Read the passage below and then choose the best answer to each question. Answer the questions on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage.
Passage
Passage 1
Twice I've partaken of that cuisine known as "molecular gastronomy," and twice I've been unimpressed. First, at a county fair, I tried frozen "dots" of ice cream that had been formed into tiny pellets through a process of flash-freezing them in liquid nitrogen. The verdict? I would have preferred a traditional ice cream cone. At the other end of the dining spectrum, I "enjoyed" a high-end restaurant meal of a salad reprocessed entirely into a bowl of foam and an entrée of prime rib and baked potato repurposed into packing peanuts to be nibbled at by hand. My dessert was no more than a clear sphere that burst in my mouth into the "essence" of chocolate cake. The essence of chocolate cake! Some words I'd use to describe that meal include "creative" and "unique." Words I wouldn't use? "Filling" and "worth every cent."
Passage 2
Each year, designers around the world unveil clothing lines that are fantastical, grandiose, and, sometimes, utterly unwearable. Many of the designs are less fashion than art. The same is true in molecular gastronomy, the modern cooking technique of using chemistry to prepare food in new ways. Traditional dishes are transformed into jellies and foams; they are frozen with liquid nitrogen, shaped and formed through the use of lasers, and soaked in chemical baths. The end result is downright otherworldly: an egg served with the yolk on the outside, a decorative football helmet made entirely of crab cakes, a dessert of chocolate cake served as a clear ball! Molecular gastronomy does have its detractors, who claim the cuisine is more art than food, but such complaints can't be surprising. As high fashion isn't for everyone, neither is haute cuisine.
The author of Passage 1 would most likely characterize the claim of the "detractors" mentioned in Passage 2 as
- A. an unfair accusation
- B. a flattering portrayal
- C. an accurate description
- D. a flawed argument
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
The author of Passage 1 would likely view the claim of the "detractors" as an accurate description, reflecting a critical stance towards the subject being discussed. This suggests that the detractors highlight valid concerns that resonate with the author's perspective. Option A, "an unfair accusation," implies bias against the detractors, which does not align with the author's objective analysis. Option B, "a flattering portrayal," contradicts the nature of criticism typically associated with detractors. Lastly, option D, "a flawed argument," suggests a dismissal of the detractors' points, which would not align with the author's acknowledgment of their validity.
The author of Passage 1 would likely view the claim of the "detractors" as an accurate description, reflecting a critical stance towards the subject being discussed. This suggests that the detractors highlight valid concerns that resonate with the author's perspective. Option A, "an unfair accusation," implies bias against the detractors, which does not align with the author's objective analysis. Option B, "a flattering portrayal," contradicts the nature of criticism typically associated with detractors. Lastly, option D, "a flawed argument," suggests a dismissal of the detractors' points, which would not align with the author's acknowledgment of their validity.
Other Related Questions
The author of Passage 1 would probably say that the claims in the last sentence of Passage 2 ("Someday notice") are
- A. disappointing and inaccurate
- B. stimulating and insightful
- C. optimistic but vague
- D. alarming but truthful
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
Passage 1 likely emphasizes a critical perspective on claims that lack substantiation, making option A—disappointing and inaccurate—the most fitting choice. This aligns with a viewpoint that values factual accuracy and clarity. Option B, stimulating and insightful, misrepresents the author's likely skepticism towards unsupported claims. C, optimistic but vague, suggests a positive outlook that contrasts with the author's critical stance. D, alarming but truthful, implies an acceptance of the claims' validity, which contradicts the author's probable disapproval of inaccuracies. Thus, A best captures the author's likely viewpoint.
Passage 1 likely emphasizes a critical perspective on claims that lack substantiation, making option A—disappointing and inaccurate—the most fitting choice. This aligns with a viewpoint that values factual accuracy and clarity. Option B, stimulating and insightful, misrepresents the author's likely skepticism towards unsupported claims. C, optimistic but vague, suggests a positive outlook that contrasts with the author's critical stance. D, alarming but truthful, implies an acceptance of the claims' validity, which contradicts the author's probable disapproval of inaccuracies. Thus, A best captures the author's likely viewpoint.
The retired government official spoke_______ about foreign policy and international trade.
- A. as knowing
- B. in knowledge
- C. knowledgeably
- D. knowledgeable
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: C
Option C, "knowledgeably," is the appropriate choice as it is an adverb that describes how the retired government official spoke, indicating that he did so with knowledge and expertise. Option A, "as knowing," is grammatically incorrect in this context; it does not fit the structure of the sentence. Option B, "in knowledge," is awkward and does not function as an adverb, failing to appropriately modify the verb "spoke." Option D, "knowledgeable," is an adjective and does not correctly modify the verb, making it unsuitable for this sentence structure.
Option C, "knowledgeably," is the appropriate choice as it is an adverb that describes how the retired government official spoke, indicating that he did so with knowledge and expertise. Option A, "as knowing," is grammatically incorrect in this context; it does not fit the structure of the sentence. Option B, "in knowledge," is awkward and does not function as an adverb, failing to appropriately modify the verb "spoke." Option D, "knowledgeable," is an adjective and does not correctly modify the verb, making it unsuitable for this sentence structure.
According to scientists, the seven separate continents of the world, in the far distant past, one vast land mass.
- A. the world, in the far distant past
- B. the world, being in the far distant past
- C. the world were, in the far distant past
- D. the world was, in the far distant past
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: D
Option D accurately uses the verb "was," which agrees with the singular subject "the world." This structure clearly conveys that, historically, the continents formed one vast land mass. Option A lacks a verb, making it an incomplete thought. Option B incorrectly uses "being," which is not suitable in this context and disrupts the sentence's clarity. Option C uses "were," which does not agree with the singular subject and creates confusion about the subject-verb relationship. Thus, D is the only option that maintains grammatical correctness and clarity.
Option D accurately uses the verb "was," which agrees with the singular subject "the world." This structure clearly conveys that, historically, the continents formed one vast land mass. Option A lacks a verb, making it an incomplete thought. Option B incorrectly uses "being," which is not suitable in this context and disrupts the sentence's clarity. Option C uses "were," which does not agree with the singular subject and creates confusion about the subject-verb relationship. Thus, D is the only option that maintains grammatical correctness and clarity.
Which is the best version of the underlined portion of sentence 3 (reproduced below)? High-tech teams around the world are working on projects designed to enhance people's telepresence "their sense of physically being in a location even when they are actually thousands of miles away.
- A. (as it is now)
- B. telepresence', their
- C. telepresence.' Their
- D. telepresence' their
Correct Answer & Rationale
Correct Answer: A
Option A maintains the original structure and punctuation, effectively conveying the intended meaning without introducing errors. The phrase "telepresence" is correctly followed by a quotation mark, and the sentence flows logically. Option B incorrectly uses a comma instead of a period after "telepresence," which disrupts the sentence's clarity and structure. Option C improperly replaces the comma with a period, creating a fragment because "Their sense..." would then be a standalone sentence without proper connection to the previous thought. Option D lacks the necessary punctuation to separate the two ideas, resulting in a confusing and grammatically incorrect construction.
Option A maintains the original structure and punctuation, effectively conveying the intended meaning without introducing errors. The phrase "telepresence" is correctly followed by a quotation mark, and the sentence flows logically. Option B incorrectly uses a comma instead of a period after "telepresence," which disrupts the sentence's clarity and structure. Option C improperly replaces the comma with a period, creating a fragment because "Their sense..." would then be a standalone sentence without proper connection to the previous thought. Option D lacks the necessary punctuation to separate the two ideas, resulting in a confusing and grammatically incorrect construction.