Master the GMAT 2007
00_FM.pmd 5/9/2006, 4:39 PM1 An ARCO Book ARCO is a registered trademark of Thomson Learning, Inc., and is used herein under license by Peterson’s. About Thomson Peterson’s Thomson Peterson’s (www.petersons.com) is a leading provider of education information and advice, with books and online resources focusing on education search, test preparation, and financial aid. Its Web site offers searchable databases and interactive tools for contacting educational institutions, online practice tests and instruction, and planning tools for securing financial aid. Thomson Peterson’s serves 110 million education consumers annually. For more information, contact Peterson’s, 2000 Lenox Drive, Lawrenceville, NJ 08648; 800-338-3282; or find us on the World Wide Web at: www.petersons.com/about © 2006 Thomson Peterson’s, a part of The Thomson Corporation Thomson Learning TM is a trademark used herein under license. Previous editions © 1980, 1986, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005 Editor: Joe Krasowski; Production Editor: Bernadette Webster; Manufacturing Manager: Ivona Skibicki; Composition Manager: Linda M. Williams; CD Producer: Carol Aickley; CD Quality Assurance: Jeff Pagano ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this work covered by the copyright herein may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means—graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, Web distribution, or information storage and retrieval systems—without the prior written permission of the publisher. For permission to use material from this text or product, submit a request online at www.thomsonrights.com Any additional questions about permissions can be submitted by email to thomsonrights@thomson.com ISSN: International Standard Serial Number information available upon request. ISBN 13: 978-0-7689-2312-4 ISBN 10: 0-7689-2312-3 Printed in the United States of America 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 08 07 06 Thirteenth Edition 00_FM.pmd 5/9/2006, 4:39 PM2 Petersons.com/publishing Check out our Web site at www.petersons.com/publishing to see if there is any new information regarding the test and any revisions or corrections to the content of this book. We’ve made sure the information in this book is accurate and up-to-date; however, the test format or content may have changed since the time of publication. 00_FM.pmd 5/9/2006, 4:39 PM3 OTHER RECOMMENDED TITLES Peterson’s MBA Programs ARCO 30 Days to the GMAT ® ARCO GMAT ® Answers to the Real Essay Questions 00_FM.pmd 5/9/2006, 4:39 PM4 v Contents Before You Begin ix How This Book is Organized ix Special Study Features ix About the CD x You’re Well on Your Way to Success x Give Us Your Feedback x Top 10 Ways to Raise Your Score xii Track Your Progress xiii PART I: GMAT BASICS 1 All About the GMAT 3 What Is the GMAT? 3 What Is the CAT? 3 How Do You Register for the GMAT? 4 What Kinds of Questions Are on the Test? 4 How Is the Test Structured? 5 Can You Prepare for the GMAT? 5 What Is a GMAT Study Plan? 6 How Can You Tell If Your Work Is Paying Off? 6 How Is the Test Scored? 7 Can I Predict My GMAT Score? 7 What Smart Test-Takers Know 8 Summing It Up 12 2 GMAT Questions: A First Look 13 What Can You Expect on the Test? 13 How Does the GMAT Test Verbal Reasoning Ability? 14 How Does the GMAT Test Quantitative Reasoning Ability? 19 Summing It Up 22 PART II: DIAGNOSING STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES 3 Practice Test 1: Diagnostic 29 Analytical Writing Assessment 29 Verbal Section 31 Quantitative Section 45 Answer Key and Explanations 54 PART III: GMAT VERBAL QUESTIONS 4 Reading Comprehension 75 What Is Reading Comprehension? 75 How Do You Answer Reading Comprehension Questions? 78 What Smart Test-Takers Know 86 00_FM.pmd 5/9/2006, 4:39 PM5 vi Contents www.petersons.com Exercise 1 89 Exercise 2 103 Answer Key and Explanations 111 Summing It Up 126 5 Sentence Correction 127 What Is Sentence Correction? 127 How Do You Answer Sentence Correction Questions? 129 What Smart Test-Takers Know 130 Exercise 1 146 Exercise 2 154 Answer Key and Explanations 158 Summing It Up 164 6 Critical Reasoning 165 What Does Critical Reasoning Test? 165 How Do You Answer Critical Reasoning Questions? 168 What Smart Test-Takers Know 172 Exercise 1 182 Exercise 2 193 Answer Key and Explanations 201 Summing It Up 218 PART IV: GMAT QUANTITATIVE QUESTIONS 7 Problem Solving 221 What Is Problem Solving? 221 How Do You Answer Problem-Solving Questions? 223 What Smart Test-Takers Know 230 Exercise 1 240 Exercise 2 249 Answer Key and Explanations 253 Summing It Up 268 8 Data Sufficiency 269 What Is Data Sufficiency? 269 How Do You Answer Data Sufficiency Questions? 271 What Do the Answer Choices Mean? 273 What Smart Test-Takers Know 277 Exercise 1 284 Exercise 2 292 Answer Key and Explanations 296 Summing It Up 305 PART V: THE WRITING SECTION 9 Analytical Writing Assessment 309 What Is the Analytical Writing Assessment? 309 How Is the Assessment Graded? 310 How Do You Handle the Analytical Writing Assessment? 312 What Smart Test-Takers Know 312 Summing It Up 316 00_FM.pmd 5/9/2006, 4:39 PM6 Contents vii www.petersons.com PART VI: GMAT MATH REVIEW 10 Arithmetic 319 Operations with Integers and Decimals 319 Exercise 1 322 Answers and Explanations 322 Operations with Fractions 323 Exercise 2 326 Answers and Explanations 327 Verbal Problems Using Fractions 328 Exercise 3 329 Answer Key and Explanations 332 Variation 333 Exercise 4 335 Answer Key and Explanations 337 Finding Percents 338 Exercise 5 343 Answer Key and Explanations 344 Verbal Problems Using Percent 345 Exercise 6 348 Answer Key and Explanations 350 Averages 352 Exercise 7 354 Answer Key and Explanations 356 11 Algebra 359 Signed Numbers 359 Exercise 1 360 Answer Key and Explanations 361 Linear Equations 362 Exercise 2 364 Answer Key and Explanations 366 Exponents 367 Exercise 3 368 Answer Key and Explanations 369 Quadratic Equations 370 Exercise 4 373 Answer Key and Explanations 374 Literal Expressions 375 Exercise 5 376 Answer Key and Explanations 378 Roots and Radicals 379 Exercise 6 381 Answer Key and Explanations 382 Factoring and Algebraic Fractions 383 Exercise 7 385 Answer Key and Explanations 387 Problem Solving in Algebra 388 Exercise 8 396 Answer Key and Explanations 398 Inequalities 399 Exercise 9 401 Answer Key and Explanations 403 Defined Operation Problems 404 00_FM.pmd 5/9/2006, 4:39 PM7 viii Contents www.petersons.com Exercise 10 405 Answer Key and Explanations 406 12 Geometry 407 Area 407 Perimeter 409 Circles 409 Volume 411 Triangles 411 Right Triangles 412 Parallel Lines 413 Polygons 414 Similar Polygons 415 Coordinate Geometry 416 Exercise 417 Answer Key and Explanations 420 PART VII: FIVE PRACTICE TESTS Practice Test 2 429 Analytical Writing Assessment 429 Verbal Section 431 Quantitative Section 445 Answer Key and Explanations 453 Practice Test 3 473 Analytical Writing Assessment 473 Verbal Section 475 Quantitative Section 490 Answer Key and Explanations 498 Practice Test 4 521 Analytical Writing Assessment 521 Verbal Section 523 Quantitative Section 538 Answer Key and Explanations 546 Practice Test 5 571 Analytical Writing Assessment 571 Verbal Section 573 Quantitative Section 587 Answer Key and Explanations 596 Practice Test 6 617 Analytical Writing Assessment 617 Verbal Section 619 Quantitative Section 633 Answer Key and Explanations 641 APPENDEXES A Creating Your Business School Application 659 B The Personal Statement 673 ABOUT THE AUTHOR 681 00_FM.pmd 5/9/2006, 4:39 PM8 ix Before You Begin HOW THIS BOOK IS ORGANIZED Taking the GMAT is a skill, so it shares some things in common with other skills such as playing basketball or singing opera. These are skills that can be improved by coaching, but ultimately improvement also requires practice. This book gives you both. • “Top 10 Ways to Raise Your Score” includes some of the most valuable test-taking strategies to help you score high on the GMAT as well as a chart to help you track your progress. • Part I provides essential information about the GMAT, including where to take it and how it is scored. You’ll also learn what subjects are covered and what traps to watch out for. • Part II is a full-length diagnostic test, which is your first chance to work with samples of every GMAT question type. It can show you where your skills are strong—and where they need some shoring up. • Parts III through V are the coaching program. They analyze each question type for you and give you powerful test-taking strategies. These strategies are based on more than 20 years of careful study of the GMAT. • Part VI is a full-scale review of GMAT mathematics. If your math skills are rusty and need refreshing, this section is for you. • Part VII contains five practice tests followed by detailed answer explana- tions for each question. The answer explanations are very important because it is there where you can learn from your mistakes. • The Appendixes contain critical information on how to create a winning business school application, including a before and after look at two personal statements. SPECIAL STUDY FEATURES ARCO Master the GMAT is designed to be as user-friendly as it is complete. To this end, it includes several features to make your preparation easier. Overview Each chapter begins with a bulleted list of topics that will be covered in the chapter. You know immediately where to look to find a particular area of interest. 00_FM.pmd 5/9/2006, 4:39 PM9 x Before You Begin www.petersons.com Summing It Up Each chapter ends with a point-by-point summary that captures the most important topics. The summaries are a convenient way to review the content of a chapter. In addition to the above features, be sure to look in the margins of the book for extra information and advice, including: Bonus Information Note Notes highlight critical information pertaining to the GMAT. Tip Tips draw your attention to valuable concepts and advice for tackling all types of GMAT questions. Alert! Alerts do just what they say—alert you to common pitfalls you might encounter while preparing for and taking GMAT. ABOUT THE CD The CD accompanying this book puts at your disposal the latest computer-adaptive testing software, which closely replicates the testing experience you will encounter on the GMAT. The software was developed by Thomson Learning and the practice test content was created by the test prep experts at Thomson Peterson’s. The CD contains three computer-adaptive practice tests along with access to the Private Tutor Lecture Series. This tool offers advanced strategies that are sure to help you reach your score goal. Finally, you can log on to Petersons.com and research thousands of graduate programs and financial aid opportunities. YOU’RE WELL ON YOUR WAY TO SUCCESS You’ve made a decision to apply to graduate school. ARCO Master the GMAT will prepare you for the steps you’ll need to take to achieve your goal—from scoring high on the test to being admitted to the graduate program of your choice. GIVE US YOUR FEEDBACK Thomson Peterson’s publishes a full line of resources to help guide you through the graduate school admission process. Peterson’s publications can be found at your local bookstore, library, and high school guidance office, and you can access us online at www.petersons.com. 00_FM.pmd 5/9/2006, 4:39 PM10 [...]... on Study the question stem We can infer that the author of the selection has at least implicitly passed judgment on the evidence supporting the new theory What kind of judgment might someone make about the evidence adduced to support a theory? (A), (C), and (D) all seem extremely unlikely As for (A), while the theory is itself a hypothesis, the evidence supporting the theory would not be hypothetical... response, the computer adjusts the initial assumption either in the direction of “above average” or “below average” and fires off another question Then, based upon your first two responses, the computer readjusts the assumption and gives you a third question The process continues until the computer has “built” a score for you NOTE ○ ○ The multiple-choice parts of the test are not scored in the traditional... What is a GMAT study plan? ○ • Can you prepare for the GMAT? ○ • How is the test structured? ○ • What kinds of questions are on the test? ○ • How do you register for the GMAT? chapter 1 • What is the CAT? ○ • What is the GMAT? ○ OVERVIEW ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ At the risk of oversimplifying, the testing... sentence and to choose the best of several suggested revisions In questions of this type, either part or all of a sentence is underlined The sentence is followed by five ways of writing the underlined part Choice (A) repeats the original; the other answer choices vary If you think that the original phrasing is the best, choose (A) If you think one of the other answer choices is the best, select that... read GMAT passages, don’t stop for details Most of the questions will ask about the structure of the passage rather than specific facts See chapter 4 5 In sentence corrections, save time by skipping the first choice It always repeats the original sentence, so there’s no point in reading it See chapter 5 6 In critical reasoning questions, start by finding the conclusion Since the conclusion is the main... successfully, the program selects for the next question an item of greater difficulty; if you do not answer the “seed” questions correctly, the program lowers the level of difficulty This process is repeated, with the program continuing to adjust the level of difficulty of questions, until you have provided all the answers that the computer needs to calculate your score ○ ○ ○ HOW DO YOU REGISTER FOR THE GMAT? ... time will probably be better spent on other questions later in the section ○ ○ YOU MUST ANSWER EVERY QUESTION “Algorithm” is the fancy name that the test designers use to describe the way that the computer moves you up or down the ladder of difficulty The algorithm is apparently enormously complex and is proprietary, that is, it belongs to the GMAT people and they are not sharing it with anybody else... this, consult the GMAT Bulletin.) ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ “TO GUESS OR NOT TO GUESS” IS NOT AN ISSUE With a paper-based test, there is always the issue of whether it is a good idea to guess or not With the GMAT CAT, the question is simply irrelevant You have to answer one item before the computer will let you move onto the next So even if you don’t have any idea of how to solve the problem,... the software The actual cost of duplicating a software program, which may have a retail value of $400 or more, can be as little as a dollar or two— the main component being the cost of the CD The cost of counterfeiting software is substantially less than the cost of duplicating watches, books, or blue jeans Given that the difference between the true value of the original and the cost of the counterfeit... deficient Why does the GMAT the “bar codes” of ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ 0—An essay that is totally illegible or obviously not written on the assigned topic ○ ○ Each of the two essays in the Analytical Writing part of the test is graded on a scale of 0 (the minimum) to 6 (the maximum): ○ ○ A word of caution Your final score is not based solely on the last question that you answer The algorithm . All About the GMAT 3 What Is the GMAT? 3 What Is the CAT? 3 How Do You Register for the GMAT? 4 What Kinds of Questions Are on the Test? 4 How Is the Test. About the GMAT OVERVIEW • What is the GMAT? • What is the CAT? • How do you register for the GMAT? • What kinds of questions are on the test? • How is the