Test: Inference - GMAT MCQ

The text tells us that celiac disease results when the body mistakes gluten for a harmful pathogen, causing damage to the intestine. We are also told that gluten is a protein found in certain grains, and that people suffering from celiac disease must eliminate it from their diets. Finally, we are told that symptoms of the disease include cramps, bloating, and anemia. We need to find an answer choice that is inferable from these facts alone.
(A) Anemia is just one of several symptoms of the disease. We do not know whether everyone who has the disease will also develop anemia.
(B) We do not know whether eliminating gluten will cure the disease, only that people with the disease must not eat gluten. Perhaps the disease will exist anyway in a latent form.
(C) We do not know whether the symptoms mentioned are also symptoms of other conditions.
(D) We do not know whether gluten is found only in grains. It may exist in other foods as well.
(E) If the body mistakes gluten for a harmful pathogen, then it must be true that the body cannot always recognize harmless substances.

The passage suggests that childhood events can have a significant impact on a person's thoughts and habits, and that gaining insights into these events can be valuable in understanding a patient's fears and insecurities. From this information, we can infer that childhood experiences can shape the way an adult's mind works (Option E).

Let's go through the other answer choices to further clarify:

(A) The passage does not explicitly state that adults have psychiatric problems similar to those of children. It focuses on the impact of childhood events on adult psychiatric problems, but it does not make a direct comparison between adult and child psychiatric problems.

(B) The passage does not state that solutions to mental illnesses are always associated with the causes of such illnesses. While it suggests that gaining insights into childhood events can be important in understanding adult psychiatric problems, it does not imply that understanding the causes will always lead to solutions.

(C) The passage does not make any direct comparisons between a child's mind and an adult's mind. It emphasizes the impact of childhood events on an adult's thoughts and habits, but it does not suggest that the similarities between a child's mind and an adult's mind are greater than previously believed.

(D) The passage does not state that knowledge of the causes of psychiatric illnesses is a necessary component of reliable methods for dealing with them. It suggests that understanding a patient's fears and insecurities based on their childhood events can be valuable, but it does not explicitly link this to the causes of illnesses.

Therefore, the correct inference based on the information in the passage is that childhood experiences can shape the way an adult's mind works (Option E).

The given information states that the chances of contracting a disease, specifically a heart attack in this case, depend more on lifestyle than on genetic makeup. It provides a comparison between a sixty-year-old man living a San-Franciscan lifestyle and a sixty-year-old man living a Japanese lifestyle.

The probability of a heart attack for the San-Franciscan man is stated to be 5%, while for the Japanese man, it is 1%. Additionally, the information mentions that if Japanese people adopt the San Franciscan lifestyle, their risk of a heart attack at 60 increases to 5%.

Now let's evaluate the options:

(A) Person's genetics make up has little impact while determining their likelihood of having a heart attack.

This option aligns with the given information, as it states that lifestyle has more influence than genetic makeup on the likelihood of a heart attack. However, the given information does not explicitly mention that genetics have little impact. It only emphasizes that lifestyle plays a significant role.

(B) Heart attacks are virtually non-existent for people younger than 60 years of age.

The given information does not provide any data or discussion about the occurrence of heart attacks for people younger than 60 years old. Therefore, this option cannot be inferred from the given information.

(C) When determining the probability of a heart attack of identical groups of Japanese people at 60, a greater weight should be given to the kind of lifestyle they lead than to their genetic makeup.

This option directly aligns with the information provided. It states that when determining the probability of a heart attack for identical groups of Japanese people at 60, lifestyle should be given more weight than genetic makeup. This inference is supported by the fact that adopting the San Franciscan lifestyle increases the risk of a heart attack to 5% for Japanese people.

(D) A diet composed of shellfish, such as those consumed by the Japanese, helps prevent coronary heart disease more than a beef-filled diet prevalent in the West.

The given information does not discuss the impact of specific diets, such as shellfish or beef, on preventing coronary heart disease. Therefore, this option cannot be inferred from the given information.

(E) The life expectancy of Japanese people living in San Francisco is lower than those who live in Japan.

The given information does not provide any data or discussion about the life expectancy of Japanese people living in San Francisco or make any comparison between their life expectancy and those living in Japan. Therefore, this option cannot be inferred from the given information.

Based on the analysis, the correct answer is (C): When determining the probability of a heart attack of identical groups of Japanese people at 60, a greater weight should be given to the kind of lifestyle they lead than to their genetic makeup. This inference is supported by the information that adopting the San Franciscan lifestyle increases the heart attack risk for Japanese people to 5%, highlighting the importance of lifestyle in determining the probability of a heart attack.

Statements:

• The price of health insurance as a percentage of an individual’s overall monthly income does not necessarily indicate quality of care.
• If it did, individuals who spent a greater percentage of their income on health insurance would receive better quality of care, or vice versa.

Now let's evaluate each answer choice:

(A) If individuals receiving free or reduced-cost health insurance from the government were removed from the sample, there would be a strong correlation between cost and quality of care.
This answer choice introduces the idea of removing a specific group from the sample, which is not mentioned in the original statements. Therefore, it cannot be properly inferred from the given information. Thus, option A is incorrect.

(B) Reducing an individual’s spending on health insurance as a percent of their income will not necessarily lead to lower quality of care.
This answer choice aligns with the original statements. The statements suggest that the percentage of income spent on health insurance does not indicate the quality of care. Therefore, reducing the percentage of income spent on health insurance does not necessarily lead to lower quality of care. This inference can be logically derived from the given information. Thus, option B is correct.

(C) Looking at the dollar amount spent on health insurance rather than the percentage would show a correlation between the amount of money spent and quality of care.
This answer choice introduces a new concept of considering the dollar amount spent on health insurance instead of the percentage. The original statements only focus on the percentage of income, not the dollar amount. Therefore, this cannot be properly inferred from the given information. Thus, option C is incorrect.

(D) It is probable that individuals who spend more on health insurance, in fact, get a lower quality of care than those who spend less on health care.
The original statements do not provide any information that suggests individuals who spend more on health insurance receive lower quality of care. This answer choice introduces an opposite claim to the original statements, making it an invalid inference. Thus, option D is incorrect.

(E) Individuals who spend the greatest percentage of their income on health insurance never receive high-quality care from medical providers.
The original statements do not make any claims about individuals who spend the greatest percentage of their income on health insurance never receiving high-quality care. This answer choice makes an extreme claim that goes beyond the information provided, so it cannot be properly inferred. Thus, option E is incorrect.

Therefore, the correct answer is (B). Reducing an individual’s spending on health insurance as a percent of their income will not necessarily lead to lower quality of care.

Let's analyze each answer choice to determine which one is most strongly supported by the information in the passage:

(A) More car manufacturers should work to reduce emissions from their vehicles instead of building large, gas-guzzling vehicles. The passage mentions that women are more likely to choose cars based on environmental friendliness. While this supports the idea that car manufacturers should focus on reducing emissions, it does not necessarily mean they should stop building large, gas-guzzling vehicles altogether. The passage does not provide specific information on the preference of women regarding vehicle size or fuel consumption. Therefore, this answer choice is not strongly supported by the information in the passage.

(B) Most purchasers of minivans are women who drive their children to multiple places and thus appreciate the size, safety, and convenience of minivans. The passage does mention that women notice details like a back seat that allows them to reach children in child seats. However, it does not specifically state that most purchasers of minivans are women. The passage does not provide any data or statistics to support this claim. Therefore, this answer choice is not strongly supported by the information in the passage.

(C) All car manufacturers should conduct careful market research to determine what their customers want in vehicles. The passage does mention that only a few car models have been designed with women in mind and that these vehicles outsell others by a huge margin. This suggests that car manufacturers should conduct careful market research to determine what women want in vehicles. However, the passage does not provide information about what other customers want or the importance of market research for them. Therefore, while this answer choice is somewhat supported by the information in the passage, it is not the most strongly supported.

(D) Car manufacturers that design cars according to female tastes can earn larger profits than those who do not. The passage mentions that vehicles designed with women in mind outsell others by a huge margin. This suggests that car manufacturers that design cars according to female tastes can indeed earn larger profits than those who do not. This answer choice is strongly supported by the information in the passage.

(E) Because station wagons were very popular with women in the 1970s and 1980s, car manufacturers should make more station wagons to maximize profits. The passage does not mention anything about station wagons or their popularity among women in the 1970s and 1980s. Therefore, this answer choice is not supported by the information in the passage.

Based on the analysis above, the answer choice that is most strongly supported by the information in the passage is (D) Car manufacturers that design cars according to female tastes can earn larger profits than those who do not.

Let's analyze each answer choice and see which one is most strongly supported by the given information.

(A) West Nile virus will never be a common disease among humans.
This statement cannot be strongly supported by the given information. While it is mentioned that humans can catch West Nile virus, there is no information regarding the prevalence or likelihood of it becoming a common disease among humans.

(B) West Nile virus is most common in those parts of North America with the highest density of mosquitoes.
The given information does not mention anything about the correlation between the density of mosquitoes and the prevalence of West Nile virus. It only discusses the transmission of the virus through mosquito bites.

(C) Some people who become infected with West Nile virus never show symptoms of illness.
The given information does not provide any details about whether infected individuals show symptoms or not. It focuses on the transmission and spread of the virus rather than its impact on human health.

(D) West Nile virus infects more people in northern Africa than it does in North America.
The information given does not compare the infection rates between northern Africa and North America. It only mentions that the virus was originally detected in northern Africa and spread to North America in the 1990s.

(E) West Nile virus was not carried to North America via an infected person.
This statement is strongly supported by the given information. It is stated that the virus was originally detected in northern Africa and spread to North America in the 1990s, indicating that it was not carried by an infected person but rather through other means, such as infected birds or mammals.

Therefore, the answer that is most strongly supported by the given information is (E) West Nile virus was not carried to North America via an infected person.

Let's analyze each option and determine which ones can be inferred from the letter:

(A) The number of applicants for summer jobs in the government office exceeded the number of summer jobs available.
This can be inferred from the statement that "funding for summer jobs is limited, and it is impossible for us to offer jobs to all those who want them." If funding is limited, it implies that there are more applicants than available positions.

(B) The applicant who received the letter was considered highly qualified.
The letter states that "we are forced to reject many highly qualified applicants." While it suggests that there were highly qualified applicants, it does not explicitly state that the recipient of the letter was one of them. So, this option cannot be inferred from the letter.

(C) Very little funding was available for summer jobs in the government office.
The letter mentions that "funding for summer jobs is limited," which implies that there is a constraint on the available funding. However, it does not provide specific information about whether the funding is "very little" or just limited. Therefore, this option cannot be inferred from the letter.

(D) The application of the person who received the letter was considered carefully before being rejected.
The letter does not provide any information regarding the evaluation process of the recipient's application. It only mentions that they are unable to offer a position, but it does not indicate whether the application was carefully considered. Thus, this option cannot be inferred from the letter.

(E) Most of those who applied for summer jobs were considered qualified for the available positions.
The letter states that they are forced to reject many highly qualified applicants. While this implies that a significant number of applicants were considered qualified, it does not specify whether "most" of them were qualified. Therefore, this option cannot be inferred from the letter.

In conclusion, option (A) can be inferred from the letter, while options (B), (C), (D), and (E) cannot be inferred.

Statement: In each of the past three years, the domestic products division has accounted for roughly 20 percent of dollar sales and 40 percent of profits, while the commercial products division accounted for the balance.

(A) Total dollar sales for each of the company's divisions have remained roughly constant.
There is no information given about the change in total dollar sales for each division over the past three years. The statement only provides information about the proportions of dollar sales and profits for each division, but it does not indicate whether the total dollar sales have remained constant or not. Therefore, we cannot infer this from the given statement.

(B) The domestic products division has faced stiffer competition in its markets than has the commercial products division.
The statement does not provide any information about the level of competition faced by each division in their respective markets. It only gives information about the proportions of dollar sales and profits. Therefore, we cannot infer this from the given statement.

(C) The commercial products division has realized lower profits per dollar of sales than has the domestic products division.
The statement clearly states that the domestic products division accounts for roughly 20 percent of dollar sales and 40 percent of profits. Since the domestic products division has a smaller share of dollar sales but a larger share of profits, we can infer that the domestic products division has realized higher profits per dollar of sales compared to the commercial products division. Therefore, this inference can be made from the given statement.

(D) The product mix offered by each of the company's divisions has remained unchanged.
The statement does not provide any information about the change in the product mix offered by each division over the past three years. It only gives information about the proportions of dollar sales and profits. Therefore, we cannot infer this from the given statement.

(E) Highly profitable products accounted for a higher percentage of the commercial products division's sales than those of the domestic products division.
The statement does not provide any information about the profitability of specific products or the percentage of highly profitable products in each division's sales. It only gives information about the proportions of dollar sales and profits. Therefore, we cannot infer this from the given statement.

Therefore, the only valid inference that can be made from the given statement is:

(C) The commercial products division has realized lower profits per dollar of sales than has the domestic products division.

(A) Sensations of nausea are never present when vasopressin is at low levels.
This option does not directly address the relationship between nausea and vasopressin levels. The argument does not claim that nausea is never present when vasopressin is at low levels, so this assumption is not necessary for the argument.

(B) High levels of vasopressin have no effect on the body other than to cause sensations of nausea.
This option presents a very strong claim that high levels of vasopressin only cause sensations of nausea and no other effects. However, the argument does not provide any information about other potential effects of vasopressin. Therefore, this assumption is not required for the argument.

(C) Sensations of nausea and high levels of vasopressin do not have a common cause that makes them occur together.
This option is directly relevant to the argument. The argument suggests two possibilities: either nausea triggers the production of vasopressin or high levels of vasopressin cause nausea. This assumption states that there is no common cause that leads to both sensations of nausea and high levels of vasopressin occurring together. If there were a common cause, it would weaken the argument's claim that one directly causes the other. Therefore, this assumption is necessary for the argument.

(D) Mild nausea causes the release of small quantities of vasopressin, and high levels of vasopressin cause intense nausea.
This option introduces a new concept of mild nausea causing the release of small quantities of vasopressin and high levels of vasopressin causing intense nausea. The argument does not mention different levels of nausea or their relationship to vasopressin levels. Therefore, this assumption goes beyond the scope of the argument and is not necessary.

(E) People differ in the blood level of vasopressin that is normal for them.
This option introduces the concept that people have different normal blood levels of vasopressin. While individual differences in vasopressin levels may exist, the argument does not depend on this assumption. The argument focuses on the relationship between high vasopressin levels and sensations of nausea, not the variation in normal levels among individuals.

Based on the above analysis, the assumption that the argument relies on is (C) - Sensations of nausea and high levels of vasopressin do not have a common cause that makes them occur together.

The given information states that from 1994 to 2001, the violent crime rate in New York City decreased by over 50%, while the national violent crime rate in the United States decreased by 28% during the same period. It also mentions that proactive policing tactics like "broken window policing" contributed to the decrease in crime.

(A) The information does not suggest that the decrease in the total crime rate in the United States caused the decrease in New York City's crime rate. The focus is on New York City's specific policing tactics and their impact on crime rates. Therefore, option (A) is not supported.

(B) The information does not provide any data or comparison on per capita spending on law enforcement in New York City versus the rest of the United States. There is no evidence to support option (B).

(C) While the information highlights the positive impact of proactive policing tactics in New York City, it does not provide enough evidence to conclude that if the rest of the United States were to adopt similar tactics, national violent crime rates would continue to fall. Option (C) is not supported.

(D) The information indicates that the violent crime rate in New York City decreased from 1994 to 2001. However, it does not directly state whether the crime rate in New York City was consistently higher than the national average during that period. Without additional information, we cannot definitively support or reject option (D).

(E) The information does not provide enough evidence to conclude whether the violent crime rate in New York City will soon be below the national average. Therefore, option (E) is not supported.

Based on the analysis above, the best-supported conclusion is that option (D) cannot be definitively supported given the information provided.