Gmat exam success_8 docx

2. The following appeared in an editorial in a local newspaper. For over a decade, Main Street has suffered from a lack of business. People do not like to shop on Main Street, and store turnover has been relentless. What Main Street needs is a face-lift. We should make a number of small improvements that will make Main Street a more pleasant place to shop, such as better lighting, more benches and potted plants along the sidewalks, and improved parking, which has always been a problem for shoppers along Main Street. These small but important changes will attract both new businesses and new customers to Main Street. Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your essay, be sure to analyze the argument’s logic and use of evidence. For example, you may need to consider whether the assumptions that underlie the argument are sound or whether counterarguments or alternative explanations would weaken the conclusion. You may also discuss the kind of evidence that would strengthen or refute the argument, what revisions to the argument would make it more reasonable, or what information, if any, would help you better evaluate the argument. Complete your essay in 30 minutes. – AWA PRACTICE– 283 3. The following appeared in a plan proposed to the board of directors of Fresh Food Corporation. To distinguish our stores from our competitors and draw more customers into Fresh Food stores, we should donate a portion of each purchase to a well-known nonprofit organization each year. With the right publicity, people will begin to choose us over our competitors because they will feel good about buying from Fresh Food, even if our products cost a little more. Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your essay, be sure to analyze the argument’s logic and use of evidence. For example, you may need to consider whether the assumptions that underlie the argument are sound or whether counterarguments or alternative explanations would weaken the conclusion. You may also discuss the kind of evidence that would strengthen or refute the argument, what revisions to the argument would make it more reasonable, or what information, if any, would help you better evaluate the argument. Complete your essay in 30 minutes. – AWA PRACTICE– 284 4. The following was proposed at a town meeting in North Hillsborough. North Hillsborough has seen a record increase in crime in the last five years, while the crime rate in South Hillsborough has seen a slight decline. North Hillsborough has only five police officers, while South Hillsborough has eight. Clearly we need more police officers if we want to reduce crime in North Hillsborough. Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your essay, be sure to analyze the argument’s logic and use of evidence. For example, you may need to consider whether the assumptions that underlie the argument are sound or whether counterarguments or alternative explanations would weaken the conclusion. You may also discuss the kind of evidence that would strengthen or refute the argument, what revisions to the argument would make it more reasonable, or what information, if any, would help you better evaluate the argument. Complete your essay in 30 minutes. – AWA PRACTICE– 285 5. The following was proposed at a meeting of the marketing team for Zinger mints. Our newest competitor, Mint Magic candies, hits the stores next week. The best way to keep our market share is to develop an ad campaign saying that our mints simply taste better than theirs. Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your essay, be sure to analyze the argument’s logic and use of evidence. For example, you may need to consider whether the assumptions that underlie the argument are sound or whether counterarguments or alternative explanations would weaken the conclusion. You may also discuss the kind of evidence that would strengthen or refute the argument, what revisions to the argument would make it more reasonable, or what information, if any, would help you better evaluate the argument. Complete your essay in 30 minutes. – AWA PRACTICE– 286 6. The following appeared in a report from human resources to the president of Aberdeen Manufacturing. In a recent survey, 46% of our employees indicated that they would be “very interested” in the option of a four-day, 40-hour workweek. Since this is less than half of our employees, we should not offer this option, because it would not be worth the administrative cost and effort. Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your essay, be sure to analyze the argument’s logic and use of evidence. For example, you may need to consider whether the assumptions that underlie the argument are sound or whether counterarguments or alternative explanations would weaken the conclusion. You may also discuss the kind of evidence that would strengthen or refute the argument, what revisions to the argument would make it more reasonable, or what information, if any, would help you better evaluate the argument. Complete your essay in 30 minutes. – AWA PRACTICE– 287 7. The following appeared in a letter to the editor of a local newspaper. We can all do something to improve the economy: Support our local small business owners. Instead of going to a big chain store to buy your coffee, office supplies, or toothpaste and shampoo, shop at your local coffee shop, stationery store, or pharmacy. Big chain stores have forced thousands of smaller stores out of business, increasing unemployment and weakening the economy. They don’t deserve our patronage. Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your essay, be sure to analyze the argument’s logic and use of evidence. For example, you may need to consider whether the assumptions that underlie the argument are sound or whether counterarguments or alternative explanations would weaken the conclusion. You may also discuss the kind of evidence that would strengthen or refute the argument, what revisions to the argument would make it more reasonable, or what information, if any, would help you better evaluate the argument. Complete your essay in 30 minutes. – AWA PRACTICE– 288 8. The following appeared in a letter to the editor of a business magazine. Some people feel that businesses should aim to create a more egalitarian office environment by giving everyone equal-sized office space, for example, and seeking input from even the very lowest-level employ- ees. But businesses are built upon and thrive on hierarchy. People who think a workplace can be egalitarian are simply fooling themselves. Hierarchy should be acknowledged and reinforced in the business environment. Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your essay, be sure to analyze the argument’s logic and use of evidence. For example, you may need to consider whether the assumptions that underlie the argument are sound or whether counterarguments or alternative explanations would weaken the conclusion. You may also discuss the kind of evidence that would strengthen or refute the argument, what revisions to the argument would make it more reasonable, or what information, if any, would help you better evaluate the argument. Complete your essay in 30 minutes. – AWA PRACTICE– 289 9. The following was proposed by a husband to his wife. Our neighbors, the Hansons, got a phonics program for their son Jimmy, and he was reading by age four. If we get a phonics program for Junior, he will also be able to read by age four. Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your essay, be sure to analyze the argument’s logic and use of evidence. For example, you may need to consider whether the assumptions that underlie the argument are sound or whether counterarguments or alternative explanations would weaken the conclusion. You may also discuss the kind of evidence that would strengthen or refute the argument, what revisions to the argument would make it more reasonable, or what information, if any, would help you better evaluate the argument. Complete your essay in 30 minutes. – AWA PRACTICE– 290 10. The following appeared in a letter to the editor of a city newspaper. The philosopher George Santayana once wrote, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” We should place a greater emphasis on learning history in school so that our future citizens do not make the same mistakes that have been made in the past. Discuss how well reasoned you find this argument. In your essay, be sure to analyze the argument’s logic and use of evidence. For example, you may need to consider whether the assumptions that underlie the argument are sound or whether counterarguments or alternative explanations would weaken the conclusion. You may also discuss the kind of evidence that would strengthen or refute the argument, what revisions to the argument would make it more reasonable, or what information, if any, would help you better evaluate the argument. Complete your essay in 30 minutes. – AWA PRACTICE– 291  Answers and Explanations Here are sample essays for ten of the practice prompts (five Analysis of an Issue prompts and five Analysis of an Argument prompts). These ten essays would receive the top score of 6 because they have most or all of the following characteristics: – AWA PRACTICE– 292 The content of your written response shows an under- standing and inter- pretation of the issue or argument and the task pre- sented in the prompt. The development of your written response gives a clear and logical explanation of ideas using specific and relevant support. The organization of your written response shows a coherent, orderly, well-reasoned approach. The expression of your ideas reflects an awareness of audience, a com- mand of vocabulary and sentence struc- ture, and an ability to use language to convey purpose. The use of standard English in your writ- ten response exhibits the correct use of spelling, punctuation, para- graph organization, capitalization, and grammar. ■ Forms a thesis statement that reveals an in- depth under- standing of the issue or argu- ment ■ Presents a sophisticated and insightful analysis of the issue or argu- ment ■ Develops ideas clearly and fully ■ Provides a wide range of relevant and specific evi- dence to support the thesis state- ment ■ Maintains the focus of the thesis statement ■ Uses a logical and coherent structure ■ Applies skillful writing devices and transitions ■ Exhibits a mature, sophisticated use of language that is precise and engaging ■ Has a voice and a sense of aware- ness of audience and purpose ■ Varies the struc- ture and length of sentences to enhance meaning ■ Shows control of the conventions of standard Eng- lish ■ Has few, if any, errors even when using sophisti- cated language CONTENT DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION EXPRESSION CONVENTIONS The following sample essays are correct in spelling, grammar, and mechanics. Remember, however, that you can have a few mistakes and still score a 6. Analysis of an Issue Sample Essays Prompt #2: The main goal of education should be to teach students to be good citizens, not to prepare them for the workplace. [...]... skills Examinees will be asked to recall the mathematics that they learned in middle school and high school and apply these skills in an advanced manner for the questions on the test Although scrap paper is allowed, the use of calculators is prohibited on the GMAT exam Since the Quantitative section is only administered as a CAT, this section will be taken on a computer As each person takes the exam, ... learn, Junior’s father cannot logically assume Junior will have the same success as Jimmy simply by purchasing a phonics program 303 P A R T IV The GMAT Quantitative Section C H A P T E R 18 Quantitative Pretest The entire GMAT quantitative part of the exam takes place in one section of the test This section contains 37 questions and must be completed in 75 minutes Therefore, the test taker can spend... will determine a product or service’s level of success include pricing, customer demographics, and customer demand An example of a business that can succeed by appealing to a specific group or subculture is the small grocery store that offers foods and products for a targeted customer For example, a recent article in Southern Living magazine highlighted the success of a Cuban market in North Carolina A... computing skills are necessary Free GMAT tutorials can be downloaded from various Internet sites and taken ahead of time The testing site also offers a tutorial that can be completed immediately before commencing the test These skills, such as using the mouse and the HELP feature, should be practiced before beginning the test Once you start a particular section of the exam, the clock cannot be stopped... success Time and again, great artists will describe how their work was rejected over and over and over, but they ignored rejection letters and the critics who told them they didn’t have talent Imagine, for example, if Thomas Edison believed the educators who threw him out of school and told him he would never amount to anything Imagine if director Stanley Kubrick had listened to critics who panned works... and learning about our world and its people, science, and math at the secondary level help prepare students to think critically They need to be taught to receive detailed information (by reading, for example), to analyze that information, and then to make rational decisions This process is emphasized at the high school and college levels to prepare students for future careers So while talented educators... level Those teachers typically require more education and/or more experience to meet the demands of teaching more difficult subjects that must be explored with greater scrutiny Most college professors, for example, have their Ph.D while only a small percentage of early childhood educators have their masters 297 – AWA PRACTICE – Any learning, whether at the elementary, secondary, or college level, is important... respect and value their fellow citizens and their environment They must, in short, be good citizens, and it should be the duty of our schools to teach them how to be In the United States of America, for example, children are taught the Pledge of Allegiance from the earliest days of kindergarten; they are taught to respect the flag and all that it stands for In later grades, those children learn about the... availability, store organization (e.g., its cleanliness and wide aisles for shopping carts), special services offered (such as a snack bar or onehour photo), location, safety, and parking convenience For example, take the successful retailer Bull’s-eye Bull’s-eye stores do donate a portion of each purchase to charities In many instances, Bull’s-eye’s prices are higher than its main competitors’, SmartMart... tantalizing way that it attracts new customers The arrival of a new competitor could also be a good time for Zinger mints to try some new marketing methods to maintain or even increase its market share For example, a Zinger mints sales promotion offering coupons in Sunday newspapers could coincide with the launch of Mint Magic The timing might also be right for the company to introduce some additional new . would help you better evaluate the argument. Complete your essay in 30 minutes. – AWA PRACTICE– 288 8. The following appeared in a letter to the editor of a business magazine. Some people feel that. settle for less than we can achieve. Prompt #8: A creative person can succeed, but not without diligence. Diligence is the most important factor in success. If a creative person never applies. worked hard to promote her art and ideas, she would not be so successful today. But is diligence the only factor in Engelbreit’s success? No, it is not. While she is a naturally creative per- son,