GMAT阅读 ——（9）_GMAT
牐 some observers have attributed the dramatic growth
in temporary employment that occurred in the united
states during the 1980’s to increased participation in
the workforce by certain groups, such as first-time or
(5)爎eentering workers, who supposedly prefer such arrange-
ments. however, statistical analyses reveal that demo-
graphic changes in the workforce did not correlate with
variations in the total number of temporary workers.
instead, these analyses suggest that factors affecting.
(10) employers account for the rise in temporary employ-
ment. one factor is product demand: temporary
employment is favored by employers who are adapting
to fluctuating demand for products while at the same
time seeking to reduce overall labor costs. another
(15) factor is labor’s reduced bargaining strength, which
allows employers more control over the terms of
employment. given the analyses, which reveal that
growth in temporary employment now far exceeds the
level explainable by recent workforce entry rates of
(20) groups said to prefer temporary jobs, firms should be
discouraged from creating excessive numbers of tem-
porary positions. government policymakers should
consider mandating benefit coverage for temporary
employees, promoting pay equity between temporary
(25) and permanent workers, assisting labor unions in orga-
nizing temporary workers, and encouraging firms to
assign temporary jobs primarily to employees who
explicitly indicate that preference.
1. the primary purpose of the passage is to
(a) present the results of statistical analyses and propose
牐 further studies.
(b) explain a recent development and predict its
牐 eventual consequences.
(c) identify the reasons for a trend and recommend
牐 measures to address it.
(d) outline several theories about a phenomenon and
牐 advocate one of
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 athem
(e) describe the potential consequences of implementing
牐 a new policy and argue in favor of that policy.
2. according to the passage, which of the following is true
爋f the “factors affecting employers” that are mentioned
爄n lines
9-10?
(a) most experts cite them as having initiated the
牐 growth in temporary employment that occurred
牐 during the 1980’s.
(b) they may account for the increase in the total
牐 number of temporary workers during the 1980’s.
(c) they were less important than demographic change
牐 in accounting for the increase of temporary
牐 employment during the 1980’s.
(d) they included a sharp increase in the cost of labor
牐 during the 1980’s.
(e) they are more difficult to account for than at other
牐 factors involved in the growth of temporary
牐 employment during the 1980’s.
3. the passage suggests which of the following about the
爑se of temporary employment by firms during the
1980’s?
(a) it enabled firms to deal with fluctuating product
demand far more efficiently than they before the
1980’s.
(b) it increased as a result of increased participation in
牐 the workforce by certain demograp groups.
(c) it was discouraged by government-mandated
牐 policies.
(d) it was a response to preferences indicated by certain
牐 employees for more flexible working arrangements.
(e) it increased partly as a result of workers’ reduced
牐 ability to control the terms of their employment.
4. the passage suggests which of the following about the
爓orkers who took temporary jobs during the 1980’s?
(a) their jobs frequently led to permanent positions
牐牐爓ithin firms.
(b) they constituted a less demographically diverse
牐牐爂roup than has been suggested.
(c) they were occasionally involved in actions
牐 organized by labor unions.
(d) their pay declined during the decade i
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 an comparison
牐 with the pay of permanent employees.
(e) they did not necessarily prefer temporary
牐 employment to permanent employment.
5. the first sentence in the passage suggests that the
observers mentioned in line 1 would be most likely to
predict which of the following?(a) that the number of new temporary positions would
牐 decline as fewer workers who preferred temporary
牐 employment entered the workforce.
(b) that the total number of temporary positions would
牐 increase as fewer workers were able to find
牐 permanent positions
(c) that employers would have less control over the
牐牐爐erms of workers’ employment as workers
牐牐爄ncreased their
...
bargaining strength.
(d) that more workers would be hired for temporary
牐牐爌ositions as product demand increased.
(e) that the number of workers taking temporary
牐 positions would increase as more workers in any
牐 given demographic group entered the workforce.
6. in the context of the passage, the word “excessive” (line
21) most closely corresponds to which of the
following phrases?
(a) far more than can be justified by worker
牐 preferences
(b) far more than can be explained by fluctuations in
牐 product demand.
(c) far more than can be beneficial to the success of the
牐 firms themselves.
(d) far more than can be accounted for by an expanding
牐 national economy.
(e) far more than can be attributed to increases in the
牐 total number of people in the workforce.
7. the passage mentions each of the following as an
燼ppropriate kind of governmental action except
(a) getting firms to offer temporary employment
牐 primarily to a certain group of people.
(b) encouraging equitable pay for temporary and
牐 permanent employees
(c) facilitating the organization of temporary workers by
牐 labor unions.
(d) establishing guidelines on th
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 ae proportion of
牐 temporary workers that firms should employ
(e) ensuring that temporary workers obtain benefits
牐 from their employers.
passage 56
牐 although numbers of animals in a given region may
fluctuate from year to year, the fluctuations are often
temporary and, over long periods, trivial. scientists
have advanced three theories of population control to
(5)燼ccount for this relative constancy.
the first theory attributes a relatively constant popu-
lation to periodic climatic catastrophes that decimate
populations with such frequency as to prevent them
from exceeding some particular limit. in the case of
(10) small organisms with short life cycles, climatic changes
need not be catastrophic: normal seasonal changes in
photoperiod (daily amount of sunlight), for example,
can govern population growth. this theory---the
density-independent view---asserts that climatic factors
(15) exert the same regulatory effect on population regard-
less of the number of individuals in a region.
牐牐燗 second theory argues that population growth is
primarily density-dependent---that is, the rate of
growth of a population in a region decreases as the
(20) number of animals increases. the mechanisms that
manage regulation may vary. for example, as numbers
increase, the food supply would probably diminish,
which would increase mortality. in addition, as lotka
and volterra have shown, predators can find prey more
(25) easily in high-density populations. other regulators
include physiological control mechanisms: for example.
christian and davis have demonstrated how the
crowding that results from a rise in numbers may bring
about hormonal changes in the pituitary and adrenal
(30) glands that in turn may regulate population by lowering
sexual activity and inhibiting sexual maturation. there <
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 abr> is evidence that these effects may persist for three
generations in the absence of the original provocation.
one challenge for density-dependent theorists is to
(35) develop models that would allow the precise prediction
of the effects of crowding.
牐牐燗 third theory, proposed by wynne-edwards and
termed “epideictic,” argues that organisms have evolved
a “code”in the form of social or epideictic behavior
(40) displays, such as winter-roosting aggregations or group
vocalizing; such codes provide organisms with infor-
mation on population size in a region so that they can,
if necessary, exercise reproductive restraint. however,
wynne-edwards’ theory, linking animal social behavior
(45) and population control, has been challenged, with some
justification, by several studies.
1. the primary purpose of the passage is to
(a) argue against those scientists who maintain that
牐 animal populations tend to fluctuate
(b) compare and contrast the density-dependent
牐 and epideictic theories of population control
(c) provide example of some of the ways in which
牐 animals exercise reproductive restraint to
牐 control their own numbers
(d) suggests that theories of population control that
牐 concentrate on the social behavior of animals
牐 are more open to debate than are theories that do not牐牐
(e) summa
...
rize a number of scientific theories that
牐 attempt to explain why animal populations do
牐 not exceed certain limits
2. it can be inferred from the passage that proponents
爋f the density-dependent theory of population control
爃ave not yet been able to
(a) use their theory to explain the population growth of
牐 organisms with short life cycles
(b) reproduce the results of the study of christian and
牐 davis
(c) explain adequately why the numbers of a population
牐 can increase as the populati
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 aon’s rate of growth
牐 decreases
(d) make sufficiently accurate predictions about the
牐 effects of crowding
(e) demonstrate how predator populations are
牐 themselves regulated
3. which of the following, if true, would best support the
燿ensity-dependent theory of population control as it is
燿escribed in the passage?
(a) as the number of foxes in minnesota decrease, the
牐 growth rate of this population of foxes begins of
牐 increase.
(b) as the number of woodpeckers in vermont
牐 decreases, the growth rate of this population of
牐 woodpeckers also begins to decrease.
(c) as the number of prairie dogs in oklahoma
牐 increases, the growth rate of this population of
牐 prairie dogs also begins to increase.
(d) after the number of beavers in tennessee decreases,
牐 the number of predators of these beavers begins to
牐 increase.
(e) after the number of eagles in montana decreases,
the food supply of this population of eagles also
begins to decrease.
4. according to the wynne-edwards theory as it is
described in the passage, epideictic behavior displays
serve the function of
(a) determining roosting aggregations
(b) locating food
(c) attracting predators
(d) regulating sexual activity
(e) triggering hormonal changes
5. the challenge posed to the wynne-edwards-theory by
爏everal studies is regarded by the author with
(a) complete indifference
(b) qualified acceptance
(c) skeptical amusement
(d) perplexed astonishment牐
(e) agitated dismay
6. which of the following statements would provide the
爉ost of logical continuation of the final paragraph of the
爌assage?
(a) thus wynne-edwards’ theory raises serious
牐 questions about the constancy of animal population
牐 in a region.
(b) because wynne-edwards’ theory is able to explain
牐 more kinds of animal beha
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 avior than is the density-
牐 dependent theory, epideictic explanations of
牐 population
牐 regulation are now widely accepted.
(c) the results of one study, for instance, have
牐 suggested that group vocalizing is more often used
牐 to defend territory than to provide information about
牐 population density.
(d) some of these studies have, in fact, worked out
a systematic and complex code of social behavior
that can regulate population size.牐牐
(e) one study, for example, has demonstrated that birds
牐 are more likely to use winter-roosting aggregations
牐 than group vocalizing in order to provide
牐 information
牐 on population size.
passage 57
in recent years, teachers of introductory courses in
asian american studies have been facing a dilemma
nonexistent a few decades ago, when hardly any texts
in that field were available. today, excellent antho-
(5) logies and other introductory texts exist, and books on
individual asian american nationality groups and on牐牐牐
general issues important for asian americans are
published almost weekly. even professors who are
experts in the field find it difficult to decide which of
(10) these to assign to students; nonexperts who teach in
related areas and are looking for writings for and by
asian american to include in survey courses are in an
even worse position.
燗 complicating factor has been the continuing lack
(15) of specialized one-volume reference works on asian
americans, such as biographical dictionaries or desktop
encyclopedias. such works would enable students
taking asian american studies courses (and professors
in related fields) to look up basic information on asian
(20) american individuals, institutions, history, and culture
without having to wade through mountains of primary
source material. in addition, give such wor
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 aks, asian
american studies pr
...
ofessors might feel more free to牐牐牐牐
include more challenging asian american material in
(25) their introductory reading lists, since good reference
works allow students to acquire on their own the back-
ground information necessary to interpret difficult or
unfamiliar material.
1. the author of the passage is primarily concerned with
牐 doing which of the following?
(a) recommending a methodology
(b) describing a course of study
(c) discussing a problem
(d) evaluating a past course of action
(e) responding to a criticism
2. the “dilemma” mentioned in line 2 can best be
燾haracterized as being caused by the necessity to make a
燾hoice when faced with a
(a) lack of acceptable alternatives
(b) lack of strict standards for evaluating alternatives
(c) preponderance of bad alternatives as compared to
牐 good
(d) multitude of different alternatives
(e) large number of alternatives that are nearly identical
牐 in content
3. the passage suggests that the factor mentioned in lines
14-17 complicates professors’ attempts to construct
爄ntroductory reading lists for courses in asian american
爏tudies in which of the following ways?
(a) by making it difficult for professors to identify
牐 primary source material and to obtain standard
牐 information on asian american history and culture
(b) by preventing professors from identifying excellent
牐 anthologies and introductory texts in the field that
牐 are both recent and understandable to students
(c) by preventing professors from adequately
牐 evaluating the quality of the numerous texts
牐 currently being published in the field
(d) such courses were offered only at schools whose
牐 libraries were rich in primary sources.
(e) by making it more necessary for professors to select
牐 readings for their courses th
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 aat are not too
牐 challenging for students unfamiliar with asian
牐 american history
牐 and culture
(e) by making it more likely that the readings
牐 professors assign to students in their courses will be
牐 drawn solely from primary sources
4. the passage implies that which of the following was
爐rue of introductory courses in asian american studies a
爁ew decades ago?
(a) the range of different textbooks that could be
牐 assigned for such courses was extremely limited.
(b) the texts assigned as readings in such courses were
牐 often not very challenging for students.
(c) students often complained about the texts assigned
牐 to them in such courses.
(d) such courses were the only means then available by
牐 which people in the united states could acquire
牐 knowledge of the field.
5. according to the passage, the existence of good one-
爒olume reference works about asian americans could
爎esult in
(a) increased agreement among professors of asian
牐 american studies regarding the quality of the
牐 sources available in their field
(b) an increase in the number of students signing up for
牐 introductory courses in asian american studies
(c) increased accuracy in writings that concern asian
牐 american history and culture
(d) the use of introductory texts about asian american
牐 history and culture in courses outside the field of
牐 asian american studies
(e) the inclusion of a wider range of asian american
牐 material in introductory reading lists in asian
牐 american studies
passage 58
in an attempt to improve the overall performance of
燾lerical workers, many companies have introduced com-
爌uterized performance monitoring and control systems
(cpmcs) that record and report a worker’s computer-
(5) driven activities. however, at least one study has shown
爐hat such monitoring
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 amay not be having the desired effect.
營n the study, researchers asked monitored clerical workers
燼nd their supervisors how assessments of productivity
燼ffected supervisors’ ratings of workers’ performance. in
(10) contrast to unmonitored workers doing the same work, who
爓ithout exception identified the most important element in
爐heir jobs as customer service, the monitored workers and
爐heir supervisors all responded that productivity was the
燾ritical factor in assigning ratings. this finding suggested
(15) that there should have been a strong correlation between a
monitored worker’s productivity and the overall rating the
worker received. however, measures of the relationship
between overa
...
ll rating and individual elements of perfor-
mance clearly supported the conclusion that supervisors
(20) gave considerable weight to criteria such as
attendance.accuracy, and indications of customer
satisfaction.
營t is possible that productivity may be a “hygiene
factor.” that is, if it is too low, it will hurt the overall
rating. but the evidence suggests that beyond the point at
(25) which productivity becomes “good enough.” higher
productivity per se is unlikely to improve a rating.
1. according to the passage, before the final results of the
爏tudy were known, which of the following seemed
爈ikely?
(a) that workers with the highest productivity would
牐 also be the most accurate牐牐牐牐牐
(b) that workers who initially achieved high
牐 productivity ratings would continue to do so
牐 consistently
(c) that the highest performance ratings would be
牐 achieved by workers with the highest productivity
(d) that the most productive workers would be those
牐 whose supervisors claimed to value productivity
(e) that supervisors who claimed to value productivity
牐 would place equal value on customer satisfaction
燿iscusses “unmonitored workers”(line 10) primarily
爄n order to
(a) compare the ratings of these workers with the
牐 ratings of monitored workers
(b) provide an example of a case in which monitoring
牐 might be effective
(c) provide evidence of an inappropriate use of cpmcs
(d) emphasize the effect that cpmcs may have on
workers’ perceptions of their jobs
(e) illustrate the effect that cpmcs may have on
workers’ ratings
3. which of the following, if true, would most clearly have
爏upported the conclusion referred to in lines 19-21?
(a) ratings of productivity correlated highly with
牐 ratings of both accuracy and attendance.
(b) electronic monitoring greatly increased productivity.
(c) most supervisors based overall ratings of
牐 performance on measures of productivity alone.
(d) overall ratings of performance correlated more
牐 highly with measures of productivity than the
牐 researchers expected.
(e) overall ratings of performance correlated more
牐 highly with measures of accuracy than with
牐 measures of productivity.
4. according to the passage, a “hygiene factor” (lines 22-
23) is an aspect of a worker’s performance that
(a) has no effect on the rating of a worker’s
牐 performance
(b) is so basic to performance that it is assumed to be
牐 adequate for all workers
(c) is given less importance than it deserves in rating a
牐 worker’s performance
(d) if not likely to affect a worker’s rating unless it is
牐 judged to be inadequate
(e) is important primarily because of the effect it has on
牐 a worker’s rating
5. the primary purpose of the passage is to
(a) explain the need for the introduction of an
牐 innovative strategy
(b) discuss a study of the use of a particular method
(c) recommend a course of action
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 a(d) resolved a difference of opinion
(e) suggest an alternative approach
passage 59
牐 schools expect textbooks to be a valuable source of
爄nformation for students. my research suggests, however,
爐hat textbooks that address the place of native americans
爓ithin he history of the united states distort history to suit牐牐
(5) a particular cultural value system. in some textbooks, for
爀xample, settlers are pictured as more humane, complex,
爏killful, and wise than native american. in essence,
爐extbooks stereotype and deprecate the numerous native
燗merican cultures while reinforcing the attitude that the
(10) european conquest of the new world denotes the superi-
ority of european cultures. although textbooks evaluete
native american architecture, political systems, and home-
making. i contend that they do it from an ethnocentric,
(15) european perspective without recognizing that other per-
spectives are possible.
one argument against my contention asserts that, by
nature, textbooks are culturally biased and that i am simply牐
underestimating children’s ability to see through these
(20) biases. some researchers even claim that by the time
students are in high school, they know they cannot take
textbooks literally. yet substantial evidence exists to the
contrary. two researchers, for example, have conducted
studies that suggest th
...
at children’s attitudes about particular
(25) culture are strongly influenced by the textbooks used in
schools. given this, an ongoing, careful review of how
school textbooks depict native american is certainly
warranted.
1. which of the following would most logically be the
topic of the paragraph immediately following the
passage?
(a) specific ways to evaluate the biases of united states
牐 history textbooks
(b) the centrality of the teacher’s role in uni
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 ated states
牐 history courses
(c) nontraditional methods of teaching united states
牐牐爃istory
(d) the contributions of european immigrants to the
牐 development of the united states
(e) ways in which parents influence children’s political
牐 attitudes
2. the primary purpose of the passage is to
(a) describe in detail one research study regarding the
牐 impact of history textbooks on children’s attitudes
牐 and beliefs about certain cultures
(b) describe revisions that should be made to united
states history textbooks
(c) discuss the difficulty of presenting an accurate
history of the united states
(d) argue that textbooks used in schools stereotype
native americans and influence children’s attitudes
(e) summarize ways in which some textbooks give
distorted pictures of the political systems developed
by various native american groups
3. the author mentions two researchers’ studies (lines22-
25) most likely in order to
(a) suggest that children’s political attitudes are formed牐
牐 primarily through textbooks
(b) counter the claim that children are able to see
牐 through stereotypes in textbooks
(c) suggest that younger children tend to interpret the
牐 messages in textbooks more literally than do older
牐 children
(d) demonstrate that textbooks carry political messages
牐 meant to influence their readers
(e) prove that textbooks are not biased in terms of their
牐 political presentations
4. the author’s attitude toward the content of the history
textbooks discussed in the passage is best described as
one of
(a) indifference
(b) hesitance
(c) neutrality
(d) amusement
(e) disapproval
5. it can be inferred from the passage that the researchers
爉entioned in line 19 would be most likely to agree
爓ith which of the following statements?
(a) students
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 aform attitudes about cultures other than
牐牐爐heir own primarily inside the school environment.
(b) for the most part, seniors in high school know that
牐 textbooks can be biased.
(c) textbooks play a crucial role in shaping the attitudes
and beliefs of students.
(d) elementary school students are as likely to
牐 recognize biases in textbooks as are high school
牐 students.
(e) students are less likely to give credence to history
牐 textbooks than to mathematics textbooks.
6. the author implies tha5t which of the following will
爋ccur if textbooks are not carefully reviewed?
(a) children will remain ignorant of the european
牐牐爏ettlers’ conquest of the new world.
(b) children will lose their ability to recognize biases
in textbooks.
(c) children will form negative stereotypes of native
americans.
(d) children will develop an understanding of
牐 ethnocentrism.
(e) children will stop taking textbooks seriously.
passage 60
牐 until recently, scientists did not know of a close verte-
brate analogue to the extreme form of altruism abserved in
eusocial insects like ants and bees, whereby individuals
cooperate, sometimes even sacrificing their own oppor-
( 5) tunities to survive and reproduce, for the good of others.
however, such a vertebrate society may exist among under-
ground colonies of the highly social rodent heterocephalus
glaber, the naked mole rat.
牐 a naked mole rat colony, like a beehive, wasp’s nest, or
(10) termite mound, is ruled by its queen, or reproducing
female. other adult female mole rats neither ovulate nor
breed. the queen of the largest member of the colony, and
she maintains her breeding status through a mixture of
behavioral and, presumably, chemical control. queens have
(15) been long-lived in captivity, and when they die or are
removed from a colony one sees v
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 aiolent fighting for breed-
ing status among the larger remainin
...
g females, leading to a
takeover by a new queen.
eusocial insect societies have rigid caste systems, each
(20) insects’s role being defined by its behavior, body shape, and
physiology. in naked mole rat societies, on the other hand,
differences in behavior are related primarily to reproductive
status (reproduction being limited to the queen and a few
males), body size, and perhaps age. smaller nonbreeding
(25) members, both male and female, seem to participate pri-
marily in gathering food, transporting nest material, and
tunneling. larger nonreaders are active in defending the
colony and perhaps in removing dirt from the tunnels.
jarvis’ work has suggested that differences in growth rates
may influence the length of time that an individual performs
(30) a task, regardless of its age.
牐 cooperative breeding has evolved many times in verte-
brates, but unlike naked mole rats, most cooperatively
breeding vertebrates (except the wild dog, lycaon pictus)
(35) are dominated by a pair of breeders rather than by a single
breeding female. the division of labor within social groups
is less pronounced among other vertebrates than among
naked mole rats, colony size is much smaller, and mating
by subordinate females may not be totally suppressed,
(40) whereas in naked mole rat colonies subordinate females are
not sexually active, and many never breed.
1. which of the following most accurately states the main
idea of the passage?
(a) naked mole rat colonies are the only known牐牐
牐 examples of cooperatively breeding vertebrate
牐 societies.
(b) naked mole rat colonies exhibit social organization
牐 based on a rigid caste system.
(c) behavior in naked mole rat colonies may well be牐牐
牐 a close vertebrate analogue to behavior in eusocial
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 a
牐 insect societies.
(d) the mating habits of naked mole rats differ from
牐牐爐hose of any other vertebrate species.
(e) the basis for the division of labor among naked
牐 mole rats is the same as that among eusocial insects.
2. the passage suggests that jarvis’ work has called into
question which of the following explanatory variables
for naked mole rat behavior?
(a) size牐牐
(b) age
(c) reproductive status
(d) rate of growth
(e) previously exhibited behavior
3. it can be inferred from the passage that the performance
爋f tasks in naked mole rat colonies differs from task
爌erformance in eusocial insect societies in which of the
爁ollowing ways?
(a) in naked mole rat colonies, all tasks ate performed
牐 cooperatively.
(b) in naked mole rat colonies, the performance of
牐 tasks is less rigidly determined by body shape.
(c) in naked mole rat colonies, breeding is limited to
牐 the largest animals.
(d) in eusocial insect societies, reproduction is limited
牐 to a single female.
(e) in eusocial insect societies, the distribution of
牐 tasks is based on body size.
4. according to the passage, which of the following is a
爏upposition rather than a fact concerning the queen in a
爊aked mole rat colony?
(a) she is the largest member of the colony.
(b) she exerts chemical control over the colony.
(c) she mates with more than one male.
(d) she attains her status through aggression.
(e) she is the only breeding female.
5. the passage supports which of the following inferences
燼bout breeding among lycaon pictus?牐牐
(a) the largest female in the social group does
牐 not maintain reproductive status by means of
牐 behavioral control.
(b) an individual’s ability to breed is related primarily
牐 to its rate of growth.
(c) breeding is the only task performed by the breedin
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 ag
牐 female.
(d) breeding in the social group is not cooperative.
(e) breeding is not dominated by a single pair of dogs.牐
牐
牐牐
passage 61
牐 coral reefs are one of the most fragile, biologically
complex, and diverse marine ecosystem on earth. this
ecosystem is one of the fascinating paradoxes of the bio-
sphere: how do clear, and thus nutrient-poor, waters sup-
(5) port such prolific and productive communities? part of the
answer lies within the tissues of the corals themselves.牐牐
symbiotic cells of algae known as zooxanthellae carry out
photosynthesis using the metabolic wastes of the coral
thereby producing food for themselves, for their corals,
(10) hosts, and even for other members of the reef c
[7] ...
ommunity.
牐燭his symbiotic process allows organisms in the reef com-
munity to use sparse nutrient resources efficiently.
牐牐燯nfortunately for coral reefs, however, a variety of
human activities are causing worldwide degradation of
(15) shallow marine habitats by adding nutrients to the (water.
agriculture, slash-and-burn land clearing, sewage disposal
and manufacturing that creates waste by-products all
increase nutrient loads in these waters. typical symptoms
of reef decline are destabilized herbivore populations and
(20) an increasing abundance of algae and filter-feeding animals.
declines in reef communities are consistent with observa-
tions that nutrient input is increasing in direct proportion to牐牐牐
growing human populations, thereby threatening reef com-
(25) munities sensitive to subtle changes in nutrient input to
their waters.
1. the passage is primarily concerned with
(a) describing the effects of human activities on algae in
牐 coral reefs
(b) explaining how human activities are posing a threat
牐 to coral reef communities
(c) discussing the process by which coral
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 areefs
牐 deteriorate in nutrient-poor waters
(d) explaining how coral reefs produce food for
牐 themselves
(e) describing the abundance of algae and filter-feeding
牐 animals in coral reef areas
2. the passage suggests which of the following about coral
爎eef communities?
(a) coral reef communities may actually be more likely
牐 to thrive in waters that are relatively low in nutrients.
(b) the nutrients on which coral reef communities
牐 thrive are only found in shallow waters.
(c) human population growth has led to changing ocean
牐 temperatures, which threatens coral reef
牐 communities.
(d) the growth of coral reef communities tends to
destabilize underwater herbivore populations.
(e) coral reef communities are more complex and
牐 diverse
than most ecosystems located on dry land.
3. the author refers to “filter-feeding animals” (line 20)
in order to
(a) provide an example of a characteristic sign of reef
牐 deterioration
(b) explain how reef communities acquire sustenance
牐 for survival
(c) identify a factor that helps herbivore populations
牐 thrive
(d) indicate a cause of decreasing nutrient input in
牐 waters that reefs inhabit
(e) identify members of coral reef communities that rely
牐 on coral reefs for nutrients
4. according to the passage, which of the following is a
爁actor that is threatening the survival of coral reef
燾ommunities?
(a) the waters they inhabit contain few nutrient
牐牐爎esources.
(b) a decline in nutrient input is disrupting their
牐 symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae
(c) the degraded waters of their marine habitats have
牐牐爎educed their ability to carry out photosynthesis
(d) they are too biologically complex to survive in
牐 habitats with minimal nutrient input.
(e) waste by-products result in an increase in nutrient
牐 in
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 aput to reef communities.
5. it can be inferred from the passage that the author
燿escribes coral reef communities as paradoxical most
爈ikely for which of the following reasons?
(a) they are thriving even though human activities
牐 have depleted the nutrients in their environment.
(b) they are able to survive in spite of an over-
牐 abundance of algae inhabiting their waters.
(c) they are able to survive in an environment with
牐 limited food resources.
(d) their metabolic wastes contribute to the degra-
牐 dation of the waters that they inhabit.
(e) they are declining even when the water sur-
牐 rounding them remains clear.牐牐牐
passage 62
牐燭wo divergent definitions have dominated sociologists’
燿iscussions of the nature of ethnicity. the first emphasizes
爐he primordial and unchanging character of ethnicity. in
爐his view, people have an essential need for belonging that
(5)爄s satisfied by membership in groups based on shared
ancestry and culture. a different conception of ethnicity
de-emphasizes the cultural component and defines ethnic
groups as interest groups. in this view, ethnicity serves as
a way of mobilizing a certain population behind issues
(10) relating to its economic position. while both of these
definitions are useful, neither fully captures the dynamic
and changing aspects of ethnicity in the united states.
rather, ethnicity is more sati
[8] ...
sfactorily conceived of as a
process in which preexisting communal bonds and common
(15) cultural attributes are adapted for instrumental purposes
according to changing real-life situations.
牐 one example of this process is the rise of participation
by native american people in the broader united states
political system since the civil rights movement of the
(20)1960’s. besides leading native americans to participate
more actively in po
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 alitics (the number of native american
legislative officeholders more than doubled), this movement
also evoked increased interest in tribal history and traditional
culture. cultural and instrumental components of
(25 )ethnicity are not mutually exclusive, but rather reinforce
one another.
牐燭he civil rights movement also brought changes in the
爑ses to which ethnicity was put by mexican american
爌eople. in the 1960’s, mexican americans formed
(30) community-based political groups that emphasized ancestral
heritage as a way of mobilizing constituents. such emerg-
ing issues as immigration and voting rights gave mexican
american advocacy groups the means by which to promote
ethnic solidarity. like european ethnic groups in the
(35) nineteenth-century united states, late-twentieth-century
mexican american leaders combined ethnic with contem-
porary civic symbols. in 1968 henry censors, then mayor
of san antonio, texas, cited mexican leader benito juarez
as a model for mexican americans in their fight for con-
(40) temporary civil rights. and every year, mexican americans
celebrate cinco de mayo as fervently as many irish
american people embrace st. patrick’s day (both are major
holidays in the countries of origin), with both holidays
having been reinvented in the context of the united states
and linked to ideals, symbols, and heroes of the united
states.
1. which of the following best states the main idea of the
爌assage?
(a) in their definitions of the nature of ethnicity,
牐牐爏ociologists have underestimated the power of the
牐牐爌rimordial human need to belong.
(b) ethnicity is best defined as a dynamic process that
牐 combines cultural components with shared
牐 political and economic interests.
(c) in the united states in the twentieth century, ethnic
牐牐爂roups have begun to organize in
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 aorder to further
牐牐爐heir political and economic interests.
(d) ethnicity in the united states has been significantly
牐 changed by the civil rights movement.
(e) the two definitions of ethnicity that have dominated
牐 sociologists discussions are incompatible
牐 and should be replaced by an entirely new approach.
2. which is爐he following statements about the first two
燿efinitions of ethnicity discussed in the first paragraph
爄s supported by the passage?
(a) one is supported primarily by sociologists, and the
牐牐 other is favored by members of ethnic groups.
(b) one emphasizes the political aspects of ethnicity,
牐牐燼nd the other focuses on the economic aspects.
(c) one is the result of analysis of united states
牐牐爌opulations, and the other is the result of analysis of
牐牐燛uropean populations.
(d) one focuses more on the ancestral components
牐牐爋f ethnicity than does the other.
(e) one focuses more on immigrant groups than does
牐牐爐he other.
3. the author of the passage refers to native american
people in the second paragraph in order to provide an
example of
(a) the ability of membership in groups based on
牐牐爏hared ancestry and culture to satisfy an essential
牐牐爃uman need.
(b) how ethnic feelings have both motivated and been
爏trengthened by political activity
(c) how the civil rights movement can help promote
爏olidarity among united states ethnic groups
(d) how participation in the political system has
爃elped to improve a group’s economic situation
(e) the benefits gained from renewed study of ethnic
爃istory and culture
4. the passage supports which of the following statements
燼bout the mexican american co+munity?
(a) in the 1960’s the mexican american community
牐 began to incorporate the customs of another ethnic
牐 group in the united states into the observatio
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 an of its
牐 own ethnic holidays.
(b) in the 1960’s mexican american community
牐 groups pr
[9] ...
omoted ethnic solidarity primarily in
牐 order to effect economic change
(c) in the 1960’s leader of the mexican american
牐 community concentrated their efforts on promoting
牐 a renaissance of ethnic history and culture
(d) in the 1960’s members of the mexican american
牐 community were becoming increasingly concerned
牐 about the issue of voting rights.
(e) in the 1960’s the mexican american community
牐 had greater success in mobilizing constituents
牐 than did other ethnic groups in the united states.
5. which of the following types of ethnic cultural
爀xpression is discussed in the passage?
(a) the retelling of traditional narratives
(b) the wearing of traditional clothing
(c) the playing of traditional music
(d) the celebration of traditional holidays
(e) the preparation of traditional cuisine
6. information in the passage supports which of the
爁ollowing statements about many european ethnic
爂roups in the nineteenth-century united states?
(a) they emphasized economic interests as a way of
牐 mobilizing constituents behind certain issues.
(b) they conceived of their own ethnicity as being
牐 primordial in nature.
(c) they created cultural traditions that fused united
牐 states symbols with those of their countries of
牐 origin.
(d) they de-emphasized the cultural燾omponents of
牐牐爐heir communities in favor of political interests.
(e) they organized formal community groups designed
牐 to promote a renaissance of ethnic history and
牐 culture.
7. the passage suggests that in 1968 henry cisneros most
likely believed that
(a) many mexican american would respond positively
牐牐爐o the example of benito juarez.
(b) many mexican american were insufficiently
牐牐爀ducated in mexican histor
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 ay
(c) the fight for civil fights in the united states had
牐牐爉any strong parallels in both mexican and rish
牐牐爃istory.
(d) the quickest way of organizing community-based
牐牐爂roups was to emulate the tactics of benito juarez
(e) mexican americans should emulate the strategies
牐牐爋f native american political leaders.牐牐
牐牐牐牐
passage 63
牐燭he fact that superior service can generate a competitive
燼dvantage for a company does not mean that every attempt
燼t improving service will create such an advantage. invest-
爉ents in service, like those in production and distribution,
(5) must be balanced against other types of investments on the
燽asis of direct, tangible benefits such as cost reduction and
爄ncreased revenues. if a company is already effectively on a
爌ar with its competitors because it provides service that
燼voids a damaging reputation and keeps customers from
(10) leaving at an unacceptable rate, then investment in higher
service levels may be wasted, since service is a deciding
factor for customers only in extreme situations.
牐 this truth was not apparent to managers of one regional
bank, which failed to improve its competitive position
(15) despite its investment in reducing the time a customer had
to wait for a teller. the bank managers did not recognize
the level of customer inertia in the consumer banking
industry that arises from the inconvenience of switching
banks. nor did they analyze their service improvement to
(20) determine whether it would attract new customers by pro-
ducing a new standard of service that would excite cus-
tomers or by proving difficult for competitors to copy. the
only merit of the improvement was that it could easily be
described to customers.
1. the primary purpose of the passage is to
(a) contrast possible outcomes of a type of business
(b) suggest more careful evaluation of a type of
牐牐燽usiness investment
(c) illustrate various ways in which a type of business
牐牐爄nvestment could fail to enhance revenues
(d) trace the general problems of a company to a
牐牐燾ertain type of business investment
(e) criticize the way in which managers tend to analyze
牐牐爐he costs and benefits of business investments
2. according to the passage, investments in service are
燾omparable to investments in production and
燿istribution in terms of the
(a) tangibility of the benefits that they tend to confer
(b) increased revenues that they ultimately produce
(c) basis on which they need to be weighed
(d) insufficient analysis that managers
[10] ...