Verbal Questions

Sample Verbal Questions: Directions for next 5 Verbal questions: For each verbal question in this section, select the best of the answer choices given.

1. Recent statistics make it seem unlikely that the total consumption of electricity determines its cost to individual consumers. Recent increases in total consumption, especially during the hot summer months, have sometimes been accompanied by a decrease in the cost per unit and at other times by an increase.
Which of the following positions is best supported by the information presented above?
(A) It must be the case that the cost of electricity to consumers is what determines the total consumption.
(B) Even though a correlation exists between the total consumption of electricity and its cost to consumers, no causal relation exists.
(C) Further investigation into the way these statistics were gathered is certainly called for.
(D) The cost of electricity depends upon something other than the total consumption of electricity.
(E) The cost-per-unit of electricity to consumers is dependent on the total electricity consumption.

2. In a nature reserve in India, people are sometimes attacked by tigers. It is believed that the tigers will only attack people from behind. So for the past few years many workers in the reserve have started wearing masks depicting a human face on the back of their heads. While many area residents remain skeptical, no worker wearing one of these masks has yet been attacked by a tiger.
Which of the statements below, if true, would best support the argument of those who advocate the use of the mask?
(A) Many workers in the nature reserve who do not wear the masks have been attacked recently by tigers.
(B) Workers in other nature reserves who wear similar masks have not been attacked recently by tigers.
(C) No tigers have been spotted on the nature reserve in recent years.
(D) Many of the workers who wear the masks also sing while they work in order to frighten away any tigers in the area.
(E) The tigers have often been observed attacking small deer from in front rather than from behind.

3. Since Arlene Hodges was installed as president of the Caralis corporation, profits have increased by an average of 11 percent per year. During the tenure of her predecessor, the corporation’s profits averaged a yearly increase of only 7 percent. Obviously Ms. Hodges’ aggressive marketing efforts have caused the acceleration in the growth of Caralis’ profits.
Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the conclusion drawn above?
(A) The corporation’s new manufacturing plant, constructed in the past year, has resulted in a 15 percent increase in production capacity.
(B) For each year of Ms. Hodges’ presidency, the corporation’s financial records show an increase in profits over the previous year.
(C) During the tenure of Ms. Hodges’ predecessor, the corporation began an advertising campaign aimed at capturing consumers between the ages of 24 and 35.
(D) Since Ms. Hodges became president, the corporation has switched the primary focus of its advertising from print ads to radio and television commercials.
(E) Just before he was replaced, Ms. Hodges’ predecessor directed the acquisition of a rival corporation, which has nearly doubled the corporation’s yearly revenues.

4. Although recently introduced with a wave of publicity, combined audio/video receivers are proving tough to sell. As a result, the manufacturers keep advertising, and offering handsome discounts. What the manufacturers have yet to see is that the public’s reluctance isn’t due to the price of the product; the public is still debating the even more fundamental question of ——–.
Which of the following best completes the passage above?
(A) whether the product is worth its price
(B) whether there is a use for such a product
(C) whether the models will soon become obsolete
(D) whether the uses for such a product outweigh its high cost
(E) whether more stylish models will appear in the future

5. Although statistics and definitions are inexact, educated guesses put the number of refugees worldwide at well over 10 million. The overwhelming majority prefer to return to their native land than to emigrate to a foreign one. The millions of refugees from Afghanistan are sufficient proof: Despite the toll of the war and subsequent fighting have taken on their country, very few have applied for permission to emigrate.
Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument above?
(A) Most refugees are as reluctant to emigrate as are the refugees from
Afghanistan.
(B) The refugees from Afghanistan fled what they considered political oppression rather than economic disaster.
(C) Most of the children born to refugees prefer to remain in their adoptive country rather than return to the land their parents left.
(D) Although refugees flee their homes for a variety of different reasons, the overwhelming majority are looking for improved living conditions.
(E) The number of refugees worldwide has risen dramatically over the last ten years.

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