05.21 Verbal

According to psychologists, many dieters subconsciously prefer *di plan whose effectiveness is uncertain -- a consideration that, in case of failure, lets them blame the supposed ineffectiveness of the plan rather than their own lack of self-control.* a diet plan whose effectiveness is uncertain -- a consideration that, in case of failure, lets them blame the supposed ineffectiveness of the plan rather than their own lack of self-control an uncertain diet plan in terms of effectiveness: such plans allow them to believe that the supposed ineffectiveness of the plan is to blame, rather than that they lack self-control in case of failure diet plans with uncertain effectiveness, which will allow them to blame the supposed ineffectiveness of the plan, rather than to lack self-control, in case of failure uncertainly effective diet plans, allowing them to believe the plans that are supposedly ineffective, rather than that they lack self-control, in case of failure diet plans uncertain in effectiveness; in case of failure, allowing them to believe that the plan itself is ineffective rather than that they lack self-control

The content in the second part of this sentence -- describing what dieters will blame for the failure of a diet plan -- is a result of the dieters' uncertainty about the plan's effectiveness, not a result of the plan itself. Therefore, the sentence must be structured in a way that correctly indicates this relationship. Additionally, there should be proper parallelism between the two possible explanations given for the failure of the plan (i.e., the plan's ineffectiveness versus the dieters' lack of self-control). (A) CORRECT. "A diet plan whose effectiveness is uncertain" clearly and unambiguously indicates the nature of the uncertainty described: the effectiveness of the diet plan (not, say, the particulars of the plan itself) is uncertain. The following appositive modifier ("a consideration that...") is properly used to describe the entire preceding idea, namely, the idea that the diet plan's effectiveness is uncertain. The modifier "in case of failure" is set off by a comma from the entire parallel structure, properly indicating that the entire parallel structure (not just one of the parts) describes the situation in which the diet plan fails. Finally, the structure X rather than Y is formed with proper parallelism: both X ("the supposed ineffectiveness of the plan") and Y ("their own lack of self-control") are noun phrases. (B) The phrase "an uncertain diet plan in terms of effectiveness" is not only awkward, but also unclear: it seems to indicate that the diet plan itself, rather than the plan's effectiveness, is "uncertain." There is a lack of agreement between the plural "plans" (at the start of the second clause) and the singular "plan" (in the first clause); better agreement would be achieved if "such plans" were replaced with "such a plan." Finally, the modifier "in case of failure" is attached only to the second option in the parallel structure ("that they lack self-control"); this modifier should be placed so as to modify that entire parallel structure. (C) This choice places the two infinitives to blame... and to lack... in parallel, thus creating a nonsense meaning: the (illogical) implication that the diet plan "will allow them to blame" and "[will allow them] to lack self-control." This is incorrect; the dieters' second option is to blame a lack of self-control. (D) The phrase "uncertainly effective diet plans" is awkward and unclear. The comma + "allowing.." modifier should refer to the action of the preceding clause ("many dieters subconsciously prefer..."), but this meaning is nonsensical; it is not the case that, because the dieters prefer an "uncertainly effective" diet plan, this fact allows them to believe that the plan is ineffective. The two factors that could potentially be blamed are not written with proper parallelism: the first is a noun phrase ("the plans..."), while the second is an entire clause ("that they lack self-control"). Moreover, the first of these factors is written illogically: "to believe the plans" erroneously indicates that the dieters believe the plans themselves, when in fact the opposite is true, i.e., the dieters actually don't believe that the plan is effective. (E) In this choice, the portion following the semicolon ("allowing them to believe...") is a modifier, not a complete sentence. A semicolon must be followed by an independent clause (a complete sentence) containing both a subject and a verb.

According to the passage, each of the following is true EXCEPT Norepinephrine and serotonin are discharged only during waking states. Ingesting more than 20 micrograms of LSD will cause some people to hallucinate. Rapid eye movement is the stage of sleep during which people typically dream. LSD causes neurons to increase the rate at which they discharge norepinephrine. The absence of serotonin seems to be necessary in order to enable the brain to dream.

"Except" questions are negatively-worded questions. Typically, four of the answers will fall into a certain category or be "true" in some way, while the fifth choice will be the "odd one out." The correct answer on EXCEPT questions will be the odd one out. Keep track of your eliminations on your scrap paper. Because it is often easier to find the four "true" answer choices, focus on eliminating wrong answers rather than trying to find the one right answer. (A) CORRECT. False. The second sentence of the second paragraph says of the chemicals that "Both neurotransmitters are discharged in high quantities only during waking states." Later sentences tell us that the chemical levels drop during non-REM sleep, not that they disappear completely. (B) True. The first sentence of the third paragraph says that "at doses higher than 20 micrograms, [LSD] can have a hallucinogenic effect." This is equivalent to the statement that the dosage will cause hallucinations in some people (otherwise, we could not say that it "can have" a hallucinogenic effect). (C) True. Sentence five in paragraph two tells us that REM (rapid eye movement sleep) "is strongly associated with dreaming." (D) True. The third sentence of paragraph three says that the neurons containing norepinephrine "greatly accelerate activity" when LSD is in someone's system. Sentence three of paragraph two tells us that "neurons release norepinephrine" - so if this neuronal activity is increased, then the rate at which norepinephrine is released would also increase. (E) True. The last sentence of the second paragraph says that Jacobs hypothesized that "the absence of serotonin was necessary to allow dreaming to occur," and the concluding paragraph suggests that Jacobs seems to have been right.

Although William Pereira first gained national recognition for his movie set designs, including those for the 1942 film "Reap the Wild Wind," future generations will remember him as the architect of the Transamerica Tower, the Malibu campus of Pepperdine University, and the city of Irvine. including those for the 1942 film "Reap the Wild Wind," future generations will like those for the 1942 film "Reap the Wild Wind," future generations like that for the 1942 film "Reap the Wild Wind," future generations will including that for the 1942 film "Reap the Wild Wind," future generations will including those for the 1942 film "Reap the Wild Wind," future generations

(A) CORRECT. The original sentence is correct as written. (B) The word "like" is used incorrectly to introduce an example. Using "like" alters the meaning of the sentence, implying that William Pereira's designs were simply "similar to" the designs for "Reap the Wind." It is preferable to use the word "including." The present tense "remember" is incorrectly used with the subject "future generations." The original sentence was correct to use the future tense "will remember." (C) The word "like" is used incorrectly to introduce an example. Using "like" alters the meaning of the sentence, implying that William Pereira's designs were simply "similar to" the designs for "Reap the Wind." It is preferable to use the word "including." The antecedent of the pronoun "that" is the plural "movie set designs," so the plural pronoun "those" should have been used. (D) The antecedent of the pronoun "that" is the plural "movie set designs," so the plural pronoun "those" should have been used. (E) The present tense "remember" is incorrectly used with the subject "future generations." The original sentence was correct to use the future tense "will remember."

The emerging field of architectural climatology centers on the potential of as-yet-undeveloped architecture and landscaping to alter, redirect, or dissipate weather systems; for instance, hurricanes prevented from forming by artificial "reefs" of precisely shaped marine platforms. systems; for instance, hurricanes prevented from forming by artificial "reefs" of precisely shaped marine platforms systems; for example, artificial "reefs" of precisely shaped marine platforms that could prevent hurricanes from forming systems, such as hurricanes, which artificial "reefs" of precisely shaped marine platforms prevent forming systems, such as artificial "reefs" of precisely shaped marine platforms that can prevent hurricanes from forming systems; for example, hurricanes could be prevented from forming by artificial "reefs" of precisely shaped marine platforms

(A) The portion after the semi-colon (for instance, ... platforms) is not a complete sentence. (B) The portion after the semi-colon (for example, ... forming) is not a complete sentence. (C) Which ... "reefs" ... prevent forming is unidiomatic; from is needed between prevent and forming. Prevent appears in the present tense, illogically implying that the artificial reefs—which don't yet exist, according to the earlier part of the sentence—already prevent the formation of hurricanes. (D) The construction such as artificial "reefs" illogically implies that artificial reefs are weather systems. Additionally, the use of can in the present tense (as opposed to could) illogically implies that the artificial reefs—which don't yet exist, according to the earlier part of the sentence—do already exist. (E) CORRECT. The semicolon is properly used to separate two complete sentences. Could is correctly used to describe a hypothetical consequence.

In the past year, there has been a dramatic increase in the number of people killed by alligators in Florida. During this same time, there has been an increase in the development of new houses, golf courses, and shopping areas in former wilderness areas within the state. Therefore, the increase in fatal alligator attacks must have been caused by the increase in the number of humans living in the alligator's habitat. Which of the following, if true, most seriously calls into question the explanation above? Two years ago, a government initiative to reduce the alligator population size by destroying alligator eggs ended. An increase in fatal alligator attacks tends to make people more cautious around lakes, ponds, swamps and canals. The number of people killed by snake bites, spider bites and scorpion stings in Florida has held steady for many years. Many of the new state residents have moved to newly constructed areas near water that is suitable for habitation by alligators. The undeveloped areas of Florida have decreased in area by 5% in the past year.

A conclusion may be weakened when another explanation at least as compelling as the original is offered. The number of people killed by alligators may have increased in the past year for some reason other than the increase in the number of humans living in the alligator's habitat. (A) CORRECT. This statement properly identifies an alternative rationale (there are more alligators now) and undermines the given explanation. (B) More cautious behavior would only occur after the fatal alligator attacks occurred, so it could not be a factor that supports or weakens the explanation. (C) This point about differing types of harmful wildlife is irrelevant to the argument about alligator fatalities. (D) This point could support the explanation if it could be proven that the increase in alligator attack fatalities were among these new residents. In any case, it does not weaken the explanation. (E) This point supports the explanation.

A new weight-loss drug causes the loss of body fat in all patients who take the drug. In those same subjects, however, the drug also causes the loss of moderate quantities of lean body mass, where "lean body mass" refers to all body mass other than body fat. Which of the following statements can be properly inferred from the information in the passage above? Patients taking the new weight-loss drug will not necessarily experience a decrease in their overall percentage of body fat. The body weight of patients taking the new weight-loss drug will not necessarily decrease. The new weight-loss drug contains no chemical that exclusively targets the body's fat cells. Users of the new weight-loss drug should exercise in order to maintain their current levels of lean body mass. The new drug catalyzes the loss of body fat and the loss of lean body mass via similar mechanisms.

A properly inferred conclusion must be arrived at by necessary logical deductions, without any additional assumptions. Thus, the correct answer to this problem must be a necessary logical consequence of the statements in the passage. (A) Correct. The passage states that patients taking the drug will experience losses of both body fat and lean mass, but does not state the relative amounts in which the two components of weight will be lost. In order to ascertain whether the subjects' body fat percentage will go down, we need to know two ratios: the patients' original ratio of fat to lean mass, and the ratio of fat lost to lean mass lost. Without definite figures for either of these ratios, the patients could lose fat and lean mass at relative rates that would either increase or decrease their percentages of body fat. (B) The passage states that all patients taking the drug experience losses of both body fat and lean mass. Per the passage, these are the only two components of the subjects' body weight, so, if the subjects experience losses in both components, then they must lose weight overall. (C) The loss of lean mass does not imply that the drug cannot contain a chemical that targets the body's fat cells exclusively. For instance, the drug could contain such a chemical along with other chemicals (perhaps necessary for other reasons, such as proper digestion or transport) that cause the losses in lean mass. (D) Nothing in the passage is pertinent to the issue of preventing the loss of lean mass from the drug, so no such conclusion is justified. (E) No information about the mechanism by which the drug catalyzes fat and lean-mass losses is presented in the passage, so no such conclusion is justified. The correct answer is A.

The passage provides information about each of the following, EXCEPT people who influenced the women's rights movement which of the Declaration of Sentiments resolutions received unanimous support the activities undertaken at the Seneca Falls Convention an example of the way in which women were not permitted full involvement in social movements the impetus for the start of the women's rights movement in the United States

Because this is an "except" question, we can answer it by trying to find the statements that were mentioned in the choices and then eliminating those choices that were mentioned. A useful technique is to label the (wrong) answer choices which do appear in the passage as "True" and to label the (right) answer "False." (A) True. Lucretia Mott is mentioned as a "famous women's rights activist" and Elizabeth Cady Stanton is described as "one of the main forces behind the Seneca Falls Convention," which was previously referred to as "the beginning of the women's rights movement." (B) CORRECT. False. The third paragraph does mention several of the specific resolutions, and the fourth paragraph does state that "most of the declaration's resolutions received unanimous support," but the passage does not tell us specifically which resolutions received unanimous support. (C) True. The passage states that the delegates "spent the two days at the conference debating, refining and voting on the Declaration of Sentiments." (D) True. Paragraph 2 tells us that women were "precluded... from participation in discussions" at the 1840 World Anti-Slavery Convention. (E) True. In the first paragraph, the passage states that "The Seneca Falls Convention... is commonly regarded as the beginning of the women's rights movement in the United States" and, further, that "the conference was preceded by a series of events that made [this conference] possible." The passage goes on to detail the World Anti-Slavery Convention and the Declaration of Sentiments.

Jim: The United States Mint has recently announced that it costs more to manufacture a penny or a nickel than the face value of each coin. In addition, there are very few items that can be purchased for a nickel, and virtually none that can be purchased for a penny. Since both the penny and the nickel no longer provide a necessary function in today's economy, I propose that the government eliminate them and declare the base unit of U.S. currency to be the dime. Mary: Don't be silly. This would mean that all prices would round up to the nearest dime-nobody would want that. Congress would never approve, much less consider, such an unpopular measure. In her response to Jim, Mary does all of the following EXCEPT makes an assumption about the possible negative consequences of Jim's proposal implies that a particular regulatory path is necessary to implement Jim's proposal provides a reason why Jim's proposal would be difficult to implement, regardless of its potential benefits assumes that Congress would consider the monetary benefits less important than public opinion of the proposal attempts to undermine a premise upon which Jim bases his proposal

Jim initially presents two premises: 1) it costs more to make a penny and a nickel than their face value; and 2) there is little that can be bought for a penny or a nickel. He goes on to opine that the coins no longer provide any necessary function in the economy, then concludes with a proposal to remove the coins from circulation and declare the basic unit of American currency to be 10 cents. Mary responds by making several assumptions about the practical effects of the plan, implying that such a policy could never be implemented. (A) All prices rounding up to the nearest dime would certainly be a negative consequence from a consumer viewpoint, and this contention is not presented anywhere in the passage as a statement of fact; it is simply an assumption made by Mary. (B) By asserting that Congress would not approve such a proposal, Mary implies that such approval is necessary in order to implement Jim's plan. (C) Mary provides an argument that such a proposal would have little practical chance of being implemented because of its unpopularity, which in fact is not necessarily correlated with whether the proposal would save money. (D) Despite the proposal's obvious monetary benefit, Mary states that "Congress would never approve such an unpopular measure." Mary is assuming Congress will think the popularity of the measure is more important than the potential monetary benefit. (E) CORRECT. Mary's response is based on her assertion that Congress would not approve Jim's proposal because she assumes that it would be extremely unpopular. She does not attack or even mention any of Jim's premises underlying his proposal.

Due to high jet fuel costs, airline carriers are looking for new ways to increase revenues and thereby counteract declining profits. Airline A has proposed increasing the number of passengers that can fit on its airplanes by creating several standing room only "seats" in which passengers would be propped against a padded backboard and held in place with a harness. This proposal, since it relates to passenger safety, cannot be implemented without prior approval by the Federal Aviation Administration. The above statements, if true, indicate that Airline A has made which of the following conclusions? The addition of standing room only "seats" will generate more revenue than the cost of ensuring that these seats meet safety standards. The Federal Aviation Administration will approve Airline A's specific proposal. The revenue generated by the addition of standing room only "seats" is greater than the current cost of jet fuel. There are no safer ways in which Airline A can increase revenues. Passenger safety is less important than increasing revenue.

Only two pieces of information are given about Airline A's standing room "seats" proposal. First, that it is geared toward increasing revenue in order to counteract declining profits. And second, that, since the proposal relates to passenger safety, it must be approved by the Federal Aviation Administration. Airline A must have concluded that the cost of implementation of its proposal is less than the revenue that the new seats will generate. (A) CORRECT. Since Airline A knows that its proposal would have to comply with safety standards, it must have concluded that the cost of compliance is worth it. In other words, the only way for Airline A to achieve its goal of increasing profit is to implement ideas that will generate more revenue than they cost. Airline A must therefore have concluded that the standing room only "seats" meet this criteria. (B) The statements in the passage imply nothing about whether Airline A believes that the Federal Aviation Administration will approve the proposal. Although Airline A must believe that the proposal has a chance of being approved (otherwise it's unlikely to have proposed it), the airline might have proposed its specific plan knowing that it might not be approved or, that it might have to be changed in certain ways. (C) Airline A's goal is simply to "counteract declining profits" caused by the high cost of jet fuel. This does not mean, however, that the proposal must fully mitigate the cost of jet fuel. As long as the proposal increases revenue without a corollary increase in cost, it will in some way (even if it's relatively small) counteract declining profits. (D) The passage does not mention any other ways that Airline A has considered increasing revenue. Therefore, it is impossible to conclude anything about Airline A's perception of its standing room "seats" proposal to any other ideas. (E) The statements in the passage do not address Airline A's view regarding the safety of the standing room only "seats". It is very possible that Airline A views its proposal as safe and sees no conflict between passenger safety and increasing revenue, much less that it has made any determination about the relative importance of these two issues.

Scientific advances in the twentieth century have allowed researchers to study the chemical activities taking place in the sleeping human brain. In the 1970s, researcher Barry Jacobs drew on these advances to propose that a shared neurochemical basis in the neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine accounts for the observable similarities between dreams and hallucinations. To test Jacobs' theory, researchers attempted to elucidate the role of serotonin and norepinephrine in the normal sleep cycle and the effect of hallucinogenic drugs on these neurotransmitters. Serotonin appears important for managing sleep, mood, and appetite, among other functions, while norepinephrine facilitates alertness and mental focus. Both neurotransmitters are discharged in high quantities only during waking states. At the onset of sleep, the neurons that release these neurotransmitters become less active, allowing the brain to enter the three non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) stages of sleep. The non-REM stages typically are not associated with normal dreaming, though parasomnias, such as sleepwalking and confusional arousals, are most common during stage 3. When the brain is ready to enter the fourth stage, REM, which is strongly associated with dreaming, the levels of these two chemicals drop virtually to zero. The Jacobs hypothesis held that the absence of norepinephrine was required to enable the brain to remain asleep, while the absence of serotonin was necessary to allow dreaming to occur. Lysergic acid diethylamide, or LSD, is a semi-synthetic psychedelic drug which causes significant alteration of the senses; at doses higher than 20 micrograms, it can have a hallucinogenic effect. LSD mimics serotonin well enough to be able to bind at most of the neurotransmitter's receptor sites, largely inhibiting normal transmission. In addition, the drug causes the Locus coeruleus, a cluster of neurons containing norepinephrine, to greatly accelerate activity. If the drug stimulates norepinephrine, thereby precluding sleep, and inhibits serotonin, creating a necessary condition for dreaming, then the resulting hallucinations could merely be "dreaming while awake." The research thus far is promising but inconclusive; future scientific advances should allow this theory to be tested more rigorously. According to the passage, which of the following is true of the drug lysergic acid diethlyamide? Research into the drug is promising but inconclusive. The neuron receptor sites that normally bind serotonin can also bind lysergic acid diethylamide. The Locus coeruleus causes the drug to affect bodily systems more rapidly than normal. The drug stimulates norepinephrine and serotonin. A person who ingests more than 20 micrograms of the drug will have hallucinations.

Paragraph three is about the effects of and research results on lysergic acid diethlyamide, or LSD. (A) The passage describes research into Jacobs' theory as "promising but inconclusive," but does not make this statement about the drug LSD itself. (B) CORRECT. The second sentence of the third paragraph says that "LSD mimics serotonin well enough to... bind at most of [serotonin's] receptor sites." (C) The passage says that the drug causes activity to accelerate in the Locus coeruleus, the opposite of the causation suggested by this choice - that the Locus coeruleus causes something to happen to the drug.. (D) The passage states that the drug stimulates norepinephrine but inhibits serotonin. (E) The passage says that "at doses higher than 20 micrograms, it can have a hallucinogenic effect." This means that some people may have hallucinations, but it does not mean that everyone will, as this answer choice suggests.

Recent research has indicated that married people are not only happier than unmarried people, but also healthier. This study has been widely reported by the media, with most commentators concluding that being married is good for one's health and attitude. The conclusion of the media commentators depends on which of the following assumptions? The longer people are married, the happier and healthier they become. Married couples who had a large, extravagant wedding are happier than those who had a small, simple ceremony. Married people cannot get depressed. Single people with depression or health problems are just as likely to get married as are other single people. Some marriages are more harmonious than others.

Research indicates that there is a connection between being married and being happy and healthy. Media commentators have concluded that marriage causes happiness and health. However, one could reasonably conclude from the research that the cause and effect are the reverse: being happy and healthy makes a person more likely to get married. (A) The research compared married people to unmarried people. Neither the researchers nor the media commentators made any distinction between newlyweds and those who had been married a long time, so this assumption is not necessary. (B) The type of wedding is outside the scope of this argument. The research compared married people to unmarried people, but made no distinction based upon the type of wedding. Thus, this assumption is unnecessary. (C) At first, this statement may seem necessary—after all, if the commentators conclude that marriage causes happiness, a lack of depression in married people would certainly support that conclusion. However, the statement is too extreme. One depressed married person does not invalidate the research indicating that, on average, married people are healthier and happier than non-married people. (D) CORRECT. This statement eliminates the alternative interpretation of the research findings—that being happy and healthy makes a person more likely to get married. (E) The research compared married people to unmarried people. Neither the researchers nor the media commentators made any distinction between harmonious marriages and combative marriages, so this assumption is not necessary.

The movement for women's rights traces its origin to the first half of the nineteenth century. The Seneca Falls Convention, held in Seneca Falls, New York in July of 1848, is commonly regarded as the beginning of the women's rights movement in the United States. This conference was preceded by a series of ground-breaking events that made possible this seminal milestone in the history of American women. The idea for the convention emerged during the 1840 World Anti-Slavery Convention in London, a conference that precluded its female delegates from participation in discussions. Lucretia Mott, a famous women's rights activist, wrote in her diary that calling the 1840 convention a "world" convention "was a mere poetical license." She had accompanied her husband to London but had to sit behind a partition with other women activists, including Elizabeth Cady Stanton, who later became one of the main forces behind the Seneca Falls Convention. During the early 1840s, Elizabeth Cady Stanton composed the Declaration of Sentiments, a document modeled after the Declaration of Independence, declaring the rights of women. At the time of its composition, the Declaration of Sentiments was so bold that when Elizabeth Stanton showed the draft to her husband, he stated that if she read it at the Seneca Falls Convention, he would have to leave town. The Declaration contained several new resolutions. It proclaimed that all men and women are born equal and stated that no man could withhold a woman's rights, take her property, or preclude her from the right to vote. This Declaration also became the foundation for the Seneca Falls Convention. On July 19-20, 1848, the Seneca Falls Convention brought together 240 delegates between ages 22 and 60, including forty men, who spent the two days at the conference debating, refining and voting on the Declaration of Sentiments. Most of the declaration's resolutions received unanimous support and were officially endorsed. Later in 1848, the Seneca Falls convention was followed by an even larger meeting in Rochester, New York. Thereafter, national women's conventions were held annually, contributing to the growing momentum in the movement for women's rights. Which of the following can be most reasonably inferred from the passage? Most of the delegates of the Seneca Falls Convention subsequently attended the 1848 convention in Rochester, New York. The Declaration of Sentiments stated that women must not be confined to housekeeping occupations. The Seneca Falls Convention gathered more than 190 women, none of whom were younger than 20 years old. The husband of Elizabeth Cady Stanton left town after she read the Declaration of Sentiments at the Seneca Falls Convention. Most delegates at the 1840 World Anti-Slavery Convention were men.

Since this is an inference question, we will be looking for an answer that can be inferred strictly based on the information given in the passage and without making any additional assumptions. Typically, the correct answer must be very closely connected to the actual text of the passage and directly supported by one or two sentences. (A) The concluding paragraph of the passage states that "the Seneca Falls Convention was followed by an even larger meeting in Rochester, New York," but mentions nothing about the breakdown of the delegates for that convention. (B) The third paragraph describes the rights proclaimed by the Declaration of Sentiments. While the declaration stated that "... all men and women are born equal and that no man could withhold a woman's rights, take her property, or preclude her from the right to vote," it did not address occupational issues, according to the passage. (C) CORRECT. The opening sentence of the last paragraph states that "... the Seneca Falls Convention brought together 240 delegates between ages 22 and 60, including 40 men..." Since 40 of the 240 delegates were men, we can infer that the remaining 200 delegates must have been women. Further, since all the delegates were between ages 22 and 60, none of the delegates could have been younger than 22 years old. Therefore, we can infer that the convention gathered more than 190 women, none of whom were younger than 20. (D) While the passage mentions that the husband of Elizabeth Cady Stanton stated that he would leave town of she read the Declaration of Sentiments at the Seneca Falls Convention, nothing in the passage implies that he actually did so. (E) The opening sentence of the second paragraph states that "... the 1840 World Anti-Slavery Convention in London ... precluded its female delegates from participation in discussions." However, the passage provides no information regarding the number of either male or female delegates at that conference.

This year, the number of applications at College X increased by nearly 5%, while the size of the entering class and the structure of the admissions process remained the same. However, the admissions director of College X claims that this year a greater proportion of its applicants received offers of admission from the college than in years past. Which of the following statements best reconciles the claim of the admissions director with other evidence presented in the argument? This year College X moved up in all major rankings of undergraduate programs. This year, the number of high school graduates who applied to colleges increased by 5%. This year, nearly twice as many accepted applicants at College X decided to attend other colleges. The admissions process at College X is substantially more competitive, as compared to other colleges of similar academic profile. College X is located in a major metropolitan area with a high concentration of potential college applicants.

The argument provides seemingly conflicting evidence. On the one hand, the class size remained constant. On the other hand, the college received a greater number of applications and a greater proportion of applicants received offers of admission from the college. We need to select an answer that would reconcile this contradiction. (A) While this statement explains the increase in applications to College X, it provides no information about why the size of the entering class remained the same despite an increase in both the number of applications and the acceptance rate. (B) While this answer choice explains one of the reasons for the increase in the applications to College X, it provides no information about why a greater proportion of applicants received an offer from the college. (C) CORRECT. This statement explains how the size of the entering class at College X could remain the same despite the rise in applications and increased acceptance rate. Since a substantially greater proportion of accepted applicants decided to attend other colleges, College X had to extend more offers to fill the same class. As a result, the admission rate increased despite the increase in applications and no changes in the class size. (D) The relative comparison of College X to other academic institutions is beyond the scope of the argument. (E) While this statement may explain the popularity of the college in general, it provides no information justifying the increase in applications. Further, it does not explain why a greater proportion of applicants received an offer of admission.

While political discourse and the media in the United States have focused on the rise of job outsourcing, few have mentioned the sharp fall of talent "insourcing," or the drop in enrollment of foreign-born graduate students since 2001, and its dire results. The decrease in such insourcing will hurt America's competitiveness in basic research and applied technology, with serious consequences for years to come. The de-internationalization of graduate programs across the country will also negatively affect the global outlook and experience of the American students remaining in those programs; they will not have the opportunity to learn about foreign cultures directly from members of those cultures. What distinguishes the decline of talent insourcing from the rise of job outsourcing is that the former can be easily rectified by a policy change of the United States government. The answer to which of the following questions would be most useful in evaluating the author's claim regarding the impact of decreased insourcing in America? What is the cost to reverse the trend of insourcing in America? How does insourcing replace domestic jobs lost from outsourcing? Since 2001, what has been the decrease in the number of foreign-born students in America? What opportunities do American graduate students have to interact regularly with foreigners who are not students? What effect would a government policy have on the number of foreign graduate students?

The author claims that the "decrease in such insourcing will hurt America's competitiveness in basic research and applied technology, with serious consequences for years to come." In addition, the author claims that the decline in insourcing will "negatively affect the global outlook and experience of American students" because they will "not have the opportunity to learn about foreign cultures directly from members of those cultures." We are asked to find a question whose answer would provide information useful to evaluating the claims of the argument. (A) The focus of the argument is not on the financial costs of insourcing. (B) The focus of the argument is not on how insourcing can compensate for outsourcing. (C) The focus of the argument is not on the specific numbers of foreign-born students, but on the decline in their number instead. (D) CORRECT. The argument assumes that the students will not have contact with foreigners through channels other than school. This choice asks whether the students have such contact elsewhere. If the answer to this question is "yes", the author's claims carry less weight. (E) A government policy might have an effect on insourcing, but it would not necessarily have an effect on the specific claims of the argument.

Company X experienced a significant loss of market share over a number of years. To strengthen its market position, the company decided two years ago to increase the percentage of total revenue devoted to research and development. The following year, the company's market share increased by 10 percent. In response, company management further increased the amount of money devoted to research and development. Which of the following investigations is most likely to yield significant information that would help evaluate whether the company's decision to further increase the research and development budget was warranted? Determining how many new products the company has created over the past year Determining the percentage of revenue that other companies devote to research and development Determining whether any of the company's competitors have withdrawn from the market in the past two years Determining the maximum percentage of revenue that the company can devote to research and development without affecting the company's production budget Determining whether all of the company's new products have fared equally well in the marketplace

The company's management decided to further increase spending on research and development because the company experienced an increase in market share after the first increase in R & D. The management, however, assumed that the increase in market share resulted directly from the increase in R & D. We are asked which of the listed investigations would allow us to know whether that assumption was valid. (A) The number of new products does not tell us whether the increase in market share resulted from the increase in R & D. (B) The percentage of revenue that other companies spend on R & D does not tell us whether the company's increase in market share resulted from its own increase in R & D. (C) CORRECT. If the company's competitors have dropped out of the market, perhaps the increase in Company X's market share was not the result of the increase in R & D but rather the result of a lack of competition. (D) The maximum percentage that could be spent on R & D without affecting production does not tell us whether the increase in market share resulted from the increasein R & D. (E) Knowing whether all of the company's new products have fared equally well will not tell us whether the increase in market share was the result of the increase in R & D.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, it was believed in many coastal American cities that the waterfront was an undesirable location for residential buildings. As a result, much of the waterfront in these cities was never developed aesthetically and instead was left to industry and commerce. Today, however, waterfront properties are generally seen as prestigious, as evidenced by the large sums paid for homes along the beach front. A developer who wishes to make a large profit would be wise to buy urban waterfront lots and erect residential buildings on them. Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the claim made about urban waterfront properties? People today have more money, relatively speaking, to spend on real estate than they did in previous centuries. Homeowners will be willing to spend large sums on residential properties in traditionally industrial or commercial districts. Many urban waterfront lots are available for purchase. Many coastal American cities are encouraging developers to rehabilitate the waterfront through tax incentives. Properties in interior residential districts in coastal American cities are significantly more expensive than those along the waterfront.

The conclusion is that a developer who wishes to make a large profit would be wise to buy urban waterfront lots and erect residential buildings on them. The basis for that claim is that people pay large sums for beach front homes. We are asked to strengthen this argument. (A) This choice states that people have more buying power today than in previous centuries. This does not strengthen the claim that a developer will make money on urban waterfront properties. (B) CORRECT. This choice states that homeowners will be willing to spend large sums of money on residential properties in traditionally industrial or commercial districts. Since we know from the argument that urban waterfronts have traditionally been industrial, this fact strengthens the claim that a developer can make a profit on urban waterfront properties. (C) This choice states that many urban waterfront lots are available for purchase. This does not suggest, however, that a developer will be able to sell them after he or she builds on them. (D) This choice states that many coastal cities are giving tax breaks to developers who rehabilitate the waterfront. But this does not suggest that anyone will buy the developed properties. (E) This choice states that properties in the interior of cities are more expensive than those on the waterfront. Although waterfront properties are therefore cheaper to acquire, this does not necessarily mean that a developer can make a profit after buying such properties.

Recently in City X, residential developers have stopped buying land, contractors are going without work for longer periods, and specialty workers such as electricians are relying more on less lucrative, existing-home remodeling jobs. There must be fewer new residents moving to City X than there were previously. Which of the following, if true, indicates a flaw in the reasoning above? This year several housing developments have gone on the market after being held up for months by legal red tape. The average size of a new home has increased significantly over the past several years. The population of City X is projected to grow by 4% this year, compared with only 3% for last year. The cost of materials such as lumber and cement has decreased over the past year. Sales of other big-ticket items, such as automobiles and boats, have remained steady over the past year.

The conclusion of the argument is that "there must be fewer new residents moving to City X than there were previously." Why? The author observes several factors (e.g., developers not buying land, contractors without work, electricians working predominately on existing homes) and then assumes that fewer new homes are being built specifically because fewer new residents are moving to this city. We are asked to weaken this conclusion; one way to do so would be to find an alternate explanation for the observation that fewer new homes are being built right now. (A) CORRECT. This suggests that there might be another reason for the decline in home construction: the supply of available housing has been increased through the release of a glut of previously built homes. (B) The size of homes, by itself, does not address the reason(s) fewer homes are being built right now in City X. (C) The author's conclusion is specifically that "fewer new residents" are moving to City X. The cited population increase might have been due to babies born to existing residents this year. Though this choice is tempting, we cannot conclude that it means more new residents are moving into the city. (D) If materials cost less, it seems more likely that any decrease in new home construction could be attributed to the stated causes. (E) The sales level of cars and boats does not address the reason(s) fewer homes are being built right now in City X.

The Department of Homeland Security has proposed new federal requirements for driver's licenses that would allow them to be used as part of a national identification system. Using licenses for purposes not directly related to operating a motor vehicle is un-American because it would require U.S. citizens to carry the equivalent of "papers." Such a requirement would allow the government to restrict their movements and activities in the manner of totalitarian regimes. In time, this could make other limits on freedom acceptable. The author assumes which of the following? The next presidential election will be dishonest, as has happened in eastern European countries. The government will soon start curtailing the activities of those it considers "dissidents." Blanket restrictions on law-abiding individuals are contrary to the traditions of American culture and law. The majority of Americans are not willing to give up their right to travel and move about without identification. Americans should resist all government regulation of their lives.

The conclusion of this argument is that the national identification system ("using licenses for purposes not directly related to operating a motor vehicle") is un-American. The basis for this claim is that such a system would allow the government to restrict the liberty of its people. The necessary assumption is one that connects restrictions on liberties to the concept of "un-American" policies. (A) The author never mentions future presidential elections, or the role of the president in such a national identification system. Therefore, the conclusion that the national identification system is un-American does not depend on this assumption. (B) Whether the government will soon, or will ever, start curtailing the activities of dissidents is irrelevant to this argument: that the national identification system is un-American simply because it restricts the liberties of U.S. citizens. Even if the government does not abuse the power the national identification system provides, the system could still be considered un-American. (C) CORRECT. This choice connects the concept of "un-American" policies to restrictions on liberties, essentially defining blanket restrictions on citizens as un-American. (D) Whether Americans are willing to give up their right to travel freely is irrelevant to this argument: that the national identification system is un-American simply because it restricts the liberties of U.S. citizens. Even if Americans were willing to give up their right to move about without identification, the system could still be considered un-American. (E) While the author may be inclined to agree that Americans should resist the government regulation of their lives that the national identification system represents, this argument does not depend on such an assumption. In fact, the author makes a distinction between the national identification system and "licenses for purposes...directly related to operating a motor vehicle," so it is possible that the author considers some government regulation reasonable.

Rust can deteriorate a steel pipe to such an extent that it will snap easily, as though it was a twig. will snap easily, as though it was a twig will snap easily, like a twig does will snap easily, as though it is a twig might snap easily, as though it was a twig will snap easily, as though it were a twig

The expression "as though" introduces a supposition that is contrary to fact (the pipe is not a twig). Such suppositions must be expressed in the subjunctive mood. For example, in the phrase "I wish I were rich," the verb "were" is in the subjunctive because the phrase expresses a desire contrary to fact. The appropriate singular form of the verb "to be" in the subjunctive mood is "were." (A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence. (B) "Like" should not be used to introduce the comparative clause "a twig does." The word "as" should be used instead. "Like" is used to compare nouns only. (C) The verb "is" is not appropriate for the subjunctive mood. The appropriate singular form of the verb "to be" in the subjunctive mood is "were." (D) The verb "was" is not appropriate for the subjunctive mood. The appropriate singular form of the verb "to be" in the subjunctive mood is "were." In addition, this choice changes the meaning of the sentence. While the original sentence asserts that it is possible for rust to deteriorate a steel pipe to the point where it will snap easily, this choice asserts only that it is possible for rust to deteriorate the pipe to a point where it might snap, i.e., it implies a somewhat lesser degree of possible deterioration. (E) CORRECT. This choice correctly uses the subjunctive "were."

It can be inferred from the passage that insects would be less useful for helping researchers to detect drugs if which of the following were true? They were as accurate as, but not more accurate than, dogs in detecting drugs. Insect olfactory systems did not deliver odorants to nerve cells in the same way as vertebrate olfactory systems do. Dietrich Schneider did not develop the first method that enabled researchers to record the activity in insect olfactory nerves. They did not have finger-like protuberances for detecting odors. The signal sent to the insect's central nervous system did not allow researchers to classify the compound that triggered the response.

The first paragraph introduces a research method that allows researchers to record activity in insect nerves and identify the compounds that triggered the activity (in other words, to detect certain drugs). In the last sentence of the second paragraph, the author says that "signals" sent "to the central nervous system" allow "researchers to detect and interpret the responses." In other words, the researchers detect a signal sent to the central nervous system and are then able to identify what compound triggered that signal. If the researchers were not able to do these things, the insects would be less useful for the purpose of detecting drugs. (A) The passage establishes that dogs are already "widely used" to detect drugs and then claims that insects "might be used more effectively" than mammals. This does not imply that insects would be less useful if they are only as accurate as dogs; indeed, according to the passage, the insects may not be better than dogs. (B) The passage does indicate that there are similarities between the olfactory systems of insects and dogs. The passage doesn't, though, say that the two systems must work in the same way in order for insects to be useful; the two olfactory systems could be different and yet the insects could still be useful. (C) The passage does not indicate that the method is more useful because it was discovered by Dietrich Schneider. It might have been as useful no matter who discovered it. (D) The passage does not indicate that the insects are only useful for detecting drugs because they detect odors via finger-like protuberances. Any mechanism might work as long as it allowed a certain signal to be sent that could then be detected by the researchers and tied to a specific source compound. (E) CORRECT. According to the passage, the signal sent by the central nervous system is easily detected by researchers and allows them to identify which compounds triggered that signal. If the researchers were not actually able to classify which compound or type of compound triggered that signal, then the insects would not be as useful; the researchers would not necessarily be able to tell whether illegal drugs or something innocuous had been scented by the insect.

Which of the following most accurately describes the primary purpose of the passage? To urge that one animal be used in place of another to perform a certain job To explain the advantages and disadvantages of a biological mechanism To describe a biological mechanism and indicate how it might be exploited To demonstrate the method by which a type of animal gathers sensory information To summarize the history of a particular researcher's contributions

The first paragraph mentions that dogs are currently used to detect drugs, that insects may be better than dogs, and that a researcher developed a scientific method to test insects for this purpose. The second paragraph describes in significant detail how that scientific method works. (A) The passage does say that "insects might be used more effectively" than dogs in detecting drugs, but the author never suggests that insects should replace dogs in this job. (B) The passage does discuss the advantages to researchers of a particular biological mechanism, but does not discuss disadvantages. (C) CORRECT. The passage does describe, in paragraph two, a particular biological mechanism (how insects smell). The first paragraph does indicate how this biological mechanism might be exploited (to detect drugs). (D) While the second paragraph of the passage does discuss how a type of organism (insects) detects odors, this by itself cannot be considered the primary purpose of the passage. The mechanism by which insects detect odors is discussed in order to provide support for the primary claim: that insects might be used effectively, possibly more effectively than dogs, to detect drugs. (E) The first paragraph does mention Dietrich Schneider's contribution to the topic at hand (how researchers can use insects to detect drugs), but the passage does not summarize the entire history of Schneider's research contributions throughout his career.

At Tuesday's press conference Ms. Franco, *who headed her country's antiterrorism committee for eight years, criticized airlines for simply banning items that had already been used in prior hijacking attempts without making a significant effort or anticipating* the means of future attempts. who headed her country's antiterrorism committee for eight years, criticized airlines for simply banning items that had already been used in prior hijacking attempts without making a significant effort or anticipating the former head of her country's antiterrorism committee for eight years, criticized airlines that had banned items simply used in prior attempts at hijacking and had not made a significant effort to anticipate the former eight-year head of her country's antiterrorism committee, criticized airlines simply for banning items that had already been used in hijacking attempts and made no significant effort in anticipating who headed her country's antiterrorism committee for eight years, criticized airlines for simply banning items used in prior hijacking attempts and making no significant effort to anticipate who had for eight years headed her country's antiterrorism committee, criticizing airlines that had simply banned items already used in previous hijacking attempts, made no significant effort at anticipating

The intended purpose of the sentence is to convey two different grounds on which Ms. Franco criticized airlines. First, the airlines had simply banned items used in previous hijacking attempts; second, they had made no significant effort to anticipate the particulars of future attempts. For the sentence to be effective, it should place these two criticisms in parallel, avoiding constructions that mistakenly attribute the airlines' actions to Ms. Franco herself. In addition, the sentence should be worded so as to avoid redundancy. (A) The use of both "already" and "prior" is redundant. In addition, "anticipating the means" is placed in parallel with "making a significant effort," illogically suggesting that those two constructions represent independent ideas. The airlines didn't make a significant effort to do what? They didn't make a significant effort to anticipate the means of future attempts. (B) The combination of "former" and "for eight years" is illogical; the original sentence indicated that Ms. Franco was the head of the committee for 8 years. "The former head for eight years" would refer to the period of time after she ceased to be the head of the committee; in other words, she was the head for some unspecified period of time, but she left the job eight years ago. This information was included to demonstrate her credentials in criticizing the airlines, but knowing how long ago she left the job does not establish her credentials. In addition, the adverb "simply" is inappropriately placed; it is meant to describe the airlines' act of banning previously used items, and so should be placed in front of "banned." (C) This version of the sentence places "criticized" and "made" in parallel - thus illogically suggesting that Ms. Franco herself (the subject of both verbs) "made no significant effort." The sentence must be structured so as to make clear that the airlines, not Ms. Franco, failed to make such an effort. The adverb "simply" is inappropriately placed; it is meant to describe the airlines' act of banning previously used items, and so should be placed in front of "banning." Finally, "former eight-year head" is awkward and unclear. (D) CORRECT. The first modifier provides additional description of Ms. Franco's background; the past tense is appropriately used to describe a state that prevailed during a definite interval in the past. The two grounds on which Ms. Franco criticized the airlines - banning and making - are expressed properly in parallel. Finally, the adverb "simply" is appropriately placed in front of banning, the act that it is intended to describe. (E) "Criticizing" is written as a modifier, illogically suggesting that Ms. Franco had spent her entire eight-year term criticizing the airlines. Moreover, if the modifiers are removed from the sentence, the remaining subject and verb are "Ms. Franco" and "made" - thus illogically suggesting that Ms. Franco herself, rather than the airlines, "made no significant effort."

Since 1929, when the global telegraph business peaked, the number of telegrams delivered annually have decreased from 200 million to only 21,000 last year. have decreased from 200 million have been reduced from 200 million has decreased from 200 million has been reduced from 200 million down has decreased from 200 million down

The main subject of the sentence, the singular "the number," requires a singular verb to maintain subject-verb agreement. Therefore, the plural "have decreased" is incorrect. (A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence. (B) The main subject of the sentence, the singular "the number", requires a singular verb to maintain subject-verb agreement. Therefore, the plural "have been reduced" is incorrect. In addition, "been reduced" is a passive verb, implying that some external force acted to reduce the number of telegrams delivered. The active verb "decreased" would be preferable, since it indicates simply that the change occurred. (C) CORRECT. The main verb of the sentence, the singular "has decreased," maintains subject-verb agreement with the singular "the number." (D) The passive voice "been reduced" implies that some external force acted to reduce the number of telegrams delivered. The more concise active voice "decreased" is preferable, since it indicates simply that the change occurred. The phrase "down to" is redundant of "reduced." (E) The phrase "down to" is redundant of "decreased."

*Though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, careful linguistic analysis reveals a multitude of similarities to modern English.* Though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, careful linguistic analysis reveals a multitude of similarities to modern English. Despite that it is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, careful linguistic analysis reveals that the language of Beowulf has a multitude of similarities to modern English. Though being practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, the language of Beowulf reveals through careful linguistic analysis a multitude of similarities to modern English. Though Beowulf has a language that is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers, a multitude of similarities are revealed to modern English through careful linguistic analysis. Despite having practically incomprehensible language to contemporary readers, Beowulf reveals through careful linguistic analysis a multitude of similarities to modern English.

The opening clause "though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible to contemporary readers," correctly modifies the main clause "careful linguistic analysis reveals a multitude of similarities to modern English." Moreover, all verbs are in the correct tenses and all nouns are properly modified. There are no errors in the original sentence. (A) CORRECT. This choice is correct as it repeats the original sentence. (B) This choice begins with the unidiomatic "despite that it." "Despite" must be followed by either a noun ("despite extreme hunger...") or a verb ("despite having been fired..."). It cannot be followed by a relative pronoun ("despite that..."). Moreover, the opening clause seems to modify "careful linguistic analysis," which is the subject of the main clause, creating an illogical meaning (that the analysis is incomprehensible to contemporary readers). (C) "Though being practically incomprehensible" is wordy; "being" is unnecessary here. Moreover, the main clause seems to imply that "the language of Beowulf" performed the "careful linguistic analysis," thus creating an illogical meaning. (D) "Though Beowulf has a language that is practically incomprehensible" is wordy. The original "though the language of Beowulf is practically incomprehensible" is more concise. Moreover, "a multitude of similarities are revealed to modern English" seems to imply that the "similarities" were revealed to "modern English" when the correct meaning is that that "similarities to modern English" were revealed. (E) "Beowulf reveals through careful linguistic analysis" illogically implies that Beowulf carried out the analysis.

*Although he resisted the assignment, T. E. Lawrence, later known as Lawrence of Arabia, successfully led an Arab uprising against the Ottoman Empire. * Although he resisted the assignment, T. E. Lawrence, later known as Lawrence of Arabia, successfully led an Arab uprising against the Ottoman Empire. Although he had resisted the assignment, T. E. Lawrence, later known as Lawrence of Arabia, successfully led an Arab uprising against the Ottoman Empire. Although he resisted the assignment, T. E. Lawrence, later known as Lawrence of Arabia, had successfully led an Arab uprising against the Ottoman Empire. Although he had resisted the assignment, Lawrence of Arabia, who successfully led an Arab uprising against the Ottoman Empire, was earlier known as T. E. Lawrence. T. E. Lawrence, later known as Lawrence of Arabia, successfully led an Arab uprising against the Ottoman Empire, although they had resisted the assignment.

The original contains a tense error. The past perfect, "Although he had resisted" is correct because it is the earlier of two past actions, as it must have occurred before he led the uprising. Past perfect is used to identify the earliest past time period. All other past time periods should use the simple past. (A) The original has the aforementioned tense error. (B) *CORRECT. As discussed above, the earlier action uses the past perfect, and the later past event uses the simple past.* (C) This choice incorrectly resolves the tense error, as "had led" is the later past event and "resisted" is the earlier one. Thus, "led" and "had resisted" should be employed. (D) The expression "was earlier known as T. E. Lawrence" is wordy and makes the meaning less clear. He became "known" (famous) as Lawrence of Arabia rather than by his birth name. Also, making "was known" the main verb of the sentence changes the meaning of the sentence, since now the "although he had resisted" clause is nonsensically contrasted to the main clause: "was earlier known as T. E. Lawrence." (E) The pronoun "they" has no plural antecedent; pronouns must have a clear reference and agree with that antecedent in number.

*A spokesman for the organization says that Curt Gowdy, who was 86,* died from leukemia recently in Palm Beach, Florida. A spokesman for the organization says that Curt Gowdy, who was 86, Curt Gowdy, a spokesman for the organization, who was 86, A spokesman for the organization, who was 86, says that Curt Gowdy A spokesman for the organization had said Curt Gowdy, who was 86, A spokesman for the organization says that Curt Gowdy, who was 86, had

The original is correct. Here, the modifying phrase, "who was 86," correctly modifies Curt Gowdy. Such relative clauses modify the first available preceding noun. The tense usage is correct; the one past event uses the simple past "died." The use of "was 86" is correct, since this state of being was concurrent with Gowdy's death. (A) CORRECT. (B) This choice has a modification error that changes the original meaning. Curt Gowdy was not the spokesman but in this choice the modifying phrase "a spokesman for the organization" refers to him. Modifying phrases must be next to the noun that they modify. (C) This choice also has a modification error that changes the original meaning. Here, the relative clause, "who was 86," describes the spokesman instead of Curt Gowdy. Relative clauses refer to the noun immediately before them. (D) Choice D has a tense problem. "Had said," the past perfect, is incorrect because this is not earlier past event. Logically, Gowdy had to die first. The past perfect tense is only used to indicate the earliest of multiple past time periods in a sentence. Thus, "said" and "had died" would be correct, if the sentence were rewritten in the past tense. (E) Choice E also has a tense problem. "Had died" is incorrect use of the past perfect because it is the only past event in the sentence. The simple past, "died," would be correct. The past perfect is only used to indicate the earliest of multiple past time periods.

It was not long after the 1930s commenced that such baritone singers as Bing Crosby and Russ Columbo contributed to the popularization of a type of romantic, soothing singing that came to be called "crooning." It was not long after the 1930s commenced that such baritone singers as Bing Crosby and Russ Columbo contributed to Not long after the commencement of the decade of the 1930s, baritone singers such as Bing Crosby and also Russ Columbo decided to participate in Not long after the commencement of the 1930s began, baritone singers like Bing Crosby and Russ Columbo contributed to Not long after the beginning of the 1930s commencement, baritone singers such as Bing Crosby and Russ Columbo had contributed to It was not long after the 1930s commenced that baritone singers such as Bing Crosby and Russ Columbo had decided to participate in

The original sentence correctly uses the simple past tense contributed to refer to an event that occurred in the past. Furthermore, the original sentence correctly uses such as to introduce examples of baritone singers who made a contribution to the popularization of the "crooning" style of singing. Note that it is acceptable to place words between such and as (such baritone singers as. In order to do this correctly, the intervening words (baritone singers) must be the category to which the examples (Crosby and Columbo) belong. (A) CORRECT. As explained above, this choice uses the proper verb tense and is idiomatically correct. (B) The 1930s is a decade, so it is redundant to state of the decade. Furthermore, and also is redundant—and means the same thing as also in this context. (C) The commencement of the 1930s began is redundant; commencement and began convey the same meaning. In addition, the word like means similar to; the phrase such as should be used to introduce examples. (D) The beginning of the 1930s commencement is redundant; beginning and commencement convey the same meaning. In addition, the choice incorrectly uses the past perfect had contributed. The contributed action occurs after the beginning of the 1930s, not before; past perfect is used to convey something that happened before something else. (E) The choice incorrectly uses the past perfect had decided. The decided action occurs after the beginning of the 1930s, not before; past perfect is used to convey something that happened before something else. The sentence clearly indicates that they decided to participate "not long after" the 1930s commenced, so past perfect is not appropriate to use.

During the rule of Emperor Claudius, *which was known for his military expeditions against the German tribes of the Chauci and Catti, the population of ancient Rome exceeded any* city in the Roman Empire. which was known for his military expeditions against the German tribes of the Chauci and Catti, the population of ancient Rome exceeded any known for his military expeditions against the German tribes of the Chauci and Catti, the population of ancient Rome was exceeded by no other which was known for his military expeditions against the German tribes of the Chauci and Catti, the population of ancient Rome exceeded that of any known for his military expeditions against the German tribes of the Chauci and Catti, ancient Rome exceeded any known for his military expeditions against the German tribes of the Chauci and Catti, the population of ancient Rome exceeded that of any other

The original sentence draws an illogical comparison between "the population of ancient Rome" and "any city in the Roman Empire." First of all, a population of one city can only be compared to the population of another city. Also, the second term of the comparison must refer to "any other city," since Rome was obviously also a city in the Roman Empire. The underlined portion of the sentence begins with a relative clause that describes "Emperor Claudius," a person. The relative pronoun "which" is incorrect, since "which" only introduces phrases that modify things. (A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence. (B) This choice draws an illogical comparison between the "the population of ancient Rome" and "no other city" and introduces the wordy passive construction "was exceeded." (C) This answer choice incorrectly uses "which" to refer to "Emperor Claudius." It also states that the "population of ancient Rome" was greater than "that of any city," rather than "that of any other city," thus illogically implying that the population of Rome was greater than even the population of Rome. (D) This answer choice states that "ancient Rome" was greater than "any city in the Roman Empire," rather than "any other city in the Roman Empire," thus illogically implying that the city exceeded itself. Also, by failing to mention the population as the parameter of comparison, this answer choice introduces ambiguity and fails to retain the intended meaning of the original sentence. (E) CORRECT. This answer choice draws a logical comparison between "the population of ancient Rome" and "that of any other city," uses active voice, drops the wordy and incorrect construction "which was," and retains the intended meaning of the original sentence.

The soap manufacturer conceded that its product may have contributed to the recent outbreak of skin irritation experienced by its consumers and *having pulled the product, led* to a sharp drop in the company's share price. having pulled the product, led to pulled the product, leading to pulling the product, leading to pulled the product, led to pulled the product, having led to

The original sentence is incorrect in its treatment of the verbs "having pulled" and "led." The verbs "conceded" at the beginning of the sentence and "pulled" serve logically parallel functions in the sentence, and so should adopt a parallel structure. The construction "having pulled" is unparallel in the sentence. Also, the use of "led" after the comma is incorrect, as the comma indicates that "led to a sharp drop in the company's share price" is not serving as a third item in the list, but as a distinct clause describing the results of the actions of the company. The use of "led" in this sentence incorrectly suggests that the soap manufacturer itself led to a sharp drop in the company's share price; more precisely, it was the concession of the soap manufacturer and its pulling of the product, not the soap manufacturer itself, that led to the drop. "Led" is more appropriately treated as distinct from, and not parallel to, the verbs "conceded" and "pulled." (A) This choice is incorrect as it repeats the original sentence. (B) CORRECT. In this choice, "pulled" is treated in a structurally parallel manner to "conceded." Also, "leading" correctly begins the verb clause after the comma in grammatical fashion and correctly attributes the drop in share price to the manufacturer's actions. (C) This choice incorrectly uses the gerund "pulling"; the verb should be in parallel form to "conceded," as these verbs are used in a logically parallel manner in the sentence. (D) This choice incorrectly treats the final verb clause "led to a sharp drop in the company's share price" as a third item in the list, when it serves a different function in the sentence. The construction in this choice also incorrectly suggests that the soap manufacturer itself led to a sharp drop in the company's share price; more precisely, it was the concession of the soap manufacturer, not the soap manufacturer itself, that led to the drop. (E) The use of the verb construction "having led" is unjustified in the sentence, and also incorrectly attributes the drop in share price to the soap manufacturer itself as opposed to the manufacturer's actions.

Many studies have shown that users of anabolic steroids exhibit habitual aggression and commit violent crime at rates significantly higher than those seen in the general public; the studies have claimed the existence of a "steroid rage," or "'roid rage," caused by the anabolic steroids themselves. This claim is mistaken, though, since individuals who elect to use anabolic steroids tend to be innately more aggressive than the general public. Which of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument above? Anabolic steroids produce significant increases in the levels of the hormones that are principally associated with aggressive behavior. Users of anabolic steroids must regularly "cycle off" the steroids; during these off-cycle times, their levels of aggression tend to decrease significantly. Individuals who choose to use anabolic steroids tend to have unusually high ambition and sex drives. Among people with identical histories of aggression, users of anabolic steroids do not exhibit significantly greater aggression than do non-users. Among individuals convicted of violent offenses while on anabolic steroids, most are not convicted again, even if they continue to use anabolic steroids.

The passage discounts the idea that anabolic steroid use causes aggressive behavior, stating that the causation actually runs in reverse: viz., a pre-existing tendency toward aggression motivates individuals to use anabolic steroids. (A) This statement, if true, weakens the argument considerably, because it provides strong support for the contention that the steroids themselves cause aggressive behavior. (B) This statement actually weakens the argument, because, if steroid users' aggression were due to an innate predisposition, then that aggression would be expected not to decline when steroid use is discontinued. (C) Although this statement is similar to the hypothesis in the argument - that individuals who choose steroids have different innate personality characteristics than do others - it deals only with sex drive and ambition. It does not deal with aggression, which is the sole focus of the passage, and is therefore irrelevant to the argument. (D) Correct This observation controls the variable cited as important in the passage - the individuals' history of aggression (which serves as an indicator of their innate tendency toward aggression) - and finds that, when that history is identical, anabolic steroids have essentially no effect on aggression. This is strong evidence for the fact that the tendency toward aggression itself, and not the steroid use, causes the aggression seen in steroid users. (E) This statement is irrelevant to the passage. First, convictions for violent offenses are not necessarily a good proxy for aggression itself. Second, the statement does not distinguish between convicts who continue steroid use and those who do not, a distinction that is key for resolving the issue presented in the passage.

The principal of School X has proposed a plan that would add an hour-long study period to the end of the school day. She claims that the extension would improve the school's average score on the math section of the state assessment by allowing students more time to complete math homework that they wouldn't otherwise have time to complete. Which of the following statements, if true, would most weaken the argument presented above? Math teachers of students in School X have noted an overall decline in the number of homework assignments completed by students since the school eliminated midday study periods two years ago. Administrators from neighboring School Y recently implemented a school day extension and have seen no significant improvement in student test scores on the state assessment. Music department faculty members at School X strongly oppose the plan because they feel any time added to the school day should be used to bolster the music curriculum. Parents of students from School X have expressed concern that the proposed schedule change would interfere with students' extracurricular activities. The core components of School X's math curriculum are not aligned with the topics tested on the state math assessment.

The principal of School X argues that giving students more time to complete their math homework would increase the school's average math score on the state assessment. To weaken this argument, we need a statement that questions the connection between math homework and state assessment scores. (A) This statement does not question the connection between math homework and state assessment scores. In fact, it could possibly support the argument by providing data that show there is a need for dedicated study time. (B) While the lack of improvement at School Y seems to be compelling evidence against the argument presented, we don't have enough information about School Y's initiative to know whether School X would experience the same outcome. For example, it's very possible that School Y used its additional time for activities other than math study, in which case the initiatives would not be comparable. (C) The faculty members' desire to have more time dedicated to the music curriculum has no bearing on whether more time to complete math homework would lead to higher test scores. (D) The parents' concerns about the extended school day interfering with extracurricular activities has no bearing on whether more time to complete math homework would lead to higher test scores. (E) CORRECT. This statement weakens the argument by attacking the argument's main assumption: if students do more math homework, they will score higher on the assessment. If the core curriculum is not aligned with the topics tested on the state assessment, then the amount of homework done by students is irrelevant.

The author of the passage is primarily concerned with illuminating the physiological consequences of Tay-Sachs disease explaining the importance of research on a specific disease to other diseases of that type arguing for a more detailed examination of lysosomal storage diseases challenging a traditional view of a class of diseases as incomplete describing the implications of genetic mutations for mortality rates

The question asks about the primary concern of the passage. This is equivalent to asking about the author's purpose in writing the passage. We need to find an answer choice that takes the entirety of the passage into account without misrepresenting the author's intent. (A) This choices states that the author is concerned with "illuminating the physiological consequences of Tay-Sachs disease." This focuses on only a subtopic within the passage. (B) CORRECT. This choice states that the author is concerned with "explaining the importance of research on a specific disease to other diseases of that type." This accurately captures the main thrust of the passage. The research on Tay-Sachs disease is used in the passage to explain the causes of other lysosomal storage diseases. (C) This choice states that the author is concerned with "arguing for a more detailed examination of lysosomal storage diseases." Though the author does suggest in the last paragraph that more research should be done, this is not the focus of the passage as a whole. (D) This choice states that the author is concerned with "challenging a traditional view of a class of diseases as incomplete." This is not consistent with the passage. The passage focuses on the causes of a certain class of diseases. (E) This choice states that the author is concerned with "describing the implications of genetic mutations for mortality rates." While there is some discussion of these issues with regards to Tay-Sachs disease, this is not the focus of the passage.

It can be inferred from the passage that which of the following statements is true of lysosomal storage diseases? They are generally caused by mutations to the hexosaminidase gene. They are undetectable until physical symptoms are present. They can be fatal even when allowing some enzymatic activity. They are most lethal when onset is in a patient's infancy. Their causes were unknown before the 1950s.

The question asks broadly which of the choices is a valid inference from the information in the passage. The best approach here is simply to evaluate the choices one by one. (A) This choice states that it can be inferred that lysosomal storage diseases "are generally caused by mutations to the hexosaminidase gene." The passage only states that mutations in this gene are responsible for Tay-Sachs disease. There is no information suggesting that it is responsible for the entire class of storage diseases. (B) This choice states that it can be inferred that lysosomal storage diseases "are undetectable until physical symptoms are present." The passage, however, discusses some specific genetic mutations that are linked to Tay Sachs diseases, a type of lysosomal storage disease. This indicates, if anything, that the disease might be detectable before physical symptoms are present. (C) CORRECT. This choice states that it can be inferred that lysosomal storage diseases "can be fatal even when allowing some enzymatic activity." This can be inferred from combining two statements in the passage: paragraph 3, which states that "those in the infantile category had little to no normal activity" and paragraph 2, which states that "children [with the infantile form of the disease] rarely live beyond 3 years old." "Little... activity," while low, is still not zero activity. (D) This choice states that it can be inferred that lysosomal storage diseases "are most lethal when onset is in a patient's infancy." The information in the passage relating to infant mortality is given in the specific context of Tay-Sachs disease. We cannot know whether this pattern holds true for other diseases of this type. In addition, while those with the infantile form do die of the disease, so do those with the juvenile form, making the disease equally lethal. (E) Choice E states that it can be inferred that the causes of lysosomal storage diseases were unknown before the 1950s. The passage states, however, that the causes of Tay-Sachs disease were unknown before that time. We do not have any information about the causes of lysosomal storage diseases generally.

Lysosomal storage diseases form a category of genetic disorders resulting from defective enzymes that normally function to break down unneeded molecules in cells. These enzymes do their work in the lysosome, a small compartment in a cell analogous to a garbage disposal. When any one of the lysosomal enzymes is defective, the molecules that would have been broken down by that enzyme instead accumulate and cause that individual's lysosomes to swell enormously, resulting in motor and mental deterioration, often to the point of premature death. The age of onset, rate of progression, and severity of the clinical symptoms observed in patients with the same defective lysosomal enzyme are highly variable. For many years, this variability in patients with the same defective enzyme puzzled scientists. Only recently have researchers begun to answer the riddle, thanks to a genetic analysis of a particular lysosomal storage disorder known as Tay-Sachs disease. As in most lysosomal storage diseases, patients suffering from Tay-Sachs disease show both mental and motor deterioration and variability in age of onset, progression, and severity. Physicians have categorized the patients into three groups based on onset of the disease: infantile, juvenile, and adult. The infantile group begins to show neurodegeneration as early as six months of age and children rarely live beyond 3 years old. The first symptoms of the disease appear in juvenile cases between 2 and 5 years of age, with death usually occurring around age 15. Those with the adult form generally live out a normal lifespan, suffering from milder symptoms than those with the infantile and juvenile forms. In Tay-Sachs disease, scientists were aware that molecules accumulated mainly in the brains of patients, but they did not discover the specific identity of the defective lysosomal enzyme responsible for the malfunction, hexosaminidase, until the 1960s. In 1985, the DNA sequence for the normal enzyme was determined. Shortly thereafter, the DNA sequences of genes encoding hexosaminidase from many Tay-Sachs patients were studied. It soon became apparent that not one or two but many different types of mutations in the hexosaminidase gene could result in Tay-Sachs disease. These different mutations resulted in various levels of impaired enzymatic activity; those in the infantile category had little to no normal activity, while those in the adult category suffered only moderate impairment. Scientists quickly hypothesized that the variation in age of onset and severity of Tay-Sachs disease correlated with the amount of residual enzymatic activity allowed by the particular genetic mutation a patient had. Though more research is needed to demonstrate similarity with other lysosomal storage diseases, the work done on Tay-Sachs disease has already offered a promising glimpse into the underlying mechanisms of these disorders. The passage suggests that which of the following lines of inquiry would be most useful in determining the relevance of the research done on Tay-Sachs disease to lysosomal storage diseases generally? Do patients suffering from other lysosomal storage diseases have the same mortality rate as those suffering from Tay-Sachs? Do other lysosomal storage diseases affect the hexosaminidase gene? How many different mutations are present in the defective genes responsible for other lysosomal storage diseases? Does the age of onset or severity of other lysosomal storage diseases vary with the specific genetic mutation observed in the patient? What purpose does hexosaminidase serve in the human body?

The question asks which of the answer choices poses a question that would be useful in establishing the relevance of the Tay-Sachs research to lysosomal storage diseases generally. The important result of Tay-Sachs research highlighted in the passage is that the particular mutation in the hexosaminidase gene results in a certain level of impaired enzymatic activity, which in turn determines the age of onset of the disease. We should expect that the right answer will try to connect this result to other lysosomal storage diseases. (A) This choice asks whether patients suffering from Tay-Sachs have the same mortality rate as those suffering from other storage diseases. The passage does not focus on mortality rates; instead, it focuses on the genetic causes of the diseases. (B) This choice asks whether other storage diseases affect the hexosaminidase gene. In the passage, however, a mutated form of this gene causes Tay-Sachs. The disease does not cause the mutated gene. (C) This choice asks how many different mutations are present in the defective genes responsible for other storage diseases. This does not link Tay-Sachs with any other disease of its type. (D) CORRECT. This choice asks whether the onset or severity of other storage diseases varies with the type of mutation present. This speaks directly to the research done on Tay-Sachs, in which the onset was linked to the particular type of mutation. Demonstrating a similar pattern in other diseases would show that it is a universal characteristic of these diseases. (E) This choice asks what purpose hexosaminidase serves in the human body. This does not link Tay-Sachs directly with any other disease or storage diseases generally.

Most present-day people would be shocked *to learn that, in the early twentieth century, when colored baby clothing was first widely distributed to North American consumers, they marketed pink clothes primarily* to boys and blue clothes mainly to girls. learn that, in the early twentieth century, when colored baby clothing was first widely distributed to North American consumers, they marketed pink clothes primarily learn that, when colored baby clothing was first widely distributed to North American consumers in the early twentieth century, pink clothes were marketed primarily learn, in the early twentieth century when colored baby clothing was first widely distributed to North American consumers, that primarily pink clothes were marketed learn when colored baby clothing was first widely distributed to North American consumers, in the early twentieth century, pink clothes, which were marketed primarily learn, in the early twentieth century, that when colored baby clothing was first widely distributed to North American consumers, they marketed primarily pink clothes

The sentence introduces a curious fact from marketing history: at the broad introduction of colored baby clothes, in the early twentieth century, the color pink was mainly associated with baby boys and the color blue with baby girls. (A) Logically, the pronoun they is intended to refer to the marketers of baby clothing, but no plural noun exists in the sentence to refer to the marketers. The present-day people wouldn't be shocked to learn this fact if they were the ones marketing these clothes. (B) CORRECT. The placement of when...in the early twentieth century after the word that is correct; this placement attaches the modifier to the following clause (they marketed). The sentence correctly places pink clothes were marketed primarily to boys and blue clothes (were marketed) primarily to girls in parallel. (C) The placement of in the early twentieth century when...consumers before the word that is incorrect. This placement attaches the modifier to the preceding clause, illogically implying that present-day people could go back in time (to the early twentieth century) to learn this fact. Primarily pink indicates that the clothing was primarily (or mostly) pink, not that the clothing was marketed primarily to boys. The comparison no longer makes sense. (D) The when colored...consumers modifier is incorrectly attached to the preceding clause, illogically implying that present-day people could go back in time (to the early twentieth century) to learn this fact. The portion after learn does not contain the necessary that + subject + verb structure (a correct example: she was shocked to learn that her company filed for bankruptcy). The rest of the sentence in this option is a fragment. (E) The placement of in the early twentieth century before the word that is incorrect. This placement attaches the modifier to the preceding clause, illogically implying that present-day people could go back in time (to the early twentieth century) to learn this fact. Logically, the pronoun they is intended to refer to the marketers of baby clothing, but no plural noun exists in the sentence to refer to the marketers. The present-day people wouldn't be shocked to learn this fact if they were the ones marketing these clothes. Primarily pink indicates that the clothing was primarily (or mostly) pink, not that the clothing was marketed primarily to boys. The comparison no longer makes sense.

Dogs are widely used by the police as biological recognition systems to detect drug smuggling and drug caches. Yet recent evidence suggests that insects, rather than mammals, might be used more effectively in this capacity. In the 1950s, German biologist Dietrich Schneider developed the first method that enabled researchers to record activity in insect olfactory nerves and to identify the compounds or class of compounds that trigger a particular behavioral response. The position of the insect olfactory organs on the surface of its body allows for direct investigation of the system's response. Schneider's technique formed the foundation of an olfactory detection system based upon insects, a system that is at least as effective as the ones based upon mammals. Insects have olfactory systems that are very similar to those of vertebrates. Insects first detect odors via finger-like protuberances on the antenna, called olfactory sensilla. The odorant molecules pass through pores in the outer cuticle of the sensilla and become attached to an odorant-binding protein. This protein carries the hydrophobic molecules through the lymph fluid found inside the cell and attaches them to receptors on the dendritic projections of a sensory nerve cell. Finally, these receptors send signals to the central nervous system, allowing researchers to detect and interpret the responses. According to the passage, researchers are able to capture and investigate an insect's response to a certain odor because researchers have trained insects to respond to different stimuli in different ways insects can be used more effectively than dogs to detect certain odors insect olfactory systems are similar to vertebrate olfactory systems the finger-like protuberances on insect antennae are rich in odorant-binding proteins insect olfactory organs are located on the surface of an insect's body

The use of insects to detect drugs has two important components: an insect's olfactory systems must first be able to detect such drugs, and then researchers must be able to capture and use the insect's responses. The fourth sentence of the first paragraph tells us that "the position of the insect olfactory organs on the surface of its body allows for direct investigation of the system's response." The last sentence of the second paragraph also says that signals are sent "to the central nervous system, allowing researchers to detect and interpret the responses." The correct answer should account for one or both of these statements. (A) The passage does not mention anything about the researchers training insects to respond in certain ways. (B) The passage does say that insects "might be used more effectively" than dogs in detecting drugs, but this is not why researchers are able to interpret an insect's response to a certain odor. Rather, the reverse is true: because researchers are able to interpret an insect's responses, the insects may be reliably used to detect drugs. (C) The passage does say, at the beginning of paragraph two, that "insect olfactory systems are very similar" to vertebrate olfactory systems, but the passage does not indicate that this is why researchers are able to interpret an insect's response to certain odors. Rather, the information at the end of paragraphs one and two indicates why researchers are able to do this. (D) The passage states that "insects first detect odors via finger-like protuberances on the antenna" and that these odorant molecules pass through pores into the antenna, where they "become attached to an odorant-binding protein." The passage does not indicate that the finger-like protuberances are "rich" in these odorant-binding proteins. *E) CORRECT. The fourth sentence of paragraph one tells us that "the position of the insect olfactory organs on the surface of its body allows for direct investigation of the system's response." This is why the researchers can capture and investigate an insect's responses.*

Some scientists suggest *the moon had been formed out of part of the Earth, which was dislodged perhaps* by a meteor. the moon had been formed out of part of the Earth, which was dislodged perhaps that the moon was formed from part of the Earth that had perhaps been dislodged that part of the Earth formed the moon, which was dislodged perhaps the moon was formed out of part of the Earth, having perhaps been dislodged that the moon had been formed from part of the Earth, which perhaps had been dislodged

There are several errors in the original sentence. First, "some scientists suggest the moon..." illogically indicates that the moon is the object of the verb "suggest." The scientists are not suggesting the moon, rather they are suggesting something about the moon. Second, "formed out of" is wordier than the preferred idiom "formed from." Finally, the relative pronoun "which" refers to the closest preceding noun or main noun, suggesting illogically in this case that "the Earth" was dislodged by a meteor. It is more likely that the author intends to say that "a part" of the Earth was dislodged, or that "the moon" was dislodged from the Earth. (A) This choice is incorrect; it contains the errors discussed above. (B) CORRECT. This choice begins with "some scientists suggest that the moon was formed..." clearing up the confusion from the original sentence about what the scientists are suggesting. Second, this choice uses the preferred idiom "formed from." The modifying phrase "that had perhaps been dislodged" correctly refers to "part of the Earth." (C) The use of the active verb "formed" is incorrect here because it illogically suggests that "part of the Earth" had an active role in forming the moon. (D) First, "some scientists suggest the moon..." illogically indicates that the moon is the object of the verb "suggest." The scientists are not suggesting the moon, rather they are suggesting something about the moon. Second, "formed out of" is wordier than the preferred idiom "formed from." (E) The scientists suggest that two actions occurred: "the moon had been formed" and "part of the Earth...had been dislodged." Both of these actions took place in the distant past, and it is logical to infer that the part was dislodged, and later the moon was formed from it. However, this choice uses the past perfect tense for both actions, incorrectly indicating that the part was dislodged and the moon simultaneously formed. Furthermore, the past perfect tense is only used correctly to indicate that one action took place prior to some other action in the simple past tense; this sentence has no verbs in the simple past tense and no past time markers, so the use of the past perfect tense is not warranted.

Political analyst: A party that temporarily positions itself in the negligible crack between the American right and left will do little to expand the public debate. What America needs is a permanent third party. Some claim that America's success stems from the two party system. These people say that a third party would make the passage of legislation and thus governance impossible. Furthermore, they point to the current sluggish pace of government as proof that the country cannot bear the burden of a third party. Yet, most European countries have multi-party systems and few complain about any inability to govern there. Which of the following best describes the functions of the two sections in boldface in the argument above? The first is the main point of the argument; the second is a premise that supports that point. The first opposes the premises of the argument; the second is the claim that the argument supports. The first supports the main position held by opponents of the main point; the second is a premise that argues against that position. The first is the primary claim made by opponents of the main point of the argument; the second is evidence proposed in opposition to the first. The first is a claim made by opponents of the main point of the argument; the second is the claim that the first opposes

This argument presents a claim that America needs a permanent third party. This claim is the argument's conclusion, in fact. The author then cites the view held by critics of this claim and notes their subordinate assertions that a third party would slow the legislative process and impede governance. Finally, the author cites European countries to contradict the opponents' claim and their evidence. (A) This choice is incorrect because the first boldface is not the main point of the argument. It is the conclusion of the argument's opponents. Furthermore, the second boldface is a premise that supports the actual conclusion, not the claim made by the opponents. (B) This choice is incorrect because the first boldface does not oppose the premises of the argument; it opposes the conclusion. Furthermore, the second boldface is a premise that supports the conclusion; it is not the conclusion. (C) This choice is incorrect because the first boldface is the actual position held by the opponents, not a premise for their position. This choice does correctly state that the second boldface is a premise that argues against the position held by the opponents. (D) CORRECT. The first is the claim of the argument's opponents, and the second is evidence that contradicts the opponents' claim. (E) This choice is incorrect because the second is not the claim that the opponents are opposing by asserting the first boldface. They assert the first boldface to oppose the conclusion of the argument.

In La Plata, Argentina, one of the first cities *that was offering the public complimentary wireless Internet access; anyone with a wireless-enabled device can* access the Internet from virtually any location in the downtown area. that was offering the public complimentary wireless Internet access; anyone with a wireless-enabled device can has offered complimentary wireless Internet access to the public; with a wireless-enabled device, anyone can to offer complimentary wireless Internet access to the public, anyone with a wireless-enabled device may offering the public complimentary wireless Internet access, enabling anyone with a wireless-enabled device to offers to the public complimentary wireless Internet access, which, with a wireless-enabled device, allows anyone to

This sentence describes a noteworthy fact about the city of La Plata, Argentina: the city offers complimentary wireless Internet access to anyone with a wireless-enabled device. (A) The portion of the sentence preceding the semicolon is a sentence fragment. The combination of the past-tense was offering and the present tense can is illogical: the first verb suggests that La Plata no longer offers the service described, while the second suggests the opposite. (B) The combination of the present perfect has offered and the present tense can is illogical; the first verb suggests that La Plata offered the service in the past but not necessarily at present, while the second suggests that the service is still offered now. Note that a time marker would indicate that the action still continues in the present: La Plata has offered the services for three years. Without the time marker "three years," it's unclear whether La Plata still offers these services. In addition, the clause In La Plata, one of the first cities has offered no longer says that La Plata is the city that offers these services. Rather the structure describes a separate city contained within La Plata. Further, the designation first no longer makes sense: one of the first cities to do what? (C) CORRECT. The idiomatic construction one of the first to is used correctly. The modifier is followed by an independent clause, and all parts of the sentence convey a logical meaning. (D) This sentence is a fragment, consisting entirely of modifiers and lacking either a subject or a verb. (E) The clause In La Plata, one of the first cities has offered no longer says that La Plata is the city that offers these services. Rather the structure describes a separate city contained within La Plata. Further, the designation first no longer makes sense: one of the first cities to do what? The modifier with a wireless-enabled device is placed incorrectly. The choice indicates that wireless Internet access possesses a wireless device; this is illogical.

According to the passage, the articles of the Declaration of Sentiments precluded each of the following, EXCEPT: Restraining women from participating in military expeditions. Denying women the right to vote. Taking women's property. Claiming that men and women are not born equal. Withholding women's rights.

To answer this detail question, use the signal word "Declaration of Sentiments" to locate the appropriate sentence in the third paragraph. Specifically, the penultimate sentence in the third paragraph states that the Declaration of Sentiments "proclaimed that all men and women are born equal and stated that that no man could withhold a woman's rights, take her property, or preclude her from the right to vote." Since this is an "except" question, we can go through the answer choices and eliminate those statements that are mentioned in the support sentence, leaving us with the correct answer. (A) CORRECT. Based on the penultimate sentence of the third paragraph, no information is provided about the Declaration's treatment of women's rights to participate in military expeditions. (B) According to the penultimate sentence of the third paragraph, the Declaration of Sentiments proclaimed that "... no man could ... preclude her [a woman] from the right to vote." (C) According to the penultimate sentence of the third paragraph, the Declaration of Sentiments proclaimed that "... no man could ... take her [woman's] property..." (D) According to the penultimate sentence of the third paragraph, the Declaration of Sentiments proclaimed that "... all men and women are born equal ..." (E) According to the penultimate sentence of the third paragraph, the Declaration of Sentiments proclaimed that "... no man could withhold a woman's rights ..."

Which of the following best represents the author's primary goal in writing the passage? to outline a theory and suggest options for further research to act as an advocate for additional research to help validate a particular theory to introduce a theoretical construct that has not yet been sufficiently proven to demonstrate the complexities involved in conducting a certain type of scientific research to articulate a hypothesis and lay out the case for proving it

We are asked to find the purpose of the passage. The first paragraph of the passage introduces a theory that seeks to show a link between dreams and hallucinations based upon two chemicals. The second paragraph elaborates on the role of the two chemicals while dreaming and the third paragraph does the same for hallucinations. The third paragraph also concludes by noting that the theory remains unproven and would benefit from further testing. (A) While the passage does outline a theory it does not suggest options for further research; it merely notes that further research would be beneficial. (B) The author does not act as an advocate, or try to convince the audience of the need for additional research. Nor does the author indicate that he wants the theory to be validated. Instead, the author merely notes that further research would be beneficial in order to test the theory further. (C) CORRECT. A "theoretical construct" is a theory; the author does introduce a theory that is "inconclusive," or not sufficiently proven. (D) While the research associated with the brain certainly sounds complex, the passage does not focus on this topic or attempt to demonstrate the specific complexities involved in conducting a particular type of research. (E) While the passage does articulate a hypothesis, it only presents current research; it does not "lay out the case for proving" the hypothesis. In fact, the last sentence says the hypothesis is "inconclusive."