Here's a set of 6 GMAT Critical Reasoning practice

Hello all,

Here's a post that collects several more GMAT CR practice problems in one place --- five new ones on this page, and links to six other pages, each with multiple practice questions.
https://magoosh.com/gmat/2013/more-gmat- ... questions/

I hope this helps folks.
Mike

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the useful post:).
I've just completed the set, but some questions can't be found on Magoosh website any more . Can you help to explain this one?

3) Although many claim, rightfully so, that selfish interests dictate policy in the United States government’s international aid programs, and that such aid is used to support right-wing dictatorships, it is nevertheless true that these programs bring much-needed food and other life-giving commodities to destitute, innocent people.
Which of the following, if true, is most damaging to the argument above?
A. The distribution of food and medicines in these foreign countries is always controlled by government officials, who invariably use them for political and personal rewards.
B. Literacy textbooks prepared under the direction of the United States Central Intelligence Agency include lessons on the disadvantages of communism.
C. Most of the food used in these programs is from crops purchased by the American government from American farmers through subsidy programs designed to improve the American economy.
D. In countries that do not receive aid from the United States, thousands die each year from starvation and disease.
E. Governments classified as right wing receive over 78 percent of the total U.S. expenditures for international development programs; governments classified as socialist receive less than 12 percent.

I dont understand what's wrong with D? I think it actually weaken the argument, dont u think?
Thanks

YL

Dear hoangyenle,
I'm happy to respond.

At Magoosh, we are constantly reviewing our questions, removing ones that don't perform well and replacing them with questions of higher quality. This question isn't that bad, but it's one that we retired, which is why you no longer could find it.

The argument says, essentially, that the US giving aid is a good thing. By giving aid to countries, we help the people there, which is a good thing to do. These aid programs are a good thing. That's the argument.

I'll just address choice (D), because you asked about it. When countries don't receive the aid, thousands die of starvation. That's a strengthener! That proves how effective and how much needed the US international aid programs are. If the US could increase its international aid programs, and give to these other countries as well, then it would help even more people.

Does this make sense?
Mike

Hi Mike,
I have a question here it's a bold-face question from you post.

2. The Interstate Bridge over the Apache River, built in the 1950s, shows a substantial amount of rust: as much as 45% of its surface is coated in rust. Community activists have argued that the bridge presents a hazard: it is likely to collapse in places where it has rusted through. Professors of mechanical engineering at the local university did an extensive analysis of the bridge. These professors and their graduate students determined that 98% of the rust on the bridge exists on the surface only, and actually seals the underlying steel from the corrosive influence of the elements. The results of this academic study suggest that the bridge is safe for continued use.
In the argument given, the two portions in boldface play which of the following roles?
(A) The first is evidence in support of the conclusion; the second is that conclusion.
(B) The first is the main conclusion of the argument; the second provides evidence that calls this conclusion into question.
(C) The first is evidence taken to support one conclusion; the second provides evidence that calls this conclusion into question.
(D) The first is a position that the argument opposes; the second is the conclusion of the argument.
(E) The first is an interpretation of evidence; the second calls that evidence into question.

The OA is D, but I still think E is right. I have 2 reasons.

First, I don't think the argument in this stem has a opposite relation. The author just stated the fact.
The second, which made me to choose D, is that E makes sense.

I got the rest of the 2 question. but I stuck in this one. Thanks in advance

Wait! I got it! It's not the evidence is wrong, but the interpretation of the evidence is doubtful. This makes E out.

Well, I still decide to post this because other folks may have the same problem.

Dear samsmalldog,
Yes, you are perfectly correct. The professors called into question not the evidence itself (the rust on the bridge), but the community activists' interpretation of this evidence.
And thank you for your generosity, keeping up this post that reflects your though process. A noble gesture for others.
Mike

Hi Mike,
You are welcome, I'm a big fan of your blog on Magoosh(although I haven't left any replys ) and I'm one of your follower. Your explanations are always clear and, in my word, easy to follow. Thank you Mike, I've learned a lot from you.

Hi Mike,

Thank you for such a good post , I have Gmat exam scheduled after 3 months , my quant skills are quite ok , so I am focused on Verbal more . I have been trying to up my game in CR , currently doing strengthen questions mostly from GMAT prep as source . I have been doing fairly well on sub 600 level questions, my accuracy is ok on these questions but as difficulty level goes up so does my time limit. I am able to figure out the correct answer but unfortunately I am not complete the questions within 2 mins time frame. Lets say for 600- 700 questions it takes me approx 3-4 mins, for above 700 ,5- 6 mins ( pretty bad huh ) !!. My question is : is there a fixed ratio that how many questions going to be of low difficulty, how many medium difficulty and how many high difficulty in GMAT Exam. I have been fussing a lot over spending so much time on 85% difficulty level questions but someone guided those kind of questions are encountered when you score above V49. I am currently aiming a score of 700 - 720 range , so on which difficulty level questions should I focus more on .

I am quite confused as I am able to do well(correct answer within stipulated time frame) in all low and medium level questions ( 90% of the time) but as the difficulty goes up above 55% percent lets say it takes me more time to figure out the question. I am clueless , shall I start from basics again? is it the concept that I am lacking ? should low level questions be finished in less than 1.49 mins and rest of the time should be devoted towards medium and higher difficulty questions ? is it ok to spend 2 -3 mins on med - high difficult questions ? if yes , for getting score in 700 - 720 range ,how many questions should I expect belonging to higher difficulty level and what should be the time range for these questions?

I am really sorry for such a lengthy post ,would really appreciate your help here.

Thanks
Megha

Dear Megha,
I'm happy to respond.

I am going to recommend two blogs that I wrote:
1) Doing GMAT Critical Reasoning Quickly
2) How to Improve Your GMAT Verbal Score

After you read those two articles, let me know if you have any further questions.

Mike

Thank for sharing these posts , I have given them a read and they have cleared some of my doubts. However I am stuck on some points, will let you know for further questions on this.

Again thanks a lot for such quick response.

Regards
Megha

mikemcgarry wrote:

Hello all,

Here's a post that collects several more GMAT CR practice problems in one place --- five new ones on this page, and links to six other pages, each with multiple practice questions.
1) In order to combat Carville’s rampant homeless problem, Mayor Bloomfield recently proposed a ban on sleeping outdoors in the city’s many parks. He claims that such a measure will force the homeless to either leave Carville or to find means other than sleeping in public parks.

Which of the following, if true, suggests that Mayor Bloomfield’s plan will be successful?

(A) Until the ban, the city’s many homeless shelters were at less than fifty percent occupancy.

(B) Many homeless tend to congregate underneath Carville’s numerous overpasses.

(C) Adjacent cities have even tougher measures on the homeless sleeping outdoors.

(D) The percent of Carville’s population that has been homeless has been slowly decreasing in the last five years.

(E) Mayor Jonesmith, Mayor Bloomfield’s predecessor, had been far more tolerant towards the city’s homeless population.



I hope this helps folks.
Mike

[color=#363636]


Hi ,
as per me OA should be B

Conclusion:
Mayor wants homeless people to either leave Carville or not sleep in parks

you have considered the answer as A which says that more than 50% of shelter were vacant before this rule was imposed.
So as per me ,the statistics doesn't help in this condition(lets say there are just 3 rooms for homeless and 1 is occupied and,suppose there are 1000's of homeless people)
so it doesnt help.

However,option B says,homeless tend to go under overpass ,so if this rule is imposed then people who were sleeping in parks would now go to overpass.
So it would make Mayor's rule successful.[/color]