GMAT阅读 ——（7）_GMAT
牐 japanese firms have achieved the highest levels of
爉anufacturing efficiency in the world automobile
爄ndustry. some observers of japan have assumed that
燡apanese firms use the same manufacturing equipment
(5) and techniques as united states firms but have bene-
爁ited from the unique characteristics of japanese
爀mployees and the japanese culture. however, if this
爓ere true, then one would expect japanese auto plants
爄n the united states to perform no better than factories
(10) run by united states companies. this is not the case,
燡apanese-run automobile plants located in the united
燬tates and staffed by local workers have demonstrated
爃igher levels of productivity when compared with facto-
爎ies owned by united states companies.
(15)燨ther observers link high japanese productivity to
爃igher levels of capital investment per worker. but a
爃istorical perspective leads to a different conclusion.
燱hen the two top japanese automobile makers
爉atched and then doubled united states productivity
(20) levels in the mid-sixties, capital investment per
employee was comparable to that of united states
firms. furthermore, by the late seventies, the amount of
fixed assets required to produce one vehicle was
roughly equivalent in japan and in the united states.
(25) since capital investment was not higher in japan, it had
to be other factors that led to higher productivity.
牐 a more fruitful explanation may lie with japanese
production techniques. japanese automobile producers
did not simply implement conventional processes more
(30) effectively: they made critical changes in united states
procedures. for instance, the mass-production philos-
ophy of united states automakers encouraged the
production of huge lots of cars in order to utilize fully
expensive, component-specific equipment and to
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 26 27 28 29 a(35) occupy fully workers who have been trained to execute
one operation efficiently. japanese automakers chose to
make small-lot production feasible by introducing
several departures from united states practices,
including the use of flexible equipment that could be
(40) altered easily to do several different production tasks
and the training of workers in multiple jobs.
automakers could schedule the production of different
components or models on single machines, thereby
eliminating the need to store the buffer stocks of extra
(45) components that result when specialized equipment
and workers are kept constantly active.
1. the primary purpose of the passage is to
(a) present the major steps of a process
(b) clarify an ambiguity
(c) chronicle a dispute
(d) correct misconceptions
(e) defend an accepted approach
2. the author suggests that if the observers of japan
爉entioned in line 3 were correct, which of the following
爓ould be the case?
(a) the equipment used in japanese automobile plants
牐 would be different from the equipment used in
牐 united states plants.
(b) japanese workers would be trained to do several
牐 different production jobs.
(c) culture would not have an influence on the
牐 productivity levels of workers.
(d) the workers in japanese-run plants would have
牐 higher productivity levels regardless of where they
牐 were located.
(e) the production levels of japanese-run plants located牐
牐 in the united states would be equal to those of
牐 plants run by united states companies.
3. which of the following statements concerning the
爌roductivity levels of automakers can be inferred from
爐he passage?
(a) prior to the 1960’s, the productivity levels of the top
牐 japanese automakers were exceeded by those of
牐 united states automakers.
(b) the culture of a
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 26 27 28 29 acountry has a large effect on the
牐 productivity levels of its automakers.
(c) during the late 1970’s and early 1980’s,
productivity levels were comparable in japan and
the united states.
(d) the greater the number of cars that are produced in
牐 a single lot, the higher a plant’s productivity level.
(e) the amount of capital investment made by
牐 automobile manufacturers in their factories
牐 determines the level of productivity.
4. according to the passage, which of the following
爏tatements is true of japanese automobile workers?
(a) their productivity levels did not equal those of
united states automobile workers until
...
the late
seventies.
(b) their high efficiency levels are a direct result of
牐 cultural influences.
(c) they operate component-specific machinery.
(d) they are trained to do more than one job.
(e) they produce larger lots of cars than do workers in
牐 united states factories.
5. which of the following best describes the organization
爋f the first paragraph?
(a) a thesis is presented and supporting examples are
牐 provided.
(b) opposing views are presented, classified, and then
牐 reconciled.
(c) a fact is stated, and an explanation is advanced and
牐 then refuted.
(d) a theory is proposed, considered, and then
牐 amended.
(e) an opinion is presented, qualified, and then
牐 reaffirmed.
6. it can be inferred from the passage that one problem
燼ssociated with the production of huge lots of cars is
爓hich of the following?
(a) the need to manufacture flexible machinery and
牐牐爀quipment
(b) the need to store extra components not required for
牐牐爄mmediate use
(c) the need for expensive training programs for
牐 workers, which emphasize the development of
牐 facility in several production jobs.
(d) the need to alter conventional mass-production
牐牐爌ro
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 26 27 28 29 acesses
(e) the need to increase the investment per vehicle in
牐 order to achieve high productivity levels
7. which of the following statements is supported by
爄nformation stated in the passage?
(a) japanese and united states automakers differ in
牐 their approach to production processes.
(b) japanese automakers have perfected the use of
牐 single-function equipment.
(c) japanese automakers invest more capital per
牐 employee than do united states automakers.
(d) united states-owned factories abroad have higher
牐 production levels than do japanese owned plants in
牐 the united states.
(e) japanese automakers have benefited from the
牐 cultural heritage of their workers.
8. with which of the following predictive statement牐牐牐牐牐牐牐
牐牐爎egarding japanese automakers would the author
牐牐爉ost likely agree?
(a) the efficiency levels of the japanese automakers
牐 will decline if they become less flexible in their
牐 approach to production
(b) japanese automakers productivity levels double
牐 during the late 1990’s.
(c) united states automakes will originate net
牐 production processes before japanese automakers
牐 do.
(d) japanese automakers will hire fewer workers than
牐 will united states automakers because each worker
牐 is required to perform several jobs.
(e) japanese automakers will spend less on equipment
牐 repairs than will united states automakers because
牐 japanese equipment can be easily altered.
passage 38
營t was once believed that the brain was independent
爋f metabolic processes occurring elsewhere in the body.
營n recent studies, however, we have discovered that the
爌roduction and release in brain neurons of the neuro-
(5) transmitter serotonin (neurotransmitters are compounds
爐hat neurons use to transmit signals to other cells)
燿epend directly on the food that the bo
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 26 27 28 29 ady processes.
牐燨ur first studies sought to determine whether the
爄ncrease in serotonin observed in rats given a large injec-
(10)tion of the amino acid tryptophan might also occur after
爎ats ate meals that change tryptophan levels in the
燽lood. we found that, immediately after the rats began
爐o eat, parallel elevations occurred in blood tryptophan,
燽rain tryptophan, and brain serotonin levels. these find-
(15) ings suggested that the production and release of sero-
爐onin in brain neurons were normally coupled with
燽lood-tryptophan increases. in later studies we found
爐hat injecting insulin into a rat’s bloodstream also caused
爌arallel elevations in blood and brain tryptophan levels
(20) and in serotonin levels. we then decided to see whether
爐he secretion of the animal’s own insulin similarly affected
爏erotonin production. we gave the rats a carbohydrate-
containing meal that we knew would elicit insulin secre-
tion. as we had hypothesized, the blood tryptophan
(25) level and the concentrations of tryptophan
serotonin in the brain increased after the meal.
surprisingly, however, when we added a large
amount of protein to the meal, brain tryptophan and
serotonin levels fell. since protein contains tryptophan,
(30)爓hy should it depress brain tryptophan
...
levels? the
answer lies in the mechanism that provides blood tryp-
tophan to the brain cells. this same mechanism also
provides the brain cells with other amino acids found in
protein, such as tyrosine and leucine. the consumption
(35) of protein increases blood concentration of the other
amino acids much more, proportionately, than it does
that of tryptophan. the more protein in the meal, the
lower is the ratio of the resulting blood-tryptophan
concentration to the concentration of competing amino
(40) acids, and the more slowly is tryptophan provided
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 26 27 28 29 ato
the brain. thus the more protein in a meal, the less
serotonin subsequently produced and released.
1. which of the following titles best summarizes the
contents of the passage?
(a) neurotransmitters: their crucial function in
牐 cellular communication
(b) diet and survival: an old relationship reexamined
(c) the blood supply and the brain: a reciprocal
牐 dependence
(d) amino acids and neurotransmitters: the
牐 connection between serotonin levels and tyrosine
(e) the effects of food intake on the production and
牐 release of serotonin: some recent findings
2. according to the passage, the speed with which
爐ryptophan is provided to the brain cells of a rat varies
爓ith the
(a) amount of protein present in a meal
(b) concentration of serotonin in the brain before a meal
(c) concentration of leucine in the blood rather than on
牐 the concentration of tyrosine in the blood after a
牐 meal
(d) concentration of tryptophan in the brain before a
牐 meal
(e) number of serotonin-containing neurons present in
牐 the brain before a meal
3. according to the passage, when the authors began their
爁irst studies, they were aware that
(a) they would eventually need to design experiments
牐 that involved feeding rats high concentrations of
牐 protein
(b) tryptophan levels in the blood were difficult to
牐 monitor with accuracy
(c) serotonin levels increased after rats were fed meals
牐 rich in tryptophan
(d) there were many neurotransmitters whose
牐 production was dependent on metabolic processes
牐 elsewhere in the body.
(e) serotonin levels increased after rats were injected
牐爓ith a large amount of tryptophan
4. according to the passage, one reason that the authors
爂ave rats carbohydrates was to
(a) depress the rats’ tryptophan levels
(b) prevent the rats from contractin
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 26 27 28 29 ag diseases
(c) cause the rats to produce insulin
(d) demonstrate that insulin is the most important
牐 substance secreted by the body
(e) compare the effect of carbohydrates with the effect
牐 of proteins
5. according to the passage, the more protein a rat
燾onsumes, the lower will be the
(a) ratio of the rat’s blood-tryptophan concentration to
牐 the amount of serotonin produced and released in the
牐 rat’s brain
(b) ratio of the rat’s blood-tryptophan concentration to
牐 the concentration in its blood of the other amino
牐 acids contained in the protein
(c) ratio of the rat’s blood-tyrosine concentration to its
牐 blood-leucine concentration
(d) number of neurotransmitters of any kind that the rat
牐 will produce and release
(e) number of amino acids the rat’s blood will contain
6. the authors’ discussion of the “mechanism that provides
燽lood tryptophan to the brain cells” (lines 31-32) is
爉eant to
(a) stimulate further research studies
(b) summarize an area of scientific investigation
(c) help explain why a particular research finding was
牐 obtained
(d) provide supporting evidence for a controversial
牐 scientific theory
(e) refute the conclusions of a previously mentioned
牐 research study
7. according to the passage, an injection of insulin was
爉ost similar in its effect on rats to an injection of
(a) tyrosine
(b) leucine
(c) blood
(d) tryptophan
(e) protein
8. it can be inferred from the passage that which of the
爁ollowing would be least likely to be a potential
爏ource of aid to a patient who was not adequately
producing and releasing serotonin?
(a) meals consisting almost exclusively of protein
(b) meals consisting almost exclusively of
牐 carbohydrates
(c) meals that would elicit insulin secretion
(d) meals that had very low concentrati
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 2
...
1 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 aons of tyrosine
(e) meals that had very low concentrations of leucine
9. it can be inferred from the passage that the authors
爄nitially held which of the following hypotheses about
爓hat would happen when they fed large amounts of
爌rotein to rats?
(a) the rats’ brain serotonin levels would not decrease.
(b) the rats’ brain tryptophan levels would decrease
(c) the rats’ tyrosine levels would increase less quickly
牐 than would their leucine levels
(d) the rats would produce more insulin.
(e) the rats would produce neurotransmitters other than
牐 serotonin.
passage 39
牐牐燞istorians sometimes forget that history is conunu-
ally being made and experienced before it is studied,
interpreted, and read. these latter activities have their
牐爋wn history, of course, which may impinge in unex-
(5)爌ected ways on public events. it is difficult to predict
when “new pasts” will overturn established historical
interpretations and change the course of history.
牐 in the fall of 1954, for example, c. vann woodward
delivered a lecture series at the university of virginia
(10) which challenged the prevailling dogma concerning the
history, continuity, and uniformity of racial segregation
in the south. he argued that the jim crow laws of the
late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries not only
codified traditional practice but also were a determined
(15) effort to erase the considerable progress made by black
people during and after reconstruction in the 1870’s.
this revisionist view of jim crow legislation grew in
part from the research that woodward had done for the
naacp legal campaign during its preparation for
(20) brown v. board of education. the supreme court had
issued its ruling in this epochal desegregation case a few
months before woodward’s lectures.
牐燭he lectures were soon publish
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 26 27 28 29 aed as a book. the
牐燬trange career of jim crow. ten years later, in a
(25) preface to the second revised edition. woodward
confessed with ironic modesty that the first edition
“had begun to suffer under some of the handicaps that
might be expected in a history of the american revolu-
tion published in 1776.” that was a bit like hearing
(30)thomas paine apologize for the timing of his pamphlet
common sense, which had a comparable impact.
although common sense also had a mass readership.
paine had intended to reach and inspire: he was not a
historian, and thus not concerned with accuracy or the
(35) dangers of historical anachronism. yet, like paine,
woodward had an unerring sense of the revolutionary
moment, and of how historical evidence could under-
mine the mythological tradition that was crushing the
dreams of new social possibilities. martin luther king,
(40) jr.. testified to the profound effect of the strange
career of jim crow on the civil rights movement by
praising the book and quoting it frequently.
1. the “new pasts” mentioned in line 6 can best be
described as the
(a) occurrence of events extremely similar to past
牐 events
(b) history of the activities of studying, interpreting, and
牐 reading new historical writing
(c) change in people’s understanding of the past due to
牐 more recent historical writing
(d) overturning of established historical interpretations
牐 by politically motivated politicians
(e) difficulty of predicting when a given historical
牐 interpretation will be overturned
2. it can be inferred from the passage that the “prevailling
燿ogma” (line 10) held that
(a) jim crow laws were passed to give legal status to
牐 well-established discriminatory practices in the
牐 south
(b) jim crow laws were passed to establish order and
牐 uniformity in 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 26 27 28 29 ae discriminatory practices of
牐 different southern states.
(c) jim crow laws were passed to erase the social gains
牐 that black people had achieved since reconstruction
(d) the continuity of racial segregation in the south was
牐 disrupted by passage of jim crow laws
(e) the jim crow laws of the late nineteenth and early
牐 twentieth centuries were passed to reverse the effect
牐 of earlier jim crow laws
3. which of the following is the best example of writing
爐hat is likely to be subject to the kinds of “handicaps”
爎eferred to in line 27?
(a) a his
...
tory of an auto manufacturing plant written by牐牐燼n employee during an autobuying boom
(b) a critique of a statewide school-desegregation plan
牐 written by an elementary school teacher in that state
(c) a newspaper article assessing the historical
牐 importance of a united states president written
牐 shortly after the president has taken office
(d) a scientific paper describing the benefits of a
牐 certain surgical technique written by the surgeon
牐 who developed the technique
(e) diary entries narrating the events of a battle written
牐 by a soldier who participated in the battle
4. the passage suggests that c. vann woodward and
燭homas paine were similar in all of the following ways
燛xcept:
(a) both had works published in the midst of important
牐 historical events.
(b) both wrote works that enjoyed widespread
牐 popularity.
(c) both exhibited an understanding of the relevance of
牐牐爃istorical evidence to contemporary issues.
(d) the works of both had a significant effect on events
牐牐爁ollowing their publication.
(e) both were able to set aside worries about historical
牐 anachronism in order to reach and inspire.
5. the attitude of the author of the passage toward the
爓ork of c. vann woodward is best described as one of
(a) respectful
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 26 27 28 29 aregard
(b) qualified approbation
(c) implied skepticism
(d) pointed criticism
(e) fervent advocacy
6. which of the following best describes the new idea
爀xpressed by c. vann woodward in his university of
燰irginia lectures in 1954?
(a) southern racial segregation was continuous and
牐 uniform.
(b) black people made considerable progress only after
牐 reconstruction.
(c) jim crow legislation was conventional in nature.
(d) jim crow laws did not go as far in codifying
牐 traditional practice as they might have.
(e) jim crow laws did much more than merely reinforce
牐 a tradition of segregation.
passage 40
joseph glarthaar’s forged in battle is not the first excel-
爈ent study of black soldiers and their white officers in the
燙ivil war, but it uses more soldiers’ letters and diaries-
爄ncluding rare material from black soldiers-and concen-
(5) rates more intensely on black-white relations in black
爎egiments than do any of its predecessors. glathaar’s title
爀xpresses his thesis: loyalty, friendship, and respect among
燱hite officers and black soldiers were fostered by the
爉utual dangers they faced in combat.
(10 ) glarthaar accurately describes the government’s discrim-
爄natory treatment of black soldiers in pay, promotion, medi
燾al care, and job assignments, appropriately emphasizing
爐he campaign by black soldiers and their officers to get the
opportunity to fight. that chance remained limited through
(15) out the war by army policies that kept most black units
serving in rear-echelon assignments and working in labor
battalions. thus, while their combat death rate was only
one-third that of white units, their mortality rate from
disease, a major killer in his war, was twice as great.
(20) despite these obstacles, the courage and effectiveness of
several black units in combat w
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 26 27 28 29 aon increasing respect from
initially skeptical or hostile white soldiers. as one white
officer put it, “they have fought their way into the respect
of all the army.”
(25) in trying to demonstrate the magnitude of this attitudi-
爊al change, however, glarthaar seems to exaggerate the
爌rewar racism of the white men who became officers in
燘lack regiments. “prior to the war,” he writes of these
men, “virtually all of them held powerful racial prejudices.”
(30) while perhaps true of those officers who joined black
爑nits for promotion or other self-serving motives, this state-
牐爉ent misrepresents the attitudes of the many abolitionists
牐爓ho became officers in black regiments. having spent
牐爕ears fighting against the race prejudice endemic in ameri-
(35)燾an society; they participated eagerly in this military exper-
牐爄ment, which they hoped would help african americans
achieve freedom and postwar civil equality. by current
standards of racial egalitarianism, these men’s paternalism
toward african americans was racist. but to call their
(40)爁eelings “powerful racial prejudices” is to indulge in
generational chauvinism-to judge past eras by present
standards.
1. the passage as a whole can best
...
be characterized as which of
爐he following?
(a) an evaluation of a scholarly study
(b) a description of an attitudinal change
(c) a discussion of an analytical defect
(d) an analysis of the causes of a phenomenon
(e) an argument in favor of revising a view
2. according to the author, which of the following is true of
燝larthaar’s forged in battle compared with previous studies
爋n the same topic?
(a) it is more reliable and presents a more complete picture
牐 of the historical events on which it concentrates than do
牐 previous studies.
(b) it uses more of a particular kind of source material and
牐 focuses more clos
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 26 27 28 29 aely on a particular aspect of the topic
牐 than do previous studies.
(c) it contains some unsupported generalizations, but it
牐 rightly emphasizes a theme ignored by most previous
牐 studies.
(d) it surpasses previous studies on the same topic in that it
牐 accurately describes conditions often neglected by those
牐 studies.
(e) it makes skillful use of supporting evidence to illustrate a
牐 subtle trend that previous studies have failed to detect.
3. the author implies that the title of glatthaar’s book refers
爏pecifically to which of the following?
(a) the sense of pride and accomplishment that black
牐牐爏oldiers increasingly felt as a result of their civil war
牐牐爀xperiences
(b) the civil equality that african americans achieved after
牐 the civil war, partly as a result of their use of
牐 organizational skills honed by combat
(c) the changes in discriminatory army policies that were
牐牐爉ade as a direct result of the performance of black
牐牐燾ombat units during the civil war
(d) the improved interracial relations that were formed by
牐牐爐he races’ facing of common dangers and their waging
牐牐爋f a common fight during the civil war
(e) the standards of racial egalitarianism that came to be
牐 adopted as a result of white civil war veterans’
牐 repudiation of the previous racism
4. the passage mentions which of the following as an
爄mportant theme that receives special emphasis in
燝larthaar’s book?
(a) the attitudes of abolitionist officers in black units
(b) the struggle of black units to get combat assignments
(c) the consequences of the poor medical care received by
牐 black soldiers
(d) the motives of officers serving in black units
(e) the discrimination that black soldiers faced when trying
牐牐爁or promotions
5. the passage suggests that which of the following was true of
燘lack units’ d
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 26 27 28 29 aisease mortality rates in the civil war?
(a) they were almost as high as the combat mortality rates
牐牐爋f white units.
(b) they resulted in part from the relative inexperience of
牐牐爐hese units when in combat.
(c) they were especially high because of the nature of these
牐 units’ usual duty assignments.
(d) they resulted in extremely high overall casualty rates in
牐 black combat units.
(e) they exacerbated the morale problems that were caused
牐 by the army’s discriminatory policies.
6. the author of the passage quotes the white officer in lines
23-24 primarily in order to provide evidence to support the
燾ontention that
(a) virtually all white officers initially had hostile attitudes
牐牐爐oward black soldiers
(b) black soldiers were often forced to defend themselves
牐 from physical attacks initiated by soldiers from white
牐 units
(c) the combat performance of black units changed the
牐 attitudes of white soldiers toward black soldiers
(d) white units paid especially careful attention to the
牐 performance of black units in battle
(e) respect in the army as a whole was accorded only to
牐 those units, whether black or white, that performed well
牐 in battle
7. which of the following best describes the kind of error
燼ttributed to glarthaar in lines 25-28?
(a) insisting on an unwarranted distinction between two
牐 groups of individuals in order to render an argument
牐 concerning them internally consistent
(b) supporting an argument in favor of a given interpretation
牐 of a situation with evidence that is not particularly
牐 relevant to the situation
(c) presenting a distorted view of the motives of certain
牐 individuals in order to provide grounds for a negative
牐 evaluation of their actions
(d) describing the conditions prevailing before a given
...
牐 event in such a way that the contrast w
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 26 27 28 29 aith those
牐 prevailing after the event appears more striking than it
牐 actually is
(e) asserting that a given event is caused by another event
牐 merely because the other event occurred before the given
牐 event occurred
8. which of the following actions can best be described as
爄ndulging in “generational chauvinism” (lines 40-41) as that
爌ractice is defined in the passage?
(a) condemning a present-day monarch merely because
牐 many monarchs have been tyrannical in the past.
(b) clinging to the formal standards of politeness common
牐 in one’s youth to such a degree that any relaxation of
牐 those standards is intolerable
(c) questioning the accuracy of a report written by an
牐 employee merely because of the employee’s gender.
(d) deriding the superstitions accepted as “science” in past
牐 eras without acknowledging the prevalence of irrational
牐 beliefs today.
(e) labeling a nineteenth-century politician as “corrupt”
for engaging in once-acceptable practices considered
牐 intolerable today.
passage 41
營t was once assumed that all living things could be
燿ivided into two fundamental and exhaustive categories. multicellular plants and animals, as well as many unicellu-
lar organisms, are eukaryotic-their large, complex cells
(5) have a well-formed nucles and many organelles. on the
爋ther hand, the true bacteria are prokaryotic cell, which
燼re simple and lack a nucleus. the distinction between
爀ukaryotes and bacteria, initially defined in terms of
爏ubcellular structures visible with a microscope, was ulti-
(10) mately carried to the molecular level. here prokaryotic and
eukaryotic cells have many features in common. for
爄nstance, they translate genetic information into proteins
燼ccording to the same type of genetic coding. but even
爓here the molecular processes are the same, the details 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 26 27 28 29 a(15) the two forms are different and characteristic of the respec-
tive forms. for example, the amino acid sequences of vari-
ous enzymes tend to be typically prokaryotic or eukaryotic.
燭he differences between the groups and the similarities
爓ithin each group made it seem certain to most biologists
(20) that the tree of life had only two stems. moreover, argu-
ments pointing out the extent of both structural and func-
tional differences between eukaryotes and true bacteria
convinced many biologists that the precursors of the
eukaryotes must have diverged from the common
(25) ancestor before the bacteria arose.
燗lthough much of this picture has been sustained by
more recent research, it seems fundamentally wrong in one
respect. among the bacteria, there are organisms that are
significantly different both from the cells of eukaryotes and
(30) from the true bacteria, and it now appears that there are
爐hree stems in the tree of life. new techniques for deter-
mining the molecular sequence of the rna of organisms
have produced evolutionary information about the degree
to which organisms are related, the time since they diverged
(35) from a common ancestor, and the reconstruction of ances-
tral versions of genes. these techniques have strongly
suggested that although the true bacteria indeed form a牐牐
large coherent group, certain other bacteria, the archaebac-
teria, which are also prokaryotes and which resemble true
(40) bacteria, represent a distinct evolutionary branch that
far antedates the common ancestor of all true bacteria.
1. the passage is primarily concerned with
(a) detailing the evidence that has led most biologists to
牐 replace the trichotomous picture of living organisms
牐 with a dichotomous one
(b) outlining the factors that have contributed to the
牐 current hypothesis concerning the number of basic
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 26 27 28 29 a
牐 categories of living organisms
(c) evaluating experiments that have resulted in proof
牐 that the prokaryotes are more ancient than had been
牐 expected.
(d) summarizing the differences in structure and
牐 function found among true bacteria, archaebacteria,
牐 and eukaryotes
(e) formulating a hypothesis about the mechanisms of
牐 evolution that resulted in the ancestors of the
牐 prokaryotes
2. according to the passage, investigations of eukaryotic
and prokaryotic cells at
[7] ...
the molecular level supported
the conclusion that
(a) most eukaryotic organisms are unicellular
(b) complex cells have well-formed nuclei
(c) prokaryotes and cukaryotes form two fundamental
牐 categories
(d) subcellular structures are visible with a microscope
(e) prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells have similar
牐 enzymes
3. according to the passage, which of the following
爏tatements about the two-category hypothesis is likely to
燽e true?
(a) it is promising because it explains the presence of true
牐 bacteria-like organisms such as organelles in
牐 eukaryotic cells.
(b) it is promising because it explains why eukaryotic
牐 cells, unlike prokaryotic cells, tend to form
牐 multicellular organisms.
(c) it is flawed because it fails to account for the great
牐 variety among eukaryotic organisms.
(d) it is flawed because it fails to account for the
牐 similarity between prokaryotes and eukaryotes.
(e) it is flawed because it fails to recognize an important
牐 distinction among prokaryotes.
4. it can be inferred from the passage that which of the
爁ollowing have recently been compared in order to
燾larify the fundamental classifications of living things?
(a) the genetic coding in true bacteria and that in other
牐牐爌rokaryotes
(b) the organelle structures of archaebacteria, true
牐牐燽acteria, and eukaryote
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 26 27 28 29 as
(c) the cellular structures of multicellular organisms
牐牐燼nd unicellular organisms
(d) the molecular sequences in eukaryotic rna, true
牐 bacterial rna, and archaebacterial rna
(e) the amino acid sequences in enzymes of various
牐 eukaryotic species and those of enzymes in
牐 archaebecterial species
5. if the “new techniques” mentioned in line 31 were
燼pplied in studies of biological classifications other than
燽acteria, which of the following is most likely?
(a) some of those classifications will have to be
牐 reevaluated.
(b) many species of bacteria will be reclassified
(c) it will be determined that there are four main
牐 categories of living things rather than three.
(d) it will be found that true bacteria are much older
牐 than eukaryotes.
(e) it will be found that there is a common ancestor of
牐 the eukaryotes, archaebacteria, and true bacteria.
6. according to the passage, researchers working under the
爐wo-category hypothesis were correct in thinking that
(a) prokaryotes form a coherent group
(b) the common ancestor of all living things had complex
牐 properties
(c) eukaryotes are fundamentally different from true bacteria
(d) true bacteria are just as complex as eukaryotes
(e) ancestral versions of eukaryotic genes functioned
牐 differently from their modern counterparts.
7. all of the following statements are supported by the passage
燛xcept:
(a) true bacteria form a distinct evolutionary group.
(b) archaebacteria are prokaryotes that resemble true
牐 bacteria.
(c) true bacteria and eukaryotes employ similar types of
牐 genetic coding.
(d) true bacteria and eukaryotes are distinguishable at the
牐牐爏ubcellular level.
(e) amino acid sequences of enzymes are uniform for
牐 eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms.
8. the author’s attitude toward the view that livin
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 26 27 28 29 ag things are
燿ivided into three categories is best described as one of
(a) tentative acceptance
(b) mild skepticism
(c) limited denial
(d) studious oriticism
(e) whole hearted endorsement
passage 42
牐燛xcess inventory, a massive problem for many busi-
爊esses, has several causes, some of which are unavoidable.
燨verstocks may accumulate through production overruns or
爀rrors. certain styles and colors prove unpopular. with
(5) some products-computers and software, toys, and
燽ooks-last year’s models are difficult to move even at牐
爃uge discounts. occasionally the competition introduces a
燽etter product. but in many cases the public’s buying tastes
爏imply change, leaving a manufacturer or distributor with
(10 ) thousands (or millions) of items that the fickle public no
longer wants.
牐 one common way to dispose of this merchandise is to
sell it to a liquidator, who buys as cheaply as possible and
then resells the merchandise through catalogs, discount
(15) stores, and other outlets. however, liquidators may pay less
for the merchandise than it cost to make it. another way to
dispose of exce
[8] ...
ss inventory is to dump it. the corporation
takes a straight cost write-off on its taxes and hauls the
merchandise to a landfill. although it is hard to believe,
(20) there is a sort of convoluted logic to this approach. it is
perfectly legal, requires little time or preparation on the
company’s part, and solves the problem quickly. the draw-
back is the remote possibility of getting caught by the news
media. dumping perfectly useful products can turn into a
(25) public relations nightmare. children living in poverty are
freezing and xyz company has just sent 500 new snow-
suits to the local dump. parents of young children are
barely getting by and qps company dumps 1,000 cases of
disposable di
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 26 27 28 29 aapers because they have slight imperfections.
(30) the managers of these companies are not deliberately
wasteful; they are simply unaware of all their alternatives.
營n 1976 the internal revenue service provided a tangible
爄ncentive for businesses to contribute their products to char-
爄ty. the new tax law allowed corporations to deduct the
(35)cost of the product donated plus half the difference
燽etween cost and fair market selling price, with the proviso
爐hat deductions cannot exceed twice cost. thus, the federal
爂overnment sanctions-indeed, encourages-an above-cost
爁ederal tax deduction for companies that donate inventory
爐o charity.
1. the author mentions each of the following as a cause of
爀xcess inventory except
(a) production of too much merchandise
(b) inaccurate forecasting of buyers’ preferences
(c) unrealistic pricing policies
(d) products’ rapid obsolescence
(e) availability of a better product
2. the passage suggests that which of the following is a
kind of product that a liquidator who sells to discount
stores would be unlikely to wish to acquire?
(a) furniture
(b) computers
(c) kitchen equipment
(d) baby-care products
(e) children’s clothing
3. the passage provides information that supports which of
爐he following statements?
(a) excess inventory results most often from
牐牐爄nsufficient market analysis by the manufacturer.
(b) products with slight manufacturing defects may
牐 contribute to excess inventory.
(c) few manufacturers have taken advantage of the
牐 changes in the federal tax laws.
(d) manufacturers who dump their excess inventory are牐
牐 often caught and exposed by the news media.
(e) most products available in discount stores have
牐 come from manufacturers’ excess-inventory stock.
4. the author cites the examples in lines 25-29 most爌robably
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 26 27 28 29 ain order to illustrate
(a) the fiscal irresponsibility of dumping as a policy for
牐 dealing with excess inventory
(b) the waste-management problems that dumping new
牐 products creates
(c) the advantages to the manufacturer of dumping as a
牐 policy
(d) alternatives to dumping explored by different
牐 companies
(e) how the news media could portray dumping to the
牐 detriment of the manufacturer’s reputation
5. by asserting that manufacturers “are simply unaware”
(line 31), the author suggests which of the following?
(a) manufacturers might donate excess inventory to charity rather than dump it if they knew about the provision in the federal tax code.
(b) the federal government has failed to provide
牐 sufficient encouragement to manufacturers to make
牐 use of advantageous tax policies.
(c) manufacturers who choose to dump excess
牐 inventory are not aware of the possible effects on
牐 their reputation of media coverage of such dumping.
(d) the manufacturers of products disposed of by
牐 dumping are unaware of the needs of those people
牐 who would find the products useful.
(e) the manufacturers who dump their excess inventory
牐 are not familiar with the employment of liquidators
牐 to dispose of overstock.
6. the information in the passage suggests that which of
the following, if true, would make donating excess inv
entory to charity less attractive to manufacturers than
dumping?
(a) the costs of getting the inventory to the charitable
牐 destination are greater than the above-cost tax
牐 deduction.
(b) the news media give manufacturers’ charitable
牐 contributions the same amount of coverage that they
牐 give dumping.
(c) no straight-cost tax benefit can be claimed for items
牐 that are dumped.
(d) t
[9] ...
he fair-market value of an item in excess inventory
牐牐爄s 1.5 times its co
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 26 27 28 29 ast.
(e) items end up as excess inventory because of a
牐 change in the public’s preferences.
7. information in the passage suggests that one reason
爉anufacturers might take advantage of the tax provision
爉entioned in the last paragraph is that
(a) there are many kinds of products that cannot be
牐 legally dumped in a landfill
(b) liquidators often refuse to handle products with
牐 slight imperfections
(c) the law allows a deduction in excess of the cost of
牐 manufacturing the product
(d) media coverage of contributions of excess-inventory
牐 products to charity is widespread and favorable
(e) no tax deduction is available for products dumped or
牐 sold to a liquidator
passage 43
牐燞istorians of women’s labor in the united states at first
爈argely disregarded the story of female service workers
-women earning wages in occupations such as salesclerk.
燿omestic servant, and office secretary. these historians
(5) focused instead on factory work, primarily because it
seemed so different from traditional, unpaid “women’s
work” in the home, and because the underlying economic
forces of industrialism were presumed to be gender-blind
and hence emancipatory in effect. unfortunately, emanci-
(10) pation has been less profound than expected, for not even
industrial wage labor has escaped continued sex segre-
gation in the workplace.
to explain this unfinished revolution in the status of
women, historians have recently begun to emphasize the
( 15) way a prevailing definition of femininity often etermines
the kinds of work allocated to women, even when such
allocation is inappropriate to new conditions. for instance,
early textile-mill entrepreneurs, in justifying women’s
employment in wage labor, made much of the assumption
(20) that women were by nature skillful at detailed tasks and
pa
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 26 27 28 29 atient in carrying out repetitive chores; the mill owners
thus imported into the new industrial order hoary stereo-
types associated with the homemaking activities they
presumed to have been the purview of women. because
(25) women accepted the more unattractive new industrial tasks
more readily than did men, such jobs came to be regarded
as female jobs. and employers, who assumed that women’s
“real” aspirations were for marriage and family life.
declined to pay women wages commensurate with those of
(30) men. thus many lower-skilled, lower-paid, less secure jobs
came to be perceived as “female.”
牐燤ore remarkable than the origin has been the persistence
爋f such sex segregation in twentieth-century industry. once
燼n occupation came to be perceived as “female.” employers
(35) showed surprisingly little interest in changing that
爌erception, even when higher profits beckoned. and despite
爐he urgent need of the united states during the second
燱orld war to mobilize its human resources fully, job
爏egregation by sex characterized even the most important
40) war industries. moreover, once the war ended, employers
爍uickly returned to men most of the “male” jobs that
爓omen had been permitted to master.
1. according to the passage, job segregation by sex in the
燯nited states was
(a) greatly diminlated by labor mobilization during the
牐 second world war
(b) perpetuated by those textile-mill owners who argued
牐 in favor of women’s employment in wage labor
(c) one means by which women achieved greater job
牐牐爏ecurity
(d) reluctantly challenged by employers except when
牐 the economic advantages were obvious
(e) a constant source of labor unrest in the young textile
牐 industry
2. according to the passage, historians of women’s labor
爁ocused on factory work as a more promising area of
爎esearch than
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 26 27 28 29 aservice-sector work because factory work
(a) involved the payment of higher wages
(b) required skill in detailed tasks
(c) was assumed to be less characterized by sex
牐 segregation
(d) was more readily accepted by women than by men
(e) fitted the economic dynamic of industrialism better
3. it can be inferred from the passage that early historians
爋f women’s labor in the united states paid little
燼ttention
[10] ...