GMAT Question of the Day (June 12)

Math

A car dealership sold two cars: the first car at a 10% profit and the second car at a 10% loss, which gave them an overall profit of 5% from these two sales. If the dealership's total profit was $1000, what was the cost price of each car?

A. $5,000 and $1,000
B. $9,000 and $5,000
C. $11,000 and $9,000
D. $15,000 and $5,000
E. $20,000 and $10,000

Verbal

Greek tragedy, one of the enduring pillars of our belief system, dramatized the concept that the misfortune a person suffers is not an accident, but rather a logical outcome of flaws in that person’s nature; the misfortune is thus that person’s “fault.” Nonetheless, today the public broadly supports bankruptcy protection, family welfare and other “social safety net” programs that shield the destitute in the face of their hardships, at taxpayer expense.

Which of the following, if true, would best resolve the paradox in the statements above?

A. The ancient Greeks had few, if any, such social safety net programs in their society.

B. The majority of the public is more familiar with the works of Shakespeare than those of Greek tragedy.

C. Some people insist that society, not the individual, is to blame for most accidents.

D. Many people in financial difficulties feel too ashamed to declare bankruptcy or to take advantage of other social safety net programs.

E. The religions practiced by most people today strongly encourage people to contribute to charities that assist innocent people injured in natural disasters, such as hurricanes.