Q: One of the warmest winters on record has put consumers in the mood to spend money.
Spending is likely to be the strongest in thirteen years. During the month of February, sales of
existing single-family homes hit an annual record rate of 4.75 million.
This paragraph best supports the statement that
A. consumer spending will be higher thirteen years from now than it is today.
B. more people buy houses in the month of February than in any other month
C. there were about 4 million homes for sale during the month of February.
D. warm winter weather is likely to affect the rate of home sales.
Solution: This is clearly the best answer because the paragraph directly states that warm weather
affects consumers inclination to spend. It furthers states that the sales of single-family homes was at an all-time high. There is no support for choice a or c. Choice b is wrong because even
though there were high sales for a particular February, this does not mean that sales are not
higher in other months. Choice d presents a misleading figure of 4 million. The paragraph
states that the record of 4.75 million was at an annual, not a monthly, rate.
Q: Generation Xers are those people born roughly between 1965 and 1981. As employees,
Generation Xers tend to be more challenged when they can carry out tasks independently.
This makes Generation Xers the most entrepreneurial generation in history.
This paragraph best supports the statement that Generation Xers
A. work harder than people from other generations.
B. have a tendency to be self-directed workers
C. have an interest in making history
D. tend to work in jobs that require risk-taking behavior
Solution: The support for choice b is given in the second sentence of the paragraph. Generation Xers
like to work independently, which means they are self-directed. No support is given for either
choice a or choice c. Choice d is not related to the paragraph. Although the paragraph
mentions that Generation Xers like to be challenged, it does not say they like to challenge
their bosses attitudes; therefore, choice e can be ruled out.
Q: The criminal justice system needs to change. The system could be more just if it allowed
victims the opportunity to confront the person who has harmed them. Also, mediation between
victims and their offenders would give the offenders a chance to apologize for the harm they
have done.
This paragraph best supports the statement that victims of a crime should
A. learn to forgive their offenders.
B. have the right to confront their offenders
C. learn the art of mediation.
D. insist that their offenders be punished.
Solution: This answer is clearly stated in the first sentence of the paragraph. There is no support in the
passage for choices a, d,or e. As for choice c, although mediation is mentioned, the statement
does not indicate that victims should be the mediators.
Q: A few states in this country are considering legislation that would prohibit schools from using
calculators before the sixth grade. Other states take a different position. Some states are
insisting on the purchase of graphing calculators for every student in middle school.
This paragraph best supports the statement that in this country
A. there are at least two opinions about the use of calculators in schools
B. calculators are frequently a detriment to learning math
C. state legislators are more involved in education than ever before.
D. the price of graphing calculators is less when schools buy in bulk.
Solution: The paragraph clearly states that there are two differing opinions with regard to the use of
calculators in the classroom. Although some people may believe that choice b is true, the
paragraph does not indicate this. Choice c has no relation to the paragraph. Choice d makes
logical sense, but the paragraph says nothing about cost. Choice e is an opinion that is not
given in the paragraph
Q: It is well known that the world urgently needs adequate distribution of food, so that everyone
gets enough. Adequate distribution of medicine is just as urgent. Medical expertise and
medical supplies need to be redistributed throughout the world so that people in emerging
nations will have proper medical care.
This paragraph best supports the statement that
A. the majority of the people in the world have never been seen by a doctor.
B. food production in emerging nations has slowed during the past several years
C. the medical-supply industry should step up production of its products
D. many people who live in emerging nations are not receiving proper medical care
Solution: This answer is implied by the statement that redistribution is needed so that people in
emerging nations can have proper medical care. Choices a, b, and c are not mentioned in the
passage. Choice d is also incorrect—the passage indicates that the distribution of medicine,
not its production, is inadequate