52 A Diagnostic Test since the 1960s Thus, they were aware of it well before the recent explorations involving manned submersibles began 28 29 Section E The presence of extraneous (unrelated; irrelevant) ideas that have been dragged in would make an argument difficult to comprehend Note that the phrase set off by the commas serves to define the material referred to and thus defines the first missing word D Because the tendency to migrate exists in all time periods, you cannot fully explain it on the basis of any single time period Your explanation, like the phenomenon itself, must be independent of any particular period of time The conjunction since here 1s used as a syn- The opposite of to deteriorate (become worse) is to improve Think of “deteriorating health.” The opposite of evasive (not direct; shifty; equivocal) is frank (candid; open) Think of “evasive remarks from a politician.” 30 31 32 The opposite of to strew or scatter 1s to collect Think of “clothes strewn all over the floor.” The opposite of a prodigal (spendthrift; extravagant person) 1s an economical person Beware eye-catchers Choice C is incorrect A prodigal is not a prodigy (wonder; gifted person) Think of “a prodigal squandering his wealth.” Verbal onym for because; it indicates a cause and effect relationship B The opposite of to eqguivocate (avoid committing oneself in what one says) is to pledge (bind or commit oneself solemnly) Think of politicians “hedging and equivocating.” Given the ubiquity of light, it is unsurprising that creatures have developed the biologically helpful ability to make use of light energy Note the use of therefore indicating that the omitted portion of the sentence supports or continues a thought developed elsewhere in the sentence After incubating the new functions, the next step would be to nurture or foster their growth until they were ready to be sent out into the world Their departure, however, would not 33 The opposite of crass (stupid; vulgar; incapable of appreciating refinement) is refined Think of “a crass blockhead.” 34 The opposite of artifice (trickery; guile) is sincerity Think of being ‘‘tricked by her skillful artifice.”’ 35 diminish the cities, for by continuing to breed fresh ideas the cities would renew themselves Note the metaphoric usage of incubate and breed that influences the writer’s choice of words Cities not literally incubate businesses or breed ideas; they so only figuratively _ A The opposite of opulence (wealth; affluence) is penury or extreme poverty Think of “luxurious opulence.” 36 The opposite of untenable (not able to be supported or defended) is defensible Think of “‘an untenable argument.” 37 The opposite of sedulous (diligent; exhibiting care) 1S cursory (hasty; inattentive) Think of “‘sedulous attention to details.” 38 The opposite of to disabuse (undeceive) is to deceive Beware eye-catchers Choice A is incorrect Disabuse is unrelated to physical maltreatment or abuse Think of “disabusing someone of a misapprehension.” Man is gregarious or sociable However, he is more in need of mental companionship than of physical companionship The writer plays on words in his conceit that a man may like to go alone for a walk but hates to stand alone in his opinions Here the contrast is between reality and pretense Mrs Proudie feigned or pretended a great interest in the parishioners’ welfare However, her interest was not great but actually negligible or insignificant, so insignificant as to be almost nonexistent Note that the conjunction a/though signals the contrast here Note also that the phrase “so negligible as to be practically nonexistent” is a cliché, a literary commonplace B By definition, an excessive or grandiloquent literary work lacks economy or conciseness in verbal expression Note that you are dealing with a secondary meaning of economy here A Diagnostic Test A prologue precedes a play An overture precedes an opera are mentioned (along with other suffragist leaders) in the context of the movements they led, but only the movements, not these two leaders, are directly contrasted Choice B is incorrect The movement did not advance in this period Choice D is incorrect The divisions were becoming less important, not more so, as the (Sequence) D Serrations are the teeth on the edge of a saw Cogs are the teeth on the rim of a gear (Part to Whole) two branches became increasingly alike in nature Choice E is incorrect It is unsupported by the passage Thirst is a specific example of a drive (state of instinctual need) Smell is a specific example of a sense 10 (Class and Member) 11 C 18 E A sledge (large , heavy hammer) strikes or pounds in a spike (very large nail) A hammer strikes or pounds in a nail Beware eye-catchers Choice A 1s incorrect Sledge here is related to sledgehammers, not to sleds or sleighs 19 A in her thinking, not heterodox Choice D is nition not a Mrs Howe Choice E is terized by a Just as the wheat is separated from the worthless straw or chaff, the wine is separated from the worthless sediment or dregs 20 D To ogle is to observe or look at someone provocatively (in an attention-getting manner) To flaunt is to display or show off something provocatively (in an attention-getting manner) 14 (Manner) 15 Someone abstemious (sparing in drinking and eating) manifests abstinence (self-restraint in drinking and eating) Someone pusillanimous 16 A C The author refers to the public’s reaction to the Molly Maguire trials as “hysteria” that was ‘‘whipped up” or deliberately incited Clearly, her attitude toward the reaction is that it was overwrought or overexcited Note how the use of words that convey emotion (“hysteria”) helps you to determine the author’s attitude to the subject 21 Something ineluctable (unavoidable) is impossible to avoid Something ineffable (inexpressible) is impossible to utter The passage points out that in this period the differences between the two branches of the suffrage movement were diminishing in importance Thus, it is accounting for changes occurring in the movement Choice A is incorrect Both Anthony and Howe The passage focuses on describing the factors which led to the diminution or lessening of radicalism in the movement for women’s suffrage Choice A is incorrect The title is far too limited in scope to cover the entire passage Choice B is incorrect The title is far too general to suit the passage Choice C is incorrect The title is inapt: the passage focuses not on the rifts but on the diminution of radicalism which led to the closing of the rifts in scope (Antonym Variant) 17 incorrect A lay preacher is by defimember of the clergy Therefore, was not an ordained cleric incorrect Mrs Howe was characlack of militancy Choice E 1s incorrect The title is far too broad (cowardly) manifests cravenness (cowardice) (Synonym Variant) The revered Mrs Howe stood for the forces of propriety that were engulfing the suffragist was a venerated figurehead to be admired and respected, not a revolutionary firebrand to be followed into the battle Choice B is incorrect Nothing in the passage suggests Mrs Howe was overzealous Choice C is incorrect Mrs Howe was orthodox Something ephemeral (fleeting; transient) lacks permanence Something erratic (unpredictable) lacks predictability (Part to Whole) in distress, whatever their social or economic movement The embodiment of decorum, she (Antonym Variant) 13 C The National took up the cudgels for all women Standing (Function) 12 A 53 22 B The passage describes Anthony as “ever catholic”: very broad in sympathies; not provincial in outlook Anthony was willing to work with anyone; her sympathies were inclusive, extending 54 A Diagnostic Test sisterhood to all those who shared her espousal of woman suffrage Choice C is incorrect The author indicates no fear or apprehension of the natural selection process Choice E is incorrect The author is involved with his topic; his attitude is not one of hauteur or lofty detachment Note that catholic here is used in its less familiar sense of “inclusive; universal,” not in its common sense of “pertaining to the Roman Catholic church.”’ 23 D 28 C The opposite of to terminate (end) is to begin Think of “terminating someone’s employment.” what caused the trend towards conservatism in 29 A The opposite of to protract or prolong is to abbreviate or shorten Think of “protracting a lawsuit.” If even the radicai Susan B Anthony would 30 B The opposite of volubility (glibness, talkative- The first sentence of the final paragraph indicates that the author’s concern is to avoid a misconception or correct a misapprehension about the suffrage movement 24 C have had second thoughts about flouting or disregarding Federal election laws, we may logically infer that the ordinary, not quite so militant movement member would have viewed such actions with disapproval or disapprobation 25 C Scanning the passage, you easily find the one sentence that mentions Drosophila The sentence immediately preceding it conveys the author’s point: “A small change in a key part of the program can make a large difference:’ Choice A is incorrect While the author does indicate that he is familiar with such experiments, his primary purpose in citing Drosophila is to support a generalization he has made Choice B is incorrect The author gives an example of a genetic change; he does not describe just how that change took place Choice D is incorrect Any mutation that results in a fly with legs growing out of its head is un- likely to be an advantageous or favorable one Choice E is incorrect The passage suggests that the particular fruit fly mutation mentioned took place in one step; it says nothing about how long it took for the fruit fly to reach its present form 26 Think of “unrestrained volubility.” 31 E 32 C offspring: Its advantage is reproductive D The author’s attitude is most evident in the con- cluding sentence, in which natural selection is described as “‘a beautiful mechanism” that increases favorable events He clearly views the process with appreciative admiration Choice A is incorrect The author does not question the process; he believes in it implicitly Choice B is incorrect While the author is fascinated by natural selection, he views the process appreciatively, not with puzzlement The opposite of /ate-blooming 1s maturing early or precocious Beware eye-catchers Choice D 1s incorrect Something embryonic is in an incipient stage; it has not yet bloomed at all Think of Einstein, “a late-blooming genius” who was considered not particularly intelligent as achild The opposite of to hone or sharpen is to dull (make blunt) Think of “honing a razor.” 33 B The opposite of phlegmatic (stolid; undemonstrative) 1s ardent (passionate; eager) Think of “‘phlegmatic and uncaring.” 34 E The opposite of a banality (commonplace; trite expression) is a novel expression Think of “the banality of a greeting card rhyme.” 35 B The cpposite of erudite (scholarly; learned) is ignorant Think of “an erudite scholar.” 36 E The opposite of plethora (overabundance) is scarcity Think of ‘a plethora of tax forms.” The second paragraph indicates that an organism with a “selective advantage” will re- produce more, that is, “on average, leave more 27 ness) 1s brevity (briefness, pithiness) 37 B The opposite of currency (vogue or prevalence; period of acceptance) is obsolescence (process of falling into disuse) Beware eye-catchers Choice D is incorrect Currency here is unrelated to money Think of “the currency of an idea.” A Diagnostic Test 38 C The opposite of to ing with a topic or deal directly with Think of “skirting n+ B 4n D BC 10 A V 1440 is a two-digit number (37+ ) Note: for this test you are required only to estimate square roots II D, Since Rose is older than Mary, she may be older or younger than Sam Quantitative Section3 skirt something (avoid dealquestion) is to address or it an issue.” + n— + 28 7n + 12 3n — + 19 12 The numerators are the same but the fraction in Column B has a smaller denominator, denoting 12 D x AB = 18, but any of the following may be true: BC > AB, BC < AB, or BC = AB Since AD = and the area = 20 square inches, we can find the value of base BC but not the value of DC BC equals inches but BD will be equal to DC only if AB = AC a larger quantity < | < C + ly + 0.0ly = 2.2 © B 13 C \ The reciprocal of is LÌ _ Ì V6 (0.5) or C 100° and the measure of angle ABC is 80° since ABCD 1s a parallelogram Since x = 40: z = 180 — 90 = 90 z—y= 90 — 50 = 40 15 A Since x = 65 and AC B, ACB is 50° Since BC | DE, theny = 50° and x>y = feet, inches Observe 10 + 5; 9+ 6; 8+ 7; There are five additions with the sum in each x23 72= 4, 2l+ 8x3=23= 16 A C — U8_ _ TƠL § “B0 (0.8) = 0.64 4x = 4(14—)4 4x = 56 — 4x = 52 x = 13 _8_ 08 then Á } =- B E D Therefore /\ = Since X = 56, = BC, then the measure of angle ABC is 65°, and the measure of angle case equal to 15 V0.8 =0.8 + 0.8m = (0.8)(3.14) = 2.5 + 17 E l7xy + 7= lOxy l4 re Rate = Distance + Time Rate = 36 miles + + hour (36) (3) is In Column A, d, the smallest integer, is subtracted from a, the integer with the largest value yard = foot, inches (1.5) or it2 yards Since y = 5Q, the measure of angle DCB 14 A yard = feet = 48 miles per hour 18 D 55 Average = XY Sum + 2=XY Sum = 2XY 2XxY=X+? 2? = 2xXY — X 56 =A Diagnostic Test 19 C This is a direct proportion Let x = length of shorter dimension of enlargement longer dimension _ shorter dimension 25x (299) dollars or sa since the chart indi- cates that twice as much (58.6%) is invested in mortgages as is invested in bonds (28.3%) x l the amount invested in mortgages must be = (408) 5x2 _ 608 40x = 120 x=3 Draw altitudes AE and BF Area of figure = AAED 20 AEB = 12 AGD=6 Area AEFG Area ABCD rectangle AEFB AE=8 AG=4 = 32 = 72 Area of AAED = 2! or _= Area of shaded part = 72 — 32 = 40 21 22 23 + ABFC + units) Area of ABCF Be careful to read the proper line (regular depositors) The point is midway between 90 and 100 Number of Christmas Club depositors = 60,000 Number of regular despositors = 90,000 or square units = a or (6 vhƯG units) or 18 square units Area of rectange AEFB = Iw or (2 units)(6 units) or 12 square units Sum = 36 square units Or apply formula for area of trapezoid: Area = 3h(b + b,) 60,000 : 90,000 or : org or § Area = 2(6)(10 +2) [ 1s not true; although the number of depositors remained the same, one may not assume that Factor x? + 2x — into (x + 4)(x — 2) If x is Area = 36 square units interest rates were the cause II is true; in 1984 there were 110,000 depositors Observe the largest angle of inclination for this period III is not true; the circle graph indicates that more than half of the bank’s assets went into mortgages 24 (58.6%) of 360° = (0.586)(360°) = 210.9° 25 (Amount invested) xX (Rate of interest) or, Amount invested Amount invested in bonds 0ˆ = Interest _ Interest = Rate of interest = x dollars b% This is a case of ratio and proportion nautical 630 _ x statute 720 720x = 630 x = 0.875 Between P.M and 3:52 P.M there are 172 minutes There are three intervals between the classes X minutes, or 12 minutes, is the time spent in passing to classes That leaves 172 — 12 or 160 minutes for instruction or 40 minutes for each class period (Average)(Number of cases) = sum x đollars orx either —4 or2,x? + 2x — = 0, and Dis the correct answer (x)(P) = Px b/100 + 305 or x (292) or (x) (22) Since the amount invested in bonds or 2100x = S1Or Sum Number (y)(N) = Ny of cases = average Px + Ny = average P+N A Diagnostic Test Section C B A Quantitative The sum of three sides of the square = 15 x = 0.5 x? = (0.5)(0.5)(0.5)(0.5) = 0.0625 If you prefer to work with fractions: = ) Q ) ) ( ) (3) = 2am ( The fraction in Column with a negative value 13 C AB=6 14 Area = (6) (6) = Perimeter C can’t be determined from the values of the sides Letx = the first of the integers, then: sum =xt+xt+1+x4+24+x+34+x4+4 = 5x + 10 5x + 10 = 35 (given), then 5x = 25 x = and the largest integer, x + = = V16V/10 15 C C Evidently, four cows produce | can of milk in day Therefore, eight cows could produce cans of milk in | day In days, eight cows will be able to produce cans of milk 17 A Visualize the situation The amount of pure alcohol remains the same after the dilution with water Since the triangle is equilateral 3a + l5=5a + = 2a + 22 3a + l5 = 5a + Ì 14 = 2a 18 E Sincex — y = 7, thenx = y + 7; x and y have many values, and x + y may have many values 19 E E x xe x? = 36 x=6 Therefore AC 6V2>6 152 pounds and ounces = 152.25 pounds 152.25 + = 50.75 pounds 0.75 orf pound = 12 ounces 20 ? the transfer of teachers, but asks about the = 34 _= 15% 306_0 A #2 =Ịg Note that the question gives information about remaining teachers J=a 12B Cc 16 gallons (Column A) 18 AB = BC (given) Since the measure of angle B equals the measure of angle C, AB = AC Therefore ABC is equilateral andmZA = mZB = mZC, and mZB + mZC = mZB + mZA If corresponds to 12 gallons, then corresponds to gallons, and : corresponds to 18 11 D 24 = 4V10 Since the triangle is equilateral, x = 60 and exterior angle y = 120 Therefore 2x = y 10 C = C A has a denominator The area of a triangle is one-half the product of the lengths of the base and the altitude, and V160 ZL D 4x = (0.5)(4) = 2.0 B B From —5S to zero there are integers and from zero to +5 there are integers Also, from + Sto + 15 there are 10 integers Since the area = 25, each side = S 57 = 6\/2 21 C Letx = number of contestants 0.05x = 30 5x = 3,000 x = 600 500 grams of carbohydrates = 2,050 calories 100 grams of carbohydrates = 410 calories gram of carbohydrate = 4.1 calories 58 A Diagnostic Test 22 A 23 Total calories Calories from protein = 410 410 _ 4I 12+% 3,390 3309 - A D 25 = I is true; observe the regular increase for both sexes up to age 13 II is not true; from age to 12 calorie requirements are generally similar for boys and girls Note that the broken line and the solid line are almost-parallel III is true; boys reach their peak at 17, while girls reach their peak at 13 2,050 calories y _ cS aT! TS ine multiplying fracti fraction by = ——* (rearrangement of terms) y = —s — ¢(multiplying bys — f7) 1-4 — 9,300 calories Since the driver’s fee is paid with the car, the charge forn — person = c(n — of car and driver = 50 T = 50 + c(n — Ì) Analytical Summarize Michael’s schedule: Monday 3:30-4:30 Piano Lesson Tuesday 4:00-6:00 Karate Wednesday 4:00-6:00 ArtClass Friday xX = 2,268 (to the nearest gram) Club Program D Since Michael must begin his piano lesson at 3:30 p.m., Thursday is the only available day E Since karate and art meet until P.M., Michael will have to give up these activities in order to be present at the P.M basketball sessions After his piano lesson, he will have thirty minutes to get to the basketball court Thursday afternoon 1s free, and the Friday club program is dismissed by 4:30 4.C Since Michael would no longer have to attend his original Wednesday art class, that day and his free Thursday afternoon would be available for his new class C This question tests an “all/only” confusion Sarah is saying that only members with General Council status are eligible for a position in the President’s cabinet Charles assumes that Sarah is saying all the members on the General Council sit on the President’s cabinet He knows of one Council member who doesn’t, and refutes Sarah’s statement Choice C accurately summarizes Charles’s misinterpretation Choice A says This 1s a direct proportion Cups of sugar _ 1.5 _ Cups of water O.5 x kilogram = 2.2 Ib 20 kilograms = 44 Ib 3:00-4:30 Free Note that Thursday is a free afternoon 1) cents; cost x=l 12:00- | 1.S5x = 0.5 Sx = A ; Biven) Thursday 2,050x = (9,300)(500) 29 po s-t Section5 set up a proportion, letting x = number of grams of carbohydrates needed 500 srams X 28 § +í 1,000 To obtain 9,300 calories from carbohydrates, 21 C _ x 100 grams of fat = 930 calories 1,000 grams of fat = 9,300 calories 26 D y_ sa Boys at 17 require 3,750 calories per day Girls at 17 require 2,750 calories per day Difference 24 30 = 3,390 I is not correct because is not less than a if a is | or a fraction less than le, Ì | I or + is not less than | or =} l % because a b = 2? reduces II is correct to $2 = (which we know is correct) when a = D III is incorrect when a 1s greater than b (ex + 2+ is not more than 3) This statement is also not correct when c is negative and a is less than b (ex ifcis —1, — Lis not more than 2) The only correct answer is II | | the same thing Sarah says, in reverse; Choice B is simply incorrect (Charles says Grogan does not sit on the Cabinet); Choice D directly contradicts Sarah’s statement; and Choice E men- tions a post—General Council Manager—that isn’t mentioned in the dialogue 1) I A Diagnostic Test D Analyze the argument: it says that the unemployment problem has one cause, worker laziness Anything that gives evidence for this strengthens the argument; anything that gives evidence against it or suggests another explana- tion weakens it D, if true, might be evidence that the unemployed are lazy Choices A, B, and E all suggest different explanations: A, that the unemployed lack the requisite skills or experience; B, that they are in the wrong places; E, that unemployment has another cause altogether Choice C tends to weaken the idea that unemployed people are lazy Dz 8—12 11 D H+E= 18.1 +J+ D+ F = 18 Choice A: 14 # 12 Choice C: 14 # 15 Choice D: 15 # 14 Choice E: # 13-16 A diagram of the kind shown here 1s your best approach to this type of problem Event X (baldness) occurs after Event Y (prac- ticing law) The author of the argument assumes that Event Y caused Event X, and vows to avoid Event X by avoiding Event Y This is poor reasoning, especially since the author is overlooking at least one far more probable cause for Event X, 1.e., heredity The same kind of poor reasoning 1s used in choice D, where Event X = injury, Event Y = eating at Rosie’s, and the overlooked probable cause is unsafe working conditions Choice B has the second closest resemblance, but here the reasoning is somewhat more plausible; speeding can lead to one’s getting a speeding ticket Choices A, C, and E all differ from the original argument in the latter portion of their reasoning A circle inside another (like circles P and N) indicates that all members of the first (inner) group belong to the second (outer) group Overlapping circles (like circles N and M) indicate that the groups have members in common, but neither is contained entirely within the other Solid lines may be used for relationships that are definitely known; broken lines for relationships that are uncertain So: statement (1) gives us the two circles N and P; statements (1) and (2) the shaded lines for X Statement (4) gives us acircle, R, that lies entirely outside N Why make it border N, instead of being totally sepa- The only problem in puzzles like this one is to rank the items correctly; the questions are then simple Use initials, since the seven artists’ rate? Because statement (3) gives us a circle, M, lying outside P, and (5) tells us M lies inside the areas of X and R (and outside P) But circle ae dl M is made entirely of broken lines because we can’t know for sure whether it overlaps the R/N a border, lies entirely within the X area of N, or ude lies entirely within R Finally, statement (6) ud gives us a group, Q, that lies either inside P, or Hou outside N (whether inside R or not) or both H = 14 Option!I, D + I + F, adds up to 15 Option II, E + J + D, adds up to 14, which is right Option III, + E + J, adds up to You can tell that the Greuze is worth least and the Hartley most without really figuring out the rest, but all choices include those values If you ve constructed a table like the one shown here, inspection gives choice E E of the value of the Ingres which is our base, 1s 12 B which no definite value is given, and start with the one whose value seems lowest This is I If you call I’s value 1, all the others can be expressed as multiples of 1, and we get: 10 E + I = 5, so the value of the Greuze, in terms H = 14 or 28 times this names begin with different letters Ignore G, for B 59 D = 7, H = adds up to 14 None of the other choices Once you have all this admittedly complex information diagrammed, the questions are fairly easy 13 E Statement (2) could be untrue under either, or both, of two conditions: if some X were P, or if some N that was not P was not X This is what choice E states Choice D states only the second possibility; it is not necessarily true if statement (2) is false, because some X that was P would make statement (2) false even if choice D were not true Choices A, B, and C remain false as long as statements (5), (1), and (6), respec- tively, are true 60 A Diagnostic Test 14 A I is true, because R lies entirely outside N while P is inside IJ contradicts condition (2) HH may See the diagram Allen is at Leesville Lake , it 21 is in Ohio, and it is the site of either Edmunds or may not be true, depending on the location of M 15 C This is false, because R lies entirely outside N, while X lies inside Q may lie within P (A) or outside both N and R (B), or both; we don’t know D may look impossible, but expand the M circle in your mind until it exactly coincides with the R circle: now, all R are M and vice versa No stated condition prevents you from drawing the circle this way, so it 1s not impossible No matter how you draw the M circle, it should be apparent that some X may not be M (E) 16 B Statement (5), together with statement (2), indicates that no M can be P, since no X can be P Statement (2) gives information about X not contained in any other statement; (4) excludes R from N; (5), which may look like the counter- part to (2), contains the additional information or Grand Isle Campsite, but not Freeport Campsite This is the item that remained ambiguous Keewaukett is in Maine (A); Freeport Campsite is 22 in Pennsylvania (C); Carol is in Nebraska and Donna is in Pennsylvania (D, E) 23 B The ad states that this dishwasher is the best, but gives only details of its luxury features— its “bells and whistles.” The performance of the appliance would show it was the best, so Choice (B) would be the missing part of the ad that most weakens its argument Warranty terms, sizes, electrical use, and capacity would also be important, but actual dishwashing performance would be most crucial to proving it was the “best.” 24 A that no M are to be found outside X and R; and statement (6) contains the only information It is claimed that the archeologists could not have understood the culture because, without written records, they have no evidence about how people thought The assumption is that only written records provide such evidence, and about Q that physical artifacts not (A) B and C are side issues: neither one establishes what the 17-22 Name Site Lake State argument assumes, that written records are the A four-by-four grid allows you to graph all the information: Allen Brian Carol High Point Leesville) Keewaukett | Jackson | Ohio Maine only clue to what people thought D and E are too broad: the argument claims neither that the artifacts tell us nothing about other aspects of Donna Freeport Indian Point the civilization (D), nor that written records by themselves are sufficient to reconstruct the civilization (E) Nebraska _ | Pennsylvania 25 The other items now follow by elimination Brian and Keewaukett Lake must be in Maine Since Donna cannot be at High Point, she, and Freeport Campsite, must be on Indian Point Lake in Pennsylvania Carol must be at High Point Allen must be at Leesville, the only remaining lake Brian and Allen must be at Edmunds and Grand Isle Campsites, but we don’t know which person 1s at which campsite 17 B See above Choice A is possible, but we can’t be sure C is a direct contradiction of the information about Brian D and E are ruled out once everything is diagrammed 18 A See the diagram and the above discussion 19 D Allen is at Edmunds or Grand Isle (I) Carol is in Nebraska (II) Donna is at Freeport (III) 20 A See the diagram B Statement I is not assumed The conclusion is that Roger will never be an outstanding football player, not that he will never play football Statement II is assumed The injured knee is cited as the reason Roger will never play outstanding football Statement III is not assumed Nothing was mentioned in the argument about Roger’s playing professional football Section6 1-4 Analytical The only problem with this one is that George’s preferences regarding Mahler, Beethoven, and Bartok cannot be related exactly to his preferences among Haydn, Hindemith, and Mozart Note also that while he definitely doesn’t prefer Mahler to Beethoven, he may or may not prefer Beethoven to Mahler—instead, he may like them equally (You’re never told that George always has a definite preference.) Otherwise, the questions are fairly straightforward A Diagnostic Test B off because, clearly, Alfredo assumes that some This restates the information in the third sen- effect results from meditation Alfredo implies nothing about how good or poor a boxer George tence; it’s the only set of preferences among three composers that we know for certain George may or may not play Bartok before Mozart (A) We don’t know that he prefers Bee- was before, and implicitly accepts Melinda’s testimony that he has been meditating (C, D) E is directly contrary to Alfredo’s comment about aggressiveness, which is certainly a mental attitude thoven to Mahler, just that he doesn’t prefer Mahler to Beethoven (C) D and E may be true but may not be George definitely prefers Mahler to Mozart, and likes Beethoven as much as, or more than, 8—12 Mahler He definitely prefers Mahler to Bartok (A) and may prefer Beethoven to Mahler (B) We know he prefers Mahler to Mozart and to any other composer whose name begins with B, including Bartok, but this doesn’t tell us whether or not he prefers Bartok to Mozart (C) We don’t know how much he likes Mahler, so he may prefer Mahler to Haydn (E) D 61 As in most logical puzzles, a diagram of some sort is the place to start The simplest is a sketch of the ten seats (below) When you know someone is in a seat, put his/her initial in the box; if a seat is definitely occupied by either of two persons, put both initials there If someone’s position is uncertain, jot the initial below the possible seats Skip to whichever statements yield the most definite information to start Here, statements (2), (4), (6), and (7) give this information: George definitely prefers Beethoven to Bartok He also prefers Mahler to Mozart, and likes Beethoven; at least as much as Mahler So among the six, Mozart and Bartok must come after Beethoven All the other choices are possibilities that cannot be eliminated George prefers Mahler to any composer whose name begins with B (including Berlioz) except Beethoven; since he doesn’t prefer Mahler to Beethoven but does prefer him to Berlioz, he must prefer Beethoven to Berlioz If Berlioz is played first, there can be no Beethoven record None of the other choices is definitely true Examine the structure of the argument: The Other Side is best since even more people are seeing it The assumption 1s that these numbers are a valid measurement of quality (E) All other choices focus on side issues The author is using circular reasoning He attempts to prove that the scientific worldview is accurate by showing that it has been verified by the scientific method; yet the validity of the scientific method is itself at issue The author does not commit the errors mentioned in choices A and E Although choice B is true, it is neither a flaw in nor a necessary part of the author’s reasoning Choice D is wrong because the author claims merely that the scientific worldview is the most accurate, not that it is perfect 1, A Alfredo replies to the claim about meditation by stating that aggressiveness is most important to a boxer The unstated assumption is that meditation somehow lessens aggressiveness (A) B is Statement (3) gives an uncertainty: W must be in seat or Statement (5) resolves the question: W’s date cannot be M, in seat 5, because M is next to V So W’s date must be in seat 7, W must be in seat 8, and T must be M’s date, in seat Nothing else is known definitely The two remaining women’s seats must be occupied by S and U, and the two remaining men’s seats by L and P, but we can’t tell exactly who is where Complete your diagram like this: The questions are now easy D This can be read from the diagram Choice A reverses O and V and gives a definite location for U, which we don’t know B puts L in seat 7, when we can’t know that C and E skip a seat— the question specifies persons sitting adjacent to one another D U may be in seat or 10 N is in seat 9, and either L or P is in seat Any of these could be U’s date Sentence Completion Questions 67 Testing Tactics Before You Look at the Choices, Read the Sentence and Think of a Word That Makes Sense Your problem is to find the word that best completes the sentence in both thought and style Before you look at the answer choices, see if you can come up with a word that makes logical sense in the context Then look at all five choices If the word you thought of is one of your five choices, select that as your answer If the word you thought of is not one of your five choices, look for a synonym of that word Select the synonym as your answer This tactic is helpful because it enables you to get a sense of the sentence as a whole without being distracted by any misleading answers among the answer choices You are free to concentrate on spotting key words or phrases in the body of the sentence and to call on your own “writer's intuition” in arriving at a stylistically apt choice of word See how the process works in an example from a recent GRE Since she believed him to be both candid and trustworthy, she refused to consider the possibility that his statement had been - (A) irrelevant (D) critical (B) facetious (E) insincere (C) mistaken This sentence presents a simple case of cause and effect The key phrase here is candid and trustworthy The woman has found the man to be frank and honest Therefore, she refuses to believe he can say something What words immediately come to mind? Dishonest, evasive, hypocritical? The missing word is, of course, insincere The woman expects openness (candid) and sincerity (trustworthy) The correct answer is Choice E Practice Tactic extensively to develop your intuitive sense of the mot juste—the exactly right word However, not rely on Tactic alone On the test, always follow up Tactic with Tactic Look at All the Possible Answers Before You Make Your Final Choice Never decide on an answer before you have read all the choices You are looking for the word that best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole In order to be sure you have not been hasty in making your decision, substitute all the answer choices for the missing word Do not spend a lot of time doing so, but try them all That way you can Satisfy yourself that you have come up with the best answer On the basis of a loose sense of this sentence’s meaning, you might be tempted to select Choice A After all, this sentence basically tells you why you should not praise certain people for virtue Clearly, you should not call people virtuous merely because they hesitate to perform a depraved or wicked act However, this reading of the sentence is inadequate: it fails to take into account the sentence’s key phrase See how this tactic helps you deal with another question from a recent GRE The key phrase here is /ack energy Lack energy for what? The first word of each answer choice is a synonym for bad Thus, goodness is a result of a lack of the necessary energy to be bad Examine the second word of each answer choice, eliminating those words that carry no suggestion of such a lack of energy Does indecision or hesitation suggest a lack of energy? No, it suggests a lack of decisiveness Does effortlessness or absence of strain suggest a lack of energy? No, it suggests a lack of difficulty Does boredom or monotony suggest a lack of energy? No, it suggests a lack of interest Does ungodili- People should not be praised for their virtue if they lack the energy to be - ; in such cases, goodness is merely the effect of - (A) (B) (C) (D) depraved .hesitation cruel .effortlessness wicked .indolence unJust boredom (E) iniquitous .impiety 68 Sentence Completion Questions ness or impiety suggest a lack of energy? No, it suggests a lack of reverence Only one word suggests a lack of energy—indolence Since goodness results from Note the satiric tone of this epigram, and the use of merely to point up that this so-called goodness is no goodness at all a lack of the energy to be bad, it is merely the effect of laziness or indolence The correct answer is Choice C in Double-Blank Sentences, Go Through the Answers, Testing the First Word in Each Choice (and Eliminating Those That Don’t Fit) In a sentence completion question with two blanks, read through the entire sentence to get a sense of itasa whole Then insert the first word of each answer pair in the sentence’s first blank Ask yourself whether this particular word makes sense in this blank If the initial word of an answer pair makes no sense in the sentence, you can eliminate that answer pair (Note: Occasionally this tactic will not work In the preceding question, for example, the first words of all five answer pairs were near-synonyms However, the tactic frequently pays off, as it does in the following example from a recent GRE.) During the 1960s assessments of the family shifted remarkably, from general endorsement of it as a worthwhile, stable institution to widespread ~ it aS an oppressive and bankrupt one whose - was both imminent and welcome (A) (B) (C) (D) (E) flight from .restitution fascination with .corruption rejection of vogue censure of dissolution relinquishment of ascent For a quick, general sense of the sentence, strip it of all its modifying phrases What remains? Assessments shifted remarkably from endorsement (approval, support) to Since endorsement or approval is highly positive, the shift most likely is in the negative direction of condemnation or disapproval The phrase oppressive and bankrupt supports this conclusion Your first missing word must be a synonym for disapproval Now eliminate the misfits Choices A, B, and E fail to meet the test: flight, fascination, and relinquishment are not synonyms for disapproval Consider them no further Choice C, rejection, and Choice D, censure, however, both express disapprobation; they require a second look To decide between Choices C and D, consider the second blank If you viewed the family as a cruel and worthless institution, what destiny for it would you welcome? You would welcome its dissolution, its destruction, not its popularity or vogue The correct answer is clearly Choice D Remember that, in double-blank sentences, the right answer must correctly fill both blanks A wrong answer choice often includes one correct and one incorrect answer ALWAYS test both words Watch for Signal Words That Link One Part of the Sentence to Another Writers use transitions to link their ideas logically These transitions or signal words are clues that can help you figure out what the sentence actually means Cause and Effect Signal Words accordingly in order to GRE sentences often contain several signal words, combining them in complex ways because so that consequently therefore Cause and Effect Signals given thus hence when then Look for words or phrases explicitly indicating that one thing causes another or logically determines another if then Sentence Completion Questions 69 Support Signals Contrast Signals (Implicit) Look for words or phrases explicitly indicating that the omitted portion of the sentence supports or continues a thought developed elsewhere in the sentence In such cases, a synonym or near-synonym for another word in the sentence may provide the correct answer Look for content words whose meanings inherently indicate a contrast These words can turn a situation on its head They indicate that something unexpected, possibly even unwanted, has occurred Support Signal Words additionally furthermore also indeed and likewise as well moreover besides too Implicit Contrast Signal Words anomaly anomalous anomalously illogic illogical illogically incongruity incongruous incongruously irony ironic ironically paradox paradoxical paradoxically surprise surprising surprisingly unexpected unexpectedly Contrast Signals (Explicit) Look for function words or phrases (conjunctions, sentence adverbs, etc.) that explicitly indicate a contrast between one idea and another, setting up a reversal of a thought In such cases, an antonym or near-antonym for another word in the sentence may provide the correct answer Explicit Contrast Signal Words albeit nevertheless although nonetheless but notwithstanding despite on the contrary even though on the other hand however rather than in contrast still in spite of while instead of yet Note the function of such a contrast signal word in the following GRE question The paradoxical aspect of the myths about Demeter, when we consider the predominant image of her as a tranquil and serene goddess, is her - search for her daughter (A) extended (B) agitated (C) comprehensive (D) motiveless (E) heartless The ruling image of Demeter is one of tranquillity; we normally think of her as calm and serene One aspect of the myths about her, however, is paradoxical: it contradicts the customary image of her as always calm This contradictory aspect is her search for her daughter, which is not calm but agitated The correct answer is Choice B Use Your Knowledge of Word Parts and Parts of Speech to Figure Out the Meanings of Unfamiliar Words lf a word used by the author is unfamiliar, or if an answer choice is unknown to you, two approaches are helpful Break the word down into its component parts—prefixes, suffixes, roots—to see whether they provide a clue to its meaning For example, in the preceding GRE question, the word predominant contains two major word parts Pre- here means exceedingly; domin- means to rule or command A predominant image, therefore, is a prevailing image, one that has commanding influence or strength Change the unfamiliar word from one part of speech to another If the noun precocity is unfamiliar to you, cut off its noun suffix -ity and visualize it with different endings You may think of the adjective precocious (maturing early) If the verb appropriate is unfamiliar to you, by adding a word part or two, you may come up with the common noun appropriation or the still more common noun misappropriation (as in the misappropriation of funds) Note the application of this tactic in the following GRE example 70 Sentence Completion Questions The sheer bulk of data from the mass media seems to overpower us and drive us to - accounts for an easily and readily digestible portion of news (A) insular (B) investigative (C) synoptic (D) subjective (E) sensational You would not be particularly tempted to seek out investigative, subjective, or sensational accounts, since none of these are necessarily brief Thus, you may rule out Choices B, D and E The two answer choices you Analyze them, using words Choice A, insular, sula, a piece of land that remaining what you is related juts out so may be unfamiliar to know of related to the noun peninfar into the water that it is almost an island Thus, an insular account is an First, eliminate any answer choices that are obviously incorrect If you feel overwhelmed by massive amounts of data provided by the news media, it seems logical that you would seek out brief summaries of the news instead islander’s account, one that reflects the narrow viewpoint of an isolated, detached writer Choice C, synoptic, is related to the noun synopsis (abridgment or summary) A synoptic account provides a summary, a brief but broad overview Thus, the correct answer is synoptic, Choice C Break Down Complex Sentences into Simpler Components In analyzing long, complex sentence completion items, you may find it useful to simplify the sentences by breaking them down Rephrase dependent clauses and long participial phrases, turning them into simple sentences See how this tactic helps you to analyze the following sentence from a recent GRE In failing to see that the judge’s pronouncement merely - previous decisions rather than actually establishing a precedent, the novice law clerk the scope of the justice’s judgment (A) synthesized .limited (B) overturned misunderstood (C) endorsed .nullified (D) qualified .overemphasized (E) recapitulated .defined What we know? The judge’s pronouncement did NOT set a precedent (Note the use of rather than to signal the contrast.) Rather than nouncement TANT to the to signal the did.) setting a precedent, the judge’s prodid something RELATIVELY UNIMPORearlier decisions (Note the use of merely relative unimportance of what the judge The new law clerk did not understand that the judge had done something relatively unimportant (He failed to see.) What follows? Because the new clerk failed to see that the judge had done something minor, the clerk believed that the judge had done something major In other words, the clerk overemphasized the scope of what the judge had done The correct answer is Choice D Note that in sentence completion questions a choice may be complicated by an unusual word order, such as: placing the subject after the verb: To the complaints window strode the angry customer placing the subject after an auxiliary of the verb: Only by unending search could some few Havana Cigars be found inverting the subject and verb to give the sense of “if”: Were defeat to befall him, today’s dear friends would be tomorrow’s acquaintances, and next week’s strangers placing a negative word or phrase first, which usually requires at least part of the verb to follow: Never have | encountered so demanding a test! In all these instances, rephrase the sentence to make it more straightforward For example: The angry customer strode to the complaints window Some few Havana cigars could be found only by unending search lf defeat were to befall him, today’s dear friends would be tomorrow's acquaintances, and next week’s strangers | have never encountered so demanding a test! Sentence Completion Questions 71 If a Sentence Contains a Metaphor, Check to See Whether That Metaphor Controls the Writer’s Choice of Words (and Your Answer Choice) Writers sometimes indulge in extended metaphors, complex analogies that imaginatively identify one object with another In the following example from a recent GRE, the effect of words on the shape of our thoughts is compared to acommon geologic process It is strange how words shape our thoughts and trap us at the bottom of deeply - canyons of thinking, their imprisoning sides carved out by the ~ of past usage (A) cleaved eruptions (B) rooted .flood (C) incised .river (D) ridged .ocean (E) notched mountains Note how many words in this sentence contribute to the image of the canyon—bottom, imprisoning sides, sides carved out This should alert you that the canyon metaphor greatly affects the writer's choice of words The extended metaphor of the canyon unifies this sentence In choosing an answer, it is necessary to complete the sentence in such a way as to develop that metaphor fully Choice B does not: one might describe a tree or a tooth as deeply rooted, but not a canyon Similarly, Choice D fails A canyon is a deep, narrow valley with precipitous sides; one would not describe it as deeply ridged Canyons are carved out of the rock How? Are they cleaved, incised, even notched? To choose the correct answer, you must know some elementary geology, plus the precise meanings of these three verbs To cleave something is to split it in two parts by means of a cutting blow Erosion, the process which creates canyons, involves no cutting blows To notch something is to indent or nick it lt seems almost paradoxical to describe something as deeply notched In contrast, to incise something is to cut into it, to carve it, to erode it, in geological terms A look at the second word of the answer pair confirms the choice Rivers carve out canyons, incising them by erosion Choice C completes the metaphor; it is the correct answer choice Practice Exercises Sentence Completion Exercise A Directions: Each sentence below has one or two blanks, each blank indicating that something has been omitted Beneath the sentence are five lettered words or sets of words Choose the word or set of words for each blank that best fits the meaning of the sentence as a whole Normally an individual thunderstorm lasts about 45 minutes, but under certain conditions the storm may - , becoming ever more severe, for as long as four hours (A) (B) wane moderate (C) persist (D) vacillate (E) disperse Perhaps because something in us instinctively distrusts such displays of natural fluency, some readers approach John Updike’s fiction with - (A) indifference (B) suspicion (C) veneration (D) recklessness (E) bewilderment We lost confidence in him because he never - the grandiose promises he had made (A) forgot about (B) reneged on (C) tired of (D) delivered on (E) retreated from Ms Sutcliffe’s helpful notes on her latest wine discoveries and her no-nonsense warnings to consumers about - wines provide - guide to the numbing array of wines of Burgundy (A) excellent a useful (B) overrated an inadequate (C) overpriced a trusty (D) unsatisfactory a spotty (E) vintage an unreliable ... cause altogether Choice C tends to weaken the idea that unemployed people are lazy Dz 8? ?12 11 D H+E= 18 .1 +J+ D+ F = 18 Choice A: 14 # 12 Choice C: 14 # 15 Choice D: 15 # 14 Choice E: # 13 -16 A diagram... 1, followed by Physics 11 or 21, followed by Phys-ics 10 1 or 12 1 21 C In physics, one must take Mathematics 11 or Physics 1, Physics 11 or 21, Physics 10 1 or 12 1, and three graduate-level courses... determine T’s position we need statement P 21 P1 21 M2 21 M 211 >4 M202, & MATHEMATICS CONCENTRATION C2 21 C 211 C2 01 ie CHEMISTRY P2 01 P2 21 PHYSICS 17 - 21 The information given can be diagrammed in