Test: Resolve a Paradox - GMAT MCQ

(A) When premature babies are born, their retinas are developmentally unprepared to deal with light and air in the environment outside the womb.

This option suggests that the inherent developmental state of premature babies' retinas makes them vulnerable to damage when exposed to light and air outside the womb. This helps explain why premature babies may lose their sight despite improved prevention methods.

(B) The oxygen that must be administered to premature babies at birth can sometimes have a damaging effect on the babies' retinas, but the oxygen is now administered in less damaging concentrations than it used to be.

This option explains that although oxygen administration is necessary for premature babies, it can have a damaging effect on their retinas. The improvement in prevention methods includes administering oxygen in lower, less damaging concentrations. However, it suggests that even with these improvements, some babies may still experience retinal damage and lose their sight.

(C) The effects of retinopathy of prematurity can be reduced by controlling the exposure of premature babies to light and oxygen, but this method cannot completely prevent the syndrome.

This option acknowledges that controlling the exposure of premature babies to light and oxygen can help reduce the effects of retinopathy of prematurity but does not offer complete prevention. It suggests that despite implementing these control measures, some babies may still develop the syndrome and lose their sight.

(D) The improvement of methods to prevent retinopathy of prematurity has been a gradual process, and there is still a need for further knowledge.

This option suggests that although there have been improvements in preventing retinopathy of prematurity, the process has been gradual. It implies that there may be further knowledge or advancements needed to completely prevent the syndrome. This helps explain why the proportion of babies losing their sight has increased despite the improvements made so far.

(E) Improved medical technology is saving the lives of premature babies who would previously have died, but these babies have even more delicate retinas than other premature babies and are more apt to lose their sight.

This option points out that improved medical technology is now able to save the lives of premature babies who would not have survived in the past. However, it also states that these saved babies have even more delicate retinas than other premature babies. This increased delicacy makes them more susceptible to losing their sight, providing an explanation for the increased proportion of babies experiencing retinopathy of prematurity.

In summary, option (E) provides the most direct and specific explanation for the increased proportion of premature babies losing their sight despite improvements in prevention methods.

(A) The revenue had not shown any sign of increase in the last year.
This option suggests that the revenue of the company remained stagnant or did not show any growth over the past year. If this is true, it would imply that the recent good revenue in the last quarter was an anomaly or not sustainable. This lack of consistent revenue growth could explain the weak financial situation.

(B) Because of high revenue, more tax was paid in the last quarter than in any other of the past six quarters.
If the company had to pay a significantly higher amount of taxes in the last quarter due to the high revenue, it would have reduced the available funds for other expenses. This increased tax burden could have contributed to the weak financial situation, leading to a delay in paying employees' salaries.

(C) The payment structure demanded by XL is such that the revenues are realized almost three months after the completion of sales.
As mentioned earlier, this option suggests that there is a delay in receiving the revenue generated from sales. If the company follows a payment structure where revenue is realized three months after sales are completed, it means that the revenue from the last quarter's sales would not have been received at the beginning of the current quarter. This delay in revenue realization could explain the weak financial situation and the need to delay salary payments.

(D) The employees were informed that there will be a delay in salary disbursement owing to cash flow issues.
If the employees were explicitly informed about the delay in salary disbursement due to cash flow issues, it implies that the company faced challenges in managing its cash flow. This could indicate that even though the company had good revenue in the last quarter, it might have faced issues in converting that revenue into available cash, leading to a weak financial situation.

(E) The salary of each employee was increased to distribute profits earned during the last quarter.
This option suggests that the company decided to increase the salary of each employee using the profits earned in the last quarter. While this may have boosted employee morale, it would also have reduced the available funds for other expenses or investments in the company. If the increased salary expenses outweighed the profits earned, it could have contributed to the weak financial situation and the need to delay salary payments.

Overall, option (C) seems to be the most directly relevant in explaining the weak financial situation despite good revenue in the last quarter. However, it's essential to consider the potential impact of other factors as well.

A. While visible light enables essential processes required for nutrient absorption, ultraviolet light hinders some essential growth processes in plants.
This hypothesis suggests that while visible light is beneficial for nutrient absorption and growth processes, ultraviolet light has a negative effect on these processes. However, it does not directly address the role of oil in accelerating the growth and flowering of the saplings within a shorter time frame.

B. Reducing the intensity of light entering the greenhouse by only 15% results in saplings growing into flower-bearing plants within 45 days.
This hypothesis suggests that a reduction of light intensity by 15% results in saplings growing into flower-bearing plants within 45 days. However, it does not explain the specific role of oil in reducing the growth time of the saplings.

C. Oil smeared on the greenhouses has a high chance of seeping inside the greenhouse through the soil.
This hypothesis suggests that the oil smeared on the greenhouses has a high chance of seeping inside through the soil. While this information may be relevant to the context of oil application, it does not directly explain the contrast in growth time between oiled and non-oiled greenhouses.

D. The green wavelength in visible light – the spectrum of light known to reduce the rate of nutrient absorption among numerous plant species – has a hard time passing through an oiled transparent barrier.
This hypothesis proposes that the green wavelength in visible light, which is known to reduce the rate of nutrient absorption in many plant species, has difficulty passing through an oiled transparent barrier. This directly addresses the role of oil in obstructing the green wavelength of light, which in turn allows other beneficial wavelengths to reach the plants and accelerate their growth and flowering.

E. Greenhouses that aren’t smeared with oil allow light to pass through them with little loss in intensity.
This hypothesis suggests that non-oiled greenhouses allow light to pass through them with minimal loss in intensity. While this information is relevant to the context, it does not directly explain why the presence of oil accelerates flowering in the saplings.

Among these options, hypothesis (D) provides the most plausible and direct explanation for the contrast described. It highlights the role of the green wavelength of light being obstructed by the oiled transparent barrier, leading to a faster growth and flowering process in the saplings.

The best answer to explain NorthAir's decision not to improve its economy-class service, despite knowing that it could increase profits by doing so, is:

3. The number of people who would be willing to pay the high fares NorthAir charges for its business-class seats would decrease if its economy-class seating were more acceptable.

This option suggests that if NorthAir were to improve its economy-class service, it could lead to a decrease in demand for its more expensive business-class seats. This could ultimately reduce the overall profitability of the airline, which would explain why NorthAir chose not to make the improvements even though it would have increased revenue from economy-class passengers.

Therefore, this option provides a clear rationale that aligns with NorthAir's objective of improving profitability.

(A) More of the cars in Donia's capital city were made before 1993 than after 1993.
If a significant portion of the cars in the capital city were manufactured before 1993, it means they are not equipped with catalytic converters. Since these older cars are not subject to the requirement of catalytic converters, their emissions would still contribute to nitrogen dioxide pollution, leading to the insignificant decline in emissions.

(B) The number of new cars sold per year in Donia has declined slightly since 1993.
If the number of new cars being sold has decreased since 1993, it means there is a smaller proportion of newer cars with catalytic converters entering the capital city. If the decrease in new car sales is not offset by a significant decrease in older car usage, it could explain why nitrogen dioxide emissions have not declined significantly despite the presence of catalytic converters.

(C) Pollutants other than nitrogen dioxide that are emitted by automobiles have also been significantly reduced in Donia since 1993.
This option suggests that while other pollutants emitted by automobiles have been significantly reduced, nitrogen dioxide emissions may not have experienced the same level of reduction. If efforts have primarily focused on reducing other pollutants, it could explain why the decline in nitrogen dioxide emissions in the capital city has been insignificant.

(D) Many Donians who own cars made before 1993 have had catalytic converters installed in their cars.
If a significant number of car owners with vehicles manufactured before 1993 have voluntarily installed catalytic converters, it would reduce their nitrogen dioxide emissions. However, if there are still a substantial number of cars without catalytic converters in the capital city, it could offset the impact of newer cars with converters and result in only a negligible decline in nitrogen dioxide emissions.

(E) Most car trips in Donia's capital city are too short for the catalytic converter to reach its effective working temperature.
As explained earlier, catalytic converters need to reach a certain temperature to function optimally. If most car trips in the capital city are short, the converter may not reach its effective working temperature, limiting its ability to effectively reduce nitrogen dioxide emissions. This option provides a plausible explanation for the insignificant decline in emissions despite the presence of catalytic converters.

Among these options, option (E) provides the most direct explanation for the insignificant decline in nitrogen dioxide emissions in Donia's capital city.

(A) Under the current policy, professors at the state university are not required to increase the amount of research they publish each year.
This option suggests that the current policy does not mandate professors to increase their research output annually. If this is the case, the current professors may oppose the proposed policy change because they believe it would impose a higher workload and expectations on new faculty members without holding current professors to the same standards.

(B) In order to maintain their status at the university and earn salary bonuses, faculty must match the research output of their colleagues.
This option implies that the current professors' status and salary bonuses are tied to their research output and that they are required to match the research productivity of their colleagues. In this case, the current professors may oppose the proposed policy change because they fear that increased research requirements for new faculty would indirectly raise expectations for their own research output, placing additional pressure on them to maintain their status and bonuses.

(C) The quality of research that professors publish each year does not necessarily result in improved status among their colleagues.
This option suggests that the quality of research does not directly correlate with improved status among colleagues at the university. If this is true, the current professors may argue that increasing the quantity of research required for new hires would not necessarily lead to improved output or visibility of the university. They might oppose the policy change on the grounds that it places undue emphasis on quantity over quality.

(D) Other state universities have their own research requirements—in some cases, quite a bit above the standards of this university—for certain areas of study.
This option indicates that other state universities have higher research requirements, particularly in certain areas of study, compared to the current university. If this is the case, current professors may argue that the proposed policy change is unnecessary or excessive. They might oppose the policy change on the basis that it places the university at a disadvantage in terms of attracting and retaining talented faculty.

(E) Liberal Arts professors make up the majority of the university's professors and are currently required to publish a significantly greater amount of research than professors in the Sciences.
This option highlights a disparity in research requirements between different academic disciplines at the university, with Liberal Arts professors having higher research demands compared to professors in the Sciences. If this is true, current professors from the Liberal Arts field might oppose the policy change as it could exacerbate the existing imbalance and further burden their faculty members. They may argue for a more equitable distribution of research requirements across different disciplines.

(A) Black diamond owls less than 3 years old do not cause as much damage to trees as do black diamond owls who are between the ages of 3 and 20 years (their average lifespan).
This option suggests that younger black diamond owls cause less damage to trees compared to older owls. If this is true, the sprayed chemical that prevented reproduction may have primarily affected the population of younger owls, while the older owls that cause the most damage remained unaffected. As a result, the amount of damage to trees continued to increase significantly despite the reduced owl population.

(B) A small percentage of trees in Redfern National Park are harvested for lumber and replanted each year.
This option indicates that a portion of trees in the park is harvested for lumber and replanted annually. If this is the case, the damage caused by black diamond owls might be offset by the removal and replanting of trees. The newly replanted trees may be more susceptible to owl damage, leading to a continuous increase in damage despite the efforts to reduce the owl population.

(C) Black diamond owls are capable of reproducing at a rate greater than that of most other birds.
This option suggests that black diamond owls have a high reproductive rate compared to other birds. If this is true, the spraying of the chemical to prevent reproduction might not have been sufficient to significantly reduce the owl population. The owls may have continued to reproduce at a rapid rate, compensating for the reduction in numbers caused by the sprayed chemical.

(D) In addition to spraying trees, park officials placed nets designed to capture black diamond owls.
This option indicates that park officials used nets to capture black diamond owls in addition to spraying trees. If the nets were successful in capturing and removing some owls from the park, it would be expected to reduce the overall owl population and potentially curb the damage to trees. However, if the damage continued to increase significantly despite the use of nets, it suggests that the nets were not effective in capturing a significant number of owls, or the remaining owls were still causing substantial damage.

(E) The smaller number of owls in Redfern National Park made the park a more desirable destination for vacationers.
This option suggests that the reduction in the owl population made the park a more attractive destination for vacationers. While this information might provide a reason for increased human activity in the park, it does not directly explain why the damage to trees caused by black diamond owls continued to increase significantly. The increase in vacationers is not likely to directly contribute to owl damage, making this option less relevant to explaining the failure of the park officials' action.

A. Left-handedness is more common in primitive cultures with high rates of death by violence than in other primitive cultures.
This option introduces the idea that left-handedness might be more prevalent in primitive cultures with high rates of violence. However, it does not directly address the discrepancy between the low overall prevalence of left-handedness and the majority of top-level competitors in combat sports being left-handed. Therefore, it does not provide a resolution to the discrepancy.

B. Among top-level competitors in many non-combat sports, such as tennis and baseball, left-handedness is also much more common than in the general population.
This option suggests that left-handedness is more common among top-level competitors in non-combat sports as well. While this information may be interesting, it does not directly address the discrepancy in combat sports between the low overall prevalence of left-handedness and the majority of top-level competitors being left-handed. Thus, it does not provide a resolution to the discrepancy.

C. In many cultures, children are discouraged from performing tasks with their left hands, even if the left hand is their dominant hand.
This option highlights a cultural practice of discouraging the use of the left hand in many societies, even if it is the dominant hand. This cultural discouragement may lead to a suppression of left-handedness and a preference for right-handedness. While this information sheds light on the potential cultural factors influencing left-handedness, it does not directly explain why a majority of top-level competitors in combat sports worldwide are left-handed. Therefore, it does not resolve the discrepancy presented.

D. Because left-handedness is so rare, opponents of left-handed fighters are ill-equipped to handle the positions and angles from which those fighters attack.
This option suggests that the rarity of left-handedness could give left-handed fighters an advantage because their opponents are not accustomed to facing them. The unfamiliarity with left-handed fighting styles could lead to difficulties in countering their attacks. This explanation aligns with the observed discrepancy of a majority of top-level competitors in combat sports being left-handed, despite left-handedness being less common overall. Therefore, option (D) provides the most plausible resolution to the discrepancy.

E. A significant number of left-handed competitors in combat sports have trained under coaches who have forced them to fight from right-handed positions and angles.
This option suggests that left-handed competitors in combat sports have been trained to fight from right-handed positions and angles by their coaches. While this may be an interesting observation, it does not directly explain why a majority of top-level competitors in combat sports worldwide are left-handed. It also does not account for the low overall prevalence of left-handedness. Therefore, it does not provide a resolution to the discrepancy presented.

A) Between 1995 and 2005, the number of bus stops increased dramatically.
This option suggests that there was a significant increase in the number of bus stops during the given period. However, while this information may affect factors such as accessibility and convenience for passengers, it does not directly explain why the increase in boardings exceeded the increase in the number of bus trips. Therefore, it does not provide a clear explanation for the discrepancy.

B) Between 1995 and 2005, the total distance of the average bus trip increased significantly.
This option indicates that there was a notable increase in the total distance covered by the average bus trip during the specified period. While this information might impact factors such as travel time and route planning, it does not directly address why the increase in boardings exceeded the increase in the number of bus trips. Thus, it does not provide a resolution to the discrepancy.

C) Between 1995 and 2005, the proportion of bus trips requiring passengers to make a connection en route to their final destinations increased significantly.
This option explains that the proportion of bus trips requiring passengers to make connections en route to their final destinations significantly increased during the given period. Since each connection would count as a new boarding, this would contribute to the higher increase in boardings compared to the increase in the actual number of bus trips. Therefore, option (C) provides the most relevant explanation for the given discrepancy.

D) The proportion of business travelers using buses increased significantly between 1995 and 2005 relative to the proportion of pleasure travelers.
This option suggests that there was a notable increase in the proportion of business travelers using buses compared to pleasure travelers during the specified period. However, while this information may shed light on the demographics of bus passengers, it does not directly address why the increase in boardings exceeded the increase in the number of bus trips. Hence, it does not resolve the discrepancy effectively.

E) The average seating capacity of buses increased significantly between 1995 and 2005.
This option indicates that the average seating capacity of buses experienced a significant increase during the given period. While this may impact factors such as passenger comfort and availability of seats, it does not directly explain why the increase in boardings exceeded the increase in the number of bus trips. Therefore, it does not provide a clear resolution to the discrepancy.

In summary, option (C) is the most relevant and provides the best explanation for the given discrepancy, as it directly addresses the increase in boardings due to the higher proportion of bus trips requiring passengers to make connections en route to their final destinations.

A. Only a very small part of the 70 percent of operating expenses paid by the restaurant chain for employee compensation goes to pay managers.
This option suggests that most of the employee compensation goes to non-managerial positions. However, it does not directly explain why the profits increased substantially despite the higher labor costs.

B. People who earn minimum wage, or who rely on the earnings of others who do, comprise most of the restaurant chain’s customer base.
This option implies that the increase in minimum wage has led to an increase in disposable income for the restaurant's customer base. As a result, more customers can afford to eat at G. Handy's, which explains the rise in profits.

C. Other expenses of the restaurant chain rose dramatically after the wage hike, for reasons unrelated to the minimum wage raise.
If this option is true, it suggests that the increase in profits can be attributed to factors other than the rise in labor costs. This would explain the apparent paradox.

D. The restaurant chain decided to increase wages for managerial employees who were making slightly more than minimum wage simultaneously with the minimum wage increase.
While this option addresses the increase in wages for managerial employees, it does not directly resolve the paradox. It does not explain why the overall profits of the restaurant chain rose substantially despite the higher labor costs.

E. Cashiers and cooks, who are usually paid minimum wage, comprise most of the staff at the restaurant chain.
This option highlights the fact that the majority of the staff, including cashiers and cooks, are paid minimum wage. However, it does not directly address the apparent paradox of increased profits despite higher labor costs.

Among the given options, the one that most helps to resolve the apparent paradox is option B. If the majority of G. Handy's customer base consists of people who earn minimum wage or rely on the earnings of others who do, the increase in minimum wage would lead to higher disposable income for these individuals. This, in turn, would result in more customers patronizing the restaurant chain, ultimately explaining the substantial rise in profits despite the increase in labor costs.