Some difficult GRE problems

Test Preparation
1

<ol>
<li>Crosby's colleagues have never learned, at least not in time to avoid embarrasing themeselves, that her occassional _____ air of befuddlement _____ a display of her formidable intelligenc.
(A) genuine. dominates
(B) alert..contradicts
(C) acute..precludes
(D) bogus..presages
(E) painstaking..succeeds</li>
</ol>

<p>A serious critic has to compredend the particular content, unique structure, and special meaning of a work af art. And here she faces dilemma. The critic must recognize the artistic element of uniqueness that requires subjective reaction. Her likes and dislikes are less important than what the work itself communicates, and her preferences may blind her to certain qualities of the work and thereby prevent an adequate understading of it. Hence, it is necessary that a critic develop a sensibility informed by familiarity with the history of art and aesthetic theory. On the other hand, it is insufficient to treat the artwork solely historically, in relation to a fixed set of ideas or values. The critic's knowledge and training are, rather, a preparation of the cognitive and emotional abilities needed for an adequate personal response to an artwork's own particular qualities. </p>

<ol>
<li><p>According to the author, a serious critic may avoid being prejudiced by her subjective reactions if she
(A) treats an artwork in relation to a fixed set of ideas and values
(B) brings to her observation a knowledge of art history and aesthetic theory
(C) allows more time for the observation of each artwork
(D) takes into account the preferences of other art critics
(E) limits herself to tha tart with which she has adequate familiarity</p></li>
<li><p>PLANT : SOIL ::
(A) germ : bacteria
(B) organism : medium
(C) sample : growth
(D) nutrient : liquid
(E) tree : root</p></li>
<li><p>DISGUISE : RECOGNITION ::
(A) prevarication : statement
(B) infidelity : marriage
(C) camouflage : infiltration
(D) espionage : diplomacy
(E) padding : dammage</p></li>
<li><p>GUST : WIND ::
(A) rapids : river
(B) blizzard : snowstorm
(C) cloudburst : rainfall
(D) mist : fog
(E) surf : sea</p></li>
</ol>

<p>Diamonds, an occasional component of rare igneous rocks called lamproites and kimberlites, have never been dated satisfactorily. However, some daimonds contain minute inclusions of silicate minerals, commonly olivine, pyroxene, and garnet. These minerals can be dated by radiactive decay techniques because of the very small quantities of radioactive trace elements they, in turn, contain. Usually, it is possible to conclrude that the inclusions are older than their diamond hosts, but with little indication of the time interval involved. Sometimes, however, the crystal form of the silicate inclusions is observed to resemble more closely the internal structure of diamond than that of other silicate minerals. It is not known how rare this resemblance is, or whether it is most often seen in inclusion of silicates such as garnet, whose crystallography is generally somewhat similar to that of diamond; but when present, the resemblance is regarded is compelling evidence that the diamonds and inclusions are truly cogenetic. </p>

<ol>
<li>The main purpose of the passage is to
(A) explain why it has not been possible to determine the age of diamonds
(B) explain how it might be possible to date some diamonds
(C) compare two alternative approaches to determining the age of diamonds
(D) compare a method of dating diamonds with a method used to date certain silicate minerals
(E) compare the age of diamonds with that of certain silicate minerals contained within them </li>
</ol>

<p>Specifically, I want to know why answers are (D) instead of (B) for 1, (B) instead of (A) for 2, (B) instead of (E) for 3, (E) instead of (A) for 4 (prevarication is to avoud making a truthful statement, right?), (C) instead of (A) or (B) for 5, and why B instead of any other (A, C, D, E) for 6.</p>

2

<p>1 and 2 confuse me as well… </p>

<p>For number 2 though I see the sentence “it is necessary that a critic develop a sensibility informed by familiarity with the history of art and aesthetic theory” I believe that is to be the tip off that this is the most important way for a critic to remain unbiased</p>

<p>3- plant is to soil as organism is to medium… soil is an environment/substance in which plants can grow and medium (the substance that can be found in the bottom of petri dishes) is an environment/substance in which bacteria can grow - letter E is tree is to root… a root of a tree is a part of a tree not the environment or substance that fosters its growth</p>

<p>4- disguise is to recognition as padding is to damage- a disguise is used to avoid recognition just as padding is used to avoid damage (i.e. elbow pads avoid injury or packing peanuts avoid breakage) im not exactly sure how to describe why letter A is wrong but I think letter E is a better choice</p>

<p>5- at first i thought it was B but then i looked up cloudburts which is a particularly extreme rainfall… gust is a particularly strong wind so that makes sense… i think B is wrong because a blizzard is actually not just an extreme snowstorm but actually differs from a snow storm because of windspeed</p>

<p>6- I’m not sure… i thought it was letter E</p>

3

<p>Hey Geonerd, let’s review these one-by-one.</p>

<p>1) The key to understanding this question is to grasp that Crosby is tricking her colleagues by feigning an air of befuddlement, when in fact she knows perfectly well what’s going on. As for why B is not correct, the phrase “alert air of befuddlement” should ring a warning bell as it includes a contradiction in terms.</p>

<p>2) This is a more difficult question, and requires a close reading of the passage above. The line “Hence, it is necessary that a critic develop a sensibility informed by familiarity with the history of art and aesthetic theory,” is a clue to the correct answer (B). Answer (A) is not correct because it is contradicted by the line that states, “On the other hand, it is insufficient to treat the artwork solely historically, in relation to a fixed set of ideas or values.”</p>

<p>3) This is simply an increased level of categorical abstraction. A plant is a type of organism; soil is a type of medium.</p>

<p>4) Let’s put these words into a sentence: A DISGUISE is worn to prevent RECOGNITION. Now swap out the words from answer (E): PADDING is worn to prevent DAMAGE. Makes sense, no?
Now try it with answer (A): PREVARICATION is used to prevent STATEMENTS. This is not true: prevarication is only used to prevent true statements, not all statements.</p>

<p>5) Gus is a rapid burst of wind. Cloudburst is a rapid burst of rain. </p>

<p>6) Is tough. The key lies in the first few sentences. The author talks about the difficulty in determining a diamond’s age, but the possibility of determining the age of inclusions in a diamond. </p>

<p>Also consider process of elimination: the author doesn’t give any dates for comparison (not E), he discusses no methods in detail (not D or C), and the whole crux of the passage is a discussion on how it might be possible to date diamonds (not A).</p>

<p>I hope that helps.</p>