QUESTION: 109

All across Europe, midwives are the most common choice for prenatal care and delivery. In America, however, midwives are the minority, with most women choosing obstetricians to help them deliver their babies. But using midwives could save millions of dollars a year in healthcare costs. All of the following information would be helpful in evaluating this argument EXCEPT

a comparison of the cost of an obstetrician birth and a midwife birth
a comparison of the percentage of costly procedures such as episiotomies and Caesarian sections in midwife- and obstetrician-led births
a description of the author’s experience with a midwife
a comparison of the procedures in an obstetrician birth and midwife birth
a description of how midwives are used in healthcare systems in other countries

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

All of the choices except c provide information that would help evaluate the conclusion that using midwives could save millions of dollars a year in healthcare costs. Only choice c is irrelevant. The author’s own experience with a midwife may or may not be typical and does not address the issue of whether or not midwives are more cost effective.

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QUESTION: 110

Increasing the speed limit to 65 miles per hour or more on highways is dangerous and only leads to more accidents. Whenever the highway speed has been increased, accident rates have increased in that state. Maine raised its turnpike speed to 65 mph in November, and more fatal accidents occurred in December than any other month in the year. Highway fatalities in December and January combined were up 18% from November.

All of the following are valid criticisms of this argument EXCEPT

it does not explain why the speed limit was originally set at 55 mph.
it does not specify whether the accident rate increase was in accidents only on the highways where the speed limit was increased or on all highways.
it does not consider other possible causes for increases in accidents, such as winter weather driving conditions in Maine.
it only cites statistics for one state.
it does not acknowledge that speed is not the only cause of accidents.

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

The issue in the argument is whether increased speed limits are dangerous, so the argument should focus on proving that this is the case. The fact that the argument does not discuss why the speed limit was originally set at 55 mph is essentially irrelevant, so it is not a valid criticism of the argument. All of the other options, however, express valid criticisms and point out significant flaws in the reasoning.

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QUESTION: 111

Don’t be surprised if we have an unusually cold winter this year. The last time we had a very cold winter was 12 years ago, and the last time before that was 12 years earlier, and the time before that was also 12 years earlier. Brace yourself for another cold one.

Which of the following would most strengthen this argument?

a chart showing the average temperature of winters over the last 11 years
a chart comparing the actual winter temperatures to predictions for the last 36 years
a chart with the average winter temperatures for the last 36 years
weather predictions from the National Weather Center
a discussion of weather patterns that create colder winters

Answer(s): D

Explanation:

The conclusion of the argument is that we should expect an unusually cold winter because we are in the twelfth year of a cycle in which every twelfth year is unusually cold. Although the 12-year cycle might indeed have existed for the last 36 years, it goes against our understanding of weather that such a pattern will continue. In all likelihood, the fact that the twelfth year has been unusually cold for the last 36 years is coincidence, not a set meteorological pattern. Thus, the information that would most strengthen the argument is predictions from the National Weather Center, which uses advanced forecasting technology and analysis of existing weather patterns to predict the weather and could estimate the general tenor of the approaching season. The charts in choices a through c would be useful in proving that such a pattern has existed the last 36 years, but they do not provide strong evidence of the weather to come. A discussion of weather patterns (choice e) would be informative, but it would not strengthen the argument about the approaching winter weather.

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QUESTION: 112

The main principle of feng shui is that our environment must be ordered to permit and encourage the free flow of energy. One of the fundamental steps is to eliminate clutter, which blocks the flow of energy.

Based upon the previous information, which of the following statements is also likely to be true?

Proper ventilation will improve the flow of energy.
Objects should be dispersed as evenly as possible around the room.
Square objects should be placed in corners.
Walls should be kept bare except for mirrors.
Light colored paints are best.

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

The information provided in the passage leads to the conclusion that objects should be dispersed evenly around the room. This would “encourage the free flow of energy” and reduce clutter, because objects would not be crammed together. Proper ventilation (choice a) may indeed improve the flow of energy, but that cannot be concluded from the passage. The passage does not indicate where square objects should be placed (choice c), whether walls should be kept bare (choice d), or whether light colored paints are best (choice e), so these choices are incorrect.

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Free GMAT SECTION 3: VERBAL ABILITY Exam Braindumps (page: 28)

QUESTION: 109

Explanation:

QUESTION: 110

Explanation:

QUESTION: 111

Explanation:

QUESTION: 112

Explanation: