Free Verbal Practice Test - CAT

The paintings of Spanish painter Pablo Picasso sold best in the period following the production of La Guernica, now Pablo Picasso 's most famous piece. In the 12 month period preceding the unveiling of this piece, Pablo Picasso sold 60% of the works he produced in this period, a far greater percentage than in previous years. In the 12 month period following a glowing review of La Guernica in a popular magazine, however, Pablo Picasso sold 85% of the paintings he produced. Interestingly, Pablo Picasso's revenue from painting sales was roughly the same in both periods, since he sold the same number of paintings in the 12 months before presenting La Guernica as he did in the 12 months following the favorable review.

Which of the following statements can be properly concluded from the passage, if the information above is true?

A.

Due to the positive review, Pablo Picasso was able to charge substantially more for the works produced after La Guernica than the works produced before it.

B.

Pablo Picasso was more concerned with positive reviews than with increasing the prices of his paintings.

C.

The positive review of La Guernica brought Pablo's work to the attention of more art collectors than were previously aware of his work.

D.

Pablo Picasso painted fewer works in the 12 month period following the review of La Guernica than he had in the 12 month period preceding its unveiling.

SOLUTION

Solution : D

Pablo Picasso 's paintings sold best after he revealed his most famous piece. In the 12 months before the unveiling, he sold 60% of his works. In the 12 months following the unveiling, he sold 85% of his works. Nevertheless, in both periods, he sold the same number of paintings.

We need to consider what conclusion this evidence would support. If 57% equals the same number of paintings before the unveiling as 85% equals after the unveiling, then Pablo Picasso must have produced more paintings in the period before the unveiling; that's the only way that then numbers could work out. (D) states this from the other angle: Pablo Picasso must have painted fewer paintings after the unveiling. (D) is the correct answer.

Before the advent of writing, each of the isolated clans of the X tribe had master story tellers whose function was to orally transmit the clan's tradition from one generation to the next. When writing was developed within certain clans of the tribe, their master story tellers disappeared within a few generations. This stands to reason, since the availability of written records obviated the need for masterful oral communicators to keep the tradition of literate clans alive.What has puzzled anthropologists, however, is the total lack of masterful storytellers in modern illiterate X clans. Which of the following, if true, best helps to explain the puzzling situation mentioned above?

A.

Modern illiterate X clan members display personality characteristics that resemble their ancestors more closely than they resemble the characteristics of modern literate X clan members

B.

Modern illiterate X clans participate in more ritual gatherings than most modern literate X clans do, but they participate in fewer ritual gatherings than did their common ancestors

C.

Modern illiterate X clans are recently descended from long time literate clans that failed to pass on the skills of reading and writing due to a devastating 75-year war.

D.

The celebrations of modern illiterate X clans involve a great deal of singing and dancing, and children are taught clan songs and dances from a very young age

SOLUTION

Solution : C

The author clearly identifies the source of the confusion when he mentions what puzzles anthropologists. They are perplexed by two facts which seem inconsistent with each other. First, the advent of writing in certain tribe X clans seems to have caused the disappearance of the master storytellers within those tribes. Nevertheless, the second fact is that modern illiterate tribe X clans also lack master storytellers. The basic equation is: Why do these modern illiterate clans lack storytellers when earlier clans lost their storytellers only after they learned how to read? Let's look to the answer choices and find one that specifically answers this question.
(A)does nothing to explain why the modern literate clans lack storytellers. Personality similarities don't have any clear relationship to literacy and storytellers.
(B)A comparison of the frequency of clan gatherings also does not in any way explain why the current illiterate tribes lack storytellers.
(C)Would explain the discrepancy. If it were true, then the storytellers did disappear when the clans became literate, but they subsequently lost that literacy. Thus the modern tribes could both be illiterate and storytellers, as is the case in the stimulus, and they could have lost their storytellers during an earlier literate period. The inconsistency is no longer an inconsistency - all of the pieces of the puzzle find a home in this explanation. (C) is correct.

(D)Again touches on the issue of modern tribe X rituals without referring to literacy and storytelling, the central elements of the argument's paradox.

A. In the west, Allied Forces had fought their way through southern Italy as far as Rome.
B. In June 1944 Germany's military position in World War Two appeared hopeless.
C. In Britain, the task of amassing the men and materials for the liberation of northern Europe had been completed.
D. The Red Army was poised to drive the Nazis back through Poland.
E. The situation on the eastern front was catastrophic.

A.

EDACB

B.

BEDAC

C.

BDECA

D.

CEDAB

SOLUTION

Solution : B

The answer is option (b). Statement 'B' describes a hopeless situation, 'E' amplifies the description statement 'D' adds to the information and 'A' describes the scenario in the opposite direction. 'C' adds to the preceding statement. The other option following a similar link is option (a), however 'B' concluding the passage does not exhibit logical flow of information.

A. He felt justified in bypassing Congress altogether on a variety of moves.
B. At times he was fighting the entire Congress.
C. Bush felt he had a mission to restore power to the presidency.
D. Bush was not fighting just the democrats.
E. Representative democracy is a messy business, and a CEO of the White House does not like a legislature of second guessers and time wasters.

A.

CAEDB

B.

DBAEC

C.

D.

ECDBA

SOLUTION

Solution : D

'E' provides a reference to statement 'C'. Statement 'B' follows from 'D' and statement 'A', acts as a concluding line. The link DBA is a also present in option (b) but the link 'E', 'C' do not follow from it.

A. The two neighbours never fought each other.
B. Fights involving three male fiddler crabs have been recorded, but the status of the participants was unknown.
C. They pushed or grappled only with the intruder.
D. We recorded 17 cases in which a resident that was fighting an intruder was joined by an immediate neighbour, an ally.
E. We therefore tracked 268 intruder males until we saw them fighting a resident male.

A.

BEDAC

B.

DEBAC

C.

BDCAE

D.

BCEDA

SOLUTION

Solution : A

There is a clear link between statement 'B' and 'E'. This is given only in option (a). Statements 'D', 'A' and 'C' follow logically.

The possibilities are truly unimaginable especially because we do not yet really understand the mysterious, boundless quality of this unique form of power. Knowledge inhabits a more ethereal realm with principles we are only now coming to grasp and purposes we can only imagine. Unlike other resources we are accustomed to, information is a fluid that constantly alters as it moves, increasing as it interacts and overflows as it crosses boundaries. Unlike other raw materials, knowledge can't be used up.

A.

Strangely, the more you dispense, the more you generate

B.

Not surprisingly, it dazzles our imagination and taps talent that is limitless and especially powerful

C.

Predictably, the more you give, the more you get.

D.

Therefore, forced by the necessity to cope with a complex new era, countries will become a storehouse of knowledge

SOLUTION

Solution : A

Look at the last line of the question. It talks about Raw material vis-à-vis knowledge. Hence, the next statement should elaborate on the difference between the two. Option (a) and (c) are the only two that do this. Between (a) and (c), (a) is a better choice as the opening sentence talks about an "unimaginable possibility”, hence the word "strangely” fits better than "predictably”

Recent studies show exploratory play - the restless, unstoppable drive to push every button and pull every string - helps children discover how the physical world works. Their equally unstoppable "pretend" play - the parade of alternate identities, imaginary friends and wild fantasies - helps them work out all the possible ways that people would be. The picture that emerges from this research is that babies and young children are not so much defective as different from adults. They have equally complex and powerful, but very different minds and brains, suited to their distinctive evolutionary role. Babies are brilliant learners but terrible planners. They have fantastically creative and visionary imaginations, but absolutely no executive capacity.

A.

So, human development is more like reverse metamorphosis than simple growth

B.

Little wonder then, that they make adults dance to their tunes

C.

They are the R & D guys and adults are the CEOs

D.

So, child indeed is the father of man

SOLUTION

Solution : C

The passage highlights the "quick learning” and "creative” abilities of children and the "good execution skills” of adults. Option (c) beautifully explains this relation by calling children the R&D guys and adults the CEOs as those roles suit their skill sets. Options (b) and (d) are outside the scope of the passage, and can thus be eliminated. Option (a) talks about "reverse metamorphosis” which is not very clearly talked about. Therefore, it is evident that answer option (c) is the most appropriate answer choice.

Which of the following best states the main idea of the passage?

A.

In their definitions of the nature of ethnicity, sociologists have underestimated the power of the primordial human need to belong

B.

Ethnicity is best defined as a dynamic process that combines cultural components with shared political and economic interests

C.

In the United States in the twentieth century, ethnic groups have begun to organize in order to further their political and economic interests

D.

Ethnicity in the United States has been significantly changed by the Civil Rights movement

SOLUTION

Solution : B

This is a main theme question, the answer to which can be found in one of the following places-1st para 1st line, 1st para last line, 2nd para 1st line or the last para last line. As the geography of the 1st para matches that of the last paragraph, the 1st paragraph stands out as the most important paragraph in the passage.
If we look at the last two lines of the 1st paragraph, the author has stated that “While both of these...” He has further gone to state that “Rather, ethnicity is more satisfactorily conceived...” From these lines, it is evident that the author has described ethnicity as a dynamic process that combines cultural components with shared interests. This certainly is the main theme of the passage and is best expressed by answer option (b), thus making it the correct answer choice.

The author of the passage refers to Native American people in the second paragraph in order to provide an example of:

A.

The ability of membership in groups based on shared ancestry and culture to satisfy an essential human need.

B.

How ethnic feelings have both motivated and been strengthened by political activity.

C.

How the Civil Rights movement can help promote solidarity among United States ethnic groups.

D.

How participation in the political system has helped to improve a group's economic situation.

SOLUTION

Solution : B

The author has mentioned the example referring Native American people in the second paragraph in order to reflect how the Civil Rights movement of the 1960’s encouraged more Native Americans to participate in politics. Furthermore, it also evoked their interest in tribal history and traditional culture. Option (a) does not talk of any such situation and hence, stands rejected. Option (b) looks like the right answer choice because it highlights whatever has been conveyed by the author in the second paragraph. Option (c) is also close to the right answer choice but it stands rejected because it is very generic. Option (b) expresses the same thing more clearly. Option (d) is rejected because it is out of the passage’s context. Therefore, it is evident that answer option (b) is the most appropriate answer choice.

The passage suggests that in 1968 Henry Cisneros most likely believed that:

A.

Many Mexican Americans would respond positively to the example of Benito Juarez

B.

Many Mexican Americans were insufficiently educated in Mexican history

C.

The fight for civil rights in the United States had many strong parallels in both Mexican and Irish history

D.

The quickest way of organizing community-based groups was to emulate the tactics of Benito Juarez

SOLUTION

Solution : A

If we look at the lines “Like European ethnic groups in the nineteenth-century United States, late-twentieth-century Mexican American leaders combined ethnic with contemporary civic symbols. In 1968, Henry Cisneros, then mayor of San Antonio, Texas, cited Mexican leader Benito Juarez as a model for Mexican Americans in their fight for contemporary civil rights”, it is evident that Henry Cisneros cited Benito Juarez as a model because he believed that many Mexican Americans would respond positively to his example. This is the most obvious reason behind citing any example. Therefore, answer option (a) is the most appropriate answer choice.

Which one of the following distinctions between monopoly power and the abuse of monopoly power would the author say underlies the antitrust laws discussed in the passage?

A.

Monopoly power is assessed in term of market share, whereas abuse of monopoly power is assessed in terms of market control.

B.

Monopoly power is easy to demonstrate, whereas abuse of monopoly power is difficult to demonstrate.

C.

Monopoly power involves only one market, whereas abuse of monopoly power involves at least two or more related markets.

D.

Monopoly power does not necessarily hurt consumer welfare, whereas abuse of monopoly power does.

SOLUTION

Solution : D

Look at the lines “For example, a firm ….consumers’ welfare”. The author means that monopoly power does not necessarily hurt consumer welfare. The author also discusses, throughout the passage, the disadvantages of abuse of monopoly. Hence option D is the obvious choice.

Which one of the following statements about competition would those responsible for the antitrust laws most likely agree?

A.

Competition is essential to consumers' welfare

B.

There are acceptable and unacceptable ways for firms to reduce their competition.

C.

The preservation of competition is the principal aim of the antitrust laws.

D.

Supracompetitive prices lead to reductions in competition

SOLUTION

Solution : B

The most crucial element while answering this question is that we should base our answer on the information available in the passage alone. The passage does not talk about competition being essential to consumers’ welfare. Hence, option A can be eliminated. Prevention of abuse of monopoly power is the principal aim of antitrust laws, option C is wrong. Option D is irrelevant. In the passage, the author talks about acceptable and unacceptable ways to reduce competition (third and fourth paragraphs) making B the correct answer.

Which one of the following sentences would best complete the last paragraph of the passage?

A.

By limiting consumers’ choices, abuse of monopoly power reduces consumers’ welfare, but monopoly alone can sometimes actually operate in the consumers’ best interest.

B.

What is needed now is a set of related laws to deal with the negative impacts that monopoly itself has on consumers’ ability to purchase products at reasonable cost.

C.

Over time, the antitrust laws have been very effective in ensuring competition and, consequently, consumers’ welfare in the volatile communications and computer systems industries.

D.

By controlling supracompetitive prices and corresponding supracompetitive profits, the antitrust laws have, indeed, gone a long way towards meeting that objective.

SOLUTION

Solution : A

In the last paragraph, the author explains the actual purpose of antitrust laws: it is abuse of monopoly power and not monopoly itself. Option A would be ideal to complete the paragraph, as it talks about effects of monopoly power and abuse of monopoly power. All other options can be easily eliminated as they do not talk about monopoly power.

The main idea of the passage is that:

A.

civic humanism, in any of its manifestations, cannot entirely explain eighteenth-century political discourse

B.

eighteenth-century political texts are less likely to reflect a single vocabulary than to combine several vocabularies

C.

Pocock's linguistic approach, though not applicable to all eighteenth-century political texts, provides a useful model for historians of political theory

D.

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

The author in the passage says that Pocock’s linguistic approach was fruitful when applied to eighteenth-century English political thought. But at the same time Pocock’s ideas are more controversial when applied to late-eighteenth century United States. Also, look at the last line of the 3rd passage, “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”. So we can easily arrive at Option C.

The passage suggests that one of the "assumptions of the 1950s” regarding the meaning of a political text was that this meaning:

A.

could be established using an approach similar to that used by literary historians

B.

could be definitively established without reference to the text's historical background

C.

could be closely read in several different ways depending on one's philosophic approach

D.

was constrained by certain linguistic preconceptions held by the text's author

SOLUTION

Solution : B

Look at the line “assumptions of the 1950s, when it was naively thought that the close reading of a text by an analytic philosopher was sufficient to establish its meaning, even if the philosopher had no knowledge of the period of the text’s composition”. From this we can infer that during 1950s, it was thought that the meaning of a text can definitely be established even without reference to the text’s historical background. Hence option B.

The author of the passage would most likely agree that which one of the following is a weakness found in Pocock's work?

A.

the use of the term "language” to describe the expressive features of several diverse kinds of discourse

B.

the overemphatic denigration of the role of the analytic philosopher in establishing the meaning of a political, or indeed any text

C.

the emphasis on the overriding importance of civic humanism in eighteenth-century English political thought

D.

the insistence on a single linguistic dichotomy to account for political thought in eighteenth-century England and the United States

SOLUTION

Solution : D

The author, in the passage describes about Pocock’s approach of “virtue” central to civic humanism. The author then says that Pocock’s approach was fertile in case of England, but it was controversial in case of late eighteenth century United States, making option D the correct answer.

(A) Opinions differ but I am convinced this is a good thing.
(B) Your government may not prosecute you for the crimes you have committed but if your offences are serious enough, the chances are that some court in some other country might.
(C) Every country that values the rule of law must ensure that no individual, regardless of official affiliation, enjoys impunity.
(D) Even if legal concepts like universal jurisdiction remain controversial, the globalization of economic and family life means individuals who violate human rights can no longer count on being shielded forever by the walls of national sovereignty.
(E) As Israeli officers and politicians are today discovering, and as the late Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet realized in 2000, international journeys are an indulgence to be undertaken with extreme caution if your curriculum vitae includes the commission of war crimes, genocide or crimes against humanity.

A.

DCBEA

B.

CDAEB

C.

CABED

D.

DBEAC

SOLUTION

Solution : D

Statement D can be an effective opening sentence of the paragraph as it states the main idea i.e. individuals who violate human rights, can no longer be shielded by the walls of national sovereignty. Therefore, options (b) and (c) stand rejected. Also, DBE is a clear cut link because B elaborates what is mentioned in D and C explains further, whatever is mentioned in B.
Thus, option (d) clearly stands out as the right answer choice.

(A) Surrendered, or captured, combatants cannot be incarcerated in razor wire cages; this 'war' has a dubious legality.
(B) How can then one characterize a conflict to be waged against a phenomenon as war?
(C) The phrase 'war against terror', which has passed into the common lexicon, is a huge misnomer.
(D) Besides, war has a juridical meaning in international law, which has confided the laws of war, imbuing them with a humanitarian content.
(E) Terror is a phenomenon, not an entity - either State or non-State.

A.

ECDBA

B.

BECDA

C.

D.

CEBDA

SOLUTION

Solution : D

C is the best opening sentence for the paragraph. Therefore, options (a), (b) and (c) are eliminated. EBD also comes out as a link. And "incarcerated” in A follows from D.
Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer choice.

Sort
[1]What sort of cheese do you use in pizza?   [2]Farmers of all sort attended the rally.   [3]They serve tea of a sort on these trains.   [4]Let's sort these boys into four groups.

A.

1

B.

2

C.

3

D.

4

SOLUTION

Solution : B

Option: (B) Farmers of all 'sorts' would have been a more correct expression.

Fallout
[1]Nagasaki suffered from thefallout of nuclear radiation.[2]People believed that the politicalfallout of the scandal would be insignificant [3]Who can predict the environmental fallout of the WTO agreements? [4]The headmaster could not understandthe fallout of several of his good students at the public examination.

A.

1

B.

2

C.

3

D.

4

SOLUTION

Solution : D

Option: (D) Fallout refers to 'radioactive debris caused by a nuclear explosion or accident' and also to the 'adverse side effects of a situation.' In options (a), (b) and (c) the use of the word is agreeable with the meaning of the word. In option (d) 'fallout of several of his good students...' does not make sense.

Which of the following option gives the correct meaning of the word

Divestiture

A.

inordinate desire for gaining and possessing wealth; greed

B.

mercy toward an offender; mildness; mercy; grace

C.
 closeness in time or place; closeness of relationship; resemblance
D.
 being stripped; act of unclothing; deprivation of a right or privilege

SOLUTION

Solution : D

Correct meaning: (d) being stripped; act of unclothing; deprivation of a right or privilege

22.INFER
Dictionary DefinitionUsageA.To drive by reasoning or implicationE.We see smokeand infer fire.B.To surmiseF. Given some utterance,a listener may infer from it thingswhich the utterer never impliedC.To point outG.I waited all day to meet himfrom this you can infermy zeal to see him.D.To hintH. She did not take part in the debateto ask a question inferring thatshe was not interestedin the debate.

A.

A-G      B-H      C-E       D-F

B.

A-F       B-H      C-E       D-G

C.

A-H      B-G      C-F       D-E

D.

A-E       B-F       C-G      D-H

SOLUTION

Solution : D

Option: (D) We can easily find out A-E to be a match pair. This eliminates options (a), (b), (c) thus making it evident that answer option (d) is the correct answer choice.

Unlike juvenile diabetes, which is a genetic condition present from birth, type-2 diabetes is acquired in adulthood, generally as a result of obesity and inactivity. The number of cases of type-2 diabetes has been steadily increasing in the United States since 1970, indicating to many researchers that the American population is becoming increasingly heavy and sedentary. If the government wishes to stem the spread of the disease, it should educate the public about the dangers of an inactive, calorie-laden lifestyle and promote healthful diets and exercise. Which of the following, if true, provides the strongest reason to believe that the proposed education program will NOT be effective?

A.

B.

C.

The government has not set aside money for such a program

D.

Healthful foods and exercise programs are beyond the financial means of many people

SOLUTION

Solution : D

The conclusion of the argument is that the government should educate the public about the dangers of inactivity and poor diet in order to stop the spread of type-2 diabetes. The basis for the claim is that inactivity and poor diet are the main factors in developing type-2 diabetes. We are asked to find a choice that will show that this plan likely will work.

(A) The fact that schools educate middle school students about a disease that is generally "acquired in adulthood" does not address the effectiveness of an adult education plan sponsored by the government.

(B) The fact that the public already has access to this information through the Internet, does not say anything predictive about the effectiveness of the plan. Even with access to the information, there is a good chance that most people are not exposed to the information.

(C) The fact that the government has not set aside money for such a program, does not say much about the projected program's effectiveness.

(D) CORRECT.Choice E states that healthful foods and exercise programs are beyond the financial means of many people. This suggests that even with the best planning, the program might not achieve its goals simply because people cannot afford to follow the program's advice.

The downturn in the economy last year has prompted many companies to make widely publicized layoffs, resulting in thousands of lost jobs. Economists predicted that these layoffs would cause people generally to cut back on their discretionary spending, even if their jobs were secure, in anticipation of coming hard times. However, this prediction has not come to pass, since there has been no increase in the amount of money set aside by the general public in savings accounts.
Which one of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

A.

The economy has not improved in recent months.

B.

There has been no increase in the amount of money invested in stocks, certificates of deposit, or other savings vehicles.

C.

Salaries have decreased as a result of the economic downturn.

D.

Those who were laid off have been able to find other employment.

SOLUTION

Solution : B

The conclusion of the argument is that the prediction of decreased consumer spending has not come to pass. The evidence for this is that there has been no corresponding increase in the amount of money set aside in savings accounts by the general public. This question asks us to find an assumption on which this argument is based. The author assumes that the mere fact that people generally have not been adding more money to their savings accounts means they have not cut down on their discretionary purchases (i.e., non-essential items). In order for this to be valid, we must assume that a savings account is the only mechanism by which someone would save any extra money when reducing discretionary spending.

(A) The state of the economy in the last few months has no bearing on the claim that a lack of extra money deposited in consumer savings accounts is evidence that consumer spending has not decreased.

(B) CORRECT. If there was an alternate explanation for the lack of increase in savings accounts, the claim that the decrease in spending has not taken place would be greatly weakened. This assumption guarantees us that at least one other possible explanation for the lack of increase in savings (i.e. an increase in stocks, certificates of deposit, or other savings vehicles) is NOT true.

(C) Assuming that salaries decreased would actually weaken this argument. If salaries decreased, that may explain the decrease in the amount of money being put aside in savings without necessarily implying a decrease in spending. People could be making less, spending the same, and therefore saving less.

(D) The argument says the prediction was made "even [for those whose] jobs were secure." People who find other employment, therefore, would still fall under the economists' prediction and would, if the prediction were true, be expected to cut discretionary spending and save more money.

The fight against the drug trade in Country X should focus for the time being on tightening the country's borders and targeting its major smugglers. Wiping out poppy fields in rural areas means even greater hardship for an economically depressed farming population. Rather, the United Nations and the government of Country X must carefully rebuild agricultural infrastructure in areas where the economy depends on these poppy fields. What purpose do the two boldface sentences serve in the passage?

A.

The first is the conclusion drawn by the speaker; the second is the alternative to that conclusion.

B.

The first is a short-term solution to a problem; the second is a long-term solution to the same problem.

C.

The first presents a problem; the second poses an ideal solution to the problem.

D.

The first presents a popular solution to a problem; the second presents a solution preferred by the author.

SOLUTION

Solution : B

The first boldface sentence states that the fight against the drug trade in Country X should focus for the time being on tightening the country's borders and targeting its major smugglers. The second boldface sentence states that the United Nations and the government of Country X should eventually replace the poppy fields with other farming ventures ("agricultural infrastructure"). We need to find a choice that describes the relationship between these two sentences.

(A) This choice states that the first sentence is the conclusion and that the second sentence is an alternative to that conclusion. This misrepresents the relationship.The first sentence is a shorter-term conclusion and the second sentence is a longer-term conclusion of the argument.

(B) CORRECT.This choice states that the first sentence is a short-term solution to a problem and the second a long-term solution to the same problem.This accurately describes the relationship. The first sentence states that the fight should focus "for the time being" on borders and smuggling while the second sentence states that the United Nations and the government of Country X should work to replace the poppy crop with something else.

(C) This choice states that the first sentence presents a problem. According to the text, however, the first sentence is not a problem but a solution to a problem.

(D) This choice states that the first sentence presents a popular solution to a problem.Since we have no way of knowing whether the solution is popular, this cannot be correct.

It can be inferred from the passage that the author would be most likely to agree with which one of the following characterizations of scientific truth?

A.

It is often implausible.

B.

It is subject to inevitable falsification.

C.

It is rarely obvious and transparent.

D.

It is less often established by experimentation than by the rhetorical power of scientists.

SOLUTION

Solution : C

Option (a) and (b) are negated in the second paragraph or the author goes against option (a) and (b) in the second paragraph.
Looking at the following lines from the third paragraph -
“However, science’s accumulation of lasting truths about the world is not by any means a straightforward matter. We certainly need to get beyond the naive view that the truth will automatically reveal itself to any scientist who looks in the right direction; most often, in fact, a whole series of prior discoveries is needed to tease reality’s truths from experiment and observation”.
We can clearly find that (c) is the correct option and (d) is wrong.

In the third paragraph of the passage, the author is primarily concerned with:

A.

presenting conflicting explanations for a phenomenon

B.

qualifying a previously expressed point of view

C.

providing an answer to a theoretical question

D.

attacking the assumptions that underlie a set of beliefs

SOLUTION

Solution : B

Qualifying a view means weakening a point in RC questions.
The starting line of 3rd paragraph starts with “however”… which is a contra-transition word.
So we can come to the conclusion that the author is going to take a different stand compared to the previous line/paragraph.
So the answer is option (b).

In concluding the passage, the author does which one of the following?

A.

offers a prescription

B.

C.

makes a prediction

D.

concedes an argument

SOLUTION

Solution : A

Look at the last lines -
“What the new historians ought to be showing us is how those doctrines that do in fact fit reality work their way through the complex social processes of scientific activity to eventually receive general scientific acceptance.”
The author is basically advising the new historians (ought to be showing us…).
So the answer (a) offers a prescription to the new historians.

The passage provides information to support which of the following generalizations?

A.

Observations of animals' physiological behavior in the wild are not reliable unless verified by laboratory studies

B.

It is generally less difficult to observe the physiological behavior of an animal in the wild than in the laboratory

C.

The level of lactic acid in an animal's blood is likely to be higher when it is searching for prey than when it is evading predators

D.

The physiological behavior of animals in a laboratory setting is not always consistent with their physiological behavior in the wild

SOLUTION

Solution : D

In the last two lines of the passage, the author has highlighted the fact that the physiological behavior of the Weddell Seal in the laboratory is not in tandem with its behavior in the wild since it also evokes only one particular response regardless of the length or depth of the dive. Option (d) also reflects the same scenario and hence it clearly stands out as the right answer choice.

It can be inferred from the passage that by describing the Weddell seal as preparing "for the worst”, biologists mean that it:

A.

prepares to remain underwater for no longer than twenty minutes

B.

Exhibits physiological behavior similar to that which characterizes dives in which it heads directly for its prey

C.

Exhibits physiological behavior similar to that which characterizes its longest dives in the wild

D.

Begins to exhibit predatory behavior

SOLUTION

Solution : C

The author has stated in the last two lines of the passage that the Weddell Seal behaves different in the laboratory from what it does in the wild. Regardless of the length and depth of the dive it also behaves in a way it generally behaves when it goes for its long dives in the wild. Hence, it is evident that answer option (c) is the right answer choice.

The passage suggests that during laboratory dives, the pH of the Weddell seal's blood is not adversely affected by the production of lactic acid because:

A.

Only those organs that are essential to the seal's ability to navigate underwater revert to an anaerobic mechanism

B.

The seal typically reverts to an anaerobic metabolism only at the very end of the dive

C.

Organs that revert to an anaerobic metabolism are temporarily isolated from the seal's bloodstream

D.

Oxygen continues to be supplied to organs that clear lactic acid from the seal's bloodstream

SOLUTION

Solution : C

It is evident from the following lines: “… since the anaerobic metabolism occurs only in those tissues which have been isolated from the seal’s blood supply, the lactic acid is released into the seal’s blood only after the seal surfaces…” that the pH of the Weddell seal’s blood is not adversely affected by the production of lactic acid because organs that revert to an anaerobic metabolism are temporarily isolated from the seal’s bloodstream. Therefore, answer option (c) is the correct answer choice.

The author cites which of the following as characteristic of the Weddell seal’s physiological behavior during dives observed in the laboratory?

I. A decrease in the rate at which the seal’s heart beats

II. A constriction of the seal’s arteries

III. A decrease in the levels of lactic acid in the seal’s blood

IV. A temporary halt in the functioning of certain organs

A.

I and III only

B.

II and IV only

C.

II and III only

D.

I, II, and IV only

SOLUTION

Solution : D

In the second paragraph, the author has clearly mentioned that during the dives observed in the laboratory, the heart beat rate of the seal decreases, a constriction is observed in the arteries and certain organs are temporarily halted. Statement III is not true. Therefore, answer option (d) is the correct answer choice.

Enter the correct sentences in the blank provided
A. The $12.2 billion deal in which Marriott, an American hotelier, will buy a rival, Starwood, follows months of rumors about the bid targets, whose brands include Westin and Sheraton. B. In April Starwood's slow growth, at a time when other chains are doing well, prompted it to start exploring "strategic and financial alternatives”. C. Marriott's acquisition will make it the world's biggest hotelier: it will manage more than one million rooms, about 50% much than its closest rival, Hilton. The deal comes at a heady time for hotels. D. Eight years ago Blackstone, a private-equity firm, bought Hilton for$26 billion. The company's value plunged during the recession, but the hotel industry's recovery has since made the deal one of private equity's most profitable on record.

The correct sequence is___

SOLUTION

Solution :

In sentence A, Marriott is buying Starwood for a given sum. The bid can have a target, not targets.

In sentence C, the word much should be replaced by more, i.e., 50% more than its closest rival. Sentences B and D are correct.

Identify and enter the grammatically correct sentence(s) from the ones given below. Do not use any punctuation between the options.

A. Cheated before, many voters in Myanmar were anxious as the counting of votes of elections held on November 8th dragged on.

B. But now, five days later, the party most voters chose, the National League for Democracy (NLD), led by Aung San Suu Kyi, daughter of the country's independence hero, passed the landmark it needed.

C. By midday on November 13th, the fifth anniversary of Miss Suu Kyi's release from her most recent stint of house-arrests, the NLD had won 348 of the 664 seats in the two houses of parliament.

D. This majority means it will win an indirect election for the presidency to be held by February. The army, which has ruled Myanmar (or Burma, for 53 years, albeit in mufti since 2011, has suffered a heavy blow.

The correct sentence(s) is/are___ .

SOLUTION

Solution :

In sentence A, the sentence should read 'counting of votes from election held...' rather than 'counting of votes of election held'. The counting refers to an election from the past (albeit recent).

In sentence C, house-arrest should be singular and not plural as Miss Suu Kyi was in her most recent stint of house-arrest.

Sentences B and D are grammatically correct.