Directions: These GMAT reading comprehension practice questions are based on the content of a passage. Read the passage carefully and choose the best answer to each of the questions on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage.
The study of cetacean intelligence has added to our understanding of dolphin behavior. Even though cetaceans, which are marine animals including dolphins, whales, and porpoises, are widely considered intelligent species, conclusions about the type and extent of dolphin intelligence have not yet been reached. However, there are several things that we do know about the ways in which dolphins communicate and behave in groups.
Researchers study the level of communication among dolphins because communication systems can offer insight into an animal’s intelligence. Dolphins produce two primary types of vocalizations called clicks and whistles. Dolphins generally use clicks for the purposes of echolocation and whistles for communication. Dolphins emit clicks as rapid broadband bursts that are sent out into their environment and then echo back, giving them information about their surroundings. Whistles differ from clicks by being sent out as narrow-band frequency modulated signals, which are for communications such as contact calls. Strong evidence supports the idea that dolphins use signature whistles to identify and call to each other.
One hypothesis called the “acoustic flashlight” hypothesis maintains that dolphins may be able to learn passively about their surroundings by listening in on the echolocative inspections of other dolphins. Scientists are researching this idea by looking at how dolphins participate in postural pointing, an activity that humans perform when they point a finger to direct another person towards an object or location.
Communication is also an important part of how dolphins behave in groups, which can range in size from a pair of dolphins to a pod of hundreds of individuals. Researchers have noticed that large packs rely on a highly organized method of communication when responding to predators, such as sharks. When a group of dolphins reacts to an unexpected disturbance, it will quickly move in near-unison to avoid the threat. In this way, dolphins rely on visual and auditory cues to communicate their location and to interpret the locations of others in the pod.
Question for RC Practice Questions - 1
Try yourself:According to the passage, rapid communication enables dolphins to:
Explanation
The correct answer is (B). The phrase "according to the passage" provides a clue to look directly to the passage for the answer. Notice that paragraph 4 discusses an example when dolphins move "quickly in near-unison to avoid a threat." This example explains how dolphins use rapid communication to move as a group to escape.
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Question for RC Practice Questions - 1
Try yourself:Which of the following is the function of the first paragraph?
Explanation
The correct answer is (C). This question is testing your ability to determine how one part of the passage relates to the whole. In general, the first paragraph of most essays will introduce the main idea. The first paragraph introduces the topic of the passage, namely that "there are several things that we do know about the ways in which dolphins communicate and behave in groups." The remainder of the passage discusses dolphin communication and behavior.
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Question for RC Practice Questions - 1
Try yourself:The passage suggests that postural pointing provides evidence of a dolphin’s ability to:
Explanation
The correct answer is (B). The word "suggests" in the question offers a clue telling you that the correct answer may not be stated directly in the passage but rather implied. Paragraph 3 states that the "acoustic flashlight" hypothesis relates to a dolphin's ability to "learn passively about their surroundings by listening in on the echolocative inspections of other dolphins." Notice that paragraph 2 states that dolphins use clicks "for the purposes of echolocation." Therefore, it can be inferred that dolphins learn by listening to the clicks of other dolphins since dolphins use clicks for the purposes of echolocation. Paragraph 3 also states that scientists are researching "this" idea (the acoustic flashlight theory) by looking at how dolphins participate in postural pointing, so it can be inferred that postural pointing provides evidence of a dolphin's ability to learn by listening to the clicks made by other dolphins.
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Question for RC Practice Questions - 1
Try yourself:It can be inferred from the passage that a dolphin would use clicks instead of whistles to:
Explanation
The correct answer is (B). Paragraph 2 discusses how dolphins use clicks and whistles. Notice that the passage states that dolphins "generally use clicks for the purposes of echolocation and whistles for communication." Since we are being asked to infer when a dolphin would use clicks, we're looking for an answer choice that offers an example of when a dolphin would want to locate something and eliminate examples of when a dolphin would want to communicate.
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Question for RC Practice Questions - 1
Try yourself:It can be inferred from the passage that if another animal does not have a communication system as highly advanced as that of a dolphin, then:
Explanation
The correct answer is (E). This question is testing our ability to make a general inference about dolphin communication and dolphin intelligence. Notice that the first sentence in paragraph 2 states that "researchers study the level of communication among dolphins because communication systems can offer insight into an animal’s intelligence." It can be inferred from this statement that dolphins are considered highly intelligent because they have a highly organized communication system. Therefore, if an animal does not have a communication system as highly advanced as a dolphin's, then the other animal is likely considered less intelligent than the dolphin.
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Question for RC Practice Questions - 1
Try yourself:The author of this passage is primarily concerned with:
Explanation
The correct answer is (D). Notice that each of the passage's paragraphs discuss some aspect of dolphin communication and behavior. The final paragraph explains how dolphins communicate in groups. The final sentence of the first paragraph establishes this focus, saying: "...there are several things that we do know about the ways in which dolphins communicate and behave in groups."
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