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.
Which of the following statements offers a supporting argument for the passage's claim that many coastal islands are eroding?
- A. Recent hurricane seasons have been expensive.
- B. The Atlantic Basin is entering an active period.
- C. Louisiana has lost 2,000 square miles of coastal land.
- D. Barrier islands are the first line of defense against coastal storms.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: Statement C directly provides evidence of coastal land erosion by stating that Louisiana has lost a significant amount of coastal land area. This supports the passage's claim that many coastal islands are eroding. Choice A is incorrect because the expense of recent hurricane seasons does not directly relate to coastal land erosion. Choice B is incorrect as the active period of the Atlantic Basin does not specifically address coastal land erosion. Choice D, while related to coastal storms, does not directly support the claim that many coastal islands are eroding.
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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.
Does the author imply that she believes the hero should be more nuanced and less unconditionally good in U.S.-made movies?
- A. believes the hero should always appear to be morally worthy.
- B. believes the hero should never appear to be morally worthy.
- C. believes the hero should be more nuanced and less unconditionally good.
- D. believes the hero is an uninteresting character.
Correct Answer: C
Rationale: The author implies that she believes the hero should be more nuanced and less unconditionally good in U.S.-made movies. This is evident from her claim that it is hard to find a movie that presents the hero as anything other than supremely morally worthy, suggesting a desire for more complexity and depth in the portrayal of the hero character. Choice A is incorrect because the author does not advocate for the hero always appearing morally worthy. Choice B is incorrect as the author does not suggest that the hero should never appear morally worthy. Choice D is incorrect as the author does not state that the hero is an uninteresting character, but rather emphasizes the need for a more nuanced portrayal.
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.
Which of the following is true of hypotheses of the form 'All x are y'?
- A. Something that is neither x nor y disproves the hypothesis.
- B. Something that is both x and y disproves the hypothesis.
- C. Something that is x but not y disproves the hypothesis.
- D. Something that is y but not x disproves the hypothesis.
Correct Answer: D
Rationale: In hypotheses of the form 'All x are y,' the hypothesis is making a claim that all instances of x also fall under y. Therefore, if something is y but not x, it disproves the hypothesis because it contradicts the assertion that all x are y. Choice A is incorrect because something that is neither x nor y doesn't provide evidence against the hypothesis. Choice B is incorrect because if something is both x and y, it actually supports the hypothesis. Choice C is incorrect as something that is x but not y doesn't disprove the hypothesis, as it could still be consistent with the claim that all x are y.
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.
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.
The federal government regulates dietary supplements through the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The regulations for dietary supplements are not the same as those for prescription or over-the-counter drugs. In general, the regulations for dietary supplements are less strict.
To begin with, a manufacturer does not have to prove the safety and effectiveness of a dietary supplement before it is marketed. A manufacturer is permitted to say that a dietary supplement addresses a nutrient deficiency, supports health, or is linked to a particular body function (such as immunity), if there is research to support the claim. Such a claim must be followed by the words “This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.â€
Also, manufacturers are expected to follow certain good manufacturing practices (GMPs) to ensure that dietary supplements are processed consistently and meet quality standards. Requirements for GMPs went into effect in 2008 for large manufacturers and are being phased in for small manufacturers through 2010.
Once a dietary supplement is on the market, the FDA monitors safety and product information, such as label claims and package inserts. If it finds a product to be unsafe, it can take action against the manufacturer and/or distributor and may issue a warning or require that the product be removed from the marketplace. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is responsible for regulating product advertising; it requires that all information be truthful and not misleading.
The federal government has taken legal action against a number of dietary supplement promoters or Web sites that promote or sell dietary supplements because they have made false or deceptive statements about their products or because marketed products have proven to be unsafe.
What is the meaning of the word deceptive as it is used in the fifth paragraph?
- A. misleading
- B. malicious
- C. illegal
- D. irritating
Correct Answer: A
Rationale: In the context of the fifth paragraph, the word 'deceptive' is used to describe actions that are misleading or giving a false impression. It does not directly imply malice, illegality, or irritation, but rather that the actions are meant to mislead or deceive others. Choice A is correct as it aligns with the definition of 'deceptive' in this context. Choice B, 'malicious,' implies a deliberate intent to harm, which is not necessarily conveyed by the term 'deceptive' in this paragraph. Choice C, 'illegal,' does not capture the essence of misleading actions without specifically addressing the legality aspect. Choice D, 'irritating,' is unrelated to the meaning of 'deceptive' as used in this context.