GMAT
This year, the number of applications at College X increased by nearly 5%, while the size of the entering class and the structure of the admissions process remained the same. However, the admissions director of College X claims that this year a greater proportion of its applicants received offers of admission from the college than in years past. Which of the following statements best reconciles the claim of the admissions director with other evidence presented in the argument?
Zoologists warn of an imminent surge in the number of bird species that will become extinct within this century. Nevertheless, these zoologists are wrong. One need only consider the information gathered on native North American raptors, such as bald eagles and peregrine falcons. Several of these species came close to vanishing between 1900 and 1970, but since 1970, the local populations of these raptors have rebounded.The answer to which of the following questions provides information that would be most helpful in evaluating the argument above?
Because of a rare type of fungus that killed off many cacao trees in Brazil, there was an unusually meager harvest of cacao beans this year. The wholesale price of cocoa solids and cocoa butter has increased significantly and is unlikely to fall in the foreseeable future. As a result, the retail price of chocolate is certain to increase within six months.Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument above?
The head baker at Barry's Bagels can either purchase flour in-person from the local flour mill, Larry's Local Mill, or order a shipment of flour from an out-of-state mill, Isadore's Interstate Mill. The cost of the flour from Isadore's Interstate Mill is 10 percent less than the cost of the flour from Larry's Local Mill. Even after shipping and handling fees are added, it is still cheaper to order flour that has to be shipped from Isadore's than to buy flour locally from Larry's.The statements above, if true, best support which of the following assertions?
In the United States, about $5,200 per person per year is spent on health care, while in Britain the amount is about half that. A recent study indicated that middle-aged white Americans have a significantly higher rate of diabetes and heart disease than do middle-aged white Britons. Even after eliminating from the study the lifestyle differences of diet, exercise, smoking, and drinking, the data showed that the Americans have poorer health than their British counterparts.The statements above, if true, best support which of the following assertions?
A researcher studying corporate executives found that they tend to have “take charge” personalities, with the predominant traits of assertiveness, decisiveness, and self-confidence. The researcher concluded that people who are more “take charge” than the average person are more likely to become corporate executives.Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the researcher's conclusion?
Ethanol is a derivative of corn and other grains. When burned as fuel, it emits significantly lower levels of carbon monoxide, a major atmospheric pollutant, than does gasoline. For that reason, environmentalists claim that ethanol is a better source of energy than gasoline.Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the environmentalists' claim?
The Ergonomic Society conducted a study that indicated that many people develop severe back problems during adulthood, and that virtually all such people who received chiropractic treatment showed great improvement. Therefore, in order to minimize the proportion of the population that suffers from back pain, the Ergonomic Society recommended that chiropractic treatment be directed toward those adults who suffer from severe back problems. Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?
Studies have demonstrated that people who keep daily diet records are far more successful at losing weight than people who don't keep track of what they eat. Researchers believe that this occurs because people who don't record their diets eat more calories than they intend to consume. One study followed a group of patients who reported that they could not lose weight when consuming only 1,200 calories a day. The study found that the group consumed, on average, 47% more calories than it claimed and exercised 51% less. In contrast, when dieters record what they eat, their actual consumption more closely matches their reported consumption.The two boldface portions in the argument above are best described by which of the following statements?
Many banks have a drive-through automated teller machine, built into the wall flanking the driver's side of a narrow aisle. Even though blind people obviously do not drive, these machines nonetheless invariably feature Braille – the system of raised dots used by the blind for reading and writing – in addition to the standard letters and numerals on their control panels.Which of the following, if true, does the most to explain the situation described?
On average, the number of speeding tickets issued in County X every year is three times greater than the number of speeding tickets issued in County Y during the same period. Therefore, the number of people who exceed the speed limit must be higher in County X than in County Y.Which of the following describes a flaw in the reasoning above?
Fashion Executive: Last year, our company had $5 million in revenue, and was featured in 8 major articles in the fashion press. This year, our company's revenue has practically quadrupled, so we should expect to be featured in at least 20 major articles in the fashion press. Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the fashion executive's reasoning in the above argument?
Company Spokesperson: This year, more than 70% of the guests who stayed with us over the past summer are planning to return to our resorts for a summer vacation. Therefore, I believe that we are well-positioned for another strong and profitable quarter.Industry Analyst: This is not necessarily true. Nearly three quarters of the company's profits come from the attendance of its theme parks located at its major resorts, and it is not certain how this segment will perform this summer.Which of the following statements, if true, would support the criticism of the Industry Analyst?
Parent: The city education department is unable to distinguish between annoyances and important problems. For instance, prohibiting students from having cell phones is an overreaction. If a student uses one and thus interferes with instruction, confiscate it. All in all, we need educational leadership that can solve problems, not create them. Which of the following is an assumption made by the parent?
Less than 10 percent of the world's people, and of the participants in combat sports worldwide, are left-handed. However, a majority of top-level competitors in combat sports worldwide are left-handed. Which of the following, if true, most helps to resolve the discrepancy presented in the passage?
The young orchestral conductor Sabado Domingo is a true prodigy, able to recognize when any single instrument in his orchestra is even a bit out of tune. In a recent test, an orchestra played a hundred selections from different well-known classical pieces; in approximately half of the selections, exactly one instrument would be played slightly out of tune. In every instance in which an instrument was played out of tune, Domingo pointed out that the orchestra was out of tune, and correctly identified the instrument at fault. Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the conclusion of the argument above?
Scientists have determined that an effective way to lower cholesterol is to eat three servings of whole grains every day. Studies have shown that the cholesterol levels of people who did so were significantly lower after six months than were those of people who did not, even though the cholesterol levels of the two groups had been the same before the studies began. Clearly, eating whole grains can have an appreciable effect on cholesterol levels. The answer to which of the following questions, if true, would be most useful in evaluating the claim about whole grains above?
For a contest at the upcoming county fair, Marie advocates for a ring toss because the ring toss is consistently the favorite activity of the children who attend the fair. Anne, however, points out that adults win most of the prizes when playing ring toss. To make the chances of winning fair for everyone, Anne proposes a raffle. Marie rebuts that those who can afford to spend more on raffle tickets will have better chances of winning. The two agree to hold a raffle in which each person can buy only one ticket.The two boldface portions in the argument above are best described by which of the following statements?
The ability to analyze genomes — sequences of DNA — has grown more and more sophisticated. Scientists are able to examine the biological past in finer detail and with greater accuracy. A new analysis of the genetic links between early humans and chimpanzees has led to a hypothesis that the two species diverged more recently than previous estimates indicated. This gives credence to a very startling new theory: the ancestors of humans and chimpanzees might have hybridized to produce the lineage from which modern humans eventually developed.What can be inferred from the statements above?
Cool Games Corporation derives all of its revenues through the sales of video games. Last year, it fell just short of making a profit although it had strong revenues of $200 million worldwide, half from children and half from adults. This year, the company's sales to children rose 20% to $120 million, but its sales to adults dropped 40% to a disappointing $60 million. One of the most renowned Wall Street analysts had forecasted that Cool Games Corporation would need to at least match its revenues of last year in order to have a chance to make a profit on video games this year. Upon hearing the news of the Cool Games Corporation's revenue, the analyst concluded that it was not possible for the company to have made a profit this year.The analyst's conclusion is based on which of the following assumptions?