GMAT Reasoning Test 27.docx

GMAT Reasoning Test 27 No. 1997 1997 04 SECTION A Geologists Harris and Gass hypothesized that the Red Sea rift developed along the line of a suture (a splice in the Earth’s crust) formed during the late Proterozoic era, and that significant observable differences in the composition of the upper layers of rocks deposited on either side of the suture give clues to the different natures of the underlying igneous rocks. Other geologists argued that neither the upper rock layer nor the underlying igneous rocks on the one side of the rift differ fundamentally from the corresponding layers on the other side. These geologists believe, therefore, that there is inadequate evidence to conclude that a suture underlies the rift. In response, Harris and Gass asserted that the upper rock layers on the two sides of the rift had not been shown to be of similar age, structure, or geochemical content. Furthermore, they cited new evidence that the underlying igneous rocks on either side of the rift contain significantly different kinds of rare metals. 17. Part of the Harris and Gass hypothesis about the Red Sea rift would be weakened if it could be demonstrated that the composition of upper rock layers (A) cannot cause a suture to develop (B) has no effect on where a suture will occur (C) cannot provide information about the nature of underlying rocks (D) is similar on the two sides of a rift unless a suture divides the two sides?C? (E) is usually different from the composition of underlying rocks 18. It can be inferred from the passage that the “Other geologists” (line 8) would be most likely to agree with which of the following statements? (A) Similar geological features along both sides of a possible suture imply the existence of that suture. (B) Sutures can be discovered only where they are not obscured by superimposed geological features. (C) The composition of igneous rocks permits prediction of the likelihood of a rift developing through them. (D) It is possible to date igneous rocks by carefully studying the different kinds of rare metals contained in them and by observing their similarity to the layer of rock that lies above them.?E? (E) The existence of rock layers on one side of a rift that are similar in composition to rock layers on the other side suggests that no suture exists between the two sides. 19. It can be inferred from the passage that Harris and Gass have done which of the following? (A) Drawn detailed diagrams of the Red Sea rift. (B) Based their conclusions on the way in which sutures develop in the Earth’s crust. (C) Rejected other geologists objections to their hypothesis about the Red Sea rift. (D) Suggested that the presence of rare metals in rocks indicates an underlying suture.?C? (E) Asserted that rifts usually occur along the lines of sutures. 20. According to the passage, Harris and Gass have mentioned all of the following properties of rocks along the Red Sea rift EXCEPT: (A) age of the upper layers of rock (B) structure of the upper layers of rocks (C) geochemical content of the upper layers of rocks (D) metallic content of the underlying igneous rocks?E? (E) age of the underlying igneous rocks Proponents of different jazz styles have always argued that their predecessors’ musical style did not include essential characteristics that define jazz as jazz. Thus, 1940’s swing was belittled by beboppers of the 1950’s, who were themselves attacked by free jazzers of the 1960’s. The neoboppers of the 1980’s and 1990’s attacked almost everybody else. The titanic figure of Black saxophonist John Coltrane has complicated the arguments made by proponents of styles from bebop through neobop because in his own musical journey he drew from all those styles. His influence on all types of jazz was immeasurable. At the height of his popularity, Coltrane largely abandoned playing bebop, the style that had brought him fame, to explore the outer reaches of jazz. Coltrane himself probably believed that the only essential characteristic of jazz was improvisation, the one constant in his journey from bebop to open-ended improvisations on modal, Indian, and African melodies. On the other hand, this dogged student and prodigious technician—who insisted on spending hours each day practicing scales from theory books—was never able to jettison completely the influence of bebop, with its fast and elaborate chains of notes and ornaments on melody. Two stylistic characteristics shaped the way Coltrane played the tenor saxophone, he favored playing fast runs of notes built on a melody and depended on heavy, regularly accented beats. The first led Coltrane to “sheets of sound,” where he raced faster and faster, pile-driving notes into each other to suggest stacked harmonies. The second meant that his sense of rhythm was almost as close to rock as to bebop. Three recordings illustrate Coltrane’s energizing explorations. Recording Kind of Blue with Miles Davis, Coltrane found himself outside bop, exploring modal melodies. Here he played surging, lengthy solos built largely around repeated motifs—an organizing principle unlike that of free jazz saxophone player Ornette Coleman, who modulated or altered melodies in his solos. On Giant Steps, Coltrane debuted as leader, introducing his own compositions. Here the sheets of sound, downbeat accents, repetitions, and great speed are part of each solo, and the variety of the shapes of his phrases is unique. Coltrane’s searching explorations produced solid achievement. My Favorite Things was another kind of watershed. Here Coltrane played the soprano saxophone, an instrument seldom used by jazz musicians. Musically, the results were astounding. With the soprano’s piping sound, ideas that had sounded dark and brooding acquired a feeling of giddy fantasy. When Coltrane began recording for the Impulse! label, he was still searching. His music became raucous, physical. His influence on rockers was enormous, including Jimi Hendrix, the rock guitarist, who, following Coltrane, raised the extended guitar solo using repeated motifs to a kind of rock art form. 21. The primary purpose of the passage is to (A) discuss the place of Coltrane in the world of jazz and describe his musical explorations (B) examine the nature of bebop and contrast it with improvisational jazz (C) analyze the musical sources of Coltrane’s style and their influence on his work (D) acknowledge the influence of Coltrane’s music on rock music and rock musicians?A? (E) discuss the arguments that divide the proponents of different jazz styles 22. The author implies that which of the following would have been an effect of Coltrane’s having chosen to play the tenor rather than the soprano saxophone on My Favorite Things? (A) The tone of the recording would have been more somber. (B) The influence of bebop on the recording would have been more obvious. (C) The music on the recording would have sounded less raucous and physical. (D) His influence on rock music might have been less pervasive.?A? (E) The style of the recording would have been indistinguishable from that on Kind of Blue. 23. Which of the following best describes the organization of the fourth paragraph? (A) A thesis referred to earlier in the passage is mentioned and illustrated with three specific examples. (B) A thesis is stated and three examples are given each suggesting that a correction needs to be made to a thesis referred to earlier in the passage. (C) A thesis referred to earlier in the passage is mentioned, and three examples are presented and ranked in order of their support of the thesis. (D) A thesis is stated, three seemingly opposing examples are presented, and their underlying correspondence is explained.?A? (E) A thesis is stated, three dissimilar examples are considered, and the thesis is restated. 24. According to the passage, John Coltrane did all of the following during his career EXCEPT: (A) improvise on melodies from a number of different cultures (B) perform as leader as well as soloist (C) spend time improving his technical skills (D) experiment with the sounds of various instruments?E? (E) eliminate the influence of bebop on his own music 25. The author mentions the work of Ornette Coleman in the fourth paragraph in order to do which of the following? (A) Expand the discussion by mentioning the work of a saxophone player who played in Coltrane’s style. (B) Compare Coltrane’s solos with the work of another jazz artist. (C) Support the idea that rational organizing principles need to be applied to artistic work. (D) Show the increasing intricacy of Coltrane’s work after he abandoned bebop.?B? (E) Indicate disagreement with the way Coltrane modulated the motifs in his lengthy solos. 26. According to the passage, a major difference between Coltrane and other jazz musicians was the (A) degree to which Coltrane’s music encompassed all of jazz (B) repetition of motifs that Coltrane used in his solos (C) number of his own compositions that Coltrane recorded (D) indifference Coltrane maintained to musical technique?A? (E) importance Coltrane placed on rhythm in jazz 27. In terms of its tone and form, the passage can best be characterized as (A) dogmatic explanation (B) indignant denial (C) enthusiastic praise (D) speculative study?C? (E) lukewarm review SECTION B A special mucous coating that serves as a chemical camouflage allows clown fish to live among the deadly tentacles of the unsuspecting sea anemone (anemone: n. [?]??any of numerous usually solitary anthozoan polyps (order Actiniaria) whose form, bright and varied colors, and cluster of tentacles superficially resemble a flower). Utterly dependent on this unlikely host for protection from predators, clown fish have evolved in isolated communities, a pattern that has led to unusual behavioral adaptations. The rigidly defined hierarchy of each clown-fish community is dominated by a monogamous breeding pair consisting of the largest fish, a female, and the next largest, a male, attended by a fixed number of sexually immature fish ranging in size from large to tiny. A remarkable adaptation is that the development of these juveniles is somehow arrested until the hierarchy changes; then they grow in lockstep (lockstep: n.????;????a mode of marching in step by a body of men going one after another as closely as possible), maintaining their relative sizes. While the community thus economizes on limited space and food resources, life is risky for newly spawned clown fish. On hatching, the hundreds of larvae drift off into the plankton. If, within three weeks, the defenseless larval clown fish locates a suitable anemone (either by pure chance or perhaps guided by chemicals secreted by the anemone), it may survive. However, if an anemone is fully occupied, the resident clown fish will repel any newcomer. Though advantageous for established community members, the suspended and staggered maturation of juveniles might seem to pose a danger to the continuity of the community: there is only one successor for two breeding fish. Should one of a pair die, the remaining fish cannot swim off in search of a mate, nor is one likely to arrive. It would seem inevitable that reproduction must sometimes have to halt, pending (while awaiting) the chance arrival and maturation of a larval fish of the appropriate sex. This, however, turns out not to be the case. In experiments, vacancies have been contrived by removing an established fish from a community. Elimination of the breeding male triggers the prompt maturation of the largest juvenile. Each remaining juvenile also grows somewhat, and a minuscule newcomer drops in from the plankton. Removal of the female also triggers growth in all remaining fish and acceptance of a newcomer, but the female is replaced by the adult male. Within days, the male’s behavior alters and physiological transformation is complete within a few months. Thus, whichever of the breeding pair is lost, a relatively large juvenile can fill the void, and reproduction can resume with a minimal loss of time. Furthermore, the new mate has already proved its ability to survive. This transformation of a male into a female, or protandrous hermaphroditism, is rare among reef fish. The more common protogynous hermaphroditism, where females change into males, does not occur among clown fish. An intriguing question for further research is whether a juvenile clown fish can turn directly into a female or whether it must function first as a male. 17. The passage is primarily concerned with (A) analyzing the mutually advantageous relationship between two species (B) comparing two forms of hermaphroditism among clown fish (C) describing and explaining aspects of clown-fish behavior (D) outlining proposed research on clown-fish reproduction?C? (E) attempting to reconcile inconsistent observations of clown-fish development 18. It can be inferred from the passage that the clown fish is able to survive in close association with the sea anemone because the (A) sea anemone cannot detect the presence of the clown fish (B) tentacles of the sea anemone cannot grasp the slippery clown fish (C) sea anemone prefers other prey (D) clown fish does not actually come within the range of the sea anemone’s tentacles?A? (E) clown fish has developed tolerance to the sea anemone’s poison 19. According to the passage, adult clown fish would be at a disadvantage if they were not associated with sea anemones because the clown fish would (A) be incapable of sexual transformation (B) be vulnerable to predators (C) have no reliable source of food (D) have to lay their eggs in the open?B? (E) face competition from other clown fish 20. It can be inferred from the passage that sex change would have been less necessary for the clown fish if (A) the male clown fish were larger than the female (B) each sea anemone were occupied by several varieties of clown fish (C) many mature clown fish of both sexes occupied each sea anemone (D) juvenile clown fish had a high mortality rate?C? (E) both male clown fish and female clown fish were highly territorial 21. The author mentions all of the following as characteristic of the “rigidly defined hierarchy” (line 8) of the clown-fish community EXCEPT: (A) At any time only one female clown fish can be reproductively active (B) The mature clown fish are monogamous (C) The growth of clown fish is synchronized (D) The maximum number of clown fish is fixed?E? (E) There are equal numbers of male juveniles and female juveniles 22. Which of the following statements about newly hatched clown fish can be inferred from the passage? (A) They develop rapidly. (B) They remain close to the sea anemone occupied by their parents. (C) They are more sensitive to chemical signals than are adult clown fish. (D) They are not protected by their parents.?D? (E) They are less vulnerable to predation than are adult fish. 23. Which of the following, if true, would be LEAST consistent with the author’s explanation of the advantage of hermaphroditism for clown fish? (A) The number of individuals in a clown-fish community fluctuates significantly. (B) Adult clown fish frequently cannibalize their young. (C) The sea anemone tolerates clown fish only during a specific stage of the anemone’s life cycle. (D) Juvenile clown fish rarely reach maturity.?E? (E) Clown-fish communities are capable of efficiently recruiting solitary adult clown fish. Comparing designs in music with visual designs raises interesting questions. We are familiar with the easy transfers of terms denoting qualities from one field to another. The basic problem can be put this way: can music sound the way a design looks? The elements of music are not the same as those of painting. They may be analogous, but to be analogous is not to be identical. Is it possible, then, for the same broad characteristics to emerge from (emerge from: ?...??) different perceptual conditions? Two facts about the relation between broad characteristics of a work and their perceptual conditions must be kept distinct. First, the global characteristics of a visual or auditory complex are determined by the discernible parts and their relationships. Thus, any notable change in the parts or their relationships produces a change in some of the global characteristics. Second, a change in the parts or their relationships may leave other global characteristics unchanged. 24. In the first paragraph, the author is primarily concerned with establishing the fact that (A) comparisons are not equations (B) auditory phenomena are not visual phenomena (C) frequently used comparisons are usually inaccurate (D) careless perceptions result from careless thought?A? (E) questions concerning perception are psychological 25. In the passage, the author is primarily concerned with (A) distinguishing mutually exclusive categories (B) clarifying an apparent contradiction (C) supporting new ideas (D) analyzing a problem?D? (E) comparing opinions 26. The second paragraph is primarily concerned with establishing the idea that (A) different global characteristics of a work result from the same discernible parts (B) the parts of a work of art influence the total perception of the work (C) visual and auditory characteristics can be combined (D) changes in the parts of a work remain isolated from the work as a whole?B? (E) the visual complexes in a work of art influence the work’s auditory complexes 27. Which of the following statements is most likely be a continuation of the passage? (A) The search for broad similarities thus begins by understanding and distinguishing these two facts. (B) The search for musical-visual analogies thus depends on the complexity of the works being compared. (C) The search for music and art of the highest quality thus depends on very different assumptions. (D) Thus music and painting exist in mutually exclusive worlds.?A? (E) Thus music and painting are too complicated to be evaluated in terms of analogies. 1997 11 SECTION A Investigators of monkeys’ social behavior have always been struck by monkeys’ aggressive potential and the consequent need for social control of their aggressive behavior. Studies directed at describing aggressive behavior and the situations that elicit it, as well as the social mechanisms that control it, were therefore among the first investigations of monkeys’ social behavior. Investigators initially believed that monkeys would compete for any resource in the environment: hungry monkeys would fight over food, thirsty monkeys would fight over water, and, in general, any time more than one monkey in a group sought the same incentive simultaneously, a dispute would result and would be resolved through some form of aggression. However, the motivating force of competition for incentives began to be doubted when experiments like Southwick’s on the reduction of space or the withholding of food failed to produce more than temporary increases in intragroup aggression. Indeed, food deprivation not only failed to increase aggression but in some cases actually resulted in decreased frequencies of aggression. Studies of animals in the wild under conditions of extreme food deprivation likewise revealed that starving monkeys devoted almost all available energy to foraging, with little energy remaining for aggressive interaction. Furthermore, accumulating evidence from later studies of a variety of primate groups, for example, the study conducted by Bernstein, indicates that one of the most potent stimuli for eliciting aggression is the introduction of an intruder into an organized group. Such introductions result in far more serious aggression than that produced in any other types of experiments contrived to produce competition. These studies of intruders suggest that adult members of the same species introduced to one another for the first time show considerable hostility because, in the absence of a social order, one must be established to control interanimal relationships. When a single new animal is introduced into an existing social organization, the newcomer meets even more serious aggression. Whereas in the first case aggression establishes a social order, in the second case resident animals mob the intruder, thereby initially excluding the new animal from the existing social unit. The simultaneous introduction of several animals lessens the effect, if only because (=it is only because, if it is so?????????) the group divides its attention among the multiple targets. If, however, the several animals introduced to a group constitute their own social unit, each group may fight the opposing group as a unit; but, again, no individual is subjected to mass attack, and the very cohesion of the groups precludes prolonged individual combat. The submission of the defeated group, rather than unleashing unchecked aggression on the part of (on the part of: with regard to the one specified) the victorious group, reduces both the intensity and frequency of further attack. Monkey groups therefore see to be organized primarily to maintain their established social order rather than to engage in hostilities per se. 17. The author of the passage is primarily concerned with (A) advancing a new methodology for changing a monkey’s social behavior (B) comparing the methods of several research studies on aggression among monkeys (C) explaining the reasons for researchers’ interest in monkeys’ social behavior (D) discussing the development of investigators’ theories about aggression among monkeys?D? (E) examining the effects of competition on monkeys’ social behavior 18. Which of the following best summarizes the findings reported in the passage about the effects of food deprivation on monkeys’ behavior? (A) Food deprivation has no effect on aggression among monkeys. (B) Food deprivation increases aggression among monkeys because one of the most potent stimuli for eliciting aggression is the competition for incentives. (C) Food deprivation may increase long-term aggression among monkeys in a laboratory setting, but it produces only temporary increases among monkeys in the wild. (D) Food deprivation may temporarily increase aggression among monkeys, but it also leads to a decrease in conflict.?D? (E) Food deprivation decreases the intensity but not the frequency of aggressive incidents among monkey. 19. According to the author, studies such as Southwick’s had which of the following effects on investigators’ theories about monkeys’ social behavior? (A) They suggested that existing theories about the role of aggression among monkeys did not fully account for the monkeys’ ability to maintain an established social order. (B) They confirmed investigators’ theories about monkeys’ aggressive response to competition for food and water. (C) They confirmed investigators’ beliefs about the motivation for continued aggression among monkeys in the same social group. (D) They disproved investigators’ theory that the introduction of intruders in an organized monkey group elicits intragroup aggressive behavior.?E? (E) They cast doubt on investigators’ theories that could account for observed patterns of aggression among monkeys. 20. The passage suggests that investigators of monkeys social behavior have been especially interested in aggressive behavior among monkeys because (A) aggression is the most common social behavior among monkeys (B) successful competition for incentives determines the social order in a monkey group (C) situations that elicit aggressive behavior can be studied in a laboratory (D) most monkeys are potentially aggressive, yet they live in social units that could not function without control of their aggressive impulses?D? (E) most monkeys are social, yet they frequently respond to newcomers entering existing social units by attacking them 21. It can be inferred from the passage that the establishment and preservation of social order among a group of monkeys is essential in order to (A) keep the monkeys from straying and joining other groups (B) control aggressive behavior among group members (C) prevent the domination of that group by another (D) protect individuals seeking to become members of that group from mass attack?D? (E) prevent aggressive competition for incentives between that group and another 22. The passage supplies information to answer which of the following questions? (A) How does the reduction of space affect intragroup aggression among monkeys in an experimental setting? (B) Do family units within a monkey social group compete with other family units for food? (C) What are the mechanisms by which the social order of an established group of monkeys controls aggression within that group? (D) How do monkeys engaged in aggression with other monkeys signal submission??A? (E) Do monkeys of different species engage in aggression with each other over food? 23. Which of the following best describes the organization of the second paragraph? (A) A hypothesis is explained and counter evidence is described. (B) A theory is advanced and specific evidence supporting it is cited. (C) Field observations are described and a conclusion about their significance is drawn. (D) Two theories are explained and evidence supporting each of them is detailed.?A? (E) An explanation of a general principle is stated and specific examples of its operation are given. Analysis of prehistoric air trapped in tiny bubbles beneath the polar ice sheets and of the composition of ice surrounding those bubbles suggests a correlation between carbon dioxide levels in the Earth’s atmosphere and global temperature over the last 160,000 years. Estimates of global temperature at the time air in the bubbles was trapped rely on measuring the relative abundances of hydrogen and its heavier isotope, deuterium, in the ice surrounding the bubbles. When global temperatures are relatively low, water containing deuterium tends to condense and precipitate before reaching the poles; thus, ice deposited at the poles when the global temperature was cooler contained relatively less deuterium than ice deposited at warmer global temperatures. Estimates of global temperature based on this information, combined with analysis of the carbon dioxide content of air trapped in ice deep beneath the polar surface, suggest that during periods of postglacial warming carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere increased by approximately 40 percent. 24. In the passage, the author is primarily concerned with doing which of the following? (A) Describing a new method of estimating decreases in global temperature that have occurred over the last 160,000 years (B) Describing a method of analysis that provides information regarding the relation between the carbon dioxide content of the Earth’s atmosphere and global temperature (C) Presenting information that suggests that global temperature has increased over the last 160,000 years (D) Describing the kinds of information that can be gleaned from a careful analysis of the contents of sheets?B? (E) Demonstrating the difficulty of arriving at a firm conclusion regarding how increases in the amount of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere affect global temperature 25. It can be inferred from the passage that during periods of postglacial warming, which of the following occurred? (A) The total volume of air trapped in bubbles beneath the polar ice sheets increased. (B) The amount of deuterium in ice deposited at the poles increased. (C) Carbon dioxide levels in the Earth atmosphere decreased. (D) The amount of hydrogen in the Earth’s atmosphere decreased relatively the amount of deuterium.?B? (E) The rate at which ice was deposited at the poles increased. 26. The author states that there is evidence to support which of the following assertions? (A) Estimates of global temperature that rely on measurements of deuterium in ice deposited at the poles are more reliable than those based on the amount of carbon dioxide contained in air bubbles beneath the polar surface. (B) The amount of deuterium in the Earth’s atmosphere tends to increase as global temperature decreases. (C) Periods of postglacial warming are characterized by the presence of increased levels of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere. (D) Increases in global temperature over the last 160,000 years are largely the result of increases in the ratio of deuterium to hydrogen in the Earth’s atmosphere.?C? (E) Increases in global temperature over the last 160,000 years have been accompanied by decreases in the amount of deuterium in the ice deposited at the poles. 27. It can be inferred from the passage that the conclusion stated in the last sentence would need to be reevaluated if scientists discovered that which of the following were true? (A) The amount of deuterium in ice deposited on the polar surface is significantly greater than the amount of deuterium in ice located deep beneath the polar surface. (B) Both the air bubbles trapped deep beneath the polar surface and the ice surrounding them contain relatively low levels of deuterium. (C) Air bubbles trapped deep beneath the polar surface and containing relatively high levels of carbon dioxide are surrounded by ice that contained relatively low levels of deuterium. (D) The current level of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere exceeds the level of carbon dioxide in the prehistoric air trapped beneath the polar surface.?C? (E) Increases in the level of carbon dioxide in the Earth’s atmosphere are accompanied by increases in the amount of deuterium in the ice deposited at the poles. SECTION B Bracken fern has been spreading from its woodland strongholds (stronghold: n.??, ??) for centuries, but the rate of encroachment into open countryside has lately increased alarmingly throughout northern and western Britain. A tough competitor, bracken reduces the value of grazing land by crowding out other vegetation. The fern is itself poisonous to livestock, and also encourages proliferation of sheep ticks, which not only attack sheep but also transmit diseases. No less important to some people are bracken’s effects on threatened habitats and on the use of uplands for recreational purposes, even though many appreciate its beauty. Biological controls may be the only economic solution. One potentially cheap and self-sustaining method of halting the spread of bracken is to introduce natural enemies of the plant. Initially unrestrained by predators of their own, foreign predators are likely to be able to multiply rapidly and overwhelm intended targets. Because bracken occurs throughout the world, there is plenty of scope for this approach. Two candidates, both moths from the Southern Hemisphere, are now being studied. Of course, biological control agents can safely be released only if it can be verified that they feed solely on the target weed. The screening tests have so far been fraught with difficulties. The first large shipment of moths succumbed to a disease. Growing enough bracken indoors is difficult, and the moths do not readily exploit cut stems. These are common problems with rearing insects for biological control. Other problems can be foreseen. Policymakers need to consider many factors and opinions such as the cost of control compared to existing methods, and the impact of the clearance of bracken on the landscape, wildlife, and vegetation. In fact, scientists already have much of the information needed to assess the impact of biological control of bracken, but it is spread among many individuals, organizations, and government bodies. The potential gains for the environment are likely to outweigh the losses because few plants, insects, mammals, and birds live associated only with bracken, and many would benefit from a return of other vegetation or from a more diverse mosaic of habitats. But legal consequences of attempts at biological control present a potential minefield. For example, many rural tenants still have the right of “estoyers,” the right to cut bracken as bedding for livestock and uses. What would happen if they were deprived of these rights? Once a biological control agent is released, it is difficult to control its speed. What consideration is due landowners who do not want to control bracken? According to law, the release of the biological control agents must be authorized by the secretary of state (Secretary of State: n. 1.??????? 2.(AmE.)???) for the environment. But Britain lacks the legal and administrative machinery to assemble evidence for and against release. 17. Which of the following best states the main idea of the passage? (A) Studies suggest that biological control of bracken will not be technically feasible. (B) Although biological control appears to be the best solution to bracken infestation, careful assessment of the consequences is required. (C) Environmentalists are hoping that laboratory technicians will find a way to raise large numbers of moths in captivity. (D) Bracken is currently the best solution to the proliferation of nonnative moth species.?B? (E) Even after researchers discover the most economical method of pest control, the government has no authority to implement a control program. 18. According to the passage, which of the following can be inferred about sheep ticks? (A) They increase where bracken spreads. (B) They are dangerous only to sheep. (C) They are especially adapted to woodland. (D) They have no natural enemies.?A? (E) They cause disease among bracken. 19. The author cites all of the following as disadvantages of bracken encroachment EXCEPT: (A) Bracken is poisonous to farm animals. (B) Bracken inhibits the growth of valuable vegetation. (C) Bracken indirectly helps spread certain diseases. (D) Bracken is aesthetically objectionable.?D? (E) Bracken disturbs habitats that some people would like to protect. 20. The final paragraph can best be described as (A) a summation of arguments presented in previous paragraphs (B) the elimination of competing arguments to strengthen a single remaining conclusion (C) an enumeration of advantages to biological control (D) an expansion of the discussion from the particular example of bracken control to the general problem of government regulation?E? (E) an overview of the variety of factors requiring further assessment 21. It can be inferred from the passage that it is advantageous to choose as the biological control agent a predator that is foreign to the targeted environment for which of the following reasons? (A) Conservation groups prefer not to favor one native species over another. (B) All local predators have already been overwhelmed by the target species. (C) Local predators cannot be effectively screened since they already exist in the wild. (D) There is little risk of an artificially introduced foreign predator multiplying out of control.?E? (E) Native predator species are generally limited by their own predators. 22. It can be inferred from the passage that the screening tests performed on the biological control agent are designed primarily to determine (A) its effectiveness in eliminating the target species (B) the response of local residents to its introduction (C) the risk it poses to species other than the target (D) its resistance to the stress of shipment?C? (E) the likelihood of its survival indoors 23. As it is discussed in the passage, the place of bracken within the forest habitat can best be described as (A) rapidly expanding (B) the subject of controversy (C) well established (D) circumscribed by numerous predators?C? (E) a significant nutrient source Allen and Wolkowitz’s research challenges the common claim that homework—waged labor performed at home for a company—is primarily a response to women workers’ needs and preferences. By focusing on a limited geographical area in order to gather in-depth information, the authors have avoided the methodological pitfalls that have plagued earlier research on homework. Their findings disprove accepted notions about homeworkers: that they are unqualified for other jobs and that they use homework as a short-term strategy for dealing with child care. The authors conclude that the persistence of homework cannot be explained by appeal to such notions, for, in fact, homeworkers do not differ sharply from other employed women. Most homeworkers would prefer to work outside the home but are constrained from doing so by lack of opportunity. In fact, homework is driven by employers’ desires to minimize fixed costs: homeworkers receive no benefits and are paid less than regular employees. 24. The passage is primarily concerned with (A) advocating a controversial theory (B) presenting and challenging the results of a study (C) describing a problem and proposing a solution (D) discussing research that opposes a widely accepted belief?D? (E) comparing several explanations for the same phenomenon 25. According to the passage, which of the following has been generally believed about homework? (A) The benefits of homework accrue primarily to employers rather than to homeworkers. (B) Homework is prevalent predominantly in rural areas. (C) Homework is primarily a response to the preferences of women workers. (D) Few homeworkers rely on homework for the majority of their family income.?C? (E) Most homework is seasonal and part-time rather than full-time and year-round. 26. Allen and Wolkowitz’s research suggests that each of the following is true of most homeworkers EXCEPT: (A) They do not necessarily resort to homework as a strategy for dealing with child care. (B) Their family situations are not unlike those of other employed women. (C) They are as well qualified as women who work outside the home. (D) They perform professional-level duties rather than manual tasks or piecework.?D? (E) They do not prefer homework to employment outside the home. 27. The passage suggests which of the following about previous research on homework? (A) It was conducted primarily with women who did not have extensive household responsibilities or care for small children at home. (B) It was conducted with homeworkers and companies over a large geographical area. (C) It indicated that women homeworkers had numerous opportunities to work outside the home. (D) It indicated that homeworkers usually work for companies that are close to their homes.?B? (E) It indicated that homework was financially advantageous to large companies. ANSWERS 1997 04 SECTION A C E C E A A A E B A C SECTION B C A B C E D E A D B A 1997 11 SECTION A D D E D D A A B B C C SECTION B B A D E E C C D C D B