GMAT Section 3 Verbal Ability practice questions, page 17 of 30, with answer review and explanations.
Question 81
The greatest failure of modern American society is its rejection of the extended family. It is no wonder our society is so violent and so many Americans feel a deep sense of isolation and overwhelming stress. This argument is based on all of the following assumptions EXCEPT
Americans value independence more than interdependence.
people who live in extended families feel less stress.
a large percentage of Americans feels isolated and alone.
living in an extended family engenders a strong sense of belonging.
deep feelings of isolation and overwhelming stress lead to antisocial and violent behavior.
Question 82
The original Star Wars film (1977), in which Luke Skywalker saved Princess Leia and battled against the evil Empire, was followed by two equally successful sequelsThe Empire Strikes back and Return of the Jedi. Nearly 25 years later, the Star Wars prequels have arrived, and they are even more successful than the original series. The prequels (The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and the soon-to-be released Episode III) have shattered box office records, filling theaters with audiences of young children, teenagers, and adults alike. Which of the following conclusions can properly be drawn from this statement?
The prequels are better than the original and its sequels.
The prequels have been marketed more effectively than the original and its sequels.
The Star Wars films have phenomenal special effects.
Fans of the original films have always wanted more Star Wars stories.
The themes and epic struggles of the Star Wars movies appeal to viewers of all generations.
Question 83
For years, Americans have been told to stay away from fat. Feeding the market of those anxiously watching their waistlines, food manufacturers have filled grocery store shelves with low-fat and fat-free foods. Now, however, some researchers are blaming the fat-free craze for the American crisis of obesity. Foods without fat, they argue, leave us feeling unsatisfied and craving even more food. As a result, we end up eating a whole bag of low-fat potato chips when we would have only eaten half a bag of regular (fat-laden) potato chips. Which of the following is the most logical conclusion that can be drawn from the passage?
Avoid a no-fat diet, but eat low-fat foods.
You will likely eat less if you eat foods with fat.
Potato chips of any sort are unhealthy.
The key to weight management is to avoid cravings.
Fat-free foods should be banned from stores.
Question 84
Nearly a decade ago, researchers at Brandeis University conducted an interesting experiment with small robots. The robots were programmed to get as many individual points as possible by finding small metal pucks and taking them to a nest in a corner of the lab. Robots were rewarded with points whenever they found a puck. But their excessive self-interest led to poor performance as robots repeatedly interfered with one another and battled over pucks. Researchers then reprogrammed the robots to share information: Robots would announce when they found a puck and listen to what other robots had to say. The robots were able to gather twice as many pucks as they had before they were reprogrammed. Which of the following conclusions can be drawn from the experiment described in this passage?
Robots can be taught human behaviors.
The robots were poorly programmed in the first experiment.
The researchers were shocked by the difference in results between the two experiments.
Sharing information can dramatically improve the productivity of a group.
Self-interest leads to unproductive behavior.
Question 85
The late 1990s saw the comeback of many rock-n-roll bands that had enjoyed great fame in the 1960s and 1970s, but had fallen into relative obscurity in the 1980s and early 1990s. Bands such as Santana and Aero smith released new albums at the end of the millennium and embarked on worldwide tours to sold-out audiences. Which of the following, if true, best explains the phenomenon described in this passage?
Not much good rock-n-roll was produced in the late 1990s.
These bands were able to blend elements of classic rock with the new sound of the late 1990s to appeal to a wide audience.
The late 1990s saw an increasing nostalgia for the peace-loving era of the 1960s and early 1970s.
The bands simply got better with age.
A new generation of listeners discovered classic rock.