MCAT verbal test (20)

MCAT Section Tests
Dear Future Doctor,
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ANSWER KEY
1. B
2. B
3. A
4. D
5. C
6. A
7. C
8. C
9. A
10. C

11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.

B
D
C
D
C
B
B

D
A
C

21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.

D
B
A
B
D
A
B
C
B
A

31.
32.
33.
34.

35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.

B
D
B
D
C
A
B
C
D
A

41.
42.
43.
44.
45.
46.
47.
48.
49.
50.

C

A
B
D
B
D
A
C
B
D

51.
52.
53.
54.
55.
56.
57.
58.
59.
60.

D
B
C
C
B
D
B
A
B

C

Material used in this test section has been adapted from the following sources:
Henry James. French Poets and Novelists. London: Macmillan and Co., 1884

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Passage I (Questions 1-7)
Topic: The fable
Scope: To describe the instructional purpose of, and narrative techniques used in, the
fable.
Paragraph 1 defines the tale, the parable, and the fable, indicating the differences
among these different narrative forms. The author considers the fable superior to the
other two because of its focus on conveying a moral maxim, social duty, or political
truth.
Paragraph 2 further explains the goals of the fable, and lists certain devices included in
the text which may help to accomplish communication of its didactic message. By
cloaking the message within a fictional text, the fabulist assures that readers will be
responsible for proper perception and interpretation of the intended lesson.
Paragraph 3 describes why the fabulist is important, and the varying roles the fabulist
plays in society as a teacher, censor, and model of behavior.
1. B
Paragraph 2 describes several rhetorical, or figurative, techniques used by the fabulist,
including fictitious characters, speaking animals, and living trees. These are elements
of the fable that are praised by the author as successful means of subtly conveying a
lesson. (A), (C), and (D) stated or implied in Paragraphs 1 (1st sentence), 2 (final
sentence), and 3 (5th sentence); these are all examples of 180° classic wrong answer
choices.
2. B

Paragraph 1 praises the potential moral function of the fable in its final sentence,
mentions the use of language in the parable in the same sentence as a potential
problem, and favorably compares the fable to the parable because of this difference
between the two. Though the author also mentions that the tale can be a report of
historical events in the 3rd sentence of Paragraph 1, this characteristic is not given as a
flaw nor used as a major point of contrast to justify the superiority of the fable.
3. A
The main lack for which the author criticizes the parable and tale is that they do not
combine a lesson with a fictional narrative. Answer choices (B) and (D) are OS, and (C)
is FUD of a detail in the 3rd sentence of Paragraph 1.
4. D
(A) is found in Paragraph 2; (B) and (C) are both mentioned in Paragraph 1. Only (D) is
not indicated as necessary for a fable.
5. C

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The author turns to Phaedrus to corroborate his conclusion that a fabulist has the dual
function of both amusing and instructing readers. (A), (B), and (C) are all OS wrong
answer choices.

6. A
If readers do not apply what they read in fiction to their own experiences, then the
lesson contained in the fable will not be successful. (B) and (D) are 180° answer
choices, for they would both serve to strengthen the author’s conclusion. (C) is FUD of
one of the criticisms mentioned regarding parables.
7. C
The author of the passage is clearly laudatory in his opinion of the fabulist, and only
answer choice (C) reflects this subjectivity. Answer choices (A) and (B) are to neutral,

with their terms analysis and conclusion, and (D), although certainly suggesting the
author’s favorable attitude towards fabulists, is OS, since the author never mentions
honor and respect.
Passage II (Questions 8-13)
Topic and Scope: The pattern of early marine evolution, particularly whether or not there
were more phyla immediately after the Cambrian explosion than today.
Purpose: The author considers the argument between conventional theorists and
revisionists. Conventional theorists thought they had early marine evolution figured out,
assigning even odd-ball fossils like the Problematica to present-day phyla. The
revisionists, in contrast, think the Problematica occupy phyla of their own, which arose
during the Cambrian explosion and then died out.
Paragraph 1 consists of a discussion of the appearance of the present day phyla during
the Cambrian explosion and a few notes on what makes up a phylum.
Paragraph 2 describes the Problematica and why they don’t fit in present day phyla.
Paragraph 3 details the conclusions that revisionists draw from this—there were other
phyla that appeared in the Cambrian and then died out.
Paragraph 4 is a summing up of the difference between the conventional theorists’ and
the revisionists’ views.
8.
C
This inference question is a good illustration of the value of a firm grip on the main idea
and author’s purpose. The revisionists think the Problematica occupy phyla of their own,
which arose during the Cambrian explosion and then died out. Hence, they are critical
of trying to classify them into present phyla. Choice C reflects this attitude.
Choices A and B misidentify the revisionists’ point of view; since they see these efforts
as wrong-headed, they won’t react in either of these ways.
Choice D is wrong because they have a clear, sharp point of view on the question.

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9.
A
This question asks the function of certain statements in the passage. Why is the author
doing what he is doing? Paragraph 1 states the conventional view that the Cambrian
species all (or nearly all) fit in present phyla; paragraph 2 challenges this idea, and then
gives several examples. Obviously, the examples given will be creatures that don’t fit
neatly into present phyla, which is choice A. Choice A is also specifically justified by last
sentence of paragraph 2: If the Ediacaran fauna approach to respiration was like that of
only a few modern creatures that are totally different from them in other ways, then they
would not fit comfortably into any known phylum.
Choice B is wrong. At least some of these physiological processes were similar to those
of tapeworms. They could and did absorb and excrete fluids (choice C)—even though
they did it in an unusual manner. And the fact that they didn’t resemble modern
creatures doesn’t mean that they were closely related to Tullimonstrum. All we know
about Tullimonstrum is that it was banana shaped.
10.
C
This is an inference question about present-day phyla, so look in the passage in which
modern phyla are mentioned. A phylum (as stated in the middle of paragraph 1 is a
group of organisms with “the same basic pattern of organization,” that is, possessing
similar structures; today, there is a small number of phyla, each containing a large
number of species (fourth sentence of paragraph 3). Putting these two points together
gives us choice C.
Choice A is the situation that existed during the Cambrian, according to the revisionists.
Choice B is also out; diversity within phyla is not mentioned. Choice D is contradicted
by the discussion of natural selection in paragraph 4: All species undergo evolutionary
change.
11.
B

This is another logic question. These organisms are mentioned in the middle of
paragraph 1, when the author defines phylum as “a group of organisms with the same
basic pattern of organization,” such as the “radial symmetry of jellyfish and other
coelenterates.” The author is giving familiar examples to illustrate the concept of a
pattern of organization, and jellyfish and worms are present-day creatures. Choice B
captures this idea.
These phyla have not died out, so you can eliminate choice A. As they are present-day
phyla, they are not closely related to the Problematica (choice C). The passage never
mentions when these organisms evolved (choice D).
12.
D
This detail question asks what the conventional and revisionist theorists do not disagree
about. They disagree on nearly everything, but they agree on choice D, as stated
explicitly at the beginning of paragraph 4. This is our answer. (That sentence doesn’t
mention the Cambrian period specifically, but the entire passage is about the
Cambrian.)
Choice A is an Opposite choice: It actually identifies the scientists’ overall
disagreement. Choices B and C are also specific points of disagreement.

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13.
C
This is a detail question, so go to paragraph 2 in which the Problematica are discussed.
Statement I is true; the Problematica had unusual “patterns of organization”—that is,
unusual shapes—which make them difficult to fit into modern phyla. Statement II is also
true; the second half of paragraph 3 notes that the unusual physiology of the Ediacaran
fauna place it within the Problematica. Statement III is not mentioned in the passage;
we don’t know when these organisms became extinct.

Passage III (Questions 14-20)
Paragraph 1 introduces George Sand as an example of a female author who wrote
under a male pseudonym, and whose pen name has become more familiar than her
original given female name.
Paragraph 2 explores one possible reason for choosing the pen name George Sand: at
the beginning of her writing career, she collaborated with Jules Sandeau, and their
publisher suggested the joint name J. Sand for their works. Once Sandeau’s
contribution decreased, however, Aurore decided to slightly change the pseudonym but
to retain the last name because it was already familiar to her reading public.
Paragraph 3 presents a second possible reason for the pen name: the last name can be
seen as a representation of important places, people, and names in Aurore’s life. This
particular explanation emphasizes the author’s talent and creativity rather than giving
credit for her pseudonym to a publisher or an early lover. The two reasons are not
necessarily mutually exclusive, for Aurore was aware of the connection between her
pen name and her lover’s name.
Paragraph 4 describes some of the advantages and consequences of using a male
pseudonym. The passage concludes by declaring that the reasons for choosing this
masculine pen name are really not important to an appreciation of George Sand’s vast
and varied literary work.
14. D
The author does not express a very strong opinion about the use of pseudonyms, so
answers (A), (B), and (C) are distortion of the author’s attitude. Only (D) correctly
describes the author’s curiosity about George Sand’s pseudonym, as shown by the
transitional sentence at the end of paragraph 1.

15. C
Paragraph 2 mentions both (A) and (D) and paragraph 3 explains (B). The passage
never indicates if she was unable to publish works under her given name and was thus
forced to write under a pseudonym.
16. B

Paragraph 4 indicates that the use of a male pseudonym correlated nicely with George
Sand’s dressing habits, allowed her more liberty within Parisian society, and helped to

24


distance her persona as a writer from the other roles she fulfilled. (A) is completely
Outside the Scope; (C) is a Distortion of the information in paragraph 2; (D) is a
Distortion of the first few sentences of paragraph 4.

17. B
The author appeals to Cate’s authority as a biographer of George Sand in paragraph 2
in order to provide evidence for the first reason given as to why and how Aurore Dupin
chose her pen name. (A) and (C) are distortions of the reasoning and information in
paragraph 2, and (D) is totally Outside the Scope.
18. D
This choice is FUD of the 3rd sentence of paragraph 1, which refers to portraits of the
author which did not mention her real name. (A), (B), and (C) are all detailed in
paragraph 1 and are given as reasons for the familiarity of her male pseudonym as
opposed to the relative obscurity of her given female name.
19. A
The first sentence of paragraph 3 strongly suggests that the author favors this second
reason, since it gives more credit to Aurore Dupin as a creative talent. (B) starts off
well, but the second part is 180° from the information in the middle of paragraph 3. (C)
is Outside the Scope: the author never describes George Sand as “rational” and
“innovative.” (D) is a Distortion of the second sentence of paragraph 3.
20. C
The first sentence of paragraph 4 draws this exact comparison between her masculine
dress and her masculine pseudonym. (A), (B), and (D) are all Outside the Scope, and
(A) and (B) are 180° from the description of her roles in life given in the 3rd sentence of

paragraph 4.
Passage IV (Questions 21-26)
Topic and Scope: The main idea of this descriptive passage about boomtowns is simply
that these towns experience many infrastructure problems as a result of rapid
population fluctuations, and these problems damage the quality of life for all residents.
The first paragraph provides a definition of boomtowns and lists their problems. The
second paragraph talks about rapid population fluctuations in boomtowns. Even though
structural signals have not been covered yet, you may want to elicit from students that
the structural signal “Hence” links rapid population fluctuations to infrastructure
problems. The third paragraph discusses another contributing factor to boomtown
problems; inadequate tax revenues. The structural signal “For example” indicates that
the author is about to provide an example of the preceding point—that boomtowns are
often unable to tax development projects that affect them. The last paragraph lists

25


some of the specific infrastructure problems of boomtowns and their social
consequences for old and new full-time residents. The structural signal “Until recently”
suggests that these problems have finally been acknowledged by urban planners.

21.
D
All three options are mentioned in the first and/or last paragraph as possible
consequences of poor planning and underfinancing: option I (unsatisfactory labor
conditions) see lines 13 and 67-70. Option II (inadequate police protections) see lines
50-51. Option III (poor community relations) see lines 9-16. Note that once a student
has decided that both I. and II. are possible, there’s no need to even look at III, because
choices (A), (B), and (C) can all be eliminated.
22

B
This is an ALL/EXCEPT detail problem that should be done by the process of
elimination. Choice (A) is mentioned in lines 24-26, so it can be eliminated. Choice (C)
is mentioned in lines 42-44; and (D) is in lines 33-36. Thus, by elimination, the answer is
(B).
23
A
The correct choice for this “inference” question is (A), which uses different language to
make a point that is made in the text. See second paragraph.
24
B
Choice (A) is too strongly negative in tone to describe the author’s attitude toward
boomtown-related tax programs. (D) complacent (meaning self-satisfied), in contrast, is
too positive. (C) isn’t right because there’s nothing in the third paragraph to suggest that
the author is astonished by these programs. (B), however, sounds right. The author
describes these programs in a matter-of-fact manner that suggests “concern,” but not
anger or dismay.
25
D
The point made in choice (D) appears in the middle of both the first and the fourth
paragraphs.
26
A
The first sentence of the last paragraph states a finding — large-scale development in
sparsely populated areas causes social problems. The rest of the paragraph then goes
on to describe these problems in some detail. That makes (A) the correct answer. (B),
(C) and (D) are easy to eliminate, since no prediction is made, no point of view is stated,
and no proposal is set forth.
Passage V (Questions 27- 33)
Topic: Poetry

Scope: How factual errors of imitation in poetry can be justified by artistic means

26


Paragraph 1 introduces three types of imitation and the thesis that poetry does not need
to be as accurate or correct as politics or other arts.
Paragraph 2 describes two kinds of errors that may be found in poetry as well as how
these errors should be interpreted in terms of their fault’s severity.
Paragraph 3 explains in further detail the common poetic errors and how they can be
justified.
Paragraph 4 gives the poet potential responses to objections or criticism regarding
poetic errors in comparison to reality or probability, and mentions Sophocles and
Euripides as exemplar authors.
Paragraph 5 concludes with a contrast between the possible and the probable, and
expresses the author’s preference for probable impossibility as opposed to improbably
possibility.
27.
B
The end of paragraph 1 and the beginning of paragraph 2 describe how certain errors of
accuracy or factual information can be excused so long as the poet’s language is not
faulty. Answer choices (A), (C), and (D) all fall into this category of error; only (B)
mentions an error at the level of language as opposed to content.
28.
C
Paragraph 3 contrasts Sophocles and Euripides in that the former describes humans in
an idealized manner, whereas the latter shows human characters according to reality.
(A), (B), and (D) are distortions of this comparison.
29.
B

The author claims that poets are like painters in that all artists are imitators. (A), (C),
and (D) are Outside the Scope answer choices, since the author does not praise poetry
to the detriment of other art forms.
30.
A
(B) is described in the last sentence of paragraph 4; (C) is explained in the beginning of
paragraph 4; and (D) is the subject of the 2 nd sentence of paragraph 1.

31.
B
The entire passage is devoted to showing what poets must imitate, how they may
create artistic imitations, and why unrealistic characters or situations may be
rationalized in the context of these imitations. (A) is Outside the Scope; (B) and (D) are
FUD.
32.

27

D


Paragraph 5 concludes that the impossible can be justified by the poet’s successful
fulfillment of artistic requirements. (A) is FUD of the 1st sentence of paragraph 1; (B) is
Outside the Scope since reader credibility is not addressed by the passage; (C) is
Distortion of the final sentence of the passage.
Passage VI (Questions 33-40)
Topic: Race.
Scope: Problems with the notion of biological races and evaluation of proposal to
abandon racial typologies.
Purpose: To explain problems with the idea of race as a biological fact, and to argue

that racial categories should be abandoned.
In the first paragraph the author introduces the problem and foreshadows her argument
(in favor of abandoning racial taxonomies). In the second paragraph she explains that
human groups are not races biologically speaking, but rather "social races." In the third
paragraph the author argues that similar physical features do not necessarily indicate
recent common ancestry. The fourth paragraph examines different societies' criteria for
determining race, using the examples of the US and Brazil. In the fifth paragraph the
author argues that race should be abandoned altogether, and cites the problem of
racism as further justification.
33.
B
The third paragraph explains the causes of human physical or phenotypic differences.
Because this is an "EXCEPT" question, all of the wrong answer choices are supported
by the passage and the right answer choice is not.
(A) is wrong: Differences in racial taxonomies are mentioned in paragraphs two and
four. Paragraph 2 brings up the idea of social races and paragraph four discusses an
example of different cultures' racial classification systems. (C) is wrong: The third
paragraph discusses the mismatch between ancestry and physical traits. (D) is wrong:
The author notes in the second paragraph that there are no such thing as human races
in a scientific sense, for the reason mentioned in this answer choice.
34.
D
The third paragraph presents the example of Brazil's racial classification system in
contrast to that of the USA. The author notes that races in Brazil are based on
appearance alone and that they can change from day to day. Therefore, getting a sun
tan, which would alter a person's appearance, could conceivably change the race of
someone in Brazil. All the other choices are Outside the Scope. None of these are
mentioned in connection with Brazilian racial categories.
35
C

The passage criticizes the notion of race as a biological category. A vertical scan of the
verbs in the answer choices could have helped students eliminate wrong answers
relatively quickly.
Choice A is Outside the Scope. No hypothesis is advanced in the passage nor are any
recent discoveries identified. (B) is too narrow. The passage does contrast the

28


classification systems of the USA and Brazil, in paragraph 3, but this comparison is not
the purpose of the passage overall. This answer choice could have been eliminated in
a verb scan, since the overall purpose of the passage is not comparison. (D) is too
narrow. Worldwide variations in the phenomenon of racial taxonomy are brought up as
support for the author's argument that race is not biological. This answer choice could
have been eliminated in a verb scan because the passage is argumentative, not
descriptive.
36.
A
The author argues in the first and fifth paragraph that racial categories should be
abandoned for the betterment of society. We can assume therefore that she believes
conscious effort can improve society. Choice B is wrong: The author does not favor
Brazil's system over that of the USA; she states that neither is scientific. She presents
them both for purposes of illustration. (C) is Outside the Scope. The author argues that
racial categories should be abandoned and that such a change would be beneficial;
valued beliefs are not mentioned in the passage. (D) is a Distortion—too extreme. The
passage does not discuss any beliefs except systems of racial classification.
37.
B
Paragraph 3 discusses the mismatch between appearance and ancestry: appearance
results from a variety of evolutionary forces active in various parts of the world, making

it an unreliable indicator of recent ancestry. It suggests that people could share
physical features without being closely related. Choice A is Outside the Scope. It may
be true that our racial categories mis-identify people's skin color, but the passage does
not allude to this problem. (C) is Outside the Scope. The question of early human
evolution does not arise in the passage. This answer choice does not provide a
problem with racial classification; there's no reason why our species' descent from
Africa should make racial categories any less valid. This answer choice should have
been eliminated because it is logically inconsistent: if humans first evolved in Africa,
we're all descended from the original line of humanity. (D) is Opposite. The passage
states that ancestry is the legal criterion for race in the United States (paragraph 4).
38.
C
In paragraph 4 the author mentions that the illogical racial classification systems in
some states are "legacies of slavery" and in paragraph 5 she notes "the genesis of our
racial taxonomies themselves in the history of colonialism and slavery". Choices A and
B are Outside the Scope. There is no discussion of changes in social races worldwide
to warrant this claim. (D) is also Outside the Scope. The passage does not cite any
accurate racial classifications. Colonialism and slavery are mentioned as influences on
our current taxonomy but there is no mention of or comparison with a previous system.
39.
D
The passage identifies scientific races as "reproductively isolated branches of a
species". This means that they must have had a significant period in their history in
which they could not reproduce with other members of the same species, possibly due
to geographic circumstances. Answer choice D is a rough paraphrase of the conditions

29


required for races to form. Choice A is a Distortion, extreme. Although scientific races

would have been "reproductively isolated" at one point, the passage does not assert
that members of true races could no longer interbreed. (B) is Outside the Scope. The
passage does not speculate on how many races would exist if humans had true races.
Since this would depend on specific circumstances, there is no way of knowing a priori
how many races there would be. (C) is a Distortion. The passage discusses genetics,
ancestry and appearance in paragraph four. It suggests that these do not always go
together in our current racial taxonomies, with the examples of classification in the USA
and in Brazil. However, it does not discuss how these three factors might be used if
human groups formed true races.
40.
A
The fourth paragraph discusses racial classification in the USA. The author notes that
race is legally determined by ancestry although people think it is identified through
genetics or appearance. She also discusses an inconsistency in the legal rule for
labeling mixed race children. Choice B is Opposite. The passage states that the
system of classification in use in the USA is not scientific. North America outside of the
USA is not addressed. (C) is Outside the Scope. The passage does not recommend a
superior method of racial identification. (D) is a Distortion. The passage implies that
these factors may contradict each other and does not advocate for the use of any of
them.
Passage VII (Questions 41-46)
Topic: Gautier as a poet
Scope: Gautier’s unique talents over-ride any limitations
Paragraph 1 introduces Gautier as an admirable and talented poet, despite any
limitations he may have had. The author considers that Gautier had a unique and
inimitable talent, and that none of his successors has come close to replicating his
particular style.
Paragraph 2 indicates that readers should be entertained by poetry, and concludes by
declaring that Gautier’s mastery of his own talents can serve as a lesson to others.
Paragraph 3 continues the author’s discussion of Gautier’s unique talents, and lyrically

describes the poet’s attitude towards the natural world and art. The author remarks that
Gautier was extraordinarily attentive to and interested in life, and that he was blessed by
Nature with an exceptional sensibility.
41.
C
Answer choice A is discussed in the beginning of paragraph 3; choice B is implied by
the remark on his “spontaneity” in the middle of paragraph 1; and choice D is mentioned
at the end of Paragraph 1. Gautier’s educational background, choice C, is not
presented in the passage.
42

30

A


At the end of paragraph 1, Gautier is favorably compared to Musset, and paragraph 2
praises Gautier in comparison with Browning. Answer choice B is FUD of the 1st
sentence of paragraph 1; (C) is Opposite since the author praises Gautier throughout
the passage; D is FUD of the middle part of paragraph 1, since the other authors are not
directly associated with attempts at imitations of Gautier’s style.
43.
B
Answer choices A and D are Opposite since they would help to strengthen the author’s
conclusion. Choice C, which contains irrelevant historical information, would have no
effect on the conclusion. Only B would undermine the author’s conclusion that Gautier’s
limitations were secondary to his poetic talent.
44.
D
Choices A and C are Outside the Scope answer choices; choice B is FUD of the first

two sentences of paragraph 3. Only (D) correctly paraphrases the phrase in paragraph
3 that provides a meaning for the words “pagan bonhomie” in the question stem
(“…magnificent good temper and the unquestioning serenity of his enjoyment of the
great spectacle of nature and art”).
45.
B
The first sentence in paragraph 2 clearly states that readers of poetry should be
entertained “before all things.” Choices A, C, and D are not discussed in the passage,
and thus are Outside the Scope answer choices.
46.
D
Paragraph 3 implies that Gautier was not overly concerned with death or the “outlying
darkness” of the world, but rather preferred to concentrate on “the great spectacle of
nature.” Choice A is Outside the Scope and too extreme; Choices B and C are also
both Outside the Scope.
Passage VIII (Questions 47- 54)
Topic and Scope: Mental imaging, and studies exploring it.
Purpose: To categorize experiments that have been done in support of the analog
position of mental representation.
Paragraph 1 introduces the topic and establishes the author’s purpose. Each of the
remaining paragraphs explore one type of experiment that has helped develop our
understanding of the nature of mental imaging.
47.

31

A


The first sentence clearly states that the analog position is choice A. Choice B directly

contradicts this claim, and there is no support for Choice D. Since complex problems
need not take more steps, Choice C is a misreading of the analog position.
48.
C
Given the assumptions of the analog position, (C) is the best answer. Choice A directly
contradicts the premises of the analog position, and there is no evidence for Choice B
or D.
49.
B
The subjects were forced to demonstrate that they knew the positions of the objects on
the maps, so choice A is incorrect. There is no mention of consulting real maps during
the actual experiment, lending no support for choice C. It is also not specified that it
takes subjects longer to start scanning longer distances, which eliminates (D).
50.
D
There is no support for choice A, that objects are scanned in order of size; there is also
no support for choice C. It is not stated that the larger object is in front of the smaller
object, so choice B is incorrect.
51.
D
This question is trying to get us to consider what is implied by the statement that the
results are due to experimenter effects. If the results are due to experimenter effects,
then it might be possible to create any pattern of results one wanted to, which is answer
(D). (C) is contradicted by the premises of the question. Choices A and B also imply that
the results are not influenced by experimenter effects.
52.
B
The analog position both predicts that there will be a relationship between scanning and
distance and that this relationship will be linear. Any other pattern contradicts this
position. Options II and III contradict this prediction; therefore choice B is the correct

answer.
53.
C
If subjects can alter the rate at which they scan mental images, this implies that the rate
is not due to properties of the image, which contradicts A. B and D are contradicted by
the nature of the question.
Passage IX (Questions 54-60)
Topic: Methods of study
Scope: Development of a particular methodological approach to abstract ideas
Paragraph 1 discusses the author’s scholarly background in philosophy and
mathematics. The author explains why he found the study of logic problematic since it
wasn’t useful for passing knowledge along to others, and since many of its precepts
seemed to be false.

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Paragraph 2 explains the problems found by the author during his study of geometry
and algebra, including their narrow focus on figures, rules, and numbers.
Paragraph 3 concludes the previous discussion with the author’s decision to develop
some other methodological approach. The paragraph concludes with a long metaphor
about vice in government, and thereby proposes that close observation of a select
number of principles is preferable to attempting to integrate a large number of
principles.
Paragraph 4 presents the first precept, which entails caution as well as lack of
judgement in the acceptance of the veracity or falsity of ideas and concepts.
Paragraph 5 states the second precept, which can basically be summarized as “divide
and conquer” – that is, divide large concepts into small manageable pieces in order to
understand them.
Paragraph 6 continues along the same vein, for the author declares that he will advance

slowly in his thinking and analysis.
Paragraph 7 gives the fourth and final precept, which indicates the author’s concern
with being complete and thorough in his studies.
54.
C
Answer choices A, B, and D are paraphrases of statements made in paragraph 1. Lack
of understanding is never mentioned, so choice C is Outside the Scope.
55.
B
The end of paragraph 4 indicates that the “spirit” plays an important role in the author’s
approach to determining truth, implying that instinctive reactions are just as important as
intellectual knowledge. For this same reason, choices A and C are Opposite answer
choices. D is FUD of details mentioned in paragraphs 1 and 2.

56.
D
Answer choice D paraphrases the long and complicated sentence that ends paragraph
3. (A) is completely Outside the Scope, (B) is a Distortion of the beginning of the final
sentence of paragraph 3, and (C) is FUD of the same sentence.
57.
B
Paragraph 2 discusses the problems with geometric analysis, including the fact that it is
largely irrelevant except for abstract ideas and that its applications are limited to figures,
so both statements I and II are paraphrases of parts of paragraph 2. Statement III is a
Distortion of the sentence in paragraph 3 that shows how geometry requires intellectual
fortitude at the same time as it neglects the imagination. For this reason, answer
choices A, C, and D are incorrect.
58.

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A


Paragraph 3 summarizes the author’s reasoning for developing his own methodological
approach after attempting to study the existing tenets of philosophy, geometry, and
algebra. Choices B, C, and D are all Outside the Scope answer choices.

59.
B
Paragraph 5 contains the author’s precept that each “difficulty” should be divided into
smaller parts in order to better understand and resolve it, so answer choice B is correct.
(A) is FUD, for the author mentions his own study of logic when he was younger but
does not pronounce an opinion. Answer choice C is a paraphrase of the author’s
second precept, and is Opposite for this question. Likewise, choice D is mentioned in
paragraph 1, so is another Opposite answer.
60.
C
The end of Paragraph 3, combined with precepts 1, 3, and 4, demonstrate that the
author values a careful, orderly, and consistent method. Answer choices A, B, and D
are Outside the Scope.

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