GRE Preparation Kit 8 - Section 4[1 - 20]

[Samuel]

SECTION 4

Time – 30 minutes

38 Questions

1. Punishment for violating moral rules is much more common than reward for following them; thus, ----- the rules goes
    almost ---- in society.
    (A) association with .. undefended
    (B) adherence to .. unnoticed
    (C) affiliation of .. uncorrected
    (D) opposition to .. unchecked
    (E) ignorance of .. unresolved

2. Compassion is a great respecter of justice: we pity those who suffer ----.
    (A) shamelessly
    (B) unwittingly
    (C) vicariously
    (D) intensively
    (E) undeservedly

3. No work illustrated his disdain for a systematic approach to research better than his dissertation, which was rejected
    primarily because his bibliography constituted, at best, ----- survey of the major texts in his field.
    (A) an unimaginative
    (B) an orthodox
    (C) a meticulous
    (D) a comprehensive
    (E) a haphazard

4. In contrast to the----- with which the acquisition of language by young children was once regarded, the process by which
    such learning occurs has now become the object of ----- .
    (A) intensity .. fascination
    (B) incuriosity .. scrutiny
    (C) anxiety .. criticism
    (D) reverence .. admiration
    (E) impatience .. training

5. The senator's remark that she is ambivalent about running for a second term is -----given - 1 does the - coordinate equal
    the 2 1    y x x  the extremely ----- fund-raising activities of her campaign committee.
    (A) disingenuous .. reluctant
    (B) futile .. clandestine
    (C) sincere .. visible
    (D) persuasive .. apathetic
    (E) straightforward .. energetic

6. Until quite recently research on diabetes had, as a kind of holding action, attempted to refine the -----of the disease,
    primarily because no preventive strategy seemed at all likely to be ----- .
    (A) definition .. necessary
    (B) anticipation .. acceptable
    (C) understanding .. costly
    (D) treatment .. practicable
    (E) symptoms .. feasible

7. Most plant species exhibit ----- in their geographical distribution: often, a given species is found over a large geographical
    area, but individual populations within that range are widely ----- .
   (A) discontinuity .. separated
   (B) density .. dispersed
   (C) symmetry .. observed
   (D) uniformity .. scattered
   (E) concentration .. adaptable

Directions: In each of the following questions, a related pair of words or phrases is followed by five lettered pairs of words or phrases. Select the lettered pair that best expresses a relationship similar to that expressed in the original pair.

8. FATIGUE: REST::
    (A) gravity: weight
    (B) friction: heat
    (C) dehydration: water
    (D) dizziness: vertigo
    (E) radiation: light

9. RECYCLE: DISPOSAL::
    (A) recommend: insistence
    (B) reciprocate: treatment
    (C) rehabilitate: demolition
    (D) attach: conquest
    (E) offer: sale

10. DICTIONARY: ALPHABETICAL::
     (A) map: contoured
     (B) diary: anecdotal
     (C) outline: detailed
     (D) narrative: prosaic
     (E) annals: chronological

11. ATTENUATE: THICKNESS::
      (A) separate: substance
      (B) ventilate: circulation
      (C) vaccinate: immunity
      (D) relocate: site
      (E) debilitate: strength

12. SATIRE: RIDICULE::
     (A) oration: enmity
     (B) lullaby: dream
     (C) parody: praise
     (D) elegy: sorrow
     (E) sonnet: remembrance

13. STOIC: PERTURB::
     (A) perplexed: enlighten
     (B) nondescript: neglect
     (C) tranquil: pacify
     (D) avaricious: satisfy
     (E) daunting: bewilder

14. EXCULPATORY: ABSOLVE::
     (A) motivational: stir
     (B) conventional: resist
     (C) rhetorical: speak
     (D) pedantic: learn
     (E) ponderous: choose

15. MODERATE: INTENSITY::
     (A) extenuate: seriousness
     (B) separate: distance
     (C) indulge: chaos
     (D) commemorate: memorial
     (E) disparage: animosity

16. JOLT: MOVE::
     (A) possess: acquire
     (B) arrive: remain
     (C) check: stop
     (D) spiral: turn
     (E) rattle: hear

The origin of the theory that major geologic events may occur at regular intervals can be traced back not to a study of volcanism or plate tectonics but to an investigation of marine extinctions. In the early 1980's, scientists began to look closely at the question of how these extinctions occur. Two paleontologists, Raup and Sepkoski, compiled amaster list of marine species that died out duringthe past 268 million years and noted that there were brief periods during which many species disappeared at once. These mass extinctions occurred at surprisingly regular intervals. Later studies revealed that extinctions of terrestrial reptiles and mammals also occurred periodically. These findings, combined with the research of Raup and Sepkoski, led scientists to hypothesize the existence of some kind of cyclically recurring force powerful enough to affect living things profoundly. Speculation that so powerful a force might affect gelogic events as well led geologists to search for evidence of periodicity in episodes of volcanism, seafloor spreading, and plate movement.

17. According to the passage, Raup and Sepkoski's research was concerned with
     (A) learning more about the habitats of marine species
     (B) studying plate tectonics and the occurrence of volcanism over the past 268 million years
     (C) examining extinctions of marine species over the past 268 million years
     (D) finding out whether a rhythmically recurring geologic force exists
     (E) confirming previous evidence suggesting that extinction of terrestrial species occurred regularly

18. The author of the passage would most likely describe the findings of Roup and Sepkoski as
      (A) plausible, because the findings supported the theories of previous researchers
      (B) significant, because the findings were an impetus for subsequent research
      (C) controversial, because the findings contradicted the theories of previous researchers
      (D) questionable, because the authors were not working in their field of expertise
      (E) definitive, because the findings confirmed the existence of a rhythmically recurring force

19. The author of the passage is primarily concerned with
       (A) determining the dates of various geologic events
       (B) defending the conclusions reached by Raup and Sepkoski
       (C) establishing a link between the disciplines of paleontology and geology
       (D) proving that mass extinctions of marine animals occur periodcally
       (E) explaining how a theory concerning geologic events was formulated

20. The passage suggests which of the following about the "force" mentioned in lines 16 and 18 ?
       (A) It is responsible for most of the major geologic events that have occurred.
       (B) It is responsible for most of the marine extinctions that have occurred.
       (C) Its recurrence is unlikely to be able to be predicted by scientists.
       (D) Its existence was not seriously considered by scientists before Raup and Sepkoski did their research.
       (E) Its existence was confirmed by the research of Raup and Sepkoski.