FREE GRE MATERIAL AND DOWNLOAD WORLD

GRE AWA Argument Pool 4

2009-08-20T16:33:00.001+05:30

Home AWA World Menu AWA Arguments AWA Issues
!
!
!
Previous Next

GRE AWA Argument Pool 4

The following appeared as part of an article in a health magazine.

"A new discovery warrants a drastic change in the diets of people living in the United States. Two scientists have recently suggested that omega -3 fatty acids (found in some fish and fish oils) play a key role in mental health. Our ancestors, who ate less saturated fat and more polyunsaturated fat, including omega -3 fatty acids, were much less likely to suffer from depression than we are today. Moreover, modern societies — such as those in Japan and Taiwan — that consume large quantities of fish report depression rates lower than that in the United States. Given this link between omega -3 fatty acids and depression, it is important for all people in the United States to increase their consumption of fish in order to prevent depression."

———————————————

A new report suggests that men and women experience pain very differently from one another, and that doctors should consider these differences when prescribing pain medications. When researchers administered the same dosage of kappa opioids — a painkiller — to 28 men and 20 women who were having their wisdom teeth extracted, the women reported feeling much less pain than the men, and the easing of pain lasted considerably longer in women. This research suggests that kappa opioids should be prescribed for women whenever pain medication is required, whereas men should be given other kinds of pain medication. In addition, researchers should reevaluate the effects of all medications on men versus women.

———————————————

The following is a recommendation from the dean at Foley College, a small liberal arts college, to the president of the college.

"Since college-bound students are increasingly concerned about job prospects after graduation, Foley College should attempt to increase enrollment by promising to find its students jobs after they graduate. Many administrators feel that this strategy is a way for Foley to compete against larger and more prestigious schools and to encourage students to begin preparing for careers as soon as they enter college. Furthermore, a student who must choose a career path within his or her first year of college and who is guaranteed a job after graduation is more likely to successfully complete the coursework that will prepare him or her for the future."

———————————————

The following is a letter to the editor of the Glenville Gazette, a local newspaper.

"Over the past few years, the number of people who have purchased advance tickets for the Glenville Summer Concert series has declined, indicating lack of community support. Although the weather has been unpredictable in the past few years, this cannot be the reason for the decline in advance ticket purchases, because many people attended the concerts even in bad weather. Clearly, then, the reason for the decline is the choice of music, so the organizers of the concert should feature more modern music in the future and should be sure to include music composed by Richerts, whose recordings Glenville residents purchase more often than any other contemporary recordings. This strategy will undoubtedly increase advance ticket purchases and will increase attendance at the concerts."

———————————————

The following is a letter from a professor at Xanadu College to the college's president.

"The development of an extensive computer-based long-distance learning program will enhance the reputation of Xanadu College. This program would allow more students to enroll in our courses, thereby increasing our income from student tuition. Traditional courses could easily be adapted for distance learners, as was shown by the adaptation of two traditional courses for our distance learning trial project last year. Also, by using computer programs and taped lectures, faculty will have fewer classroom obligations and more time to engage in extensive research, thereby enhancing the reputation of Xanadu."

———————————————

The following is a letter to the editor of the Roseville Gazette.

"Despite opposition from some residents of West Roseville, the arguments in favor of merging the townships of Roseville and West Roseville are overwhelming. First, residents in both townships are confused about which authority to contact when they need a service; for example, the police department in Roseville receives many calls from residents of West Roseville. This sort of confusion would be eliminated with the merger. Second, the savings in administrative costs would be enormous, since services would no longer be duplicated: we would have only one fire chief, one tax department, one mayor, and so on. And no jobs in city government would be lost — employees could simply be reassigned. Most importantly, the merger will undoubtedly attract business investments as it did when the townships of Hamden and North Hamden merged ten years ago."

———————————————

The Department of Education in the state of Attra recommends that high school students be assigned homework every day. Yet a recent statewide survey of high school math and science teachers calls the usefulness of daily homework into question. In the district of Sanlee, 86 percent of the teachers reported assigning homework three to five times a week, whereas in the district of Marlee, less than 25 percent of the teachers reported assigning homework three to five times a week. Yet the students in Marlee earn better grades overall and are less likely to be required to repeat a year of school than are the students in Sanlee. Therefore, all teachers in our high schools should assign homework no more than twice a week, if at all.

———————————————

Previous Next

!!!!!!!!
!
Home AWA World Menu AWA Arguments AWA Issues

!

GRE AWA Argument Pool 3

2009-08-20T16:30:00.001+05:30

Home AWA World Menu AWA Arguments AWA Issues
!
!
!
Previous Next

GRE AWA Argument Pool 3

The following is a memorandum written by the director of personnel to the president of the Cedar Corporation.

"It would be a mistake to rehire the Good-Taste Company to supply the food in our employee cafeteria next year. It is the second most expensive caterer in the city. In addition, its prices have risen in each of the last three years, and it refuses to provide meals for people on special diets. Just last month three employees complained to me that they no longer eat in the cafeteria because they find the experience 'unbearable.' Our company should instead hire Discount Foods. Discount is a family-owned local company and it offers a varied menu of fish and poultry. I recently tasted a sample lunch at one of the many companies that Discount serves and it was delicious — an indication that hiring Discount will lead to improved employee satisfaction."

———————————————

The following is a recommendation from the personnel director to the president of Acme Publishing Company.

"Many other companies have recently stated that having their employees take the Easy Read Speed-Reading Course has greatly improved productivity. One graduate of the course was able to read a five-hundred-page report in only two hours; another graduate rose from an assistant manager to vice president of the company in under a year. Obviously, the faster you can read, the more information you can absorb in a single workday. Moreover, Easy Read costs only $500 per employee — a small price to pay when you consider the benefits to Acme. Included in this fee is a three-week seminar in Spruce City and a lifelong subscription to the Easy Read newsletter. Clearly, Acme would benefit greatly by requiring all of our employees to take the Easy Read course."

———————————————

From a letter to the editor of a city newspaper.

"One recent research study has indicated that many adolescents need more sleep than they are getting, and another study has shown that many high school students in our city are actually dissatisfied with their own academic performance. As a way of combating these problems, the high schools in our city should begin classes at 8:30 A.M. instead of 7:30 A.M., and end the school day an hour later. This arrangement will give students an extra hour of sleep in the morning, thereby making them more alert and more productive. Consequently, the students will perform better on tests and other assignments, and their academic skills will improve significantly."

———————————————

Butter has now been replaced by margarine in Happy Pancake House restaurants throughout the southwestern United States. Only about 2 percent of customers have complained, indicating that 98 people out of 100 are happy with the change. Furthermore, many servers have reported that a number of customers who still ask for butter do not complain when they are given margarine instead. Clearly, either these customers cannot distinguish margarine from butter, or they use the term 'butter' to refer to either butter or margarine. Thus, to avoid the expense of purchasing butter, the Happy Pancake House should extend this cost-saving change to its restaurants in the southeast and northeast as well.

———————————————

Many employees of major United States corporations are fearful that they will lose their jobs in the near future, but this fear is largely unfounded. According to a recent study, a majority of companies expected to make new hires in the coming year, while fewer companies expected to lay off employees. In addition, although it is very disturbing to be laid off, the proliferation of programs and of workshops designed to improve job-finding skills has made being laid off far less painful than it once was.

———————————————

In the Bayhead Public Library, books that are rarely borrowed continue to take up shelf space year after year, while people who want to read a recent novel frequently find that the library's only copy is checked out. Clearly, the library's plan to replace books that are borrowed no more than once a year with sufficient copies of more recent books will solve this problem. The protest we have heard since this plan was made public has come from a small, and thus unrepresentative, group of some thirty people and so should therefore be ignored.

———————————————

The following appeared in a letter from the owner of the Sunnyside Towers apartment building to its manager.

"One month ago, all the showerheads on the first five floors of SunnysideT owers were modified to restrict the water flow to approximately 1/3 of its original force. Although actual readings of water usage before and after the adjustment are not yet available, the change will obviously result in a considerable savings for Sunnyside Corporation, since the corporation must pay for water each month. Except for a few complaints about low water pressure, no problems with showers have been reported since the adjustment. Clearly, restricting water flow throughout all the 20 floors of Sunnyside Towers will increase our profits further."

———————————————

The following is a recommendation from the director of personnel to the president of Professional Printing Company.

"In a recent telephone survey of automobile factory workers, older employees were less likely to report that having a supervisor present increases their productivity. Among workers aged 18 to 29, 27 percent said that they are more productive in the presence of their immediate supervisor, compared to 12 percent for those aged 30 or over, and only 8 percent for those aged 50 or over. Clearly, if our printing company hires mainly older employees, we will increase productivity and save money because of the reduced need for supervisors. "

Previous Next

!!!!!!!!
!
Home AWA World Menu AWA Arguments AWA Issues

!

GRE AWA Argument Pool 2

2009-08-20T16:29:00.001+05:30

Home AWA World Menu AWA Arguments AWA Issues
!
!
!
Previous Next

GRE AWA Argument Pool 2

The Mozart School of Music should obviously be the first choice of any music student aware of its reputation. First of all, the Mozart School stresses intensive practice and training, so that students typically begin their training at a very young age. Second, the school has ample facilities and up-to-date professional equipment, and its faculty includes some of the most distinguished music teachers in the world. Finally, many Mozart graduates have gone on to be the best known and most highly paid musicians in the nation.

———————————————

The following is a memorandum issued by the publisher of a newsmagazine, Newsbeat, in the country of Dinn.

"Our poorest-selling magazine issues over the past three years were those that featured international news stories on their front covers. Over the same period, competing news-magazines have significantly decreased the number of cover stories that they devote to international news. Moreover, the cost of maintaining our foreign bureaus to report on international news is increasing. Therefore, we should decrease our emphasis on international news and refrain from displaying such stories on our magazine covers."

———————————————

The following recommendation was made by the president and administrative staff of Grove College, a private institution, to the college's governing committee.

"We recommend that Grove College preserve its century-old tradition of all-female education rather than admit men into its programs. It is true that a majority of faculty members voted in favor of coeducation, arguing that it would encourage more students to apply to Grove. But eighty percent of the students responding to a survey conducted by the student government wanted the school to remain all female, and over half of the alumni who answered a separate survey also opposed coeducation. Keeping the college all-female, therefore, will improve morale among students and convince alumni to keep supporting the college financially."

———————————————

The following appeared in a letter to the school board in the town of Centerville.

"All students should be required to take the driver's education course at Centerville High School. In the past two years several accidents in and around Centerville have involved teenage drivers. Since a number of parents in Centerville have complained that they are too busy to teach their teenagers to drive, some other instruction is necessary to ensure that these teenagers are safe drivers. Although there are two driving schools in Centerville, parents on a tight budget cannot afford to pay for driving instruction. Therefore an effective and mandatory program sponsored by the high school is the only solution to this serious problem."

———————————————

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."

———————————————

The following is a letter that recently appeared in the Oak City Gazette, a local newspaper.

"Membership in Oak City's Civic Club — a club whose primary objective is to discuss local issues — should continue to be restricted to people who live in Oak City. People who work in Oak City but who live elsewhere cannot truly understand the business and politics of the city. It is important to restrict membership to city residents because only residents pay city taxes and therefore only residents understand how the money could best be used to improve the city. At any rate, restricting membership in this way is unlikely to disappoint many of the nonresidents employed in Oak City, since neighboring Elm City's Civic Club has always had an open membership policy, and only twenty-five nonresidents have joined Elm City's Club in the last ten years."

———————————————

The following appeared in the annual report from the president of the National Brush Company.

"In order to save money, we at the National Brush Company have decided to pay our employees for each brush they produce instead of for the time they spend producing brushes. We believe that this policy will lead to the production of more and better brushes, will allow us to reduce our staff size, and will enable the company factories to operate for fewer hours — resulting in savings on electricity and security costs. These changes will ensure that the best workers keep their jobs and that the company will earn a profit in the coming year."

Previous Next

!!!!!!!!
!
Home AWA World Menu AWA Arguments AWA Issues

!

GRE AWA Argument Pool 1

2009-08-20T16:26:00.001+05:30

Home AWA World Menu AWA Arguments AWA Issues
!
!
!
Next

The Pool of Argument Topics

This page contains the Argument topics for the analytical writing section of the GRE General Test. When you take the test, you will be presented with one Argument topic from this pool.

The wording of some topics in the test might vary slightly from what is presented here. Therefore, read your test topic carefully and respond to the wording as it appears in the actual test.

Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument.

A 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.

———————————————

The following is taken from the editorial section of the local newspaper in Rockingham.

"In order to save a considerable amount of money, Rockingham's century-old town hall should be torn down and replaced by the larger and more energy-efficient building that some citizens have proposed. The old town hall is too small to comfortably accommodate the number of people who are employed by the town. In addition, it is very costly to heat the old hall in winter and cool it in summer. The new, larger building would be more energy efficient, costing less per square foot to heat and cool than the old hall. Furthermore, it would be possible to rent out some of the space in the new building, thereby generating income for the town of Rockingham."

———————————————

Claitown University needs both affordable housing for its students and a way to fund the building of such housing. The best solution to this problem is to commission a famous architect known for experimental and futuristic buildings. It is common knowledge that tourists are willing to pay money to tour some of the architect's buildings, so it can be expected that tourists will want to visit this new building. The income from the fees charged to tourists will soon cover the building costs. Furthermore, such a building will attract new students as well as donations from alumni. And even though such a building will be much larger than our current need for student housing, part of the building can be used as office space.

———————————————

The following appeared in a business magazine.

"As a result of numerous consumer complaints of dizziness and nausea, Promofoods requested that eight million cans of tuna be returned for testing last year. Promofoods concluded that the cans did not, after all, contain chemicals that posed a health risk. This conclusion is based on the fact that the chemists from Promofoods tested samples of the recalled cans and found that, of the eight chemicals most commonly blamed for causing symptoms of dizziness and nausea, five were not found in any of the tested cans. The chemists did find that the three remaining suspected chemicals are naturally found in all other kinds of canned foods."

———————————————

The following appeared in a local newspaper.

"People should not be misled by the advertising competition between Coldex and Cold-Away, both popular over-the-counter cold medications that anyone can purchase without a doctor's prescription. Each brand is accusing the other of causing some well-known, unwanted side effect: Coldex is known to contribute to existing high blood pressure and Cold-Away is known to cause drowsiness. But the choice should be clear for most health-conscious people: Cold-Away has been on the market for much longer and is used by more hospitals than is Coldex. Clearly, Cold-Away is more effective."

———————————————

A folk remedy* for insomnia, the scent in lavender flowers, has now been proved effective. In a recent study, 30 volunteers with chronic insomnia slept each night for three weeks on lavender-scented pillows in a controlled room where their sleep was monitored. During the first week, volunteers continued to take their usual sleeping medication. They slept soundly but wakened feeling tired. During the second week, the volunteers discontinued their medication. As a result, they slept less soundly than the previous week and felt even more tired. During the third week, the volunteers slept longer and more soundly than in the previous two weeks. This shows that over a short period of time lavender cures insomnia.

*A folk remedy is usually a plant-based form of treatment common to traditional forms of medicine, ones that developed before the advent of modern medical services and technology.

———————————————

Typically, as people age, their bone mass decreases, making them more vulnerable to bone fractures. A recent study concludes that the most effective way to reduce the risk of fractures in later life is to take twice the recommended dose of vitamin D and calcium daily. The three-year study followed a group of French women in their eighties who were nursing-home residents. The women were given daily supplements of twice the recommended dose of vitamin D and calcium. In addition, the women participated in a light weightlifting program. After three years, these women showed a much lower rate of hip fractures than is average for their age.

———————————————

The following appeared in a letter from a department chairperson to the president of Pierce University.

"Some studies conducted by Bronston College, which is also located in a small town, reveal that both male and female professors are happier living in small towns when their spouses are also employed in the same geographic area. Therefore, in the interest of attracting the most gifted teachers and researchers to our faculty and improving the morale of our entire staff, we at Pierce University should offer employment to the spouse of each new faculty member we hire. Although we cannot expect all offers to be accepted or to be viewed as an ideal job offer, the money invested in this effort will clearly be well spent because, if their spouses have a chance of employment, new professors will be more likely to accept our offers."

———————————————

For the past five years, consumers in California have been willing to pay twice as much for oysters from the northeastern Atlantic Coast as for Gulf Coast oysters. This trend began shortly after harmful bacteria were found in a few raw Gulf Coast oysters. But scientists have now devised a process for killing the bacteria. Once consumers are made aware of the increased safety of Gulf Coast oysters, they are likely to be willing to pay as much for Gulf Coast as for northeastern Atlantic Coast oysters, and greater profits for Gulf Coast oyster producers will follow.

———————————————

The following appeared in a memo from the marketing director of Bargain Brand Cereals.

"One year ago we introduced our first product, 'Bargain Brand' breakfast cereal. Our very low prices quickly drew many customers away from the top-selling cereal companies. Although the companies producing the top brands have since tried to compete with us by lowering their prices, and although several plan to introduce their own budget brands, not once have we needed to raise our prices to continue making a profit. Given our success selling cereal, Bargain Brand should now expand its business and begin marketing other low-priced food products as quickly as possible."

———————————————

!!!!!!!!!

Home AWA World Menu AWA Arguments AWA Issues
!
!

GRE AWA Argument Sample3

2009-08-20T16:15:00.001+05:30

Home AWA World Menu AWA Argument World AWA Issues World
!
!
!
GRE AWA Argument Sample3

Six months ago the region of Forestville increased the speed limit for vehicles traveling on the region's highways by ten miles per hour. Since that change took effect, the number of automobile accidents in that region has increased by 15 percent. But the speed limit in Elmsford, a region neighboring Forestville, remained unchanged, and automobile accidents declined slightly during the same six-month period. Therefore, if the citizens of Forestville want to reduce the number of automobile accidents on the region's highways, they should campaign to reduce Forestville's speed limit to what it was before the increase.

The argument that the citizens of Forestville should campaign to reduce the speed limit on region's highways, to reduce the number of accidents is not logically convincing, since it ignores certain crucial assumptions.

The argument assumes that the 15% increase in the number of automobile accidents is due to increase in the speed limit. Again 10 miles per hour is not a major change or increase as to cause more number of accidents. That may not be an important or only reason for the increase in accidents. It may be possible that the automobile traffic must be more in frequency in that period and thus may have resulted in 15% more accidents.Also it may be a case that during this period there must be more traffic of heavy motor vehicles which has led to an increase in number of accidents .Again it can be possible that the drivers are not taking the necessary precautions while driving,or are not following the speed limits mentioned by the authorities which results into more number of accidents.

Secondly, the author never addressses that Elmsford, the region neighbouring Forestville has the same kind of traffic that Forestville has. Also it is not mentioned that Elmsford has similar highways as Forestville. It may be possible that Elmsford is a small place and there is not much of traffic in Elmsford,and people may not be travelling frequently through the place. Forestville may be a major city than Elmsford, and may require people to pass through it more frequently. So the data that Elmsford had less number of accidents in the same period is not sufficient to draw a conclusion.

Also if the speed limits have been increased by 10 miles per hour, it must be done only after a proper consideration or survey, for some particular reason. So decreasing the speed limit to the original may not be the only solution to reduce the number of accidents.

In order to strengthen his point, the author should give a sufficient statistical data to compare the two places, as to what is the percent of traffic in both places, what type of traffic- heavy vehicle, light motor vehicle, and the geographical location and condition of the places.

Thus i concur that the citizens of Forestville should make a proper survey regarding the reason for the automobile accidents and then decide to increase or decrease the speed limits in the region's highways and not go as per the situation in the neighbouring region, Elmsford without proper evidence.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Home AWA World Menu AWA Argument World AWA Issues World

!

GRE AWA Argument Sample2

2009-08-20T16:13:00.001+05:30

Home AWA World Menu AWA Argument World AWA Issues World
!
!
!
GRE AWA Argument Sample2

The following recommendation was made by the president and administrative staff of Grove College, a private institution, to the college's governing committee.

This argument discusses the proposition whether a century-old, all-female college should change its admissions policy and allow men to enter into its programs. Although a majority of the faculty members voted in favor of the change for coeducation, the president and administrative staff note that eighty percent of the students that responded to a survey conducted by the student government wanted the school to remain all female as did over half of the alumni who answered a separate survey. The arguers then state that keeping the college all female will therefore improve morale among students and convince the alumni to continue supporting the college financially. This argument is unconvincing due to several critical flaws.

First of all, the main support that the president and administrative staff rely on is the two surveys conducted by the student government of the current students and alumni. It is possible that the survey itself was flawed, perhaps asking leading questions that subliminally led the respondents to answer in favor of keeping the current all female admissions policy. However, even assuming that the survey was neutrally worded, it remains problematic to rely on it as evidence that there is widespread support for continuing as an all-female college. Firstly, the people that actually take the time to respond to surveys usually have a strong opinion one way or the other. In this case, it is likely that those that feel that the tradition of the school is being threatened by the possibility of admitting men to the college are the ones who would respond to the survey. Those that have a neutral opinion, or that would actually like to see the college opened to men, may not have a strong enough opinion to take the time to respond to the survey. The total number of surveys conducted by the student government is not mentioned in the argument. It is possible that very few people actually responded to the survey, which would indicate that most students actually don't care one way or the other. Similarly, with the alumni survey, the arguers only mention those who answered the survey, but don't mention how many total surveys there were or how many people did not answer the survey. For these reasons, the argument is not well supported by the surveys.

Secondly, by surveying only current students and alumni, the pool of those sampled is limited to those who previously accepted the all-female admissions policy of the school and thus are much more likely to support its continuance. Current students and alumni applied to and attended the school with its current policy in place, thereby prejudicing their own opinions as to what is best for the school. Additionally, with the survey limited to only current students and alumni, the student government did not poll those whose opinion matters the most - potential students. A college cannot survive based on its past successes - it is the future that will determine the long-term viability of the college and potential students are the most important part of that future. It is much more important to determine how many students would attend the college if the policy were changed. Furthermore, the arguers ignore the opinion of a vital part of the college, that of the majority of its faculty members who probably have a better overall view of the situation than students or alumni.

Finally, there is no evidence presented to show that keeping the college all female will improve morale among the students or keep the alumni donations coming in. This statement has no causal relationship demonstrated in the argument, whether the results of the survey are accurate or not. Had the question been asked in the survey- whether keeping the admissions policy the same would improve students' morale and keep alumni financial support intact - there may have at least been some basis for this statement, but without it the statement is groundless.

In summary, the argument is based on only two surveys of a limited sample of people with a built-in bias towards keeping the status quo. Without further evidence and a more fairly distributed survey, the argument ultimately fails to deliver on its premise.

!!!!!!!!!!!!

Home AWA World Menu AWA Argument World AWA Issues World

!

GRE AWA Argument Sample1

2009-08-20T16:10:00.001+05:30

Home AWA World Menu AWA Argument World AWA Issues World
!
!
!
GRE AWA Argument Sample1

The following appeared in a memo from the marketing director of "Bargain Brand" Cereals.
One year ago we introduced our first product, "Bargain Brand" breakfast cereal. Our very low prices quickly drew many customers away from the top-selling cereal companies. Although the companies producing the top brands have since tried to compete with us by lowering their prices, and although several plan to introduce their own budget brands, not once have we needed to raise our prices to continue making a profit. Given our success selling cereal, Bargain Brand should now expand its business and begin marketing other low-priced food products as quickly as possible.

Obviously, the marketing director is enthusiastic about Bargain Brand Cereals' success in selling low-priced breakfast cereal. The marketing director states that over one year, the very low prices of the cereal took many customers away from the top-selling cereal companies and that despite the top brand cereal companies reducing their prices and planning to introduce budget brands, Bargain Brand has never had to raise its prices to continue making a profit. The marketing director then comes to the conclusion that the company should expand the business and start selling other low-priced foods as soon as possible. At first glance, the marketing director would appear to have a good idea, but upon closer inspection one can see that more research should be done before such products are launched in the marketplace.

In the first place, Bargain Brand Cereals' low-priced breakfast cereals have only been on the market for one year - a very short time in terms of analyzing the overall success or failure of a product. With such a short history, it is impossible to evaluate the long-term viability of the product in the marketplace, particularly with respect to the actions and reactions of competitors. The marketing director even mentions in his or her memo that the top brands have already tried to compete by lowering prices. It is likely still too early to tell what effect that will have on the future sales of Bargain Brands cereal. Additionally, the marketing director states that several of the companies producing the top-selling brands plan to introduce their own budget brands, indicating that they have not yet done so. He or she also states that Bargain Brands has never had to raise its prices to continue making a profit. Although that may be true because the competition has not yet fully reacted, the other companies are organizing a direct attack on the Bargain Brands cereal - companies which likely have tremendous funds available for launching these new bargain products, possibly even selling them at or below cost to try to drive Bargain Brands cereal out of the market. Faced with these current and upcoming battles, the marketing director's conclusion that they should launch other low-priced food products as quickly as possible might be foolish rather than wise. The company may need to save its funds to try to survive in their current market rather than extending itself out into more fields of competition.

Secondly, the marketing director assumes that low prices are what attracted consumers to Bargain Brands cereal. It is possible that it was not price that attracted customers - rather the package, promotion or the fact that the other cereals were not as good as Bargain Brands cereal. The company may have some special advantage with its cereal that others do not have - and that it cannot duplicate in any other types of foods. Success in selling low-priced cereal does not indicate the chances for success with other low-priced foods. Indeed, there may be some industry-specific factors in cereal marketing that have allowed Bargain Brands to succeed in the short-term. Bargain Brands may have some special expertise with cereal that they cannot duplicate with other types of food products. The marketing director presents no direct evidence or market research to indicate that Bargain Brands can successfully expand its business into other food areas. Without such information, the marketing director's argument is unconvincing.

In summary, without detailed market research showing the true reason why Bargain Brands cereal has been successful, without knowing the likelihood of its continued success, and without showing how it can translate that success to other areas, the marketing director's argument is based on speculation and faulty logic. To strengthen his or her argument, market research should be conducted to determine how the marketplace is reacting to the competition's strategies in the cereal market, and whether there is a demand in any other particular areas for low-priced food products. Additionally, the marketing director must show that Bargain Brands has some type of competitive advantage that it can successfully apply to its strategies in the low-priced food product market.

!!!!!!!!!!!
!
!
Home AWA World Menu AWA Argument World AWA Issues World

GRE AWA ISSUES WORLD

2009-08-20T16:08:00.000+05:30

Below is the GRE AWA Issues World

GRE AWA ARGUMENT WORLD

2009-08-20T16:05:00.002+05:30

Below is the GRE AWA Argument World

GRE AWA WORLD

2009-07-22T02:05:00.000+05:30

Home

!
!
The Below Links are for AWA DOWNLOADS:

AWA DOWNLOADS :

!!!!!!!!

Home

Extras Links

2009-07-22T01:54:00.001+05:30

Home

!!!!!!!!
Extra Material Other Than GRE:

Presentation Tips

!!!!!!!

Home

TOEFL-SAT-GMAT Downloads

2009-07-22T01:49:00.000+05:30

Below Links are for TOEFL-SAT-GMAT Downloads :

GRE-TOEFL-SAT-GMAT DOWNLOADS

!!!!!!!!!!

Home

GRE FREE DOWNLOAD WORLD

2009-07-22T01:41:00.000+05:30

The Below Links are for Free Downloads :

VERBAL DOWNLOADS :

FREE GRE MOBILE SOFTWARES :

GRE RC WORLD

2009-07-22T01:15:00.000+05:30

GRE Reading Comprehension (RC) World Download Links

RC DOWNLOAD :

RC BASICS :

RC World

RC PASSAGES :

GRE RC Passages01

2009-07-10T01:11:00.001+05:30

Home RC Menu RC Passage Menu
!
!
!
Passage01 Answers
!
!
Passage 01

Recent years have brought minority-owned

businesses in the United States unprecedented

opportunities-as well as new and significant risks.

Civil rights activists have long argued that one of

(5) the principal reasons why Blacks, Hispanics, and

other minority groups have difficulty establishing

themselves in business is that they lack access to

the sizable orders and subcontracts that are gener-

ated by large companies. Now Congress, in appar-

(10) ent agreement, has required by law that businesses

awarded federal contracts of more than $500,000

do their best to find minority subcontractors and

record their efforts to do so on forms filed with the

government. Indeed, some federal and local agen-

(15) cies have gone so far as to set specific percentage

goals for apportioning parts of public works con-

tracts to minority enterprises.

Corporate response appears to have been sub-

stantial. According to figures collected in 1977,

(20) the total of corporate contracts with minority busi-

nesses rose from $77 million in 1972 to $1. lbillion

in 1977. The projected total of corporate contracts

with minority businesses for the early 1980's is

estimated to be over 53 billion per year with no

(25) letup anticipated in the next decade.

Promising as it is for minority businesses, this

increased patronage poses dangers for them, too.

First, minority firms risk expanding too fast and

overextending themselves financially, since most

(30) are small concerns and, unlike large businesses,

they often need to make substantial investments in

new plants, staff, equipment, and the like in order

to perform work subcontracted to them. If, there-

after, their subcontracts are for some reason

(35) reduced, such firms can face potentially crippling

fixed expenses. The world of corporate purchasing

can be frustrating for small entrepreneurs who get

requests for elaborate formal estimates and bids.

Both consume valuable time and resources, and a

(40) small company's efforts must soon result in

orders, or both the morale and the financial health

of the business will suffer.

A second risk is that White-owned companies

may seek to cash in on the increasing apportion-

(45) ments through formation of joint ventures with

minority-owned concerns. Of course, in many

instances there are legitimate reasons for joint

ventures; clearly, White and minority enterprises

can team up to acquire business that neither could

(50) acquire alone. But civil rights groups and minority

business owners have complained to Congress about

minorities being set up as "fronts" with White back-

ing, rather than being accepted as full partners in

legitimate joint ventures.

(55) Third, a minority enterprise that secures the

business of one large corporate customer often run

the danger of becoming--and remaining—dependent.

Even in the best of circumstances, fierce compe-

tition from larger, more established companies

(60) makes it difficult for small concerns to broaden

their customer bases: when such firms have nearly

guaranteed orders from a single corporate bene-

factor, they may truly have to struggle against

complacency arising from their current success.

1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

(A) present a commonplace idea and its

inaccuracies

(B) describe a situation and its potential drawbacks

(D) analyze a frequent source of disagreement

(E) explore the implications of a finding

2. The passage supplies information that would answer

which of the following questions?

(A) What federal agencies have set percentage goals for

the use of minority-owned businesses in public

works contracts?

(B) To which government agencies must

businesses awarded federal contracts report their

efforts to find minority subcontractors?

concerns as "fronts" by White backers seeking to

obtain subcontracts?

(D) How many more minority-owned businesses were

there in 1977 than in 1972?

(E) What is one set of conditions under which a

small business might find itself financially over-

extended?

3. According to the passage, civil rights activists

maintain that one disadvantage under which

minority- owned businesses have traditionally had

to labor is that they have

(A) been especially vulnerable to governmental

mismanagement of the economy

(B) been denied bank loans at rates comparable to

those afforded larger competitors

created by large corporations

(D) not been able to advertise in those media that

reach large numbers of potential customers

(E) not had adequate representation in the centers of

government power

4. The passage suggests that the failure of a large

business to have its bids for subcontracts result

quickly in orders might cause it to

(A) experience frustration but not serious financial

harm

(B) face potentially crippling fixed expenses

government

(D) increase its spending with minority

subcontractors

(E) revise its procedure for making bids for federal

contracts and subcontracts

5. The author implies that a minority-owned concern

that does the greater part of its business with one

large corporate customer should

(A) avoid competition with larger, more established

concerns by not expanding

(B) concentrate on securing even more business

from that corporation

becoming dependent on the corporation

(D) pass on some of the work to be done for the

corporation to other minority-owned concerns

(E) use its influence with the corporation to promote

subcontracting with other minority concerns

6. It can be inferred from the passage that, compared

with the requirements of law, the percentage goals

set by "some federal and local agencies "(lines 14-

15) are

(A) more popular with large corporations

(B) more specific

(D) less expensive to enforce

(E) easier to comply with

7. Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the

author's assertion that, in the 1970's, corporate

response to federal requirements (lines 18-19) was

substantial

(A) Corporate contracts with minority-owned

businesses totaled $2 billion in 1979.

(B) Between 1970 and 1972, corporate contracts with

minority-owned businesses declined by 25

percent.

the extent of corporate contracts with minority-

owned businesses.

(D) The estimate of corporate spending with

minority-owned businesses in 1980 is

approximately $10 million too high.

(E) The $1.1 billion represented the same

percentage of total corporate spending in 1977

as did $77 million in 1972.

8. The author would most likely agree with which of the

following statements about corporate response to

working with minority subcontractors?

(A) Annoyed by the proliferation of "front"

organizations, corporations are likely to reduce

their efforts to work with minority-owned

subcontractors in the near future.

(B) Although corporations showed considerable

interest in working with minority businesses in

the 1970's, their aversion to government

paperwork made them reluctant to pursue many

government contracts.

1970's is likely to be sustained and conceivably

be increased throughout the 1980's.

(D) Although corporations are eager to cooperate

with minority-owned businesses, a shortage of

capital in the 1970's made substantial response

impossible.

(E) The enormous corporate response has all but

eliminated the dangers of overexpansion that

used to plague small minority-owned businesses.

Passage01 Answers

!
!
Home RC Menu RC Passage Menu
!
!!!!!!!!!!

GRE RC Passages01 Answers

2009-07-10T01:09:00.001+05:30

Home RC Menu RC Passage Menu
!
!
!
Passage 01- Answers
!
!

!
!
Home RC Menu RC Passage Menu
!
!!!!!!!!!!

GRE RC Passages02

2009-07-10T01:08:00.001+05:30

Home RC Menu RC Passage Menu
!
!
!
Passage02 Answers
!
!
Passage 02

Woodrow Wilson was referring to the liberal

idea of the economic market when he said that

the free enterprise system is the most efficient

economic system. Maximum freedom means

(5) maximum productiveness; our "openness" is to

be the measure of our stability. Fascination with

this ideal has made Americans defy the "Old

World" categories of settled possessiveness versus

unsettling deprivation, the cupidity of retention

(10) versus the cupidity of seizure, a "status quo"

defended or attacked. The United States, it was

believed, had no status quo ante. Our only "sta-

tion" was the turning of a stationary wheel, spin-

ning faster and faster. We did not base our

(15) system on property but opportunity---which

meant we based it not on stability but on mobil-

ity. The more things changed, that is, the more

rapidly the wheel turned, the steadier we would

be. The conventional picture of class politics is

(20) composed of the Haves, who want a stability to

keep what they have, and the Have-Nots, who

want a touch of instability and change in which

to scramble for the things they have not. But

Americans imagined a condition in which spec-

(25) ulators, self-makers, runners are always using the

new opportunities given by our land. These eco-

nomic leaders (front-runners) would thus he

mainly agents of change. The nonstarters were

considered the ones who wanted stability, a

(30) strong referee to give them some position in the

race, a regulative hand to calm manic specula-

tion; an authority that can call things to a halt,

begin things again from compensatorily stag-

gered "starting lines."

(35) "Reform" in America has been sterile because

it can imagine no change except through the

extension of this metaphor of a race, wider inclu-

sion of competitors, "a piece of the action," as it

were, for the disenfranchised. There is no

(40) attempt to call off the race. Since our only sta-

bility is change, America seems not to honor the

quiet work that achieves social interdependence

and stability. There is, in our legends, no hero-

ism of the office clerk, no stable industrial work

(45) force of the people who actually make the system

work. There is no pride in being an employee

(Wilson asked for a return to the time when

everyone was an employer). There has been no

boasting about our social workers---they are

(50) merely signs of the system's failure, of opportu-

nity denied or not taken, of things to be elimi-

nated. We have no pride in our growing

interdependence, in the fact that our system can

serve others, that we are able to help those in

(55) need; empty boasts from the past make us

ashamed of our present achievements, make us

try to forget or deny them, move away from

them. There is no honor but in the Wonderland

race we must all run, all trying to win, none

(60) winning in the end (for there is no end).

1. The primary purpose of the passage is to

(A) criticize the inflexibility of American economic

mythology

(B) contrast "Old World" and "New World" economic

ideologies

leaders

(D) champion those Americans whom the author

deems to be neglected

(E) suggest a substitute for the traditional metaphor

of a race

2. According to the passage, "Old World" values were

based on

(A) ability

(B) property

(D) guild hierarchies

(E) education

3. In the context of the author's discussion of

regulating change, which of the following could be

most probably regarded as a "strong referee" (line

30) in the United States?

(A) A school principal

(B) A political theorist

(D) A social worker

(E) A government inspector

4. The author sets off the word "Reform" (line 35) with

quotation marks in order to

(A) emphasize its departure from the concept of

settled possessiveness

(B) show his support for a systematic program of

change

of United States society.

(D) indicate that the term was one of Wilson's favorites

(E) assert that reform in the United States has not

been fundamental

5. It can be inferred from the passage that the author

most probably thinks that giving the disenfranchised

"a piece of the action " (line 38) is

(A) a compassionate, if misdirected, legislative

measure

(B) an example of Americans' resistance to profound

social change

(D) a monument to the efforts of industrial reformers

(E) a surprisingly "Old World" remedy for social ills

6. Which of the following metaphors could the author

most appropriately use to summarize his own

assessment of the American economic system

(lines 35-60)?

(A) A windmill

(B) A waterfall

(D) A gyroscope

(E) A bellows

7. It can be inferred from the passage that Woodrow

Wilson's ideas about the economic market

(A) encouraged those who "make the system work"

(lines 45-46)

(B) perpetuated traditional legends about America

(D) foreshadowed the stock market crash of 1929

(E) began a tradition of presidential proclamations on

economics

8. The passage contains information that would answer

which of the following questions?

Ⅰ.What techniques have industrialists used to

manipulate a free market?

Ⅱ.In what ways are " New World" and " Old World"

economic policies similar?

Ⅲ. Has economic policy in the United States tended

to reward independent action?

(A) Ⅰonly

(B) Ⅱonly

(D) Ⅰand Ⅱ only

(E) Ⅱand Ⅲ only

9. Which of the following best expresses the author's

main point?

(A) Americans' pride in their jobs continues to give

them stamina today.

(B) The absence of a status quo ante has

undermined United States economic structure.

useless concept in the United States

(D) The myth of the American free enterprise system

is seriously flawed.

(E) Fascination with the ideal of "openness" has

made Americans a progressive people.

Passage02 Answers

!
!
Home RC Menu RC Passage Menu
!
!!!!!!!!!!

GRE RC Passages02 Answers

2009-07-10T01:07:00.001+05:30

Home RC Menu RC Passage Menu
!
!
!
Passage 02- Answers
!
!

!
!
Home RC Menu RC Passage Menu
!
!!!!!!!!!!

GRE RC Passages03

2009-07-10T01:06:00.001+05:30

Home RC Menu RC Passage Menu
!
!
!
Passage03 Answers
!
!
Passage 03

No very satisfactory account of the mechanism

that caused the formation of the ocean basins has

yet been given. The traditional view supposes

that the upper mantle of the earth behaves as a

(5) liquid when it is subjected to small forces for

long periods and that differences in temperature

under oceans and continents are sufficient to

produce convection in the mantle of the earth

with rising convection currents under the mid-

(10) ocean ridges and sinking currents under the con-

tinents. Theoretically, this convection would

carry the continental plates along as though they

were on a conveyor belt and would provide the

forces needed to produce the split that occurs

(15) along the ridge. This view may be correct: it has

the advantage that the currents are driven by

temperature differences that themselves depend

on the position of the continents. Such a back-

coupling, in which the position of the moving

(20) plate has an impact on the forces that move it,

could produce complicated and varying motions.

On the other hand, the theory is implausible

because convection does not normally occur

along lines. and it certainly does not occur along

(25) lines broken by frequent offsets or changes in

direction, as the ridge is. Also it is difficult to see

how the theory applies to the plate between the

Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the ridge in the Indian

Ocean. This plate is growing on both sides, and

(30) since there is no intermediate trench, the two

ridges must be moving apart. It would be odd if

the rising convection currents kept exact pace

with them. An alternative theory is that the sink-

ing part of the plate, which is denser than the

(35) hotter surrounding mantle, pulls the rest of the

plate after it. Again it is difficult to see how this

applies to the ridge in the South Atlantic, where

neither the African nor the American plate has a

sinking part.

(40) Another possibility is that the sinking plate

cools the neighboring mantle and produces con-

vection currents that move the plates. This last

theory is attractive because it gives some hope of

explaining the enclosed seas, such as the Sea of

(45) Japan. These seas have a typical oceanic floor,

except that the floor is overlaid by several kilo-

meters of sediment. Their floors have probably

been sinking for long periods. It seems possible

that a sinking current of cooled mantle material

(50) on the upper side of the plate might be the cause

of such deep basins. The enclosed seas are an

important feature of the earth's surface, and

seriously require explanation in because, addi-

tion to the enclosed seas that are developing at

present behind island arcs, there are a number of

(55) older ones of possibly similar origin, such as the

Gulf of Mexico, the Black Sea, and perhaps the

North Sea.

1. According to the traditional view of the origin of the

ocean basins, which of the following is sufficient to

move the continental plates?

(A) Increases in sedimentation on ocean floors

(B) Spreading of ocean trenches

(D) Sinking of ocean basins

(E) Differences in temperature under oceans and

continents

2. It can be inferred from the passage that, of the follo-

wing, the deepest sediments would be found in the

(A) Indian Ocean

(B) Black Sea

(D) South Atlantic

(E) Pacific

3. The author refers to a "conveyor belt " in line 13 in

order to

(A) illustrate the effects of convection in the mantle

(B) show how temperature differences depend on

the positions of the continents

Ridge

(D) describe the complicated motions made possible

by back-coupling

(E) account for the rising currents under certain mid-

ocean ridges

4. The author regards the traditional view of the origin

of the oceans with

(A) slight apprehension

(B) absolute indifference

(D) complete disbelief

(E) guarded skepticism

5. According to the passage, which of the following are

separated by a plate that is growing on both sides?

(A) The Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan

(B) The South Atlantic Ridge and the North Sea Ridge

(D) The Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the Indian Ocean

Ridge

(E) The Black Sea and the Sea of Japan

6. Which of the following, if it could be demonstrated,

would most support the traditional view of ocean

formation?

(A) Convection usually occurs along lines.

(B) The upper mantle behaves as a dense solid.

(D) Sinking plates cool the mantle.

(E) Island arcs surround enclosed seas.

7. According to the passage, the floor of the Black Sea

can best be compared to a

(A) rapidly moving conveyor belt

(B) slowly settling foundation

(D) violently erupting volcano

(E) slowly eroding mountain

8. Which of the following titles would best describe the

content of the passage?

(A) A Description of the Oceans of the World

(B) Several Theories of Ocean Basin Formation

(D) Convection and Ocean Currents

(E) Temperature Differences Among the Oceans of

the World

Passage03 Answers

!
!
Home RC Menu RC Passage Menu
!
!!!!!!!!!!

GRE RC Passages03 Answers

2009-07-10T01:04:00.001+05:30

Home RC Menu RC Passage Menu
!
!
!
Passage 03- Answers
!
!

!
!
Home RC Menu RC Passage Menu
!
!!!!!!!!!!

GRE RC Passages04

2009-07-10T01:03:00.000+05:30

Home RC Menu RC Passage Menu
!
!
!
Passage04 Answers
!
!

Passage 04

The fossil remains of the first flying vertebrates, the

pterosaurs, have intrigued paleontologists for more

than two centuries. How such large creatures, which

weighed in some cases as much as a piloted hang-glider

(5) and had wingspans from 8 to 12 meters, solved the

problems of powered flight, and exactly what these

creatures were--reptiles or birds-are among the ques-

tions scientists have puzzled over.

Perhaps the least controversial assertion about the

(10) pterosaurs is that they were reptiles. Their skulls,

pelvises, and hind feet are reptilian. The anatomy of

their wings suggests that they did not evolve into the

class of birds. In pterosaurs a greatly elongated fourth

finger of each forelimb supported a winglike membrane.

(15) The other fingers were short and reptilian, with sharp

claws. In birds the second finger is the principal strut

of the wing, which consists primarily of feathers. If the

pterosaurs walked on all fours, the three short fingers

may have been employed for grasping. When a

(20) pterosaur walked or remained stationary, the fourth

finger, and with it the wing, could only turn upward in

an extended inverted V-shape along each side of the animal's body.

The pterosaurs resembled both birds and bats in

(25) their overall structure and proportions. This is not sur-

prising because the design of any flying vertebrate is

subject to aerodynamic constraints. Both the pterosaurs

and the birds have hollow bones, a feature that repre-

sents a savings in weight. In the birds, however, these

(30) bones are reinforced more massively by internal struts.

Although scales typically cover reptiles, the

pterosaurs probably had hairy coats. T.H. Huxley rea-

soned that flying vertebrates must have been warm-

blooded because flying implies a high rate of

(35) metabolism, which in turn implies a high internal tem-

perature. Huxley speculated that a coat of hair would

insulate against loss of body heat and might streamline

the body to reduce drag in flight. The recent discovery

of a pterosaur specimen covered in long, dense, and

(40) relatively thick hairlike fossil material was the first clear

evidence that his reasoning was correct.

Efforts to explain how the pterosaurs became air-

borne have led to suggestions that they launched them-

selves by jumping from cliffs, by dropping from trees.

(45) or even by rising into light winds from the crests of

waves. Each hypothesis has its difficulties. The first

wrongly assumes that the pterosaurs' hind feet rese-

mbled a bat's and could serve as hooks by which the

animal could hang in preparation for flight. The second

(50) hypothesis seems unlikely because large pterosaurs

could not have landed in trees without damaging their

wings. The third calls for high waves to channel

updrafts. The wind that made such waves however,

might have been too strong for the pterosaurs to

(55) control their flight once airborne.

1. It can be inferred from the passage that scientists now

generally agree that the

(A) enormous wingspan of the pterosaurs enabled

them to fly great distances

(B) structure of the skeleton of the pterosaurs suggests a

close evolutionary relationship to bats

solved the problem of powered flight

(D) pterosaurs were reptiles

(E) pterosaurs walked on all fours

2. The author views the idea that the pterosaurs

became airborne by rising into light winds created

by waves as

(A) revolutionary

(B) unlikely

(D) probable

(E) outdated

3. According to the passage, the skeleton of a

pterosaur can be distinguished from that of a bird by

the

(A) size of its wingspan

(B) presence of hollow spaces in its bones

(D) presence of hooklike projections on its hind feet

(E) location of the shoulder joint joining the wing to its

body

4. The ideas attributed to T.H. Huxley in the passage

suggest that he would most likely agree with which

of the following statements?

(A) An animal's brain size has little bearing on its

ability to master complex behaviors.

(B) An animal's appearance is often influenced by

environmental requirements and physical

capabilities.

to change their appearance dramatically over a

period of time.

(D) The origin of flight in vertebrates was an

accidental development rather than the outcome

of specialization or adaptation.

(E) The pterosaurs should be classified as birds, not

reptiles.

5. It can be inferred from the passage that which of the

following is characteristic of the pterosaurs?

(A) They were unable to fold their wings when not in

use.

(B) They hung upside down from branches as bats

do before flight.

(D) They were an early stage in the evolution of the

birds.

(E) They lived primarily in a forestlike habitat.

6.Which of the following best describes the organization

of the last paragraph of the passage?

(A) New evidence is introduced to support a

traditional point of view.

(B) Three explanations for a phenomenon are

presented, and each is disputed by means of

specific information.

supporting each is given.

(D) Recent discoveries are described, and their

implications for future study are projected

(E) A summary of the material in the preceding

paragraphs is presented, and conclusions are

drawn.

7. It can be inferred from the passage that some

scientists believe that pterosaurs

(A) lived near large bodies of water

(B) had sharp teeth for tearing food

(D) had longer tails than many birds

(E) consumed twice their weight daily to maintain

their body temperature

Passage04 Answers

!
!
Home RC Menu RC Passage Menu
!
!!!!!!!!!!

GRE RC Passages04 Answers

2009-07-10T01:02:00.001+05:30

Home RC Menu RC Passage Menu
!
!
!
Passage 04- Answers
!
!

!
!
Home RC Menu RC Passage Menu
!
!!!!!!!!!!

GRE RC Passages05

2009-07-10T01:01:00.001+05:30

Home RC Menu RC Passage Menu
!
!
!
Passage05 Answers
!
!

Passage 05

How many really suffer as a result of labor mar-

ket problems? This is one of the most critical yet

contentious social policy questions. In many ways,

our social statistics exaggerate the degree of hard-

(5) ship. Unemployment does not have the same dire

consequences today as it did in the 1930's when

most of the unemployed were primary breadwin-

ners, when income and earnings were usually much

closer to the margin of subsistence, and when there

(10) were no countervailing social programs for those

failing in the labor market. Increasing affluence, the

rise of families with more than one wage earner, the

growing predominance of secondary earners among

the unemployed, and improved social welfare pro-

(15) tection have unquestionably mitigated the conse-

quences of joblessness. Earnings and income data

also overstate the dimensions of hardship. Among

the millions with hourly earnings at or below the

minimum wage level, the overwhelming majority

(20) are from multiple-earner, relatively affluent

families. Most of those counted by the poverty

statistics are elderly or handicapped or have family

responsibilities which keep them out of the labor

force, so the poverty statistics are by no means an

(25) accurate indicator of labor market pathologies.

Yet there are also many ways our social statistics

underestimate the degree of labor-market-related

hardship. The unemployment counts exclude the

millions of fully employed workers whose wages are

(30) so low that their families remain in poverty. Low

wages and repeated or prolonged unemployment

frequently interact to undermine the capacity for

self-support. Since the number experiencing jobless-

ness at some time during the year is several times

(35)the number unemployed in any month, those who

suffer as a result of forced idleness can equal or

exceed average annual unemployment, even though

only a minority of the jobless in any month really

suffer. For every person counted in the monthly

(40) unemployment tallies, there is another working

part-time because of the inability to find full-time

work, or else outside the labor force but wanting a

job. Finally, income transfers in our country have

always focused on the elderly, disabled, and depen-

(45)dent, neglecting the needs of the working poor, so

that the dramatic expansion of cash and in-kind

transfers does not necessarily mean that those fail-

ing in the labor market are adequately protected.

As a result of such contradictory evidence, it is

(50) uncertain whether those suffering seriously as a

result of thousands or the tens of millions, and,

hence, whether high levels of joblessness can be tol-

erated or must be countered by job creation and

(55) economic stimulus. There is only one area of agree-

ment in this debate---that the existing poverty,

employment, and earnings statistics are inadequate

for one their primary applications, measuring the

consequences of labor market problems.

1. Which of the following is the principal topic of the

passage?

(A) What causes labor market pathologies that result

in suffering

(B) Why income measures are imprecise in measuring

degrees of poverty

are the best for estimating the incidence of

hardship that is due to unemployment

(D) Where the areas of agreement are among

poverty, employment, and earnings figures

(E) How social statistics give an unclear picture of the

degree of hardship caused by low wages and

insufficient employment opportunities

2. The author uses "labor market problems" in lines 1-2

to refer to which of the following?

(A) The overall causes of poverty

(B) Deficiencies in the training of the work force

(D) Shortages of jobs providing adequate income

(E) Strikes and inadequate supplies of labor

3. The author contrasts the 1930's with the present in

order to show that

(A) more people were unemployed in the 1930's

(B) unemployment now has less severe effects

(D) there now is a greater proportion of elderly and

handicapped people among those in poverty

(E) poverty has increased since the 1930's

4.Which of the following proposals best responds to the

issues raised by the author?

(A) Innovative programs using multiple approaches

should be set up to reduce the level of

unemployment.

(B) A compromise should be found between the

positions of those who view joblessness as an

evil greater than economic control and those who

hold the opposite view.

measure the degree to which unemployment and

inadequately paid employment cause suffering.

(D) Consideration should be given to the ways in which

statistics can act as partial causes of the phenomena

that they purport to measure.

(E) The labor force should be restructured so that it

corresponds to the range of job vacancies.

5.The author's purpose in citing those who are repeatedly

unemployed during a twelve-month period is most

probably to show that

(A) there are several factors that cause the payment

of low wages to some members of the labor force

(B) unemployment statistics can underestimate the

hardship resulting from joblessness

exist and can cause hardships for individual

workers

(D) a majority of those who are jobless at any one

time to not suffer severe hardship

(E) there are fewer individuals who are without jobs

at some time during a year than would be

expected on the basis of monthly unemployment

figures

6. The author states that the mitigating effect of social

programs involving income transfers on the income

level of low-income people is often not felt by

(A) the employed poor

(B) dependent children in single-earner families

(D) retired workers

(E) full-time workers who become unemployed

7. According to the passage, one factor that causes

unemployment and earnings figures to overpredict

the amount of economic hardship is the

(A) recurrence of periods of unemployment for a

group of low-wage workers

(B) possibility that earnings may be received from

more than one job per worker

those who work for low wages and remain poor

(D) establishment of a system of record-keeping that

makes it possible to compile poverty statistics

(E) prevalence, among low-wage workers and the

unemployed, of members of families in which

others are employed

8. The conclusion stated in lines 33-39 about the

number of people who suffer as a result of forced

idleness depends primarily on the point that

(A) in times of high unemployment, there are some

people who do not remain unemployed for long

(B) the capacity for self-support depends on

receiving moderate-to-high wages

unemployed, both underemployed part-time

workers and those not actively seeking work

(D) at different times during the year, different people

are unemployed

(E) many of those who are affected by unemploy-

ment are dependents of unemployed workers

9. Which of the following, if true, is the best criticism of

the author's argument concerning why poverty

statistics cannot properly be used to show the effects of

problems in the labor market?

(A) A short-term increase in the number of those in

poverty can indicate a shortage of jobs because the

basic number of those unable to accept employment

remains approximately constant.

(B) For those who are in poverty as a result of

joblessness, there are social programs available

that provide a minimum standard of living.

earnings statistics, when each is taken as a

measure of hardship resulting from unemployment.

(D) The elderly and handicapped categories include

many who previously were employed in the labor

market.

(E) Since the labor market is global in nature, poor

workers in one country are competing with poor

workers in another with respect to the level of

wages and the existence of jobs.

Passage05 Answers

!
!
Home RC Menu RC Passage Menu
!
!!!!!!!!!!

GRE RC Passages05 Answers

2009-07-10T00:59:00.001+05:30

Home RC Menu RC Passage Menu
!
!
!
Passage 05- Answers
!
!

!
!
Home RC Menu RC Passage Menu
!
!!!!!!!!!!

GRE RC Passages06

2009-07-10T00:58:00.001+05:30

Home RC Menu RC Passage Menu
!
!
!
Passage06 Answers
!
!
Passage 06

In the eighteenth century, Japan's feudal

overlords, from the shogun to the humblest

samurai, found themselves under financial

stress. In part, this stress can be attributed to

(5) the overlords' failure to adjust to a rapidly ex-

panding economy, but the stress was also due to

factors beyond the overlords' control. Concen-

tration of the samurai in castle-towns had acted

as a stimulus to trade. Commercial efficiency, in

(10) turn, had put temptations in the way of buyers.

Since most samurai had been reduced to idleness

by years of peace, encouraged to engage in

scholarship and martial exercises or to perform

administrative tasks that took little time, it is

(15) not surprising that their tastes and habits grew

expensive. Overlords' income, despite the in-

crease in rice production among their tenant

farmers, failed to keep pace with their expenses.

Although shortfalls in overlords' income re-

(20) sulted almost as much from laxity among their

tax collectors (the nearly inevitable outcome of

hereditary officeholding) as from their higher

standards of living, a misfortune like a fire or

flood, bringing an increase in expenses or a drop

(25) in revenue, could put a domain in debt to the

city rice-brokers who handled its finances. Once

in debt, neither the individual samurai nor the

shogun himself found it easy to recover.

It was difficult for individual samurai over-

(30) lords to increase their income because the

amount of rice that farmers could be made to

pay in taxes was not unlimited, and since the in-

come of Japan's central government consisted in

part of taxes collected by the shogun from his

(35) huge domain, the government too was con-

strained. Therefore, the Tokugawa shoguns

began to look to other sources for revenue.

Cash profits from government-owned mines

were already on the decline because the most

(40) easily worked deposits of silver and gold had

been exhausted, although debasement of the

coinage had compensated for the loss. Opening

up new farmland was a possibility, but most of

what was suitable had already been exploited

(45) and further reclamation was technically unfeasi-

ble. Direct taxation of the samurai themselves

would be politically dangerous. This left the

shoguns only commerce as a potential source of

government income.

(50) Most of the country's wealth, or so it seemed,

was finding its way into the hands of city mer-

chants. It appeared reasonable that they should

contribute part of that revenue to ease the

shogun's burden of financing the state. A means

(55) of obtaining such revenue was soon found by

levying forced ioans, known as goyo-kin;

although these were not taxes in the strict sense,

since they were irregular in timing and arbitrary

in amount, they were high in yield. Unfortunately,

(60) they pushed up prices. Thus, regrettably, the

Tokugawa shoguns' search for solvency for the

government made it increasingly difficult for

individual Japanese who lived on fixed stipends

to make ends meet.

1. The passage is most probably an excerpt from

(A) an economic history of Japan

(B) the memoirs of a samurai warrior

(D) an essay contrasting Japanese feudalism with its

Western counterpart

(E) an introduction to a collection of Japanese folktales

2. Which of the following financial situations is most

analogous to the financial situation in which Japan's

Tokugawa shoguns found themselves in the eighteenth

century?

(A) A small business borrows heavily to invest in new

equipment, but is able to pay off its debt early

when it is awarded a lucrative government contract.

(B) Fire destroys a small business, but insurance covers

the cost of rebuilding.

local bank because the owners have no credit

history?

(D) A small business has to struggle to meet operating

expenses when its profits decrease.

(E) A small business is able to cut back sharply on

spending through greater commercial efficiency

and thereby compensate for a loss of revenue.

3. Which of the following best describes the attitude of

the author toward the samurai discussed in lines

11-16?

(A) Warmly approving

(B) Mildly sympathetic

(D) Harshly disdainful

(E) Profoundly shocked

4. According to the passage, the major reason for the

financial problems experienced by Japan's feudal

overlords in the eighteenth century was that

(A) spending had outdistanced income

(B) trade had fallen off

(D) the coinage had been sharply debased

(E) the samurai had concentrated in castle-towns

5.The passage implies that individual samurai did not

find it easy to recover from debt for which of the

following reasons?

(A) Agricultural production had increased.

(B) Taxes were irregular in timing and arbitrary in

amount.

the needs of a changing economy.

(D) The domains of samurai overlords were

becoming smaller and poorer as government

revenues increased.

(E) There was a limit to the amount in taxes that

farmers could be made to pay.

6. The passage suggests that, in eighteenth-century

Japan, the office of tax collector

(A) was a source of personal profit to the officeholder

(B) was regarded with derision by many Japanese

(D) existed only in castle-towns

(E) took up most of the officeholder's time

7. Which of the following could best be substituted

for the word "This " in line 47 without changing the

meaning of the passage?

(A) The search of Japan's Tokugawa shoguns for

solvency

(B) The importance of commerce in feudal Japan

century Japan

(D) The difficulty of increasing government income by

other means

(E) The difficulty experienced by both individual

samurai and the shogun himself in extricating

themselves from debt

8. The passage implies that which of the following was

the primary reason why the Tokugawa shoguns

turned to city merchants for help in financing the

state?

(A) A series of costly wars had depleted the national

treasury.

(B) Most of the country's wealth appeared to be in

city merchants' hands.

reversals due to natural disasters such as

floods.

(D) The merchants were already heavily indebted to

the shoguns.

(E) Further reclamation of land would not have been

economically advantageous.

9. According to the passage, the actions of the Tokugawa

shoguns in their search for solvency for the government

were regrettable because those actions

(A) raised the cost of living by pushing up prices

(B) resulted in the exhaustion of the most easily

worked deposits of silver and gold

anticipated

(D) did not succeed in reducing government spending

(E) acted as a deterrent to trade

Passage06 Answers

!
!
Home RC Menu RC Passage Menu
!
!!!!!!!!!!