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Apr 2808:00 AM PDT
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Whether you are just beginning your MBA journey or fine-tuning your path to a 700+ score, GMAT Day is designed to give you a competitive edge.
11 Sep 2024, 08:13
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Question 1
C
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
25%
(medium)
Question Stats:
76% (02:38) correct
24%
(02:45) wrong
based on 51
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Question 2
A
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
55%
(hard)
Question Stats:
51% (01:05) correct 49%
(01:40) wrong
based on 59
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Question 3
E
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
15%
(low)
Question Stats:
73% (00:35) correct 27%
(00:37) wrong
based on 55
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Question 4
D
Be sure to select an answer first to save it in the Error Log before revealing the correct answer (OA)!
Difficulty:
35%
(medium)
Question Stats:
62% (00:40) correct 38%
(00:56) wrong
based on 50
sessions
History
Date
Time
Result
Not Attempted Yet
Q1. According to the passage, which of the following most accurately characterizes the relationship between the Chinese fleet and the foreign ambassadors they encountered during the Ming treasure voyages?
(A) The ambassadors were brought back as a demonstration of China’s military superiority over the foreign territories.
(B) The ambassadors were coerced into pledging allegiance to China as part of a broader strategy to control foreign trade routes.
(C) The ambassadors were brought back voluntarily, with their rulers willing to declare themselves tributaries to China.
(D) The Chinese sought to establish long-term political alliances with foreign ambassadors to secure trade monopolies.
(E) The ambassadors were brought back as part of a diplomatic initiative to foster mutual economic growth.
The Ming treasure voyages were maritime expeditions undertaken by Ming China's treasure fleet between 1405 and 1433. The grand project resulted in seven far-reaching ocean voyages to the coastal territories and islands of the South China Sea and Indian Ocean. Admiral Zheng He was commissioned to command the fleet for the expeditions. The first three voyages reached up to Calicut on India's Malabar Coast, while the fourth voyage went as far as Hormuz in the Persian Gulf. In the last three voyages, the fleet traveled up to the Arabian Peninsula and East Africa.
The Chinese expeditionary fleet was heavily militarized and carried great amounts of treasures, which served to project Chinese power and wealth to the known world. They brought back many foreign ambassadors whose kings and rulers were willing to declare themselves tributaries of China. Moreover, the Chinese restructured and established control over an expansive maritime network in which the region became interconnected on an economic and political level. The Chinese did not seek territory and were motivated primarily by political and economic control with domination over a vast network of ports and shipping lanes.
The trade still flourished long after the voyages had ceased. Chinese ships continued to control the Eastern Asian maritime trade. They also kept on trading with India and East Africa. However, the imperial tributary system over the foreign regions and state monopoly over the foreign trade gradually broke down as time progressed.
It is not exactly known why the Ming treasure voyages completely ended in 1433. Duyvendak suggests that the heavy costs partly contributed to the ending of the expeditions, but Ray, Finlay, and Dreyer note that the costs had not overburdened the Ming treasury. Ray adds that the voyages were a profitable enterprise and rejects the notion that the voyages were terminated because they were wasteful, costly, or uneconomic. Ray states that the cessation of the voyages happened as traders and bureaucrats, for reasons of economic self-interest and through their connections in Beijing, gradually collapsed the framework supporting both the state-controlled maritime enterprise and the strict regulation of private commerce with prohibitive policies.
The Chinese expeditionary fleet was heavily militarized and carried great amounts of treasures, which served to project Chinese power and wealth to the known world. They brought back many foreign ambassadors whose kings and rulers were willing to declare themselves tributaries of China. Moreover, the Chinese restructured and established control over an expansive maritime network in which the region became interconnected on an economic and political level. The Chinese did not seek territory and were motivated primarily by political and economic control with domination over a vast network of ports and shipping lanes.
The trade still flourished long after the voyages had ceased. Chinese ships continued to control the Eastern Asian maritime trade. They also kept on trading with India and East Africa. However, the imperial tributary system over the foreign regions and state monopoly over the foreign trade gradually broke down as time progressed.
It is not exactly known why the Ming treasure voyages completely ended in 1433. Duyvendak suggests that the heavy costs partly contributed to the ending of the expeditions, but Ray, Finlay, and Dreyer note that the costs had not overburdened the Ming treasury. Ray adds that the voyages were a profitable enterprise and rejects the notion that the voyages were terminated because they were wasteful, costly, or uneconomic. Ray states that the cessation of the voyages happened as traders and bureaucrats, for reasons of economic self-interest and through their connections in Beijing, gradually collapsed the framework supporting both the state-controlled maritime enterprise and the strict regulation of private commerce with prohibitive policies.
Q1. According to the passage, which of the following most accurately characterizes the relationship between the Chinese fleet and the foreign ambassadors they encountered during the Ming treasure voyages?
(A) The ambassadors were brought back as a demonstration of China’s military superiority over the foreign territories.
(B) The ambassadors were coerced into pledging allegiance to China as part of a broader strategy to control foreign trade routes.
(C) The ambassadors were brought back voluntarily, with their rulers willing to declare themselves tributaries to China.
(D) The Chinese sought to establish long-term political alliances with foreign ambassadors to secure trade monopolies.
(E) The ambassadors were brought back as part of a diplomatic initiative to foster mutual economic growth.
Q2. Which of the following, if true, would most undermine Ray’s position regarding the efficiency of the Chinese state-controlled maritime trade during the Ming dynasty?
(A) The Ming government imposed restrictive policies that significantly delayed the voyages and raised their operational costs.
(B) The voyages generated substantial profits for the Ming dynasty despite limited government oversight of private commerce.
(C) Bureaucrats and traders consistently lobbied for reduced state control of maritime trade to increase private profits.
(D) Governmental involvement allowed the Ming voyages to efficiently control a vast network of shipping lanes, securing profitable trade routes.
(E) After the voyages ceased, private merchants successfully maintained most of the trade routes previously controlled by the state.
(A) The Ming government imposed restrictive policies that significantly delayed the voyages and raised their operational costs.
(B) The voyages generated substantial profits for the Ming dynasty despite limited government oversight of private commerce.
(C) Bureaucrats and traders consistently lobbied for reduced state control of maritime trade to increase private profits.
(D) Governmental involvement allowed the Ming voyages to efficiently control a vast network of shipping lanes, securing profitable trade routes.
(E) After the voyages ceased, private merchants successfully maintained most of the trade routes previously controlled by the state.
Q3. Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of the passage?
(A) To describe how the Ming treasure voyages expanded China’s territorial control over foreign regions.
(B) To examine the impact of the Ming treasure voyages on global trade and political alliances.
(C) To explore the reasons behind the cessation of the Ming treasure voyages, focusing on the debate surrounding their financial and political sustainability.
(D) To highlight how Chinese military power during the Ming dynasty dominated maritime trade in the Indian Ocean and South China Sea.
(E) To discuss the success of the Ming treasure fleet and examine the factors that led to the cessation of the voyages.
(A) To describe how the Ming treasure voyages expanded China’s territorial control over foreign regions.
(B) To examine the impact of the Ming treasure voyages on global trade and political alliances.
(C) To explore the reasons behind the cessation of the Ming treasure voyages, focusing on the debate surrounding their financial and political sustainability.
(D) To highlight how Chinese military power during the Ming dynasty dominated maritime trade in the Indian Ocean and South China Sea.
(E) To discuss the success of the Ming treasure fleet and examine the factors that led to the cessation of the voyages.
Q4. Which of the following best describes the structure of the final paragraph of the passage?
(A) The author presents two conflicting viewpoints, then provides evidence supporting one of the viewpoints.
(B) The author introduces an explanation for the end of the Ming treasure voyages and then refutes it.
(C) The author outlines multiple theories regarding why the voyages ended and evaluates each theory’s validity.
(D) The author presents competing interpretations of a historical event without taking a position on which explanation is correct.
(E) The author discusses the success of the voyages and then explores the reasons for their eventual cessation.
(A) The author presents two conflicting viewpoints, then provides evidence supporting one of the viewpoints.
(B) The author introduces an explanation for the end of the Ming treasure voyages and then refutes it.
(C) The author outlines multiple theories regarding why the voyages ended and evaluates each theory’s validity.
(D) The author presents competing interpretations of a historical event without taking a position on which explanation is correct.
(E) The author discusses the success of the voyages and then explores the reasons for their eventual cessation.
11 Sep 2024, 14:00
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Here are the official solutions:
Q1. According to the passage, which of the following most accurately characterizes the relationship between the Chinese fleet and the foreign ambassadors they encountered during the Ming treasure voyages?
Explanation:
(A): Incorrect. The passage does not suggest that the ambassadors were brought back as a show of military superiority. While the Chinese fleet was heavily militarized, the passage emphasizes political and economic control rather than military dominance. Therefore, this option misrepresents the nature of the relationship between the fleet and the ambassadors.
(B): Incorrect. The passage states that foreign rulers were willing to declare themselves tributaries of China, meaning there was no coercion involved. This option incorrectly implies that the ambassadors were forced into allegiance, which is not supported by the text.
(C): Correct. The passage clearly states that foreign rulers were willing to declare themselves tributaries of China, which aligns with the idea that the ambassadors were brought back voluntarily. This option accurately reflects the passage's description of the relationship between the Chinese fleet and the foreign ambassadors.
(D): Incorrect. While the passage mentions that the Chinese were motivated by political and economic control, it does not suggest that they sought long-term political alliances to secure trade monopolies. This option introduces the idea of monopolies, which is not discussed in the passage.
(E): Incorrect. The passage focuses on political and economic control through the tributary system rather than mutual economic growth. This option misinterprets the purpose of the diplomatic relations established during the voyages.
Q2. Which of the following, if true, would most undermine Ray’s position regarding the efficiency of the Chinese state-controlled maritime trade during the Ming dynasty?
Explanation:
(A): Correct. This option directly contradicts Ray’s position by indicating that state control led to inefficiency and increased costs, which undermines his argument that the voyages were profitable and efficient under government control.
(B): Incorrect. This option supports Ray’s view that the state-controlled voyages were profitable, and it implies that government involvement did not hinder economic success.
(C): Incorrect. While this option introduces bureaucratic interference, it does not speak to the inefficiency of state control itself. Instead, it implies that private interests sought to undermine state control, which aligns with Ray’s argument.
(D): Incorrect. This supports Ray’s position by suggesting that state control allowed the voyages to manage a profitable network of trade routes, reinforcing the efficiency of the system.
(E): Incorrect. This option discusses the success of private merchants after the voyages ended but does not address or refute Ray’s argument about the efficiency of the state-controlled voyages during the Ming dynasty.
Q3. Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of the passage?
Correct Answer: (E)
Explanation:
(A): Incorrect. This option incorrectly emphasizes territorial expansion, which the passage explicitly states was not a goal of the Ming treasure voyages. The Chinese were not seeking territorial control but rather political and economic dominance through the tribute system and trade networks. As the passage highlights their non-expansionist motives, this option misrepresents the main focus.
(B): Incorrect. While the passage discusses the voyages' effects on trade and political relationships, it does not deeply analyze their impact on global trade or alliances. The passage is more focused on the reasons the voyages stopped, particularly the debate about financial and political sustainability, making this option an incomplete representation of the passage’s main point.
(C): Incorrect. This option is close but not fully accurate because it emphasizes the debate about why the voyages ended while neglecting the equally important discussion of the fleet’s success. The passage balances both the success of the voyages and the reasons they ceased, so this option doesn’t fully capture the dual focus of the passage.
(D): Incorrect. This option places too much emphasis on military power, which is not the central theme of the passage. While the fleet was militarized, the passage focuses on political and economic control, not military dominance over maritime trade or territories. Therefore, this option misrepresents the passage’s main point.
(E): Correct. This option accurately captures the primary purpose of the passage, which is twofold: it discusses the success of the Ming treasure fleet in projecting Chinese power and restructuring trade networks, and it examines the reasons for the cessation of the voyages, including the debate among scholars about financial and political factors. This option best reflects the passage’s comprehensive discussion of both the voyages' achievements and the reasons for their end.
Q4. Which of the following best describes the structure of the final paragraph of the passage?
Correct Answer: (D)
Explanation of Answers:
(A): Incorrect. The final paragraph does present conflicting viewpoints, but the author does not provide evidence supporting one of the viewpoints over the others. The passage remains neutral in its presentation of multiple scholarly opinions, so this option misrepresents the author's stance.
(B): Incorrect. The paragraph does not introduce a single explanation and then refutes it. Instead, it discusses several scholarly perspectives on why the voyages ended without prioritizing one over another.
(C): Incorrect. While multiple theories are presented, the paragraph does not evaluate the validity of each theory. The author presents the perspectives of different scholars without making judgments or analyzing the strength of each viewpoint, so this option misinterprets the structure.
(D): Correct. The author presents competing interpretations from different scholars (e.g., Duyvendak, Ray, Finlay, and Dreyer) regarding the reasons for the cessation of the Ming treasure voyages. However, the author does not take a position or endorse any particular explanation, which makes this option the best fit for describing the structure of the final paragraph.
(E): Incorrect. The final paragraph does not discuss the success of the voyages; it focuses solely on the reasons for their cessation. This option adds an element ("discusses the success of the voyages") that is not present in the paragraph, making it an inaccurate description of the structure.
Q1. According to the passage, which of the following most accurately characterizes the relationship between the Chinese fleet and the foreign ambassadors they encountered during the Ming treasure voyages?
Explanation:
(A): Incorrect. The passage does not suggest that the ambassadors were brought back as a show of military superiority. While the Chinese fleet was heavily militarized, the passage emphasizes political and economic control rather than military dominance. Therefore, this option misrepresents the nature of the relationship between the fleet and the ambassadors.
(B): Incorrect. The passage states that foreign rulers were willing to declare themselves tributaries of China, meaning there was no coercion involved. This option incorrectly implies that the ambassadors were forced into allegiance, which is not supported by the text.
(C): Correct. The passage clearly states that foreign rulers were willing to declare themselves tributaries of China, which aligns with the idea that the ambassadors were brought back voluntarily. This option accurately reflects the passage's description of the relationship between the Chinese fleet and the foreign ambassadors.
(D): Incorrect. While the passage mentions that the Chinese were motivated by political and economic control, it does not suggest that they sought long-term political alliances to secure trade monopolies. This option introduces the idea of monopolies, which is not discussed in the passage.
(E): Incorrect. The passage focuses on political and economic control through the tributary system rather than mutual economic growth. This option misinterprets the purpose of the diplomatic relations established during the voyages.
Q2. Which of the following, if true, would most undermine Ray’s position regarding the efficiency of the Chinese state-controlled maritime trade during the Ming dynasty?
Explanation:
(A): Correct. This option directly contradicts Ray’s position by indicating that state control led to inefficiency and increased costs, which undermines his argument that the voyages were profitable and efficient under government control.
(B): Incorrect. This option supports Ray’s view that the state-controlled voyages were profitable, and it implies that government involvement did not hinder economic success.
(C): Incorrect. While this option introduces bureaucratic interference, it does not speak to the inefficiency of state control itself. Instead, it implies that private interests sought to undermine state control, which aligns with Ray’s argument.
(D): Incorrect. This supports Ray’s position by suggesting that state control allowed the voyages to manage a profitable network of trade routes, reinforcing the efficiency of the system.
(E): Incorrect. This option discusses the success of private merchants after the voyages ended but does not address or refute Ray’s argument about the efficiency of the state-controlled voyages during the Ming dynasty.
Q3. Which of the following best describes the primary purpose of the passage?
Correct Answer: (E)
Explanation:
(A): Incorrect. This option incorrectly emphasizes territorial expansion, which the passage explicitly states was not a goal of the Ming treasure voyages. The Chinese were not seeking territorial control but rather political and economic dominance through the tribute system and trade networks. As the passage highlights their non-expansionist motives, this option misrepresents the main focus.
(B): Incorrect. While the passage discusses the voyages' effects on trade and political relationships, it does not deeply analyze their impact on global trade or alliances. The passage is more focused on the reasons the voyages stopped, particularly the debate about financial and political sustainability, making this option an incomplete representation of the passage’s main point.
(C): Incorrect. This option is close but not fully accurate because it emphasizes the debate about why the voyages ended while neglecting the equally important discussion of the fleet’s success. The passage balances both the success of the voyages and the reasons they ceased, so this option doesn’t fully capture the dual focus of the passage.
(D): Incorrect. This option places too much emphasis on military power, which is not the central theme of the passage. While the fleet was militarized, the passage focuses on political and economic control, not military dominance over maritime trade or territories. Therefore, this option misrepresents the passage’s main point.
(E): Correct. This option accurately captures the primary purpose of the passage, which is twofold: it discusses the success of the Ming treasure fleet in projecting Chinese power and restructuring trade networks, and it examines the reasons for the cessation of the voyages, including the debate among scholars about financial and political factors. This option best reflects the passage’s comprehensive discussion of both the voyages' achievements and the reasons for their end.
Q4. Which of the following best describes the structure of the final paragraph of the passage?
Correct Answer: (D)
Explanation of Answers:
(A): Incorrect. The final paragraph does present conflicting viewpoints, but the author does not provide evidence supporting one of the viewpoints over the others. The passage remains neutral in its presentation of multiple scholarly opinions, so this option misrepresents the author's stance.
(B): Incorrect. The paragraph does not introduce a single explanation and then refutes it. Instead, it discusses several scholarly perspectives on why the voyages ended without prioritizing one over another.
(C): Incorrect. While multiple theories are presented, the paragraph does not evaluate the validity of each theory. The author presents the perspectives of different scholars without making judgments or analyzing the strength of each viewpoint, so this option misinterprets the structure.
(D): Correct. The author presents competing interpretations from different scholars (e.g., Duyvendak, Ray, Finlay, and Dreyer) regarding the reasons for the cessation of the Ming treasure voyages. However, the author does not take a position or endorse any particular explanation, which makes this option the best fit for describing the structure of the final paragraph.
(E): Incorrect. The final paragraph does not discuss the success of the voyages; it focuses solely on the reasons for their cessation. This option adds an element ("discusses the success of the voyages") that is not present in the paragraph, making it an inaccurate description of the structure.
11 Sep 2024, 22:07
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Quote:
Q2: What if raising operational costs is not the same as making them unprofitable? Something can be more expensive but still very profitable as long as it was VERY profitable in the beginning 😇
Q4: There is an argument and sort of a counter-argument happening with Ray arguing against the profitability 🤷♂️
I am not sure I feel very fuzzy and warm about the explanation for question 4's incorrect answers 👀
