Test: Conclusion - GMAT MCQ

The information provided allows us to make certain conclusions about eye-related diseases among Americans. Let's analyze each option:

A) Conjunctivitis will remain the most common eye-related disease among Americans in 2010.

• The passage states that in 1994, conjunctivitis was the most common eye-related disease among Americans.
• There is no information provided that suggests a change in the prevalence or incidence rate of conjunctivitis in the future.
• Therefore, we cannot conclude that conjunctivitis will remain the most common eye-related disease in 2010.

B) By the year 2010, glaucoma will overtake conjunctivitis as the most common eye-related disease.

• The passage mentions that glaucoma was a distant second to conjunctivitis in 1994.
• However, there is no information provided about the future prevalence or incidence rate of glaucoma.
• Therefore, we cannot conclude that glaucoma will become the most common eye-related disease by 2010.

C) More people will suffer from conjunctivitis in 2010 than did in 1994.

• The passage does not provide any information regarding changes in the number of people suffering from conjunctivitis.
• There is no basis to conclude that the number of conjunctivitis cases will increase or decrease by 2010.

D) Most Americans will encounter either conjunctivitis or glaucoma by 2010.

• The passage does not provide information on the overall prevalence of eye-related diseases among Americans.
• It only mentions conjunctivitis and glaucoma as specific examples.
• We cannot generalize from the given information to conclude that most Americans will encounter either conjunctivitis or glaucoma by 2010.

E) The average age of Americans suffering from conjunctivitis will increase between 1994 and 2010.

• The passage states that glaucoma is more common among patients over 50 years old compared to those who are 50 or younger.
• It is also mentioned that the average age of all Americans is expected to exceed 50 by the year 2010.
• Since the incidence rate for conjunctivitis is the same for people of all ages, and the average age of Americans is increasing, it is reasonable to conclude that the average age of Americans suffering from conjunctivitis will increase between 1994 and 2010.

Conclusion: Based on the given information, the most proper conclusion that can be drawn about eye-related diseases is:

• (e) The average age of Americans suffering from conjunctivitis will increase between 1994 and 2010.

The argument focuses on the relationship between chocolate consumption, stress, and acne. It challenges the common belief that eating chocolate directly causes acne outbreaks and suggests that stress-induced hormonal changes could be the primary cause. Let's break down the main points of the argument:

1. Eating chocolate is often believed to cause acne outbreaks.
2. People who are susceptible to acne may observe a connection between consuming large amounts of chocolate and experiencing acne.
3. However, the argument suggests that this common wisdom may be mistaken and that stress-related hormonal changes could be the real cause of acne.
4. Several recent scientific studies indicate that hormonal changes associated with stress can cause acne.
5. People who are fond of chocolate tend to eat more chocolate when they are under stress.
6. Therefore, it is less likely that eating large amounts of chocolate directly causes acne. Instead, both chocolate consumption and acne outbreaks could be attributed to stress.

The main point of the argument is effectively captured in option (D) because it highlights the likelihood of stress being the common factor behind both chocolate consumption and acne, rather than chocolate being the direct cause of acne.

The passage states that when a global IT giant, such as Microsoft or Intel, buys a major stake in a startup information technology company, it is a reliable indicator of the startup's success. This implies that the business focus and products of the startup must be on target for it to attract investment from such big IT firms. Therefore, option E is the best conclusion that can be drawn from the passage.

• A is not supported by the passage, as it doesn't mention the research process of Microsoft and Intel.
• B is too extreme and not supported by the passage. The passage doesn't imply that a startup cannot be taken seriously without a reputed company's investment.
• C is partially correct, but E is more precise and directly supported by the passage.
• D is not supported by the passage, as it doesn't mention the investment behavior of other venture capitalists.

To complete the passage and avoid excessively restrictive controls on the quality of exhaust fumes, it must be shown that:

Relevant Options:

(A) any uniform controls that are adopted are likely to be implemented without delay

• This option addresses the implementation of uniform controls but does not directly address the concern of avoiding excessively restrictive controls or the need to demonstrate a causal relationship between specific sources of fumes and environmental damage. It is not the best completion for the passage.

(B) environmental damage already inflicted on the Beaumont forest is reversible

• This option focuses on the reversibility of environmental damage. While it is relevant to the topic of air pollution and its impact on the Beaumont forest, it does not directly address the need to avoid excessively restrictive controls or establish a causal relationship. It is not the best completion for the passage.

(C) the members favoring uniform controls are those representing bodies that generate the largest quantities of exhaust fumes

• This option addresses the composition of the members favoring uniform controls, suggesting that they represent bodies generating the largest quantities of exhaust fumes. However, it does not directly address the need to avoid excessively restrictive controls or establish a causal relationship. It is not the best completion for the passage.

(D) all of any given pollutant that is to be controlled actually reaches Beaumont forest at present

• This option introduces the concept of the given pollutant reaching the Beaumont forest. It implies that to avoid excessively restrictive controls, it is necessary to demonstrate that all of the pollutant reaches the forest. This directly relates to the need for establishing a causal relationship between the specific source of fumes and environmental damage. It is a reasonable completion for the passage.

(E) any substance to be made subject to controls can actually cause environmental damage

• This option addresses the essential requirement mentioned in the passage. It states that in order to avoid excessively restrictive controls, it must be shown that any substance to be controlled can actually cause environmental damage. This directly relates to the need for establishing a causal relationship between the substance and the environmental damage. It is the best completion for the passage.

Therefore, the best completion for the passage is option (E): any substance to be made subject to controls can actually cause environmental damage.

• The passage mentions that the dogs bark and howl every time their owner lets them outside.
• It does not explicitly state that the dogs bark and howl specifically at 3 a.m.
• However, since the passage mentions that they bark and howl "every time" they are let outside, it can be inferred that if they are outside at 3 a.m., they will bark and howl at that time as well.

The passage provides two pieces of statistical information about the restaurant business in the United States. Both pieces of information are framed in terms of percentages. To draw a proper GMAT conclusion, we will need to find an answer choice that is directly in line with the statistical data cited in the passage.

(A) The passage makes no connection between the availability of energy-efficient equipment and a 30 percent reduction in energy costs.

(B) The passage provides no information about the annual energy costs of any industry except the restaurant business. While the passage states that the restaurant business wastes more energy than any other industry in the United States, it makes no claim about the amount spent on energy by the restaurant industry relative to other industries.

(C) The difference in relative energy savings accrued by a small restaurant as compared to that of a large restaurant is not addressed in the passage.

(D) According to the passage, $8 billion (80% of the $10 billion spent on energy each year) is squandered on inefficient equipment. This leaves $2 billion unaccounted for in the passage. This does not necessarily mean that some of this $2 billion is not squandered; it simply means that it is not squandered on inefficient equipment. It might, for example, be squandered on employees who forget to turn off the lights after closing.

(E) Since the waste attributed to the use of inefficient equipment accounts for 80% of the $10 billion spent on energy each year, savings from other sources could account for, at most, 20% of the $10 billion spent. Thus, the replacement of inefficient equipment represents – by far – the largest potential source of energy savings.

The argument states that impact craters caused by meteorites are found in the greatest density in geologically stable regions, suggesting that the lower rates of destructive geophysical processes in those regions explain the relatively greater abundance of identified craters. To properly draw this conclusion, we need to assume that the actual meteorite impacts have been scattered fairly evenly over the Earth's surface throughout Earth's geological history.

To see why this is the correct assumption, let's analyze the options:

(A) A meteorite that strikes exactly the same spot as an earlier meteorite will obliterate all traces of the earlier impact.

• This assumption is not necessary to support the conclusion. It deals with the obliteration of earlier impacts and does not address the distribution of impacts in geologically stable regions.

(B) Rates of destructive geophysical processes within any given region vary markedly throughout geological time.

• This assumption does not directly support the conclusion. It suggests that destructive geophysical processes vary over time but does not explain why geologically stable regions have a greater abundance of impact craters.

(C) The rate at which the Earth is struck by meteorites has greatly increased in geologically recent times.

• This assumption weakens the argument. If the rate of meteorite impacts has greatly increased in recent times, it would not explain the greater density of impact craters in geologically stable regions throughout Earth's history.

(D) Actual meteorite impacts have been scattered fairly evenly over the Earth's surface in the course of Earth's geological history.

• This assumption directly supports the conclusion. If meteorite impacts have been scattered fairly evenly over the Earth's surface throughout Earth's history, then the lower rates of destructive geophysical processes in geologically stable regions would explain the greater density of impact craters found there.

(E) The Earth's geologically stable regions have been studied more intensively by geologists than have its less stable regions.

• This assumption is not relevant to the conclusion. It discusses the intensity of geological studies in stable and less stable regions but does not explain the greater density of impact craters in geologically stable regions.

Based on the analysis above, option (D) is the correct assumption.

The strategy adopted by a company to maximize the benefits of transfer pricing would involve manipulating the prices of goods or services between its subsidiaries in different countries. Based on the given information, the company aims to minimize profits in high-tax countries and maximize them in low-tax countries. Let's analyze each option to determine which strategy aligns with this objective.

(A) Sell its subsidiary located in a high tax rate country products at low prices:

• This strategy would result in low profits for the subsidiary in the high-tax country, aligning with the objective of minimizing profits in high-tax countries. However, it does not maximize profits in low-tax countries. This option does not fully meet the company's objective.

(B) Charge its subsidiary located in a low tax rate country higher prices for products sold:

• This strategy would lead to higher profits for the subsidiary in the low-tax country, aligning with the objective of maximizing profits in low-tax countries. However, it does not minimize profits in high-tax countries. This option does not fully meet the company's objective.

(C) Pay its subsidiary located in a high tax rate country high prices for products bought:

• This strategy would increase expenses for the subsidiary in the high-tax country, resulting in lower profits and potentially reducing the tax liability in that country. However, it does not maximize profits in low-tax countries. This option does not fully meet the company's objective.

(D) Pay its subsidiary located in a low tax rate country low prices for products bought:

• This strategy would decrease expenses for the subsidiary in the low-tax country, leading to higher profits and potentially reducing the tax liability in that country. However, it does not minimize profits in high-tax countries. This option does not fully meet the company's objective.

(E) Pay its subsidiary located in a low tax rate country high prices for products bought:

• This strategy would increase expenses for the subsidiary in the low-tax country, resulting in lower profits and potentially reducing the tax liability in that country. Additionally, it would align with the objective of maximizing profits in low-tax countries. Moreover, by setting high prices for products bought, the subsidiary in the low-tax country can shift profits to that jurisdiction, taking advantage of the lower tax rates. This option fully meets the company's objective of minimizing profits in high-tax countries and maximizing them in low-tax countries.

Therefore, the strategy that aligns with the objective of maximizing the benefits of transfer pricing is: (E) Pay its subsidiary located in a low tax rate country high prices for products bought.

To analyze the given information and determine the proper conclusion, let's break down the options and evaluate them one by one:

Option (a): When four major studies all produce similar results, those studies must be accurate.

• This statement is not necessarily true. While it is possible that multiple studies producing similar results could indicate accuracy, it is not a conclusive guarantee. There could be other factors at play, such as shared biases or limitations in the study design.

Option (b): North American children have been progressively less physically active over the past 15 years.

• This statement is not supported by the given information. The information provided only states that the number of North American children who are obese has been increasing steadily, not that their physical activity levels have been decreasing.

Option (c): The number of North American children who are not obese increased over the past 15 years.

• This statement contradicts the information provided. The given information explicitly states that the number of North American children who are obese is steadily increasing. Therefore, option (c) is incorrect.

Option (d): Over the past 15 years, the number of North American children who are underweight has declined.

• There is no information given about the trends in the number of underweight children. The statement does not provide any evidence to support or reject this option, so we cannot draw a proper conclusion from the given information.

Option (e): The incidence of obesity in North American children tends to increase as the children grow older.

• This statement aligns with the given information. The information states that the number of North American children who are obese, defined as having more body fat than 85 percent of children their age, is steadily increasing. This suggests that as children grow older, the incidence of obesity tends to increase.

Based on the given information, the most appropriate conclusion is:

(C) The number of North American children who are not obese increased over the past 15 years.

However, it's important to note that the given information only focuses on the increase in the number of obese children and does not provide any direct evidence regarding the number of non-obese children. The conclusion in option (c) is a logical inference but cannot be definitively concluded solely based on the given information.

The argument presented suggests that research efforts to alter the climate of Mars are justified for several reasons. Let's break down the main points supporting this conclusion:

1. Technological possibility: The argument assumes that it is within the reach of human technology to make the climate of Mars inhabitable. While it acknowledges that it might take several centuries and the use of breathing apparatuses, it still suggests that the technological feasibility exists.

2. Comparison to great temples and cathedrals: The argument draws a parallel between the effort required to make Mars inhabitable and the construction of great temples and cathedrals. It implies that just as those structures took centuries to build, the process of making Mars habitable might also be a long-term endeavor. This comparison emphasizes the magnitude of the effort involved.

3. Justification for research efforts: The argument asserts that even if there is only a chance of making another planet inhabitable, it is still worthwhile to invest in research efforts. It suggests that the potential benefits and knowledge gained from such endeavors justify the allocation of resources and time.

4. Understanding Earth's climate: Another point made in the argument is that the intellectual exercise of understanding how to change the Martian atmosphere could aid in comprehending the atmospheric changes inadvertently triggered by human activity on Earth. By studying the processes involved in altering Mars' climate, scientists might gain insights into the consequences of human activities on our own planet.

In summary, the main point of the argument is that research efforts aimed at discovering how to change the climate of Mars are justified, considering the technological feasibility, the long-term nature of the endeavor, the potential benefits, and the potential insights into Earth's climate.