MCAT Reasoning Skills - Exam Questions
A third experiment was performed to investigate whether daily antioxidant intake could mimic the protective effects of prazosin. Liver tissue samples from mice treated with antioxidants were compared with those of untreated and prazosin-treated mice. Which of the following best describes the role of the prazosin-treated group? A. Positive control B. Negative control C. Independent variable D. Dependent variable
A
Researchers noted that the voltmeter they were using to measure charge capacity showed a reading of 10mV even when disconnected. This error is most likely to affect the measurements': A. Accuracy. B. Precision. C. Accuracy and precision. D. Type of measurement scale.
A
Which assumption, if proven false, would most weaken the case for medical paternalism? A. Clinicians are generally better informed of the optimal medical decision than patients. B. Patients are generally better informed of the optimal medical decision than clinicians. C. All patients are poor medical decision makers. D. Nudge techniques are ineffective at changing behavior.
A
Which of the following best describes an assumption made by the author in the passage? A. Attending a sermon is considered a social event. B. Popular culture accurately depicts religious practices. C. Individuals' worship practices primarily depend on their religion. D. Preachers alter their sermons depending on where individuals are sitting.
A
Which of the following statements, if true, would most weaken the author's argument? A. Research in the humanities is better funded now than it has ever been. B. The digital revolution had little effect on the humanities. C. The humanities have not lost any ground to the basic sciences. D. The situation of the utilitarians was markedly different from that of humanities today.
A
Which of the following, if true, would best support the passage implication that proper documentation of historical events is paramount to the safety of society? A. Descriptions of foreign aid during times of war often cannot be found in written records. B. Countries without written records are often not discussed in history classes. C. Countries are usually biased when reporting about past civil wars. D. Leaders who try to erase history are often overthrown.
A
If an equilateral triangle were found etched into a rock surface and Dharug Country, the author would most likely agree with which of the following interpretations? A. The triangle is a symbolic representation of a Dharug deity. B. The apices of the triangle are connected by lines to suggest the interdependence of mind, body, and feelings. C. The triangle is a territorial marking, promising harm to the uninitiated. D. The unavoidable imperfections in the triangle serve to remind the viewer of a higher order of geometric purity.
B
The author's use of quotation marks around the word "dissidents" in paragraph 7 is most likely meant to convey which of the following? A. A literal military conflict B. An ironic reversal of fortune for a once widely accepted theory C. The author's disappointment with current overwhelming support of the Malthusian theory D. The author's disdain for Maurice King and his views
B
The findings described in the passage support the conclusion that: A. only trained practitioners can affectively use NLP to detect lies. B. NLP training is not effective at detecting lying. C. NLP training is inconsistent in affectively detecting lies. D. NLP training increases confidence among lie detectors.
B
Which of the following ideas concerning foreign aid is most strongly implied by the information in paragraph 5? A. The Health for All targets were always doomed to fail. B. Selfishness among citizens of wealthy nations probably contributed to the global decline in foreign aid. C. Reagan-era development strategies were largely unpopular in Third World countries. D. The failure to reach the Health for All targets should be blamed on the "already financially comfortable."
B
Which of the following qualities would the author most likely value in the election process? A. Honesty B. Inclusivity C. Compassion D. Forethought
B
The author's attitude toward "our" societal norms is most accurately described as: A. favorable. B. neutral. C. distrustful. D. disapproving.
D
Suppose the researchers later find that E/S ratio is closely correlated with conductivity and that conductivity affects capacity retention. Which of the following best describes the implications of this finding? A. Conductivity is a confounding variable that threatens internal validity. B. Conductivity is a confounding variable that threatens external validity. C. Conductivity is a biased variable that threatens internal validity. D. Conductivity is a biased variable that threatens external validity.
A
Why does the passage author most likely give the example of "opt-out" programs in paragraph 4? A. To demonstrate how opt-out programs can improve medical decision-making B. To show that the appearance of autonomy does not guarantee actual autonomy C. To give an example of patients with no freedom of choice D. To explain the similarities in tactics between clinicians and advertisers
B
According to the author, which of the following categorizations would be most useful for medical care? A. The shade of the patient's skin B. The patient's profession C. The patient's geographical origin D. The patients' medical history
C
For which archaeological practice would the author of the passage be LEAST likely to advocate? A. DNA analysis to determine genetic identity of prehistorical peoples B. Speculation on the uses of various objects unearthed through archaeological digging C. Identifying the geographic origin of objects through chemical analysis D. Independent dating of archaeological objects
B
Given only the results presented in Figure 1, which additional E/S ratio would the researchers most likely choose to test? A. 4 B. 9 C. 16 D. 25
B
A child learns that he will receive an ice cream reward when a specific tone is played, so he starts salivating and runs to the door to retrieve it. On day 15 of the trial, this tone sounds. He starts salivating and runs to the door, but he does not receive an ice cream. When the tone sounds on day 16, it would be expected that the boy would: A. start salivating. B. not experience increased salivation. C. no longer associate the tone with ice cream. D. wait for the tone to sound again then start salivating.
A
Based on information in the passage, which of the following individuals would have difficulty casting his or her vote as a result of the implementation of voter identification laws? I. An 18-year-old man who has never driven a car II. An elderly woman whose favorite candidate lost the last election III. A busy mom in charge of carpool duty A. I only B. II only C. I and II only D. II and III only
A
If experimenters modified the experiment so that participants in the first experiment were informed of NLP techniques prior to their participation in the experiment, how might this affect the data collected? A. Accuracy in collected data would be decreased by introducing systematic error. B. Accuracy in collected data would be decreased by introducing random error. C. Precision in collected data would be decreased by introducing systematic error. D. Precision in collected data would be decreased by introducing random error.
A
If the information presented in the passage is true, a member of an Aboriginal Nation would be upset to find a sacred work in a museum primarily because: A. the artwork could pose a threat to museum patrons. B. presentation in a museum would be a disgrace to Aboriginal cultural traditions. C. Aboriginal art is always impermanent, and the piece could not be dismantled at the appropriate time. D. Aboriginal Nations tend to dislike Western conceptions of art.
A
Sociologists determined that those seated in the front rows of their churches are more likely to donate money during worship this finding would most strongly undermine the authors claim that: A. the physical arrangement of worshippers has more to do with individual rather than group considerations. B. individuals seated in the back pews are seen as the least desirable members of a congregation. C. the back rows form an audience for those seated in the pews closest to the front. D. those in the back rows are not as closely surveilled by those leading worship.
A
Suppose a new chemotherapy drug is developed that has the potential to extend one out of every ten thousand cancer patients' lives by up to four months. The drug costs $125,000 per year, and has horrific side effects that can lead to prolonged hospitalization. The passage author would most likely respond to this news by arguing that clinician should: A. focus on informing patients of the side effects and costs of the treatment. B. prescribe the treatment in all cancer cases. C. provide patients with all known information on the drug so they can decide their treatment options. D. refuse to prescribe the drug to any patient under any circumstances.
A
Suppose that a country chosen to host the Olympics decides to beautify several national historic sites to be even more extravagant than their original conditions before the games begin. Based on the information in the passage, which is the most likely logic behind the restoration project? A. Historical artifacts can be leveraged for gains in finances and public relations. B. Restoration emphasizes national pride and unity. C. The selected changes provide insight into how the nation wants to be seen by the world. D. Archaeologists cannot know exactly how the past was.
A
Suppose that researchers also found a statistically significant relationship between body fat percentage and stress induced liver damage. Given the passage information, which of the following could not be possible? A. A correlational test proved that hepatocyte apoptosis is dependent on body fat percentage. B. High body fat percentages were correlated with lower risk of hepatocyte apoptosis. C. Low body fat percentages were correlated with lower risk of hepatocyte apoptosis. D. A chi-squared analysis revealed significant deviation from expected liver toxicity at extremely low body fat percentages.
A
The author implies that Geoffrey Bardon's understanding of Aboriginal symbols is most limited by Bardon's: A. ignorance of the importance of context in Aboriginal art. B. confusion about Aboriginal compositional techniques. C. Western view of art as a permanent object. D. lack of familiarity with the methods of professional scholarship.
A
Which of the following circumstances would most closely compare to the authors definition of abortion? A. Transferring bacteria from a petri culture to a plastic slide by way of a pipette B. Transplanting a petunia bud to a different flower bed with use of gardening tools C. Leaving a kitten outside overnight in cold weather by locking the cat door D. Terminating transcription by artificially administering a DNA polymerase inhibitor
A
Which of the following objections would most weaken the author's argument regarding Macbeth's implication for Hobbes's materialism? A. Shakespeare intended for the tragedy of Macbeth to illuminate the tolerance of people for insane leaders and to describe an unbalanced mind. B. Hobbes intended for people to embrace the evidence gathered by their senses rather than to make assumptions about the unknown motives of others. C. Shakespeare intended for the tragedy of Macbeth to resonate with the English people who were emerging from the chaos of Hobbes's era. D. Hobbes intended for the social contract he described to be viewed as a utopian instrument of philosophical discourse, not practical advice.
A
Which of the following passage assertions is LEAST supported by evidence in the passage? A. In popular culture, the back pew of the church functions as a counterpoint for the pulpit. B. Unlike many settings in which interaction is observed, worship is a highly intentional activity. C. Christian worship congregations may be highly susceptible to structurating forces. D. The physical setting of worship tends to promote a differentiation of worshippers.
A
Which of the following passage assertions is LEAST supported by evidence within the text? A. There were terrible consequences for disciplines outside public health after the US pulled back from the family planning effort. B. High birthrates and unregulated markets have led to clear negative effects and many Third World countries. C. Malthus's dire predictions were not borne out in the century following his death. D. The successes of the 1970s were followed by decreased attention to the problem of overpopulation.
A
Which of the following qualities would the passage author most admire in an individual or organization? A. Truthfulness B. Selflessness C. Confidence D. Intelligence
A
How would Thomas Peacock most likely view a biologist studying the mechanism of a particular class of ion pumps in amoebas? A. The scientist is engaged in a valuable enterprise that benefits society. B. The scientist's pursuit of knowledge for knowledge's sake is a pointless endeavor. C. The scientist ought to spend more time studying the humanities. D. The scientist should instead study business.
B
Based on passage information, how would the liberalists respond to the arguments about abortion presented in paragraph 3? A. The arguments are invalid, because forgoing an abortion could ultimately lead to the mother's death. B. The arguments are invalid, because the fetus is not yet alive. C. The arguments are invalid, because the child's life outside the womb may be a death sentence. D. The arguments are invalid, because the church does not create the law.
B
According to the passage, Hobbes believes that people who rigorously study human nature would mobile most likely to: A. achieve a scientific education. B. live peacefully and amicably. C. make war civilly and righteously. D. stand up to political injustice.
B
According to the passage, the decisive factor in determining whether an individual is allowed to vote in an election should be his or her: A. voter identification. B. citizenship. C. past electoral participation. D. ability to pay for a driver's license.
B
Based on information in the passage, which of the following conclusions is most likely to be true? A. Countries need to save more money for emergency situations. B. The government should communicate with affected countries after emergencies seem to have passed. C. Different populations can be affected differently by the same disease. D. Animals play a large role in transmitting influenza.
B
If a new study found that treating patients based on racial categories resulted in similar clinical outcomes as treating patients based on their family history, the author would most likely react by: A. admitting that the patient outcome is the only important factor, and physicians should categorize patients however they can to best treat them. B. arguing that factors other than clinical outcome should also be measured in this study. C. admitting that racial categorizations should become standard in clinical care period D. ignoring the study because racial categorization should never be used.
B
Some countries have strict voter identification laws and experience very high voter turnout for national elections. An appropriate clarification of the passage would be the qualification at the authors argument only applies to: A. the United States. B. countries with socioeconomic gaps. C. democratic countries. D. local elections.
B
The author hints that the fact that Chris is well-adjusted indicates that his "uneasiness with his assigned sex" (paragraph 2): A. is a problem which should be overcome through psychiatry. B. is influenced by the culture he lives in. C. can be overcome through surgery. D. is a basic personality defect.
B
The passage claims regarding hormonal treatment for Chris rely on the implicit assumption(s) that: I. one should be happy in one's "natural" state. II. one can be well-adjusted, yet unhappy with one's "natural" state. III. one's perception of self is most important. A. I only B. II only C. III only D. I and III only
B
The researchers conducted a follow-up study of NLP to test the hypothesis that there are some situations in which NLP is effective. What is the greatest impediment to studying this hypothesis? A. The hypothesis would require a large number of experiments. B. The hypothesis is not falsifiable. C. The findings of the passage experiments disprove this hypothesis. D. Testing the hypothesis would require deception.
B
What experiment or combination of experiments listed below would have supported the hypothesis that the Aqp2 mutation results in the protein being retained in the endoplasmic reticulum? I. Examine fluorescent Aqp2 antibody localization in renal tissue extracted from Aqp2(F204V/wt) mice II. Examine fluorescent Aqp2 antibody localization in renal tissue extracted from Aqp2(F204V/F204V) mice III. Examine fluorescent Aqp2 antibody localization and renal tissue extracted from wild type mice A. I only B. I, II and III C. II and III D. II only
B
Which of the following best describes an assumption made by the author in the discussion of Macbeth's motivations and conduct? A. Macbeth's violent actions were illegal. B. Macbeth should be considered a rational actor. C. The motivations ascribed to Macbeth were intended to be beyond realism, as obvious farce. D. Hobbes's materialism is a valuable tool in analyzing Shakespearean characters.
B
Which of the following best describes the relationship between nudge policies and libertarian paternalism described in the passage? A. Nudge policies are techniques used to fight libertarian paternalism. B. Nudge policies are techniques that fall within the philosophy of libertarian paternalism. C. Nudge policies are unrelated to libertarian paternalism. D. Nudge policies can maintain patient autonomy when clinicians explain why they present information in a certain way.
B
Which of the following can be determined from figure one? I. The central tendency of each data set II. The most common value in each data set III. The dispersion of each data set A. I and II B. I and III C. I only D. I, II, and III
B
Which of the following is LEAST supported by information presented in the passage? A. The digital revolution has changed the nature of the humanities. B. Studying the humanities makes for a better-rounded person. C. There is a historical precedent to the current changes in the humanities. D. Research funding is harder to acquire for research in the humanities.
B
Which of the following is a passage argument that supports the idea that other cultures might not view Chris's experience as "disordered"? A. Other cultures do not strictly assign gender according to the inspection of genitalia at birth. B. Societally determined labeling can determine what is viewed as abnormal behavior. C. Socially constructed gender roles have precluded Christ from being as well-adjusted as he might have been in another culture. D. Chris may have intentionally sought out activities that our society views as "gendered."
B
Which of the following most resembles a "repudiation of benevolent intentions" (paragraph 3)? A. A student rejecting a classmate's party invitation when she realizes she was only invited so that she would not feel left out. B. A mother paying her financially unstable son an allowance that he spends on video games. C. A movie star donating her proceeds from her latest film to a charity. D. A high school senior tutoring younger students so that she can add the activity to her resume.
B
Which of the following statements about worshippers is most strongly implied by the passage? A. Worshippers purposefully sit near individuals with similar practices. B. Individuals likely sit in similar pews even if they attend a new church. C. Worshippers have more positive experiences when sitting near similar individuals. D. Individuals feel pressured to sit in the back if they are new to a church.
B
Which passage topic could be considered a more "serious" form of knowledge, as defined in paragraph 5? A. Entrenched assumptions that went unchallenged prior to the digital revolution B. Applied research with market implications C. The study of topics in the humanities D. Research into fundamental questions of the basic sciences
B
Which practice relating to newspaper journalism is LEAST analogous to the attendant temptations described in paragraph 3 of the passage? A. Embellishing a story to make it more interesting to the reader B. Re-publishing an old story to remember the past C. Publishing sensationalized story to sell more newspapers D. Omitting sections from an interview to change the meaning of the quotations
B
According to Figure 1, which E/S ratio has the worst long-term cycling efficiency? A. E/S = 5 B. E/S = 10 C. E/S = 15 D. E/S = 5 and E/S = 15 are equally inefficient.
C
According to the design of the experiments described in the passage, which of the following can be classified as independent variables? I. Rated confidence II. NLP instruction III. Lying or telling the truth A. I only B. II only C. II and III only D. I, II, and III
C
As part of therapy, psychologist Carl Jung encouraged his patients to create artwork of concentric circles, concluding that "to paint what we see before us is a different art from painting what we see within." The author would probably see Jung's view of art as: A. unlike the Aboriginal view, because Jung could only approach art from a Western perspective. B. unlike the Aboriginal view, because psychotherapy is distant from Aboriginal cultural practices. C. similar to the Aboriginal view, because Jung allows for an art that transcends representation. D. similar to the Aboriginal view, because Jung was familiar with Aboriginal artistic symbols.
C
Assume that a new strain of rice is developed that can be harvested in half as much time as traditional rice. The passage author would most likely respond that: A. this development should solve the problem of carrying capacity and overpopulation. B. the Malthusian viewpoint is no longer relevant to the analysis of global population levels. C. this development will simply mask the increasing risk of overpopulation until it has grown even higher. D. this development represents a new "positive check."
C
Based on the information in the passage, dotting can be best described as: A. an Aboriginal rhythmic visual form. B. a way of imparting special significance to a work of art for those initiated into Aboriginal culture. C. one of several multi-layering techniques. D. a common practice in contemporary ceremonial healing rituals.
C
Based on the information presented in the passage, which of the following changes would the author consider the best remedy to the current state of the humanities? A. An understanding that the materiality of writing need not affect the content that it conveys B. An increase in public sector funding for the basic sciences C. A recognition that applied research can be better contextualized through the lens of the humanities D. A harkening back to the primacy of applied knowledge
C
Based on the passage, which of the following is the best description of the pattern of expression of Aqp2 forms? A. The 29 kDa form is expressed in the Aqp2(F204V/F204V) mice, the 31 kDa form is expressed in the Aqp2(F204V/wt) mice and the 35- 45 kDa form is expressed in the wild type. B. The 31 kDa form is expressed in the Aqp2(F204V/F204V) mice and Aqp2(F204V/wt) mice, while the 35- 45 kDa form is expressed in the wild type. C. The 31 kDa form is expressed in the Aqp2(F204V/F204V) mice, a mix of the 3 forms are expressed in the Aqp2(F204V/wt) mice, and the 35- 45 kDa form is expressed in the wild type. D. None of the above.
C
Chemists interested in purifying a solution of two chemotherapeutic drugs are least likely to use which separation technique? A. Size-exclusion chromatography B. Ion-exchange chromatography C. Distillation D. All the above can be used
C
Given the passage information, one would most reasonably conclude that a member of an Aboriginal Nation would find ownership of art: A. possible only if the piece were subjected to a multi-layering technique. B. threatening to basic Aboriginal values. C. difficult to understand from an Aboriginal cultural context. D. reasonable as long as the artwork brought aesthetic pleasure.
C
In the second paragraph, the authors referenced to "these people" refers to: A. British colonial powers. B. Builders of the Great Zimbabwe in Rhodesia. C. Nations wishing to legitimize their own existence. D. Israeli army recruits.
C
It is likely that the critics of nudge policies object to their "[utilization of] ...biases" (paragraph 4) for all of the following reasons EXCEPT: A. They are overly manipulative. B. They exploit a symptom of the problem rather than unbiasing the patient. C. They are ineffective. D. They rob the patient of their freedom of choice.
C
Suppose it were discovered that antidepressant prescription medication allows Chris to become somewhat more comfortable with his "natural" state. Would this discovery support the author's argument about the causes of gender dysphoria? A. Yes; it confirms it. B. No; it does not affect it. C. No; it weakens it. D. No; it disproves it.
C
Suppose that a voter's identification was rejected at the polls. What advice would the author most likely give? A. Wait to vote in the next election. B. Contact local news outlets to publicize this unequal treatment. C. Reach out to family and friends for help in obtaining valid identification. D. Move to an area where voter identification laws are not as strict.
C
The author believes that the well-being of the mother is: A. an important consideration in the abortion decision making process. B. more important than the well-being of the fetus. C. secondary to the life of the unborn fetus. D. A benchmark of the well-being of the fetus.
C
The author describes an episode of the television show "House M.D." in order to: A. seem culturally competent to readers. B. keep the tone of the passage lighthearted. C. humanize the topic of racial categorizations. D. emphasize how common similar patient-physician encounters are.
C
The author of the passage would be most likely to agree with which of the following conclusions regarding psychological phenomena and the DSM-5? A. A DSM-5 'disorder' may not actually be a disorder at all. B. The DSM-5 is a poor descriptor of abnormal behavior and desires, since it is easily influenced by societal norms. C. Some DSM-5 'disorders' are simply an attempt to characterize socially abnormal behavior and desires. D. Behavior and desires must fall within the parameters of the DSM-5 to be considered normal by society.
C
The author's argument about seating patterns in religious settings imply that he or she would be likely to support which the following? A. Encouraging church members to sit in the back if they do not plan on participating B. Creating churches for different kinds of worshippers C. Updating existing practices based on the congregation present D. Requiring church members to sit as close as possible to the front
C
The response to dDAVP of the Aqp2(F204V/F204V) mice illustrated in Figure 1 is most likely attributed to: A. the Aqp2(F204V/F204V) mice drinking much less water. B. dDAVP binding to another receptor on the outer surface of the kidney cell. C. residual activity of the mutant Aqp2 channel. D. an increased intake of solutes.
C
When designing the study, it was likely most important for the researchers to control for which of the following properties of the electrolyte solvent? A. Molar mass B. Density C. Polarity D. Volume
C
Which of the following assertions in the passage is LEAST supported with explanation or examples? A. Historic sites become rallying places and national shrines. B. Archaeology is a tool for nations wishing to legitimize their own existence. C. The misuse of the past for political ends is a widely recognized problem. D. The past can be an invisible export and a powerful tool for public relations.
C
Which of the following best explains why the second experiment described in the passage involved random assignment to experimental groups? A. To ensure significance is found between groups B. To increase subjectivity C. To neutralize the influence of variability within the subject population D. To eliminate bias by ensuring that all data is continuous rather than categorical
C
Which of the following facts presented in the passage provides the greatest support for the claim that the Coast Guard's rescue effort was unsuccessful? A. The Congressional Record and Coast Guard Report are inconsistent with observations made on the scene. B. Alaskans did not feel that the Coast Guard helped as much as they could have. C. The total number of deaths after the 1919 fishing season was extremely high. D. The report by the Bureau of Fisheries of the Department of Commerce characterized the Coast Guard reinforcements as inadequate.
C
Which of the following facts presented in the passage would support the claim that Macbeth does NOT follow the expectation of Hobbes's material logic? A. The political turmoil that Macbeth generates B. Macbeth's vainglorious desire for power C. Macbeth's appreciation as a tragic hero D. The self-defeating tendencies that Macbeth possesses
C
Which of the following findings would most strengthen the author's argument about voter ID laws and disadvantaged populations? A. A recent state election reported a record high turnout of minority voters in the last five years. B. Most elected politicians come from advantaged backgrounds and are members of the majority party. C. Voting fraud levels have remained steady after the implementation of voter ID laws. D. Most Americans do not view voting fraud as a major concern.
C
Which of the following ideas established by the passage author is LEAST supported by evidence? A. Patients do not always think optimally when making medical decisions. B. Libertarian paternalism has become the unyielding dominant philosophy in modern medical ethics. C. Medical paternalism and the advertising industry employ the same techniques. D. Clinicians can make efforts to maintain patient autonomy.
C
The author most likely puts quotations around "eyeball" in the first paragraph: A. because it is a slang term. B. because it is a quote from television. C. in order to incorporate new terminology. D. in order to convey disapproval of the practice described.
D
Which of the following is most likely to represent the author's opinion about archaeological artifacts appearing on postage stamps and in souvenir shops? A. Such practices cheapen the field of archaeology. B. Archaeology is a more effective tool of propaganda when used by a culture on itself rather than as a tool for the conquerors against the conquered. C. It shows that archaeological artifacts can become potent symbols of national pride and unity. D. These items are beneficial because they provide a way for archaeology to get out of the ivory tower.
C
Which of the following people would the author most expect to sit in front region of a church, as the concept is described in the fifth paragraph? A. Someone who is short in stature and needs to be closer to see the pastor B. Someone who enjoys attention even if not particularly religious C. Someone who does not want to be distracted during worship time D. Someone who is close friends with the pastor
C
Which of the following situations in the theater industry is most analogous to the one described in the passage regarding religious event attendance? A. A musical theater fan who is running late sits in the back of the auditorium so as to not disturb performance. B. The star of the show admits she loves getting attention from the audience. C. Whenever an audience member in the front row laughs, the rest of the audience laughed too. D. Crew members purposefully wear black so they do not draw attention to themselves.
C
Which of the following statements about Hobbes's materialism CANNOT be concluded on the passage? A. It acknowledges greed and selfishness as valid motives. B. It is based on rigorous logic. C. It offers a path away from moral and religious war. D. It informs Hobbes's views on the state of the human nature.
C
Which of the following, if assumed to be true, would most strengthen the author's argument? A. Children of incest have a heightened occurrence of birth defects. B. Women who are denied abortions have a decreased income five years after the birth. C. Children born into poverty have an increased likelihood of having a positive impact on society. D. Women who undergo abortions have an increased chance of cervical cancer.
C
Would the author be more likely to condemn or accept spontaneous abortion? A. Condemn, because a living entity was prematurely killed. B. Condemn, because the mother's sin likely caused the death of child. C. Accept, because the circumstances were beyond human control. D. Accept, because the sacred life would ascend to heaven.
C
The author uses the phrase "funeral service" in the final paragraph in order to: A. highlight the absurdity of the argument against abortion, as parents do not have funerals for aborted fetuses. B. rhetorically contrast the idea of abortion as a "health service" with a more sinister "service." C. remind the reader that an abortion marks the end of life. D. emphasize the solemn and malignant nature of abortions.
D
According to information contained in the passage, scientists could most likely conclude that: A. Aqp2 F204V confers a heterozygous advantage for controlling urine osmolarity. B. two functional copies of the Aqp2 allele are needed for proper urine osmolarity control. C. sense mutations render Aqp2 incapable of regulating water reabsorption. D. conservative mutations in Aqp2 to alter the secondary structure of aquaporin.
D
Based on information provided in the passage, it is reasonable to conclude that: A. voter identification laws decreased levels of fraud. B. electoral participation is usually expensive. C. voter identification laws always decrease voter turnout. D. the voter identification controversy is relatively new.
D
Based on passage information, critics of medical paternalism would most likely respond to news that billions of dollars per year could be saved if clinicians downplayed the effectiveness of a powerful but often unnecessary new treatment by: A. supporting this practice because the money saved is significant enough to outweigh the loss of autonomy. B. opposing this practice because the money saved is significant enough to outweigh the loss of autonomy. C. supporting this practice because it utilizes patients' biases. D. opposing this practice because it utilizes patients' biases.
D
Based on the information in the first paragraph, which of the following would the author most likely consider a modern-day "negative check"? A. The rise of national vaccination programs B. Widespread famine among sub-Saharan nations C. Escalating violence in the Middle East D. Growing rates of birth control usage
D
Based on the information in the passage, the author would most likely agree with which of the following statements about medical emergencies? A. Pandemics often garner more attention than is necessary. B. External medical help during emergencies does not help the situation. C. The spread of pandemics is unavoidable. D. Research is required to properly allocate resources when responding to medical emergencies.
D
Based on the information in the passage, with which of the following statements would the author most likely agree? A. Macbeth is a tragic hero, but not in the traditional sense. B. Macbeth's actions are justified by Hobbes's materialism. C. Hobbes's was influenced by Macbeth when writing Leviathan. D. Careful analysis is required to apply Hobbes's teachings to human actions.
D
Based on the passage, it is reasonable to infer that the author believes which of the following about John McDougall's statements? A. McDougall raises legitimate concerns about the financial solvency of certain kinds of research. B. McDougall supports the plight of leading scientists facing budgetary constraints. C. McDougall is misinformed about the commercial viability of certain kinds of research period D. McDougall has misaligned priorities regarding research funding.
D
Enthalpies of hydration for common ions are shown in the table below: Which conclusion is best supported by these data? A. Larger ionic radii lead to more favorable solute-solvent interactions. B. Addition of pure sulfuric acid to water is expected to slightly raise the temperature of the solution. C. Atoms with completely filled p orbitals will react more favorably with water than those that do not have completely filled p orbitals. D. Smaller ionic radii lead to more favorable solute-solvent interactions.
D
Given the information in the passage, it is reasonable to assume that effective cultural competency training: A. will completely replace the racial categorization system. B. will be taught in medical schools all over the nation. C. can improve care only in unique populations. D. will emphasize skill in taking a social history.
D
If a scholar claimed that he had discovered evidence of Aboriginal art that recorded the yearly movement of the stars, the author of the passage would probably: A. agree, because the scholar has the ability to view Aboriginal art as a member of the initiated. B. agree, because astronomy is central to Aboriginal mythology. C. disagree, because the scholar's interpretation emphasizes aesthetic pleasure in viewing. D. disagree, because the scholar's interpretation makes no connection between the self and the environment.
D
If it was discovered that a fetus moves in response to its mother's voice beginning at 20 weeks post-conception: A. conservatives would support abortions before 20 weeks because the fetus is not living until it can respond to outside stimuli. B. liberalists would not support abortions later than 20 weeks because consciousness would be developing at that point. C. conservatives and liberals would not likely change their opinions because most proponents and opponents already do not support abortion after 12 weeks. D. conservatives and liberalists would not likely change their opinions because movement in the womb does not necessarily reflect consciousness or viability.
D
In the first paragraph, the author most likely compares the Spanish Influenza to the Holocaust in order to: A. shock the readers. B. offend the readers. C. establish a central thesis. D. stress the seriousness of the pandemic.
D
Suppose that the mean AST levels at 0 and 3 hours depicted in Figure 1 were found to be significantly different, with a P value of 0.01. Which of the following best explains the meaning of this finding? A. There is a 1 percent chance that the alternative hypothesis is correct; The difference between groups cannot be due to random chance. B. There is a 1 percent chance the alternative hypothesis is correct; The difference between groups could be due to random chance C. There is a 1 percent chance the null hypothesis is correct; The difference between groups cannot be due to random chance D. There is a 1 percent chance the null hypothesis is correct; The difference between groups could be due to random chance.
D
The author's apparent attitude toward prescribing a drug only for "self-identified" African-Americans (paragraph 1) is that: A. it is a useful method when physicians are pressed for time. B. it is not a common conflict in the clinic, but is dramatized for television. C. it has the potential to revolutionize the pharmaceutical industry. D. it sometimes occurs regardless of a patient's self-identification.
D
The passage author most likely believes the Rwandan genocide and AIDS crisis are: A. examples of the dangerous consequences of excessive foreign aid. B. less serious than population declines in Haiti, Russia, and North Korea. C. widely recognized "positive checks." D. unacknowledged consequences of overpopulation.
D
The passage suggests that its author would probably disagree with which of the following statements regarding Chris's gender identity and expression? A. It is possible that Chris participated in "male" activities in order to be considered male. B. It is possible that Chris naturally participated in "male" activities. C. Chris was not confused about his gender identity. D. Chris's discomfort resulted from the fact that every culture has defined gender roles.
D
Which of the following conclusions is most strongly implied by the passage? A. Political gain is often the motivating force behind developing historical sites for tourism. B. Manipulating knowledge about archaeology is more important among oppressed people than among their oppressors. C. Academic archaeology more accurately represents prehistory than popular archaeology. D. Objectivity in archaeology is threatened by a variety of motivations.
D
Which of the following findings would most strengthen the author's point about materialism and discord? A. A treatise by a contemporary of Hobbes that further illustrates the causal link between materialism and commonwealth B. An excerpt from Hobbes's private journal showing that he intended a strictly theoretical interpretation of his State of Nature C. An annotation attributed to Hobbes contemplating the role of dynamic processes in establishing a peaceful commonwealth D. A prominent philosopher's analysis of Hobbes's materialism in the actions that led to a civil war
D
Which of the following statements best articulates the author's views on the role of academia outside of the humanities? A. Academia outside of the humanities is a more practical course of study. B. Academia outside of the humanities is more financially burdened than the humanities. C. Academia outside of the humanities is a less worthy pursuit than the humanities. D. The author does not express an opinion about academia outside of humanities.
D
Which of the following statements is best supported by evidence from the passage? A. Racial categories have remained unchanged since the 20th century. B. Only physicians still place weight on racial categorization. C. African-Americans are at increased risk of dying from syphilis attacks on the cardiovascular system. D. Racial categories have been used as a shorthand to represent genetic makeup.
D
Which of the following statements, if true, would most weaken the author's arguments concerning carrying capacity and overpopulation? A. Vaccines contributed more to increase life expectancy in the 20th century than antibiotics. B. Malthus's views were widely criticized at the time of their publication. C. Historical population reduction is fairly uncommon. D. Historical population reduction is most common when resources exceed population demands.
D
