GRE Diagnostic Verbal Section 2 EXPLAINED.pages
Rules; 20 Questions, 30 Minutes, 3 of 4 sections for diagnostic
1. Since the Romans failed to subjugate the tribes in Northern Britain, they built a wall in a (i)____ attempt to (ii)____ the natives. After all, what wall can (iii)____ the determined?
Blank (i) A. seemingly overoptimistic B. thoroughgoing C. successful
Blank (ii) D. intimidate E. exclude F. barricade
Blank (iii) G. deter H. conquer I. circumscribe
Correct Answer: AEG Explanation: Clue: ‘Since’ indicates a consequence. Since they failed to conquer (subjugate) the tribes, they built a wall to keep out, or ‘exclude’ the tribes. The question at the end suggests that this attempt was misguided (or ‘seemingly overoptimistic’) as no wall can ‘deter’ the determined. The word ‘deter’ is also better than the other options as the wall was to exclude the natives not to conquer or limit them. (barricade = build a barrier; circumscribe = limit)
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GRE Diagnostic Verbal Section 2 EXPLAINED.pages
2. The professor became increasingly ____ in later years, flying into a rage whenever he was opposed. A. B. C. D. E.
taciturn voluble subdued contrite irascible
Correct Answer: E Explanation: Clue: The required word is signaled by the phrase ‘ flying into a rage’. Someone who is easily angered is described as ‘irascible’. (taciturn = silent; voluble = talking a lot; subdued = quiet; contrite = sorry) 3. To Simon, not usually so (i)____, their bantering talk seemed (ii)____. Actually their exchanges masked underlying (iii)____.
Blank (i) A. inscrutable B. unperceptive C. perspicacious
Blank (ii) D. amicable E. exasperating F. hostile
Blank (iii) G. antagonism H. assumptions I. geniality
Correct Answer: BDG Explanation: You need to know that ‘bantering’ means ‘playful’. So, although the talk seemed playful, it actually masked bad feeling. Here we have a ‘good word’ followed by ‘bad word’ situation. Hence we choose ‘amicable’ for the good word, and ‘antagonism’ for the bad. The first blank needs care because of the double negative. Simon apparently was not usually bad at seeing such things, hence we can say he was not ‘unperceptive’. (amicable = friendly; exasperating = frustrating; geniality = friendliness)
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GRE Diagnostic Verbal Section 2 EXPLAINED.pages
4. The new systematic nomenclature was so (i)____ that many chemists preferred to (ii)____ the older trivial names that were at least shorter. At least, that is the ostensible reason. Actually, tradition seems to carry more weight than (iii)____ with some scientists.
Blank (i) A. succinct B. cumbersome C. irrational
Blank (ii) D. revert to E. adopt F. suspend
Blank (iii) G. chronology H. longevity I. system
Correct Answer: BDI Explanation: The phrase ‘at least shorter’ suggests that the chemists liked the shorter older names. Thus the word ‘cumbersome’ seems best for the first blank to explain why the new nomenclature was not liked. By going back to the old names, it seems that tradition was more powerful than ‘system’. (Cumbersome = bulky or unwieldy; succinct = short and to the point; longevity = length of life)
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GRE Diagnostic Verbal Section 2 EXPLAINED.pages
5. Even though the auditors (i)____ the accountant, his reputation, hitherto unblemished, was (ii)____ by the allegations of fraud.
Blank (i) A. indicted B. betrayed C. vindicated
Blank (ii) D. enhanced E. tarnished F. condoned
Correct Answer: CE Explanation: Clue: ‘Even though’ indicates the need for opposites. This suggests that although he was cleared of the crime (‘vindicated’), his reputation was damaged by the allegations. For the second blank ‘tarnished’ would fit, especially since it contrasts with the word ‘unblemished’. (vindicated = proved right; enhanced = improved; indicted = charged with a crime; tarnished = rusted or spoiled; condoned = silently approved) 6. Many so-called social playwrights are distinctly ____ ; rather than allowing the members of the audience to form their own opinions, these writers force a viewpoint on the viewer. A. B. C. D. E.
conciliatory prolific iconoclastic didactic contumacious
Correct Answer: D Explanation: Clue: The word for the blank is explained after the semicolon. If they force their viewpoint on the viewer, then they must be ‘didactic’. Didactic means intending to preach or instruct. (conciliatory = bringing disputing sides together; prolific = productive; iconoclastic = opposing orthodoxy; contumacious = stubborn)
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GRE Diagnostic Verbal Section 2 EXPLAINED.pages
7. The archaeologist, viewing the fragmentary remains of the ancient city, reflected on the (i)____ of human (ii)____ .
Blank (i) A. impermanence B. dearth C. durability
Blank (ii) D. endeavor E. thought F. humility
Correct Answer: AD Explanation: The sense of the sentence tells us that since she is viewing fragmentary remains, there is nothing much left of the ancient city. The archaeologist is likely to reflect on the fact that human constructions do not last long. Hence, ‘impermanence’ of human ‘endeavor’ fits well. (impermanence = being short lived; endeavor = effort; dearth = shortage; durability = able to last) 8. He was normally entirely (i)____ , but in the embarrassing situation in which he found himself he felt compelled to (ii)____.
Blank (i) A. equable B. considerate C. forthright
Blank (ii) D. concede E. prevaricate F. capitulate
Correct Answer: CE Explanation: ‘But’ indicates a need for opposites. In the embarrassing situation he did the opposite of what he would do normally. Hence, he was normally ‘forthright’ (truthful), but was compelled to ‘prevaricate’ (lie, or avoid the truth). (equable = even tempered; capitulate = give in to)
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GRE Diagnostic Verbal Section 2 EXPLAINED.pages
Essay 1 A study based on a year-long analysis of data from an extensive mobile phone network has produced interesting information that might be of use to epidemiologists and social scientists. The data, according to the researchers, might shed light, for example, on how diseases and information (or rumors) are transmitted through social networks. Researchers ranked the link between a pair of phone users on the basis of the total time spent talking to each other. ‘Strong’ links exist between members of a close social group. ‘Weak’ links tend to be more long range and join individuals from different social groups. ! ! The researchers observed a dramatically different effect when they removed links in the network in rank order, depending on whether they removed links starting with the strongest or with the weakest. To their surprise, removing the strong links first had little effect on the overall structure of the network. But removing weak links first split the network into a series of unconnected islands, with individual users linked to a small collection of other phone users. Thus the researchers have hypothesized that the weak links (the more tenuous connections between individuals from different social groups) might be very important in maintaining wider social cohesion. If you lose contact with casual acquaintances you may fragment your social circle, but if you stop talking to your brother there might be less visible impact on the structure of your social network.
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GRE Diagnostic Verbal Section 2 EXPLAINED.pages
9. The passage offers support for which of the following positions? A. ‘Weak’ links are more important than ‘strong’ links B. Links between family members would be likely to be disrupted by terminating ‘weak’ links C. Some people believe that phone-network patterns could be useful to social scientists D. Information transmission through phone networks is essentially the same as information transmission through face-to-face contact E. The ‘strong’ links are between geographically close individuals Correct Answer: C Explanation: Statement C is clearly implied in the first paragraph. Eliminate A because the words ‘more important’ are not justified; eliminate B because weak links are less likely to be between family members; eliminate D because the words ‘essentially the same’ cannot be justified; and the geographical distances are not mentioned making E incorrect.
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GRE Diagnostic Verbal Section 2 EXPLAINED.pages
10. In the last sentence the author apparently intends to A. make the ideas more specific to enhance the reader’s understanding B. reinforce the researchers’ conclusions C. provide a practical illustration of the meaning of a strong link D. generalize the argument to make it more appealing E. concretize an argument about the usefulness of the current research Correct Answer: A Explanation: The author is giving a specific illustration of the point he has just made and so we can eliminate D easily. The author is making a point clearer for the reader and so A is the best choice. The author is doing more than just giving an illustration of a strong link and so C is too narrow. At this point the usefulness of the research is not in question, and neither are the conclusions, making E and B incorrect. 11. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage? (Select ALL answer choices that apply) A.The researchers had not anticipated the specific effects of removing weak links B. The phone-network studied had the same number of users throughout the study C. The phone users were unaware of the study Correct Answer: A Explanation: There is no evidence that the number of users was constant or that the users were aware that their network was being monitored; hence, the second and third statements are incorrect. That the researchers had not anticipated the results is clear from the words ‘to their surprise’.
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GRE Diagnostic Verbal Section 2 EXPLAINED.pages
Essay 2 The standard methods of science proceed from observations to hypotheses to testing these hypotheses in controlled experiments. ! ! However, it would be a mistake to suppose that every hypothesis that comes out of observation lends itself to rigorous scientific scrutiny. There are, in fact, many questions that can be asked of science that science is not in a position, for one reason or another, to answer. (Such unanswerable questions cannot strictly be termed hypotheses, since a hypothesis must be testable.) ! ! The recent debate over melanoma (skin cancer) screening provides an interesting example of this area of ‘science that is not scientific’ or ‘trans-science’ as a few eminent thinkers have termed it. Let’s start with the observations. There has been an increase in the number of early-stage melanoma cases over the last twenty years. The incidence, measured in cases per thousand people, in the United States has doubled since 1896. ! ! As a result of the reported numbers, some physicians recommend screening for melanoma. The ‘hypothesis’ that is implied here is that screening for melanoma will decrease the death rate from the disease. But how do we test it? The conventional way to evaluate the effectiveness of a medical technique is the double blind trial. In this case we would have to assign some people to receive screening and some control people would not be screened. Then we would look at the death rate for melanoma in the two groups. The problems are logistic and ethical. If the answers are to reach statistical significance we need very large numbers and we need to follow people over whole lifetimes, neither of which is practical. And how do we decide who is to receive what might be a life-saving screening and who will be denied its potential benefits? The data collected thus far on the effectiveness of screening is, not surprisingly, equivocal.
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GRE Diagnostic Verbal Section 2 EXPLAINED.pages
12. The author would apparently agree with which of the following? (Select ALL answer choices that apply) A. The effectiveness of screening for melanoma is not proven B. Double blind trials are the best method to evaluate C. The death rate from melanoma is rising rapidly Correct Answer: A Explanation: If you read carefully the ‘incidence’ of the disease is mentioned but not the death rate, and so we can reject the third statement. We can also reject the second statement as it is too wide: we cannot infer that all hypotheses will need double blind trials. The last sentence of the extract shows that the first statement is correct. 13. The word in bold-face in paragraph 2 is placed in inverted commas to A. Suggest that the contention in the same sentence cannot be tested scientifically B. Emphasize the importance of framing hypotheses correctly C. Draw attention to the main word in the sentence D. Indicate that the author is using someone else’s view E. Add weight to the author’s view of the correct way to evaluate melanoma screening Correct Answer: A Explanation: The author puts ‘hypothesis’ in inverted commas to show that he doesn’t think that what is being discussed is actually a hypothesis. In the sentence in parentheses at the end of the first paragraph the author defines a hypothesis as something that can be tested; according to the author, this question about the validity of testing cannot be answered and so the word ‘hypothesis’ is not really correct.
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GRE Diagnostic Verbal Section 2 EXPLAINED.pages
14. Which of the following does the author mention as an example / examples of the ‘reasons’ mentioned in the highlighted sentence? A. Insufficiency of sample size B. Ethical considerations C. Ambiguous data Correct Answer: AB Explanation: The answer lies in the last paragraph where we are told that for logistic and ethical reasons we can’t get an answer about melanoma screening. The ‘ethical reasons’ make the second statement correct. The logistic reasons are spelt out as insufficient number of subjects in a study (making the first statement correct) and the length of the study. Nowhere are ambiguous data mentioned.
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GRE Diagnostic Verbal Section 2 EXPLAINED.pages
15. Answer this question based on the information in the paragraph below. “French cuisine is highly regarded all over the world. Yet in Paris there are more American restaurants selling burgers and fries (which many people now class as ‘junk food’) than there are in any other European capital city. Obviously the French are very fond of ‘junk food’, and are not too proud to eat it.” Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the author’s contention? A. There are also a larger number of Lebanese restaurants in Paris than there are in other European capital cities B. French Cordon Bleu cuisine is very expensive C. The number of French tourists eating in New York burger restaurants is very low D. Junk food is actually has high nutritional value when eaten in moderation E. There are an unusually large number of American tourists in Paris who eat at burger joints Correct Answer: E Explanation: The author’s contention (argument) is that the French are very fond of junk food because there are so many American restaurants in Paris. The best way to defeat this argument is to show, if possible, that the French do not eat in those American restaurants. The closest to that is answer E which suggests that the American tourists are the ones who eat at those restaurants.
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GRE Diagnostic Verbal Section 2 EXPLAINED.pages
16. Answer this question based on the information in the paragraph below. “It is not unusual to see the ball fall into a black slot on a roulette wheel four times in a row. But for it to fall five or six times in a row into the same color is very unusual. Therefore you can win money by waiting for a run of five of the same color and then betting against that color.� If the roulette wheel in question is a fair wheel, which of the following observations or facts, if it were true, would best reveal a fallacy in the logic? A.If there were a reliable way to win at roulette it would be well-known by now. B. It is hard for a player to keep track of what went before for the time required. C. The probability of getting a particular color decreases with the number of times the color has appeared. D. The probability of getting a particular color is always the same no matter what has gone before. E. A person who makes money this way once or twice, will carry on to lose that money after a few more times. Correct Answer: D Explanation: In critical reasoning questions many of the answer choices can be factually correct or reasonable sounding, and so eliminating without understanding the question is not possible. Your job is to find the best answer to the specific question, so read carefully. A fallacy in the logic is an error in the thinking behind the proposal. The person concludes that if you wait for a run of five of the same color and then bet against the color, you WILL win. Now the logic behind that suggests that the probability of getting that same color again is low. But just as tossing a fair coin always gives an even chance of a head or tail no matter what has gone before, the probability of getting a color is always the same no matter what has gone before.
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GRE Diagnostic Verbal Section 2 EXPLAINED.pages
17. ____ adherence to outdated political ideas and defunct sects characterized the last years of a man who had, surprisingly, been one of the most flexible thinkers of the 1920s. A. B. C. D. E. F.
Intransigent Vacillating Sectarian Confused Frantic Dogged
Correct Answer: AF Explanation: The word ‘surprising’ offers an important clue. Once the person had been flexible but in his later years became its opposite: inflexible. The words that best convey this idea are ‘intransigent’ and ‘dogged’ which both mean stubborn and inflexible. [vacillating = wavering] 18. The ____ effects of constant noise drove Natasha to seek refuge in a more salubrious spot until she recovered her mental equilibrium. A. B. C. D. E. F.
stimulating debilitating deafening enervating soporific precipitating
Correct Answer: BD Explanation: The noise must have been bad for the health as Natasha seeks a more ‘salubrious’ or health-giving place. ‘Debilitating’ and ‘enervating’ are correct as they both mean weakening. [soporific = sleep-inducing]
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GRE Diagnostic Verbal Section 2 EXPLAINED.pages
19. Grandfather liked us children to learn self-discipline, and, unlike many others of his generation, seldom ____ us even for those actions that we felt deserved censure. A. B. C. D. E. F.
rewarded consoled upbraided applauded cherished chided
Correct Answer: CF Explanation: The sentence implies that the grandfather did not discipline the children even when their actions deserved ‘censure’ (strong criticism or blame). Hence, we can say he seldom ‘upbraided’ or ‘chided’ the children. Both these words imply scolding and berating. 20. To the layman, a philosopher who attempts to elucidate a complex moral dilemma by reducing it to a simple yet apparently ridiculous test case seems rather to ____ the issue. A. ridicule B. obfuscate C. over-simplify D. denigrate E. becloud F. attenuate
Correct Answer: BE Explanation: The word ‘rather’ suggests that the attempt to ‘elucidate’ (make clear) has the opposite effect. ‘Obfuscate’ and ‘becloud’ both imply that something has been made more obscure. [denigrate = decry; attenuate = weaken]
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