Sunday, September 2, 2007

august arguments 2

1. In a study of reading habits of Leeville citizens conducted by the University of Leeville, most respondents said they preferred literary classics as reading material. However, a follow-up study conducted by the same researchers found that the type of book most frequently checked out of each of the public libraries in Leeville was the mystery novel. Therefore, it can be concluded that the respondents in the first study had misrepresented their reading habits.

2. The following appeared in a letter to the editor of the Clearview newspaper.
“In the next mayoral election, residents of Clearview should vote for Ann Green, who is a member of the Good Earth Coalition, rather than for Frank Braun, a member of the Clearview town council, because the current members are not protecting our environment. For example, during the past year the number of factories in Clearview has doubled, air pollution levels have increased, and the local hospital has treated 25 percent more patients with respiratory illnesses. If we elect Ann Green, the environmental problems in Clearview will certainly be solved.”


3. The following appeared as an editorial in a wildlife journal.”Arctic deer live on islands in Canada’s arctic region. They search for food by moving over ice from island to island during the course of a year. Their habitat is limited to areas warm enough to sustain the plants on which they feed, and cold enough, at least some of the year, for the ice to cover the sea separating the islands, allowing the deer to travel over it. Unfortunately, according to reports from local hunters, the deer populations are declining. Since these reports coincide with recent global warming trends that have caused the sea ice to melt, we can conclude that the decline in arctic deer populations is the result of deer being unable to follow their age-old migration patterns across the frozen sea.”

4. The following appeared as an editorial in a local newspaper.
“In order to attract visitors to Central Plaza downtown and to return the plaza to its former glory, the city should prohibit skateboarding there and instead allow skateboarders to use an area in Monroe Park. At Central Plaza, skateboard users are about the only people one sees now, and litter and defaced property have made the plaza unattractive. In a recent survey of downtown merchants, the majority supported a prohibition on skateboarding in the plaza. Clearly, banning skateboarding in Central Plaza will make the area a place where people can congregate for fun or for relaxation.”


5. As people grow older, an enzyme known as PEP increasingly breaks down the neuropeptide chemicals involved in learning and memory. But now, researchers have found compounds that prevent PEP from breaking neuropeptides apart. In tests, these compounds almost completely restored lost memory in rats. The use of these compounds should be extended to students who have poor memory and difficulty in concentrating — and therefore serious problems in school performance. Science finally has a solution for problems neither parents nor teachers could solve.

6. The following is a memorandum from the sales director to the president of the Healthy-and-Good food company.
“A recent study indicates that Venadial, a new margarine currently produced only in the country of Alta, actually reduces cholesterol levels. Derived from the resin of pine trees, Venadial works by activating a metabolic response that is not yet well understood. However, cholesterol levels fell ten to fifteen percent among participants in the study who consumed Venadial daily, and the risk of heart attack by one-third. In addition, the new margarine is so popular that stores in Alta are unable to keep it on their shelves. Therefore, if our company obtains the exclusive right to sell Venadial internationally, our profits are sure to increase substantially within a very short time.”

7. Recent study shows that people living on the continent of North America suffer 9 times more chronic fatigue and 31 times more chronic depression than do people living on the continent of Asia. Interestingly, Asians, on average, eat 20 grams of soy per day, whereas North Americans eat virtually none. It turns out that soy contains phytochemicals called isoflavones, which have been found to possess disease-preventing properties. Thus, North Americans should consider eating soy on a regular basis as a way of preventing fatigue and depression.

8. Due to the declining profits we have to reduce the operating expenses of the ten rental vedio stores we have. We have to not increase the profits because we are famous for special bargains. By reducing the operating hours..is a good idea. Last month our vedio-store in downtown have reduced the working time to 6:pm rather than 9:pm which is our usual time. It ha also reduced the inventory by excluding the stock two years from now. So, we have to do the same..for all the rental stores

9. The following is a letter from an editor at Liber Publishing Company to the company’s president.
“In recent years, Liber has unfortunately moved away from its original mission: to publish the works of regional small-town authors instead of those of big-city authors. Just last year, 90 percent of the novels we published were written by authors who maintain a residence in a big city. Although this change must have been intended to increase profits, it has obviously backfired, because Liber is now in serious financial trouble. The only way to address this problem is to return to our original mission. If we return to publishing only the works of regional small-town authors, our financial troubles will soon be resolved”

august words

1. Tirade - A long angry or violent speech, usually of a censorious or denunciatory nature; a diatribe

2. Glean - To gather grain left behind by reapers; to collect (something) bit by bit

3. Abandon - To give up completely; to desert; careless disregard for consequences; leave behind, relinquish; leave in troubled state; careless, often reckless disregard for consequences

4. Rancour - A feeling of deep and bitter anger and ill-will

5. Desecrate - To violate the sacredness of; profane; spoil or mar the sanctity of; abuse, violate

6. Quartet - A group of four musicians or singers; also, a piece of music for four instruments or voices; composition for four voices or four instruments or four parts; four performers or singers who perform together

7. Rickety - Not physically steady or firm; unsound, broken-down; shaky; likely to fall apart

8. Triad - A group of three; a chord of three tones, especially one built on a given root tone plus a major or minor third and a perfect fifth; set of three similar things considered as a unit

9. Preposterous - Contrary to nature, reason, or common sense; absurd; ridiculous, bizarre; completely devoid of wisdom or good sense; senseless as to be laughable

10. Puckish - Mischievous; impish; naughtily or annoyingly playful

11. Delusion - An erroneous perception of reality; misconception, misbelief

12. Aplomb - Self-confident assurance; poise; assurance of manner or of action; a firm belief in one’s own powers; stable, calm state of the emotions

13. Stupor - A state of reduced or suspended sensibility; state of mental numbness, as that resulting from shock; a daze; condition of dullness, often resulting from stress; unconsciousness

14. Benedict - A newly married man who was previously considered a confirmed bachelor

15. Tiresome - Causing fatigue or boredom; wearisome; arousing no interest or curiosity; irritating, exasperating; so lacking in interest as to cause mental weariness

16. Boredom - The condition of being bored; ennui; disinterest; weariness; the state of being uninterested

17. Orifice - An opening, especially to a cavity or passage of the body; a mouth or vent; an open space allowing passage

18. Aboretum - A facility where trees and shrubs are cultivated for exhibition; botanical garden primarily devoted to trees and woody plants, forming a living collection of trees intended at least partly for scientific study
19. Grouch - A habitually complaining or irritable person; a grumbling or sulky mood; complaint; a grudge

20. Animadversion - Strong criticism; a critical or censorious remark; harsh criticism or disapproval

21. Illegible - (of handwriting, print, etc.) not legible; “illegible handwriting”; not capable of being read or deciphered

22. Uncouth - Crude; unrefined; awkward or clumsy; ungraceful; archaic; foreign; unfamiliar; clumsy, uncultivated; lacking in delicacy or refinement

23. Churlish - Lacking in delicacy or refinement; crude, boorish; having a bad disposition; surly; difficult to work with, such as soil; intractable

24. Helter-skelter - In disorderly haste; confusedly; pell-mell; carelessly hurried and confused; turmoil; confusion; haphazardly

25. Puckish - Mischievous; impish; naughtily or annoyingly playful

26. Tantamount - Agreeing exactly in value, quantity, or effect; same; equivalent in effect or value

27. Berth - A built-in bed or bunk, as on a ship or a train; a place to sleep or stay; accommodations; a post of employment; provide with often temporary lodging; place where a ship can tie up

28. Dally - To treat lightly or flippantly; dawdle, delay; deal with or treat in a half serious or playful way

29. Reprobate - A morally unprincipled person; morally objectionable; feel or express strong disapproval of; criticize; abandon to eternal damnation; reject as invalid, as of documents

30. Receptacle - A container that holds items or matter; the expanded tip of a flower stalk or axis that bears the floral organs or the group of flowers in a head; a fitting connected to a power supply and equipped to receive a plug; container

31. Bowl - A dish that is round and open at the top for serving foods; a round vessel that is open at the top; throw or roll

quant 2

1 The volume of a box with a square base is 54 cubic centimeters. If the height of the box is twice the width of the base, what is the height, in centimeters?
(A) 2
(B) 3
(C) 4
(D) 6
(E) 9 b

2 In a certain set of weights, for each positive integer n less than 10, there is one weight that weighs 2n grams. What is the least number of such weights with a combined weight of 108 grams?
(A) Three
(B) Four
(C) Five
(D) Six
(E) Seven b

3 If (a -1)(b - 2) = 0, which of the following must be true?
I. a = 1 and b = 2.
II. If a ¹1, then b = 2
III. If a =1, then b ¹ 2 .
(A) I only
(B) II only
(C) III only
(D) I and II
(E) II and III b

4 If (x - 5)( y + 2) = 0 , which of the following must be true?
(A) x = y
(B) x > y
(C) x < y
(D) xy = -10
(A) None of the above e

5 If (-2,k) is a point on the graph of y = 2×2 - 3x +1, then k =
(A) -13
(B) -1
(C) 3
(D) 11
(E) 15 e

6 The product of two positive integers m and n is twice their sum. If n is 6, what is the
value of m ?
(A) 8
(B) 6
(C) 4
(D) 3
(E) 2 d

quant 3

1. If (-2,k) is a point on the graph of y = 2×2 - 3x +1, then k =
(A) -13
(B) -1
(C) 3
(D) 11
(E) 15 e

2. The product of two positive integers m and n is twice their sum. If n is 6, what is the
value of m ?
(A) 8
(B) 6
(C) 4
(D) 3
(E) 2 d

3. If x : y = 2 :3 , y : z = 3: 4 , and x = 8 , then z - y =
(A) 1
(B) 4
(C) 6
(D) 8
(E) 12 b

4. If S is the set of all numbers x such that 1 - 2x £ 3, which of the following is true about
S ?
(A) The least number in S is -1.
(B) The least number in S is 0.
(C) The least number in S is 3.
(D) The greatest number in S is - 2 .
(E) The greatest number in S is -1. a

5. An operation * defined on whole numbers gives results such as the following:
2 * 3 = 7
3 * 4 =13
1* 5 = 6
0 * 6 =1
According to the equations above, which of the following could define the operation * ?
(A) x * y = x + y
(B) x * y = 2x + y
(C) x * y = y2 - x
(D) x * y = x2 + y
(E) x * y = xy + 1 e

6) A loaf of bread and 2 one-pound containers of butter cost a total of $4.95. If a pound of butter costs $0.90 more than a loaf of bread, how much does a pound of butter cost?
(A) $1.05
(B) $1.58
(C) $1.95
(D) $2.03
(E) $2.93 c

quant 1

1 Which of the following integers equals the product of two prime numbers?
(A) 19
(B) 27
(C) 30
(D) 41
(E) 58 e

2 What is the smallest positive integer by which 126 can be multiplied so that the product is the square of an integer?
(A) 4
(B) 7
(C) 9
(D) 14
(E) 126 d

3 The sum of three consecutive odd integers, x, y, and z , in ascending order, is 39. What is the sum of the three consecutive odd integers that immediately follow z ?
(A) 78
(B) 57
(C) 48
(D) 45
(E) 42 b

4 If the average (arithmetic mean) of x, y, and z is an even integer, then x + y + z could
be
(A) 15
(B) 16
(C) 18
(D) 20
(E) 21 c

5 For how many of the integers from 10 to 99 is at least one of the two digits a 4?
(A) 9
(B) 10
(C) 18
(D) 19
(E) 20 c

6 If the average (arithmetic mean) of a,b, and c is 40, what is the average (arithmetic
mean) of (3a + 10), (3b + 10) , and (3c + 10) ?
(A) 50
(B) 70
(C) 130
(D) 150
(E) It cannot be determined from the information given. C

august words

1.despise

2.damant

3.fervid

4.sully

5.astute

6.animosity

7.hoist

8.limber

9.grim

10.dub

11.appease

12.scant

13.mend

14.vex

15.confederates

16.gaily

17.dissuade

18.taint

19.xenophobia

20.endaevour

21.tawdry

22.proliferate

23.obsolete

24.emancipate

25.blandishments

26.insolent

27.fiesta

28.forbid

29.beep

30.obscure

31.confiscate

32.adroit

33.fathom

34.hiatus

35.perjure

36.maladroit

37.xenophobia

38.cloister

39.skittish

40.meticulous

41.annul

42.exonerate

43.perpetuate

44.arid

45.splay

46.perplex

47.melancholy

48.obfuscate

49.sever

50.pedantic

august arguments

1. In a study of reading habits of Leeville citizens conducted by the University of Leeville, most respondents said they preferred literary classics as reading material. However, a follow-up study conducted by the same researchers found that the type of book most frequently checked out of each of the public libraries in Leeville was the mystery novel. Therefore, it can be concluded that the respondents in the first study had misrepresented their reading habits.

2. The following appeared in a letter to the editor of the Clear view newspaper.
“In the next mayoral election, residents of Clear view should vote for Ann Green, who is a member of the Good Earth Coalition, rather than for Frank Braun, a member of the Clear view town council, because the current members are not protecting our environment. For example, during the past year the number of factories in Clear view has doubled, air pollution levels have increased, and the local hospital has treated 25 percent more patients with respiratory illnesses. If we elect Ann Green, the environmental problems in Clear view will certainly be solved.”

3. The following appeared as an editorial in a wildlife journal.”Arctic deer live on islands in Canada’s arctic region. They search for food by moving over ice from island to island during the course of a year. Their habitat is limited to areas warm enough to sustain the plants on which they feed, and cold enough, at least some of the year, for the ice to cover the sea separating the islands, allowing the deer to travel over it. Unfortunately, according to reports from local hunters, the deer populations are declining. Since these reports coincide with recent global warming trends that have caused the sea ice to melt, we can conclude that the decline in arctic deer populations is the result of deer being unable to follow their age-old migration patterns across the frozen sea.”

4. The following appeared as an editorial in a local newspaper.
“In order to attract visitors to Central Plaza downtown and to return the plaza to its former glory, the city should prohibit skateboarding there and instead allow skateboarders to use an area in Monroe Park. At Central Plaza, skateboard users are about the only people one sees now, and litter and defaced property have made the plaza unattractive. In a recent survey of downtown merchants, the majority supported a prohibition on skateboarding in the plaza. Clearly, banning skateboarding in Central Plaza will make the area a place where people can congregate for fun or for relaxation.”

5. As people grow older, an enzyme known as PEP increasingly breaks down the neuropeptide chemicals involved in learning and memory. But now, researchers have found compounds that prevent PEP from breaking neuropeptides apart. In tests, these compounds almost completely restored lost memory in rats. The use of these compounds should be extended to students who have poor memory and difficulty in concentrating — and therefore serious problems in school performance. Science finally has a solution for problems neither parents nor teachers could solve.

6. The following is a memorandum from the sales director to the president of the Healthy-and-Good food company.
“A recent study indicates that Venadial, a new margarine currently produced only in the country of Alta, actually reduces cholesterol levels. Derived from the resin of pine trees, Venadial works by activating a metabolic response that is not yet well understood. However, cholesterol levels fell ten to fifteen percent among participants in the study who consumed Venadial daily, and the risk of heart attack by one-third. In addition, the new margarine is so popular that stores in Alta are unable to keep it on their shelves. Therefore, if our company obtains the exclusive right to sell Venadial internationally, our profits are sure to increase substantially within a very short time.”

7. Recent study shows that people living on the continent of North America suffer 9 times more chronic fatigue and 31 times more chronic depression than do people living on the continent of Asia. Interestingly, Asians, on average, eat 20 grams of soy per day, whereas North Americans eat virtually none. It turns out that soy contains phytochemicals called isoflavones, which have been found to possess disease-preventing properties. Thus, North Americans should consider eating soy on a regular basis as a way of preventing fatigue and depression.

8. Due to the declining profits we have to reduce the operating expenses of the ten rental vedio stores we have. We have to not increase the profits because we are famous for special bargains. By reducing the operating hours..is a good idea. Last month our vedio-store in downtown have reduced the working time to 6:pm rather than 9:pm which is our usual time. It ha also reduced the inventory by excluding the stock two years from now. So, we have to do the same..for all the rental stores

9. The following is a letter from an editor at Liber Publishing Company to the company’s president.
“In recent years, Liber has unfortunately moved away from its original mission: to publish the works of regional small-town authors instead of those of big-city authors. Just last year, 90 percent of the novels we published were written by authors who maintain a residence in a big city. Although this change must have been intended to increase profits, it has obviously backfired, because Liber is now in serious financial trouble. The only way to address this problem is to return to our original mission. If we return to publishing only the works of regional small-town authors, our financial troubles will soon be resolved”

august issues

1. Laws should not be rigid or fixed. Instead, they should be flexible enough to take account of various circumstances, times, and places.

2. Success, whether academic or professional, involves an ability to survive in a new environment and, eventually, to change it.

3. The purpose of many advertisements is to make consumers want to buy a product so that they will ‘be like’ the person in the ad. This practice is effective because it not only sells products but also helps people feel better about themselves.

4. Money spent on research is almost always a good investment, even when the results of that research are controversial

5.The most effective way to communicate an idea or value to large groups of people is through the use of images, not language.

6. The primary goal of technological advancement should be to increase people’s efficiency so that everyone has more leisure time

7. The study of an academic discipline alters the way we perceive the world. After studying the discipline, we see the same world as before, but with different eyes

8. The most essential quality of an effective leader is the ability to remain consistently committed to particular principles and objectives. Any leader who is quickly and easily influenced by shifts in popular opinion will accomplish little

9. The surest indicator of a great nation is not the achievements of its rulers, artists, or scientists, but the general welfare of all its people

10. With the growth of global networks in such areas as economics and communication, there is no doubt that every aspect of society—including education, politics, the arts, and the sciences—will benefit greatly from international influences

11. Scholars and researchers should not be concerned with whether their work makes a contribution to the larger society. It is more important that they pursue their individual interests,however unusual or idiosyncratic those interests may seem

12. The arts (painting, music, literature, etc.) reveal the otherwise hidden ideas and impulses of a society

13. In many countries it is now possible to turn on the television and view government at work.Watching these proceedings can help people understand the issues that affect their lives. The more kinds of government proceedings—trials, debates, meetings, etc.—that are televised,the more society will benefit

14. One can best understand the most important characteristics of a society by studying its major cities

15. The best way to understand the character of a society is to examine the character of the men and women that the society chooses as its heroes or its heroines

16. It is a grave mistake to theorize before one has data

17. While some leaders in government, sports, industry, and other areas attribute their success to a well-developed sense of competition, a society can better prepare its young people for leadership by instilling in them a sense of cooperation

18. The video camera provides such an accurate and convincing record of contemporary life that it has become a more important form of documentation than written records

19. The greatness of individuals can be decided only by those who live after them, not by their contemporaries

20. Government should place-few,if any restrictions on science research and development

analogies 2

1). needle:sew

2). tea:saucer

3). misconstruction:interpretation

4). mountain:hillock

5). complement:complete

6). crutch:walk

7). eulogy:speech

8). fervor:zealot

9). symptom:palliated

10). sycophant:fawn

11). vault:valuables

12). verbal:deleterious

13).mortar:grind

14). license:cultivation

15) cloth:ragged

16). reliable:fail

17). exponent:advocate

18). convivial:gruffness

19). banister:steps

20). jejune:interest

21). libertine:dissolute

22). exodus:departure

23). knoll:hill

24). physique:sturdy

25). bolt:fabric

26). plead:suppliant

27). tractor:vehicle

28). novel:book

29). quartet:singer

30). furniture:rickety

31). triad:group

32). lid:box