GMAT Critical Reasoning Discussions

deepakraam · October 5, 2010, 5:55pm

here is one ore Q
Rita: The original purpose of government farm subsidy programs was to provide income stability for small family farmers. But most farm-subsidy money goes to a few farmers with large holdings. Payments to farmers whose income, before subsidies, is greater than $100,000 a year should be stopped.
Thomas: It would be impossible to administer such a cutoff point. Subsidies are needed during the planting and growing season, but farmers do not know their income for given calendar year until tax returns are calculated and submitted the following April.
Whi
Rita: The original purpose of government farm subsidy programs was to provide income stability for small family farmers. But most farm-subsidy money goes to a few farmers with large holdings. Payments to farmers whose income, before subsidies, is greater than $100,000 a year should be stopped.
Thomas: It would be impossible to administer such a cutoff point. Subsidies are needed during the planting and growing season, but farmers do not know their income for given calendar year until tax returns are calculated and submitted the following April.
Which one of the following, if true, is the strongest counter Rita can make to Thomas objection?
(A) It has become difficult for small farmers to obtain bank loans to be repaid later by money from subsidies.
(B) Having such a cutoff point would cause some farmers whose income would otherwise exceed $100,000 to reduce their plantings.
(C) The income of a farmer varies because weather and market prices are not stable from year to year.
(D) If subsidy payments to large farmers were eliminated the financial condition of the government would improve.
(E) Subsidy cutoffs can be determined on the basis of income for the preceding year.

I would go with option E

-Deepak.

pradyut.vatsa · October 5, 2010, 11:18pm

1. Below is an excerpt from a letter that was sent by the chairman of a corporation to the stockholders.
A number of charges have been raised against me, some serious, some trivial. Individuals seeking to control the corporation for their own purposes have demanded my resignation. Remember that no court of law in any state has found me guilty of any criminal offense whatsoever. In the American tradition, as you know, an individual is considered innocent until proven guilty. Furthermore, as the corporation's unbroken six-year record of growth will show, my conduct of my official duties as chairman has only helped enhance the success of the corporation, and so benefited every stockholder.
Which of the following can be properly inferred from the excerpt?
(A) The chairman believes that all those who have demanded his resignation are motivated by desire to control the corporation for their own purposes.
(B) Any misdeeds that the chairman may have committed were motivated by his desire to enhance the success of the corporation.
(C) The chairman is innocent of any criminal offense.
(D) The corporation has expanded steadily over the past six years.
(E) Any legal proceedings against the chairman have resulted in his acquittal.
2. In the years since the city of London imposed strict air-pollution regulations on local industry, the number of bird species seen in and around London has increased dramatically. Similar air-pollution rules should be imposed in other major cities.
Each of the following is an assumption made in the argument above EXCEPT:
(A) In most major cities, air-pollution problems are caused almost entirely by local industry.
(B) Air-pollution regulations on industry have a significant impact on the quality of the air.
(C) The air-pollution problems of other major cities are basically similar to those once suffered by London.
(D) An increase in the number of bird species in and around a city is desirable.
(E) The increased sightings of bird species in and around London reflect an actual increase in the number of species in the area.
3. In the effort to fire a Civil Service employee, his or her manager may have to spend up to $100,000 of tax money. Since Civil Service employees know how hard it is to fire them, they tend to loaf. This explains in large part why the government is so inefficient.
It can be properly inferred on the basis of the statements above that the author believes which of the following?
I. Too much job security can have a negative influence on workers.
II. More government workers should be fired.
III. Most government workers are Civil Service employees.
(A) I only
(B) I and III only
(C) II only
(D) I, II, and III
(E) III only

My answers are 1. A and 3 E
For question no 2 i am not sure which of the statements are not an assumption.
Kindly help.

pradyut.vatsa · October 6, 2010, 1:34pm

1. Below is an excerpt from a letter that was sent by the chairman of a corporation to the stockholders.
A number of charges have been raised against me, some serious, some trivial. Individuals seeking to control the corporation for their own purposes have demanded my resignation. Remember that no court of law in any state has found me guilty of any criminal offense whatsoever. In the American tradition, as you know, an individual is considered innocent until proven guilty. Furthermore, as the corporations unbroken six-year record of growth will show, my conduct of my official duties as chairman has only helped enhance the success of the corporation, and so benefited every stockholder.
Which of the following can be properly inferred from the excerpt?
(A) The chairman believes that all those who have demanded his resignation are motivated by desire to control the corporation for their own purposes.
(B) Any misdeeds that the chairman may have committed were motivated by his desire to enhance the success of the corporation.
(C) The chairman is innocent of any criminal offense.
(D) The corporation has expanded steadily over the past six years.
(E) Any legal proceedings against the chairman have resulted in his acquittal.
2. In the years since the city of London imposed strict air-pollution regulations on local industry, the number of bird species seen in and around London has increased dramatically. Similar air-pollution rules should be imposed in other major cities.
Each of the following is an assumption made in the argument above EXCEPT:
(A) In most major cities, air-pollution problems are caused almost entirely by local industry.
(B) Air-pollution regulations on industry have a significant impact on the quality of the air.
(C) The air-pollution problems of other major cities are basically similar to those once suffered by London.
(D) An increase in the number of bird species in and around a city is desirable.
(E) The increased sightings of bird species in and around London reflect an actual increase in the number of species in the area.
3. In the effort to fire a Civil Service employee, his or her manager may have to spend up to $100,000 of tax money. Since Civil Service employees know how hard it is to fire them, they tend to loaf. This explains in large part why the government is so inefficient.
It can be properly inferred on the basis of the statements above that the author believes which of the following?
I. Too much job security can have a negative influence on workers.
II. More government workers should be fired.
III. Most government workers are Civil Service employees.
(A) I only
(B) I and III only
(C) II only
(D) I, II, and III
(E) III only

my take is in bold!!

the second answer is wrong..according to the solutions..the second answer is A...I too went for E..BUT THE SOLution says A..the rest two are correct..can u explain ur approach?

ravisekharan · October 6, 2010, 2:19pm

It is a clear "E" by huge margins, isn't it? :)
All other options are miles away :)

here is one ore Q
Rita: The original purpose of government farm subsidy programs was to provide income stability for small family farmers. But most farm-subsidy money goes to a few farmers with large holdings. Payments to farmers whose income, before subsidies, is greater than $100,000 a year should be stopped.
Thomas: It would be impossible to administer such a cutoff point. Subsidies are needed during the planting and growing season, but farmers do not know their income for given calendar year until tax returns are calculated and submitted the following April.
Whi
Rita: The original purpose of government farm subsidy programs was to provide income stability for small family farmers. But most farm-subsidy money goes to a few farmers with large holdings. Payments to farmers whose income, before subsidies, is greater than $100,000 a year should be stopped.
Thomas: It would be impossible to administer such a cutoff point. Subsidies are needed during the planting and growing season, but farmers do not know their income for given calendar year until tax returns are calculated and submitted the following April.
Which one of the following, if true, is the strongest counter Rita can make to Thomas objection?
(A) It has become difficult for small farmers to obtain bank loans to be repaid later by money from subsidies.
(B) Having such a cutoff point would cause some farmers whose income would otherwise exceed $100,000 to reduce their plantings.
(C) The income of a farmer varies because weather and market prices are not stable from year to year.
(D) If subsidy payments to large farmers were eliminated the financial condition of the government would improve.
(E) Subsidy cutoffs can be determined on the basis of income for the preceding year.

gail.wynand · October 6, 2010, 3:40pm

My answers are 1. A and 3 E
For question no 2 i am not sure which of the statements are not an assumption.
Kindly help.

1. Below is an excerpt from a letter that was sent by the chairman of a corporation to the stockholders.
A number of charges have been raised against me, some serious, some trivial. Individuals seeking to control the corporation for their own purposes have demanded my resignation. Remember that no court of law in any state has found me guilty of any criminal offense whatsoever. In the American tradition, as you know, an individual is considered innocent until proven guilty. Furthermore, as the corporation's unbroken six-year record of growth will show, my conduct of my official duties as chairman has only helped enhance the success of the corporation, and so benefited every stockholder.
Which of the following can be properly inferred from the excerpt?
(A) The chairman believes that all those who have demanded his resignation are motivated by desire to control the corporation for their own purposes. - The argument does not talk about any beliefs of the chairman.
(B) Any misdeeds that the chairman may have committed were motivated by his desire to enhance the success of the corporation. - The argument does not say about any misdeeds.
(C) The chairman is innocent of any criminal offense. - He may not be innocent but it has not been proven.
(D) The corporation has expanded steadily over the past six years. this can be correctly inferred. Based on the premise 1: "the corporation's unbroken six-year record of growth"
(E) Any legal proceedings against the chairman have resulted in his acquittal. - this can be correctly inferred.Based on the premise 2: " Remember that no court of law in any state has found me guilty of any criminal offense whatsoever"
I am not able to choose 1.

2. In the years since the city of London imposed strict air-pollution regulations on local industry, the number of bird species seen in and around London has increased dramatically. Similar air-pollution rules should be imposed in other major cities.
Each of the following is an assumption made in the argument above EXCEPT:
(A) In most major cities, air-pollution problems are caused almost entirely by local industry. - The argument does not stand on this assumption.
(B) Air-pollution regulations on industry have a significant impact on the quality of the air. - Yes this is an assumption and relates the quality of air to the sightings.
(C) The air-pollution problems of other major cities are basically similar to those once suffered by London. - "Similar air-pollution rules" suggests that the problems are the same.
(D) An increase in the number of bird species in and around a city is desirable. - "rules should be imposed" suggest that it is desirable.
(E) The increased sightings of bird species in and around London reflect an actual increase in the number of species in the area. - Not an assumption. The argument does not draw any conclusion based on this assumption. Even if this is false the argument will exist. Maybe because of the improved quality of air the bird species visit London more often.

Same for this one.

3. In the effort to fire a Civil Service employee, his or her manager may have to spend up to $100,000 of tax money. Since Civil Service employees know how hard it is to fire them, they tend to loaf. This explains in large part why the government is so inefficient.
It can be properly inferred on the basis of the statements above that the author believes which of the following?
I. Too much job security can have a negative influence on workers. - True.
II. More government workers should be fired. - Not true. Irrelevant.
III. Most government workers are Civil Service employees. - Not true. Even if the civil service employees are less in number they could be a problem.
(A) I only
(B) I and III only
(C) II only
(D) I, II, and III
(E) III only

pradyut.vatsa · October 9, 2010, 6:30am

1. Below is an excerpt from a letter that was sent by the chairman of a corporation to the stockholders.
A number of charges have been raised against me, some serious, some trivial. Individuals seeking to control the corporation for their own purposes have demanded my resignation. Remember that no court of law in any state has found me guilty of any criminal offense whatsoever. In the American tradition, as you know, an individual is considered innocent until proven guilty. Furthermore, as the corporation's unbroken six-year record of growth will show, my conduct of my official duties as chairman has only helped enhance the success of the corporation, and so benefited every stockholder.
Which of the following can be properly inferred from the excerpt?
(A) The chairman believes that all those who have demanded his resignation are motivated by desire to control the corporation for their own purposes. - The argument does not talk about any beliefs of the chairman.
(B) Any misdeeds that the chairman may have committed were motivated by his desire to enhance the success of the corporation. - The argument does not say about any misdeeds.
(C) The chairman is innocent of any criminal offense. - He may not be innocent but it has not been proven.
(D) The corporation has expanded steadily over the past six years. this can be correctly inferred. Based on the premise 1: "the corporation's unbroken six-year record of growth"
(E) Any legal proceedings against the chairman have resulted in his acquittal. - this can be correctly inferred.Based on the premise 2: " Remember that no court of law in any state has found me guilty of any criminal offense whatsoever"
I am not able to choose 1.

2. In the years since the city of London imposed strict air-pollution regulations on local industry, the number of bird species seen in and around London has increased dramatically. Similar air-pollution rules should be imposed in other major cities.
Each of the following is an assumption made in the argument above EXCEPT:
(A) In most major cities, air-pollution problems are caused almost entirely by local industry. - The argument does not stand on this assumption.
(B) Air-pollution regulations on industry have a significant impact on the quality of the air. - Yes this is an assumption and relates the quality of air to the sightings.
(C) The air-pollution problems of other major cities are basically similar to those once suffered by London. - "Similar air-pollution rules" suggests that the problems are the same.
(D) An increase in the number of bird species in and around a city is desirable. - "rules should be imposed" suggest that it is desirable.
(E) The increased sightings of bird species in and around London reflect an actual increase in the number of species in the area. - Not an assumption. The argument does not draw any conclusion based on this assumption. Even if this is false the argument will exist. Maybe because of the improved quality of air the bird species visit London more often.

Same for this one.

3. In the effort to fire a Civil Service employee, his or her manager may have to spend up to $100,000 of tax money. Since Civil Service employees know how hard it is to fire them, they tend to loaf. This explains in large part why the government is so inefficient.
It can be properly inferred on the basis of the statements above that the author believes which of the following?
I. Too much job security can have a negative influence on workers. - True.
II. More government workers should be fired. - Not true. Irrelevant.
III. Most government workers are Civil Service employees. - Not true. Even if the civil service employees are less in number they could be a problem.
(A) I only
(B) I and III only
(C) II only
(D) I, II, and III
(E) III only

as for qn1: i think we can rule out E because the passage says he hasnt been proven guilty which might also mean that there are pending cases against him and just because they havent been proved against him he still roams as an innocent. not being proved guilty has nothing to do with being acquitted.

qn2: i have no clue. very confusing...both A and E look right.

pradyut.vatsa · October 9, 2010, 7:53am

1.
Determining the authenticity of purported pre-Columbian artifacts is never easy. Carbon-14 dating of these artifacts is often impossible due to contamination by radioactive palladium (which occurs naturally in the soils of Central and South America). However, historians and anthropologists have evolved two reliable criteria, which, utilized in combination, have proven effective for dating these artifacts. First, because authentic pre-Columbian artifacts characteristically occur in a coarse, granular matrix that is shifted by major earthquakes, they often exhibit the unique scratch patterns known as gridding. In addition, true pre-Columbian artifacts show a darkening in surface color that is caused by centuries of exposure to the minute amounts of magnesium in the soil of the Americas.
The criteria above would be LEAST useful in judging the authenticity of which of the following?
(A) An ax head of black obsidian, unearthed from a kitchen midden
(B) A pottery bowl with a red ocher design, found in the ruins of a temple
(C) A set of gold ear weights, ornamented with jasper pendants
(D) A black feather cape from a king's burial vault
(E) A multicolored woven sash found near the gravesite of a slave

2.

Dr. A: The new influenza vaccine is useless at best and possibly dangerous. I would never use it on a patient.
Dr. B: But three studies published in the Journal of Medical Associates have rated that vaccine as unusually effective.
Dr. A: The studies must have been faulty because the vaccine is worthless.
In which of the following is the reasoning most similar to that of Dr. A?
(A) Three of my patients have been harmed by that vaccine during the past three weeks, so the vaccine is unsafe.
(B) Jerrold Jersey recommends this milk, and I don't trust Jerrold Jersey, so I won't buy this milk.
(C) Wingzz tennis balls perform best because they are far more effective than any other tennis balls.
(D) I'm buying Vim Vitamins. Doctors recommend them more often than they recommend any other vitamins, so Vim Vitamins must be good.
(E) Since University of Muldoon graduates score about 20 percent higher than average on the GMAT, Sheila Lee, a University of Muldoon graduate, will score about 20 percent higher than average when she takes the GMAT.

pradyut.vatsa · October 9, 2010, 7:53am

1.
Determining the authenticity of purported pre-Columbian artifacts is never easy. Carbon-14 dating of these artifacts is often impossible due to contamination by radioactive palladium (which occurs naturally in the soils of Central and South America). However, historians and anthropologists have evolved two reliable criteria, which, utilized in combination, have proven effective for dating these artifacts. First, because authentic pre-Columbian artifacts characteristically occur in a coarse, granular matrix that is shifted by major earthquakes, they often exhibit the unique scratch patterns known as gridding. In addition, true pre-Columbian artifacts show a darkening in surface color that is caused by centuries of exposure to the minute amounts of magnesium in the soil of the Americas.
The criteria above would be LEAST useful in judging the authenticity of which of the following?
(A) An ax head of black obsidian, unearthed from a kitchen midden
(B) A pottery bowl with a red ocher design, found in the ruins of a temple
(C) A set of gold ear weights, ornamented with jasper pendants
(D) A black feather cape from a king's burial vault
(E) A multicolored woven sash found near the gravesite of a slave

2.

Dr. A: The new influenza vaccine is useless at best and possibly dangerous. I would never use it on a patient.
Dr. B: But three studies published in the Journal of Medical Associates have rated that vaccine as unusually effective.
Dr. A: The studies must have been faulty because the vaccine is worthless.
In which of the following is the reasoning most similar to that of Dr. A?
(A) Three of my patients have been harmed by that vaccine during the past three weeks, so the vaccine is unsafe.
(B) Jerrold Jersey recommends this milk, and I don't trust Jerrold Jersey, so I won't buy this milk.
(C) Wingzz tennis balls perform best because they are far more effective than any other tennis balls.
(D) I'm buying Vim Vitamins. Doctors recommend them more often than they recommend any other vitamins, so Vim Vitamins must be good.
(E) Since University of Muldoon graduates score about 20 percent higher than average on the GMAT, Sheila Lee, a University of Muldoon graduate, will score about 20 percent higher than average when she takes the GMAT.

my answers are A and B.

deepakraam · October 9, 2010, 3:40pm

one more Q
3. Currently people in the United States eat, on the average, 1,431 pounds of food per year, 35 pounds more than in 1980. This increase is, at least in part, because people between the ages of 15 and 64 have accounted for an increasing share of the population.
Which of the following can be properly inferred from the passage above?
(A) More than half of the current population of the United States is between the ages of 15 and 64.
(B) The population has risen since 1980.
(C) Children below the age of 15 require, on the average, more food than do people over the age of 64.
(D) Before 1980 children below the age of 15 outnumbered people between the ages of 15 and 64.
(E) Individuals between the ages of 15 and 64 consume, on the average, more food than do those younger or older.

I will go with option E

-Deepak.

easternpromises · October 9, 2010, 6:11pm

as for qn1: i think we can rule out E because the passage says he hasnt been proven guilty which might also mean that there are pending cases against him and just because they havent been proved against him he still roams as an innocent. not being proved guilty has nothing to do with being acquitted.

qn2: i have no clue. very confusing...both A and E look right.

1. Below is an excerpt from a letter that was sent by the chairman of a corporation to the stockholders.
A number of charges have been raised against me, some serious, some trivial. Individuals seeking to control the corporation for their own purposes have demanded my resignation. Remember that no court of law in any state has found me guilty of any criminal offense whatsoever. In the American tradition, as you know, an individual is considered innocent until proven guilty. Furthermore, as the corporations unbroken six-year record of growth will show, my conduct of my official duties as chairman has only helped enhance the success of the corporation, and so benefited every stockholder.
Which of the following can be properly inferred from the excerpt?
(A) The chairman believes that all those who have demanded his resignation are motivated by desire to control the corporation for their own purposes. - The argument does not talk about any beliefs of the chairman.
(B) Any misdeeds that the chairman may have committed were motivated by his desire to enhance the success of the corporation. - The argument does not say about any misdeeds.
(C) The chairman is innocent of any criminal offense. - He may not be innocent but it has not been proven.
(D) The corporation has expanded steadily over the past six years. this can be correctly inferred. Based on the premise 1: "the corporations unbroken six-year record of growth"
(E) Any legal proceedings against the chairman have resulted in his acquittal. - this can be correctly inferred.Based on the premise 2: " Remember that no court of law in any state has found me guilty of any criminal offense whatsoever"
I am not able to choose 1.

2. In the years since the city of London imposed strict air-pollution regulations on local industry, the number of bird species seen in and around London has increased dramatically. Similar air-pollution rules should be imposed in other major cities.
Each of the following is an assumption made in the argument above EXCEPT:
(A) In most major cities, air-pollution problems are caused almost entirely by local industry. - The argument does not stand on this assumption.
(B) Air-pollution regulations on industry have a significant impact on the quality of the air. - Yes this is an assumption and relates the quality of air to the sightings.
(C) The air-pollution problems of other major cities are basically similar to those once suffered by London. - "Similar air-pollution rules" suggests that the problems are the same.
(D) An increase in the number of bird species in and around a city is desirable. - "rules should be imposed" suggest that it is desirable.
(E) The increased sightings of bird species in and around London reflect an actual increase in the number of species in the area. - Not an assumption. The argument does not draw any conclusion based on this assumption. Even if this is false the argument will exist. Maybe because of the improved quality of air the bird species visit London more often.

Same for this one.

3. In the effort to fire a Civil Service employee, his or her manager may have to spend up to $100,000 of tax money. Since Civil Service employees know how hard it is to fire them, they tend to loaf. This explains in large part why the government is so inefficient.
It can be properly inferred on the basis of the statements above that the author believes which of the following?
I. Too much job security can have a negative influence on workers. - True.
II. More government workers should be fired. - Not true. Irrelevant.
III. Most government workers are Civil Service employees. - Not true. Even if the civil service employees are less in number they could be a problem.
(A) I only
(B) I and III only
(C) II only
(D) I, II, and III
(E) III only

(A) In most major cities, air-pollution problems are caused almost entirely by local industry. - The argument does not stand on this assumption.

I think we have to think of it as an assumption. Since strict regulations on local industry caused a significant increase in bird sightings, it would be safe to assume that local industry was contributing most to air pollution.

Any thoughts?

III. Most government workers are Civil Service employees. - Not true. Even if the civil service employees are less in number they could be a problem.

Well again, i would say unless most government workers are Civil Service Employees, perhaps the Government would not be so inefficient.

Any thoughts?

Cheers,

ravisekharan · October 13, 2010, 3:52pm

Here goes a simple, but tricky one ;)

Best conclusion for this passage could be:

One tax-reform proposal that has gained increasing support in recent years is the flat tax, which would impose a uniform tax rate on incomes at every level. Opponents of the flat tax say that a progressive tax system, which levies a higher rate of taxes on higher-income taxpayers, is fairer, placing the greater burden on those better able to bear it. However, the present crazy quilt of tax deductions, exemptions, credits, and loopholes benefits primarily the high-income taxpayer, who is consequently able to reduce his or her effective tax rate, often to a level below that paid by the lower-income taxpayer. Therefore, ______
(A) higher-income taxpayers are likely to lend their support to the flat-tax proposal now being considered by Congress
(B) a flat-tax system that allowed no deductions or exemptions would substantially increase actual government revenues
(C) the lower-income taxpayer might well be penalized by the institution of a flat-tax system in this country
(D) the progressive nature of our present tax system is more illusory than real
(E) the flat tax would actually be fairer to the lower-income taxpayer than any progressive tax system could be

maskedmenace · October 14, 2010, 3:39am

Exposure to certain chemicals commonly used in elementary schools as cleaners or pesticides causes allergic reactions in some children. Elementary school nurses in Renston report that the proportion of schoolchildren sent to them for treatment of allergic reactions to those chemicals has increased significantly over the past ten years. Therefore, either Renstons schoolchildren have been exposed to greater quantities of the chemicals, or they are more sensitive to them than schoolchildren were ten years ago.

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

The number of school nurses employed by Renstons elementary schools has not decreased over the past ten years.
Children who are allergic to the chemicals are no more likely than other children to have allergies to other substances.
Children who have allergic reactions to the chemicals are not more likely to be sent to a school nurse now than they were ten years ago.
The chemicals are not commonly used as cleaners or pesticides in houses and apartment buildings in Renston.
Children attending elementary school do not make up a larger proportion of Renstons population now than they did ten years ago.

Of patients over 65 years old who survived coronary bypass surgerya procedure widely prescribed for people with heart diseaseonly 75 percent benefited from the surgery. Thus it appears that for one in four such patients, the doctors who advised them to undergo this surgery, with its attendant risks and expense, were more interested in an opportunity to practice their skills and in their fee than in helping the patient.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the argument?

Many of the patients who receive coronary bypass surgery are less than 55 years old.
Possible benefits of coronary bypass surgery include both relief from troubling symptoms and prolongation of life.
Most of the patients in the survey decided to undergo coronary bypass surgery because they were advised that the surgery would reduce their risk of future heart attacks.
The patients over 65 years old who did not benefit from the coronary bypass surgery were as fully informed as those who did benefit from the surgery as to the risks of the surgery prior to undergoing it.
The patients who underwent coronary bypass surgery but who did not benefit from it were medically indistinguishable, prior to their surgery, from the patients who did benefit.

Answer:
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Q21:
Which of the following most logically completes the passage?

Each species of moth has an optimal body temperature for effective flight, and when air temperatures fall much below that temperature, the moths typically have to remain inactive on vegetation for extended periods, leaving them highly vulnerable to predators. In general, larger moths can fly faster than smaller ones and hence have a better chance of evading flying predators, but they also have higher optimal body temperatures, which explains why ______.

large moths are generally able to maneuver better in flight than smaller moths
large moths are proportionally much more common in warm climates than in cool climates
small moths are more likely than large moths to be effectively camouflaged while on vegetation
large moths typically have wings that are larger in proportion to their body size than smaller moths do
most predators of moths prey not only on several different species of moth but also on various species of other insects

Answer:
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Q28:
Historian: In the Drindian Empire, censuses were conducted annually to determine the population of each village. Village census records for the last half of the 1600s are remarkably complete. This very completeness makes one point stand out; in five different years, villages overwhelmingly reported significant population declines. Tellingly, each of those five years immediately followed an increase in a certain Drindian tax. This tax, which was assessed on villages, was computed by the central government using the annual census figures. Obviously, whenever the tax went up, villages had an especially powerful economic incentive to minimize the number of people they recorded; and concealing the size of a villages population from government census takers would have been easy. Therefore, it is reasonable to think that the reported declines did not happen.

In the historians argument, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

The first supplies a context for the historians argument; the second acknowledges a consideration that has been used to argue against the position the historian seeks to establish.
The first presents evidence to support the position that the historian seeks to establish; the second acknowledges a consideration that has been used to argue against that position.
The first provides a context for certain evidence that supports the position that the historian seeks to establish; the second is that position.
The first is a position for which the historian argues; the second is an assumption that serves as the basis of that argument.
The first is an assumption that the historian explicitly makes in arguing for a certain position; the second acknowledges a consideration that calls that assumption into question.

Magazine Publisher: Our magazine does not have a liberal bias. It is true that when a book review we had commissioned last year turned out to express distinctly conservative views, we did not publish it until we had also obtained a second review that took a strongly liberal position. Clearly, however, our actions demonstrate not a bias in favor of liberal views but rather a commitment to a balanced presentation of diverse opinions.

Determining which of the following would be most useful in evaluating the cogency of the magazine publishers response?

Whether any other magazines in which the book was reviewed carried more than one review of the book
Whether the magazine publishes unsolicited book reviews as well as those that it has commissioned
Whether in the event that a first review commissioned by the magazine takes a clearly liberal position the magazine would make any efforts to obtain further reviews
Whether the book that was the subject of the two reviews was itself written from a clearly conservative or a clearly liberal point of view
Whether most of the readers of the magazine regularly read the book reviews that the magazine publishes

deepakraam · October 14, 2010, 11:00am

cognizant_81 Says
one more Q15.It is true that unionized women earn, on average, more than a third more than nonunionized women do. But the unionized women work in industries where wages happen to be high, their nonunionized counterparts in these industries earn about as much as they do. Therefore unionization does not raise womens wages.Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument above?(A) Besides wage increases, unions bargain for benefits such as medical insurance and workplace safety.(B) The most highly paid women are in executive positions, which are not unionized.(C) Wages in many industries vary from one part of the country to another, regardless of whether workers are unionized or not.(D) Nonunionized women in an industry often receive income increases as a result of increases won by unions representing women who work for other employers in the same industry.(E) The unionization of women who work for one employer in a given industry frequently prompts the unionization of women who work for other employers in the same industry.

I will vote for option D for the above CR

-Deepak.

deepakraam · October 14, 2010, 11:00am

cognizant_81 Says
14.The president of a consulting firm analyzed the decisions made about marketing by her clients and concluded that the decisions were correct only about half of the time.The conclusion above depends on the presupposition that(A) companies can be successful even when about half of the decisions they make about marketing prove to be wrong(B) companies hiring her consulting firm make no more incorrect marketing decisions than do companies in general(C) executives consistently making correct marketing decisions rarely enlist the aid of a consulting firm(D) marketing decision are just as likely to be correct as they are to be incorrect(E) it is possible to classify a marketing decision properly as being either right or wrong

I will go with option E for the above CR

-Deepak.

deepakraam · October 14, 2010, 11:32am

cognizant_81 Says
OA for 14 and 15 is D!!

Are you sure OA for Q.14 is D?

-Deepak.

deepakraam · October 14, 2010, 11:40am

cognizant_81 Says
one more16.A violin constructed to have improved sound would sound different from the best-sounding existing violins.To professional violinists, a violin that sounds different from the best-sounding existing violins sounds less like a violin and therefore worse than the best-sounding existing violins.Professional violinists are the only accepted judges of the sound quality of violins.Would be the best supported by those statements?(A) Only amateur violinists should be asked to judge the sound quality of newly constructed violins.(B) Professional violinists supervise the construction of violins.(C) The best-sounding existing violins have been in existence fro several centuries.(D) It is currently impossible to construct a violin that the only accepted judges will evaluate as having improved sound.(E) It is possible to construct a violin that sounds better than the best-sounding existing violins to everyone but professional violinists

I will go with option D

harry4u9 · October 14, 2010, 11:43am

@Cognizant- Request you to pls put in Explanations also & not just OA's as CR are a crtical area where a slight mispositioning of words can create a hell lot of difference...

deepakraam · October 15, 2010, 8:26am

MaskedMenace Says
Exposure to certain chemicals commonly used in elementary schools as cleaners or pesticides causes

My take on the above set

1. option c)Children who have allergic reactions to the chemicals are not more likely to be sent to a school nurse now than they were ten years ago.

2. option D)The patients over 65 years old who did not benefit from the coronary bypass surgery were as fully informed as those who did benefit from the surgery as to the risks of the surgery prior to undergoing it.

3. option A)large moths are generally able to maneuver better in flight than smaller moths

4. option E)The first is an assumption that the historian explicitly makes in arguing for a certain position; the second acknowledges a consideration that calls that assumption into question

5. option C)Whether in the event that a first review commissioned by the magazine takes a clearly liberal position the magazine would make any efforts to obtain further reviews

-Deepak.

silverlineinsky · October 17, 2010, 7:50am

The people of Prohibitionland are considering banning the service of alcoholic beverages in restaurants to curb unruly behavior on the part of its residents. Proprietors of restaurants in Prohibitionland are protesting the ban on the grounds that it will reduce their revenues and profits. However, several provinces in Prohibitionland enacted restrictions on alcoholic beverages last year, and the sales taxes paid by the restaurants in those provinces rose by an average of 50 percent. In contrast, the sales taxes paid by restaurants located in areas of Prohibitionland that did not have any restrictions rose by an average of 30 percent.

Which of the following, if true, supports the restaurant proprietors' economic stance against the ban?

In the provinces that restricted alcoholic beverages, there was a short-term negative impact on restaurant visitation in the beginning of last year.

The sales tax in Prohibitionland is lower on food and beverages than it is on other consumer goods, such as clothing.

The consumption of alcoholic beverages in Prohibitionland has been on a gradual decline the last 20 years.

The restrictions on alcoholic beverages enacted last year allowed for the service of drinks beginning around dinnertime each evening.

Overall sales tax revenue did not increase at a substantially higher rate in the provinces that enacted the restrictions on alcoholic beverages than in the rest of Prohibitionland last year.

deepakraam · October 17, 2010, 8:00am

The people of Prohibitionland are considering banning the service of alcoholic beverages in restaurants to curb unruly behavior on the part of its residents. Proprietors of restaurants in Prohibitionland are protesting the ban on the grounds that it will reduce their revenues and profits. However, several provinces in Prohibitionland enacted restrictions on alcoholic beverages last year, and the sales taxes paid by the restaurants in those provinces rose by an average of 50 percent. In contrast, the sales taxes paid by restaurants located in areas of Prohibitionland that did not have any restrictions rose by an average of 30 percent.

Which of the following, if true, supports the restaurant proprietors economic stance against the ban?

In the provinces that restricted alcoholic beverages, there was a short-term negative impact on restaurant visitation in the beginning of last year.

The sales tax in Prohibitionland is lower on food and beverages than it is on other consumer goods, such as clothing.

The consumption of alcoholic beverages in Prohibitionland has been on a gradual decline the last 20 years.

The restrictions on alcoholic beverages enacted last year allowed for the service of drinks beginning around dinnertime each evening.

Overall sales tax revenue did not increase at a substantially higher rate in the provinces that enacted the restrictions on alcoholic beverages than in the rest of Prohibitionland last year.

I will go with option D for the above CR