GMAT Verbal Reasoning Practice Set 7

Jay, an amateur gardener, has decided to experiment with mixing his own nutrient-rich soil to use on all of his plants. His latest formula has shown no impact on the growth of his garden, where conditions of light, heat, and water are ideal, but he is sure that in less ideal conditions his formula helps plants thrive.

If true, which of the following best supports Jay’s conclusion about his soil mix?

A good friend must listen well and be able to respond with compassion. But anyone who can respond with compassion can listen well. Since Esperanza can respond with compassion, she must be a good friend.

This argument is flawed in which of the following ways?

It is necessary to replace mulch in gardens periodically as it will decompose and damage the plants it surrounds. High-quality mulch is extra rich in nutrients to stabilize soil, reduce weed growth, and conserve water. This expensive mulch improves plant health overall and will last longer before needing to be replaced. Nevertheless, lower-quality mulch impacts gardens much in the same way as high-quality mulch, but is more cost-efficient and will need to be replaced more often. Therefore, for more serious gardeners, lower-quality mulch does not save money.

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

A critical feature of political campaigning is the option between positive and negative advertising. Positive campaign advertisements highlight the strong qualities of a political candidate to convince voters they want to elect the candidate. Alternatively,  negative campaign advertisements are centered around attacking the competing politician to thwart voters from voting for that candidate.

A considerable advantage to running a “clean” campaign with positive advertising as it allows voters to hear a candidate’s true thoughts on relevant issues. A clean campaign that focuses on positive advertisements captures the essence of what the United States Founding Fathers intended when creating the country’s governing system. Furthermore, clean campaigning allows for everyone to participate instead of only a select few politicians shaping the policy for millions of people. Not only does positive advertising in political campaigns better serve citizens, it also helps candidates get better acquainted with their constituents. One possible disadvantage to positive advertising in a clean campaign is that it may lead voters to feel the campaign is insincere and regard the tactic with skepticism.

By contrast, negative campaign advertising may be perceived as more truthful and authentic. Negative campaigning involves candidates intentionally spreading adverse information about the opposition. This may include unfavorable reports about the opposition’s career and has often included distasteful information about the opposition’s personal life. Ironically, negative campaigning may be viewed by voters as more reliable when learning about the candidates. Research completed by psychologists concluded that negative advertising is likely to be more memorable. Voters tend to pay more attention to negative advertisements, rather than positive publicity. The reason many candidates have found success with negative campaigning is that negative information often highlights a problem with the opposing candidate’s viewpoint. Candidates use this tactic to convince voters that the opposition is characteristically, morally, or logically flawed. Focusing on the negative brings to the forefront of the campaign what voters may lose if they vote for the opposition. This technique plays into the fears of voters and emotions are the underlining drive behind most people’s decisions.

Admittingly the benefits of negative campaigning do outnumber the benefits of a clean campaign with positive advertisements, but that does not always mean negative advertising campaigns are more effective. Negative advertising always runs the risk of voters viewing the campaign as petty and inappropriate.

All of the following are mentioned as potential advertising risks EXCEPT

A critical feature of political campaigning is the option between positive and negative advertising. Positive campaign advertisements highlight the strong qualities of a political candidate to convince voters they want to elect the candidate. Alternatively,  negative campaign advertisements are centered around attacking the competing politician to thwart voters from voting for that candidate.

A considerable advantage to running a “clean” campaign with positive advertising as it allows voters to hear a candidate’s true thoughts on relevant issues. A clean campaign that focuses on positive advertisements captures the essence of what the United States Founding Fathers intended when creating the country’s governing system. Furthermore, clean campaigning allows for everyone to participate instead of only a select few politicians shaping the policy for millions of people. Not only does positive advertising in political campaigns better serve citizens, it also helps candidates get better acquainted with their constituents. One possible disadvantage to positive advertising in a clean campaign is that it may lead voters to feel the campaign is insincere and regard the tactic with skepticism.

By contrast, negative campaign advertising may be perceived as more truthful and authentic. Negative campaigning involves candidates intentionally spreading adverse information about the opposition. This may include unfavorable reports about the opposition’s career and has often included distasteful information about the opposition’s personal life. Ironically, negative campaigning may be viewed by voters as more reliable when learning about the candidates. Research completed by psychologists concluded that negative advertising is likely to be more memorable. Voters tend to pay more attention to negative advertisements, rather than positive publicity. The reason many candidates have found success with negative campaigning is that negative information often highlights a problem with the opposing candidate’s viewpoint. Candidates use this tactic to convince voters that the opposition is characteristically, morally, or logically flawed. Focusing on the negative brings to the forefront of the campaign what voters may lose if they vote for the opposition. This technique plays into the fears of voters and emotions are the underlining drive behind most people’s decisions.

Admittingly the benefits of negative campaigning do outnumber the benefits of a clean campaign with positive advertisements, but that does not always mean negative advertising campaigns are more effective. Negative advertising always runs the risk of voters viewing the campaign as petty and inappropriate.

Which of the following is the best example of negative advertising in a campaign as it is described in the passage?

A critical feature of political campaigning is the option between positive and negative advertising. Positive campaign advertisements highlight the strong qualities of a political candidate to convince voters they want to elect the candidate. Alternatively,  negative campaign advertisements are centered around attacking the competing politician to thwart voters from voting for that candidate.

A considerable advantage to running a “clean” campaign with positive advertising as it allows voters to hear a candidate’s true thoughts on relevant issues. A clean campaign that focuses on positive advertisements captures the essence of what the United States Founding Fathers intended when creating the country’s governing system. Furthermore, clean campaigning allows for everyone to participate instead of only a select few politicians shaping the policy for millions of people. Not only does positive advertising in political campaigns better serve citizens, it also helps candidates get better acquainted with their constituents. One possible disadvantage to positive advertising in a clean campaign is that it may lead voters to feel the campaign is insincere and regard the tactic with skepticism.

By contrast, negative campaign advertising may be perceived as more truthful and authentic. Negative campaigning involves candidates intentionally spreading adverse information about the opposition. This may include unfavorable reports about the opposition’s career and has often included distasteful information about the opposition’s personal life. Ironically, negative campaigning may be viewed by voters as more reliable when learning about the candidates. Research completed by psychologists concluded that negative advertising is likely to be more memorable. Voters tend to pay more attention to negative advertisements, rather than positive publicity. The reason many candidates have found success with negative campaigning is that negative information often highlights a problem with the opposing candidate’s viewpoint. Candidates use this tactic to convince voters that the opposition is characteristically, morally, or logically flawed. Focusing on the negative brings to the forefront of the campaign what voters may lose if they vote for the opposition. This technique plays into the fears of voters and emotions are the underlining drive behind most people’s decisions.

Admittingly the benefits of negative campaigning do outnumber the benefits of a clean campaign with positive advertisements, but that does not always mean negative advertising campaigns are more effective. Negative advertising always runs the risk of voters viewing the campaign as petty and inappropriate.

It can be inferred from the passage that proponents of negative advertising in campaigns would most likely view the style of campaigning as  

A recently discovered virus strand is thought to be the effect of a specific gastroenteritis bacterium. However, data released last week noted that the gastroenteritis bacterium thrives when it comes into contact with a certain disease. This implies that it is actually the disease that causes the recently discovered virus strand.

Which of the following pieces of evidence, if true, would most support the data’s implications?

The widely known and successful baseball team of Calahan University was recently found to have been cheating during their game against James Danville University. However, this discovery should not impact the reputation of Calahan University as it was their own students that informed officials of the cheating by the baseball team. This proves the honor system of Calahan University is effective.

The bolded phrase plays which of the following roles in the argument?

Successful car salesmen are defined by their number of sales and are always looking to build new business connections. In doing so, salesmen must be prepared for objections from buyers. Having a field-tested and approved rebuttal for every objection helps the seasoned salesman remain in control of the sales conversation and make more sales. Clearly, buyers are more willing to trust a knowledgeable,  and experienced salesman than one that is young and inexperienced.

Which of the following most calls into question the conclusion above?

An attendance report from the local athletic club found that parents who paid for five or more swim lessons on an hourly basis canceled or rescheduled a session on average twice every five lessons. By comparison, those parents who purchased packages of five hours canceled or rescheduled a lesson on average once every five lessons. This demonstrates that parents are at least partly motivated by the amount of money they have invested in swim lessons.

Which of the following, if true, calls into question the explanation above?