QUESTION: 105

Mary Shelley’s 1818 classic Frankenstein has been the most-taught novel on college campuses in the country for the past 10 years. This is due primarily to the worries about scientific responsibility brought on by the recent surge of advances in science and technology, especially biotechnology. Which of the following statements, if true, would be most helpful in evaluating this argument?

Frankenstein is considered the first science-fiction novel.
Most people who have not read the novel mistakenly assume that Frankenstein is the monster, not the scientist who created the monster.
In the novel, Victor Frankenstein creates a monster and then abandons it, refusing to take responsibility for his creation.
In the novel, Frankenstein’s creature causes a great deal of destruction because he is constantly rejected by others.
Most Americans are opposed to cloning human beings.

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

The fact that Dr. Frankenstein brings a creature to life but then abandons that creature, refusing to take responsibility for his creation, tells us that one of Frankenstein’s main themes is scientific responsibility. This would help explain why college professors concerned about scientific responsibility would choose this book. The other choices may be interesting and informative, but they do not help you evaluate the argument because they do not provide information that enables you to ascertain the relevance of the conclusion.

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QUESTION: 106

Arthur: Do animals have rights? Well, they have feelings, and I think if you can feel pain, you do have some rights, particularly the right not to have pain inflicted on you.
Brandon: Animals like lions would kill me if they were hungry for food. That inflicts pain on me, all right! Which of the following is the best criticism of Brandon’s response?

He assumes that because some animals kill humans, humans have a right to kill those animals.
He does not give specific examples to support his position.
He attacks Arthur rather than addressing the issue.
He takes an absolute position without allowing for exceptions.
He brings in a different issue rather than addressing the question of whether or not animals have rights.

Answer(s): D

Explanation:

Brandon does not directly address the issue of whether or not animals have rights. Instead, he brings in another issue — whether or not animals would kill him if they were hungry for food — and thus shifts the argument to his pain rather than the right of animals to be free of pain. Thus, the best criticism of this argument is that Brandon brings in a red herring. Brandon’s response is not based on any assumption about human beings’ right to kill animals, so choice a is incorrect. He does give one specific example (lions), so choice b is incorrect. He does not attack Arthur, so choice c is incorrect. Finally, he does not make an absolute statement including all animals, so choice d is also incorrect.

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QUESTION: 107

People who own dangerous pets such as poisonous snakes or ferocious dogs are morally and legally responsible for their pet’s actions. If someone is hurt by such a pet, the owner should be held 100% accountable.
All of the following statements, if true, would strengthen this argument EXCEPT

the physical whereabouts of pets are completely under the control of their owners.
a pet is the legal property of a person, and people are responsible for damages inflicted by their property.
a pet is like a young child in that its whereabouts must constantly be controlled and behaviors trained and monitored.
pet owners cannot completely control their pets’ behaviors.
a dangerous pet is no different from a dangerous weapon, and it must be cared for accordingly.

Answer(s): D

Explanation:

If pet owners cannot completely control their pets’ behaviors, then this undermines the conclusion that pet owners should be 100% accountable for their pets’ actions. The other choices, however, all make claims that support the argument for accountability.

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QUESTION: 108

Since Lotta came out of her shell, she has made a lot of new friends. Which of the following is the best criticism of this statement?

Lotta may have come out of her shell because she made new friends.
Lotta may have come out of her shell because of accomplishments at her new job.
Lotta may not have very close relationships with any of these new friends.
Lotta often has periods of introversion.
Lotta is a very likeable person.

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

The problem with this statement is that it may reverse causation. Perhaps Lotta made new friends after she came out of her shell, but it is equally possible that Lotta’s new friends helped her come out of her shell. Lotta’s accomplishments at work may have helped her come out of her shell (choice b), but that is not a relevant criticism of the argument; it has nothing to do with the question of making friends after coming out her shell.
The level of intimacy of her new friendships (choice c) is also irrelevant to an analysis of the argument because it does not make any claims about the depth of the relationships.
If Lotta often has periods of introversion (choice d), then she also has periods of coming out of her shell, so this is not relevant (again, it does not address the cause/effect issue). If Lotta is very likeable (choice e), it might explain an ease in making new friends or the number of new friends, but it does not connect the two pieces of the statement.

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Free GMAT SECTION 3: VERBAL ABILITY Exam Braindumps (page: 27)

QUESTION: 105

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QUESTION: 106

Explanation:

QUESTION: 107

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QUESTION: 108

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