31. For too long, school cafeterias, in an effort to provide food they thought would be appetizing to young people, mimicked fast-food restaurants, serving items such as burgers and fries, pizza, hot dogs, and fried chicken. School districts nationwide are now addressing this trend by incorporating some simple and inexpensive options that will make cafeteria lunches healthier while still appealing to students.
This paragraph best supports the statement that
young people would rather eat in a school cafeteria than a local fast-food restaurant.
school lunch menus are becoming healthier due to major new initiatives on the part of school districts.
it is possible to make school lunches both healthier and appealing without spending a great deal of money and undertaking a radical transformation.
vegetarian lunch options would greatly improve the nutritional value of the school lunch program.
Option “D” is correct. The final sentence of the paragraph supports choice d. The other choices are not supported by the passage. Choice c may seem correct at first, but the paragraph states that the new initiatives are simple and inexpensive, not major. Choice e might seem to represent a truth, but vegetarian options are not discussed in this paragraph.
32. Forest fires feed on decades-long accumulations of debris and leap from the tops of young trees into the branches of mature trees. Fires that jump from treetop to treetop can be devastating. In old-growth forests, however, the shade of mature trees keeps thickets of small trees from sprouting, and the lower branches of mature trees are too high to catch the flames.
This paragraph best supports the statement that
forest fire damage is reduced in old-growth forests.
small trees should be cut down to prevent forest fires.
mature trees should be thinned out to prevent forest fires
forest fires do the most damage in old-growth forests.
old-growth forests have a larger accumulation of forest debris.
Option “A” is correct. The last sentence provides direct support for choice a. The author never suggests that any trees should be cut down or thinned out, which eliminates choices b and c. Choice d contradicts the author’s opinion. The author suggests that old growth forests have less debris, which rules out choice e.
33. During the last six years, the number of practicing physicians has increased by about 20%. During the same time period, the number of healthcare managers has increased by more than 600%. These percentages mean that many doctors have lost the authority to make their own schedules, determine the fees that they charge, and decide on prescribed treatments.
This paragraph best supports the statement that doctors
resent the interference of healthcare managers.
no longer have adequate training.
care a great deal about their patients.
are less independent than they used to be.
are making a lot less money than they used to make.
Option “D” is correct. The author of this statement suggests that doctors are less independent. The author stresses that many doctors have lost authority. There is no support for the opinion that doctors resent the healthcare managers, however which rules out choice a. The doctors training is never mentioned (choice b). Doctors may care about their patients (choice c), but this information is not part of the paragraph. Choice e is not mentioned.
34. By the time they reach adulthood, most people can perform many different activities involving motor skills. Motor skills involve such diverse tasks as riding a bicycle, threading a needle, and cooking a dinner. What all these activities have in common is their dependence on precision and timing of muscular movement.
This paragraph best supports the statement that
most adults have not refined their motor skills.
all adults know how to ride a bicycle.
refined motor skills are specifically limited to adults.
children perform fewer fine motor activities in a day than adults do.
threading a needle is a precise motor skill.
Option “E” is correct. The second sentence states that threading a needle involves motor skill. The other choices are not in the paragraph.
35. Most Reality TV centers on two common motivators: fame and money. The shows transform waitresses, hairdressers, investment bankers, counselors, and teachers, to name a few, from obscure figures to house-hold names. A lucky few successfully parlay their fifteen minutes of fame into celebrity. The luckiest stars of Reality TV also reap huge financial rewards for acts including eating large insects, marrying someone they barely know, and revealing their innermost thoughts to millions of people.
This paragraph best supports the statement that
the stars of Reality TV are interested in being rich and famous.
Reality TV is the best thing that has happened to network television in a long time.
for Reality TV stars, fame will last only as long as their particular television show.
traditional dramas and sitcoms are being replaced by Reality TV programming at an alarming rate.
Reality TV shows represent a new wave of sensationalistic, low quality programming.
Option “A” is correct.
This is expressed in the first sentence. Choices b, d, and e are not supported by the passage. Choice c is incorrect because the paragraph states that some Reality TV stars manage to parlay their fifteen minutes of fame into celebrity.
36. Which of the following, if true, would weaken the speaker’s argument?
An action is not considered a part of freedom of speech.
People who burn the flag usually commit other crimes as well.
The flag was not recognized by the government until 1812.
State flags are almost never burned.
Most people are against flag burning.
Option “A” is correct. If an action is not included under freedom of speech, the speaker’s main argument is incorrect.
37.Which of the following best expresses the main point of the passage?
Only veterans care about the flag-burning issue.
Flag burning almost never happens, so outlawing it is a waste of time.
Flag burning will be a very important issue in the next election.
To outlaw flag burning is to outlaw what the flag represents.
Burning the flag should only be illegal when it is done in foreign countries.
Option “D” is correct. The speaker maintains that to burn a flag is an act of freedom of speech, which is among the things the flag represents.[/bg_collapse]
38. Which of the following is similar to the argument made by the speaker?
The rich should not be allowed to “buy” politicians, so the Congress should enact campaign finance reform.
The idea of freedom of religion also means the right not to participate in religion, so mandated school prayer violates freedom of religion.
The Constitution guarantees freedom to own property, so taxes should be illegal.
Convicted felons should not have their convictions overturned on a technicality.
In order to understand what may be constitutional today, one needs to look at what the laws were when the Constitution was enacted.
Option “B” is correct. This is the best choice because it relates to a situation where a proposed law would actually violate the part of the Constitution it is intended to protect.
39. Which of the following, if true, would strengthen the speaker’s argument?
studies showing computers are expensive.
research on the effect of computer games on children.
examples of high school students who use computers improperly.
proof that the cost of computers is coming down.
evidence that using computers makes learning to read difficult.
Option “E” is correct. This evidence would back up the speaker’s contention that young students should learn the basics before learning computers. Choices a and d, which are both about cost, would have no effect on the argument. Choices b and c are too vague.
40. Which of the following, if true, would weaken the speaker’s argument?
a demonstration that computers can be used to teach reading and arithmetic.
analysis of the cost-effectiveness of new computers versus repairing old computers.
examples of adults who do not know how to use computers.
recent grade reports of students in the computer classes.
a visit to a classroom where computers are being used.
Option “A” is correct. If computers enhance the learning of arithmetic and reading, the speaker’s argument is not as strong.