MCAT verbal test (24)

However, while the passage indicates that PCBs have been linked to cancer and developmental problems in humans, it provides no information supporting an inference that PCBs specifically

MCAT Section Tests

Dear Future Doctor,

The following Section Test and explanations should be used to practice and to assess your mastery of critical thinking in each of the section areas Topics are confluent and are not necessarily in any specific order or fixed proportion This is the level of integration in your preparation that collects what you have learned in the Kaplan classroom and synthesizes your knowledge with your critical thinking Simply completing the tests is inadequate; a solid understanding of your performance through your Score Reports and the explanations is necessary to diagnose your specific weaknesses and address them before Test Day

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Albert Chen

Executive Director, Pre-Health Research and Development

Kaplan Test Prep

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All rights reserved No part of this book may be reproduced in any form, by Photostat, microfilm, xerography or any other means, or incorporated into any information retrieval system, electronic

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Materials used in this test section have been adapted from the following sources:

Edward Gibbon, The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire, Volume 6

ANSWER KEY

2 B

3 C

4 A

5 B

6 C

7 A

8 A

9 D

10 B

11 D

12 C

13 B

14 A

15 A

16 C

17 A

18 D

19 C

20 D

21 B

22 C

23 A

24 A

25 C

26 B

27 C

28 D

29 B

30 A

31 D

32 B

33 D

34 A

35 B

36 D

37 C

38 C

39 B

40 A

41 C

42 B

43 D

44 B

45 B

46 D

47 D

48 B

49 C

50 C

51 D

52 A

53 B

54 D

55 C

56 C

57 A

58 B

59 D

60 D

Passage I (Questions 1-7)

Topic and Scope: Why PCBs contaminate the Hudson River and issues relating

to whether they should be removed

Paragraph 1 provides general historical context with respect to hazardous waste and its clean-up in the U.S

Paragraph 2 describes PCBs, which constitute a particular group of chemicals, the uses made of them

Paragraph 3 asserts that: PCBs are hazardous; they were, accordingly, banned; they nevertheless persist in the environment It then notes that the issue of

cleaning up PCBs is controversial

Paragraph 4 describes a particular case of PCB pollution and some of its effects Paragraph 5 outlines the positions of area residents, the polluter, and the EPA with respect to PCB cleanup in the particular location described in paragraph 4 Paragraph 6 identifies another issue with respect to PCB cleanup, which is not identified by the stakeholders whose positions were delineated in paragraph 5

1 A

That PCBs are heavier than water (statement I) can be inferred from the

information that dredging is recommended to remove them from the riverbed If PCBs are on the riverbed, they must be heavier than water This inference is also supported by the reference in paragraph 2 to PCBs as “heavy” liquids In

evaluating whether PCBs are toxic to fish, examine what the passage specifically says The passage states that PCBs bioaccumulate in fish and that human

consumption of fish from contaminated portions of the river is restricted Thus, it may seem plausible that PCBs are toxic to fish However, while the passage indicates that PCBs have been linked to cancer and developmental problems in humans, it provides no information supporting an inference that PCBs specifically injure fish Since PCBs are identified, in the second paragraph, as being “very stable,” they cannot also be “readily biodegradable.” Don’t be confused by the reference, in paragraph 3 to “bioaccumulate,” which is consistent with stability but not with degradation

The passage indicates that the EPA is responsible for administering the

Superfund Program, and that this program investigates hazardous waste sights Paragraph 4 indicates that EPA has estimated that 1.1 million pounds of PCBs have accumulated in the Hudson River due to dumping by two capacitor

manufacturing plants located along the northern range It is a valid inference, based on the preceding information (paragraph 1, third sentence), that this

estimate results from an investigation by EPA, intended to identify the degree of pollution and its source Paragraph 4 goes on to describe the specific evidence of this pollution, including existence of PCBs in estuary sediments Thus, it is a correct inference that the PCBs in estuary sediments were identified by EPA as having originated with the two plants along the northern Hudson Because rivers

by definition flow toward the ocean, absent evidence to the contrary, this is a basis to infer that pollutants would tend to travel in that same direction down the

river to its mouth Thus, choice (B) is correct the PCBs do not necessarily

remain where originally deposited While (A) sounds plausible, information in the passage provides no basis for an inference that there is another source of

pollution (C) is incorrect because paragraph 4 indicates that the field surveys found “substantial contamination,” which is inconsistent with presence at a

background level (D) is too extreme to be a correct inference

3 C

To answer this inference question, look for evidence supporting each assertion The first paragraph indicates that companies found responsible for pollution can

be financially liable for the cost of cleanup Since companies inherently care about profit, absent evidence supporting another motivation, it is reasonable to infer a motivation of minimizing cost, choice (C) While it is plausible that the company is concerned about its public image (B), there is no basis in the

passage for an inference that this is its overriding concern (D) is illogical If the company had commercial fishing interests, this would not be likely to make it oppose cleanup

4 A

In the first sentence of paragraph 5, the passage states that EPA hopes that removal of the PCBs will permit revitalization of commercial fishing on the

Hudson Descriptions of the concerns of local residents or the company do not refer to fishing While it seems plausible that the EPA would be concerned about the environment as a whole, the passage does not support that inference; the mission of EPA, as stated in the first paragraph, is to clean up “the worse of these sites nationwide.” Furthermore, the passage points out that EPA has not disclosed the ultimate fate of the PCBs and their impact on the larger

environment

5 B

A local newspaper by definition would base its editorial on matters of concern to local residents Of the answer choices, only choice (B) reflects a concern

attributed by the passage to local residents (A) is incorrect because PCBs are synthetic and were first developed in the 1880s Thus, the preindustrial level can

be assumed to have been zero (C) is incorrect because the passage states that the EPA has already determined that PCBs will be disposed of outside of the local area (D) is incorrect because there is no indication in the passage that local communities will be affected by the cost of the dredging; the passage indicates the cost will probably be borne by the company

6 C

The passage indicates that PCBs tend to accumulate in living organisms Thus, it

is not likely that avoiding consumption of fish will reduce an individual’s existing level of PCB concentration Since PCBs are also present in the air, it is also unlikely that an individual can avoid any further increase in PCB concentration, even if eating fish is avoided The best can be hoped is that accumulation of PCBs will be slowed, choice (C) Since there may be other causes of cancer and

developmental problems, and since avoiding fish does not eliminate PCB

exposure, (D) is incorrect

7 A

The passage indicates that the most potent source of PCB exposure in humans

is consumption of fish Yet, the passage indicates that consumption of fish

caught in contaminated sections of the river is prohibited The passage does not attempt to explain the parallel between the river’s contamination and PCBs in nearby residents Although the passage indicates that air along the river is

contaminated, air is not indicated as a major source of exposure and there is no indication of whether PCBs in the air tend to parallel that in adjacent water

Although some municipalities draw drinking water from the river, the passage does not indicate the degree of contamination in the sections of the river from which water is drawn In contrast, the passage does explain why PCBs were useful as components of electrical equipment and cooling systems (paragraph 2), why they accumulate in living organisms (paragraph 3) and gives examples of the reasons dealing with PCBs already present in the environment can be

controversial (paragraph 5)

Passage II (Questions 8-14)

Topic and Scope: The resolution of a schism in the Roman Catholic Church Paragraph 1: What the council of Pisa did, and what problems resulted

Paragraph 2: How the council of Constance undid the actions of the council of Pisa

Paragraph 3: What positive steps the council of Constance took to resolve the basic problem

8 A

Both councils wanted to appoint a new pope, and depose all rival claimants Choices (B) and (C) are FUDs; they misuse details in the passage Choice (D) refers to something that was done by only one of the councils

All three statements describe things that the Council of Constance did, and the Council of Pisa did not do, which contributed to the success of the former

10 B

Choice (B) is logically connected to the author’s use of the detail The other choices are not

11 D

The Spanish did not do the things that choices (A) and (C) says they did They did do what (B) says they did, but these actions did not help resolve the division

in the Church

12 C

The author says that Benedict XIII and Gregory XII were deposed “with equal justice,” and that John XXIII was “the most profligate of mankind.” This suggests that none deserved to be pope He does not make any judgment as to who was the best of this bad lot Nor does he address the question of whose election was most legitimate

13 B

If John XXIII had been able to remain pope, there would have been no need for another council to elect another pope But it would have been necessary to get rid of the earlier claimants to the title This would have reunited the Church We’re not told whether John would have moved the papal see back to Rome

14 A

The deputies in question were representatives of the five most powerful

countries The other choices are not supported by the passage

Passage III (Questions 15-21)

Topic and Scope: New research on memory loss in old age

Paragraph 1 memory loss in old age may not be unavoidable, because there are several types of memory

Paragraph 2 new methods of research have led to this discovery

Paragraph 3 loss of “episodic” memory (of events and details) is most associated with age, but may be prevented by exercising this faculty

Paragraph 4 “semantic” memory (of knowledge and facts) may actually improve with age

Paragraph 5 “implicit” memory (of activities done without intention) is not affected

by age

Paragraph 6 sums up the results

15 A

The third paragraph of the passage states that only episodic memory

deteriorates with age The first sentence of this paragraph says that episodic memory contains memory of recent events and minor details; therefore,

statement I describes the sort of memory that might be affected in old age Recollection of childhood events (statement II) is related to semantic memory, which is described in the fourth paragraph as possibly improved by age The ability to perform routine tasks (statement III) is based in the implicit memory, which the author describes in the fifth paragraph as unaffected by age

16 C

To answer this question consider both the information contained in the passage and the author’s tone The passage suggests that current research contributes much to our understanding of how memory works; however, in the last paragraph the author qualifies his optimism—such studies only apply to certain memory problems Considering this, of the choices given the author’s attitude is best

described as “reserved optimism.” The tone is too subdued for “unbridled

enthusiasm” (A) “Wary skepticism” (B) doesn’t reflect the hopeful note to this passage “Unbiased objectivity” (D) is wrong because it also fails to capture the optimism and approval of the passage

17 A

Current research refutes established ideas about memory and aging, choice (A) (B) correctly states that past investigations only tested episodic memory;

however, the passage does not explain exactly why this was the case (C) is too general; this passage has to do with just one aspect of the brain’s functioning— memory While the third paragraph discusses the reasons why episodic memory diminishes with age (D), this is just a detail supporting the passage’s main thrust

18 D

The answer to this inference question can be found in the second paragraph, which suggests that recent developments stem from methodological changes, choice (D) Although the first and second sentences of the first paragraph say that it is commonly known that older people are often forgetful, the passage does not imply that such stereotypes have limited scientific research, and you cannot infer that scientists have attempted to dismantle such stereotypes or that such effort has changed our conceptions of the elderly (A) The author only mentions disease and injury-related memory loss in the last paragraph, and doesn’t imply that scientists have confused disease-related problems with age related memory problems (B) (C) is a Distortion; the idea that mental exercise might diminish

memory loss (paragraph 3) resulted from, not led to, the new developments in

memory research

19 C

See paragraphs 2 and 3 Older people forget recent events but remember the distant past because recent events are stored in episodic memory, which

declines with age, while distant memories reside in the semantic memory, which actually improves with age (A) is wrong in saying that childhood events exist as part of the implicit memory (B) incorrectly attributes memory of the distant past

to implicit memory (D) incorrectly suggests that semantic memory is for recent events and that it seems to degenerate from lack of use after retirement

20 D

Tying shoelaces is the kind of activity we perform without intentional effort— stored in the implicit memory and discussed in the fifth paragraph (D) Although amnesia is mentioned in paragraph 5, choice (A) is opposite; tying shoelaces is the kind of activity an amnesiac will remember

21 B

Although the body of the passage optimistically relates developments in memory research, the last paragraph notes that such findings don’t address problems associated with illness, disease, or injury Choice (B) picks up on this while accurately reflecting the author’s tone (A) seems to fault the character of the

research in a way that is not suggested in the passage The passage doesn’t suggest that problems of injury, disease and illness are “more critical” than other memory disorders (C) or that do not conform to the tripartate model (D)

Passage IV (Questions 22-28)

Topic and Scope: Why we need to understand old ideas in order to understand new ideas

Paragraph 1 understanding old ideas is necessary to seeing how new ideas were developed

Paragraph 2 Darwin’s evolution theory was developed in the context of older ideas

Paragraph 3 many of the old ideas on which Darwin built were “Creationist” Paragraph 4 Linnaeus and LeClerc are given as two examples

Paragraph 5 other scientists interested in the age of the earth developed anti-Creationist evidence before Darwin

22 C

The overall idea in this passage is that the build-up to Darwin’s synthesis of natural selection as the major mechanism for evolution was a result of hundreds

of years of previous study of nature and attempts to understand natural

relationships It was Darwin who stood on the shoulders of others who had a wide variety of ideas about how organisms change over time Thus, choice (C) is correct (D), while possibly tempting, is not correct, because old ideas should be dismissed if disproved, but they can still be learned from to understand new

ideas Religious scientists did influence Darwin, but that is not the main idea of the passage, so (A) is incorrect As well, (B) is correct but not a main idea

23 A

The passage indicates that long, gradual processes shaped mountains and other terrain; that new plants and animals being found “aroused suspicion” about

Biblical accounts; and, that improvements in the relative dating of fossil finds brought into question the Biblical age of the Earth However, noted similarities between species had always been recognized, and it is not indicated anywhere

in the passage that these observations called into question the Biblical account of creation at all; thus, choice (A) is correct

24 A

This is another “main idea” type of question In fact, if you realize that the main idea of the passage concerns all the previous ideas that helped Darwin formulate his groundbreaking theory, Choice (A) should jump right out at you All the other choices are smaller ideas in the passage – important, yes, but not what the

author is trying to emphasize here

25 C

LeClerc’s ideas, as discussed in the passage, have the most similarity to Charles Lyell’s, the geologist who concluded that the age of the Earth was far greater than the Bible stipulated Choice (C) is correct because, in addition to the Biblical age not accounting for measured features such as mountain building time, the Biblical age could apparently not account for LeClerc’s measured melting and cooling times of molten iron – which he related to the age of the Earth

26 B

The author feels that Darwin’s theories cannot be presented in a vacuum, and that one can only understand their power and logic if he or she appreciates how these relatively simple ideas evolved themselves from a complex mesh of other ideas Nowhere in the paragraph or in the passage does the author imply choice (A), that Darwin does not deserve due credit for his ideas, nor is it suggested that the ideas were so simple that Darwin never needed much help, (D) In addition, (C) is incorrect because at the time of religious ideas on creation, there was little evidence to support evolution, as the passage states Thus, those who studied nature and came to form a body of knowledge that needed a reasonable unifying theory were, more often than not, individuals who were studying nature to find religious inspiration

27 C

Statement I is not a correct statement here, because although the author feels one can appreciate Darwin’s work if he or she knows the past history that relates

to that works, the author never asserts that Darwin’s theory cannot stand alone to

be applied to and to explain many evolutionary phenomena In fact, Darwin’s ideas, and not ones previous to him, are the concepts that have withstood much scientific scrutiny Thus, choices (A) and (D) can be eliminated Statements II and III are both correct, and these are both assertions that the author makes in various parts of the passage to back up his introductory paragraph Thus, (C) is the correct answer here

28 D

Uniformitarians, like geologist Charles Lyell, are described in the passage as those who believe that major features of the Earth’s terrain have been built up over long periods of gradual erosion, earthquakes, and volcanic eruptions Thus, Choice (D) is correct Catastrophists, as the name implied, were a group of

people who proposed that sudden, catastrophic forces could account for the major features of Earth’s terrain, while creationists and Darwinists focused much more on phenomena involving nature’s organisms and ecosystems, rather than

on Earth’s geology

Passage V (Questions 29-33)

Topic and Scope: Nicholas the Unlucky (not Nicholas II himself) and Bark’s

claim that “Nicholas II presided over, but didn’t contributeto, the fall of Czarist Russia