Test: Verbal Aptitude - 1 - GMAT MCQ

The passage states that good sense, or the power of judging aright and distinguishing truth from error, is equally distributed among all men and that differences in opinions arise not from varying amounts of good sense but from different ways of conducting thoughts and focusing attention. Options A, B, C, and D align with the passage: A and C reflect the equal distribution of good sense, B describes its function, and D acknowledges varying applications. However, Option E is incorrect because the passage explicitly says differences in opinions are not due to superior good sense, as all have equal good sense. Thus, E is the exception.

The passage states that the greatest minds are capable of the highest excellences but are also open to the greatest aberrations, implying they can make mistakes. Option A is incorrect because the passage does not claim great minds always apply good sense optimally. Option C is wrong as the passage asserts all men have equal good sense. Option D is not supported, as the passage does not discuss dedication to truth. Option E is incorrect because the passage does not state that most great minds apply good sense poorly. Thus, B is the correct answer.

The passage focuses on defining good sense as the ability to judge truth from error, explaining its equal distribution among all men, and clarifying that differences in opinions arise from varying thought processes, not unequal good sense. It also discusses the importance of applying good sense correctly, especially in great minds. Option A is incorrect as the passage does not focus on advantages and disadvantages. Option B is too broad, as the passage centers on good sense, not the entire mind. Option C is too narrow, as advocacy is not the primary focus. Option D is incorrect, as the passage does not analyze journeys of great minds. Thus, E best captures the author’s primary concern of explaining good sense and its use.

(A) Litigation by native Canadians to regain control of their movable cultural property illustrates how the concept of private ownership has become increasingly obsolete and demonstrates that this concept should be replaced by the more modern concept of collective ownership.
- To strict. The concept of private ownership is not appropriate for tribes. But nowhere is stated that the concept of private ownership is obsolete or that it should be replaced.

(B) Litigation by native Canadians to regain control of their movable cultural property is likely to succeed more frequently as courts begin to acknowledge that the concept of collective ownership is more appropriate than the concept of private ownership in such cases.
- Correct. The author first sets the context, then explains some details and finally gives the main idea of the text in the form of an outlook on the future from line 53 to line 61.

(C) The conflict between the concepts of collective and private ownership that has led to litigation by native Canadians to regain control of their movable cultural property is in reality a debate over whether individuals should act as titleholders or merely as caretakers with respect to their property.
- Overrated. The statement "collective ownership casts an individual in the role of guardian or caretaker of property rather than as a titleholder" is clearly just some sort of side information.

(D) The conflict between the concepts of collective and private ownership that has led to litigation by native Canadians to regain control of their movable cultural property cannot be resolved until the rights of native Canadians have been comprehensively defined in Canadian law.
- Out of scope. Maybe right maybe wrong but definitely not the main idea of the author.

(E) The conflict between the concepts of collective and private ownership that has led to litigation by native Canadians to regain control of their movable cultural property illustrates the need to expand the concept of private property to include cases of joint ownership by a collection of individuals.
- Wrong. This is counterproductive to view of the author.

(A) one who possesses a bill of sale to substantiate his or her claims to property ownership
- Wrong. A way to prove that you are the property owner but not the meaning of the term property owner.

(B) one who possesses proof of prior possession to substantiate his or her claims to property ownership
- Wrong. Same as (A).

(C) one who is allowed to make use of his or her property in whatever manner he or she wishes
- Correct.
Passage: "This system is based on a philosophy that encourages the right of owners to use their property as they see fit without outside interference"

(D) one who is allowed to transfer ownership rights to his or her children as heirs
- Wrong. Just because this property does not apply to the stem - as mentioned in the text - does not mean that this property is synonymous with the meaning of the term.

(E) one who is allowed to exercise property rights because of his or her membership in a community
- Wrong. While this property applies to the tribe, it is not the meaning of private property.

the author gives an outlook on the future from line 53 to line 61.
Passage: "But as their awareness of the inappropriateness of applying the private property concept to all cultural groups grows, Canadian courts will gradually recognize that native Canadians, while they cannot demonstrate ownership as prescribed by the notion of private property, can clearly claim ownership as prescribed by the notion of collective property, and that their claims to movable cultural property should be honored."
Since the text predicts a positive development of such litigation - positive from the tribes' and the author's point of view - all answers except answer (E) are incorrect because they predict a negative or uncertain development.

(A) certain that it will never be realized and concerned that it should - Wrong.
(B) concerned that it will never be realized but hopeful that it will - Wrong.
(C) uncertain whether it will be realized but hopeful that it will - Wrong.
(D) uncertain whether it will be realized but confident that it should - Wrong.
(E) convinced that it will be realized and pleased that it will - Correct.

(A) identify some of the specific types of property at issue in litigation by native Canadians to regain control of their movable cultural property from museums
- Wrong. The 1st paragraph does not identify something. Especially no specific types of something.

(B) describe the role of the concept of property ownership in litigation by native Canadians to regain control of their movable cultural property from museums
- Wrong. But "describe" sounded good, so I kept this answer for a moment. When I later compared the answer with answer (D), however, it became clear rather quickly that this is not about describing the realities, but about describing the role of the concept of property ownership. Therefore, (B) is wrong.

(C) summarize the difficulties that have been experienced in attempting to develop a comprehensive definition of the rights of native Canadians under the law
- Wrong. No summarization here.

(D) provide the context within which litigation by native Canadians to regain control of their movable cultural property is occurring
- Correct. "provide the context" fits best.

(E) discuss the difficulty of deciding legal cases that rest on a clash between two cultures’ differing definitions of a legal concept
- Wrong. No discussion here. Especially no discussion about difficulty.

It can be inferred from the passage that by “a piano exactly contemporary” (Highlighted) with the composition of Beethoven’s first piano concerto, the author means the kind of piano that was

Pre-thinking:
Incapable of paying a note, which is F-sharp

(A) designed to be inaudible to the audience when used by conductors of orchestras
Not in line with pre-thinking. Hence incorrect

(B) incapable of playing the high F-natural that is in the score of Beethoven’s original version of the concerto
Not in line with pre-thinking. Hence incorrect

(C) unavailable to Mozart and Haydn
Not in line with pre-thinking. Hence incorrect

(D) incapable of playing the high F-sharp that the melody of the concerto calls for
in line with pre-thinking. Hence correct

(E) influential in Beethoven’s decision to revise his early compositions
Not in line with pre-thinking. Hence incorrect

Pre-thinking:
Refer to main point formulation above to answer this question

(A) The early music movement has yet to resolve a number of troubling questions regarding its approach to the performance of music.
Correct since this statement is broad enough. Hence correct

(B) The early music movement, while largely successful in its approach to the performance of medieval and baroque music, has yet to justify its use of obsolete instruments in the performance of music by Beethoven and Mozart.
Firstly it is not said that the movement was successful in relation to medieval and baroque music. Secondly the use of obsolete instruments is described only in the second paragraph. Hence this answer is half wrong, half partial scope. Hence incorrect

(C) The early music approach to performance often assumes that composers write music that is perfectly tailored to the limitations of the instruments on which it will be performed during their lifetimes.
Partial scope. Hence incorrect

(D) Although advocates of early music know much about the instruments used to perform music at the time it was composed, they lack information regarding how the style of such performances has changed since such music was written.
It seems that advocates are not aware of the limitations of past instruments. Plus the second and third paragraphs are not in contrast with each others but they go in the same direction as they provide evidence to support the author's claim. Hence incorrect

(E) The early music movement has not yet fully exploited the knowledge that it has gained from playing music on instruments available at the time such music was composed.
This is completely wrong. Hence incorrect

Pre-thinking:
Highlight the limitations of the instruments at that time

(A) illustrate how piano music began to change in response to the extended range of pianos that became available during Beethoven’s lifetime
Out of scope. Hence incorrect

(B) illustrate how Beethoven’s work failed to anticipate the changes in the design of instruments that were about to be made during his lifetime
Never mentioned. Hence incorrect

(C) suggest that early music advocates commonly perform music using scores that do not reflect revisions made to the music years after it was originally composed
Never mentioned. Hence incorrect

(D) illustrate how composers like Beethoven sometimes composed music that called for notes that could not be played on instruments that were currently available
In line with pre-thinking. Hence correct

(E) provide an example of a piano composition that is especially amenable to being played on pianos available at the time the music was composed
Opposite. Hence incorrect

Pre-thinking:
We have two specific examples that support the initial statement

(A) A generalization is made, evidence undermining it is presented, and a conclusion rejecting it is then drawn.
The evidence presented does not undermine anything. Hence incorrect

(B) A criticism is stated and then elaborated with two supporting examples.
In line with pre-thinking. Hence correct

(C) An assumption is identified and then evidence undermining its validity is presented.
No assumption and no evidence undermining the assumption. Hence incorrect

(D) An assertion is made and evidence frequently provided in support of it is then critically evaluated.
The evidence is not critically evaluated. Hence incorrect

(E) Two specific cases are presented and then a conclusion regarding their significance is drawn.
This could be tricky but here is how to eliminate this choice:
Two specific cases are presented: this is true (though note that the initial criticism comes before and it is not mentioned)
and then a conclusion regarding their significance is drawn.: this might be the tricky part because in the end the passage talks about change of customs
but actually that part is related only to the second example so we cannot say that it is a conclusion drawn on both the specific examples.
Hence incorrect.

Pre-thinking:
If the old custom of clapping at the end of each movements was still in use

(A) orchestras were to use instruments no more advanced in design than those used by orchestras at the time Mozart and Beethoven composed their
symphonies
Cannot be inferred from the information given. Hence incorrect

(B) audiences were to return to the custom of applauding at the end of each movement of a symphony
In line with pre-thinking. Hence correct

(C) audiences were to reserve their most enthusiastic applause for the most brilliantly played finales
[b] Cannot be inferred from the information given. Hence incorrect

(D) conductors were to return to the practice of playing the chords on an orchestral piano to keep the orchestra together
[b] Cannot be inferred from the information given. Hence incorrect

(E) conductors were to conduct the symphonies in the manner in which Beethoven and Mozart had conducted them
Cannot be inferred from the information given. Hence incorrect

(E) the casual factors leading to the emergence of the bordered style are not as clear-cut as Amsden suggests
in line with pre-thinking

A. Even before the CEO's announcement, 75% of the employees worked from 9:00 to 18:00.
No Impact, this option doesn't show how lack of flexibility will have an adverse effect on employees' productivity.

B. When all employees work the same hours, scheduling meetings is easier.
Weakens, this option shows that lack of flexibility will led to more productivity.

C. 65% of the company's employees are women.
No Impact, so what? We can't assume women will be vulnerable to lack of flexibility. No such info is given in the passage.

D. Company X's employees consistently point the ability to start working at the hour they choose as the number one advantage of working for Company X.
Strengthens, this option hints that employees are happy today because of flexibility, if that is taken away then it can affect their mental stability and can lead to deterioration of productivitiy.

E. The CEO is a high-ranking former military.
No Impact, so what? This option doesn't show how lack of flexibility will have an adverse effect on employees' productivity.

E provides us an alternative reason directly undermining analyst's argument.
Still if you want to eliminate others -
A. Confirms that all submitted stories were aired. Doesn’t explain why fewer stories were submitted.
B. Speaks to efficiency in reporting. Might suggest more stories could be aired, not fewer.
C. Total number of stories aired stayed the same. Doesn’t address the content of those stories.
D. True, but doesn’t contradict the idea that fewer conflicts = fewer stories. It’s a general observation.

If productivity increasing is necessary for wages to increase, and productivity requires substantial investment in new technology (which is not happening), then real wages cannot increase in the near future.

We can rule out A and C because “These people do, however, show normal sensitivity to most components of dim light”
B is out of scope, we have no info about their reaction to extremely bright light in the passage.
D seems appealing at first, but recall that *only* red light at moderate brightness doesn’t trigger the reaction- meaning that their response to red light is the same as everyone else, and other colors of light are responsible for the reaction.
That leads us to E, the correct answer, for the same reason that D is not correct- red is the only light that can be tolerated at moderate brightness.

The key to this argument lies in the relationship between dementia and watching TV. The age could also be a factor. We know that the people surveyed were dementia patients above the age of 70 and who watched more than six hours of television everyday. On that basis, it was concluded that people over 70 years of age should not watch more than 6 hours of television.

Let us examine the options.
Option A talks about people below the age of 70, which is out of scope. The conclusion is based on a survey of people above 70 years. So, Option A can be eliminated.

Option B is also out of scope because it discusses how to identify dementia. The argument is not about the symptoms of dementia. So, Option B can also be eliminated.

Option D is also out of scope. There is nothing in the passage about reversing the onset of dementia. The argument is about the causes of dementia. So, Option D can also be eliminated.

The passage deals with certain causes. To discuss other causes is out of scope. So, Option E can also be eliminated.

The passage states that watching more than 6 hours of TV causes dementia in people over 70 years of age. Option C reverses the cause-effect relationship by stating that it might be possible that being afflicted with dementia might make people want to watch more television. If that is so, the argument is weakened. On the other hand, if, being afflicted with dementia doesn’t make people want to watch more television, the argument will be strengthened.

Therefore, C provides information that will help us evaluate the argument best.

(A) The Rialto Bridge was built on unsafe pilings'
It is not mentioned in the passage
(B) The standard of refusal was not sufficient to ensure the safefy of a bridge.
Can't be infer from the passage
(C) Da Ponte's standard of refusal was less strict than that of other bridge builders of his day.
Can't be infer from the passage
(D) After 1588, no bridges were built on pilings that were driven to the point of refusal,
Opposite of what mentioned in passage
(E) It is possible that the pilings of the Rialto Bridge could have been driven deeper even after the standard of refusal had been met.

This type of question is what’s known as Explain the Paradox, a subcategory of Method of Reasoning questions. Something in the conclusion seems diametrically opposed to the evidence presented, and yet it is correct. Generally, some new piece of information in one of the answer choices will reconcile the seemingly opposing viewpoints. Let’s go through the choices and see which solves our dilemma.

Answer choice A indicates that the international demand for ivory has dropped significantly. If this were true, would it help explain why these governments have full support in selling excess ivory (like overstock.com)? Not really. If anything, the demand going down should dissuade anyone from trying to increase the supply of ivory as the price will drop dramatically. There’s no upside to selling ivory in this scenario.

Answer choice B indicates that most of the affected animals live outside of these three countries (although they may be expatriates). Regardless of where the animals are located, the ivory can always be shipped to South Africa or Botswana, so their initial location will not factor into the decision in any way. B is incorrect.

C indicates that flooding the market with ivory will dissuade future poaching, which is a logical and credible line of reasoning that would help reconcile both points made in the original statement. Poachers will not stop their practice just because it’s illegal if there is enough money to be made. If ivory can be freely and cheaply purchased elsewhere, then there is no need to risk legal ramifications by plying a trade that has been banned. C is a perfect solution to our paradox. For competition’s sake, we can look at D and E, although on the actual GMAT you should stop whenever you find the correct answer.

Answer choice D discusses what would happen to the ivory were it not used, inferring that there may be some cost or security concern involved in not selling the ivory. This is out of scope of the question, as selling ivory because upkeep costs are inconvenient would violate the entire purpose of the ivory moratorium. There may be some financial upside in selling the ivory, but it would not explain why the governments would have international support.

Answer choice E is somewhat tempting as it indicates that the rhinos and elephants may no longer be in danger of extinction. Logically, the animals need to be protected when they’re endangered, but when they’re running rampant then the conservation becomes unnecessary. However, had the number of animals climbed dramatically, a more logical reaction would be the removal of the moratorium, not the clandestine sale of some confiscated ivory. Answer choice E does not reconcile the paradox.

(A) The first provides evidence in support of the position that the argument seeks to establish; the second is that position.
As you can notice the first part agrees with our reasoning and not the second part - Half right, half wrong error

(B) The first provides evidence in support of the position that the argument seeks to establish; the second presents an assumption on which that argument relies.
This is in complete agreement with our structure that we observed. - Answer
(C) The first is an assumption that the argument concludes is unjustified; the second presents part of the grounds for that conclusion.
Both parts are wrong.
(D) The first is evidence that forms the basis for an objection to the position that the argument seeks to establish; the second is that position.
Half right, half wrong error

(E) The first is evidence that forms the basis for an objection to the position that the argument seeks to establish; the second is a judgment that is introduced in order to call into question the relevance of that evidence.
This is again a half right - half wrong answer...the second phrase is not a judgement, it too exaggerated/strong a term. The author has not judged anything here(he did not state anything is right or wrong).