GMAT Verbal Reasoning Practice Set 2

Most trombone players in the orchestra utilize the school practice rooms but most of the oboe players do not. Hence, there must be more trombone players than oboe players in the orchestra.

Which of the following presents a flaw in the argument?

Today, it is an indisputable fact that the Earth goes around the sun. Yet, before Nicolaus Copernicus posited this notion in his 1543 publication, “On the Revolutions of Heavenly Spheres,” the consensus among the astronomers of Europe was that Earth lay at the center of the universe. This heretical idea was not the only way Copernicus set himself apart from the astronomers of his time and earned himself, in the present day, the moniker, “Father of Modern Astronomy.” Copernicus also discerned the correct order of the contemporaneously known planets, attributed the seasons to a shift in the Earth’s axis, and determined that the Earth’s spin is responsible for a twenty-four-hour day.

Although Copernicus was a visionary, not all of his ideas were right. He not only placed the sun at the center of our solar system but claimed it was the center of the entire universe. He also mistakenly believed that planets orbit the sun in perfect circular patterns. Even though some of his ideas were later disproved, Copernicus’s defiance of the prominent philosophy and religion of his era took great bravery. His untimely death in 1543, the year his theory of heliocentrism was published, may have saved him from the harshest condemnation of his peers as his contributions would not become widely accepted for another hundred years. Today, Copernicus is regarded as a revolutionary who forever changed the way mankind looks at the heavens above. His critical thinking and unwavering commitment to uncovering the truths of our universe exemplify the very spirit of science and continue to inspire inquisitive minds to this day.

According to the passage, which of the following claims was Copernicus right about?

Today, it is an indisputable fact that the Earth goes around the sun. Yet, before Nicolaus Copernicus posited this notion in his 1543 publication, “On the Revolutions of Heavenly Spheres,” the consensus among the astronomers of Europe was that Earth lay at the center of the universe. This heretical idea was not the only way Copernicus set himself apart from the astronomers of his time and earned himself, in the present day, the moniker, “Father of Modern Astronomy.” Copernicus also discerned the correct order of the contemporaneously known planets, attributed the seasons to a shift in the Earth’s axis, and determined that the Earth’s spin is responsible for a twenty-four-hour day.

Although Copernicus was a visionary, not all of his ideas were right. He not only placed the sun at the center of our solar system but claimed it was the center of the entire universe. He also mistakenly believed that planets orbit the sun in perfect circular patterns. Even though some of his ideas were later disproved, Copernicus’s defiance of the prominent philosophy and religion of his era took great bravery. His untimely death in 1543, the year his theory of heliocentrism was published, may have saved him from the harshest condemnation of his peers as his contributions would not become widely accepted for another hundred years. Today, Copernicus is regarded as a revolutionary who forever changed the way mankind looks at the heavens above. His critical thinking and unwavering commitment to uncovering the truths of our universe exemplify the very spirit of science and continue to inspire inquisitive minds to this day.

The author of the passage implies which of the following about the heliocentric model?

Today, it is an indisputable fact that the Earth goes around the sun. Yet, before Nicolaus Copernicus posited this notion in his 1543 publication, “On the Revolutions of Heavenly Spheres,” the consensus among the astronomers of Europe was that Earth lay at the center of the universe. This heretical idea was not the only way Copernicus set himself apart from the astronomers of his time and earned himself, in the present day, the moniker, “Father of Modern Astronomy.” Copernicus also discerned the correct order of the contemporaneously known planets, attributed the seasons to a shift in the Earth’s axis, and determined that the Earth’s spin is responsible for a twenty-four-hour day.

Although Copernicus was a visionary, not all of his ideas were right. He not only placed the sun at the center of our solar system but claimed it was the center of the entire universe. He also mistakenly believed that planets orbit the sun in perfect circular patterns. Even though some of his ideas were later disproved, Copernicus’s defiance of the prominent philosophy and religion of his era took great bravery. His untimely death in 1543, the year his theory of heliocentrism was published, may have saved him from the harshest condemnation of his peers as his contributions would not become widely accepted for another hundred years. Today, Copernicus is regarded as a revolutionary who forever changed the way mankind looks at the heavens above. His critical thinking and unwavering commitment to uncovering the truths of our universe exemplify the very spirit of science and continue to inspire inquisitive minds to this day.

The passage is primarily concerned with

Teachers at a local school devised a program to help students meet up with college representatives. The teachers set up a networking event in which the students could introduce themselves to college representatives and ask them questions. Despite widespread advertising for the event, student turnout was low.

Which of the following if true best explains why many students did not attend the event?

Numerous studies across the United States have found that heart attack survivors regain movement more quickly with daily exercise. Being provided an exercise routine and being held accountable through regular doctor visits have shown to be effective methods to get patients to commit to daily exercise. This regiment will work for heart attack survivors.

The argument above relies on which of the following assumptions?

Gym memberships have to be renewed annually since membership fees only cover one year at a time. A deluxe membership includes one-on-one training sessions and access to post-workout massages to help athletes grow the quickest. The deluxe membership is more expensive but provides more support for high-performing athletes. On the other hand, a regular membership costs much less but does not include the additive features of personal training sessions and massages. Some athletes do not feel they would benefit enough from added features of a deluxe membership to justify paying the extra expense even though they also have high workout goals for themselves.

Which of the following would be most useful to know in evaluating the argument?

Numerous studies have concluded that music positively impacts the human brain. The studies have spanned across age ranges, genders, diverse medical backgrounds, and socio-economic statuses. The results showed that music benefits the brain regardless of any of the factors listed above.

When the brain hears music, its overall function is enhanced. For example, the frontal lobe’s purpose is to think, make decisions, and plan. When music is introduced, the frontal lobe has shown an increase in all three functions. Another example of music elevating brain function is the effect music has on the temporal lobe. The temporal lobe bridges the right and left sides of the brain. The left side of the brain interprets language and words, whereas the right side of the brain processes sounds. Music creates bilateral stimulation in the temporal lobe. Bilateral stimulation is important for the development of communication skills.

As brain function is improved, human behavior is positively impacted. Music has the ability to trigger behavioral responses that include contentment, anticipation, emotions, and memories. When these responses are triggered, a person’s behavior is altered. Music deemed pleasurable by the listener has been proven to improve mood, increase confidence, and soothe feelings of unease.

The benefits of music are so great, that music is being used in various types of therapy. Whether a person has endured trauma or has a neurodegenerative disease (i.e. Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s), music therapy has aided in bringing peace and healing to people.

The primary purpose of the passage is to

Numerous studies have concluded that music positively impacts the human brain. The studies have spanned across age ranges, genders, diverse medical backgrounds, and socio-economic statuses. The results showed that music benefits the brain regardless of any of the factors listed above.

When the brain hears music, its overall function is enhanced. For example, the frontal lobe’s purpose is to think, make decisions, and plan. When music is introduced, the frontal lobe has shown an increase in all three functions. Another example of music elevating brain function is the effect music has on the temporal lobe. The temporal lobe bridges the right and left sides of the brain. The left side of the brain interprets language and words, whereas the right side of the brain processes sounds. Music creates bilateral stimulation in the temporal lobe. Bilateral stimulation is important for the development of communication skills.

As brain function is improved, human behavior is positively impacted. Music has the ability to trigger behavioral responses that include contentment, anticipation, emotions, and memories. When these responses are triggered, a person’s behavior is altered. Music deemed pleasurable by the listener has been proven to improve mood, increase confidence, and soothe feelings of unease.

The benefits of music are so great, that music is being used in various types of therapy. Whether a person has endured trauma or has a neurodegenerative disease (i.e. Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s), music therapy has aided in bringing peace and healing to people.

Each of the following is mentioned in the passage as characteristics of exposing the brain to music EXCEPT

Numerous studies have concluded that music positively impacts the human brain. The studies have spanned across age ranges, genders, diverse medical backgrounds, and socio-economic statuses. The results showed that music benefits the brain regardless of any of the factors listed above.

When the brain hears music, its overall function is enhanced. For example, the frontal lobe’s purpose is to think, make decisions, and plan. When music is introduced, the frontal lobe has shown an increase in all three functions. Another example of music elevating brain function is the effect music has on the temporal lobe. The temporal lobe bridges the right and left sides of the brain. The left side of the brain interprets language and words, whereas the right side of the brain processes sounds. Music creates bilateral stimulation in the temporal lobe. Bilateral stimulation is important for the development of communication skills.

As brain function is improved, human behavior is positively impacted. Music has the ability to trigger behavioral responses that include contentment, anticipation, emotions, and memories. When these responses are triggered, a person’s behavior is altered. Music deemed pleasurable by the listener has been proven to improve mood, increase confidence, and soothe feelings of unease.

The benefits of music are so great, that music is being used in various types of therapy. Whether a person has endured trauma or has a neurodegenerative disease (i.e. Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s), music therapy has aided in bringing peace and healing to people.

Which detail from the text best helps readers to understand the meaning of the bolded words?