21. It can be inferred from the passage that the author a. was once in prison. b. believes foster care parents are often too lenient. c. was a foster child. d. believes prison inmates are treated better than some children in foster care. e. believes group homes are essentially prisons for children. 22. The passage states that a. children in group homes would get a better education than children in foster care. b. children in group homes would have more individual attention than children in foster care. c. children in groups homes would find comfort in being with other children who have been taken from their parents. d. group homes are more cost effective than foster care. e. a group home system is less likely to be bogged down by bureaucracy. Questions 23 — 25 refer to the following passage. Polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS (aka Stein-Leventhal disease), is a condition that affects between 6% and 20% of women in the United States. It is a little understood syndrome that often goes undetected and is frequently misdiagnosed. PCOS produces tiny cysts on the surface of a woman’s ovaries. These cysts are undeveloped follicles (eggs) that inexplicably fail to release through the ovarian wall as part of the menstrual cycle. Some researchers believe the eggs fail to release from the ovary because of the presence of male hormones in the blood. However, new research is indicating that PCOS is related to insulin resistance. Unfortunately, the cysts themselves are only a small part of this syndrome. PCOS can present a variety of symptoms, including hair growth on the face and chest, stub- born acne, hair loss, obesity, irregular menses, infertility, and an increased risk of diabetes. Many of these symptoms impact a woman’s physical appearance and her self-esteem. If left untreated, women suffering from PCOS may experience greater levels of stress and depression. A woman exhibiting any of these symptoms should contact her physician to determine if she has PCOS. Although there is no cure for PCOS, a number of different treatments can stop or reverse many of the symptoms. 23. According to the passage, many women who have PCOS a. are unable to have children. b. have an excess of male hormones in their blood. c. overreact to the symptoms. d. cannot afford proper treatment. e. do not even know they have the disease. – VERBAL SECTION PRACTICE TEST– 178 24. The passage suggests that the most damaging aspect of misdiagnosed or untreated PCOS is often a. infertility caused by the cysts. b. health problems caused by weight gain. c. psychological ailments, including anxiety and depression. d. skin rashes and acne. e. the sudden onset of diabetes. 25. The author implies that PCOS is often misdiagnosed because a. doctors often ignore the symptoms. b. many symptoms could be symptomatic of many other illnesses. c. insufficient attention is given to women’s healthcare issues. d. the symptoms are similar to the symptoms of diabetes. e. doctors believe the symptoms are psychosomatic.  Critical Reasoning Directions: For each question, select the best answer from the choices given. 26. Without a doubt, one of America’s greatest science-fiction writers is Kurt Vonnegut, who has written dozens of stories and novels, including the masterpiece Slaughterhouse Five. Yet for decades, Vonnegut denied that what he was writing was science fiction. Today, however, Vonnegut embraces his rightful place as a master of the genre. All of the following, if true, are helpful in accounting for the phenomenon described in this passage EXCEPT a. early in Vonnegut’s career, science fiction was largely considered by critics to be an inferior genre. b. Vonnegut did not want to be pigeonholed as a science-fiction writer. c. as a young author, Vonnegut’s favorite writers were all science-fiction writers. d. science fiction has become a legitimate literary genre. e. science fiction has become an increasingly popular genre (for readers and writers alike) because of the increased importance of science and technology in our lives. 27. 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 a. Americans value independence more than interdependence. b. people who live in extended families feel less stress. c. a large percentage of Americans feel isolated and alone. d. living in an extended family engenders a strong sense of belonging. e. deep feelings of isolation and overwhelming stress lead to antisocial and violent behavior. – VERBAL SECTION PRACTICE TEST– 179 28. 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 sequels — The 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 chil- dren, teenagers, and adults alike. Which of the following conclusions can properly be drawn from this statement? a. The prequels are better than the original and its sequels. b. The prequels have been marketed more effectively than the original and its sequels. c. The Star Wars films have phenomenal special effects. d. Fans of the original films have always wanted more Star Wars stories. e. The themes and epic struggles of the Star Wars movies appeal to viewers of all generations. 29. 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 obe- sity. 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 reg- ular (fat-laden) potato chips. Which of the following is the most logical conclusion that can be drawn from the passage? a. Avoid a no-fat diet, but eat low-fat foods. b. You will likely eat less if you eat foods with fat. c. Potato chips of any sort are unhealthy. d. The key to weight management is to avoid cravings. e. Fat-free foods should be banned from stores. 30. 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 repeat- edly 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? a. Robots can be taught human behaviors. b. The robots were poorly programmed in the first experiment. c. The researchers were shocked by the difference in results between the two experiments. d. Sharing information can dramatically improve the productivity of a group. e. Self-interest leads to unproductive behavior. – VERBAL SECTION PRACTICE TEST– 180 31. 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 Aerosmith 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? a. Not much good rock-n-roll was produced in the late 1990s. b. These bands were able to blend elements of classic rock with the new sound of the late 1990s to appeal to a wide audience. c. The late 1990s saw an increasing nostalgia for the peace-loving era of the 1960s and early 1970s. d. The bands simply got better with age. e. A new generation of listeners discovered classic rock. 32. Two small-business owners, Jensen and Ling, could not be more different. Jensen is easy going, easy to talk to, good at delegating responsibility, and quick to acknowledge the contributions of others. Ling, however, is often high strung, generally unfriendly, and unable to give up any authority; she is deter- mined to be involved in every decision. This explains why Jensen’s business is successful while Ling’s business has failed. The conclusion of this argument is based upon all of the following assumptions EXCEPT a. the personality of a business owner is the main factor in the success of the business. b. a business leader with Jensen’s type of personality is more effective than one with Ling’s personality. c. Jensen and Ling were in direct competition with each other. d. Jensen and Ling had similar educational backgrounds and a comparable level of business experience. e. Jensen and Ling had comparable businesses operating under comparable circumstances. 33. Although no conclusive scientific evidence proves that angels exist, many highly intelligent and respectable people believe they exist and have even claimed to have spoken with angels. It is therefore reasonable to assume that angels do exist, but we just don’t have the means to prove their existence. All of the following, if true, are valid objections to this argument EXCEPT a. even people who are usually honest lie on occasion. b. well-respected people often have deep religious beliefs, so they are likely to believe in angels, even if evidence suggests angels do not exist. c. respectable people often want to be seen as highly moral people, and contact with angels would make them seem “chosen.” d. many people believe that angels are messengers of God, and a belief in angels therefore provides evidence of their belief in God. e. people who claim to see angels provide very similar descriptions of the angels. – VERBAL SECTION PRACTICE TEST– 181 34. In 1980, 18% of American families lived under the poverty line. In 1990, only 12% of families lived under the poverty line. But that doesn’t mean fewer families were living in poverty. Indeed, the statis- tics hide the fact that more families were actually living in destitution. The difference in percentages appears because the poverty line was redefined and the income level was reduced. Thus, many families were above the poverty line even though they did not earn any more income. Which of the following statements, if true, would most strengthen this argument? a. This kind of statistical manipulation is appalling. b. A nationwide recession occurred in 1980 and an economic boom occurred in the 1990s. c. Republicans were in power in 1980, whereas Democrats were in power in 1990. d. The poverty line is regularly adjusted (income level raised) to account for inflation. e. The number of welfare recipients in 1990 was 11% higher than in 1980. 35. Kylie eats at Moe’s Diner every Thursday, but last Thursday she ate at Joe’s. On Friday, she was sick to her stomach. It must have been the food at Joe’s. Which of the following is the best criticism of this argument? a. It does not take into consideration other possible causes. b. It confuses cause and effect. c. It assumes that she would not have gotten sick eating the same food at Moe’s. d. It does not identify the specific type of illness. e. It does not describe how long the illness lasted. 36. Brianais has been feeling jittery over the last three weeks. She has also been putting in extra hours at work, sometimes pulling double shifts. To stay alert, she has been drinking six or seven cups of coffee a day rather than her usual two or three cups. The jitters are interfering with her ability to do her work, so she has decided to stop drinking coffee altogether to eliminate the jitters. All of the following are valid criticisms of Brianais’s plan of action EXCEPT a. the jitters may be due to lack of sleep, not excessive caffeine. b. the jitters may be worsened by her total withdrawal from caffeine. c. Brianais has never had the jitters before. d. Brianais only gets the jitters when she drinks too much coffee. e. the jitters may be caused by anxiety due to personal problems or stress at work. 37. Pop singer Clive Jones has been nominated for six Grammy Awards, and his new album is enjoying its eighth consecutive week at number one on the charts. It is safe to say that Jones is today’s best pop artist. Which of the following assumptions is most pivotal to this argument? a. Jones’s previous albums were also chart-toppers. b. Jones’s next album will outsell his current release. c. Grammy nominations and record sales are accurate measures of an artist’s greatness. d. Jones will win several of the Grammy Awards for which he has been nominated. e. Jones is popular with both fans and music critics. – VERBAL SECTION PRACTICE TEST– 182 38. Anuj wants to lose about 15 pounds. He knows several people who have lost 10 to 20 pounds in just one month with a particular over-the-counter diet pill. Anuj plans to buy the diet pill in order to lose 15 pounds in the same time period. Based on the previous information, for Anuj’s plan to succeed, which of the following must be true? a. Anuj’s body type, exercise regimen, and diet must be similar to those of the people who lost 15 pounds with the pill. b. Anuj must avoid certain foods that may counteract the effectiveness of the pill. c. Anuj must take the diet pill at the same time every day. d. Anuj must adjust his diet to include more protein and fewer carbohydrates. e. Anuj must monitor his weight loss very carefully. 39. In her old apartment, Hermione had trouble sleeping. She had difficulty falling asleep and would wake up several times in the night. Since Hermione moved from that apartment into her new home, she has been sleeping better. She is able to fall asleep quickly and usually stays asleep through the night. All of the following, if true, could account for the phenomenon described in the passage EXCEPT a. Hermione had loud neighbors when she lived in the apartment. b. Hermione was suffering from anxiety about buying a house and moving. c. Hermione discovered that she was allergic to cats and gave her cat away when she moved. d. Hermione’s apartment building was constructed prior to 1940, when stricter building codes were put into law. e. Hermione was having difficulties in her relationship with her boyfriend right before she moved. 40. Toby has breakfast at Good Eats Diner every morning before work. He always orders the same thing: two eggs over easy with three strips of extra crispy bacon, unbuttered wheat toast, and a large coffee. Today, he ordered a bagel with light cream cheese and a large orange juice. Something must be wrong with Toby. All of the following, if true, are also plausible explanations for Toby’s behavior EXCEPT a. Toby has decided to limit the cholesterol in his diet. b. a new cook started at Good Eats today. c. Toby simply wanted a change of pace. d. Toby has gone on a diet. e. Toby has decided to become a vegetarian. 41. Zsa Zsa has just opened a beauty salon in her neighborhood. The neighborhood already has two salons — one that caters mostly to older women and one that seems to cater to a general clientele. Zsa Zsa has decided to cater to young clientele to create a niche for herself in the neighborhood. Zsa Zsa’s plan of action is based on all of the following assumptions EXCEPT a. enough young people live in the neighborhood to establish a large enough client base. b. Zsa Zsa can provide the styles and services that will appeal to younger customers. c. younger clients in Zsa Zsa’s neighborhood will be able to afford her services. d. Zsa Zsa will establish friendly relationships with the owners of the other salons. e. young clients desire services and styles that are not available at the other salons. – VERBAL SECTION PRACTICE TEST– 183 . TEST– 180 31. The late 199 0s saw the comeback of many rock-n-roll bands that had enjoyed great fame in the 196 0s and 197 0s, but had fallen into relative obscurity in the 198 0s and early 199 0s. Bands such. produced in the late 199 0s. b. These bands were able to blend elements of classic rock with the new sound of the late 199 0s to appeal to a wide audience. c. The late 199 0s saw an increasing nostalgia. nationwide recession occurred in 198 0 and an economic boom occurred in the 199 0s. c. Republicans were in power in 198 0, whereas Democrats were in power in 199 0. d. The poverty line is regularly