Question

Select and indicate the best answer from among the five answer choices: 
Which of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?

• A. In various parts of the world, civilizations that could not make iron from ore fashioned tools out of fragments of iron from meteorites.
• B. All the metallic Mayan artifacts that have been found by archaeologists are made of metals that are too soft for carving stone.
• C. The stone out of which these carvings were made is harder than the stone used by other Central American peoples.
• D. The technique that the Maya used to smelt gold and some other metals could not have been easily applied to the task of extracting iron from iron ore.
• E. Archaeologists disagree about how certain stone tools that have been found among Mayan ruins were used.
• F.
• A. An increased focus on the importance of engaging the audience in a narrative
• B. Modernization of the traditional novelistic elements already familiar to readers
• C. Embracing aspects of fiction that are generally peripheral to the interest of readers
• D. A greater recognition of how the tradition of the novel has changed over time
• K. A better understanding of how certain poets such as Eliot have influenced fiction of the present time
• L.
• A. reveal
• B. belie
• C. speak to
• D. direct attention toward
• Q. attempt to remediate
• R.
• A. People with access to an electric washing machine typically wore their clothes many fewer times before washing them than did people without access to electric washing machines.
• B. Households that had sent their clothes to professional laundries before 1925 were more likely than other households to purchase an electric washing machine when they became available.
• C. People living in urban households that had previously sent their clothes to professional laundries typically owned more clothes than did people living in rural households.
• D. The earliest electric washing machines required the user to spend much more time beside the machine than do modern electric washing machines.
• W. In the 1920s and 1930s the proportion of rural households with electricity was smaller than the proportion of urban households with electricity.
• X.
• A. partisan
• B. erudite
• C. insular
• D. cosmopolitan
• ]. imperturbable
• ^.
• A. irrelevant
• B. facetious
• C. mistaken
• D. critical
• c. insincere
• d.
• A. maturity
• B. fiction
• C. inventiveness
• D. art
• i. brilliance
• j.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

Step 1: Understand the argument. 
The passage argues that since the Maya did not develop iron technology and the metals they used (gold and copper) were too soft, they must have used stone tools for carvings. 
Step 2: Identify what would weaken the argument. 
To weaken the conclusion, we need evidence that the Maya might have had access to some alternative hard material suitable for carving, other than stone tools. 
Step 3: Analyze the options. 
- (A): If civilizations without iron technology could use meteorite iron, then the Maya might also have used it. This directly undermines the conclusion that they \emph{must} have used stone. This is the strongest weakening option. 
- (B): This supports the argument, since it confirms that Mayan artifacts were of soft metals. 
- (C): This makes carvings harder, but it does not weaken the claim that only stone tools were used. 
- (D): This explains why they did not use iron, but does not suggest an alternative. It neither weakens nor strengthens. 
- (E): Archaeologists disagreeing about tools does not directly challenge the conclusion. 
Step 4: Conclusion. 
The option that most seriously weakens the argument is (A). 
 

Answer 2

Step 1: Understand the passage. 
The author argues that while writers and critics respect the novel’s tradition, they neglect the urge to tell an “exciting story.” 
Step 2: Identify what change would benefit readers. 
If readers are to benefit, then writers should focus on storytelling—engaging the audience in a narrative—rather than dismissing it. 
Step 3: Eliminate wrong options. 
- (B): Modernization is not emphasized. 
- (C): Peripheral aspects are irrelevant. 
- (D): Recognition of tradition’s change is not the focus. 
- (E): Influence of poets like Eliot is not central. 
Step 4: Conclusion. 
The correct answer is (A): focusing on engaging storytelling. 
 

Answer 3

Step 1: Interpret the sentence. 
The sentence says that “a new style of writing” is required to “address a world undergoing transformation.” Here, “address” means to deal with or speak to the needs of that world. 
Step 2: Analyze options. 
- (A) Reveal = show, not the right sense. 
- (B) Belie = contradict, incorrect. 
- (C) Speak to = matches perfectly, meaning to deal with. 
- (D) Direct attention toward = too narrow, implies pointing only. 
- (E) Attempt to remediate = implies fixing, too strong. 
Step 3: Conclusion. 
Thus, the best meaning is (C) “speak to.” 
 

Answer 4

Step 1: Identify the paradox. 
Even though washing machines made washing clothes faster, total time increased in rural households. 
Step 2: Look for explanation. 
If people washed clothes more frequently (because clothes were worn fewer times before washing), the total time spent could still increase. 
Step 3: Analyze options. 
- (A): Explains the paradox perfectly—frequency increased. 
- (B): Refers to urban households, irrelevant. 
- (C): Compares urban vs rural clothing ownership, not the issue. 
- (D): Earliest machines requiring more attention increases time per load, but frequency is the stronger explanation. 
- (E): Access differences don’t explain why those who had machines spent more time. 
Step 4: Conclusion. 
Hence, (A) best explains the increase. 
 

Answer 5

Step 1: Look at the context. 
The sentence says people “knew very little about foreign countries.” That suggests narrow outlook or inward-looking attitude. 
Step 2: Match options. 
- (A) Partisan = biased in favor of a cause, not relevant. 
- (B) Erudite = highly knowledgeable, opposite meaning. 
- (C) Insular = isolated, inward-looking, matches perfectly. 
- (D) Cosmopolitan = worldly, opposite meaning. 
- (E) Imperturbable = calm, unrelated. 
Step 3: Conclusion. 
Thus, the correct word is (C) insular. 
 

Answer 6

Step 1: Understand the context. 
She believed the person to be “candid and trustworthy.” If one is candid and trustworthy, then the opposite possibility would be dishonesty or lack of sincerity. 
Step 2: Match options. 
- (A) Irrelevant = off-topic, does not fit. 
- (B) Facetious = joking, not serious, but not the opposite of candid/trustworthy. 
- (C) Mistaken = incorrect by accident, does not fit the “trustworthy” contrast. 
- (D) Critical = judgmental, irrelevant. 
- (E) Insincere = dishonest, directly opposite of candid and trustworthy. 
Step 3: Conclusion. 
Therefore, the best fit is (E) insincere. 
 

Answer 7

Step 1: Analyze the tone.
The phrase “dubious distinction” indicates irony. The idea is that proving something obvious is not a real achievement.

Step 2: Match options.
At age sixty-four, the most obvious trait is “maturity.”
- (A) Maturity: fits perfectly.
- (B) Fiction: nonsensical.
- (C) Inventiveness: not obvious at an older age.
- (D) Art: vague.
- (E) Brilliance: too evaluative, not the point of the irony.

Step 3: Conclusion.
The correct answer is (A) maturity.