GMAT SECTION 3: VERBAL ABILITY Exam Questions and Answers

QUESTION: 116

A report on the use of monosodium glutamate in food concluded, “Most Americans who consume monosodium glutamate regularly are not being harmed.” Critics of the report insist the conclusion be changed to, “Most Americans who consume monosodium glutamate do not show visible symptoms of harm by the substance, such as abnormal rashes or slower rates of metabolism.” Which of the following, if true, provides the best logical justification for the critics’ insistence that the report’s conclusion be changed?

Some Americans who consume monosodium glutamate regularly are being harmed by the substance.
Monosodium glutamate could be causing long term damage for which symptoms have not yet become visible.
The report does not compare harm caused to Americans who consume monosodium glutamate with harm caused to people in other countries.
Monosodium glutamate has been added to a growing number of commonly consumed foods during the past fifteen years.
The severity of damage by monosodium glutamate differs from person to person.

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

If there is a possibility that monosodium glutamate will cause long-term harm, then the absence of symptoms cannot be taken as proof that Americans who consume monosodium glutamate regularly are not being harmed.

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QUESTION: 117

The CEO of Black’s International has proposed replacing their Marmacil semiconductor manufacturing equipment with Fasttech equipment since it costs 30 percent less to train new staff on the Fasttech equipment. Those opposed to the change have pointed out the savings in training cost does not justify the change. Instead, they suggested that the company hire only people who already know how to use the Marmacil equipment.
Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the objection to the replacement of Marmacil semiconductor manufacturing equipment with Fasttechs?

Currently all employees in the company are required to attend workshops on how to use Marmacil semiconductor manufacturing equipment in new applications.
Once employees learn how to use semiconductor-manufacturing equipment;they tend to change employers more readily than before.
Experienced users of Marmacil equipment command much higher salaries than do prospective employees who have no experience in the use of such equipment.
The average productivity of employees in the general manager's company is below the average productivity of the employees of its competitors.
The high costs of replacement parts make Marmacil computers more expensive to maintain than Fasttech semiconductor manufacturing equipment.

Answer(s): C

Explanation:

Those objecting to the change claim that the advantage ofFast tech’srelatively low cost can be mitigated by hiring experience users of Marmacil semiconductor manufacturing equipment. However, if such people command much higher salaries as choice C states, doing so would not result in savings to the company.

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QUESTION: 118

A pharmaceutical company developed a new diuretic reported to cause fewer side effects than their old diuretic, which was still being manufactured. During the first year that both were sold, the earlier medication far outsold the new one; the manufacturer thus concluded that reducing side effects was not the customers' primary consideration.
Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the manufacturer’s conclusion?

Both hospitals and patients buy diuretics from this pharmaceutical company.
Many customers consider older medications a better safety risk than new ones, since more is usually known about the safety of the earlier drugs.
Many customers of this pharmaceutical company also bought medications from companies who did not produce new diuretics reported to cause fewer side effects.
The newer diuretic can be used by all the patients who could use the earlier diuretic.
There was no significant difference in price between the newer diuretic and the earlier diuretic.

Answer(s): B

Explanation:

The manufacture’s conclusion was that reducing side effects was not the customers' primary consideration. Choice B states that customers consider older medication a better safety risk, so those customers bought the older diuretic out of safety considerations.

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QUESTION: 119

Canadian wheat farmers produced so much wheat over the last season that wheat prices plummeted. The government tried to boost wheat prices by offering farmers who agreed not to harvest 20 percent of their wheat field compensation up to a specified maximum per farm.
The Canadian government's program, if successful, will not be a net burden on the budget. Which of the following, if true, is the best basis for an explanation of how this could be so?

If prices were allowed to remain low, the farms would be operating at a loss, causing the government to lose tax revenue on farm profits.
Wheat production in several countries declined the year that the compensation program went into effect in Canada.
The first year that the compensation program was in effect, wheat acreage in Canada was 5% below its level in the base year for the program.
The specified maximum per farm meant that for very large wheat farms the compensation was less per acre for those acres than they were for smaller farms.
Farmers who wished to qualify for compensation program could not use the land not harvested for wheat to grow another crop.

Answer(s): A

Explanation:

The program will not be a net burden on the budget because money spent on compensation can be made up by money collected through taxation of the farms.

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QUESTION: 120

Eclampsia in pregnancy is especially prevalent among women who are seriously malnourished. In order to achieve early detection of eclampsia in these individuals, public health officials distributed pamphlets explaining the importance of early detection of this potentially fatal disease.

Which of the following, if true, is the best criticism of the use of the pamphlet as a method of achieving the public health officials’ goal?

Many prenatal diseases produce symptoms that cannot be detected by the patient.
Once Eclampsia has been detected; the effectiveness of treatment can vary from person to person.
The pamphlet was sent to all town residents, including those individuals who are not pregnant.
Eclampsia is much more common in very young and very old mothers, rather than in those at the height of their productive years.
Pregnant women who are seriously malnourished are often homeless and thus unlikely to receive and read the pamphlet

Answer(s): E

Explanation:

The pamphlet is incapable of achieving the public health officials’ goal if it does not reach its target audience.

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GMAT GMAT SECTION 3: VERBAL ABILITY Exam (page: 24) GMAT Section 3: Verbal Ability Updated on: 25-Dec-2025

QUESTION: 116

Explanation:

QUESTION: 117

Explanation:

QUESTION: 118

Explanation:

QUESTION: 119

Explanation:

QUESTION: 120

Explanation:

GMAT GMAT SECTION 3: VERBAL ABILITY Exam (page: 24)
GMAT Section 3: Verbal Ability
Updated on: 25-Dec-2025