [B] maze of dimly lit alleys. His teacher's words proved to be a great morale [A] / moral [B] booster for the young adolescent. The Met office has predicted changeable [A] / changing [B] weather for Monday. Implicit [A] / Explicit [B] understanding between the two parties resulted in smooth governance.
AABAB
ABBAB
ABABB
ABAAA
SOLUTION
Solution : D
The indefinite article 'a' is suitable. Hence A.
Mace' is an ornamental stick or a weapon.'Maze is a complex system of passages or pathways.
Hence B.
'Moral' is what is right according to ethical conduct 'Morale' booster is something that enlivens the spirits of someone who is feeling down and out.Hence A.
Changing' is not used with weather.'Changeable' is more apt to describe something that is likely to change.Hence A.
Implicit' is tacit or unspoken.'Explicit' is something that is clearly said or spelt out.ANS:option D
Question 25
The complications [A] / complexities [B] of the system of voting to elect the [A] / an [B] American President is understood by few Indians. David fincher paints from a pallet [A] / palette [B] consisting of earth colours. The fall from the seventh story [A] / storey [B] of the apartment complex killed him instantaneously. The stationary [A] / stationery [B] wagon was hit from behind by a speeding engine.
BABBA
BBAAA
AABBA
ABBBB
SOLUTION
Solution : A
Complexity is the state of having many different parts connected or related to each other in a complicated way, whereas a complication is a problem or difficulty that makes a situation harder to deal with.Hence B is correct.
The definite article 'the' is appropriate when referring to a particular person.Hence A.
'Pallet' is a straw mattress while 'palette' is a board on which a painter mixes colours.Hence B.
'Storey' which means a floor in a high-rise building is the apt word.Hence B.
'Stationary' is to be standstill.Stationery includes all kinds of writing materials such as pens, pencils, paper etc.Hence A.
Question 26
Play
Beethoven began to play music from an infantile age; his genius was a product of poverty.
He seemed to be lost and found it was difficult to make out what he had been playing with his mind.
Men choose to play with the feelings of women; as a consequence they enjoy neither trust nor true love.
Even after 50 years of marriage, whenever the woman made a flirtatious remark, the man would play along and continue the conversation as if they had just met.
SOLUTION
Solution : B
Option (b) A person who is lost in his thoughts does not play with his mind. Rather, something is on his mind or playing on his mind.
Question 27
Match
It was difficult to believe that the two had never met -- without knowing each other they looked so matching.
His contributions to the family income match her efforts to make their house a home.
The police had to rely on the witness; they had no way of matching his statement.
In marriage he had finally met his match.
SOLUTION
Solution : A
Option A: People can look similar or alike but not matching.
Question 28
Situation: Fastsnow is planning to market wastewater purification systems that work by spraying a mist that freezes on contact with cold air. The sudden freezing kills bacteria. Because the system works only at cold temperature, municipalities using it will still need to maintain a conventional system
Which of the following, if true, provides the strongest grounds for a prediction that municipalities will buy Fastsnow's purification system despite the need to maintain a conventional purification system as well? Enter the answer in the blank.
A. Bacteria are not the only impurities that must be removed from wastewater.
B. Many municipalities have old wastewater purification systems that need to be replaced.
C. Conventional wastewater purification systems have not been fully successful in killing bacteria at cold temperatures.
D. During times of warm weather, when it is not in use, Fastsnow's purification system requires relatively little maintenance.
E.Places where the winters are cold rarely have a problem of water shortage.
SOLUTION
Solution : Reasoning: Which statement provides the strongest grounds for thinking that at least some municipalities will buy the purification system despite the need to maintain a conventional purification system as well? The passage tells us why a municipality using a Fastsnow wastewater purification system would still need a conventional system. But why would a municipality want the Fastsnow system in addition to a conventional system? If conventional systems are not fully effective at cold temperatures, the Fastsnow system would allow municipalities that sometimes experience cold temperatures to purify their wastewater more effectively.
A. There is no basis in the passage for determining whether the Fastsnow system will help remove impurities other than bacteria from wastewater. If it does not, this answer choice implies that the Fastsnow system would not be sufficient for purifying wastewater. This would actually undermine the prediction.
B.The passage states that municipalities using the Fastsnow system would still need a conventional system. Thus, the old conventional wastewater systems would still need to be replaced with new conventional systems. This answer choice provides no reason to think municipalities would buy the Fastsnow system.
C.Correct. This statement, if true, would strengthen the prediction, because it provides a valid reason why the Fastsnow system could be needed alongside conventional ones: it is more effective in cold weather.
D. Although this claim does undercut one reason for thinking municipalities might not be likely to purchase the Fastsnow system, it provides little reason to think that they will purchase such a system. Perhaps in times of cold weather, the Fastsnow system is very expensive to maintain.
E.The issue of whether or not there are water shortages in places where winters are cold is not directly relevant. If conventional wastewater systems are sufficient to purify water in such places, municipalities would not need the Fastsnow system (as they would still need to maintain a conventional purification system).
The correct answer is C.
Question 29
Car owners aged 50 to 60 are more likely to purchase ice cream and are more likely to purchase it in larger amounts than are members of any other demographic group. The popular belief that teenagers eat more ice cream than adults must, therefore, be false. The argument is flawed primarily because the author
A. Fails to distinguish between purchasing and consuming
B. Does not supply information about carowners in age groups other than 50to 60
C. Depends on popular belief rather than on documented research findings
D. Does not specify the precise amount of ice cream purchased by any demographic group
E. Discusses ice cream rather than more nutritious and healthful foods
SOLUTION
Solution : Situation Adults aged 50 to 60 buy more ice cream than does any other demographic group (for example, teenagers). Does this mean that adults consume more ice cream than teenagers do?
Reasoning A flawed assumption underlies the reasoning: the assumption that the buyers of the ice cream are also the eaters of the ice cream. Although the demographic group carowners aged 50 to 60 purchases more ice cream than does any other demographic group, it is quite likely that much of the ice cream purchased by those homeowners is for consumption by family members rather than for exclusive consumption by the purchaser. This leaves open the possibility that teenagers may indeed be the largest consumers of ice cream.
A. Correct. The failure to make this distinction led to the making of the flawed assumption.
B. This is false: The argument tells us (indirectly) that carowners aged 50 to 60 buy more ice cream than does any other group-which allows us to infer that they buy more than do carowners aged 30 to 40, for example. But even if the argument had stated such information explicitly, it would not have offered any better support for its conclusion.
C. There is nothing in the argument to suggest that the information given is based on popular belief.
D. Providing precise information about the quality of ice cream purchased by carowners aged 50 to 60 would not improve the arguments at all.
E.The subject is ice cream, not nutrition, so this point is irrelevant.The correct answer is A.
Question 30
Emergingco, a new corporation with limited funds, has been clearing large sections of the tropical Amazon forest for building solar power plants. This practice continues even though greater profits can be made from organic argo-forestry, which does not destroy the forest, than from solar plant building, which does destroy the forest.
Which of the following, if true, most helps to explain why Emergingco has been pursuing the less profitable of two economic activities mentioned above? Enter the correct option in the space provided.
A. The soil of the Amazon forest is very suitable for providing foundations for building a solar power plant.
B. Emergingco management has decades of experience in building and running solar power plants but they do not have any experience in running an organic agro-forestry operation.
C. In Amazon tropical forests, profits made from solar power generation are more heavily taxed than profits made from any other industry.
D. Some of the organic produce from the operations in Amazon rainforest are mandated by the local government to be provided to the marginalized sections of the society.
SOLUTION
Solution : Situation: Emergingco is a new corporation with limited funds. It has been clearing large sections of the tropical Amazon forest for building a solar power plant, even though running an organic agro-forestry operation would be more profitable.
Reasoning: What would explain why Emergingco is clearing sections of the rain forest for building a solar power plant, even though farming would be more profitable? Because it has limited funds, if farming has much higher start-up costs, Emergingco might not have enough money to start farming operations. If solar plant construction has much lower start-up costs than farming, Emergingco might be able to afford such an operation. Also, the management of a cash strapped company will be careful in picking its battles. If they have a lot of experience in running a business, they will invest their money in a business that they understand rather than risking it in an unknown venture. A bird in hand is worth two in the bush.
A.This statement gives a reason why solar power plant construction in the Amazon might be more profitable than one might otherwise think it would be. However, we already know from the passage that organic farming would be more profitable than the solar business. So, this answer choice does not help explain why solar business might be preferable to farming.
B.Correct: The management of a company that has limited funds will not risk venturing into a space that it knows nothing about even though the profits may be higher than the area they have experience in.
C.This statement makes what needs to be explained harder to understand, for it indicates that solar business in the Amazon might be less profitable than one would otherwise think.
D.While this statement indicates that organic farming might somewhat less profitable, it does not convincingly state why it should be ruled out in the favor of solar plants.The correct answer is B
Question 31
Though margarine was introduced as a supposedly healthful alternative to butter, recent studies suggest it is as harmful or worse than butter.
it is as harmful or worse than butter
it is just as harmful or even worse than butter
that it is as harmful as or worse than butter
it is as harmful as if not worse than butter
SOLUTION
Solution : C
The original sentence incorrectly omits "that" following the verb "suggest." Moreover, it contains the incomplete construction "as . . . or worse than" (missing the second "as").
(A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence.
(B) This choice incorrectly omits "that" following the verb "suggest" and it contains the unnecessary word "just." Moreover, it contains the incomplete construction "as . . . or even worse than" (missing the second "as").
(C) CORRECT. This choice correctly uses the word "that" to introduce a clause that follows the verb "suggest." Also, it contains the complete construction "as . . .as or worse than."
(D) This choice incorrectly omits "that" following the verb "suggest."
Question 32
At age four, Mozart's father began taking him on tours of the capitals of Europe, in order to demonstrate his musical talents.
Mozart's father began taking him on tours of the capitals of Europe, in order to demonstrate his musical talents
Mozart's father began taking the boy on tours of the capitals of Europe, to demonstrate his musical talents
Mozart began accompanying his father on tours of the capitals of Europe, to demonstrate his own musical talents
Mozart began accompanying his father on tours of Europe's capitals, to demonstrate his musical talents
SOLUTION
Solution : C
In the original sentence the modifying phrase "At age four" illogically describes "Mozart's father.” To remedy this problem, we need to reword the sentence so that the phrase "At age four” is placed next to "Mozart”, not "Mozart's father.”
Another problem with the original sentence is the word "him”, which is intended to refer to Mozart. The problem is that Mozart only appears as a possessive noun ("Mozart's”), whereas the pronoun "him” is in the objective case. Only a possessive pronoun, such as "his”, can refer back to a possessive noun.
Finally, the pronoun "his" is used ambiguously: does it refer to Mozart or to his father?
(A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence.
(B) "Mozart's father" serves illogically as the subject of the opening modifier "starting at age four." Additionally, the pronoun "his" is ambiguous in that it could refer to the boy or the father.
(C) CORRECT. "Mozart" is correctly placed as the subject of the opening modifier "starting at age four." Additionally, the phrase "his own" clarifies that the musical talents in question are those of the subject, Mozart.
(D) The pronoun "his" is ambiguous in that it could refer to Mozart or his father.
Question 33
Congress has enacted legislation forbidding state and local governments from raising taxes on connections that link consumers to the Internet for the next three years.
forbidding state and local governments from raising taxes on connections that link consumers to the Internet for the next three years
that forbids state and local governments for the next three years from raising taxes on connections that link consumers to the Internet
that for the next three years forbids state and local governments to raise taxes on connections that link consumers to the Internet
forbidding for the next three years to state and local governments the raising of taxes on connections that link consumers to the Internet
SOLUTION
Solution : C
The original sentence contains several errors. First, the preferred idiom is "forbid X to do Y" and not "forbid X from doing Y." Second, the adverbial modifier "for the next three years" is intended to modify "forbids," but its placement next to "links" makes it modify "links."
(A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence.
(B) This choice incorrectly uses "forbid X from doing Y" instead of the idiomatic "forbid X to do Y."
(C) CORRECT. This choice correctly uses the idiom "forbids X to do Y." Additionally "for the next three years" is correctly placed next to the verb it modifies, "forbids
(D) This choice creates an awkward sentence by using "forbidding to X Y" (where Y is the awkward noun phrase "the raising of taxes") instead of the idiomatic "forbid X to do Y."
Question 34
With the fear of recession looming over [A] / on [B]them, people have begun to hoard [A] /horde [B]food and gasoline.
They decided to trade in their car for something smaller and more economic [A] / economical [B].An amusement park is just what children need in that locale [A] / local [B].
The nuclear deal could not be signed without the ascent [A] / assent [B] of the left parties.
AABAB
ABABA
AAAAB
ABBAA
SOLUTION
Solution : A
Looming 'over' is correct-Hence A.
'Horde' is a crowd while 'hoard' is to amass.Hence A.
'Economic' is concerned with the organization of money.We can refer to 'economic growth'. Economical indicates something cheaper.Hence B.
'Locale' pertains to a specific area while 'local' means belonging to a particular area.Hence A.'Ascent' is a climb while 'assent' is approval.Hence B.