VERBAL REASONING 30 Questions • 30 Minutes NOTE: In this section, questions of different formats are interspersed, just as they are on the computer-based GRE. However, this practice session contains more challenging questions than easy ones, whereas the actual computer-based GRE adapts to your ability level. 1. Proponents of urban development oppose the popular notion that social- psychological mechanisms leading to criminal and other antisocial activity are more likely to _______ if _______ such as anonymity and population density are found. (A) emerge . . traits (B) react factors (C) disappear . . problems (D) fail . . criminals (E) function cities 2. ABRUPT: (A) continual (B) eventual (C) gradual (D) enduring (E) lengthy 3. CORNUCOPIA: (A) serenity (B) darkness (C) solitude (D) sparseness (E) modicum 4. AUSTERE: (A) amiable (B) forgiving (C) easily accomplished (D) simpleminded (E) gratifying 5. TEACHER : INSTRUCTION :: (A) lawyer : crime (B) army : regiment (C) doctor : disease (D) student : learning (E) guard : protection 6. The legends of any tribe serve to explain, and even embody, its _______; by examining a people’s most popular _______, one can determine the things they most deeply cherish. (A) origins legends (B) religion . . pastimes (C) beliefs . . customs (D) history rituals (E) values stories 7. LACKLUSTER: (A) exceptional (B) quick to respond (C) exceedingly bold (D) brilliant (E) well spoken 8. COG : WATCH :: (A) fish : school (B) screen : television (C) lawyer : jury (D) manager : bureaucracy (E) seasoning : recipe 9. QUELL : UPRISING :: (A) bite : hunger (B) quench : thirst (C) strike : labor (D) incite : hostility (E) indulge : habit 10. IMPORTANT : PIVOTAL :: (A) stern : draconian (B) copious : thorough (C) minimal : voluminous (D) salient : compulsory (E) impetuous : spontaneous practicetest Practice Test 2 413 . www.petersons.com Questions 11 and 12 are based on the following passage. For absolute dating of archaeological artifacts, the radiocarbon method emerged during the latter half of the twentieth century as the most reliable and precise method. The results of obsidian (volcanic glass) dating, a method based on the belief that newly exposed obsidian surfaces absorb moisture from the surrounding atmo- sphere at a constant rate, proved uneven. It was initially thought that the thickness of the hydration layer would provide a means of calculating the time elapsed since the fresh surface was made. But this method failed to account for the chemical vari- ability in the physical and chemical mechanism of obsidian hydration. Moreover, each geographic source pre- sented unique chemical character- istics, necessitating a trace element analysis for each such source. Yet despite its limitations, obsidian dating helped archaeologists identify the sources of many obsidian artifacts, and to identify in turn ancient exchange networks for the flow of goods. Nor were ceramic studies and fluoride analysis supplanted entirely by the radiocarbon method, which in use allows for field labeling and labo- ratory errors, as well as sample con- tamination. In addition, in the 1970s, dendrochronological (tree-ring) studies on the bristlecone pine showed that de- viation from radiocarbon values in- creases as one moves back in time. Even- tually calibration curves were developed to account for this phenomenon; but in the archeological literature we still find dual references to radiocarbon and si- dereal, or calendar, time. 11. The author would probably consider which of the following the LEAST likely means of dating archaeological artifacts? (A) Ceramics studies (B) Radiocarbon dating (C) Dendrochronological studies (D) Fluoride analysis (E) Obsidian hydration-layer analysis 12. The author mentions all of the fol- lowing as problems with radiocarbon dating EXCEPT for (A) disparities with the calendar dating system (B) deterioration of samples (C) identification errors by archaeo- logical field workers (D) contamination of artifacts (E) mistakes by laboratory workers 13. RANCOR: (A) tranquility (B) happiness (C) impartiality (D) humor (E) affection 14. The recent birth of septuplets has spawned many newspaper articles presenting _______ accounts of medical problems associated with multiple births, _______ the initial heartwarming stories about the sep- tuplets that dominated the press. (A) depressing minimizing (B) various . . contradicting (C) dispassionate . . obscuring (D) sobering . . counterbalancing (E) detailed . . substantiating PART VI: Five Practice Tests414 . www.petersons.com Questions 15–18 are based on the following passage. The Andean cordillera is made up of many interwoven mountain ranges, which include high intermontane plateaus, basins, and valleys. The Northern Andes region contains several broad ecosystems that fall into four altitudinal belts. Its northern subregion is distinguished by high humidity and by greater climatic symmetry between eastern and western flanks. The Central Andes is characterized by a succession of agricultural zones with varied climatic conditions along the region’s mountain flanks and by large, high-altitude plateaus—variously called puna or altiplano—which do not occur in the Northern Andes. The soil fertility of the northern altiplano is generally good, whereas the western Central Andean ranges are relatively arid with desert-like soils. The eastern ranges are more humid, like the Northern Andes, and have more diverse soils. Broadly speaking, the weather patterns of the Andean cordillera reflect the move- ments of high- and low-pressure cells associated with the Intertropical Conver- gence Zone, a low-pressure trough that moves north and south on a seasonal basis. These cells have their greatest impact in the Central Andes, where highland precipitation is seasonal. With increasing distance south of the equator, the seasonality of precipitation in the Central Andes increases, whereas the total annual amount generally decreases. The aridity of the Central Andes coastal zone is the result of the drying effect of the cold Pacific Humboldt current and the southern Pacific high-pressure cell. In contrast to regions of gentle topog- raphy, where climatic variation can be determined from a few widely spaced mea- surements, climatic projections in the Andean cordillera are quite difficult. For example, while air temperature generally decreases with increasing altitude, vari- ability of mountain topography can produce much lower than expected air temperatures. Nevertheless, some general climatic patterns are discernible. Humidity commonly increases with increasing altitude, but only to some inter- mediate altitude, above which it declines. The variability of mountain terrain also affects precipitation, such that conditions of extreme wetness and aridity may exist in close proximity. Related to this tem- perature gradient is a pattern of greater rainfall at the valley heads and less rain at lower altitudes—particularly in the Central Andes—resulting in part from a mountain rainshadow effect. 15. The passage is primarily concerned with (A) describing the geologic features of various regions of the Andean cordillera (B) discussing the factors affecting the climate of the Andean cordillera (C) providing alternative explana- tions for the climatic diversity among different regions of the Andean cordillera (D) examining the effects of topography on the precipitation throughout the Andean cor- dillera (E) comparing the climate of the Northern Andes to that of the Central Andes 16. According to the passage, the north- ern part of the high-altitude pla- teaus is characterized by which of the following? (A) Fertile soil (B) High relative humidity (C) A succession of agricultural zones (D) Extremes in air temperature (E) An arid climate practicetest Practice Test 2 415 . www.petersons.com 17. It can be inferred from the passage that air temperatures in the Andean cordillera are often “lower than expected” probably due to wide variations in (A) precipitation levels (B) air pressure (C) prevailing wind direction (D) aridity (E) mountain elevation 18. The passage mentions all the fol- lowing as climatic factors in the Central Andes cordillera EXCEPT for (A) the Intertropical Convergence Zone (B) the rainshadow effect (C) the southern Pacific high- pressure cell (D) the symmetry of the mountain ranges (E) the Pacific Humboldt current 19. WAN: (A) flushed (B) robust (C) patchy (D) twinkling (E) comely 20. SCULPTURE : SHAVING :: (A) analysis : insight (B) burglary : arrest (C) experiment : hypothesis (D) therapy : comfort (E) education : opportunity 21. Mark Twain and Garrison Keillor were both born and bred in Mid- western America; yet the themes, writing styles, and attitudes of these two humorists are _______. (A) widely admired (B) essentially timeless (C) distinctly different (D) quite remarkable (E) nearly identical 22. PRIZE : LOTTERY :: (A) grade : student (B) loan : bank (C) game : casino (D) diploma : college (E) rank : tournament 23. CIRCUMSPECT : VIGILANCE :: (A) courageous : bravado (B) amicable : belligerence (C) ardent : enthusiasm (D) miserly : wealth (E) intransigent : stability 24. In certain instances, tradition must yield entirely to the utilitarian needs of modern life. When it comes to his- toric public buildings, whose struc- tural integrity is (i)_______ to the safety of the general public, modern- ization sometimes requires no less than razing the structure and building anew. In other such cases, however, architecturally appropriate retrofits can solve struc- tural problems without sacrificing (ii)_______, while alternative loca- tions can be used for new buildings as needed. Blank (i) paramount integral imperative Blank (ii) history or tradition aesthetic cohesiveness utilitarian needs Questions 25 and 26 are based on the following passage. The heart of the restorationist critique of environmental preservationism is the claim that it rests on an unhealthy dualism that conceives nature and humankind as radically distinct and opposed to each other. The crucial question about the restorationist outlook has to do with the degree to which the restorationist program is itself faithful to its first principle—that nature and humanity are fundamentally united rather than separate. Rejecting the old domination model, which sees humans as over nature, resto- ration theory champions a model of com- munity participation. Yet some of the descriptions of what restorationists are actually up to—for example, Turner’s PART VI: Five Practice Tests416 . www.petersons.com description of humans as “the lords of cre- ation,” or Jordan’s statement that “the fate and well being of the biosphere depend ultimately on us and our rela- tionship with it”—do not cohere well with the community-participation model. Another holistic model—namely, that of nature as an organism—might be more serviceable to the restorationists. As with the community model, the “organic” model pictures nature as a system of intercon- nected parts. A fundamental difference, however, is that in an organism the parts are wholly subservient to the life of the organism. 25. In asserting that the organic model “might be more serviceable to the restorationists,” the author implies that (A) the descriptions by Turner and Jordan of the restorationists’ program conform more closely to the organic model than to the community participation model (B) the organic model is more consistent than the community participation model with the principle of restoration (C) the organic model is more consistent with the restora- tionists’ agenda than with the preservationists’ program (D) holistic models are more useful than the dualist model to the restorationists (E) the organic model, unlike the community participation model, represents nature as a system of interconnected parts 26. Which of the following best expresses the function of the first paragraph in relation to the second one? (A) To establish the parameters of an ensuing debate (B) To discuss a secondary issue as a prelude to a more detailed examination of a primary issue (C) To provide an historical backdrop for a discussion of a modern-day issue (D) To introduce opposing view- points, which are then evaluated (E) To identify a problem with a school of thought, which is then explored in detail 27. The science of astronomy is widely viewed today as _______ at least as much as theoretical, in that sooner or later what astronomers detect finds its way into theory, or the theory is modified to _______ it. (A) observational disprove (B) beneficial . . accept (C) empirical . . embrace (D) practical . . demonstrate (E) important . . supersede 28. QUARRY : MARBLE :: (A) well : oil (B) ocean : tuna (C) silo : grain (D) reservoir : water (E) observatory : stars 29. SNORKEL : DIVE :: (A) baton : run (B) taps : dance (C) blade : skate (D) ball : kick (E) club : golf 30. EXACERBATE: (A) prevent from occurring (B) lessen in degree (C) withhold praise (D) smooth over (E) treat condescendingly practicetest Practice Test 2 417 . www.petersons.com QUANTITATIVE REASONING 28 Questions • 45 Minutes NOTE: In this section, questions of different formats are interspersed, just as they are on the computer-based GRE. However, this practice session contains more challenging questions than easy ones, whereas the actual computer-based GRE adapts to your ability level. 1. a M b =(a + b)(a 2 b) Column A Column B 2 M 2 22 M 22 (A) The quantity in Column A is greater. (B) The quantity in Column B is greater. (C) The quantities are equal. (D) The relationship cannot be determined from the information given. 2. 0 , x , 1 Column A Column B = 3 x = x (A) The quantity in Column A is greater. (B) The quantity in Column B is greater. (C) The quantities are equal. (D) The relationship cannot be determined from the information given. 3. Line segments AB and CD are chords of circle O. Column A Column B The circumference of circle O The length of AB plus twice the length of CD (A) The quantity in Column A is greater. (B) The quantity in Column B is greater. (C) The quantities are equal. (D) The relationship cannot be determined from the information given. 4. If x . 0, and if x + 3 is a multiple of 3, which of the following is NOT a multiple of 3? (A) x (B) x +6 (C) 2x +6 (D) 3x +5 (E) 6x +18 PART VI: Five Practice Tests418 . www.petersons.com 5. If m = n and p , q, then which of the following inequalities holds true in all cases? (A) m 2 p . n 2 q (B) p 2 m . q 2 n (C) m 2 p , n 2 q (D) mp . nq (E) m + q , n + p 6. Column A Column B The amount of interest earned on $1,000 after four months The amount of interest earned on $2,000 after eight months (A) The quantity in Column A is greater. (B) The quantity in Column B is greater. (C) The quantities are equal. (D) The relationship cannot be determined from the information given. 7. Column A Column B The number of prime numbers between 10 and 15 The number of prime factors of 33 (A) The quantity in Column A is greater. (B) The quantity in Column B is greater. (C) The quantities are equal. (D) The relationship cannot be determined from the information given. 8. On the xy-plane, what is the slope of a line that is perpendicular to the line defined by the equation 3 1 2 3yx=+ ? (A) 26 (B) 22 (C) 2 1 2 (D) 2 (E) 3 9. Fifteen buoys, numbered 1 to 15, are positioned equidistantly along a straight path for a sailboat race. The race begins at buoy 1, and 45 minutes into the race the fastest boat reaches buoy 10. At the same average speed, how many minutes will it take the boat to race from buoy 10 to buoy 15? (A) 45 (B) 32.5 (C) 25 (D) 22.5 (E) 15 practicetest Practice Test 2 419 . www.petersons.com 10. n =2 Set R: {n +1,2n +2,3n +3, .} Set S: {n, n +1,n +2, .} Column A Column B The 25th term of Set R Two times the 24th term of Set S (A) The quantity in Column A is greater. (B) The quantity in Column B is greater. (C) The quantities are equal. (D) The relationship cannot be determined from the information given. 11. Column A Column B (9,300s)(0.0093t)(9.3s)(9.3t) (A) The quantity in Column A is greater. (B) The quantity in Column B is greater. (C) The quantities are equal. (D) The relationship cannot be determined from the information given. 12. A farmer wants to construct a fence in order to create a rectangular horse corral 12,000 square feet in area. Fence posts along each side will be 10 feet apart at their center. Column A Column B The fewest possible posts that could be used to construct the fence The number of posts used if two of the sides are 300 feet in length each (A) The quantity in Column A is greater. (B) The quantity in Column B is greater. (C) The quantities are equal. (D) The relationship cannot be determined from the information given. 13. Cynthia drove for seven hours at an average rate of 50 miles per hour (mph) and for one hour at an average rate of 60 mph. What was her average rate for the entire trip? Express your answer as a decimal number. mph Enter a number in the box. PART VI: Five Practice Tests420 . www.petersons.com Questions 14 and 15 refer to the following chart. Month of the Year (July–December) 14. During which of the following months was there an aggregate decline in the share price of stock in all three companies? I. July II. September III. October (A) II only (B) I and II only (C) I and III only (D) II and III only (E) I, II, and III 15. At the beginning of July, an investor bought 40 shares of Ardent stock, and then held all 40 shares until the end of December, at which time the investor sold all 40 shares. The investor’s profit upon the sale of these 40 shares amounted to approximately (A) $850 (B) $980 (C) $1,100 (D) $1,300 (E) $1,400 practicetest Practice Test 2 421 . www.petersons.com 16. A B C Once a month, a crop duster sprays a triangular area defined by three farm houses: A, B, and C, as indicated in the figure. Farmhouse C is located 7 kilometers due east of farmhouse B, as shown. If farmhouse A is located 10 kilometers farther west than farmhouse C, what is the total area that the crop duster sprays? (A) 12.5 km 2 (B) 14 km 2 (C) 15 km 2 (D) 15.5 km 2 (E) 17.5 km 2 17. Column A Column B (x +2)(x 2 2) x 2 2 2 (A) The quantity in Column A is greater. (B) The quantity in Column B is greater. (C) The quantities are equal. (D) The relationship cannot be determined from the information given. 18. Column A Column B The price of a $100 product marked up by K percent The price of a $99 product marked up by K dollars (A) The quantity in Column A is greater. (B) The quantity in Column B is greater. (C) The quantities are equal. (D) The relationship cannot be determined from the information given. 19. The arithmetic mean (average) of two numbers is P 3 Q. If the first number is Q, which of the following expressions represents the other number? (A) 2PQ 2 Q (B) PQ 2 2Q (C) 2PQ 2 P (D) P (E) PQ 2 Q PART VI: Five Practice Tests422 . www.petersons.com . climate of the Northern Andes to that of the Central Andes 16. According to the passage, the north- ern part of the high-altitude pla- teaus is characterized. like the Northern Andes, and have more diverse soils. Broadly speaking, the weather patterns of the Andean cordillera reflect the move- ments of high- and