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GRE Practice Test

admin — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:20:12 +0000

1. The candidate announced, to the _______ of her devoted campaigners, that unless her performance in the polls improved she would _______ the race.

(A) consternation .. withdraw from
(B) bewilderment .. abstain from
(C) mortification .. continue
(D) delight .. constrain
(E) awe .. renounce

2. A large aquarium contains 20 more guppies than angelfish. If the ratio of angelfish to guppies is 4 : 5, what is the total number of guppies and angelfish in the aquarium?

(A) 200
(B) 180
(C) 100
(D) 54
(E) 36

3. Company regulations prohibit employees from smoking in the company cafeteria. Susan is an employee of the company. Thus, Susan does not smoke in the cafeteria.

Which of the following is an unstated premise of the argument above that is necessary to make the conclusion valid?

(A) Susan has never smoked in the cafeteria.
(B) Company regulations prohibit Susan from smoking in the cafeteria.
(C) Susan obeys her company’s regulations.
(D) Company employees usually do not do what they are prohibited from doing.
(E) Company employees have never been allowed to smoke in the cafeteria.

Answers and Explanations

1. The correct answer is (A). Sentence completions are meant to test your intuitive grasp of the structure and logic of sentences. Keywords usually indicate either opposition or similarity. That is, the keyword will indicate that the missing word is either opposite or like another word in the sentence. In this example, the keyword unless indicates opposition: in this case, opposition to continuing in the race. The unless tells us that unless something good happens to her performance, she’ll go in the opposite direction. That is, she’ll withdraw from the race. Because we know her campaigners are devoted, we can imagine that they would feel consternation at her withdrawing. Therefore, the answer is (A). You might have been tempted by (B), but “abstain from” isn’t quite right, as it would indicate that she isn’t in the race already.

2. The correct answer is (B). This is an example of a problem-solving question. For every 4 guppies there are 5 angelfish: it’s a ratio. Since there can’t be a fraction of a fish, the total number of angelfish and guppies must be an integer multiple of 9. For every 9 fish, there is 1 more guppies than angelfish. Since you are given that there are 20 more guppies than angelfish in the whole aquarium, the total number of guppies and angelfish is equal to 20 times 9 = 180.

3. The correct answer is (C). This is an example of a logical reasoning question. Questions that ask you to find an unstated premise, or assumption, are testing your ability to fill in missing steps in an argument. If you get stuck on a question like this, use the denial test: Negate each answer choice as you read it. The correct answer, when it’s been negated, will turn the argument into gibberish. The negation of the correct answer must be inconsistent with the argument. Here, the answer is (C). Let’s try negating (C). Let’s pretend that Susan DOESN’T obey her company’s regulations. Then the company’s regulations would have no effect on her, and we’d have no reason to believe that she doesn’t smoke in the cafeteria. That is, the author’s evidence about the company’s regulations wouldn’t add up to the conclusion that “Susan does not smoke in the cafeteria.”

Official Site of GRE

admin — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 15:15:27 +0000

The official site for is

http://www.ets.org

GRE Guide

admin — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 08:19:32 +0000

What is the GRE and how is it structured?
The Graduate Record Examinations (GRE) General Test is a multiple-choice admission test for applicants to graduate schools. The test is administered by the Educational Testing Service (ETS), under the sponsorship of the Graduate Record Examinations Board. The GRE is a computer-adaptive test (CAT), and consists of three scored sections:

Two essays to be written on the computer: Analysis of an Argument and Analysis of an Issue (introduced in October 2002)
One 45-minute, 28-question Math section: Problem Solving and Quantitative Comparison
One 30-minute, 30-question Verbal section: Sentence Completions, Antonyms, Analogies, and Reading Comprehension

In addition, there may be a marketing survey, or one or two experimental sections, which can be Verbal or Quantitative.

What is a CAT and how does it work?
A CAT is a computer-adaptive test, whose software calculates your score based on the number of questions you answer correctly, the difficulty of the questions you answer, and the number of questions you complete. When you take the GRE CAT, you’ll begin each section with a medium-level question and a score of 500. If you answer the question correctly, the computer will raise your score and give you a harder question. If you answer the question incorrectly, your score will decrease and you’ll be given an easier question. The process repeats for each question in the section, to arrive at your final score for that section.

How is the GRE scored?
Each of the multiple-choice sections is scored on a scale of 200 to 800. The average scores for the GRE are about 470 for Verbal and 570 for Quantitative. The Analytical Writing section is scored on a scale of 0 to 6.

How important are my GRE scores?
Schools vary tremendously in the weights they place on the different factors in the admission process, so be sure to contact the specific schools to which you are applying in order to determine their unique requirements. Some programs weight GRE scores very heavily, and/or have a minimum score for applicants, while other programs consider GRE scores more of a formality. It is important to note that your GRE scores are a major factor in determining your eligibility for financial aid.

Can I cancel my scores?
Yes. You can cancel your scores immediately after you take the GRE. This is the only time you can cancel your scores. Unfortunately, you must make the decision to cancel at the testing center before you see your scores. In addition, the fact that you cancelled your scores will be noted on your official GRE score report.

How do I pick a test date?
First find out the application deadlines for the graduate schools to which you are applying, then work backwards from your earliest deadline. Build some extra time into your planning process for unexpected delays because you can only take the GRE once per calendar month. Keep in mind that it can take as long as four weeks for your official scores to arrive at your designated schools. The GRE is offered at testing centers almost every day. Call your local center for details and to book your test. While in theory you could sign up for the GRE with only two days’ notice, don’t depend upon this luxury. Call at least one month prior to your desired test date.

What fees are associated with the GRE?
The fee to take the GRE is $115 within the United States, some U.S. Territories, and Puerto Rico. The fee is $140 in all other locations.

What are the GRE Subject Tests?
The GRE Subject Tests are intended to measure your knowledge of specific subject matter. Subject Tests are available in eight disciplines: biochemistry, cell and molecular biology; biology; chemistry; computer science; literature in English; mathematics; physics; and psychology. These tests are given in paper-and-pencil format three times per year, in November, December, and April.

These tests are given separately from the GRE General Test and require additional fees. Check with the graduate schools to which you are applying to determine whether any of these extra tests are required.