3 Gmat Reading Comprehension Practice Sets 18 Questions Each

READING COMPREHENSION SET 1

Time: 25 minutes—18 Questions

Directions: Each passage in this section is followed by several questions. After reading thepassage, choose the best response to each question and mark it on your answer sheet. Yourreplies are to be based on what is actually stated or implied in the passage, and not on yourown knowledge. You may refer to the passage while answering the questions.

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READING COMPREHENSION

PRACTICE SETS C H A P T E R 1 7

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The relevance of formal economic models toreal-world policy has been a topic of some dis-pute. The economists R. D. Norton and S. Y.Rhee achieved some success in applying such amodel retrospectively to the Korean economyover a fourteen-year period; the model’s figuresfor output, prices, and other variables closelymatched real statistics. The model’s value in pol-icy terms, however, proved less clearcut. Nortonand Rhee performed simulations in which, keep-ing long-term factors constant, they tried to pin-point the effect of short-term policy changes.Their model indicated that rising prices forimported oil would increase inflation; reducingexports by five percent would lower GrossDomestic Product and increase inflation; andslowing the growth of the money supply wouldresult in slightly higher inflation.

These findings are somewhat startling.Many economists have argued that reducingexports will lessen, not increase, inflation. Andwhile most view escalating oil costs as inflation-ary, few would think the same of slower monetarygrowth. The Norton-Rhee model can perhaps beviewed as indicating the pitfalls of a formalistapproach that stresses statistical “goodness offit” at the expense of genuine policy relevance.

1. The author is primarily concerned with

(A) proposing a new type of economicanalysis

(B) criticizing an overly formal economic model

(C) advocating the use of statistical models indetermining economic policy

(D) suggesting an explanation for Koreaninflation

(E) determining the accuracy of Norton andRhee’s analysis

2. The author mentions “a fourteen-year period”(line 6) in order to

(A) indicate how far into the future Norton andRhee’s model can make accuratepredictions

(B) acknowledge the accuracy of Norton andRhee’s model in accounting for pastevents

(C) explain the effect of reducing exports oninflation

(D) demonstrate the startling nature of Nortonand Rhee’s findings

(E) expose the flaws in Norton and Rhee’smodel

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P R A C T I C E S E T S A N D E X P L A N AT I O N S

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R E A D I N G C O M P R E H E N S I O N P R A C T I C E S E T S

3. The most significant criticism leveled againstNorton and Rhee’s model is that it

(A) excludes key statistical variables

(B) is too abstract to be useful in policymaking

(C) fails to adjust for Korea’s high rate ofinflation

(D) underestimates the importance ofeconomic growth

(E) fails to consider the effect of short-termvariations in the economy

4. It can be inferred that the most surprising findingof the Norton-Rhee study is that

(A) reducing exports would reduce inflation

(B) high oil prices worsen inflation

(C) an increase in exports can slow the rate ofgrowth

(D) slower monetary expansion would worseninflation

(E) long-term factors do not affect economicgrowth

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A basic principle of ecology is that popula-tion size is partly a reflection of available foodresources. Recent experiments suggest that therelationship is more complex than formerlythought. Specifically, the browsing of certainrodents appears to trigger chemical reactions infood plants which, in turn, affect the size of therodent populations. Two examples of such regu-lation have been reported.

Berger has demonstrated the power of a nat-urally occurring chemical called 6-MBOA to stim-ulate reproductive behavior in the mountain vole,a small mouse-like rodent. 6-MBOA forms inyoung grass in response to browsing by voles.Berger experimented by feeding oats coated with6-MBOA to non-breeding winter populations ofvoles. After three weeks, she found a high inci-dence of pregnancy among females. Since thetiming of reproduction is crucial to the short-livedvole in an environment in which the onset of veg-etative growth may be considerably delayed, thephytochemical triggering of reproductive behaviorrepresents a significant biological adaptation.

In an example reported by Bryant, plantsappear to have developed a phytochemicaldefense against the depredations of snowshoehares in Canada. Every ten years, for reasonsthat are unclear, the hare population swells. Theresult is overbrowsing of certain deciduous treesand shrubs. Bryant found that trees favored bythe hare produce young shoots high in terpeneand phenolic resins, which discourage harebrowsing. After treating non-resinous willow twigswith resinous extracts and placing treated anduntreated samples at hare feeding stations,Bryant found that samples containing at leasthalf of the resin concentration of natural twigswere untouched. The avoidance of resinousshoots, he concludes, may play a role in thedecline of the hare population to normal levels.

Both of these reports suggest areas for fur-ther research. For example, data should bereviewed to determine if periodic populationexplosions among lemmings (another smallrodent living in a northern environment) occurduring years in which there is an early onset ofvegetative growth; if so, a triggering mechanismsimilar to that prompted by the vole may beinvolved.

5. The author provides specific information toanswer which of the following questions?

(A) What factors other than food supply affectthe population size of rodents?

(B) Why is the timing of the voles’reproductive effort important?

(C) Are phytochemical reactions found only innorthern environments?

(D) How does 6-MBOA trigger reproductiveactivity in the mountain vole?

(E) What are the causes of the periodicincrease in the snowshoe harepopulation?

6. The passage describes the effect of 6-MBOA onvoles as a “significant biological adaptation”(line 23) because it

(A) limits reproductive behavior in times offood scarcity

(B) prompts the vole population to seek newfood sources

(C) supports species survival during periodsof fluctuating food supply

(D) maximizes the number of offspring inindividual litters

(E) minimizes territorial competition

7. Which of the following statements can beinferred about plant shoots containing largeamounts of terpene and phenolic resins?

I. They serve as a form of natural defense.

II. Their growth is stimulated by increases inthe hare population.

III. They are unappetizing to hares.

(A) I only

(B) II only

(C) III only

(D) I and III only

(E) I, II, and III

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8. It can be inferred that the study of lemmingsproposed by the author would probably

(A) strengthen the conclusions of Bryant

(B) cast doubt on the conclusions of Bryant

(C) support the specific findings of Berger

(D) provide evidence as to whether Berger’sconclusions can be generalized

(E) disprove common beliefs about therelationship between population size andfood supply

9. The author of the passage is primarily concernedwith

(A) reviewing findings about phytochemicalregulation of rodent populations

(B) outlining the role of 6-MBOA in regulatingpopulation size

(C) summarizing knowledge on population sizeof rodents

(D) explaining why earlier studies ofpopulation size were wrong

(E) describing mechanisms used by plants toprotect themselves

10. Bryant’s interpretation of the results of hisexperiment (lines 36–38) depends on which ofthe following assumptions?

(A) The response of hares to resinoussubstances may be different in naturethan under experimental conditions.

(B) The periodic rise in the hare population istriggered by an unknown phytochemicalresponse.

(C) Many hares will starve to death ratherthan eat resinous shoots.

(D) Hares alter their breeding behavior inresponse to the declining availability offood.

(E) Significant numbers of hares die fromingesting the resins in shoots.

11. The experiments described in the passage dideach of the following EXCEPT

(A) measure changes in the behavior of testanimals

(B) measure changes in the populations ofexperimental animals

(C) simulate a hypothesized phytochemicaleffect in nature

(D) measure the consumption of foods by testanimals

(E) analyze the effects of food on breedingbehavior

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There is an intriguing note to the current callupon civil rights law to help remedy the underval-uation of women’s work. Until fairly recently, gov-ernment was not expected to solve workers’ eco-nomic grievances, however valid they might be.Many assumed that the responsibility lay withworkers themselves. Collective bargaining wasthe preferred instrument for pursuing pay equityfor women. Rather than call upon the law to reg-ulate the market from the outside, one could tryto reshape or otherwise influence the market sothat women themselves would be better able toaddress the problem. This could be done by rais-ing absolute wage levels in low-paying, predomi-nantly female industries (such as retail clothing)or by changing the pay relationship betweenlargely female and largely male occupations with-in a single industry, such as auto manufacturing.Through union representation, employees in tra-ditionally female jobs in an industry could identi-fy the actual degree of underpayment of theirwork and then, as a group, pressure their employ-er to remedy it. In addition, this process wouldencourage those affected—men and womenalike—to be sensitive to the limits of availableresources, to be pragmatic about the pace atwhich the wage structure could be revised.

I do not mean to suggest that collective bar-gaining is a foolproof means for closing the gen-der gap in wages. To the extent that the probleminvolves the undervaluation of nonunion femaleoccupations in an otherwise unionized industry,political hurdles will discourage unionizedemployees from supporting revisions in the wagestructure. And to the extent that the problem isthe concentration of women in low-paying indus-tries—textiles, for example—the product marketimposes serious economic constraints on a sub-stantial closing of the wage gap.

Despite the imperfections of tools like col-lective bargaining for redressing wage disparitiesbetween men and women, a reliance on law orgovernment is favorable for neither individualfirms nor our economy as a whole. Nonetheless,although opponents of mandatory public reme-dies may correctly fear those remedies as beinga cure worse than the disease, they are wrongwhen they imply that the current system of wagedetermination by business management is per-fectly healthy.

12. In line 13, this most likely refers to

(A) increasing the wages of women and menin a single industry

(B) bringing about changes in marketconditions

(C) changing the dynamic of collectivebargaining

(D) relying on civil rights law to remedyeconomic grievances

(E) applying group pressure on an employer

13. According to the author, the process ofunionization and collective bargaining could doall of the following EXCEPT

(A) overcome market pressures that keepwages in some industries lower than inothers

(B) encourage worker flexibility in adjusting anew pay scale to economic conditions

(C) help workers to apply group pressure onemployers

(D) aid in determining the degree to whichwomen are being underpaid

(E) sensitize workers to the limits of theirindustry’s ability to institute change

14. Which of the following best summarizes theauthor’s main point?

(A) Pay inequity for women exists because ofthe lack of unionization in traditionallyfemale occupations.

(B) Government regulation of industry toachieve pay equity for women isunnecessary because management hasthe power to effectively determine wages.

(C) Unionization would solve all industryproblems relating to the valuation ofwomen’s work.

(D) Government regulation of women’s wagesis necessary only in those industrieswhere collective bargaining is ineffective.

(E) Collective bargaining is preferable togovernment actions in redressing theundervaluation of women’s work.

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15. The author mentions textiles (line 37) in order to

(A) demonstrate the potential harm ofgovernment regulation of industry

(B) outline a strategy for achieving pay equityfor women

(C) indicate how quickly employees canreasonably expect to achieve pay equity

(D) give an example of a situation in whichcollective bargaining may be ineffective

(E) show why civil rights laws are the mostimportant tool for increasing women’swages

16. It can be inferred that the author’s attitudetoward opponents of government regulation ofwage determination mentioned in the lastparagraph is characterized by which of thefollowing?

I. Distrust of their motives

II. Sympathy with some of their concerns

III. Disagreement with some of theirassumptions

IV. Opposition to their political principles

(A) I only

(B) III only

(C) I and II only

(D) II and III only

(E) I, II, and IV

17. In the final paragraph, the author addresses“opponents of mandatory public remedies” (lines 45–46) by

(A) arguing that those remedies would benefitthe economy

(B) implying that alternative methods ofcorrecting wage disparities would beworse

(C) asserting that the present approach tosetting wages is flawed

(D) defending civil rights legislation as asolution to social problems

(E) insisting that those remedies are a viablemeans of correcting wage disparities

18. The passage refers to which of the following asreasons for preferring collective bargaining tolegislation as a method of ending theundervaluation of women’s work?

I. The greater responsiveness of collectivebargaining to existing conditions thataffect wage levels

II. The general desirability of using privaterather than public remedies

III. The potential of collective bargaining forachieving a uniform national solution tothe problem of gender wage disparities

(A) I only

(B) III only

(C) I and II only

(D) II and III only

(E) I, II, and III

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ANSWERS ON THE NEXT PAGE

ANSWER KEY

1. B

2. B

3. B

4. D

5. B

6. C

7. D

8. D

9. A

10. C

11. E

12. B

13. A

14. E

15. D

16. D

17. C

18. C

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The debt crisis affecting many developingcountries has had three causes: imprudent man-agement and borrowing by debtor countries;imprudent lending by banks; and rising interestrates. The rise in real interest rates to about 6percent by 1982 increased the burden on bor-rowers and completely changed the nature of thedebt problem. Such an increase had not beenseen previously. In past debt crises, when loanswere made at fixed rates, real interest rates rosewith deflation. But once price levels stabilized,the interest burden would be higher only to theextent of the proportional decline in price levels.And it remained quite possible that inflationwould eventually reduce the burden. In this crisis,though, the real interest rate has risen andstayed high, and inflation has brought no relief.

During the 1980s, fear of financial loss ledU.S. commercial banks to sharply curtail theirlending activity in debtor countries. In 1982, ninelarge banks had over 250 percent of their capitalin loans to developing countries; by mid-1986,the nine banks had reduced their activities to thepoint where they had sufficient equity andreserves to withstand potential losses. Althoughbanks have stabilized their positions, many con-tinue to carry developing-country debt at facevalue.

Present bank strategies deal with the debtcrisis by extending the effective maturity of loans.Although any method that reduces the flow ofresources from debtor countries will help in theshort run, further lending promises little relief tothe debt problem. So long as real interest ratesremain high, developing countries will remain indebt. There are two choices. Either the piecemealapproach continues, or some form of debt reliefoccurs. For years, developing countries have paidthe price of low growth and significant falls in realwages while making cash transfers to servicetheir debt. Citizens of developing countries arekept at low levels of income for the sake of capi-tal gains for banks and their shareholders. Withsensible debt relief, developing countries andlending institutions can begin to formulategrowth-oriented development policies. Thisshould be possible without increasing burdens ontaxpayers in lender countries.

1. The primary purpose of this passage is todiscuss

(A) the causes of the debt crisis and potentialsolutions to it

(B) the effects of rising interest rates

(C) American banking in the 1980s

(D) the future of banking in the U.S.

(E) economic conditions in developingcountries

2. The passage provides information that helps toanswer which of the following questions?

I. Did errors of economic management bydeveloping countries contribute to the debtcrisis?

II. Are steps currently being taken to alleviatethe debt crisis?

III. Do taxpayers in lending countries supportthe notion of debt relief?

(A) I only

(B) II only

(C) I and II only

(D) II and III only

(E) I, II, and III

3. Which of the following characterized responsesto the debt crisis in the 1980s?

(A) Increased pressure on debtor countries topay interest due on loans

(B) An increase in the percentage of their totalcapital large banks devoted to foreignloans

(C) A decrease in the funds designated bybanks to cover potential losses

(D) Reliance by banks on inflationary pressureto reduce debt levels

(E) A decline in bank lending and an increasein capital reserves

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4. The author suggests that methods currently inplace for dealing with the debt crisis areinadequate because they

(A) increase the upward pressure on realinterest rates without allowing anyopportunity for reduction

(B) allow real wages to rise at the expense ofeconomic growth in debtor countries

(C) fail to address problems ofmismanagement in debtor and creditorcountries

(D) lessen the immediate burden of debtservice but do not promote long-termgrowth

(E) sacrifice a reduction of real interest ratesfor a short-term increase in loan maturity

5. In the passage, the author identifies all of thefollowing as contributing to the current debtcrisis EXCEPT

(A) self-interest on the part of commercialbanks

(B) sustained high real interest rates

(C) unwillingness of banks to extend thematuration periods of loans

(D) unwise decisions made by commerciallending institutions

(E) failure of inflation to reduce the interestburden

6. If the passage were to continue, the next topicthe author would logically discuss would mostlikely be

(A) possible steps which might bring abouteffective debt relief

(B) options other than debt relief that mightalleviate the debt crisis

(C) current attitudes of bankers towardinternational lending

(D) measures currently taken by debtorcountries to reduce inflation

(E) the effects of 1980s banking activities ondebtor countries

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Desert plant populations have evolvedsophisticated physiological behavioral traits thataid survival in arid conditions. Some send outlong, unusually deep taproots; others utilize shal-low but widespread roots, which allow them toabsorb large, intermittent flows of water. Certainplants protect their access to water. The creosotebush produces a potent root toxin which inhibitsthe growth of competing root systems. Daytimeclosure of stomata exemplifies a further geneticadaptation; guard cells work to minimize daytimewater loss, later allowing the stomata to openwhen conditions are more favorable to gasexchange with the environment.

Certain adaptations reflect the principle thata large surface area facilitates water and gasexchange. Most plants have small leaves, modi-fied leaves (spines), or no leaves at all. The mainfood-producing organ is not the leaf but the stem,which is often green and non-woody. Thick, waxystems and cuticles, seen in succulents such ascacti and agaves, also help conserve water.Spines and thorns (modified branches) protectagainst predators and also minimize water loss.

7. The passage refers to the spines and thorns ofdesert plants as

I. genetically evolved structural adaptationsthat protect against predation

II. genetic modifications that aid in thereduction of water loss

III. structures that do not participate directlyin food production

(A) I only

(B) III only

(C) I and II only

(D) II and III only

(E) I, II and III

8. The author suggest that the guard cells ofdesert plants act to do which of the following?

I. Facilitate gas and water exchange betweenthe plants and their surroundings

II. Cause the stomata of desert plants toremain closed during daytime hours

III. Respond to sudden, heavy rainfalls byforcing the plants’ stomata to open

(A) I only

(B) II only

(C) III only

(D) I and II only

(E) I, II, and III

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9. The passage suggests that which of thefollowing weather-related conditions would mostbenefit plants with shallow root systems?

(A) An unusually prolonged drought

(B) A windstorm

(C) A flash flood

(D) A light spring rain

(E) A winter snowfall

10. The adaptations of desert plants to their environment would tend to support thestatement that

(A) the rate of genetic evolution is greater inthe desert than in more temperatesurroundings

(B) structures in a plant which usually performone function may, under certainconditions, perform different functions

(C) while the amount of leaf surface area iscritical for a desert plant, it is much lessso for plants in most other environments

(D) desert plants do not have manyphysiological and behavioral traits incommon with other plants

(E) desert plants could probably adapt to lifein a variety of harsh ecosystems

11. All of the following are mentioned as examplesof adaptation by desert plants EXCEPT

(A) deep roots

(B) shallow roots

(C) poisonous roots

(D) food-producing leaves

(E) spines and thorns

12. The passage suggests that the adaptations ofdesert plants function to do all of the followingEXCEPT

(A) protect the plants’ access to water

(B) prevent the loss of water during the day

(C) maximize the water and gas exchange

(D) shield the plant from daytime heat

(E) guard against predators

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The great migration of European intellectu-als to the United States in the second quarter ofthe twentieth century prompted a transformationin the character of Western social thought. Theinflux of Continental thinkers fleeing fascistregimes had a great impact on American acade-mic circles, leading to new developments in suchdiverse fields as linguistics and theology. But thegreatest impact was on the emigrés themselves.This “migration experience” led expatriates toreexamine the supposedly self-evident premisesinherited from the Continental intellectual tradi-tion. The result, according to H. Stuart Hughes inThe Sea-Change, was an increased sophistica-tion and deprovincialization in social theory.

One problem facing newly arrived emigrés inthe U.S. was the spirit of anti-intellectualism inmuch of the country. The empirical orientation ofAmerican academic circles, moreover, led to theconscious tempering by many European thinkersof their own tendencies toward speculative ideal-ism. In addition, reports of oppression in Europeshook many Old World intellectuals from a stanceof moral isolation. Many great European socialtheorists had regarded their work as separatefrom all moral considerations. The migrationexperience proved to many intellectuals of the fol-lowing generations that such notions of moralseclusion were unrealistic, even irresponsible.

This transformation of social thought is per-haps best exemplified in the career of the Germantheologian Paul Tillich. Migration confronted Tillichwith an ideological as well as a cultural dichotomy.Hughes points out that Tillich’s thought was “sus-pended between philosophy and theology, Marxismand political conformity, theism and disbelief.”Comparable to the fusion by other expatriate intel-lectuals of their own idealist traditions with theAnglo-American empiricist tradition was Tillich’ssynthesis of German Romantic religiosity with theexistentialism born of the twentieth-century warexperience. Tillich’s basic goal, according toHughes, was to move secular individuals by makingreligious symbols more accessible to them. Forcedto make his ethical orientation explicit in the con-text of American attitudes, Tillich avoided the eso-teric academic posture of many Old World scholars,and was able to find a wide and sympathetic audi-ence for his sometimes difficult theology. In thisway, his experience in America, in his own words,“deprovincialized” his thought.

13. The author’s main concern in the passage is to

(A) characterize the effects of migration onU.S. history

(B) show how Paul Tillich’s career wasrepresentative of the migration experience

(C) discuss the effects of the great migrationon modern social thought

(D) reveal the increased sophistication ofpost-migration thought

(E) contrast European social thought with thatof the United States

14. The author probably mentions H. Stuart Hughes(line 13) in order to

(A) give an example of a European intellectualwho migrated to America

(B) cite an important source of informationabout the migration experience

(C) demonstrate how one American academicwas influenced by European scholars

(D) pay tribute to Americans who providedEuropean thinkers with a refuge fromfascism

(E) name a leading disciple of Paul Tissich

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15. Which of the following statements describeTillich’s achievement?

I. He elucidated religious symbols in asecular context without sacrificing theirimpact.

II. He shunned the esotericism of muchtheological scholarship.

III. He adapted a traditional religiosity to thetemper of the modern world.

(A) I only

(B) II only

(C) I and II only

(D) II and III only

(E) I, II, and III

16. According to the passage, reports of“oppression in Europe” (line 22) affected socialthinkers by forcing them to

(A) rethink their moral responsibilities

(B) reexamine the morality of European leaders

(C) analyze the effects of migration on morality

(D) reconsider their anti-social behavior

(E) justify the moral value of social thought

17. It can be inferred that postmigration socialthought is distinguished from premigrationthought by its

(A) less secular nature

(B) greater social consciousness

(C) more difficult theology

(D) diminished accessibility

(E) more theoretical nature

18. The passage suggests that the migrationexperience

(A) had little major effect on Americanacademic circles

(B) led to the abandonment of the idealistphilosophical tradition

(C) made American intellectuals sensitive tooppression in Europe

(D) caused emigré social thinkers to questioncertain of their beliefs

(E) negated Tillich’s influence on modernsocial thought

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ANSWER KEY

1. A

2. C

3. E

4. D

5. C

6. A

7. E

8. D

9. C

10. B

11. D

12. D

13. C

14. B

15. E

16. A

17. B

18. D

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The astronomical study of hot gas—gas witha temperature of a million degrees Kelvin orgreater—began with observations of the solaratmosphere. In the 1930s, techniques weredeveloped to perform optical studies of the solarcorona during solar eclipses. The detection ofhighly ionized atoms of iron, calcium, and nickel,as well as an extended gaseous region, impliedthe presence of gas at temperatures of about amillion degrees K. However, detailed study of thesolar corona had to await the advent of spaceastronomy and the chance to observe the sun atultraviolet and X-ray wavelengths outside theearth’s opaque atmosphere. These wavelengthsare crucial for studying hot gas because highlyionized atoms are visible in these regions andbecause most radiated energy is emitted there.

Recent study of hot gas began with thelaunching in the 1970s of space observatorieswhich gathered data on ultraviolet and X-ray wave-lengths. These observations led to a new pictureof the production and evolution of hot gas. Before1970, direct evidence for the presence of hot gasin large volumes of space was lacking. Althoughthere were theoretical arguments for pervasiveinterstellar gas, interstellar space in our galaxywas thought to be occupied by gas with a tem-perature of about 10,000 degrees K. In the1970s, however, the observatory Copernicusrevealed the widespread presence in our galaxyof highly ionized oxygen that could only be pro-duced at high temperatures. At the same time,the Uhuru X-ray satellite discovered emissionsfrom hot gas in the space between galaxies inclusters. Subsequent studies confirmed thesefindings.

It is believed that interstellar gas is heatedthrough two mechanisms: the motions of starsand matter ejected from them, and gravitationalinfall. Hot gas has been observed on a smallerscale, between stars in our galaxy, and in large-scale structures (clusters of galaxies). On asmaller scale, supernovae, or exploding stars,probably create an interstellar medium of hot gaswithin galaxies; they may also drive gas out ofgalaxies. On a larger scale, gravitational infall—during which gas slumps toward the center of agalaxy—may play a role in the heating of gas.

1. Which of the following can be inferred from thepassage about “recent study of hot gas” (line18)?

(A) It has prompted the rejection of earlierstudies of the solar corona.

(B) It has taken place largely outside theearth’s atmosphere.

(C) It has led to full understanding of theproduction and evolution of hot gas.

(D) It was aimed primarily at gathering datarelated to the birth and death of stars.

(E) It was hindered by astronomers’dependence on outdated researchtechniques.

2. Which of the following is mentioned in thepassage as evidence for the presence of hotinterstellar gas in our galaxy?

(A) The varying levels of radiation given off bydistant stars

(B) The large quantity of ionized atomsdetected during solar eclipses

(C) The presence of gas with a temperature ofabout 10,000 degrees K in our galaxy

(D) The production of highly ionized oxygen inour galaxy

(E) The frequent occurrence of supernovae inour galaxy

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3. According to the passage, the Uhuru X-raysatellite has been instrumental in helping to

(A) provide detailed images of the remnantsof supernovae in our galaxy

(B) determine the precise sequence of eventsleading to a supernova

(C) document the widespread presence of hotgas in interstellar space

(D) identify the different types of particlescommonly ejected by stars

(E) measure the varying strength ofgravitational fields at galactic centers

4. The author suggests that the studies of the solaratmosphere discussed in the first paragraph

(A) conflict with current assumptions aboutthe extent of the gaseous regionsurrounding the sun

(B) reached conclusions which wereoverlooked by later studies

(C) were constrained by the technology thenavailable to scientists

(D) confirmed then-current beliefs about thepresence of hot gas between stars

(E) are largely irrelevant to recent studies ofhot gas

5. Which of the following best describes how thesecond paragraph relates to the first paragraph?

(A) The second paragraph qualifies aconclusion stated in the first paragraph.

(B) The second paragraph elaborates ondevelopments identified in the firstparagraph.

(C) The second paragraph examines in detailthe particular studies referred to in thefirst paragraph.

(D) The second paragraph identifies a morefruitful area of study than that discussedin the first paragraph.

(E) The second paragraph illustrates thedegree of speculation involved in thestudies mentioned in the first paragraph.

6. The passage specifically mentions informationrelevant to all of the following questions EXCEPT:

(A) In what way does hot gas affect theevolution of stellar systems?

(B) What may result from the migration of gastoward the center of a galaxy?

(C) What effect can the release of energyduring a stellar explosion have oninterstellar gas?

(D) What evidence have researchers gatheredfor the presence of hot gas near the sun?

(E) Why is the ability to monitor ultraviolet andX-ray wavelengths necessary for the studyof hot gas?

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We must question the assumption that for-profit health care institutions are obligated to provide free care for people who cannot afford topay for it. Supermarkets, after all, are not expect-ed to donate food to the hungry, and real estatedevelopers are not expected to let people liverent-free in their housing. Yet food and housing,like health care, are necessities. If there is abasic right to health care, it is reasonable to thinkthere are such rights to food and shelter.

Whose obligation is it to secure adequatehealth care for those without it? There are sever-al reasons to believe that the obligation restswith the federal government. First, the obligationto secure a just distribution of benefits and burdens across society is a general societalobligation. Second, the federal government is theinstitution society employs to meet society-widedistributive requirements. It has the capacities tofinance a hugely expensive program for guaran-teed adequate health care. The government’staxing power also allows the burden of financinghealth care to be spread across society and notto depend on the vagaries of how wealthy or poora state or local area may be. The governmentalso has the power to coordinate health care pro-grams across local and state boundaries. Thiswould reduce inefficiencies that allow people tofall between the cracks of the patchwork of localand state programs, and ensure that there arenot great differences in the minimum of healthcare guaranteed to all in different locales.

If we are one society, then the level of healthcare needed for all citizens should not vary in dif-ferent areas because of political and economiccontingencies. It is worth noting that food stampprograms and housing subsidies, also aimed atbasic necessities, similarly are largely a federalresponsibility. These are reasons for the federalgovernment having the obligation to guaranteeaccess to health care. It could provide this careitself, or it could supply vouchers to be used inthe health care marketplace. How access shouldbe secured—and to what extent market mechanisms ought to be utilized—is a separatequestion.

7. The author’s primary concern in the passage isto discuss

(A) the level of expenditures required toensure access to health care for all

(B) measures that might be enacted to carryout a program of subsidized health care

(C) differences among states and localities inthe provision of basic social services

(D) whether a national commitment to healthcare can be reconciled with the federalstructure of the United States

(E) who bears the obligation for assuringadequate health services for those wholack it

8. The author mentions federal “food stampprograms and housing subsidies” (lines 36–37)primarily in order to

(A) modify a previous point in response tonew information

(B) support his argument by mentioning acomparable situation

(C) argue that these programs should bemodified

(D) make a concession to a contrasting opinion

(E) acknowledge that not all programs wouldbenefit from the same approach

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(5)

(10)

(15)

(20)

(25)

(30)

(35)

(40)

(45)


9. According to the passage, the federalgovernment possesses all the following powersin regard to health care EXCEPT the power to

(A) raise the revenue to finance health careexpenditures

(B) distribute the costs of health care fairlyamong different parts of the country

(C) ensure that people have access to healthcare regardless of state and localboundaries

(D) require businesses and charities toassume a greater role in providing healthcare to the needy

(E) set comparable and reasonable standardsfor minimum acceptable levels of healthcare

10. The first paragraph serves primarily to

(A) corroborate a theory

(B) advocate new research

(C) reconcile differing views

(D) explain a procedure

(E) introduce an opinion

11. Which of the following actions would be mostconsistent with the “society-wide distributiverequirements” mentioned in lines 18–19?

(A) The revenue from a federal tax increase isused in part to raise standards of healthcare in less affluent regions andcommunities

(B) The federal government consents to lessstringent health care standards for lessaffluent communities

(C) The federal government disavowslegislation designating elementary healthcare as a public responsibility

(D) A revenue shortfall caused by a federal taxcut is compensated for by an increase instate taxes

(E) The federal government transfersallocated funds from its food stampprogram to a program which guaranteeshealth care

12. It can be inferred from the passage that theauthor considers the method in which healthcare is guaranteed to people to be

(A) an issue that may prevent agreement onthe principle of securing health care for all

(B) a responsibility primarily of state and localgovernments

(C) an issue that is distinct from theguarantee of health care itself

(D) dependent on variations in marketmechanisms among different locales

(E) a practical problem that may neversatisfactorily be resolved

13. If the passage were to continue, the next topicthe author would logically discuss would mostlikely be

(A) the duty of private hospitals to providefree health care for the poor

(B) the role of the federal government inestablishing standards of health care

(C) various ways that the federal governmentcould assure all citizens access to healthcare

(D) a plan for making health care theresponsibility of the individual states

(E) the argument that access to health careshould not be considered a basic humanright

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A theorist of modernization in underdevel-oped countries has defined this process as one ofpassing from “traditional authority,” derived fromlong-standing custom and the authority of kinshipleaders, to “legal-rational authority,” based onprocedures specifically established for particulargoals. No doubt this scheme works well enough incategorizing some societies, but how is one toclassify the Ibo society of southeastern Nigeria? Inprecolonial Ibo society, village decisions werereached in general meetings, and formalized bystriking the ground with an ofo, a staff possessedby the head of a kinship group. This might seem tofit the theorist’s model; but the Ibo altered thisprocedure whenever appropriate—for instance, ifthe senior kinship head forgot his ofo, any otherofo could be used. The Ibo, too, freely revised anycustomary procedures in order to pursue trade—aflexibility that served them well in the new capital-ist economy introduced by colonialism. If this theorist is to be consistent, he must concede thatthe Ibo were “modern” before the first coloniststepped ashore.

14. The author’s primary concern in this passage is to

(A) describe a Nigerian society

(B) reveal a shortcoming in a theory

(C) show how one form of authority gives wayto another

(D) explain the interplay of colonialism andcapitalism

(E) prove that Ibo society is modern

15. Which of the following can be inferred to beconsistent with the conception of “legal-rationalauthority,” as defined in this passage?

I. A procedure is acceptable if it is notforbidden by law and is suited to aspecified purpose.

II. A leader has unlimited authority within anarea determined by custom.

III. A practice is correct if is one that hasalways been used in the past.

(A) I only

(B) II only

(C) III only

(D) I and II only

(E) I and III only

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(5)

(10)

(15)

(20)

16. The author mentions the practice of substitutingone ofo for another as an example of

(A) the fixity of custom in a traditionalauthority structure

(B) behavior that does not fit the typology of“traditional authority”

(C) the ability of the theorist’s categorizationto yield useful insights about society

(D) the Ibos’ ability to adapt to a commercialsociety

(E) the lack of a defined kinship structure inIbo society

17. The author would state that the categorizationused by the theorist of modernization is

(A) applicable in some cases

(B) totally without merit

(C) universally valid

(D) incapable of being empirically tested

(E) relevant only to societies that were nevercolonized

18. The author implied that the categories used bythe theorist of modernization would compel himto assert that precolonial Ibo society was

(A) not a valid example of “modern” authoritystructures

(B) an example of a third type of society notpreviously analyzed

(C) dominated by established custom inactivities other than meetings and trade

(D) not suited to sociological analysis

(E) not “traditional”

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STOP! END OF TEST


ANSWER KEY

1. B

2. D

3. C

4. C

5. B

6. A

7. E

8. B

9. D

10. E

11. A

12. C

13. C

14. B

15. A

16. B

17. A

18. E

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READING COMPREHENSION EXPLANATIONS SET 1

Answer Key:

1. B 7. D 13. A

2. B 8. D 14. E

3. B 9. A 15. D

4. D 10. C 16. D

5. B 11. E 17. C

6. C 12. B 18. C

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READINGCOMPREHENSION

EXPLANATIONS C H A P T E R 2 2

PASSAGE 1—The Norton and Rhee Model

Topic and Scope: A discussion of the relevance of for-mal economic models to real-world policy. Theauthor uses the model applied to Korea by Nortonand Rhee to show shortcomings of such models.

Purpose and Main Idea: Author wants to reveal theshortcomings of formal economic models.

Paragraph Structure: Paragraph 1 describes theNorton and Rhee model. Paragraph 2 shows how theresults of the application contradict the generaltrends of real-world economic policy.

1. BThe passage begins by posing the question of howuseful formal models are, and concludes by callingNorton and Rhee’s model an example of the “pitfalls”of formalism. (B) captures this critical approach,though it misses the broader implications hinted at inthe opening sentence. There’s nothing that indicatesthat Norton and Rhee’s method of analysis was “new”(A), nor is the author “proposing” it; on the otherhand, she doesn’t propose any other approach. (C) iswhat the author is very skeptical about; certainly shedoesn’t “advocate” using such models. (D) is a mess.N & R were not trying to explain Korean inflation asa whole, but to see how various economic factorswould affect inflation; and the author is not even try-ing to do that, but to discuss N & R’s work. (E) issomething the author does do, but it is incidental tothe broader purpose of criticizing “formalism.”

2. BThe passage says that Norton and Rhee “achievedsome success in applying such a model retrospective-ly to the Korean economy over a fourteen-year peri-od.” In other words, the model is fairly effective inanalyzing past events, as (B) suggests.

Since the “fourteen-year period” refers to the past,not the future, (A) is clearly wrong; in fact, one of themain points of the passage is that Norton and Rhee’smodel is not particularly useful for predicting thefuture. Choices (C), (D), and (E) refer to mattersdiscussed later in the passage.

3. BThe whole passage is critical of Norton and Rhee, butthe last sentence offers the only explicit criticism:their approach is “formalist” (or abstract) and lacks“policy relevance.” (B) paraphrases this criticism. Theonly economic factors specifically excluded from themodel (A) are the long-term factors mentioned in themiddle of paragraph 1; there is no suggestion that N& R should be criticized for this procedure. (C) issomething that the model does do, since it is aimed atfinding the effect of various factors on inflation. The“importance” of economic growth (D) is not dis-cussed at all and certainly not underestimated. (E) iscontradicted by paragraph 1: these are exactly the fac-tors N & R did consider.

4. DThe last paragraph calls N & R’s findings “startling,”and then cites other economists’ views on threepoints discussed in the preceding paragraph. Themost surprising finding is the one “few” economistswould agree with; the least surprising is the one“most” economists would agree with; and the onethat “many” economists dispute lies somewhere inbetween. The finding “few” economists would agreewith, that slower monetary growth is inflationary, issummarized in correct choice (D). (B) refers to theleast controversial point, that rising oil costs are infla-tionary (N & R share the orthodox view on this ques-tion). Choices (A) and (C) refer to the “in between”finding, on the effects of reduced exports, and arewrong for this reason. In addition, they distort the

finding. N & R contended that reduced exportswould increase inflation (AÑthe choice paraphrasesthe “orthodox” view). And they argued that lower(not higher) exports would lower GDP (C)—nofinding about higher exports is implied. Lastly, keep-ing the long-term factors constant (E) does not meanthat they don’t affect growth, simply that N & R werenot examining their effects on growth.

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R E A D I N G C O M P R E H E N S I O N E X P L A N AT I O N S

PASSAGE 2—Ecology

Topic and Scope: A basic scientific principle:“Population size is partly a reflection of availablefood resources.” Specifically, author uses two experi-ments (one by Berger, one by Bryant) to illustratehow changes in food supply can dramatically affectthe size of rodent populations.

Purpose and Main Idea: Author wants todemonstrate that the relationship betweenpopulation and food supply “is more complex thanformerly thought.”

Paragraph Structure: In paragraph 1 the secondsentence is key: “Recent experiments suggest that therelationship is more complex than formerly thought.”You can guess from these words that the passage will goon to discuss these experiments. The next sentenceidentifies the nature of the complexity—rodentbrowsing affects plant chemicals, which in turn affectthe rodents. Paragraph 2 details Berger’s experiment,which studied how plant chemicals triggerreproductive activity among voles. Paragraph 3 detailsBryant’s experiment, which studied the effect of plantchemicals on declining populations of snowshoe hares.Paragraph 4 discusses possible future researchinvolving lemmings, another rodent with fluctuatingpopulations.

5. BWith a question like this, you need to check eachchoice against the passage. A faster way to eliminatechoices is to remember that the right answer often fitswith the main idea, here the food-population rela-tionship. Thus, (A) is wrong because it ventures awayfrom this. (B) looks excellent, because the authordevotes several lines at the end of paragraph 2 toexplaining the importance of timing for vole repro-duction. (C) is simply never covered. (D) is wrongbecause the author discusses the significance of 6-MBOA, but not its biologic mechanism. With (E),why the hares overpopulate is dismissed in the thirdparagraph with the words “for reasons that areunclear.” The answer is (B).

6. CThis question asks about a detail from paragraph 2.The cited sentence says that timing is crucial becausevoles are short-lived and the timing of plant growthis unpredictable. You can infer that the plant-rodentrelationship increases the vole population at timeswhen food is more plentiful. The best restatement ofthis inference is (C). (A) goes the wrong way. 6-MBOA triggers breeding—it doesn’t discourage it.(B), (D) and (E) are never mentioned anywhere.

7. DThe resinous shoots are discussed in the third para-graph. There, we are told that these shoots functionas part of “a phytochemical defense against the depre-dations of snowshoe hares in Canada.” This meansthat statement I is correct. We are also told the resinsin these shoots “discourage hare browsing,” and thathares avoid shoots artificially treated with theseresins. This means that statement III must alsoappear in the correct answer. But the passage does notsay that increases in the hare population cause plantsto produce more resinous shoots, so statement II isnot supported by the passage. Therefore, the answeris (D).

8. DThe lemmings are mentioned in the last paragraph,which speculates that lemmings might, like voles, beaffected by a plant trigger for breeding behavior.Some answer choices mention Berger and some men-tion Bryant. The lemmings are likened to voles, soBerger is the pertinent researcher here. This elimi-nates (A) and (B). (E) conflicts with the main idea.The author wants to prove something, not disproveit.

That leaves (C), supporting Berger’s specific findings,and (D), indicating whether Berger’s findings can begeneralized. The paragraph doesn’t talk aboutproving Berger’s specific results with the voles; thoseare accepted as given. It does say that the lemmings,like voles, may be affected by a plant trigger. Thisimplies (D), that Berger’s findings may be applicableto other animals.

315

9. AThe answer to this global question has to focus onsomething about the complex relationship betweenfood and population size, including the rodent exam-ples; it should also encompass the entire passage.Thus, the best answer is (A). (B) is a detail appearingonly in the second paragraph, while (E) appears onlyin paragraph 3. (C) is too general, and (D) mentionsa topic the author never covers.

10. CWhen you read about the hares, notice that Bryant’sconclusion is pure speculation. He sees that the haresdon’t eat resinous shoots, and concludes that this“may play a role” in population decline. The assump-tion is that there’s a connection between not eatingthe plants and a population reduction. Choice (C)corresponds: The avoidance of plants would lead tostarvation, and population decline.

(A), if true, would weaken, not strengthen, Bryant’sconclusion. (B) is irrelevant—the cause of the rise isunknown and doesn’t concern Bryant; it’s the declinethat interests him. (D) mixes up the hares with thevoles and their breeding behavior. The hareexperiment has nothing to do with breeding andreproduction. Finally, (E) is never suggested. Bryantconcluded that the population decline was caused byavoiding the shoots, not by eating them.

11. EFor this question, you need to eliminate each choicethat was part of both experiments. Choice (A) waspart of both—Berger measured how voles changedbreeding behavior and Bryant measured how hareschanged eating behavior. (B) also appears in both:Berger measured the rise and fall of vole populations,while Bryant measured hare populations. (C) and(D) apply to both experiments, since both scientistsfed the animals chemically treated foods and notedconsumption. (E) is correct: Only Berger’s experi-ment dealt with the effect of food on breeding behav-ior. Bryant’s hare experiment dealt with the effect offood on eating behavior.

PASSAGE 3—Civil Rights Law

Topic and Scope: Unfair differences betweenwomen’s and men’s wages; specifically, how to reme-dy such pay inequities.

Purpose and Main Idea: The author argues thatcollective bargaining is a more desirable way ofsolving wage disparities than are government-sponsored remedies such as civil rights laws.

Paragraph Structure: Paragraph 1 cites the use ofcivil rights law for remedying women’s pay inequities,but immediately jumps to the topic of collectivebargaining, asserting that it’s a better alternative. Anumber of reasons are then given. Paragraph 2acknowledges that collective bargaining is notfoolproof and explains why. Paragraph 3 confirms theauthor’s preference for collective bargaining. Note theconclusion: while the author agrees with opponentsof “public remedies,” she also issues a warning: that“the current system of wage determination” is farfrom “perfectly healthy.”

12. BSince “This” is the first word in the sentence, you haveto check the previous sentence to determine itsmeaning. The previous sentence says that instead ofinvoking civil rights law, one could try to influencethe market so that women could address their ownproblems. The correct answer will paraphrase “influ-ence the market” (B).

(A) and (E) appear after “This” and thus cannot bewhat the pronoun refers to. (C) mentions collectivebargaining, but “changing its dynamic” is neverdiscussed. (D) goes against the main idea, by favoringuse of civil rights law over collective bargaining.

13. AFiguring out where in the passage to look for ananswer is vital! For something that collective bargain-ing can’t do, you look at paragraph 2, which lists theshortcomings. There the author states that “the prod-uct market imposes serious economic constraints ona substantial closing of the wage gap,” which makes(A) correct. Choices (B), (C), (D) and (E) are identi-

316



fied in paragraph 1 as things that collective bargain-ing can accomplish.

14. EThe bold and efficient approach here is to restate themain idea in your own words and then look for anequivalent. Here, (E) is close to the idea we came upwith earlier: Collective bargaining isn’t perfect but it’spreferable to civil rights law for addressing women’slabor issues. (E) “jumps out.”

With the wrong answers, (A) offers a detail. (B)distorts the passage—the author believes thatgovernment regulation is bad, but not thatmanagement should have unlimited power to setwages. (C) is a sweeping generalization—a negativesign in itself. Correct choices seldom use absolutewords such as “all,” “never,” “always” and “every.” Andthe passage explicitly states that unionization doesn’tsolve all problems. (D) runs counter to the author’sattitude: The author never endorses any type ofgovernment remedy.

15. DThe textile industry is mentioned in the course of theauthor’s admission that collective bargaining is not“foolproof.” The passage says that “the concentrationof women in low-paying industries” raises problemsthat are not easily resolved by collective bargaining.Thus, (D) is the best answer.

Choice (A) is wrong, because the second paragraph isnot where the author makes a case againstgovernment regulation. Choices (B) and (C) refer tomattes discussed earlier in the passage. And (E)contradicts the author’s argument.

16. DThe answer to this question is in the last paragraph,where the author refers to the “opponents” of gov-ernment regulation. The author says that they aren’tright about everything, although they are right aboutthe evils of government intervention. This confirmsoptions II and III—the author is sympathetic, butdisagrees with part of their argument. Since only (D)includes both II and III, it must be the correct answer.

Statements I and IV suggest that the author’s hostileto the opponents. The author generally agrees withthem! The author takes issue with one point only.

17. CQuestions are sometimes consistent with each other!You examined the last paragraph in the previousquestion, and found that the author agrees with theconclusion that public remedies are bad, but sharplyquestions the assumption that the present system isfine just the way it is. (C) restates this latter point. Thefour wrong choices run counter to the author’s argu-ment—at no point does the author endorse any formof government regulation or civil rights law.

18. CAs always, knowing where to look is crucial. Theanswer to this question will appear in the first para-graph, which lists all the reasons collective bargainingis good. Option I is implied at the end of the para-graph with “sensitive to the limits.” Option II occursat the beginning of the paragraph, which endorsesself-help over civil rights law. Option III, however, isnot found here. In fact, option III appears in the dis-cussion of the weaknesses of collective bargaining inparagraph 2.

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319


Answer Key:

1. A 7. E 13. C

2. C 8. D 14. B

3. E 9. C 15. E

4. D 10. B 16. A

5. C 11. D 17. B

6. A 12. D 18. D

PASSAGE 1—Debt Crisis

Topic and Scope: The debt crisis; specifically, thecauses of the debt crisis and the strategies for dealingwith it.

Purpose and Main Idea: The author’s purpose is todiscuss both the causes of the debt crisis and thestrategies for handling it. This is a descriptive passage,so there really isn’t a very focused main idea. Theauthor does say, however, that debt relief is a betterway to deal with the debt problem than current bankstrategies.

Paragraph Structure: The first paragraph lists thecauses of the debt crisis and goes on to amplify thethird cause, rising interest rates. The secondparagraph outlines bank strategies for dealing withthe debt crisis in the 1980s. The third paragraphcontrasts current bank strategies with debt relief,arguing that the latter is a more effective approach tothe debt problem.

1. AAs we’ve seen, the purpose of the passage as a wholeis to state the causes of the debt crisis, and suggestwhat can be done about it. Choice (A) best conveysthis idea. The other answer choices focus on details:(B) refers to the first paragraph, (C) to the second,and (D) and (E) to the third.

2. CThis roman numeral question poses three questionsand asks which are answered in the passage. QuestionI is about a cause of the debt crisis, which is coveredin the first sentence of the passage. The question asksabout management errors by developing countries,and the passage lists “imprudent management.” Sincethe passage answers question I, (B) and (D) can beeliminated. Question II asks if anything is currentlybeing done about the debt crisis. This question isanswered in the last paragraph, which discusses cur-rent bank strategies. So you can eliminate (A), too.

Finally, question III asks how taxpayers in lendingcountries feel about debt relief. In the last sentence ofthe passage, the author says debt relief can be accom-plished without burdening taxpayers, but neveraddresses the attitudes of the taxpayers themselves.Because the passage does not answer question III, youcan eliminate (E). Since the passage answers ques-tions I and II, but not III, the correct answer is (C).Keep in mind that it’s usually possible to use optioncombinations in the answer choices to eliminateincorrect choices.

3. EThis question asks about bank responses to the debtcrisis in the 1980s, the subject of the second para-graph. This paragraph says that banks curtailed theirlending until they had sufficient reserves. (E) is a niceparaphrase of this information. (B) and (C) are aucontraire choices. (A) and (D) bring up issues notdealt with in the second paragraph.

4. DThe key to most passages is not so much an overallcomprehension of their content, but rather knowingwhere in them to look for information. In this pas-sage, the author’s opinion appears in the last few sen-tences, where he states that current approaches to thedebt crisis are inadequate because debt service pre-vents long-term economic growth in developingcountries. A good paraphrase of this notion appearsin (D).

(A) and (C) distort information in the passage and,moreover, relate to the first paragraph rather than thethird, which is the one you’re interested in here. (B)and (E) contradict the passage.

5. CSince this is an “all/EXCEPT” question, you’re look-ing for the choice that is not contributing to the cur-rent debt crisis. Begin by consulting the first para-graph because it lists the causes of the debt crisis. Theauthor mentions high interest rates, imprudent lend-ing, and no relief from inflation as causes of the cri-sis. Therefore, you can eliminate (B), (D), and (E).(A), self-interested commercial banks, comes up in

the third paragraph, which says that the economies ofdeveloping countries are being damaged in order toprofit the banks and their shareholders. That leaves(C) as the correct answer. Indeed, not only is (C) notcited as a contributing factor to the current debt cri-sis, but it is contradicted by information in the pas-sage as well.

6. AFor a “continuation” question, you need to look atwhere the passage leaves off and pick an answer con-sistent with that issue. In this passage, the author fin-ishes by talking about debt relief. If the passage wereto continue, it would take up the issue of debt relief.That makes (A) the correct answer. (B) is not logicalbecause the last sentence is about debt relief itself:The author wouldn’t suddenly take up the issue ofalternatives to debt relief. (C), (D), and (E) play onissues brought up earlier in the passage.

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PASSAGE 2—Desert Plants

Topic and Scope: Desert plant adaptations and howaid in these plants’ survival.

Purpose and Main Idea: The author is trying todescribe the physiological traits that desert plantshave adapted in order to survive in arid conditions.

Paragraph Structure: The first paragraph describessome general adaptations. The second paragraphdiscusses adaptations based on the principle that alarge surface area facilitates water and gas exchange.

7. EThe whole passage focuses on structural and behav-ioral adaptations that desert plants have made inorder to survive. While the word “genetic” is usedonly once (in the last sentence of paragraph 1), it’sclear that many of these modifications are genetic.Spines and thorns, which are identified in the secondparagraph as modified leaves and branches, are infer-ably among these genetic adaptations. In the last sen-tence, it’s further stated that they protect against pre-dation (I) and also that they help minimize water loss(II). Option III is confirmed in the third sentence ofthe second paragraph: most of a desert plant’s food isproduced in its stem, not in its leaves, so it’s prettyclear that spines and thorns (again, modified leavesand branches) have little or nothing to do with foodproduction.

8. DLike question 7, this is another detail question, thistime focusing on the functioning of guard cells, men-tioned in the sentence that concludes paragraph 1.This sentence discusses two closely related plant fea-tures: the stomata and the guard cells. You read firstthat daytime closing of the stomata is an adaptationthat helps to minimize daytime water loss. The sec-ond half of the sentence clearly implies that it’s theguard cells that control this opening and closing ofthe stomata. So, the guard cells force the stomata toclose during the day, to minimize water loss, and thenthey later cause the stomata to open, when conditionsfor gas exchange between the plant and its environ-ment are more favorable. The first two options are

thus clearly suggested. The third option, however, isan unjustified inference. Nothing at all is stated tolink the functioning of guard cells to sudden down-pours.

9. CThe stem is looking for the weather-related conditionthat would especially benefit plants with shallow rootsystems. Shallow root systems are mentioned up inthe second sentence, and the point is that these spe-cially adapted roots allow desert plants to take advan-tage of heavy, irregular flows of water. One examplewould be a very heavy, torrential downpour. The onlychoice that comes close to this is a flash flood. Flashfloods result from unexpected, torrential rainfall. (A)and (B) are impossible; neither drought nor wind-storms involve water. (D won’t work because a lightrain doesn’t fit with the idea of a large, sudden quan-tity of water. (E), finally, is pretty impossible , too.First, this choice doesn’t suggest a heavy, intermittentsnowfall, and second, nothing is said in the passage tosuggest snow would be of special benefit to shallowrooted plants.

10. BThe second paragraph contains several examples ofstructures that in desert plants perform differentfunctions than those they normally perform in plantsin other environments. Spines and thorns in desertplants are modified leaves and branches, to reducewater loss. And as a result of their lack of normalleaves, most desert plants produce their food in theirgreen, fleshy stems. As for the wrong choices, three ofthem—(A), (D), and (E)—simply can’t be answered.There’s no information to support any of these state-ments. Finally, in choice (C), while the passage doesindicate that a small leaf surface area is a critical fac-tor for desert plants, nothing suggests that leaf sur-face area isn’t critical for plants in most other envi-ronments. Since the general principle is that a largesurface area facilitates gas and water exchange onecan infer that the larger leaf surface area of otherplants helps in this process.

321

11. DWe are told in the second paragraph that most desertplants produce food in their stems, not their leaves.Therefore, (D) is the correct answer: it names some-thing that’s not mentioned in the passage. Choices(A), (B), and (C) are mentioned in the first para-graph, and (E) is mentioned in the second paragraph.

12. DThe passage mentions several different adaptationsand the purpose of each. The creosote bush producesa toxin which prohibits competing root systems fromintruding on its space, therefore protecting its accessto water. Guard cells function to “minimize daytimewater loss.” The second paragraph starts by talkingabout adaptations which facilitate gas and waterexchange. Spines and thorns are adaptations whichprotect against predators. There is no mention of anyadaptation shielding plants from the heat, so (D)must be the answer.

PASSAGE 3—Migration

Topic and Scope: The great migration; specifically,how the migration experience transformed the socialthought of European intellectuals who came toAmerica, especially Tillich.

Purpose and Main Idea: The author’s purpose is todescribe the changes in the social thought ofEuropean intellectuals who immigrated to America,using Tillich as an example. The main idea is simplythat, as a consequence of the migration experience,European thinkers in America transformed theirideas to have more relevance to “real world” issues.

Paragraph Structure: The first paragraph introducesthe topic and scope of the passage. The secondparagraph describes in general terms how the socialthought of European intellectuals was transformed.And the third paragraph provides a specific exampleof this transformation by describing the case ofTillich.

13. CTo answer this question, it’s important to realize thatthe author’s purpose is to discuss the transformationof social thought that resulted from the great migra-tion. Tillich is merely an example of how this trans-formation manifested itself among European emi-grés; he is not the primary focus of the passage.Therefore, (B), which places emphasis on Tillich, isout. (A) and (D) fail to mention “social thought.” (D)mentions only “thought,” not “social thought.”Finally, (E) gets in the idea of social thought butleaves out the migration experience. (C), whichincludes the important elements of the author’s pur-pose—the effects of the great migration on socialthought—is correct.

14 BHughes is mentioned in the first paragraph as theauthor of a book that says something about Europeanexpatriates in the United States. He’s also cited in thethird paragraph in the course of analysis of Tillich’sthought. In other words, Hughes is cited as a sourceof information, as (B) suggests.

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Choices (A), (C), and (D) can’t be right, because thepassage doesn’t tell us whether Hughes was aEuropean or an American, or whether he had anydirect contact with the emigrés. Choice (E) is a bitmore tempting, since the author cites Hughes’interpretation of Tillich’s ideas. But that doesn’t meanthat Hughes is a disciple—a follower—of Tillich.Choice (B) is the only answer that’s really supportedby the passage.

15. EBefore you check the options, review the informationabout Tillich in the last paragraph. He combined reli-giosity with existentialism and made religious sym-bols more meaningful to people. These achievementsare echoed in options I and III. None of the choicesincludes just I and III, so you know the correctanswer must be (E), which includes all three options.To confirm option II, again look back at the passage,which does say that Tillich “avoided the esoteric aca-demic posture of many Old World scholars.” OptionII makes more or less the same point, so it’s indeedpart of the correct answer.

16. AThis is a detail question, so the correct answer is therein the text—in this case, in the second paragraph,which says that oppression forced social thinkers toreject moral isolation. (A) gets at this notion. (B)brings in “leaders,” but they aren’t mentioned in thepassage. (C) substitutes “morality” for “moral isola-tion.” They are not the same, and the morality of theemigrés was never in question. (D) is entirelywrong—the passage doesn’t accuse the emigrés of“antisocial behavior.” The most tempting wrongchoice is (E). However, “rethink” in (A) is much morecharacteristic of the thrust of the passage than theword “justify” in (E). Don’t answer detail questionson a hunch. Go back to the text and find the answer.

16. 7The passage uses the word “deprovincialization”twice to characterize the transformation of socialthought. Among the choices, the closest paraphrase is(B), greater social consciousness. Notice that two

choices, (A) and (C), allude to Tillich, but the ques-tion asks about social thought in general, not abouthim. Besides, these choices distort Tillich’s approach.(D) and (E) are au contraire choices.

18. DThis question doesn’t zero in on a particular piece ofthe text, so just read through the choices and look forone that “jumps out” as consistent with the purposeof the passage. (D) is consistent with what theauthor’s trying to accomplish. “prephrasing” his pur-pose would have made it easy to pick this choice.

Looking at the other choices, (A) is contradicted inthe first paragraph. Also, it deals with a minor pointthat the author doesn’t pursue in the remainder ofthe text. The word “abandonment” makes (B) toobroad a choice. Be suspicious of choices that makesweeping generalizations. (C) focuses on Americanrather than European thinkers. Finally, (E) is an aucontraire choice. If anything, the migrationexperience enhanced Tillich’s influence.

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Answer Key:

1. B 7. E 13. C

2. D 8. B 14. B

3. C 9. D 15. A

4. C 10. E 16. B

5. B 11. A 17. A

6. A 12. C 18. E

PASSAGE 1—Hot Gas

Topic and Scope: Past and more recent astronomicalstudy of hot gas; specifically, how the technology forstudying hot gas has improved and what scientistshave learned about the gas.

Purpose and Main Idea: Author shows how studytechniques have undergone extensive changes sincethe 1930s and that, as a result, our knowledge of hotgas has been substantially extended.

Paragraph Structure: Paragraph 1 defines hot gasand focuses on 1930s studies, which werespeculative—scientists lacked technology for moredefinitive study. Paragraph 2 moves to the 1970s. Thetechnology has been invented, giving us “a newpicture” of hot gas. The paragraph identifies evidencefor large volumes of hot gas in space; the observatoryCopernicus and satellite Uhuru (circle names likethese!) have provided such evidence. Paragraph 3speculates about how hot gas may be heated, and

draws a distinction between small-scale and large-scale masses of gas.

1. BThe answer to an inference question is generally notexplicitly stated in the passage, but will nonethelessbe very close to it. (A) is out because earlier studieswere not rejected—merely superseded. Checking (B),you find in paragraph 1 the statement that “detailedstudy...had to await...the chance to observe...outsidethe earth’s opaque atmosphere.” The next paragraphthen discusses recent study. You can infer that recentstudy has taken place outside the atmosphere. This isthe answer—not directly stated but adhering closelyto the passage. (C) contradicts the passage with thewords “full understanding.” The wording in the lastparagraph (“it is believed,” “probably,” and “may”)implies that we lack full understanding. (D) exagger-ates a detail in paragraph 3. (E) doesn’t fit the pas-sage’s progression—the studies in the ’70s didn’t use

the techniques of the ’30s.

2. DThe presence of hot gas in our galaxy is the topic ofparagraph 2, which states that the evidence for gaswas the detection of “highly ionized oxygen.” (D)restates that fact. (A), radiation emitted by stars, isnever mentioned. (B) refers to information in para-graph 1 pertaining to earlier studies of the solaratmosphere, not to the galaxy as a whole. (C) refers toa mistaken theory. (E) is cited as a cause of hot gas,not as proof of its existence.

3. CThe detail in the stem—the Uhuru satellite—is easyto relocate for the answer. At the end of paragraph 2the author states that data from Uhuru was evidencefor the intergalactic presence of hot gas. The choicethat coincides is (C). Note that the detail in questionwas from the second paragraph, while the four wronganswers all refer to the third paragraph. As always,location is everything!

4. CTo answer this question, recall that a key point ofparagraph 1 is that the ‘30s research only “implied”hot gas. The author stresses that no more could beknown until better technology arrived. Among theanswers, (C) restates this with “constrained by thetechnology then available.”

(A) is out because the early studies didn’t conflictwith later ones; they only preceded them. (B) is outbecause later studies confirmed rather than“overlooked” early ones. With (D), nothing wasconfirmed until the recent studies. (E) conflicts withthe tone—the author emphasizes the progression ofstudy; he doesn’t dismiss the early studies as“irrelevant.”

5. BThis question basically asks how the author’s focuschanges through the first two paragraphs. Paragraph1 discusses the limitations of ‘30s research andexplains why new technology was needed. Paragraph2 describes how new technology was used in the ‘70sto develop “a new picture” of hot gas.

Checking the choices, (A) is inaccurate. The word“qualifies” means “weakens”; the later studies didn’tconflict with the earlier ones. (Note that the previousquestion and its choices also picked up on this point.)(B) looks good with “elaborates on developments.”The passage does emphasize development—“elaboration” means refining ideas on the same topic.(C) is faulty because paragraphs 1 and 2 deal withcompletely different studies. (D) sounds as if the“area of study” changed. The author identifies newtechnology, but not a more fruitful area of study. (E)mentions the “degree of speculation,” which isincorrect—paragraph 1 cites speculation, butparagraph 2 discusses new knowledge.

6. ACheck each choice but be aggressive: Look for onethat sounds different from all the others: Here, youwant the question that wasn’t covered. Choice (A)refers to the effects of hot gas on stellar systems. Thepossible role of stars in the heating of gas is men-tioned in paragraph 3, but nothing’s said about “theevolution of stellar systems.” Choices (B) and (C) arecovered in paragraph 3, while (D) and (E) appear inparagraph 1.

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PASSAGE 2—Health Care

Topic and Scope: Health care as a basic right; specif-ically, who’s responsible for providing it to those whocan’t afford it?

Purpose and Main Idea: Author argues that it’s thegovernment’s job—not the job of for-profit healthinstitutions—to provide health care to the needy.

Paragraph Structure: The author expresses strongopinions about who should fund health care.Paragraph 1 stresses that for-profit institutionsshould not be responsible. You can guess that the nextparagraph will identify who the author thinks shouldfund health care. The answer is: the federalgovernment, and the author gives several reasonswhy, indicated by the keywords “First . . . second. . .also . . . also . . . ” The gist is that only the federalgovernment can effectively finance and evenlydistribute health care across society. Paragraph 3advances the argument by analogy, saying that thefeds already do this for other programs (food andhousing subsidies, e.g.). The final sentence is alwaysworth noting; here it emphasizes what the author willnot try to address: exactly how the governmentshould manage the job.

7. EFor a global question, it’s wise to be bold and, in yourown words, decide what the author’s primary con-cern is before looking at the choices. The whole pas-sage deals with who should pay for universal healthcare. You then aggressively skim the choices for some-thing like this, and find it in (E).

Two of the wrong choices, (A) and (C), mentiondetails from the second and third paragraphs. Detailsare incorrect answers for global questions. (B) is outbecause in the last sentence, as we noted, the authorexplicitly refuses to address how the program shouldbe carried out. (D) sounds plausible but the passagenever mentions it.

8. BReturn to the detail in paragraph 3. The authorargues by analogy, saying that the government is

responsible for necessities like health care because ithas “similarly” assumed responsibility for food andhousing programs. The choice that best paraphrasesthis is (B)—the author supports her argument by cit-ing a comparable situation.

Notice some of the verbs in the choices. The author isstrengthening the argument, not “modifying” it (A),or “making a concession” (D). (C) misses the point—the author never calls for modifying anything. (E)implies that health care should be treated differentlyfrom food and housing programs; the author saysthey should be treated alike.

9. DThis is an explicit detail question (“according to thepassage”) which covers the federal government’spowers concerning health care, referred to in the lasttwo paragraphs. Since it’s an EXCEPT question, lookfor something that contradicts or is never mentioned.Skim the choices, seeing if one stands out. In (D) youfind a statement that businesses should assume agreater role, whereas the first paragraph emphaticallyasserts that businesses should not have this responsi-bility. The other choices all appear nearly verbatim inparagraphs 2 and 3. Note that (D) refers to a differentpart of the passage than the four incorrect choices.Location again!

10. EThe author uses paragraph 1 to make two linkedpoints: First, she criticizes “the assumption that for-profit health care institutions are obligated to providefree care...”; second, she asserts that health care is abasic right. Then, in the first sentence of paragraph 2,she poses the central question that’s answered in therest of the passage: Who, then, is obligated “to secureadequate health care for those without it?” (E) is thebest choice: Paragraph 1 lays the groundwork for theauthor’s argument—it introduces her opinion.

(A) and (C) have verbs—“corroborate” and“reconcile”—that don’t fit the paragraph. (B) doesn’twork because the author never “advocates newresearch.” Similarly with (D), the paragraph doesn’texplain any procedure.

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11. AIn the middle of paragraph 2, “society-wide distribu-tive requirements” are mentioned in conjunctionwith broad taxing powers and guaranteed minimumhealth care to all locales, regardless of their poverty oraffluence. This “guaranteed minimum” for all areas ismentioned several times afterward. The answer mostconsistent with this “minimum guarantee” is (A),using tax revenue to raise standards in poorerareas.(B), (C) and (D) run counter to the thesis thatthe government should finance universal health care.(E) is tempting because it refers, as does paragraph 3,to other federal programs, but they’re mentioned toemphasize that the government already providesother services. There’s no suggestion that they shouldbe cut back.

12. CThe author deals with the method of health care pro-vision in the last three sentences, and essentially dis-misses the issue as a separate question, after men-tioning two possibilities. (C) is a paraphrase: Themethod of provision is distinct from the guaranteeitself. The concluding idea in any passage is worthnoting; you may be asked about it.

(A) is plausible, but the author never indicates whatpeople might agree on or even whether agreement isrequired. (B) contradicts the idea that the feds areresponsible for health care. (D) marries two ideas—market mechanisms and different locales—which areunrelated. The idea’s plausible, but that’s no indicatorof correctness! (E) goes too far—the author neversounds gloomy. Also note: Choices with words likenever are almost always wrong.

13. C

The passage ends with the question of how accessshould be secured and the extent to which marketmechanisms should be used. This sentence makes anatural transition to a paragraph addressing this veryissue. Choice (C) most closely matches this idea.

Choice (A) is off the mark because the author hasalready questioned the role of hospitals in providingfree health care. (B) looks tempting, but paragraph 2talks about why the government should be involved.Nothing in the passage points to state involvement, so(D) is out. And (E) goes against the spirit of thepassage.

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PASSAGE 3—Ibo Society

Topic and Scope: Modernization in underdevelopedcountries. In particular, how one theorist’s definitionof modernization does not hold in at least one soci-ety.

Purpose and Main Idea: Author shows that the Ibosociety was, according to the theorist’s definition,“modern” before colonization took place.

14. BThe passage as a whole demonstrates that the theoryof modernization outlined at the beginning of thepassage fails to apply to at least one society. Choice(B) best expresses this idea.

The passage does describe Ibo society, as (A) says, andprove that in some respects it should be classed asmodern, as (E) suggests; but it does these things tosupport the larger point that the theory underdiscussion is flawed. The passage does not do thethings indicated in (C) and (D).

15. AThe concept of “legal-rational authority” is defined inthe first sentence. The emphasis is on specificity andintentionally in establishing rules or procedures.Option I, which describes a pragmatic approachmuch like that ascribed to the Ibo in the passage, isn’ta direct illustration of “legal-rational authority,” butis consistent with the concept, as required by the ques-tion. Options II and III, however, embody the idea ofthe constancy of tradition; this is closer to the con-ception of “traditional authority,” and inconsistentwith the idea of “legal-rational authority.”

16. BThe ofo is mentioned in the middle of the passage, asa counter-example to the theorist’s idea that modern-ization means a transition from “traditional authori-ty” to “legal-rational authority.” The author first saysthe custom of striking the ground with the ofo “mightseem to fit the theorist’s model,” but goes on to implythat the willingness to alter the custom at need doesnot fit the model. So (B) is correct and (A) is ruledout: this custom is not fixed. (C) is dead wrong: this

is a case where the theorist’s categories don’t workand don’t yield useful insights. (D) is off the topic:adaptability to commercial (“capitalist”) society ismentioned in the next sentence, in a different con-text. (E) is never implied; the references to “kinshipheads” implies that there is a defined kinship struc-ture.

17. AThe main point of the passage is to question the the-orist’s ideas, but this question doesn’t ask for themain point—it asks for a point the author wouldassert. The second sentence states, “No doubt thisscheme works well enough in categorizing some soci-eties...,” so the author agrees with choice (A). Thisrules out (B), but (C) is ruled out by the case of theIbo. So is (D)—Ibo society is an empirical test. (E)distorts the reference to the Ibos’ adapting to thepost-colonization world, in the next-to-last sentence;the author never implies what (E) says. On the con-trary, since the theorist’s categorization doesn’t applyto the Ibo before colonization either, (E) would seemto be ruled out.

18. E

The last sentence makes this point explicitly. There,the author argues that if the theorist is consistent, hewill admit that the Ibo were “modern” all along;hence, they were not “traditional,” in the specializedsense used by the theorist. (We may think that theauthor of the passage is pushing things, but he or sheis being polemical, as academics often are.) None ofthe other choices reflects the author’s actualstatement, in the last sentence. Choices (A), (B), (C),and even (D) (if he were desperate) are points theunnamed theorist might make, to answer the author,but they’re not implied by anything in the passageand (more important) they are not what the authorclaims the theorist would be forced to say.

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3 Gmat Reading Comprehension Practice Sets 18 Questions Each

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