PRACTICE TEST 1—PART 1
1. Part 1—Verbal
QSTRU. Although S could possibly follow the Topic Sentence, Q is the better choice because it bridges the gap between
urban and rural areas in the Topic Sentence and urban and suburban areas in S. S then follows, as it explains why climatic
differences occur. T follows up with the linking phrase “these differences” and identifies cause number one—high
concentrations of pollutants. R identifies cause number two—construction of artificial structures. Finally, U concludes by
providing examples of how “artificial structures” lead to climactic changes.
1.
QRUTS. Q best follows the Topic Sentence, as it provides details about the conspirators mentioned in the Topic Sentence. R,
U, and T provide details in chronological order. “They” in R refers to “conspirators” in Q. “The gunpowder” in U refers to
the “twenty barrels” in R. T wraps up the details, and S summarizes the whole incident.
2.
QUTSR. The keyword “generally” in the Topic Sentence indicates that an exception is coming next, and Q provides that: The
author is saying that in spite of the fact that computers are generally only as good as their programmers, progress has been
made in artificial intelligence (i.e., in developing computers that can “think” for themselves). The linking phrase “this
progress” indicates that U must come next. T follows by noting what “proponents...believe,” S provides a specific example,
and R wraps with a counterargument.
3.
USQRT. U provides an example of a place (the desert) with sporadic rain. S points out that “making the most of scant
resources” is required. What would you predict next? Some description of how desert plants “make the most of” meager
rainfall, right? Q connects with this theme—plants maximize resources by having short life cycles. R illustrates one effect of
this short rainfall (a short period of bloom). T concludes the paragraph by expanding on this point, explaining that the more
barren the desert, the more spectacular this period of bloom is.
4.
TUSRQ. The phrase “it is a common belief” in the Topic Sentence indicates that a contrast will follow. T provides the goods
by stating the opposite (i.e., that great art can not always be born from experience if many great writers had limited
knowledge of the world). What would you provide next? An example or two, right? U provides an example of a writer who
fits this category—Jane Austen. S describes her accomplishment. R provides a second example—Robert Louis Stevenson. Q
wraps up by drawing a lesson from these authors’ achievements.
5.
B
This is an if/then statement—whenever Kunio rings the bell, both Rita and Omar start playing their instruments. The golden
rule with if/then questions is that the only deduction that must be true is the “contrapositive”: If Kunio’s bell ringing always
results in neither Rita nor Omar joining in, you can be sure that if Rita and Omar is playing, then Kunio isn’t ringing his bell.
This makes (B) the correct answer.
11.
12. G
