QUESTION: 89

For each question, select the best answer from the choices given.

Without a doubt, one of America’s greatest science-fiction writers is Kurt Vonnegut, who has written dozens of stories and novels, including the masterpiece Slaughterhouse Five. Yet for decades, Vonnegut denied that what he was writing was science fiction. Today, however, Vonnegut embraces his rightful place as a master of the genre. All of the following, if true, are helpful in accounting for the phenomenon described in this passage EXCEPT

early in Vonnegut’s career, science fiction was largely considered by critics to be an inferior genre.
Vonnegut did not want to be pigeonholed as a science-fiction writer.
as a young author, Vonnegut’s favorite writers were all science-fiction writers.
science fiction has become a legitimate literary genre.
science fiction has become an increasingly popular genre (for readers and writers alike) because of the increased importance of science and technology in our lives.

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

Choice c is not helpful in accounting for Vonnegut’s early reluctance to be identified as a science- fiction writer because it is not relevant. The other choices are directly related to the phenomenon and help us understand why he did not originally want to be called a science-fiction writer but now welcomes the categorization.

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QUESTION: 90

The greatest failure of modern American society is its rejection of the extended family. It is no wonder our society is so violent and so many Americans feel a deep sense of isolation and overwhelming stress.

This argument is based on all of the following assumptions EXCEPT

Americans value independence more than interdependence.
people who live in extended families feel less stress.
a large percentage of Americans feels isolated and alone.
living in an extended family engenders a strong sense of belonging.
deep feelings of isolation and overwhelming stress lead to antisocial and violent behavior.

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

The argument that American society is violent and many Americans feel isolated and stressed (conclusion) because they have rejected the practice of extended families (premise) is based on several assumptions about extended families (e.g., that they ease stress and engender a sense of belonging), about Americans (e.g., that they feel isolated and alone), and about the effects of isolation and stress. It may be true that many Americans value independence more than interdependence, but that assumption is not directly related to the argument. It does not serve as a link between the premise and the conclusion.

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QUESTION: 91

The original Star Wars film (1977), in which Luke Skywalker saved Princess Leia and battled against the evil Empire, was followed by two equally successful sequels—The Empire Strikes back and Return of the Jedi. Nearly 25 years later, the Star Wars prequels have arrived, and they are even more successful than the original series. The prequels (The Phantom Menace, Attack of the Clones, and the soon-to-be released
Episode III) have shattered box office records, filling theaters with audiences of young children, teenagers, and adults alike.

Which of the following conclusions can properly be drawn from this statement?

The prequels are better than the original and its sequels.
The prequels have been marketed more effectively than the original and its sequels.
The Star Wars films have phenomenal special effects.
Fans of the original films have always wanted more Star Wars stories.
The themes and epic struggles of the Star Wars movies appeal to viewers of all generations.

Answer(s): E

Explanation:

The evidence in the passage points to one conclusion: that the Star Wars films appeal to audience-goers of all ages. The passage tells us that the prequels are even more successful than the originals and that the films are popular among “young children, teenagers, and adults alike.” This suggests that viewers of all ages appreciate the themes in the films. The passage does not compare the quality or marketing of the prequels to the sequels, so choices a and b are incorrect. It does not discuss the special effects in the film, so choice c is incorrect.
Fans of the original film may have wanted more Star Wars stories, but the passage does not state this, so choice d is not a logical conclusion to the argument.

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QUESTION: 92

For years, Americans have been told to stay away from fat. Feeding the market of those anxiously watching their waistlines, food manufacturers have filled grocery store shelves with low-fat and fat-free foods. Now, however, some researchers are blaming the fat-free craze for the American crisis of obesity.
Foods without fat, they argue, leave us feeling unsatisfied and craving even more food. As a result, we end up eating a whole bag of low-fat potato chips when we would have only eaten half a bag of regular (fat-laden) potato chips.

Which of the following is the most logical conclusion that can be drawn from the passage?

Avoid a no-fat diet, but eat low-fat foods.
You will likely eat less if you eat foods with fat.
Potato chips of any sort are unhealthy.
The key to weight management is to avoid cravings.
Fat-free foods should be banned from stores.

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

The passage argues that foods with little or no fat leave people feeling unsatisfied, so they are likely to eat more than they would of foods that have a substantial fat content. Although the evidence suggests that eating a low- fat diet is better than a no-fat diet (choice a), choice b is a more logical conclusion, especially because the focus in the passage is how much we eat. The health value of potato chips, which are only used as an example, is not discussed, so choice c is incorrect. Choice d is incorrect because the passage suggests that weight control is a matter of what kind of foods people eat, not the suppression of cravings. The passage does not state that fat-free foods should be banned from stores, so e is not a logical conclusion.

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Free GMAT SECTION 3: VERBAL ABILITY Exam Braindumps (page: 23)

QUESTION: 89

Explanation:

QUESTION: 90

Explanation:

QUESTION: 91

Explanation:

QUESTION: 92

Explanation: