Nokea
The loss of barrier islands through erosion poses a serious challenge to many communities along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts. Along with marshes and wetlands, these islands protect coastal towns from major storms. In the past seventy years, Louisiana alone has lost almost 2,000 square miles of coastal land to hurricanes and flooding. More than 100 square miles of wetlands protecting the city of New Orleans were wiped out by a single storm, Hurricane Katrina. Due to this exposure of coastal communities, recent hurricane seasons have proven the most expensive on record: annual losses since 2005 have been estimated in the hundreds of billions of dollars. This unfortunate trend is likely to continue, since meteorological research shows that the Atlantic basin is in an active storm period that could continue for decades.
The passage describes recent hurricane seasons as the most expensive on record. Which of the following statements gives the implied reason for this increased expense?
- A. Hurricane Katrina was an extremely violent storm.
- B. Valuable buildings were destroyed in New Orleans.
- C. The Atlantic Basin is entering an active period.
- D. Destruction of barrier islands and coastal wetlands has left the mainland exposed.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: The destruction of barrier islands and coastal wetlands has left the mainland exposed, leading to increased damage and expenses from hurricanes. This implies a direct reason for the increased cost of recent hurricane seasons. The other choices do not directly address the reason for the increased expenses. Choice A talks about the intensity of Hurricane Katrina but does not explain the overall trend of increased expenses. Choice B mentions buildings being destroyed, which is a consequence rather than a reason for increased expenses. Choice C discusses an active period in the Atlantic Basin but does not connect it to the increased costs of hurricane seasons.
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During the summer, Angela read the following classics: The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald; Brave New World, by Aldous Huxley; A Passage to India, by E.M. Forster; and “The Cask of Amontillado,†by Edgar Allen Poe.
What is the purpose of the italics used for several of the works identified in the sentence above?
- A. to indicate a full-length published book
- B. to indicate a work of classic literature
- C. to indicate recommended summer reading
- D. to indicate books that Angela completed
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The purpose of the italics used for several of the works identified in the sentence above is to indicate a full-length published book. In the provided extract, titles of books such as 'The Great Gatsby,' 'Brave New World,' 'A Passage to India,' and 'The Cask of Amontillado' are italicized to emphasize them as standalone works. This formatting convention is commonly used to highlight titles of books, magazines, movies, and other individual works in written text. Choices B, C, and D are incorrect as the italics are not specifically indicating classic literature, recommended summer reading, or completion by Angela, but rather serving the general purpose of emphasizing standalone works.
The next four questions are based on the following passage.
It could be argued that all American war movies take as their governing paradigm that of the Western, and that we, as viewers, don't think critically enough about this fact. The virtuous hero in the white hat, the evil villain in the black hat, the community threatened by violence; these are the obvious elements of the paradigm. In addition, the hero is highly skilled at warfare, though reluctant to use it, the community is made up of morally upstanding citizens, and there is no place for violence in the community: the hero himself must leave the community he has saved once the battle is complete. This way of seeing the world has soaked into our storytelling of battle and conflict. It's hard to find a U.S.-made war movie that, for example, presents the enemy as complex and potentially fighting a legitimate cause, or that presents the hero (usually the U.S.) as anything other than supremely morally worthy. It is important to step back and think about the assumptions and frameworks that shape the stories we're exposed to; if we're careless and unquestioning, we absorb biases and world views with which we may not agree.
Which of the following is part of the world view, with which we may not agree, that the author implies we might absorb from these movies if we're careless and unquestioning:
- A. Enemies of the U.S. do not ever fight for legitimate causes.
- B. The community is morally bankrupt.
- C. The U.S. is complex.
- D. The U.S. is not skilled at warfare.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A. Throughout the text, the author discusses how American war movies often portray U.S. enemies as lacking legitimate causes. This portrayal can lead to a simplistic view of global conflicts and perpetuate stereotypes. Choice B is incorrect as the text does not discuss the community being morally bankrupt. Choice C is incorrect as the focus is not on the complexity of the U.S. but on the portrayal of enemies and heroes. Choice D is incorrect as the text actually mentions that the hero in the movies is highly skilled at warfare.
Most scientists agree that while the scientific method is an invaluable methodological tool, it is not a failsafe method for arriving at objective truth. It is debatable, for example, whether a hypothesis can actually be confirmed by evidence.
When a hypothesis is of the form “All x are y,†it is commonly believed that a piece of evidence that is both x and y confirms the hypothesis. For example, for the hypothesis “All monkeys are hairy,†a particular monkey that is hairy is thought to be a confirming piece of evidence for the hypothesis. A problem arises when one encounters evidence that disproves a hypothesis: while no scientist would argue that one piece of evidence proves a hypothesis, it is possible for one piece of evidence to disprove a hypothesis. To return to the monkey example, one hairless monkey out of one billion hairy monkeys disproves the hypothesis “All monkeys are hairy.†Single pieces of evidence, then, seem to affect a given hypothesis in radically different ways. For this reason, the confirmation of hypotheses is better described as probabilistic.
Hypotheses that can only be proven or disproven based on evidence need to be based on probability because sample sets for such hypotheses are too large. In the monkey example, every single monkey in the history of monkeys would need to be examined before the hypothesis could be proven or disproven. By making confirmation a function of probability, one may make provisional or working conclusions that allow for the possibility of a given hypothesis being disconfirmed in the future. In the monkey case, then, encountering a hairy monkey would slightly raise the probability that “all monkeys are hairy,†while encountering a hairless monkey would slightly decrease the probability that “all monkeys are hairy.†This method of confirming hypotheses is both counterintuitive and controversial, but it allows for evidence to equitably affect hypotheses and it does not require infinite sample sets for confirmation or disconfirmation.
According to the passage, what effect does encountering an automobile with eighteen wheels have on the hypothesis 'All automobiles have only four wheels'?
- A. It proves the hypothesis.
- B. It raises the hypothesis's probability.
- C. It disproves the hypothesis.
- D. It decreases the hypothesis's probability.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Encountering an automobile with eighteen wheels contradicts the hypothesis that all automobiles have only four wheels. This contradicts the initial hypothesis, proving it to be false. The passage explains that when evidence disproves a hypothesis, it directly contradicts the hypothesis, leading to its disproof. In the context of the monkey example provided, encountering a hairless monkey out of many hairy monkeys disproved the hypothesis 'All monkeys are hairy.' Therefore, the presence of an automobile with eighteen wheels disproves the hypothesis that all automobiles have only four wheels. Other choices are incorrect because encountering such an automobile directly contradicts the initial hypothesis, leading to its disproof, rather than proving it, raising its probability, or decreasing its probability.
On April 30, 1803, the United States bought the Louisiana Territory from the French. Astounded and excited by the offer of a sale and all that it would mean, it took less than a month to hear the offer and determine to buy it for $15 million. Right away the United States had more than twice the amount of land as before, giving the country more of a chance to become powerful. They had to move in military and governmental power in this region, but even as this was happening they had very little knowledge about the area. They did not even really know where the land boundaries were, nor did they have any how many people lived there. They needed to explore.
Based on the facts in the passage, what prediction could you make about the time immediately following the Louisiana Purchase?
- A. Explorers were already on their way to the region.
- B. The government aimed to increase its power.
- C. Government officials would ensure explorers were dispatched to the region.
- D. Explorers would expect compensation for their work.
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: The correct answer is A. The passage mentions that explorers like Lewis and Clark were sent to the newly acquired Louisiana Territory immediately after the Louisiana Purchase. This indicates that explorers were already on their way to the region following the purchase. Choice B is incorrect as there is no direct mention of the government wanting to increase its power right after the purchase. Choice C is incorrect as the passage does not state that government officials would specifically ensure explorers were dispatched to the region. Choice D is incorrect because there is no information provided in the passage about explorers expecting payment for their work.
Which of the following is not a reliable resource for a research paper?
- A. The New York Times
- B. A personal interview with a politician
- C. A medical journal
- D. Wikipedia
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: Wikipedia is not a reliable source for a research paper due to its open editing format, which may lead to inaccuracies, bias, and lack of authority. While it can be a good starting point for research and general information, it is crucial to verify information from Wikipedia with more academic and reputable sources like peer-reviewed journals, books, or official websites. The New York Times, a personal interview with a politician, and a medical journal are generally considered reliable sources for research papers. The New York Times is a reputable newspaper, personal interviews can provide valuable firsthand insights, and medical journals undergo rigorous peer review processes to ensure accuracy and reliability.