GMAT Practice Exam Questions and Answers

A scientist collected eight samples (Samples 1-8) from various surfaces in a laboratory to test for the presence of defferent types of bacteria For each of the samples, the graph shows the relative abundance of each of three types of bacteria (Bacteria X, Y, and Z) detected in the sample, as a percentage of all Bacteria X, Y, and Z detected In the sample.

Select the options from each drop-down menu that create the most accurate statement based on the information provided.

Suppose that m and n are two positive integers such that m< n, their least common multiple is 294, and their greatest common divisor is 7. In the table, select a value for m and a value for n that are jointly consistent with the given information. Make only two selections, one in each column.

Researchers studying long-term changes In regional mouse populations have found that by focusing on the populations of a rare but widespread and easily identifiable species of mouse (Species X), they can make fairly accurate estimations about the total regional mouse populations.

In a report on a recent study that Included the data tables that follow, the researchers provided some addenda:

1. The Species X population of Region CV increased by 123,995 between 1990 and 2005.

2. In contrast, the Species X population of Region EW declined by about 52% during that same time.

For each of the following regions, select Ye$\i the region's Species X population decreased from 1960 to 1975 AND the region's total mouse population exceeded 50 million In 1975. Otherwise, select No.

Journal

The editor of Metathesis, a new academic journal of literature, manages the peer-review of articles submitted for publication. The journal accepts articles focusing on any of three general subject areas: comparative literature, modernist literature, and postcolonial literature.

When an article is submitted, the editor has the article peer-reviewed by exactly three experts, none of whom authored or coauthored the article. The table (see the Reviewers/Authors tab) consists of all the authors or coauthors who have recently submitted articles and all the experts who currently peer-review or have recently peer-reviewed those articles. It also lists the general subject areas for each of the authors and reviewers.

Each author of each submitted article specializes in the general subject area of the article. Moreover, each recently submitted article was peer-reviewed by experts listed in the table.

Review Rules

The Red Balloon Challenge was an experiment aimed at determining how quickly widely disbursed information could be gathered using social media. Competitors tried to locate 10 red weather balloons that had been tethered above random locations around the world in return for a $40,000 prize. The winning team located all of the balloons in just 9 hours, using an incentive-based strategy to encourage information sharing; The first person to send the correct coordinates of a particular balloon to the team received $2,000, but whoever recruited that person received $1,000, and the recruiter's recruiter received S500, and that person's recruiter received $250.

Select for 3 payments per balloon the amount of the prize money that the winning team would have remaining if they had to pay 3 people for each balloon located, and select for 4 payments per balloon the amount of the prize money that the winning team would have remaining if they had to pay 4 people for each balloon located. Make only two selections, one in each column.

(1) The telephone company connected 12 calls for the customer to Country B last month.

(2) If the telephone company had no connection fee last month but had charged a per-minute rate that was 20 percent greater than the rate the customer was actually charged, then the total charge fa the customer's calls to Country B last month would have been $90.00.

Sales promotions can involve selling a product at a relatively low price or selling the product with a free (or seemingly free) unit of the product, as in "buy one, get one free" campaigns. Research shows that immediately following month-long sales promotions, a postpromotion dip may occur, i.e., sales for the following calendar month may be less than sales for the calendar month preceding the sales promotion.

To increase sales, Storex, a department store, held month-long sales campaigns to promote four of its products. A sales promotion was considered successful if unit sales of the product were at least 10% higher in each of the 2 calendar months immediately following the promotion than In the month preceding it.

Experts have offered explanations for postpromotion dip:

• Explanation I: Many consumers stockpile the product at relatively low cost during the sales promotion.

• Explanation II: "Buy one, get one free" promotions cause some consumers to undervalue the product, making them less likely to buy it following the sales promotion.

• Explanation HI: Many consumers who missed a "buy one, get one free" opportunity may, as a result, develop so-called inaction inertia, i.e., become less likely to buy the product at either the regular or even at a discount price than if the sales promotion had not occurred.

For each of the following actions, select Yes if it is mentioned in at least two of the tabs. Otherwise, select No.

At a carnival game, a winning player spins a wheel that always lands on either Prize 1 or Prize 2 to determine which of the two prizes he or she wins. The probability that the prize wheel indicates Prize 2 Is double the probability that It indicates Prize 1. If a player does not want the prize that the prize wheel first indicates, then he or she may spin the wheel again. In such cases, the player must accept whichever prize the prize wheel indicates on the second spin.

Select for Prize I the number nearest to the probability that a winning player who wants Prize 1 will receive Prize 1 after one or two spins of the prize wheel, and select for Prize ^the number nearest to the probability that a winning player who wants Prize 2 will receive Prize 2 after one or two spins of the prize wheel. Make only two selections, one in each column.

Archaeologists have excavated two ancient sites, Site A and Site B, each containing bowls and dishes. A third site containing similar vessels (bowls and dishes), Site C, Is known to have existed but has not yet been located. The vessels have been dated to three successive 40-vear-long time periods (Mil).

The dishes that were found are small and plain and were made primarily for everyday use. For each site, the average population at the site for a period is known to be roughly proportional to the number of dishes found that were dated to that period.

The bowls are more elaborate, decorated In either a curvy or a rectilinear style. They were made primarily for ritual use. The numbers of bowls found indicate the level of wealth of the site's inhabitants during the period to which the bowls were dated (with greater numbers indicating greater wealth).

Documents found at Sites A and B establish that exactly 18 of the dishes found at Site A were manufactured at Site C; otherwise, all of the vessels were made at the sites where they were found.

For each of Sites A through C, select Yes If the Information provided Indicates that the population at that site was both greater in Period II than Period I and greater in Period III than in Period II. Otherwise, select No.

A company is considering replacing its periodic offsite face-to-face meetings with ones that can be conducted online In a virtual environment. The company calculated Its costs for each face-Io-face meeting as well as the initial one-time costs necessary to set up online meeting capabilities. Once those capabilities are established, the company incurs negligible additional costs for each subsequent meeting. The graphic shows the one-time cost to the company for the virtual meetings as well as the total costs for the face-to-face meetings. For example, if the company conducted 5 face-to-face meetings, then the total costs to the company for the meetings would be approximately US$20,000.

An orchestra conductor « planning the group's next concert. The orchestra will play a total of 3 pieces, and the conductor requires the total playing time of the 3 pieces to be at least 90 minutes but no more than 120 minutes. The pieces the conductor is considering are listed below with the approximate playing time.

First the orchestra will play one of two preludes:

• Prelude A (10 minutes)

• Prelude 8 (28 minutes)

Next they will play one of two classical piano concertos:

• Concerto A (32 minutes)

• Concerto B (48 minutes)

Finally they will play one of two romantic symphonies:

• Symphony A (35 minutes)

• Symphony B (41 minutes)

Based on these approximate lengths, select for Piece X and for Piece K two different pieces so that Piece X will be played before Piece Y, and if the conductor chooses Piece X, then in of def to comply with the given time constraints, the conductor must also choose Piece Y. Make only two selections, one in each column.

Client: You've recommended that we use humor In our new radio advertising campaign. Why be funny on the radio when we haven't been funny in advertising campaigns for

other media?

Advertising director: Because humor on the radio is very engaging. Two other common approaches to radio advertising-using announcers and producing short catchy songs or jingles—are both so inherent In the existing radio programming that commercials using those two approaches often get tost in the programs. Humor, on the other hand, Is rare —so rare it stands out and engages completely.

The advertising director's argument depends on an assumption of cause and effect. Indicate by an appropriate selection which of the statements In the table most accurately describes the cause of such an effect, and which most accurately describes such an effect. Make only two selection one in each column.

Journal

The editor of Metathesis, a new academic journal of literature, manages the peer-review of articles submitted for publication. The journal accepts articles focusing on any of three general subject areas: comparative literature, modernist literature, and postcolonial literature.

When an article is submitted, the editor has the article peer-reviewed by exactly three experts, none of whom authored or coauthored the article. The table (see the Reviewers/Authors tab) consists of all the authors or coauthors who have recently submitted articles and all the experts who currently peer-review or have recently peer-reviewed those articles. It also lists the general subject areas for each of the authors and reviewers.

Each author of each submitted article specializes in the general subject area of the article. Moreover, each recently submitted article was peer-reviewed by experts listed in the table.

Review Rules

Suppose that Farkas and Kenyatta were both selected as reviewers for a certain recently submitted article. For each of the following statements, select YesM the statement must be true, based on this supposition and the Information provided. Otherwise, select No.

A quantity of solution that is 3% salt by volume was mixed with a quantity of solution that is 9% salt by volume to produce a quantity of solution that is 4% salt by volume. How many liters of the 9% solution were used?

(1) The quantity of 3% solution was 5 times the quantity of 9% solution.

(2) The quantity of 4% solution produced was 150 liters.

A lottery box contains 8,000 tickets, each of which is red or blue or green. The box contains twice as many blue tickets as red tickets. The number of green tickets is 20 more than the number of red and blue tickets combined. Which of the following Is the best approximation to the probability that the first ticket randomly drawn from the box will be blue?

A)

B)

C)

D)

E)

As shown in the diagram, Diagonal Drive, which is straight and level, connects A and

B.  

B.  

(1) Before Diagonal Drive was closed, driving on it from A to 5 at an average speed of 30 miles per hour took 20 minutes.

(2) The total distance drivers drive south on the detour is 4 miles less than the length of Diagonal Drive between A and

B.  

Last year a company gave bonuses to a number of employees, but only in the three amounts of $750, $1,500, and $7,350. If the total amount of the bonuses was $64,800

and each of the three amounts was given to at least one employee, what is the fewest number of bonuses that the company could have given to employees last year?

The sum of the first n positive integers is given by

.

What is the sum of the first 100 positive odd integers?

1) The range of the seven term is 5.

2)

What is the median of the numbers in set A?

(1) n is even.

(2) n is less than 7.

A)

B)

C)

D)

D)

The average (arithmetic mean) of the 5 numbers in set *is greater than the median of the 5 numbers in set X, and the average of the 7 numbers in set Yis greater than the median of the 7 numbers In set Y. If the two sets have no numbers in common and If they are combined to form set Z, Is the average of the 12 numbers In set /greater than Hie median of the 12 numbers in set Z?

(1) The average of the numbers in set Kis greater than the average of the numbers in set X.

(2) The median of the numbers in set Y\s greater than the median of the numbers in set X,

Incumbents in the United States House of Representatives who spend large amounts of money on a reelection campaign usually lose, whereas those who spend relatively little money usually win. Thus, heavy campaign spending is detrimental to an incumbent's reelection campaign.

Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument above?

The passage Is primarily concerned with which of the following?

Despite the fact that the seeds of certain tropical trees fall mostly around the parent tree, the seeds that land farther from the parent trees of these species have the greatest chance of germinating. One hypothesis is that the effect is caused by rodents eating a larger number of seeds beside the parent tree than seeds in places farther away, but studies have shown that this is not so.

Which of the following, If true, would most help explain the effect described above?

The reasoning in the final paragraph most strongly implies that the author makes which of the folowing assumptions?

A major manufacturer of outdoor clothing spends a significant portion of its overhead costs on transportation in its home markets. Everywhere the cost of fuels, including marine and aviation fuels, has been rising steeply for the last six months. But during this period the profits of the company have tripled.

Which of the following would, if true, most help explain why the phenomenon described above occurred?

In criticizing the "second approach" to explaining the supposed lack o* rational transformation of the workplace, the author most likely assumes which of the Wowing?

Because of the positive correlation across animal species between body size and home range size, researchers suspected that body size of female mallards (a species of duck) may influence their home range size. The researchers also reasoned that younger females may be forced into less suitable habitats by older females competing with them for optimal areas, with the younger females compensating by having larger home ranges. However, their research supported neither suspicion. The failure to detect variation of range size according to body size may be due to other, undetermined mallard attributes (for example, body condition) that may have been a significant factor affecting home range size. The fact that most yearling females can breed may help to explain why the expected age effect was not confirmed, since home range size may be affected by breeding capability.

The researchers did find, however, that home range size of females was Inversely related to the percentage of the study area composed of seasonal or semipermanent wetlands. This may have been because of reduced competition for breeding space within the species when more of the wetlands were present. They also found home range size to decrease somewhat as the percentage of wood-shrub habitat increased, suggesting that reduction in visual contact among mallard pairs may reduce interaction and thus reduce competition among breeding pairs.

Regarding female mallards, which of the following was a finding of the researchers' study described in the passage?

Anouk worked In the sates department at MMC Cellular Phones from January through December. The graph shows Anouks sales volume from March through My. For each of the 4 months, February through May, Anouk's sales increased by a constant number of eel phones over the previous month.

Geraldine: The medical profession claims that it is constantly refining its diagnostic techniques so as to improve its ability to treat those who are ill, but I suspect that this is all Just obfuscation. Anyone who really wants to know why medical diagnoses have increased in recent years need look only at the tremendous amount of money that is made manufacturing, advertising, and distributing drugs.

Which of the following would it be most useful to determine in evaluating Geraldine's explanation?

Until the Apollo astronauts brought samples of lunar material to Earth during 196£-72, scientists believed that the Moon's surface was largely undisturbed, given its dry, airless environment. Examination of the samples has shown otherwise. Micrometeorites, many smaller than a pencil point, constantly rain onto the Moon at up to 100,000 kilometers per hour, chipping materials or forming microscopic craters. Some melt the soil and vaporize and recondense as glassy coats on other specks of dust. Impacts weld debris into lumps of heterogeneous matter called "agglutinates." Complicated interactions with solar particle streams convert iron into myriads of microscopic iron grains. The regdith—pebbles, sand, and dust-from these erosion processes blankets the Moon. Much of the top layer consists of a complex abrasive dust of microscopic glass shards that can grind machinery and sealing devices and damage human lungs.

The Apollo specimens held by the United States are doled out in ultra-small samples to scientists who demonstrate that nothing else will suffice for high-value experiments. Renewed interest In lunar exploration in the late 1980s meant that materials designed to simulate lunar regolith—simulants—were needed for research to develop schemes for lunar building and procedures for extracting elements such as oxygen found abundantly in regolith. That led to the development of JSC-1 in 1993, made of volcanic cinder cone from a quarry in Arizona in the U.S. The more than 22 metric tons made was in high demand. Efforts are now afoot to manufacture 16 metric tons of JSC-1 A, with 1 ton of fine grains, 14 tons of moderately fine, and 1 ton of coarse.

Which of the following can most reasonably be inferred from the passage?

TV critic: Contrary to popular belief, the densely plotted script of modern television comedy typically demands far more insight from the viewer than did the crude products of the past Although much recent television comedy is inane, this does not mean that television is being "dumbed down." Today's worst programs should be measured not against the best and most renowned products of yesteryear but rather against the worst.

In the TV critic's argument, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?

Berlandia's senate recently introduced two bills to address the problem of overburdened landfills: one would require that at least 40 percent by weight of the plastics sold in that country be biodegradable, the other that at least 80 percent by weight of plastics sold there be recycled into useful products. One legislator, however, has claimed that biodegradable plastics cannot be recycled into useful products, even if the biodegradables are mixed with other plastics.

The legislator's claim, if true, most strongly supports which of the following?

It can most reasonably be inferred from the passage that multinational companies

Despite his renowned contributions to resolving archaeological questions, he was unable to provide hardly any insight into reconciling the conflicting linguistic and cultural evidence with respect to the expansion of agriculture.

The author of the passage most clearly agrees with the claim that the ancestor of

all Indo-European languages

According to the passage, Edelman has made innovations in the study of which of the following?

i. The behavior of multicelular organs

ii. The molecular structure of

animal and plant tissue

III. The overall structure of

complex organisms