3 Verbal Test Questions

Question

All-
I got these three wrong on my initial test, but I'm convinced I'm right. Can anyone answer the question and explain why they chose it? Thanks for the help.

1. To succeed in these tests it is absolutely necessary >
 (a) for you to aim at speed and accuracy
 (b) for you to aim for speed and accuracy
 (c) for you to go for speed and accuracy
 (d) that you aim speed and accuracy
 (e) that you should aim for speed and accuracy


2. >
 (a) We were surprised by the peculiarity of his behavior
 (b) We were surprised by his peculiar behavior
 (c) We were surprised at the peculiarity of his behavior
 (d) We were surprised by the fact that he behaved in such a peculiar way
 (e) We were surprised at his peculiar behavior

3. All computers manufactured after 1998 havea minimum processing speed of 400Mhz. My computer has a processing speed of 399Mhz.

Which of the following can definitely NOT be concluded from the above statements?
 I: My computer was definitely manufactured after 1998
 II: My computer may have been manufactured in 1998
 III: If it had been manufactured a year later, my computer would have had a faster processing speed

 (a) I only
 (b) II only
 (c) III only
 (d) I and III only
 (e) II and III only


I'd appreciate any help. Thanks. Jeff

plsubbu · Answer

1. Aim for is the right idiom. I would go with b.

2. Suprised by is the right idiom. b as well. Short and concise

3. I and III cannot be concluded. So it is d.

Natalya Khimich · Answer

My answer choices are exactly the same.
B, B, and D.

ArashKhurana · Answer

ditto

rlevochkin · Answer

1C
2B
3D

andy_gr8 · Answer

1-B We have to use aim for...
2-B
3- D- I & 3 cant be inferred

x242222 · Answer

Thanks for the feedback. I answered B, B, E. I'll relook my third question since you all agree with the book. Here are the answers/justifications from the test. 

1. (A) is the correct answer. The sentence tests the usage of prepositions. "Aim at" is correct when used in the sense of intending to achieve something. "Aim for" may be used in the context of obtaining something tangible, as in "aim for a gold medal at the Olympics". Also, you need to remember the first principles of GMAT Sentence Correction: Never make an unnecessary change--there's nothing wrong with A.

When I took the test, I answered the B was the correct answer and based on what you all said, I think we have a consensus.

2. (E) is the correct answer. GMAT verbal awards precision. Other things being the same, it is advisable to go in for the most precise formation. Here, 'his peculiar behavior....' is the best expression. 'Surprised at...' is correct, not surprised by. This leads us to E as the correct answer.

Again, I answered B to this question like you all. 

3. Ok here, I chose E. Maybe I just got confused in the language of the question. But it asks which of the following can definitely NOT be concluded. The only statement that you can really conclude is statement I. This leaves II and III, hence answer E. I'm all ears though, please tell me where I'm wrong.

cattalk · Answer

Okay...I can understand the OA for 1 and 3 but I still don't get 2.

By the way, x242222, for number 3, you can't conclude for sure that the computer was definitely manufactured after 1998. Just because later computers have this minumum speed doesn't mean earlier computers couldn't reach this speed as well. For all we know, computers manufactured before this year may have a MAXIMUM processing speed of 400 Mhz for example.

harinder_sandhu · Answer

My choice is B,B and D too.Can anyone please put more light on the given explanations.

ps_dahiya · Answer

I chose

1. A
2. E 
3. A

I: My computer was definitely manufactured after 1998 - CAN NOT BE INFERRED. DEFINITE
II: My computer may have been manufactured in 1998 - MAY OR MAY NOT BE TRUE. NOT DEFINITE
III: If it had been manufactured a year later, my computer would have had a faster processing speed - MAY OR MAY NOT BE TRUE. NOT DEFINITE

Please explain question #3.

x242222 · Answer

Cattalk-
Thanks for the explanation. It makes sense. All the NOT concluding, and Not manufactured wording tripped me up.

shahnandan · Answer

got AEA as well and dahiya's expln on the last question is bang on target.

watever · Answer

I agree with dahiya on the last one. For instance, if the year of manufacture was 1998, then the comp speed would have been definitely higher. Since the year cannot be conclusively determined, going either way would be wrong - the questions asks for can  DEFINITELY  not be concluded.

3 Verbal Test Questions

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