AAMC MCAT test 8 a

The author does not imply this, but, rather, points out that these are two separate activities: “One is creative, an art; the other, if not precisely a science, is a species of knowledge

1 With respect to bonding and electrical conductivity, respectively, sulfur hexafluoride, SF6(g), would be described

as:

A )covalent and a nonconductor

The passage states that the vast majority of covalent compounds are comprised exclusively of nonmetallic

elements, whereas binary ionic compounds are made up of a metal and a nonmetal Because neither sulfur

nor fluorine is a metallic element, sulfur hexafluoride is a covalent compound The passage also states that

aqueous solutions of covalent compounds do not conduct electricity Sulfur hexafluoride is covalent and a

nonconductor Thus, A is the best answer

B )ionic and a nonconductor

C )covalent and a conductor

D )ionic and a conductor

2 Where are nonmetals found in the periodic table?

B ) NaCl(s) and NaI(s)

C ) NaI(s) and NaCl(s)

D ) NaCl(s) and HBr(g)

The passage states that the vast majority of covalent compounds are comprised exclusively of nonmetallic elements, whereas binary ionic compounds are made up of a metal and a nonmetal Sodium is a metal and chlorine is a nonmetal; consequently, NaCl is an ionic compound Hydrogen and bromine are both nonmetals, which means HBr is a covalent

compound Thus, D is the best answer

4 Which of the following compounds has the most ionic character?

A ) KBr(s)

B ) CsCl(s)

The compound with the greatest difference in electronegativities between the metal and nonmetal has the most ionic character The data in Table 1 show that electronegativities tend to decrease down a group of the periodic table Cs would have an electronegativity of approximately 0.8 or lower and Cl has an electronegativity of 3.0 The difference

between the electronegativities of these two elements is the greatest of the compounds listed Thus, B is the best

answer

C ) NaI(s)

D ) RbBr(s)

5 Which of the following statements is consistent with the incorrect conclusion that HCl is an ionic compound?

A ) It is a gas at room temperature

B ) A 1 M solution freezes below 0°C

C ) A 1 M solution conducts electricity

The passage states that an aqueous solution of an ionic compound conducts electricity Thus, C is the best answer.

D ) It is composed of two nonmetals

6 According to the passage, the magnitude of B3 at the position of a given hydrogen nucleus is determined by the:

A ) chemical environment of the nucleus

The passage states that B3 is the vector sum of the magnetic fields of the electrons and other nuclei near the H atom, so the chemical composition of the material around the H nucleus being examined will contribute to B3 Only Foil A relates to the material around the H nucleus Thus, A is the best answer

B ) mass of the nucleus

C ) radius of the nucleus

D ) charge of the nucleus

7 Consider an H nucleus with µ pointing in a direction 180° from a magnetic field When the nucleus relaxes, which of the

following most likely will result?

A ) The magnitude of µ will decrease to zero.

B ) The magnitude of the magnetic field will decrease to zero

C ) The nucleus will emit a photon

Based on the passage, µ is an intrinsic property of the atomic and subatomic particles, and the magnetic fields are

either externally controlled (B1, B2) or intrinsic to the electrons and nuclei (B3) The passage also states that energy is

emitted when an H nucleus relaxes, which is compatible only with emitting a photon Thus, C is the best answer

D ) The nucleus will absorb a photon

8 X-ray imaging sometimes requires the use of contrast dyes In MRI, dyes are:

A ) less toxic

B ) not needed

The dyes used in X-ray imaging must consist of elements from the lower part of the periodic table to take advantage of attenuation’s being “roughly proportional to the atomic numbers of elements contained in the tissue.” In contrast, the passage states that “adjacent locations with different chemical compositions,” when imaged by MRI, already have

“contrasts of several hundred percent.” This implies that a dye is not necessary Thus, B is the best answer

C ) needed but not always used

D ) always used

9 Human proteins are composed mostly of the elements C, H, O, N, and S Without dyes, X-ray images of tissue containing different proteins do NOT have high contrasts, most likely because:

A dyes do not bind well to proteins

B protein bonds are broken by the radiation, resulting in the formation of free radicals

C the differences in the atomic numbers of the elements are not large enough

Because attenuation is “roughly proportional to the atomic numbers of elements contained in the tissue,” to see

significant differences in the X-ray image one needs a sizable difference in atomic number Noting that bones, but not much else, easily appear in an X ray of undyed tissue, one can infer that Ca has an atomic number high enough to significantly attenuate X rays Of the elements C, H, O, N, and S, only sulfur has an atomic number approaching (but

still less than) that of Ca Thus, C is the best answer

D proteins are opaque to X rays

10 For a given magnitude of B1, the nucleus with the nonzero precession frequency will be which of the following?

Because protons and neutrons have spin just as electrons do, to guarantee a nonzero net spin, an odd number of

nucleons is needed Of the foils, the only element that has an odd number of nucleons is Thus, C is the best answer

14 The results in Table 1 would most likely NOT be affected if the students had added excess:

A ) KI(aq) to Solution A

B ) Na2S2O3(aq) to Solution A

C ) (NH4)2S2O8(aq) to Solution B

D ) starch to Solution B

Starch is not a participant in any of the reactions, acting only as an indicator of excess I2 Thus, D is the best answer

15 In Tube 6, what is the most likely function of CuSO4(aq)?

in Tube 6 Thus, D is the best answer

16 The solution in Tube 1 turned dark blue more rapidly than did the solution in Tube 4, because the:

A ) rate of Reaction 2 was slower in Tube 1 than in Tube 4

B ) average kinetic energies of I–(aq) and S2O8 (aq) were greater in Tube 1 than in Tube 4 The reaction conditions for

tubes 1 and 4 are identical except Tube 1 was run at 22ºC and Tube 4 was run at 12ºC The higher the temperature, the

greater the average kinetic energy of the components of the reaction Thus, B is the best answer

C ) concentrations of I–(aq) and S2O8 (aq) were greater in Tube 1 than in Tube 4.

D ) concentration of starch was greater in Tube 1 than in Tube 4

17 Which of the following graphs best shows the number of moles of S4O62–(aq) in Tube 6 as time passes?

A )

B )

The data in Table 1 show that the reaction is complete in 19 sec The amount of S4O62–

would increase for 19 sec and then level off Thus, B is the best answer

C )

D )

18 According to the results of Galileo’s experiments described in the passage, the ratio of d to t2 attained its maximum value when:

A ) the inclined plane was horizontal

B ) the inclined plane was vertical

Because the acceleration of gravity is in the vertical direction, the greatest acceleration of a sphere will occur when the

plane is also vertical Thus, B is the best answer

C ) natural motion began

D ) violent motion ceased

19 As described in the passage, Aristotle’s theories of motion do NOT deal with which of the following observations?

A ) An object in a vacuum can move with constant velocity

Of the foils, the only situation that does not occur naturally on Earth’s surface is that of an object in a vacuum Thus, A

is the best answer

B ) An object in free fall can reach a constant velocity

C ) A mass on a spring undergoes violent motion

D ) A heavy body falls with a greater velocity than a light one

20 When designing his experiment, Galileo could have allowed spheres to drop from a height of 10 m rather than using the

10-m inclined plane described in the passage The 10-main advantage to using the inclined plane is that on the inclined plane the:

A ) final velocity of a sphere is smaller

B ) final velocity of a sphere is larger

C ) spheres take longer to reach the bottom

Ignoring air resistance, rotation, and friction, the final velocity of a sphere that drops is the same as the final velocity of

a sphere that moves down the inclined plane Meanwhile, the path is longer on the inclined plane than in free fall,

leading to a longer time for a sphere to reach the bottom Thus, C is the best answer

D ) spheres take less time to reach the bottom

21 Spheres A, B, C, and D have identical radii and masses of 10 g, 40 g, 20 g, and 30 g, respectively According to Aristotle’s theory, if the spheres are dropped to the ground from the same height, which object will have the highest terminal velocity?

A ) Object A

B ) Object B

Aristotle’s theory states that an object’s time of fall t is inversely proportional to its weight W Symbolically, this is

t ∝ 1/W The question asks one to determine the highest terminal velocity (when striking the ground) The highest

terminal velocity should then be inversely proportional to t because spheres A–D all fall from the same height

Because the largest mass in this group is Sphere B, its weight will also be the largest, so Aristotle’s theory predicts the

shortest t for it Thus, B is the best answer

B ) Object A, because it is heavier than object B

C ) Object B, because it is heavier than object A

D ) The objects will reach Earth at the same time

Object A is given as having twice the density of Object B (ρA = 2ρB) and having half of Object B’s volume

(VA = VB/2) To find which object has the shorter time of fall under Aristotle’s theory (t ∝ 1/W), one must determine the weight of each object from its mass Because W = mg and m = ρV,

WB = mBg = ρBVBg, and

WA = mAg =ρAVAg = (2ρB)(VB/2)g = ρBVBg

This means that WA = WB, and the time of fall for each object will be the same Thus, D is the best answer

23 A sparingly soluble metal hydroxide, M(OH)2 has a molar solubility of S mol/L at 25°C Its Ksp value is:

24 If the quantity of gas remains unchanged while its temperature increases, the volume of the gas will:

A ) always increase, because volume is directly proportional to temperature

B ) always decrease, because volume is inversely proportional to temperature

C ) increase if pressure remains constant

The ideal gas law shows that PV = nRT If n (the quantity of gas) is constant and T (temperature) increases, then PV

(pressure × volume) will increase If the pressure remains constant, then the volume must increase Thus, C is the best answer

D ) decrease if pressure remains constant

25 An astronaut on Earth notes that in her soft drink an ice cube floats with 9/10 of its volume submerged If she were instead

in a lunar module parked on the Moon where the gravitation force is 1/6 that of Earth, the ice in the same soft drink would float:

A ) with more than 9/10 submerged

B ) with 9/10 submerged

The floating ice cube implies that its weight is balanced by the buoyant force on it

Wice = mg = ρfluidVsubmergedg

Note that both the weight and the buoyant force are proportional to g, making the numerical value of g irrelevant to the

volume of the ice cube that is submerged Thus, B is the best answer

C ) with 6/10 submerged

D ) totally submerged

26 A glass fiber carries a light digital signal long distances with a minimum loss of amplitude What optical property of glass allows this phenomenon?

A ) Dispersion

B ) Refraction

C ) Reflection Light can be carried along a distance within a transparent material by means of total internal reflection

Thus, C is the best answer

27 Reaction 1 is an effective means of decreasing the hardness of an acidic water sample because it:

A ) increases the pH and decreases the solubility of CaCO3

According to the passage, calcium ions in the water contribute to the hardness of the water and CaCO3 is soluble in acidic solutions Boiling the water causes Reaction 1 to take place; the solubility of CO2 decreases as the temperature increases Reaction 1 decreases the hardness of an acidic water sample by removing CaCO3 from the sample and increasing the pH by reducing the amount of CO2 in the sample Thus, A is the best answer

B ) decreases the pH and decreases the solubility of CaCO3

C ) increases the pH and converts HCO3 to water

D ) decreases the pH and removes Ca2+ from solution

28 What is the effect of a high level of atmospheric CO2 on the hardness of water in limestone regions?

A ) It would lower the pH and increase the solubility of CaCO3

High levels of CO2 in the atmosphere would result in CO2 dissolved in the water When CO2 dissolves in water it becomes carbonic acid, causing a decrease in the pH The passage states that CaCO3is very soluble in acidic solutions The pH would be lowered and the solubility of CaCO3 would increase Thus, A is the best answer

B ) It would raise the pH and increase the solubility of CaCO3

C ) It would lower the pH and decrease the solubility of CaCO3

D ) It would raise the pH and decrease the solubility of CaCO3

31 The addition of excess Ca2+ to a solution containing Ca2+ and CO32– ions causes CaCO3 to precipitate because:

A ) Ksp for CaCO3 would increase due to the increase in [Ca2+]

Solution

Guess

B ) Ksp for CaCO3 would decrease due to the increase in [Ca ]

C ) [CO32–] would increase to maintain Ksp

D ) [CO32–] would decrease to maintain Ksp

When CaCO3 is in solution, the following takes place: CaCO3(s) ↔ Ca2+(aq) + CO32–(aq) and Ksp =

[Ca2+][CO32–] When excess Ca2+ is added, some CaCO3 precipitates in accordance with Le Châtelier’s principle [CO32–] therefore decreases and the Ksp is maintained Thus, D is the best answer

32 What is the expression for the angular frequency ω of a pendulum?

A ) 2πmg/L

B ) (L/g)1/2

C ) 2π(g/L)1/2

D ) (g/L)1/2

Because the frequency f of a pendulum in Hz is

the angular frequency ω (in rad/s) is

Thus, D is the best answer

D ) Stretching bond lengths

Intermolecular forces and the physical structure of the molecules determine the structure of the string at the molecular level Physically stretching the string affects the intermolecular forces (which are primarily

electrostatic) and the bond lengths within the molecules Thus, D is the best answer

37 Each lead weight has a volume of 4 × 10–6 m3 What buoyancy force does the water exert on a lead weight?

A ) 4.0 × 10–2 N The buoyancy force FB is

Thus, A is the best answer

Given that R1, R2, R3, and RSG are each 200 Ω, Rtotal is also 200 Ω, and the current Itotal = V/Rtotal is then

0.060 A Thus, B is the best answer

C ) 120 mA

D ) 240 mA

38 Which of the following items of information would NOT help in predicting the results shown in Figure 1?

A ) The number of air molecules inside the balloon

B ) The thermal conductivity of the rubber

C ) The variation with depth in the speed of the balloon

D ) The total mass of the water in the tank

The mass of the water in the tank will not have an effect on the temperature of the air or the depth of the balloon Thus,

D is the best answer

Solution

Guess

39 Which of the following statements best explains the temperature change shown in Figure 1?

A ) The work done on the gas by the water pressure decreases its temperature

B ) The work done by the gas in expanding decreases its internal energy

The key to understanding the correct statement is to realize that in Figure 1, depth increases to the right This

means that air temperature in a rising balloon will follow the plotted curve from right to left, and temperature falls as the balloon rises The true statement must reflect the decreasing temperature and pressure in the

balloon as it rises Thus, B is the best answer

C ) The balloon and water exchange heat, increasing the temperature of the gas

D ) The compression of the gas decreases its temperature

Solution

Guess

40 Air-filled, thin-walled steel spheres were suggested for experiments in the tank instead of rubber balloons The most likely reason that this idea was rejected is that steel spheres would:

A ) not be sufficiently flexible

According to the passage, the tank is used to study the effects of pressure on gases If air-filled, thin-walled

steel spheres were used, it would be difficult to vary the pressure on the gases Thus, A is the best answer

B ) Buoyancy force only

C ) Weight and buoyancy force only

The foils list only water pressure, buoyancy, and gravity as acting on a balloon Of these, gravity and

buoyancy act in the vertical direction, while water pressure acts perpendicularly to all surfaces of the balloon

Thus, C is the best answer

D ) Water pressure and buoyancy force only

Solution

Guess

42 If the valve is opened to drain the tank, where is the speed of the flowing water the greatest?

A ) At the top of the tank

B ) At the bottom of the tank

C ) At the wide end of the pipe

D ) At the narrow end of the pipe

For a given volume flow rate, the speed of fluid flow is inversely proportional to the cross-sectional area

through which the fluid flows Thus, D is the best answer

Solution

Guess

43 A balloon is attached to a weight that keeps it from ascending quickly enough for the air in the balloon to change temperature When the volume of the balloon has doubled, how has the pressure of the air inside changed?

A ) It has been reduced to one-quarter the original pressure

B ) It has been reduced to one-half the original pressure

The amount of air in the balloon and the temperature of the air will remain constant Using the ideal gas law,

nRT = P1V1 = P2V2 If the volume of the balloon doubles, then V2 = 2V1, P1V1 = P2 × 2V1, and P2 = P1/2 The

pressure therefore reduces by 1/2 Thus, B is the best answer

C ) It has remained at the original pressure

D ) It has been increased to twice the original pressure

44 The process taking place at the cathode was:

A ) oxidation by a loss of electrons

B ) oxidation by a gain of electrons

C ) reduction by a loss of electrons

D ) reduction by a gain of electrons

According to the passage, H2(g) was produced at the cathode The reaction taking place at the cathode was 2H+(aq) +

2e– → H2(g), which means the H+ was gaining electrons and undergoing reduction Thus, D is the best answer

When Ca is added to water, the following reaction takes place: Ca(s) + 2H2O(l) → Ca2+(aq) + 2OH–(aq) +

H2(g), producing a basic solution The metal ion produced is Ca2+ Ca has the atomic number 20 and therefore has 20 electrons Two electrons are removed to form Ca2+, so Ca2+ has 18 electrons The electron configuration for Ca2+ is 1s22s22p63s23p6 Thus, C is the best answer

with magnesium Thus, B is the best answer

Calcium undergoes the following reaction with water: Ca(s) + 2H2O(l) → Ca2+(aq) + 2OH–(aq) + H2(g) The

gas produced was H2 If 0.40 g calcium reacted, then the number of moles of calcium reacted was equal to (0.40 g)/(40.1 g/mol) = 0.01 mol The amount of H2 formed was also 0.01 mol At 1.0 atm and 27°C, the volume of 0.01 mol H2 = [(0.01 mol)(0.0821 L⋅atm/mol⋅K)(300 K)]/1.0 atm = 0.246 L = 246 mL Thus, A is

the best answer

A ) Excited electrons in the metals drop to lower energy levels and emit specific wavelengths of light

When alkali metals are held in a flame, the electrons in the atoms are excited to higher energy levels As the

excited electrons drop to lower energy levels, they emit specific wavelengths of light Thus, A is the best

answer

B ) Electrons in the metals are raised to higher energy levels by absorbing specific wavelengths of light

C ) Electrons in the metals are converted into gases in the flame that emit specific wavelengths of light

D ) Specific wavelengths of light are absorbed when the metal is converted from the solid phase to the gas phase

in the flame

49 Consider the phase diagram of water below

The arrow proceeding from Point A to Point B represents:

A ) melting

B ) sublimation

C ) condensation

D ) vaporization

In the phase diagram, Point A is in a region where water exists as a liquid and Point B is in a region where water exists

as a vapor The arrow proceeding from Point A to Point B represents the transition from liquid to vapor, or

vaporization Thus, D is the best answer

50 Which of the following statements best characterizes a material that is a good insulator but a poor conductor?

A ) The material contains no electrons

B ) The magnitude of the electric field inside the material is always equal to zero

C ) The atoms in the material can easily move from one lattice site to another

D ) Electrons in the material cannot easily move from one atom to another

In insulators, the valence electrons are tightly bound to their atoms, and it takes a great amount of energy to free them

from their atomic energy levels Thus, D is the best answer

Heating that produces only a temperature change obeys the relationship

Given 250 J of heat absorbed by the object’s mass of 0.1 kg, the temperature change of 5°C implies a specific heat of about 500 J/(kg•°C) Thus, D is the best answer

Solution

Guess

52 At a given temperature, the resistance of a wire to direct current depends only on the:

A ) voltage applied across the wire

B ) resistivity, length, and cross-sectional area

The resistivity relation at a fixed temperature is

Thus, B is the best answer

C ) inductance, length, and cross-sectional area

D ) resistivity, length, and capacitance

The atomic number of nitrogen is 7 The electrons will begin to fill the lower energy levels first;

consequently, the 1s level will fill first with two electrons, followed by 2s with two electrons, and then the 2p level with the last three electrons The resulting electron configuration is 1s22s22p3 Thus, B is the best

B is the best answer

C ) 6.02 × 1023

D ) 12.0 × 1023

55 If red litmus paper is dipped into the Na2CO3 solution, it will:

A ) remain red, because carbonate is an acidic salt

B ) remain red, because sodium carbonate is neutral

C ) turn blue, because carbonate reacts with water to produce OH–

In water, carbonate will undergo the following reaction: CO3–(aq) + H2O(l) → HCO3–(aq) + OH–(aq) Red litmus

paper will turn blue in a base Thus, C is the best answer

D ) turn blue, because sodium ions form sodium hydroxide in water

58 The ion responsible for the color of the solutions is:

A ) sulfate, because sulfur has s and p orbitals.

B ) nickel(II), because it has a charge of +2

C ) nickel(II), because it has unfilled d orbitals

The solution containing nickel(II) ions is green-colored The color arises because nickel(II) ion has partially

filled d orbitals and the electrons in the lower energy d orbitals absorb visible light to move to the higher

energy d orbitals Thus, C is the best answer

D ) sulfate, because it is a resonance-stabilized anion

59 Suppose a scientist tests Metals K, L, and M for use in Plate A of the photoelectric experiment The work functions of K, L, and M are 5.0 eV, 8.0 eV, and 6.0 eV, respectively If each metal is struck by a 7.0 eV photon, what will be the maximum kinetic energies (in eV) of the electrons ejected, if any, from K, L, and M, respectively?

A ) 2.0, 0.0, 1.0

The maximum kinetic energy of photoelectrons is always E − W Note that because Metal L has WL > E, the maximum

K = 0 (there are no photoelectrons) Thus, A is the best answer

A ) Plate A is replaced with one having a higher work function.

B ) The electrical potential of Plate B is made more positive relative to that of Plate A

The current I will be directly proportional to the number of photoelectrons leaving the metal at Plate A A photoelectron that leaves Plate A will only be counted among the current I if its value of K is greater than the

stopping potential Foil B describes a change that reduces the stopping potential, allowing more

photoelectrons to reach Plate B Thus, B is the best answer

C ) The flux of photons having energies less than W is increased.

D ) The average frequency of the photons is decreased

D ) T3 is moved farther from T2.

64 When Waves A, B, and C meet at the same point on the target screen, Wave A is 180° out of phase with Wave B

and 0° out of phase with Wave C If each of the 3 waves has an amplitude E when it reaches this point, the

resulting wave amplitude at the point will be:

A ) zero

B ) E

The principle of superposition allows one to add incoming waves’ amplitudes together to determine the total

amplitude at a point Based on the passage, if Wave A has amplitude +E, the amplitudes of waves B and C

will be −E and +E, respectively, and the sum will be +E Thus, B is the best answer

A ) Yes, because light intensity determines the work function of a metal

B ) Yes, because light intensity depends only on frequency

C ) No, because light waves cannot carry sufficient energy to eject an electron

D ) No, because an electron can be ejected by a single high-energy photon

At the core of the photoelectric effect is the concept that even a single photon can release a photoelectron,

but only if that photon carries enough energy Intensity in the photon picture is a measure of how many

photons are arriving each second, not how much energy each photon has This means that photoelectrons can

be released even when only a few high-energy photons are present If, however, the photon energy is too

low, even a flood of photons will not release any photoelectrons Thus, D is the best answer

66 If Solution A contains Ag+, the anion component must be:

A ) CrO42–

B ) Cl–

C ) F–

According to the passage, the ionic compound in Solution A was completely soluble in water The information in Table

1 shows that the only Ag+ salt studied that is soluble in water is AgF Thus, C is the best answer

D ) S2–

67 When aqueous solutions of the various anions and cations were mixed, precipitates formed because:

A ) few aqueous solutions can contain more than one cation or anion

B ) the anions precipitated as solid metals

C ) the solubilities of cations were decreased by the other cations

C ) the solubilities of cations were decreased by the other cations.

D ) the solubility product of a compound was exceeded

The amount of a substance that will dissolve in water is described by the Ksp The Ksp for a substance, AaBb, equals [A]a[B]b If the amount of the compound present is in excess of the Ksp, then a precipitate would form to maintain the

Ksp Thus, D is the best answer

68 All of the precipitation reactions in Table 1 can be classified as:

70 Ba2+(aq) is an ion that is very toxic to mammals when taken internally Which of the following compounds, mixed

in water, would be the safest if accidentally swallowed?

A ) BaSO4, Ksp = 1.1 × 10–10

The lower the value of Ksp is, the lower the concentrations of the cation and anion in an aqueous solution and

the lower the solubility of the compound in water If mixed with water and accidentally swallowed, the Ba

salt with the lowest value of Ksp would be the safest Thus, A is the best answer

72 A battery in a circuit has an electromotive force given by E and an internal resistance of r The battery provides a current i

to the circuit What is the terminal voltage of the battery?

A ) E

A ) E

B ) E – ir

The terminal voltage is the voltage provided to the external components of the circuit The battery voltage ¼ will be

reduced by the voltage required to overcome the internal resistance, so V = ¼ − ir Thus, B is the best answer

A ) θ < θ ′ and θ < α

B ) θ = θ ′ and θ > α

Because the medium’s surfaces are parallel, a perpendicular line drawn to the lower surface of the medium

will be parallel to both of the perpendiculars shown in the figure This means that the angle of incidence at

the lower surface will also be α, as will the angle of reflection at the lower surface, and the beam reflecting from the lower surface of the medium will then be a mirror image of the incoming beam, so θ′ = θ Further, because air’s index of refraction is about 1.0, Snell’s law would show that θ > α Thus, B is the best answer

A ) The excess kinetic energy is transferred to air molecules

B ) The excess kinetic energy is lost in collisions with the walls of the container

C ) The higher kinetic energy of the vapor molecules is compensated for by their lower potential energy

D ) The excess kinetic energy is expended on overcoming attractive forces exerted by the molecules of the liquid

If the liquid and the vapor have the same temperature, then the average kinetic energy of the liquid and the vapor must be the same The molecules that escape from the liquid are those with greater than the average

kinetic energy It takes energy for the molecules to escape from the liquid Thus, D is the best answer

A ) The speed of sound in the medium

B ) The frequency of the emitted sound

C ) The frequency of the observed sound

D ) The distance between source and observer

Given that v is the speed of sound in the medium, the Doppler equation for a source that is approaching

(receding from) an observer can be written as

Thus, D is the best answer

A change in momentum can be accomplished by the action of a force F over a time interval ∆ t This product,

F∆t, is referred to as an impulse Thus, D is the best answer

78 The assertion that the introduction of an alphabet changes cognitive habits is:

A ) true, on the basis of the low literacy rate in the U.S

The author makes no reference to the literacy rate in the U.S or whether it is low or high, so no determination on whether this is true can be made here

B ) supported by objective data in the passage

This assertion is made in one sentence without elaboration or objective data The main body of the passage is devoted

to the impact of technology, in particular, television, on culture and does not further discuss the impact of introducing the alphabet

C ) perhaps true but not explicitly supported by passage information

This assertion is introduced in the context of the larger point being made in the paragraph about television’s

revolutionary impact on society, which was as great, perhaps even greater than introduction of the alphabet The assertion functions to set up a comparison, so the author’s assertion must be assumed to be perhaps true in order for the point made about television’s revolutionary impact to be convincing

D ) contradicted by the assertion that television watching is pervasive in the U.S

The assertion contrasts with, but is not contradicted by the passage assertion about the pervasiveness and cultural

impact of television watching in the U.S See rationale C

Solution

79 Which of the following findings would most weaken the author’s argument about the extent to which U.S society

has fulfilled the Huxleyan prophecy?

A ) A high percentage of the U.S adults who watch television regularly have a good understanding of the politics and validity of the media

The author makes a large point about how the television revolution occurred without resistance from a

Guess

point about the unthinking acceptance of television by the people in the final paragraph: “Huxley believed that we are in a race between education and disaster, and he wrote continuously about the necessity of our understanding the politics and epistemology of media he was trying to tell us that what afflicted people

in Brave New World was not that they were laughing instead of thinking but that they did not know what

they were laughing about and why they had stopped thinking.” It stands to reason, then, that the existence of

a U.S television audience that was sophisticated and understood the politics and validity of the media would most challenge and weaken the passage argument

B ) A high percentage of the U.S adults who watch television regularly failed to vote in the last presidential election

This would not necessarily weaken the argument since this could arguably underscore the author’s point about how television has enforced compliance from the people without discussion, opposition, or a vote It would only follow that, if it were true that television-watching adults were be less inclined to vote, then this would be another instance in which television removed the critical discernment and motivation to engage actively in politics, or even create opposition

C ) More U.S adults are able to name the judge on the television show “The People’s Court” than are able to name the U.S chief justice

This would prove, not weaken, the author’s point about how pervasively television is able to mediate the

reality of television-watching adults and remove them from participation in public life See rationale A

D ) More U.S adults have read 1984 than have read Brave New World

Even if this were true, this would have little effect on the author’s conclusions, especially since, unlike the

author, U.S readers would likely not see television culture in light of 1984 or Brave New World In addition, nothing is said about how many people have read 1984 or Brave New World relative to how many watch

television If the number of readers of these books was much smaller than the number of television watchers, then, even if some of these readers reached the same conclusions as the author, this would have little influence on the culture as a whole

Solution

Guess

80 The passage suggests that if a news commentator presented an editorial agreeing with the Huxleyan warning, many viewers would:

A ) take whatever action was necessary to combat the danger

This response would be more likely in the case of an Orwellian culture, which the author states is like “a prison” and “much easier to recognize, and oppose than a Huxleyan [world].”

B ) listen carefully to the commentator and then explain the ideas to others

The passage suggests the opposite response: “Huxley believed that we are in a race between education and disaster, and he wrote continuously about the necessity of our understanding the politics and epistemology of

media he was trying to tell us that what afflicted people in Brave New World was not that they were

laughing instead of thinking but that they did not know what they were laughing about and why they had

stopped thinking.” See rationale C

C ) charge that the commentator was irrational or needlessly alarming viewers

The passage suggests that the commentator would invite this charge: “Those who speak about this matter must often raise their voices to a near hysterical pitch, inviting the charge that they are everything from wimps to public nuisances to Jeremiahs.” The author goes on to explain that the reason television critics are compelled to go to such extremes is to call attention to how the Huxleyan world of television culture appears benign—this commentator might be “the antidote to a culture’s being drained by laughter.”

D ) be receptive to learning more about the danger

The viewers would be unreceptive to learning about the danger, because, according to the author, this world

would appear benign See rationale C

Solution

Guess

81 One can justifiably infer from the author’s argument that if a presidential election campaign in the U.S involved trivial candidates and discussion, the public would:

A ) vote for the candidates they found to be most trivial

The public would not be drawn to the most trivial candidate because they would not even notice which one

B ) vote for the candidates they found to be least trivial

According to the author, the public would not be able to discern which candidate was the least trivial See

rationale D

C ) denounce the entire campaign

In a Huxleyan world, the public would not even be discerning enough to denounce the campaign, which would be a greater likelihood in an Orwellian world

D ) not even notice the triviality

The most justifiable inference is that the public would not even notice based on the author’s discussion of how television culture took over without even a pretense of a debate This also can be inferred from the

author’s discussion of Brave New World in relation to the Huxleyan world of television culture in the final paragraph: “…he was trying to tell us that what afflicted people in Brave New World was not that they were

laughing instead of thinking but that they did not know what they were laughing about and why they had stopped thinking.”

Solution

Guess

82 The author sees the U.S “consuming love affair” with television as relevant to Huxley’s warning because:

I television discusses vital matters

II television is changing people’s way of thinking

III technology can cause negative social changes

A ) I only

References to “public business [becoming] a vaudeville act,” “serious discourse [dissolving] into giggles,” and “a culture’s being drained by laughter” suggest that television either does not discuss vital matters or, at best, trivializes them

B ) II only

Option III is also correct See rationale D.

C ) I and II only

Option I is incorrect See rationale A.

D ) II and III only

The author points out how Huxley warns of the negative social consequences of technology: “What Huxley teaches…is that in the age of advanced technology, spiritual devastation is more likely to come from an enemy with a smiling face than from one whose countenance exudes suspicion and hate.” This is then reinforced by a reference to “technological distractions.” The author later makes an even stronger statement concerning technology and negative social change: “To be unaware that technology comes equipped with a program for social change, to maintain that technology is neutral, to make the assumption that technology is always a friend to culture is…stupidity plain and simple.” The author also underscores the idea that technology is changing the way people think: “for it imposes a way of life, a set of relations among people and ideas, about which there has been no consensus, no discussion, and no opposition, only compliance Public consciousness has not yet assimilated the point that technology is ideology.”

Solution

Guess

83 A study concluding that political experts consider the U.S presidential election a personality contest rather than a clash of issues would:

A ) support the author’s point that public business has become another aspect of entertainment

The author states the seriousness of reducing public business to entertainment: “When people become an audience and their public business a vaudeville act, then a nation finds itself at risk; culture death is a clear

B ) support the author’s point that no one is warning the U.S public of the Huxleyan nightmare

The author does point out that someone is warning of this, but that they are simply not being heard: “Those

who speak about this matter must often raise their voices to a near hysterical pitch, inviting the charge that

C ) suggest that Orwell was right in saying that Big Brother is watching people

The author suggests that, in the Huxleyan world, it is the other way around: “Big Brother does not watch us,

by his choice We watch him, by ours.”

C ) suggest that Orwell was right in saying that Big Brother is watching people

The author suggests that, in the Huxleyan world, it is the other way around: “Big Brother does not watch us,

by his choice We watch him, by ours.”

D ) suggest that people believe in the inevitability of progress

Accepting the inevitability of progress has more to do with the author’s point about how acceptance of television technology happens almost unnoticed than with the author’s point of how public discourse has

become entertainment See rationale A

84 What is the main idea of the passage?

A ) Those who create literature understand it more completely than do those who only study it

The author does not imply this, but, rather, points out that these are two separate activities: “One is creative, an art; the other, if not precisely a science, is a species of knowledge or of learning.” The author then elaborates on this

distinction, perhaps even implying that more complete knowledge may come from the study than from the creation of literature: “…useful as the experience of literary creation is, the task of the student is completely distinct The student must translate the experience of literature into intellectual terms, assimilate it to a coherent scheme which must be rational if it is to be knowledge.”

B ) The methodologies of science and the study of literature have many features in common

The author makes this point prior to further developing the main idea See rationale C

C ) There are valid methods for studying literature that differ from the methods of science

The author explains how some of the methodologies of science and literary study overlap, but then goes on to say that this has not fulfilled expectations and that literary study “has its own valid methods” distinct from the natural sciences:

“It should be simply recognized that there is a difference between the methods and aims of the natural sciences and the humanities.”

D ) The achievements of the humanistic disciplines have been obscured by the achievements of the physical sciences

This is only a minor point the author makes in acknowledging that this may be so, but the author also proposes that the humanities can be resuscitated to a place of greater prominence

85 According to the passage, the job of the student of literature is to:

I discover ways to approach literature intellectually

II separate the rational from the irrational elements in literary works

III integrate the experience of literature as art and the analysis of literature as knowledge

A ) I only

The author defines the task of the literature student as a purely intellectual exercise: “The student must translate the experience of literature into intellectual terms, assimilate it to a coherent scheme which must be rational if it is to be knowledge.” The author goes on to describe some of the methods literary study shares with science such as causality, collection of facts, and quantitative methods, and name the methods common to most disciplines such as “induction and deduction, analysis, synthesis, and comparison.”

Only Option I is correct See rationale A.

86 The author suggests that both art history and musicology should be approached:

Solution

Guess

A ) with a strict scientific methodology

The author does not advocate this for musicology or art history The author suggests that the transfer of scientific methodology to literary study “has not fulfilled the expectations with which it was made originally.” By extension, the same would hold true for art history and musicology

B ) only by those who practice the art form

The passage opens with the author describing this approach as it applies to literature, then arguing against it

By extension, the author would make the same distinction between music and musicology and art and art history

C ) intellectually, despite their irrational components

The author discusses the need to approach the study of literature intellectually, despite irrational elements, which is no different than the task facing the art historian or musicologist

D ) with the understanding that they are essentially inaccessible to rational study

The author explains that it is possible to approach the study of literature rationally, even if literature contains irrational elements The author extends this argument to musicology and art history

Solution

Guess

87 Assume that a scholar is planning an extensive study of the children’s story, Red Riding Hood The author of the

passage probably would say that the most important task to be performed is:

A ) examining the social context in which the story was written

A discussion of the social context would likely focus on elements surrounding the story without getting

inside it Although useful, this approach would not be what the author advocates because such a study would not translate the experience of the story itself into terms that convey knowledge of the story’s literary elements in particular Arguably, this would be a socio-historical study more than a literary study

B ) comparing the occurrence of words indicating various concepts (family relationships, food, emotional states, etc.)

While this approach would illustrate isolated literary elements in relation to isolated concepts, it would be

too fragmented and not create the coherent knowledge the author is looking for See rationale D

C ) tracing prior literary influences on the structure of the story and its influence on later works

This would, arguably, be an example of the approach borrowed from evolutionary biology insofar as it would trace the evolution of literature While the author would not reject that approach, finding it has some validity, the author would not find it entirely satisfactory either Such a study would mimic science rather than include the valid methods of literary scholarship that are unique to literary study itself This study would largely focus on matters extraneous to the story itself rather than the experience of the story, which is what the author advocates

D ) isolating the story elements that explain its enduring popularity

Isolating the story elements into a coherent argument to the end of explaining the story’s popularity would be

an example of the kind of approach the author calls for, which is to “translate the experience of literature into intellectual terms, assimilate it to a coherent scheme which must be rational if it is to be knowledge.”

Solution

Guess

88 The reader can infer from the passage that its author believes that the use of “induction and deduction, analysis,

A ) appropriate, because such methods are common to all intellectual disciplines

B ) appropriate, because no certainty about a subject is possible unless information about it is obtained

C ) inappropriate, because literature, unlike science, includes irrational aspects that cannot be investigated

student is able to translate these elements into intellectual terms and into rational, coherent knowledge

D ) inappropriate, because of the different purposes of the sciences and the humanities

The author does acknowledge that the methods of literary scholarship “are not always those of the natural sciences.” However, the author also states that the sciences and literary study share many methodologies in

common See rationale A

Solution

Guess

89 If the author of the passage wants to get the most convincing evidence for passage assertions, the author should:

A ) investigate the process of creating a literary work

The author makes a clear distinction between the creation of a literary work and the study of literature and would not find this approach useful

B ) use the scientific method to study irrational elements in a literary work

Because the scientific method focuses largely on objective, quantitative methods to the end of producing certainty, this method, arguably, may have difficulty in accounting for irrational elements in a way that the methods and intellectual terms unique to literary scholarship may not Therefore, this would be at best a limited approach and at worst a failed approach, which would not provide the evidence the author needs in order to support the main argument of the passage

C ) apply a particular scientific technique to both a literary work and a problem in the natural sciences

This approach would exclude methods that are unique to literary scholarship, which would fail to support the

author’s main point See rationale D

D ) compare a literary analysis and a scientific analysis of a literary work

This approach would be most effective, because the author maintains that literary scholarship shares methods

in common with scientific analysis but also uses methods unique to literary study itself

Solution

Guess

90 How could the author best clarify the statement that literature is “irrational, or at least contains strongly unrational elements”?

A ) By providing definitions of both irrational and unrational

Since unrational is not a part of common usage, and not found in standard dictionaries, the author would

need to define it, which would be at best a provisional definition and one lacking authority The distinction

would be better served by a specific instance of an unrational element in a specific literary work See

rationale B

B ) By giving an example of an unrational element in a specific work of literature

The word unrational does not represent common usage and the author is clearly coining a word here meant

to be distinguished from irrational, which is familiar to common usage Therefore, this word would be best

served by a specific example

C ) By discussing the irrationality of the creative process

This would not explain the implied distinction in degree that the author makes between unrational and

irrational

D ) By adding the explanation, “Human behavior is irrational; therefore stories depicting the truth of human behavior are likely to seem unrealistic.”

This statement would not be relevant to the implied distinction the author is making, since it says nothing

about what is meant by unrational

Solution

Guess

91 The passage suggests that the author believes the study of literature to be important because it:

A ) shows that the scientific method can be applied to a wide variety of disciplines

B ) helps the student to become more creative

distinct” (italics added)

C ) teaches that the truth can be discovered by nonscientific means

This implies that knowledge and truth, which the author does not discuss, are the same thing Even if they

were the same thing, the author is not simply saying that knowledge (or truth) can be discovered by nonscientific means but, more crucially, that literary study, in particular, offers its own unique form of knowledge

D ) offers a type of knowledge unavailable from other disciplines

The author makes a point about the unique knowledge produced by literary studies: “Literary scholarship has its own valid methods, which are not always those of the natural sciences but are nevertheless intellectual methods.” The author enlarges this discussion to include the unique contributions to knowledge produced by all of the humanities, of which literary study is a part

Solution

Guess

92 Assume that contemporary literary studies involving a systematic analysis of text have yielded evidence of underlying attitudes that traditional literary criticism had not detected How does this assumption relate to assertions made in the passage?

I It is consistent with the assertion that the transfer of the methods of the natural sciences to art has not fulfilled expectations

II It constitutes evidence for the assertion that there is a field in which the methodologies of science and literary study overlap

III It is inconsistent with the assertion that philosophy, history, and theology have worked out valid methods of knowing that can be modified to apply to the humanities

C ) I and III only

This would only show that systematic analysis can create new knowledge about literature It does not logically follow that this added knowledge and methodology would contradict the idea that methods unique only to literary studies have been worked out—these methods would still be unique, even with the addition

of one of the scientific methods to the field of literary study See rationale A

D ) II and III only

Only Option II is correct See rationales B and C.

Solution

Guess

93 Elsewhere, the author says that “literature is no substitute for sociology or politics,” nor is it “substitute

philosophy.” This statement agrees most closely with the passage assertion that:

A ) literary works are sometimes studied in relation to economic, social, and political conditions

This does not assert the uniqueness of literary study, but, rather, where it intersects with other disciplines

B ) literary study has its own unique justifications and aims

The author states: “Literary scholarship has its own valid methods….” This states the author’s main point that, while literary study shares methodologies with other disciplines, it also produces its own unique knowledge

C ) unlike sociology, politics, or philosophy, literature is an artistic pursuit

The author would say, instead, that literary study is an intellectual discipline, not an artistic endeavor

D ) the methodologies of science and literary study often overlap

The author takes care to point out that, while there is this overlap, literary study offers methods unique unto itself

94 According to the passage, the application of the concept of natural selection to extraterrestrials could be disquieting in its suggestion that:

A ) the most intelligent beings may also be the most aggressive

The author cites James Trefil’s caution that “if evolution functions approximately the same way on other worlds that it has functioned here…advanced extraterrestrials might still be aggressive, territorial, and quick to reach for the sword The most disquieting aspect of natural selection…is that it channels intellect to predators.”

B ) not all selection pressures favor predation

This is an alternative, less disquieting speculation offered in the passage

C ) extraterrestrials are intellectually superior to humans

Although it is implied that humans might have something to learn from intelligent extraterrestrials, the actual

intellectual superiority of aliens to humans is a speculation never raised in the passage, much less viewed as a

disquieting notion

D ) extraterrestrials may exhibit many recognizable human traits

The author suggests that this would be a comforting rather than disquieting notion, “for it would imply that ‘human’ nature was something deeper even than we know Aliens might exhibit many recognizable traits: curiosity, desire for companionship, love of laughter, pleasure in art and culture, and respect for the sanctity of life

Solution

Guess

95 According to the passage, speculation about the nature of extraterrestrials would be most crucial to humans in a situation in which:

A ) extraterrestrials landed unannounced on Earth

The author suggests that humans would not have a choice in this case

B ) humans had the choice of whether to reply to an extraterrestrial contact

This point is made explicitly in the passage: “…if alien contact occurred by radio, humanity would face the momentous choice of whether to reply The decision could turn on speculation about what the other beings were like.” Speculation about the nature of the aliens would be even more crucial prior to contacting them, since the option would still exist to avoid them altogether if humans became uncomfortable in their speculations—the wrong decision in this case could have potentially horrible consequences

C ) extraterrestrials were hostile to humans

If the aliens were openly hostile, then it logically follows that there would be no need to speculate about their nature, since that would be obvious

D ) humans could acquire nuclear knowledge without risking self-destruction

This would only be a crucial question only if aliens had actually been contacted and the circumstances merited it, namely, that the aliens had actually acquired nuclear knowledge and found nondestructive uses for

it, which the author assumes is likely However, the most crucial situation would be one in which humans

had to choose whether or not to contact them See rationale B

C ) the researcher quoted in the second paragraph

The researcher’s optimistic outlook on aliens as “no longer menacing” is based on the assumption that they have acquired “the wisdom to control war.” However, this outlook overlooks the possibility that self-destruction may have been avoided through “means abhorrent” as the author suggests might be a possibility

D ) military tacticians

The view of military tacticians in regard to aliens is not represented in the passage The only reference to military tacticians is an analogy between their view of pacifists and how aliens might view mutually assured destruction

Solution

Guess

97 According to the author, one comforting aspect of the concept of natural selection in reference to extraterrestrials

is the possibility that any extraterrestrials that contacted Earth would:

A ) represent the fittest of their species

This could be disquieting rather than comforting, especially if, as the author suggests in citing James Trefil, this leads to aliens being selected for their aggressive traits

B ) exhibit recognizably “human” traits

Such a view is represented as “comforting” in the passage because aliens would also exhibit “human” traits other than aggression: “Aliens might exhibit many recognizable traits: curiosity, desire for companionship, love of laughter, pleasure in art and culture, and respect for the sanctity of life.”

C ) counter the stereotypes of extraterrestrials promoted by science fiction

The passage suggests that the stereotypes of aliens in science fiction reflect aggressive traits, although in

comical ways The author finds the possibility that they may be aggressive disquieting See rationale A

D ) explain to us their means of avoiding nuclear destruction

In this case, the author is also disquieted by the possibility that such aliens might avoid self-destruction by

A ) either warlike or pacifistic

The passage devotes nearly equal time to both possibilities—speculation that aliens may be pacific and speculation that they may be warlike

Solution

Guess

99 Assume that the first extraterrestrials to contact Earth are a formerly warlike species that became pacifistic after suffering the consequences of a horrible war This scenario most strongly supports the characterization of extraterrestrials favored by:

A ) James Trefil

James Trefil suggests that evolution would have selected for aggressive aliens much like it selected for aggressive humans on Earth—he cautions that “if evolution functions approximately the same way on other

B ) the author of the passage

The passage author does not know if they would be pacific or warlike, which is why, for the author, the more important question to ask aliens would be about their philosophy rather than their technology

C ) the researchers mentioned in the second paragraph

The researchers suggest that aliens might have experienced war sometime in their history since they would have acquired “the wisdom to control war” long before traveling in space so that by the time they contacted humans they would be “no longer menacing.”

D ) science-fiction writers

The stereotypical aliens presented by science fiction writers are depicted in the passage as tending toward warlike, though in a comical way

100 The author implies that the reason red tides are difficult to control is that:

A ) phytoplankton can multiply rapidly, covering extensive areas

The author describes how toxic algae blooms occur: “Barring a shortage of nutrients or light, or heavy grazing by tiny zooplankton that consume the algae, the population’s size can increase rapidly… Spread over large areas the

phenomenon can be both visually spectacular and catastrophic.”

B ) the presence of toxicity in seawater is likely to remain undetected

The author points out that the science has matured in this area and toxins are therefore more readily discovered

C ) the toxins increase to dangerous levels within the bodies of small fish

The author indicates that this is not a control issue and may even be advantageous: “From the human health standpoint,

it is fortunate that herring, cod, salmon, and other commercial fish are sensitive to these toxins and, unlike shellfish, die before toxins reach dangerous levels in their flesh.”

D ) human pollution of seawater is not adequately monitored

Passage information suggests otherwise, that pollution monitoring has expanded: “…the global expansion in

aquaculture means that more areas are monitored closely…” and that studies are showing a relationship between red tides and human-caused pollution

Solution

Guess

101 Assume that a committee of environmentalists who are aware of the information in the passage is appointed to advise Congress on ways to reduce the problem of red tides The members would probably recommend that:

A ) fisheries release their products only in areas that are free of algae

This would be a less reasonable course of action because, even if the location of algae-free area could be determined, passage information indicates that could change, especially since algae can increase rapidly and algal cells are widespread—“In some cases a milliliter of seawater can contain tens or hundreds of thousands of algal cells.”

B ) whales and other important marine life be driven away from affected areas

This would not be a very practicable course of action since it would require vast resources and much effort to drive these animals out There exists the additional possibility that more animals could enter the area once these were driven out and these efforts process would need to begin all over again

C ) herbicides be used to destroy all toxic species of algae

It is reasonable to assume that this measure could be actually counter-productive, since, much like a toxic red

tide, the herbicides would cause toxic pollution that could harm marine wildlife and concentrate in the flesh

of commercial fish, in turn, affecting human health if the herbicides did not kill the fish before reaching humans

D ) plant nutrients be removed from wastewater before it is released into waterways

Passage information suggests that removing nutrients would be the most reasonable course of action, given the data from pollution monitoring of coastal areas: “Coastal waters receiving industrial, agricultural, and domestic waste, frequently rich in plant nutrients, should experience a general increase in algal growth All phytoplankton species, toxic and nontoxic, benefit, but we notice the enrichment of toxic ones more.”

Solution

102 If the author’s information is correct, and if the trends mentioned continue, which of the following changes can

be expected?

Guess

B ) The prevalence of large-scale die-offs of fish will increase

Passage information indicates that red tides are increasing as revealed by long-term studies As a result, more die-offs are likely: “Algal toxins cause mortalities as they move though the marine food web.” Commercial fish are especially sensitive to these toxins and die even before the toxins reach dangerous levels

in their flesh, which indicates the likelihood of increased fish die-offs, especially with the increase in red tides

C ) The relative number of algal species that are harmless will decrease

According to the passage, a general increase in algae occurs, including nontoxic as well as toxic algae

D ) The number of shellfish in coastal waters will decrease

Unlike commercial fish, shellfish tend to concentrate toxins in their flesh rather than die

be a natural outcome of the presence of an epidemic, but would not explain it

B ) Contamination has spread to coastal areas in which people swim

Passage information indicates that red-tide poisoning is caused by ingestion, not simply by swimming The whales swimming in the infested waters had also been feeding Toxins also concentrate in the livers and other organs of fish that are eaten by other animals, putting these animals at higher risk The reason humans have been safe so far is because toxins do not concentrate to dangerous levels in the flesh of commercial fish before they die, so humans do not ingest the toxins by eating these fish

C ) Food fish have developed increased resistance to the toxins

This would be the most likely reason for the epidemic, since what protected human health before was the tendency of commercial fish to be especially sensitive to toxins and die off before the toxins could concentrate to dangerous levels in their flesh

D ) Whales and other marine mammals are avoiding the toxic algae

This is a nonsequitur—it would not matter whether or not these animals were avoiding the algae if humans were not

Solution

Guess

104 Which of the following findings would suggest that the author’s concern about the danger of red tides is

A ) The whales that died in 1987 succumbed to dramatic fluctuations in water temperature

B ) Chemical spills in the vicinity of the dead whales had caused an extreme level of contamination

C ) Red tides occur rarely, are easily identified, and grow slowly

D ) A readily available substance is an effective antidote to red-tide poisoning

application of the antidote

105 The primary purpose of the passage is to:

A ) identify the differences between two critical accounts of the growth of the novel in the U.S

These differences are identified only in the opening paragraph and then refuted in the second paragraph before the author moves on to the main point, the prevalence of novels and readers of novels in the U.S before the Civil War

B ) trace the growth and influence of the magazine industry in the U.S from 1840 to 1860

This is not the main point but is a key point that supports the main idea by showing that fiction had a wide readership

in the U.S prior to the Civil War See rationale C

C ) question the idea that the social and intellectual atmosphere in nineteenth-century America was hostile to fiction

The author first recounts the “two stories” literary historians tell about the novel in the U.S prior to the Civil War, both of which cite a time period hostile to fiction The author then goes on to refute this “powerful critical myth” by showing that a great number of novels were being read in America, especially during 1840 to 1860 when the number

of periodicals expanded and published “more than two thousand reviews of eight hundred separate novels, about half

of them of American origin.”

D ) offer contrary evidence to the argument that the Puritan tradition affected the growth of the romance in America The passage does not primarily offer contrary evidence to this particular idea alone, but, more generally, to the idea from which this idea concerning the development of the romance derives, namely, that an atmosphere hostile to fiction existed in the U.S prior to the Civil War

B ) Yes; it would reinforce the passage author’s view that literary nationalism was not a viable force during this period

The author does not raise the issue of literary nationalism or hold this view The statistic that half the novels were American only serves to show that many novels were being written in the U.S as well as Europe and that the U.S public was interested in reading them It is not presented as evidence concerning literary

nationalism or whether or not it was a viable force See rationale A

C ) No; it would merely demonstrate that American publishers made profit a top priority

It would more logically follow in this case that publishers were as interested if not more interested in responding to the interest of the U.S reading public as in making a profit Otherwise, they would be more inclined to promote European novels over American This only reinforces the author’s point that the U.S

“was a nation of novel readers” rather than showing publishers were only interested in a profit

D ) No; it would shed no light on the preferences of the American reading public for novels

On the contrary, this would show that publishers were interested in responding to the public’s interest in

novels, especially American novels, since they could make more profit on European novels See rationales

A and C

Solution

107 Which of the following assertions is NOT clearly supported by historical research provided by the passage author?

A ) Nineteenth-century American writers now considered major had difficulty supporting themselves by writing

The author states: “The small number of American fiction writers who are now called major did, evidently, have trouble supporting themselves as novelists.” However, the author does not present the evidence and

B ) Many novels were being written and read in the U.S from the 1840s through the 1860s

The author supports this by citing the actual number of reviews of novels and the number of novels reviewed

Guess B ) Many novels were being written and read in the U.S from the 1840s through the 1860s

The author supports this by citing the actual number of reviews of novels and the number of novels reviewed during this period, two thousand and eight hundred respectively

C ) American novels were well received by the major American periodicals of the mid-nineteenth century The author points out how, from perusing reviews during this period, American novels were well-received

by reviewers to the point that staff members of magazines were concerned that reviewers were too quick to praise

D ) The periodical press in the United States grew in size and influence during the 1840s

The author provides ample statistics to support this point: “There were fewer than 125 American magazines

in 1825; by 1850 there were about 600….” This included a number of journals that had over 100,000

subscribers and Horace Greeley’s Tribune with over 200,000 subscribers

Solution

Guess

108 What role does the sentence “Scottish common sense philosophy should not be described as an American phenomenon” play in the passage?

A ) It introduces a point that will be developed in detail later in the passage

At no point later in the passage is this statement developed further The statement is designed to counter one the critical myths referred to in the opening paragraph

B ) It offers additional support for the points made in the preceding sentence

The previous sentence in part reads: “…much of what Americans wrote and said about novels was derived from sources in the British Isles.” In the context of the passage argument, the sentence in question is therefore a logical extension of this statement, elaborating on this point by means of specific reference to the origin of Scottish common sense philosophy in the U.S

C ) It reminds the reader that hostility to the novel originated abroad

The author never specifically makes the point that hostility to the novel originated abroad, only that

“expressed hostility to fiction was no less strong in England than in America,” implying that this could have just as easily been a simultaneous development and that some Americans were simply influenced by what was said and wrote about regarding the novel in England

D ) It suggests that Scottish common sense philosophy was hostile to fiction

In citing one of the critical myths of literary history, the passage does not suggest that Scottish common

sense philosophy itself was openly hostile to fiction, only that it joined with Puritanism to create an

atmosphere hostile to fiction, a fine distinction In addition, when considering its context within the passage, the sentence in question functions not to support this idea but to additionally support the preceding sentence

A ) The myth that the Puritan tradition made Americans hostile to the novel form

The author never explains specifically why the Puritan tradition was hostile to the novel Therefore there is

B ) The myth that the literary romance was compatible with the nineteenth-century American milieu

The breakdown of social cohesiveness and individual isolation are two reasons given for why the romance

C ) The research findings on nineteenth-century book reviews of American novels

The reviews far from proclaiming the death of the novel were largely enthusiastic giving tacit approval to

D ) The research findings on nineteenth-century attitudes toward the novel in England

Beyond implying that Scottish common sense philosophy may have influenced this hostility the author does