GMAT SECTION 3: VERBAL ABILITY Exam Questions and Answers

QUESTION: 101

Anuj wants to lose about 15 pounds. He knows several people who have lost 10 to 20 pounds in just one month with a particular over-the-counter diet pill. Anuj plans to buy the diet pill in order to lose 15 pounds in the same time period. Based on the previous information, for Anuj’s plan to succeed, which of the following must be true?

Anuj’s body type, exercise regimen, and diet must be similar to those of the people who lost 15 pounds with the pill.
Anuj must avoid certain foods that may counteract the effectiveness of the pill.
Anuj must take the diet pill at the same time every day.
Anuj must adjust his diet to include more protein and fewer carbohydrates.
Anuj must monitor his weight loss very carefully.

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

Anuj’s plan of action is based on the assumption that he will have the same success with the diet pill as his acquaintances. In order for this to be true, however, a must also be true — he must have a similar body type, exercise regimen, and diet. If, for example, he does not exercise but those people who lost weight with the pill did, he might not have the same results. Anuj may have to avoid certain foods (choice b) or take the pill at the same time each day (choice c) in order for it to be most effective, but these assumptions do not underlie his belief that he will have the same results as the others. Choice d is incorrect because the passage does not state what sort of diet the others had, and again this plan of action rests upon the assumption that he will have similar results. Anuj should probably monitor his weight loss carefully (choice e), but this is just common sense and not relevant to his plan of action.

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QUESTION: 102

In her old apartment, Hermione had trouble sleeping. She had difficulty falling asleep and would wake up several times in the night. Since Hermione moved from that apartment into her new home, she has been sleeping better. She is able to fall asleep quickly and usually stays asleep through the night. All of the following, if true, could account for the phenomenon described in the passage EXCEPT

Hermione had loud neighbors when she lived in the apartment.
Hermione was suffering from anxiety about buying a house and moving.
Hermione discovered that she was allergic to cats and gave her cat away when she moved.
Hermione’s apartment building was constructed prior to 1940, when stricter building codes were put into law.
Hermione was having difficulties in her relationship with her boyfriend right before she moved.

Answer(s): D

Explanation:

The fact that her apartment building was constructed prior to 1940 is essentially irrelevant to her sleep difficulties in her apartment. All of the other factors, however, could logically account for her sleep difficulties and the fact that they disappeared once she moved.

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QUESTION: 103

Toby has breakfast at Good Eats Diner every morning before work. He always orders the same thing: two eggs over easy with three strips of extra crispy bacon, unbuttered wheat toast, and a large coffee. Today, he ordered a bagel with light cream cheese and a large orange juice. Something must be wrong with Toby.
All of the following, if true, are also plausible explanations for Toby’s behavior EXCEPT

Toby has decided to limit the cholesterol in his diet.
a new cook started at Good Eats today.
Toby simply wanted a change of pace.
Toby has gone on a diet.
Toby has decided to become a vegetarian.

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

Perhaps something was wrong with Toby, causing him to deviate from his normal course of action, but there are many other plausible explanations, including his decision to avoid foods high in cholesterol (choice a), a simple desire for a change of pace (choice c), a decision to go on a diet and eat foods lower in fat (choice d), or a decision to eat only vegetarian foods (choice e).

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QUESTION: 104

Zsa Zsa has just opened a beauty salon in her neighborhood. The neighborhood already has two salons—one that caters mostly to older women and one that seems to cater to a general clientele. Zsa Zsa has decided to cater to young clientele to create a niche for herself in the neighborhood. Zsa Zsa’s plan of action is based on all of the following assumptions
EXCEPT

enough young people live in the neighborhood to establish a large enough client base
Zsa Zsa can provide the styles and services that will appeal to younger customers.
younger clients in Zsa Zsa’s neighborhood will be able to afford her services.
Zsa Zsa will establish friendly relationships with the owners of the other salons.
young clients desire services and styles that are not available at the other salons.

Answer(s): D

Explanation:

The relationship that Zsa Zsa has with her competitors will have little effect on her plan of action. Rather, her plan rests on the other assumptions provided. If she is to succeed in creating a niche for herself in the neighborhood, she needs to have a large enough population of young people (choice a), provide the styles and services those clients desire (choice b), offer those styles and services at prices her clients can afford (choice c), and offer styles and services not available at her competitors (choice e).

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QUESTION: 105

Mary Shelley’s 1818 classic Frankenstein has been the most-taught novel on college campuses in the country for the past 10 years. This is due primarily to the worries about scientific responsibility brought on by the recent surge of advances in science and technology, especially biotechnology. Which of the following statements, if true, would be most helpful in evaluating this argument?

Frankenstein is considered the first science-fiction novel.
Most people who have not read the novel mistakenly assume that Frankenstein is the monster, not the scientist who created the monster.
In the novel, Victor Frankenstein creates a monster and then abandons it, refusing to take responsibility for his creation.
In the novel, Frankenstein’s creature causes a great deal of destruction because he is constantly rejected by others.
Most Americans are opposed to cloning human beings.

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

The fact that Dr. Frankenstein brings a creature to life but then abandons that creature, refusing to take responsibility for his creation, tells us that one of Frankenstein’s main themes is scientific responsibility. This would help explain why college professors concerned about scientific responsibility would choose this book. The other choices may be interesting and informative, but they do not help you evaluate the argument because they do not provide information that enables you to ascertain the relevance of the conclusion.

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GMAT GMAT SECTION 3: VERBAL ABILITY Exam (page: 21) GMAT Section 3: Verbal Ability Updated on: 09-Feb-2026

QUESTION: 101

Explanation:

QUESTION: 102

Explanation:

QUESTION: 103

Explanation:

QUESTION: 104

Explanation:

QUESTION: 105

Explanation:

GMAT GMAT SECTION 3: VERBAL ABILITY Exam (page: 21)
GMAT Section 3: Verbal Ability
Updated on: 09-Feb-2026