GMAT Sample Test Answered with Complete Explanation

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GMAT Reading Comprehension

The cutting-edge science is ringing alarm bells. Avian flu virus picked up by pigs can swap genetic materials with another flu virus already in the pig and become a new, hitherto unknown flu virus for which no person, no animal has preexisting immunity. The kind of virus causes a pandemic because it spreads from human to human.

If you took a peek into history, it turns out that previous influenza pandemics have similar scenarios. The greatest influenza pandemic in 1918 caused more than 20 million deaths of soldiers stationed in France. The last influenza pandemic was in 1968, known as the Hong Kong flu (H3N2). Thousands of deaths and millions were infected worldwide.

The other examples are the Nipah virus and Japanese Encephalitis virus, which find pigs to be good hosts. With JE, the virus circulates in the blood of infected pigs. When infected pigs are bitten by Culex mosquitoes, the virus replicates in the mosquito's gut. The next time the mosquito bites a human, the virus is passed on. The pig doesn't get sick as such. The Nipah virus causes pneumonia symptoms in pigs. In humans, it causes encephalitis, and humans catch it only with direct contact with infected pigs. Symptoms range from mild headache to permanent brain damage, and can be fatal.

It's merely a phenomenon of nature that the pig is the "mixing vessel" for the new germ. But make no mistake, the pig is not the villain, neither is the chicken. It's actually us, and our horrible farm practices, outdated agricultural policy and, most of all, reckless disregard of our ecology and environment. "Hygiene and management can control what eventually happens," says Lam. "Good farming practice will prevent serious outbreaks and infection to humans." Despite knowing that, animal diseases and the possibility of transmission to humans are becoming quite alarming. Of the 35 new emerging diseases in the last 20 years, more than 70 per cent involved animals.

In fact, what we may have done is unwittingly create the perfect launch pad for an influenza pandemic that will likely kill large numbers of people across the globe. Although scientists say it's impossible to predict the odds that the virus will alter its genetic form radically enough to start leaping from human to human, the longer H5N1 is out there killing chickens, the higher the chances are.

1. Which of the following statement can be inferred from the passage?

(A) New emerging diseases causes more deaths of human than animal.

(B) Animals are the villain for most flues.

(C) Hygiene and management can not control the spread of viruses.

(D) The current bird flu epidemic may be a launch pad for the next influenza pandemic.

(E) The influenza pandemic is always a regional phenomenon.

Which answer is correct? For choice A, the passage did not make any comparison between deaths of human and deaths of animal. In B, animal is actually not the villain for most flues. Rather, it is human. Look at the second sentence in the fourth paragraph, "But make no mistake, the pig is not the villain, neither is the chicken.” For C, "Hygiene and management can control what eventually happens” (in the middle of fourth paragraph), therefore, C is incorrect. E is also incorrect. Though most flues discussed in this passage were originated from some areas, the passage never stated it was a regional phenomenon. In fact, it "will likely kill large numbers of people across the globe”, as stated at the beginning of last paragraph. The correct answer is D – the current bird flu epidemic may be a launch pad for the next influenza pandemic, because no animal has preexisting immunity and it causes a pandemic by spreading from human to human.

2. Which of the following best describes the topic of the passage?

(A) What causes the Nipah virus and Japanese Encephalitis virus to happen?

(B) Does Hong Kong flu originate from pig?

(C) From fowl to pigs to humans?

(D) Is influenza pandemic horrible?

(E) Shall we eat chicken?

This question asks you to find a title for the passage. In other word, it requires you to identify the primary concern of the passage as a whole. The first paragraph presents a recent virus. The second and third paragraphs describe similar influenza pandemics in history. The fourth paragraph concludes who should be responsible for the spread of virus and what human can do to control. The last paragraph indicates that people stimulated rather than inhibited its promulgation. We can thus conclude the current virus will also leap to human. Furthermore, the passage as a whole is to "ring alarm bells”. Therefore, C is the best answer.

3. All of the following situations are similar to the spread of avian flu virus described in the first paragraph EXCEPT:

(A) The BT2 spread from a pig to another pig, and thus causes significant disease in pig.

(B) The AIDS viruses transferred from monkeys to man and spread across the world.

(C) The SARS virus originates from some wildlife and is picked up by civet cats from which humans got it.

(D) Nipah virus circulates in the blood of infected pig, which is bitten by Culex mosquitoes, the virus replicates in the mosquito's gut. The next time the mosquito bites a human, the virus is passed on.

(E) H5N1 starts in chickens and leaps from human to human.

The question requires you to recognize a situation that is not similar to the spear of avian flu. Before considering following answer choices, we fist define its rationale. It is something like this: Avian flu virus picked up by pigs and is transferred to human. All of the situations described in the answer choices are similar to it ex that in choice A (from animal to animal). Therefore, A is the best answer.

4. What does the author mean by describing the pig as "mixing vessel"?

(A) Pig is the place where various viruses reside.

(B) Pig is the pot in which viruses swap genes and become new, deadly germs.

(C) Viruses are mixed inside the body of pig.

(D) New germs come to the body of pig and reside there.

(E) Pig attracts viruses.

The question requires you to determine the meanings of "mixing vessel”. At the beginning of the passage, the author states that "Avian flu virus picked up by pigs can swap genetic materials with another flu virus already in the pig and become a new, hitherto unknown flu virus for which no person, no animal has preexisting immunity. The kind of virus causes a pandemic because it spreads from human to human.” In other words, pig is the pot in which viruses swap genes and become new, deadly germs. Therefore, the correct answer is B.

Indian firms have achieved the highest levels of efficiency in the world software outsourcing industry. Some researchers have assumed that Indian firms use the same programming languages and techniques as Chinese firms but have benefited from their familiarity with English, the language used to write software code. However, if this were true, then one would expect software vendors in Hong Kong, where most people speak English, to perform not worse than do Indian vendors. However, this is obviously not the case.

Other researchers link high Indian productivity to higher levels of human resource investment per engineer. But a historical perspective leads to a different conclusion. When the two top Indian vendors matched and then doubled Chinese productivity levels in the mid-eighties, human resource investment per employee was comparable to that of Chinese vendors. Furthermore, by the late eighties, the amount of fixed assets required to develop one software package was roughly equivalent in India and in the China. Since human resource investment was not higher in India, it had to be other factors that led to higher productivity.

A more fruitful explanation may lie with Indian strategic approach in outsourcing. Indian software vendors did not simply seek outsourced contract more effectively: they made aggressive strategic in outsourcing. For instance, most software firms of India were initially set up to outsource the contract in western countries, such as United States. By contrary, most Chinese firms seem to position their business in China, a promising yet under-developed market. However, rampant piracy in China took almost 90 percents of potential market, making it impossible for most Chinese firms to obtain sufficient compensation for the investment on development and research, let alone thrive in competitive environment.

5. Which of the following statements concerning the productivity levels of engineers can be inferred from the passage?

(A) Prior to the 1980's, the productivity levels of the top Indian software firms were exceeded by those of Chinese software firms.

(B) The official language of a country has a large effect on the productivity levels of its software developers.

(C) During the late 1980's and early 1990's, productivity levels were comparable in China and India.

(D) The greater the number of engineers that a software firm has, the higher a firm's productivity level.

(E) The amount of human resource investment made by software developers in their firms determines the level of productivity.

If you do not refer to the original passage, you may pick up B. For test-takers who have some backgrounds in computer, it is obvious that being familiar with English will gain some advantage in writing program code. However, the correct answer is C.

6. The primary purpose of the passage is to

(A) contrast possible outcomes of a type of business strategy

(B) suggest more careful evaluation of a type of business strategy

(C) illustrate various ways in which a type of business strategy could fail to enhance revenues

(D) trace the general problems of a company to a certain type of business strategy

(E) criticize the way in which managers tend to analyze the costs and benefits of business strategies

This question asks you to summarize the passage's central idea. Which of the five choices is correct? Based on the verbs initiating the five choices, you can eliminate three of them:

(A) incorrect. To contrast is to compare several things, but not to agree or disagree.

(C) incorrect. To illustrate is to give example, not to agree or disagree.

(D) incorrect. To trace is to track, not to agree or disagree.

Choice E began with argumental word criticize, but isn't the correct choice because it addresses the detail. Therefore, B is the right answer: to argue that superior service does not generate competitive advantage is to suggest more careful evaluation of a type of business strategy (price reduction).

7. Which of the following best describes the organization of the first paragraph?

(A) A thesis is presented and supporting examples are provided.

(B) Opposing views are presented, classified, and then reconciled.

(C) A fact is stated, and an explanation is advanced and then refuted.

(D) A theory is proposed, considered, and then amended.

(E) An opinion is presented, qualified, and then reaffirmed.

This question requires you to identify the organizational structure of the first paragraph. In this paragraph, the author first states a fact that Indian firms achieved the highest efficiency in software outsourcing. Then, an assumption is presented to explain such phenomenon. However, the author refuted this explanation soon. Thus, C is the best answer.

8. According to the passage, which of the following statements is true of Indian software developers?

(A) Their productivity levels did not equal those of Chinese software engineers until the late eighties.

(B) Their high efficiency levels are a direct result of English language familiarity.

(C) They develop component-specific software.

(D) They are built to outsource the western orders.

(E) They develop more packages of software than do those in Chinese developers.

In the middle of the last paragraph, the author states that "For instance, most software firms of India were initially set up to outsource the contract in western countries, such as United States.” Thus, the best answer is D.

9. The author suggests that if the researchers of India mentioned in paragraph 1 were correct, which of the following would be the case?

(A) The computer used in India software firms would be different from the computer used in China firms.

(B) Indian engineers would be trained to do several different programming jobs.

(C) Familiarity with English language would not have an influence on the productivity levels of engineers.

(D) The engineers in India-run firms would have lower productivity levels if they have a poor command of English.

(E) The production levels of India-run firms located in the China would be equal to those of firms run by China firms.

If the researchers are correct, then the familiarity with English determines the productivity of engineers. That is, if the engineers in India-run firms have a poor command of English they would have lower productivity levels, as stated in choice D.

The fact that reducing price can generate a competitive advantage for a company does not mean that every reduction in price will create such an advantage. Price reduction, like improvement in service, must be balanced against other types of efforts on the basis of direct, tangible benefits such as increased revenues. If a company is already effectively on a par with its competitors because it provides product at an acceptable price and keeps customers from leaving at an unacceptable rate, then reduction in price may not be effective, since price is not necessarily the deciding factor for any customer in any situation.

This truth was not apparent to managers of one operating system software vendor, which failed to improve its competitive position despite its attempt to reduce price. The software managers did not recognize the level of customer inertia that arises from the inconvenience of switching operating system. Nor did they analyze their reduction in price to determine whether it would attract new customers by producing a new standard of price that would excite customers or by proving difficult for competitors to copy.

10. According to the passage, reduction in price are comparable to improvement in service in terms of the

(A) tangibility of the benefits that they tend to confer

(B) increased revenues that they ultimately produce

(C) basis on which they need to be weighed

(D) insufficient analysis that managers devote to them

(E) degree of competitive advantage that they are likely to provide

To answer this question, first locate the question to the second sentence of the passage. "Price reduction, like improvement in service, must be balanced against other types of efforts on the basis of direct, tangible benefits such as increased revenues."  Now, go back to answer choices. Choice D and E are irrelevant to the original sentence, so eliminate them. Then, look at the choice A and B, both of them repeat the original sentences.

(A)   tangibility of the benefits that they tend to confer

(B)   increased revenues that they ultimately produce

(C)   basis on which they need to be weighed

Both A and B seem to be correct. However, reduction in price is comparable to that of improvement in service in term of the basis on direct and tangible benefits, not on the tangibility or specific benefits of increased revenues. So neither A nor B is correct. Choice B does not repeat the same words, but address the basis for comparison. Therefore, C is the correct answer.

11. The passage suggests which of the following about price charged by an operating system software vendor prior to its strategy in reducing its price?

(A) It was slightly low to that of the vendor's competitors.

(B) It threatened to weaken the vendor's competitive position with respect to other operating system software vendor

(C) It had already been reduced after having caused damage to the vendor's reputation in the past.

(D) It enabled the vendor to retain customers at an acceptable rate

(E) It needed to be reduced to attain parity with the software provided by competing vendors.

Here, the question was created in complicated clauses and itself already hard to understand. In fact, it asks for the situation of the vendor before price reduction. Only D can be inferred from the passage. The original passage stated that "If a company is already effectively on ….. keeps customers from leaving at an unacceptable rate…” and "This truth was not apparent to managers of one operating system software vendor…” That means the vendor was able to retain customers at an acceptable rate.

12. The passage suggests which of the following about price charged by an operating system software vendor prior to its strategy in reducing its price?

(A) It enabled the vendor to retain customers at an acceptable rate

(B) It threatened to weaken the vendor's competitive position with respect to other operating system software vendor

(C) It had already been reduced after having caused damage to the vendor's reputation in the past.

(D) It was slightly low to that of the vendor's competitors.

(E) It needed to be reduced to attain parity with the software provided by competing vendors.

Here, the question asks for the situation of the vendor before price reduction. Only A can be inferred from the passage. The original passage stated that "If a company is already effectively on ….. keeps customers from leaving at an unacceptable rate…” and "This truth was not apparent to managers of one operating system software vendor…” That means the vendor was able to retain customers at an acceptable rate.

13. The discussion of the operating system software vendor last paragraph serves which of the following functions within the passage as a whole?

(A) It describes an exceptional case in which reduction in price actually failed to produce a competitive advantage.

(B) It illustrates the pitfalls of choosing to reduce price at a time when business strategy is needed more urgently in another area.

(C) It demonstrates the kind of analysis that managers apply when they choose one kind of business strategy over another

(D) It supports the argument that strategies in certain aspects are more advantageous than strategies in other aspects.

(E) It provides an example of the point about reduction in price made in the first paragraph.

Clearly, the author intends to prove his position that reduction in price does not necessarily generate competitive advantage. E is the correct.

14. The passage suggests that operating system software managers failed to consider whether or not the price reduction mentioned last sentence

(A) was too complicated to be easily described to prospective customers

(B) made a measurable change in the experiences of customers purchasing

(C) could be sustained if the number of customers increased significantly

(D) was an innovation that competing vendors could have imitated

(E) was adequate to bring the vendor's general level of price to a level that was comparable with that of its competitors

The passage following "failed to” describes the failure. The best choice is D, which is stated in the last sentence.

GMAT Sentence Correction

1. Satisfied by the strong performance on GMAT test, it was decided by Peter to give himself a two-week rest.

A.      it was decided by Peter to give himself a two-week rest

B.      Peter decided to give himself a two-week rest

C.      a two-week rest was given by Peter to himself

D.      Peter's decision was to give himself a two-week rest

E.      it was decided that Peter give himself a two-week rest

The correct answer is B because it is Peter who was satisfied. In choice B, Peter appears as the subject. Choices A, C, D and E are incorrect because they used it, a two-week rest, Peter's decision, and it as the sentence subject. In fact, the participial phrase beginning with satisfied should modify the subject of the main clause in order to follow the grammar rule.

2. Since 1999, the number of internet websites with the domain name ending with .com have grown from 62 million to nearly 78 million.

A.      have grown from 62 million to nearly 78 million

B.      are growing from 62 million to nearly 78 million

C.      grew from 62 million to nearly 78 million

D.      grow from 62 million to nearly 78 million

E.      has grown from 62 million to nearly 78 million

E is the correct answer. In choice A, the plural verb have does not agree with the singular subject number. Choices B and D commits the same fallacy by using plural verbal phrase are growing and grow respectively. B, C, and D also misused the verbal tense which should be present perfect.

3. Eighty percent of notebook computers that were sold in United States last year were manufactured in China, a country that has the largest population in the world.

A. Eighty percent of notebook computers that were sold in United States last year were

B. Eighty percent of notebook computers that were sold in United States last year had been

C. Eighty percent of notebook computers that were sold in United States last year have been

D. Last year eighty percent of notebook computers were sold in United States that have been

E. Last year eighty percent of notebook computers that were sold in United States had been

In using only one verb tense, were, choice A fails to indicate that the computers were manufactured before sold. Choices C and D use the present perfect tense incorrectly, saying in effect that the computers have been manufactured after they were sold last year. Choice E suggests that the manufacturing of the notebook computers, rather than selling, occurred last year, thus making the sequence of events unclear. Only B uses verb tenses correctly to indicate that manufacturing of the computers was completed prior to the selling.

4. According to a report from Anderson Accounting, the gross sales of General Movies in 2002 were $86 millions as many as their expected revenues.

A. as many as their expected

B. more than their expected

C. as many as their excepted

D. more than their expectedly

E. as many as their expectedly

Choices A, C, and E do not state the comparison logically. The expression as many as indicates equality of quantity, but the sentence indicates that the gross sales exceed the expected revenues by $86 millions. In B, the best choice, more than makes this point of comparison clear. B also correctly uses the adjective expected, rather than the adverb expectedly used in D and E, to modify the noun phrase revenues.

5. The current downturn in the U.S. economy is encouraging many young professionals to return to school, which doubles to twice the number of applicants five years ago.

A.      which doubles to twice the number of applicants five years ago

B.      doubling to twice the number of applicants five years ago

C.      which doubles to twice the number of applicants that were five years ago

D.      doubling to twice the number of applicants five years before

E.      which doubles to twice the number of applicants five years before

The pronoun which should be used to refer to a previously mentioned noun, not to the idea expressed in an entire clause. In A, C, and E, which seems to refer to a vague concept involving young professionals' returning to school, but there is no specific noun, such as return, to which it can refer. B and D use the correct participial form, doubling, to modify the preceding clause, but D, like A, uses five years before rather than five years ago, a phrase that is more idiomatic in context. B, therefore, is the best answer.

6. Using the KB833330, a new virus known as Bagle can be blocked outside the Local Area Network.

A. Using the KB833330, a new virus known as Bagle can be blocked outside the Local Area Network.

B.  A new virus known as Bagle can be blocked outside the Local Area Network, using the KB833330.

C.  Blocking a new virus known as Bagle outside the Local Area Network, an engineer can use the KB833330 by an engineer

D.  Outside the Local Area Network, a new virus known as Bagle can be blocked using the KB833330 by an engineer

E.  Using the KB833330, an engineer can block a new virus known as Bagle outside the Local Area Network.

Choice A presents a dangling modifier. The phrase beginning the sentence has no noun that it can logically modify and hence cannot fit anywhere in the sentence and make sense. Coming first, it modifies a new virus, the nearest free noun in the main clause; that is, choice A says that a new virus are using the KB83330. Choice B contains the same main clause and dangling modifier, now at the end. Contrary to intent, the wording in choice C suggests that engineers can use the KB833330 after they block a new virus. In choice D the phrase using ... the KB833330 should follow engineer, the noun it modifies. Choice E is best.

7. The GMAT math section consists of 37 questions, each question a test of a certain math concept.

Chinese, the most ancient of living writing systems, consists of tens of thousands of ideographic character, each character a miniature calligraphic composition inside its own square frame.

A.      each question a test on a certain math concept

B.      all the questions a test on a certain math concept

C.      all the questions are tested on a certain math concept

D.      every question is tested on a certain math concept

E.      each question is tested on a certain math concept

Choice A is best: the appositive terms question and test, both singular, agree in number; both also agree with rule on sentence structure. In C, D, and E choices, Runs-on sentence is committed.

8. According to a survey, a company president typically spends 60 percent of his or her time on communicational activities, such as answering the calls, communicating with clients and to speak on the meetings.

A.      communicating with clients and to speak

B.      communicating with clients and speaking

C.      to communicate with clients and speak

D.      to communicate with clients and to speak

E.      to communicate with clients and speaking

Because the verb phrases used to describe the communicational duties are governed by the phrase communicational duties such as, they should each be expressed in the present participial (or "-ing") form to parallel answering. Choices A, C, D, and E all violate parallelism by employing infinitives (to...) in place of participial phrases. Only B, the best answer, preserves the sense of the original, uses the correct idiom, and observes the parallelism required among and within the three main verb phrases.

9. The best way for an IT professional to protect data is to periodically back it in a pre-formatted disc.

A.      to periodically back it in a pre-formatted disc

B.      if it is quickly backed in a pre-formatted disc

C.      for it to be backed periodically in a pre-formatted disc

D.      if the data is periodically backed in a pre-formatted disc

E.      to have them periodically backed in a pre-formatted disc

For parallelism, the linking verb is should link two infinitives: The only way to salvage ... is to back. Choice A begins with an infinitive, but the plural pronouns I do not agree with the plural noun data. Choices B, C, and D do not begin with an infinitive, and all present pronoun errors: the singular pronouns cannot grammatically refer to data. The best choice, E, has parallel infinitives.

10. Unlike a corporation, which pays tax based on its related revenues, a fixed amount of tax is paid by a sole ownership business.

A. a fixed amount of tax is paid by a sole ownership business

B. with a sole ownership business a fixed amount of tax is paid

C. a sole ownership is paid a fixed amount of tax

D. for a sole ownership business a fixed amount of tax is paid

E. a sole ownership pays a fixed amount of tax

Choice E, the best answer, correctly uses a parallel construction to draw a logical comparison: Unlike a corporation,..., a sole ownership business.... Choice A illogically compares a corporation, an entity, with a fixed amount of tax, money. In choice C, a sole ownership business can not be paid for tax. Choices B and D are syntactically and logically flawed because each attempts to compare the noun corporation and a prepositional phrase: with a fixed amount of tax. Choices B and D are also imprecise and awkward. Finally, choice E is the only option that supplies an active verb form, pays to parallel pays.

11. In addition to having more employees than UT StartCom, the employees in GenericSart are higher educated than those in UT StartCom, with more graduate students.

A.      the employees in GenericSart are higher educated than those in

B.      GenericStart has higher educated employees than those do

C.      the employees in GenericStart are higher educated than those are in

D.      GenericStart employees are higher educated that those are in

E.      GenericStart has higher educated employees than

In this sentence, the initial clause modifies the nearest noun, identifying it as the thing being compared with UT StartCom. By making employees the noun modified, choices A, C, and D illogically compare UT StartCom with employees and claim that the employees in GenericStart has higher educated employees than UT StartCom does. B, the best choice, logically compares UT StartCom to GenericStart by placing the noun GenericStart immediately after the initial clause. B also uses those to refer to employees in making the comparison between the employees of UT StartCom and GenericStart. Choice E needs either those in or do after UT StartCom to make a complete and logical comparison. 

12. The gravity will apply the same to an airplane flying in the air as a ship floating on the water.

A.      air as a

B.      air as to a

C.      air; just as it would to a

D.      air, as it would to the

E.      air; just as to the

B, the best choice, uses the idiomatic and grammatically parallel form the same to X as to Y.

13. A report by Business Weekly indicated that the number of money invested by companies in Business and Research in 2003 was twice that in 2002.

A. the number of money invested by companies in Business and Research in 2003 was

B. the number of money invested by companies in Business and Research in 2003 were

C. the number of money invested by companies in Business and Research in 2003 are

D. the amount of money invested by companies in Business and Research in 2003 were

E. the amount of money invested by companies in Business and Research in 2003 was

Choices A, B, and C are flawed because the uncountable noun money should be modified by amount rather than number. In addition, B, C, and D incorrectly use the plural verb were or are with the singular noun money. Choice E, the best answer, is both grammatically correct and concise.

14. However much people may agree that there is substantial corruption in Chinese government and that government does its endeavor, it is difficult to keep the problem under control.

A.      However much United States voters may agree that

B.      Despite the agreement among people to the fact

C.      Although people agree

D.      Even though people may agree

E.      There is agreement among people that

A is the best choice. Choices B, C, and D incorrectly omit that after agree; that is needed to create the parallel construction agree that there is substantial corruption . . . and that the government... . Choice E, though it retains that, is grammatically incorrect: because E starts with an independent rather than a subordinate clause and separates its two independent clauses with a comma, it creates a run-on sentence with no logical connection established between the halves. In B, the agreement ... to the fact is unidiomatic, and B, C, and E alter the sense of the original sentence by saying that voters agree rather than that they may agree. 

15. Given that most Misubishi cars on the road have some problems with tyre, the Misubishi Company yielded to hundreds of unsatisfied buyers requesting that it should call back the cars on the market.

A. requesting that it should

B. requesting it to

C and their request to

D. who requested that it

E. who request it to 

Choice D, the best answer, uses the grammatically correct expression requested that it call back, in which requested that it is followed by the subjunctive verb call. Choice A incorrectly uses should call rather than call: requesting that already conveys the idea of "should," and at any rate a modal auxiliary verb, such as should or must, cannot grammatically follow the expression requested that. Similarly, B and E use the ungrammatical expression requesting/requested it to. In C, the expression yielded to... buyers and their demand to call... unnecessarily states that the company yielded to the buyers as well as to their request. This expression also fails to specify that the company is expected to call back the cars on the market. 

16. Opposites of privatization in China consider state-owned business to be an integral part of national treasury and question if privatization could weaken the ability of the country to adjust national economy.

A.      to be an integral part of the criminal justice system and question if

B.      as an integral part of the national treasure and they question if

C.      as being an integral part of the national treasure and question whether

D.      integral part of the national treasure and question whether

E.      are an integral part of the national treasure, and they question whether 

When consider means "regard as," as it does in this sentence, its object should be followed immediately by the phrase that identifies or describes that object. Thus, to be in A, as in B, and as being in C produce unidiomatic constructions in the context of the sentence. Also, although (/and whether can be used interchangeably after some verbs, question if, which appears in A and B, is unidiomatic, and they in B is unnecessary. E also contains the unnecessary they, and it uses the ungrammatical construction consider... facilities are. Grammatically and idiomatically, sound D is the best choice. 

17. At least as much as 204 millions or more people in the world earn fewer than $10 per day.

A.      At least as much as 204 millions or more people in the world earn fewer than

B.      At least as much as 204 millions or more people in the world earn less than

C.      More than 204 millions people in the world earn fewer than

D.      More than 204 millions people in the world earn less than

E.      There are at least 204 millions or more people earn less than

D, the best choice, is idiomatic, clear, and concise. Both A and B incorrectly use much rather than many to describe the countable noun others. Even if this error were corrected, though, A and B would still be wrong. Because more than x necessarily includes the sense of at least as many as x. it is redundant and confusing to use elements of both expressions to refer to the same number of people. In A and C, fewer is misused. 

GMAT Critical Reasoning

1. Bill earns more commission than does Sandra. But since Andrew earns more commission than does Lisa, it follows that Bill earns more commission than does Lisa.

Any of the following, if introduced into the argument as an additional premise, makes the argument above logically correct EXCEPT:

A. Andrew earns more commission than Bill

B.  Sandra earns more commission than Lisa

C.  Sandra earns more commission than Andrew

D.  Sandra and Andrew earn the same amount of commission

E.   Bill and Andrew earn the same amount of commission

The question asks for an additional premise that does NOT make the argument logically correct. Adding A to the information given in the passage leaves open the possibility that, in order of commission, the people rank: Andrew, Lisa, Bill, Sandra. Because this order is contrary to the conclusion of the argument, A leaves open the possibility that the conclusion of the argument is false; it is thus the best answer. By contrast, any of other choices, when added to the information that the commission Bill earns is greater than that of Sandra and that the commission Andrew earns is greater than that of Lisa, makes the conclusion-that Bill earns more commission than Lisa-follow logically.

2. During the SARS days, about 23,500 doctors who had treated SARS sufferers died and about 23,670 doctors who had not engaged in treatment for SARS sufferers died. On the basis of those figures, it can be concluded that it was not much more dangerous to participate in SARS treatment during the SARS day than it was not to participate in SARS treatment.

Which of the following would reveal most clearly the absurdity of the conclusion drawn above?

A. Counting deaths among doctors who had participated in SARS treatment in addition to deaths among doctors who had not participated in SARS treatment

B. Expressing the difference between the numbers of deaths among doctors who had treated SARS sufferers and doctors who had not treated SARS suffers as a percentage of the total number of deaths

C. Separating deaths caused by accidents during the treatment to SARS suffers from deaths caused by infect of SARS suffers.

D. Comparing death rates per thousand members of each group rather than comparing total numbers of deaths

E. Comparing deaths caused by accidents in the United States to deaths caused by infect in treating SARS suffers.

Concluding from the similar numbers of deaths in two groups that the relative danger of death was similar for both groups is absurd if, as here, one group was far smaller. D exposes this absurdity by pointing out the need to compare death rates of the two groups, which would reveal the higher death rate for the smaller group. Therefore, D is the best answer. Since the conclusion acknowledges the difference between the number of deaths of doctors who treated SARS suffers and doctors who had not treated the SARS suffers, expressing this difference as a percentage, as suggested by B, is beside the point. A is inappropriate because it simply adds a third group to the two being compared. Because cause of death in not at issue, C and E are irrelevant.

3. In 2003 an airline in United State lost more than half, on average, of the foreign passengers they had previously served each year. Researchers have alleged that this extreme drop resulted from a rise in price of tickets for international lines from $60 to $90 per 1,000 miles.

Which of the following, if feasible, offers the best prospects for alleviating the problem of the drop in passengers as the researchers assessed it?

A. Cooperating with other airlines to provide more international lines.

B. Allowing foreign passengers to pay the same as the previous international line

C. Reemphasizing the goals and mission of the airline as serving both domestic passengers and foreign passengers

D. Increasing the financial resources of the airline by raising the ticket price for domestic passengers

E. Offering superior VIP service for foreign passengers.

The researchers attribute the drop in passengers of foreign passengers to an increased price in ticket. If researchers are correct, reducing these prices should halt the drop in passenger. B offers a plan for reducing these prices and so is the best answer. The reasoning of the stimulus can be expressed as:

A (a rise in price of ticket for foreign passengers)=>B (extreme drop of passengers )

Then ~B (drop of passengers did not continue)=>~A (price decreases for foreign passengers)

None of C, D and E offers a plan that would reduce the prices taken to be responsible for the drop in passengers. Nor does A offer such a plan: because the problem to be addressed is a drop in foreign passengers, providing more international lines, as A suggests, would offer no prospect of alleviating the problem.

4. Our work proves to be very successful. In the past three years, each of our five clients has experienced the fastest growth of sales in their history. Therefore, if your company wants to increase sales, do not hesitate to call Sigma & Max, since we are the solution.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously jeopardizes the validity of the argument by the speaker above?

A. Most of the consultants at Sigma & Max hold MBA degrees.

B. Even without the help of Sigma & Max, the five clients of Sigma & Max will achieve the same growth rate in sale.

C. Sigma & Max is one of the five leading management consulting companies.

D. Sigma & Max uses an updated accounting approach to help companies to cut cost.

E. All of the five clients of Sigma & Max are doing business in financial industry.

As B states, without the help of Sigma & Max, the five clients of Sigma & Max will achieve the same growth rate in sale. Therefore, B is the best answer. Choices C and D exactly strengthen the argument by the speaker. The first and last choices are irrelevant to the evaluation of the argument above.

Questions 5-6 are based on the following.

If highways were restricted to cars and only those truck with capacity of less than 8 tons, most the truck traffic would be forced to run outside highway. Such a reduction in the amount of truck traffic would reduce the risk of collision in highway.

5. The conclusion draw in the first sentence depends on which of the following assumptions?

A. The roads outside highway would be as convenient as highway for most drivers of truck.

B. Most roads outside highways are not ready to handle truck traffic.

C. Most trucks that are currently running in highway have a capacity of more than 8 tons.

D. Cars are at greater risk of becoming involved in collisions than are trucks.

E. A reduction in the risk of collision would eventually lead to increases in car traffic.

The first sentence concludes that prohibiting trucks with capacity of more than 8 tons from highway would force most trucks away from highways. This conclusion cannot be true unless it is true that, as C says, most trucks that use highways have capacity of more than 8 tons. Therefore, the first sentence's conclusion assumes this choice, which is thus the best answer. The conclusion need not assume that roads outside highways are convenient for trucks (A), since the restrictions would give trucks that have a capacity of more than 8 tons no choice. The conclusion concerns only how the restriction would affect the volume of truck traffic, so B, D and E, which deal with cars and with risk of collision, need not be assumed.

6. Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the conclusion drawn in the second sentence?

A. Cars with a capacity of more than 8 tons are already excluded outside highways.

B. Highways are experiencing overcrowded traffic primarily because of sharp increases in car traffic.

C. Many drivers of trucks would rather buy truck with a capacity of less than 8 tons than be excluded from highways.

D. The number of collisions that occur near highways has decreased in recent years.

E. Trucks that have a capacity of more than 8 tons cause a disproportionately large number of collisions in highways.

The second sentence concludes that the reduction described in the first sentence would reduce the risk of collisions in highways. According to E, such a reduction would remove precisely the kind of truck that causes a disproportionate number of collisions. Thus, E is the best answer. Because A does not address the question of whether reducing car traffic would reduce the risk of collisions, it is inappropriate. B and C concern the question of whether or not the proposed restrictions would reduce highway traffic, but not the question of whether any resulting reductions would reduce the risk of collisions. That the number of collisions has recently decreased is irrelevant to whether the proposed reduction would further reduce collisions, so D is inappropriate.

7. A life insurance company allows people to prepay their endowment insurance at current rates. The policyholder then pays the premium every year. People should participate in the program as a means of decreasing the cost for their living after retirement.

Which of the following, if true, is the most appropriate reason for people NOT to participate in the program?

A. Peoples are unsure about which insurance company they will choose after retirement.

B. The amount of money accumulated by putting the prepayment funds in an interest-bearing account today will be greater than the total cost of insurance when they retire.

C. The annual cost of premium is expected to increase at a faster rate than the annual increase in the cost of living.

D. Some of the insurance companies are contemplating large increases in premium next year.

E. The prepayment plan would not cover the cost of hospitalization.

The passage recommends that people participate in a premium prepayment program as a means of decreasing the living cost after they retire. If B is true, placing the funds in an interest bearing account would be more cost-effective than participating in the prepayment program. Therefore, B would be a reason for NOT participating and is the best answer. A is not clearly relevant to deciding whether to participate since the program applies to whatever insurance companies they choose. C and D, by stating that premium will increase, provide support for participating in the program. E is not clearly relevant to deciding whether to participate, since the expenses mentioned fall outside the scope of the program.

8. The price of purchasing a car in Country Q is 120 percent less than the price of purchasing a car in Country Y. Even after transportation fees and tariff charges are added, it is still cheaper for a buyer to import car from Country Q to Country Y than to buy car in Country Y.

The statements above, if true, best support which of the following assertions?

A. Gasoline prices in Country Q are 120 percent below those in Country Y.

B. Importing cars from Country Q to Country Y will eliminate 120 percent of the sales of cars in Country Y.

C. The tariff on a car imported from Country Q to Country Y is less than 120 percent of the price of a car in Country Y.

D. The fee for transporting a car from Country Q to Country Y is more than 120 percent of the price of a car in Country Q.

E. It takes 120 percent less time to transport a car in Country Q than it does in Country Y.

If the tariff on importing cars from Country Q to Country Y were as high as 120 percent or more of the price of purchasing a car in Y, then, contrary to what the passage says, the price of importing cars from Q to Y would be equal to or more than the price of a car in Y. thus, the tariff cannot be that high, and C is the best answer. A and E give possible partial explanations for the price difference, but neither is supported by the passage because the price advantage in Q might be attributable to other factors. B and D are both consistent with the information in the passage, but the passage provides no evidence to support them.

9. In 1992, 5 percent of every dollar paid in tax went to support the unemployed citizens. In 1998, 8 percent of every dollar paid in tax went to such funds, although that unemployment rate has decreased in 1998 than in 1992.

Each of the following, if true, could explain the simultaneous increase in percent of every dollar paid in tax to support the unemployed citizens and decrease in the number of unemployment rate EXCEPT:

A. On average, each unemployed citizen received more money in 1998 than 1992.

B. On average, people paid less tax in 1998 ‍than in 1992.

C. The individuals had paid more tax than did enterprises during this period.

D. Income before tax has significantly decreased since 1992.

E. The number of tax evaders rose sharply between 1992 and ‍1998.

Choice A suggests that the total amount of dollars used to support unemployment has increase, therefore explain the paradox. Choice B, D, and E all suggests that the amount of tax collected decreased, thus percent of every dollar that went to support the unemployment increases. Only choice C does not explain such paradox, therefore is the correct answer.

10. Something must be done to stop spam. In early days, people seldom received unsolicited email advertisement; but now that numerous bulk email software and email address finders are developed to collect email address all around the world. Advertisers use email addresses to market their products and even sell such email lists to other advertisers. As a result, almost everyone ever get junk email, and sometime several and even tens of annoying emails a day. So, relevant anti-spam regulations should be framed to stop unsolicited advertising.

The two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

A. Background that the argument depends on and conclusion that can be drawn from the argument.

B. Part of evidence that the argument includes, and inference that can be drawn from this passage.

C. Pre-evidence that the argument depends on and part of evidence that supports the conclusion.

D. Background that argument depends on and part of evidence that supports the conclusion.

E. Pre-evidence that argument includes and a method that helps to supports that conclusion.

The first portion in boldface introduced a previous situation, as compared to current situation. The author then made the conclusion in the last sentence, or the second portion in boldface. Therefore, choice B is the best answer.

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