英語寫作材料GMAT閱讀117篇

GMAT閱讀117篇

一、GMAT新題63篇

Passage1(1/63)

(Thispassagewaswrittenin1978.)

Ftecentyearshavebroughtminority-ownedbusinessesintheUnitedStates

unprecedentedopportunities—aswellasnewandsignificantrisks.Qvilrightsactivists

havelongarguedthatoneoftheprincipalreasonswhyBlacks,Hispanics,andother

minoritygroupshavedifficultyestablishingthemselvesinbusinessisthattheylackaccess

tothesizableordersandsubcontractsthataregeneratedbylargecompanies.Now

Congress,inapparentagreement,hasrequiredbylawthatbusinessesawardedfederal

contractsofmorethan$500,000dotheirbesttofindminoritysubcontractorsandrecord

theireffortstodosoonformsfiledwiththegovernment.Indeed,somefederalandlocal

agencieshavegonesofarastosetspecificpercentagegoalsforapportioningpartsof

publicworkscontractstominorityenterprises.

Corporateresponseappearstohavebeensubstantial.Accordingtofigurescollected

in1977,thetotalofcorporatecontractswithminoritybusinessesrosefrom$77millionin

1972to$1.1billionin1977.Theprojectedtotalofcorporatecontractswithminority

businessesfortheearly1980*sisestimatedtobeover53billionperyearwithnoletup

anticipatedinthenextdecade.Promisingasitisforminoritybusinesses,thisincreased

patronageposesdangersforthem,too.First,minorityfirmsriskexpandingtoofastand

overextendingthemselvesfinancially,sincemostaresmallconcernsand,unlikelarge

businesses,theyoftenneedtomakesubstantialinvestmentsinnewplants,staff,

equipment,andthelikeinordertoperformworksubcontractedtothem.If,thereafter,

theirsubcontractsareforsomereasonreduced,suchfirmscanfacepotentiallycrippling

fixedexpenses.Theworldofcorporatepurchasingcanbefrustratingforsmall

entrepreneurswhogetrequestsforelaborateformalestimatesandbids.Bothconsume

valuabletimeandresources,andasmallcompany*seffortsmustsoonresultinorders,or

boththemoraleandthefinancialhealthofthebusinesswillsuffer.

AsecondriskisthatWhite-ownedcompaniesmayseektocashinontheincreasing

apportionmentsthroughformationofjointventureswithminority-ownedconcerns.Of

course,inmanyinstancestherearelegitimatereasonsforjointventures;clearly,White

andminorityenterprisescanteamuptoacquirebusinessthatneithercouldacquirealone.

ButcivilrightsgroupsandminoritybusinessownershavecomplainedtoCongressabout

minoritiesbeingsetupas“fronts”withWhitebacking,ratherthanbeingacceptedasfull

partnersinlegitimatejointventures.

Third,aminorityenterprisethatsecuresthebusinessofonelargecorporatecustomer

oftenrunsthedangerofbecoming—andremaining—dependent.Eveninthebestof

circumstances,fiercecompetitionfromlarger,moreestablishedcompaniesmakesit

difficultforsmallconcernstobroadentheircustomerbases:whensuchfirmshavenearly

guaranteedordersfromasinglecorporatebenefactor,theymaytrulyhavetostruggle

againstcomplacencyarisingfromtheircurrentsuccess.

1.Theprimarypurposeofthepassageisto

(A)presentacommonplaceideaanditsinaccuracies

(B)describeasituationanditspotentialdrawbacks

(C)proposeatemporarysolutiontoaproblem

(D)analyzeafrequentsourceofdisagreement

(E)exploretheimplicationsofafinding

2.Thepassagesuppliesinformationthatwouldanswerwhichofthefollowing

questions?

(A)Whatfederalagencieshavesetpercentagegoalsfortheuseof

minority-ownedbusinessesinpublicworkscontracts?

(B)Towhichgovernmentagenciesmustbusinessesawardedfederalcontracts

reporttheireffortstofindminoritysubcontractors?

(C)Howwidespreadistheuseofminority-ownedconcernsas“fronts“byWhite

backersseekingtoobtainsubcontracts?

(D)Howmanymoreminority-ownedbusinessesweretherein1977thanin

1972?

(E)Whatisonesetofconditionsunderwhichasmallbusinessmightfinditself

financiallyoverextended?

3.Accordingtothepassage,civilrightsactivistsmaintainthatonedisadvantage

underwhichminority-ownedbusinesseshavetraditionallyhadtolaboristhat

theyhave

(A)beenespeciallyvulnerabletogovernmentalmismanagementoftheeconomy

(B)beendeniedbankloansatratescomparabletothoseaffordedlarger

competitors

(C)nothadsufficientopportunitytosecurebusinesscreatedbylargecorporations

(D)notbeenabletoadvertiseinthosemediathatreachlargenumbersof

potentialcustomers

(E)nothadadequaterepresentationinthecentersofgovernmentpower

4.Thepassagesuggeststhatthefailureofalargebusinesstohaveitsbidsfor

subcontractsresultquicklyinordersmightcauseitto

(A)experiencefrustrationbutnotseriousfinancialharm

(B)facepotentiallycripplingfixedexpenses

(C)havetorecorditseffortsonformsfiledwiththegovernment

(D)increaseitsspendingwithminoritysubcontractors

(E)reviseitsprocedureformakingbidsforfederalcontractsandsubcontracts

5.Theauthorimpliesthataminority-ownedconcernthatdoesthegreaterpartofits

businesswithonelargecorporatecustomershould

(A)avoidcompetitionwithlarger,moreestablishedconcernsbynotexpanding

(B)concentrateonsecuringevenmorebusinessfromthatcorporation

(C)trytoexpanditscustomerbasetoavoidbecomingdependentonthe

corporation

(D)passonsomeoftheworktobedoneforthecorporationtoother

minority-ownedconcerns

(E)useitsinfluencewiththecorporationtopromotesubcontractingwithother

minorityconcerns

6.Itcanbeinferredfromthepassagethat,comparedwiththerequirementsoflaw,

thepercentagegoalssetby“somefederalandlocalagencies^^(lines14-15)are

(A)morepopularwithlargecorporations

(B)morespecific

(C)lesscontroversial

(D)lessexpensivetoenforce

(E)easiertocomplywith

7.Whichofthefollowing,iftrue,wouldmostweakentheauthor'sassertionthat,in

the1970's,corporateresponsetofederalrequirements(lines18-19)was

substantial

(A)Corporatecontractswithminority-ownedbusinessestotaled$2billionin

1979.

(B)Between1970and1972,corporatecontractswithminority-ownedbusinesses

declinedby25percent.

(C)Thefigurescollectedin1977underrepresentedtheextentofcorporate

contractswithminority-ownedbusinesses.

(D)Theestimateofcorporatespendingwithminority-ownedbusinessesin1980

isapproximately$10milliontoohigh.

(E)The$1.1billionrepresentedthesamepercentageoftotalcorporatespending

in1977asdid$77millionin1972.

8.Theauthorwouldmostlikelyagreewithwhichofthefollowingstatementsabout

corporateresponsetoworkingwithminoritysubcontractors?

(A)Annoyedbytheproliferationof“front“organizations,corporationsarelikely

toreducetheireffortstoworkwithminority-ownedsubcontractorsinthe

nearfuture.

(B)Althoughcorporationsshowedconsiderableinterestinworkingwithminority

businessesinthe1970's,theiraversiontogovernmentpaperworkmadethem

reluctanttopursuemanygovernmentcontracts.

(C)Thesignificantresponseofcorporationsinthe1970'sislikelytobesustained

andconceivablybeincreasedthroughoutthe1980's.

(D)Althoughcorporationsareeagertocooperatewithminority-ownedbusinesses,

ashortageofcapitalinthe1970'smadesubstantialresponseimpossible.

(E)Theenormouscorporateresponsehasallbuteliminatedthedangersof

over-expansionthatusedtoplaguesmallminority-ownedbusinesses.

Passage2(2/63)

WoodrowWilsonwasreferringtotheliberalideaoftheeconomicmarketwhenhesaid

thatthefreeenterprisesystemisthemostefficienteconomicsystem.Maximumfreedom

meansmaximumproductiveness;ouruopenness"istobethemeasureofourstability.

FascinationwiththisidealhasmadeAmericansdefythe“OldWorld"categoriesofsettled

possessiveness依/現(xiàn)/sunsettlingdeprivation,thecupidityofretentionversus{hecupidity

ofseizure,a"statusquo"defendedorattacked.TheUnitedStates,itwasbelieved,hadno

statusquoante.Ouronly“station”wastheturningofastationarywheel,spinningfaster

andfaster.Wedidnotbaseoursystemonpropertybutopportunity—whichmeantwe

baseditnotonstabilitybutonmobility.Themorethingschanged,thatis,themorerapidly

thewheelturned,thesteadierwewouldbe.Theconventionalpictureofclasspoliticsis

composedoftheHaves,whowantastabilitytokeepwhattheyhave,andtheHave-Nots,

whowantatouchofinstabilityandchangeinwhichtoscrambleforthethingstheyhave

not.ButAmericansimaginedaconditioninwhichspeculators,self-makers,runnersare

alwaysusingthenewopportunitiesgivenbyourland.Theseeconomicleaders

(front-runners)wouldthusbemainlyagentsofchange.Thenonstarterswereconsidered

theoneswhowantedstability,astrongrefereetogivethemsomepositionintherace,a

regulativehandtocalmmanicspeculation;anauthoritythatcancallthingstoahalt,begin

thingsagainfromcompensatorilystaggeredustartinglines.”

“Reform”inAmericahasbeensterilebecauseitcanimaginenochangeexcept

throughtheextensionofthismetaphorofarace,widerinclusionofcompetitors,Hapiece

oftheaction；*asitwere,forthedisenfranchised.Thereisnoattempttocallofftherace.

Snceouronlystabilityischange,Americaseemsnottohonorthequietworkthatachieves

socialinterdependenceandstability.Thereis,inourlegends,noheroismoftheofficeclerk,

nostableindustrialworkforceofthepeoplewhoactuallymakethesystemwork.Thereis

noprideinbeinganemployee(Wilsonaskedforareturntothetimewheneveryonewas

anemployer).Therehasbeennoboastingaboutoursocialworkers—theyaremerelysigns

ofthesystem'sfailure,ofopportunitydeniedornottaken,ofthingstobeeliminated.We

havenoprideinourgrowinginterdependence,inthefactthatoursystemcanserveothers,

thatweareabletohelpthoseinneed;emptyboastsfromthepastmakeusashamedof

ourpresentachievements,makeustrytoforgetordenythem,moveawayfromthem.

ThereisnohonorbutintheWonderlandracewemustallrun,alltryingtowin,none

winningintheend(forthereisnoend).

1.Theprimarypurposeofthepassageisto

(A)criticizetheinflexibilityofAmericaneconomicmythology

(B)contrast“OldWorld^^and"NewWorld^^economicideologies

(C)challengetheintegrityoftraditionalpoliticalleaders

(D)championthoseAmericanswhomtheauthordeemstobeneglected

(E)suggestasubstituteforthetraditionalmetaphorofarace

2.Accordingtothepassage,"OldWorld^^valueswerebasedon

(A)ability

(B)property

(C)familyconnections

(D)guildhierarchies

(E)education

3.Inthecontextoftheauthor'sdiscussionofregulatingchange,whichofthe

followingcouldbemostprobablyregardedasa“strongreferee^^(line30)inthe

UnitedStates?

(A)Aschoolprincipal

(B)Apoliticaltheorist

(C)Afederalcourtjudge

(D)Asocialworker

(E)Agovernmentinspector

4.Theauthorsetsofftheword“Reform”(line35)withquotationmarksinorderto

(A)emphasizeitsdeparturefromtheconceptofsettledpossessiveness

(B)showhissupportforasystematicprogramofchange

(C)underscoretheflexibilityandevenamorphousnessofUnitedStatessociety

(D)indicatethatthetermwasoneofWilson'sfavorites

(E)assertthatreformintheUnitedStateshasnotbeenfundamental

5.Itcanbeinferredfromthepassagethattheauthormostprobablythinksthat

givingthedisenfranchised“apieceoftheaction^^(line38)is

(A)acompassionate,ifmisdirected,legislativemeasure

(B)anexampleofAmericans,resistancetoprofoundsocialchange

(C)aninnovativeprogramforgenuinesocialreform

(D)amonumenttotheeffortsofindustrialreformers

(E)asurprisingly“OldWorld^^remedyforsocialills

6.Whichofthefollowingmetaphorscouldtheauthormostappropriatelyuseto

summarizehisownassessmentoftheAmericaneconomicsystem(lines35-60)?

(A)Awindmill

(B)Awaterfall

(C)Atreadmill

(D)Agyroscope

(E)Abellows

7.ItcanbeinferredfromthepassagethatWoodrowWilson'sideasaboutthe

economicmarket

(A)encouragedthosewho"makethesystemwork^^(lines45-46)

(B)perpetuatedtraditionallegendsaboutAmerica

(C)revealedtheprejudicesofamanbomwealthy

(D)foreshadowedthestockmarketcrashof1929

(E)beganatraditionofpresidentialproclamationsoneconomics

8.Thepassagecontainsinformationthatwouldanswerwhichofthefollowing

questions?

I.Whattechniqueshaveindustrialistsusedtomanipulateafreemarket?

ILInwhatwaysare“NewWorld^^and“OldWorld”economicpoliciessimilar?

III.HaseconomicpolicyintheUnitedStatestendedtorewardindependent

action?

(A)Ionly

(B)IIonly

(C)IIIonly

(D)IandIIonly

(E)IIandIIIonly

9.Whichofthefollowingbestexpressestheauthor'smainpoint?

(A)Americans9prideintheirjobscontinuestogivethemstaminatoday.

(B)TheabsenceofastatusquoantehasunderminedUnitedStateseconomic

structure.

(C)ThefreeenterprisesystemhasbeenonlyauselessconceptintheUnited

States.

(D)ThemythoftheAmericanfreeenterprisesystemisseriouslyflawed.

(E)Fascinationwiththeidealof“openness“hasmadeAmericansaprogressive

people.

Passage3(3/63)

Noverysatisfactoryaccountofthemechanismthatcausedtheformationoftheocean

basinshasyetbeengiven.Thetraditionalviewsupposesthattheuppermantleofthe

earthbehavesasaliquidwhenitissubjectedtosmallforcesforlongperiodsandthat

differencesintemperatureunderoceansandcontinentsaresufficienttoproduce

convectioninthemantleoftheearthwithrisingconvectioncurrentsunderthemid-ocean

ridgesandsinkingcurrentsunderthecontinents.Theoretically,thisconvectionwouldcarry

thecontinentalplatesalongasthoughtheywereonaconveyorbeltandwouldprovidethe

forcesneededtoproducethesplitthatoccursalongtheridge.Thisviewmaybecorrect:it

hastheadvantagethatthecurrentsaredrivenbytemperaturedifferencesthatthemselves

dependonthepositionofthecontinents.Suchaback-coupling,inwhichthepositionof

themovingplatehasanimpactontheforcesthatmoveit,couldproducecomplicatedand

varyingmotions.

Ontheotherhand,thetheoryisimplausiblebecauseconvectiondoesnotnormally

occuralonglines,anditcertainlydoesnotoccuralonglinesbrokenbyfrequentoffsetsor

changesindirection,astheridgeis.Alsoitisdifficulttoseehowthetheoryappliestothe

platebetweentheMid-AtlanticRidgeandtheridgeintheIndianOcean.Thisplateis

growingonbothsides,andsincethereisnointermediatetrench,thetworidgesmustbe

movingapart.Itwouldbeoddiftherisingconvectioncurrentskeptexactpacewiththem.

Analternativetheoryisthatthesinkingpartoftheplate,whichisdenserthanthehotter

surroundingmantle,pullstherestoftheplateafterit.Againitisdifficulttoseehowthis

appliestotheridgeintheSouthAtlantic,whereneithertheAfricannortheAmericanplate

hasasinkingpart.

Anotherpossibilityisthatthesinkingplatecoolstheneighboringmantleandproduces

convectioncurrentsthatmovetheplates.Thislasttheoryisattractivebecauseitgives

somehopeofexplainingtheenclosedseas,suchastheSeaofJapan.Theseseashavea

typicaloceanicfloor,exceptthatthefloorisoverlaidbyseveralkilometersofsediment.

Theirfloorshaveprobablybeensinkingforlongperiods.Itseemspossiblethatasinking

currentofcooledmantlematerialontheuppersideoftheplatemightbethecauseofsuch

deepbasins.Theenclosedseasareanimportantfeatureoftheearth'ssurface,and

seriouslyrequireexplanationbecause,inadditiontotheenclosedseasthataredeveloping

atpresentbehindislandarcs,thereareanumberofolderonesofpossiblysimilarorigin,

suchastheGulfofMexico,theBlackSea,andperhapstheNorthSea.

1.Accordingtothetraditionalviewoftheoriginoftheoceanbasins,whichofthe

followingissufficienttomovethecontinentalplates?

(A)Increasesinsedimentationonoceanfloors

(B)Spreadingofoceantrenches

(C)Movementofmid-oceanridges

(D)Sinkingofoceanbasins

(E)Differencesintemperatureunderoceansandcontinents

2.Itcanbeinferredfiromthepassagethat,ofthefollowing,thedeepestsediments

wouldbefoundinthe

(A)IndianOcean

(B)BlackSea

(C)Mid-Atlantic

(D)SouthAtlantic

(E)Pacific

3.Theauthorreferstoa“conveyorbelt“inline13inorderto

(A)illustratetheeffectsofconvectioninthemantle

(B)showhowtemperaturedifferencesdependonthepositionsofthecontinents

(C)demonstratethelinearnatureoftheMid-AtlanticRidge

(D)describethecomplicatedmotionsmadepossiblebyback-coupling

(E)accountfortherisingcurrentsundercertainmid-oceanridges

4.Theauthorregardsthetraditionalviewoftheoriginoftheoceanswith

(A)slightapprehension

(B)absoluteindifference

(C)indignantanger

(D)completedisbelief

(E)guardedskepticism

5.Accordingtothepassage,whichofthefollowingareseparatedbyaplatethatis

growingonbothsides?

(A)ThePacificOceanandtheSeaofJapan

(B)TheSouthAtlanticRidgeandtheNorthSeaRidge

(C)TheGulfofMexicoandtheSouthAtlanticRidge

(D)TheMid-AtlanticRidgeandtheIndianOceanRidge

(E)TheBlackSeaandtheSeaofJapan

6.Whichofthefollowing,ifitcouldbedemonstrated,wouldmostsupportthe

traditionalviewofoceanformation?

(A)Convectionusuallyoccursalonglines.

(B)Theuppermantlebehavesasadensesolid.

(C)Sedimentationoccursataconstantrate.

(D)Sinkingplatescoolthemantle.

(E)Islandarcssurroundenclosedseas.

7.Accordingtothepassage,theflooroftheBlackSeacanbestbecomparedtoa

(A)rapidlymovingconveyorbelt

(B)slowlysettlingfoundation

(C)rapidlyexpandingballoon

(D)violentlyeruptingvolcano

(E)slowlyerodingmountain

8.Whichofthefollowingtitleswouldbestdescribethecontentofthepassage?

(A)ADescriptionoftheOceansoftheWorld

(B)SeveralTheoriesofOceanBasinFormation

(C)TheTraditionalViewoftheOceans

(D)ConvectionandOceanCurrents

(E)TemperatureDifferencesamongtheOceansoftheWorld

Passage4(4/63)

Thefossilremainsofthefirstflyingvertebrates,thepterosaurs,haveintrigued

paleontologistsformorethantwocenturies.Howsuchlargecreatures,whichweighedin

somecasesasmuchasapilotedhang-gliderandhadwingspansfrom8to12meters,

solvedtheproblemsofpoweredflight,andexactlywhatthesecreatureswere—reptilesor

birds—areamongthequestionsscientistshavepuzzledover.

Perhapstheleastcontroversialassertionaboutthepterosaursisthattheywere

reptiles.Theirskulls,pelvises,andhindfeetarereptilian.Theanatomyoftheirwings

suggeststhattheydidnotevolveintotheclassofbirds.Inpterosaursagreatlyelongated

fourthfingerofeachforelimbsupportedawing-likemembrane.Theotherfingerswere

shortandreptilian,withsharpclaws.Inbirdsthesecondfingeristheprincipalstrutofthe

wing,whichconsistsprimarilyoffeathers.Ifthepterosaurswalkedonallfours,thethree

shortfingersmayhavebeenemployedforgrasping.Whenapterosaurwalkedorremained

stationary,thefourthfinger,andwithitthewing,couldonlyturnupwardinanextended

invertedV-shapealongeachsideoftheanimaPsbody.

Thepterosaursresembledbothbirdsandbatsintheiroverallstructureand

proportions.Thisisnotsurprisingbecausethedesignofanyflyingvertebrateissubjectto

aerodynamicconstraints.Boththepterosaursandthebirdshavehollowbones,afeature

thatrepresentsasavingsinweight.Inthebirds,however,thesebonesarereinforcedmore

massivelybyinternalstruts.

Althoughscalestypicallycoverreptiles,thepterosaursprobablyhadhairycoats.TH.

Huxleyreasonedthatflyingvertebratesmusthavebeenwarm-bloodedbecauseflying

impliesahighrateofmetabolism,whichinturnimpliesahighinternaltemperature.

Huxleyspeculatedthatacoatofhairwouldinsulateagainstlossofbodyheatandmight

streamlinethebodytoreducedraginflight.Therecentdiscoveryofapterosaurspecimen

coveredinlong,dense,andrelativelythickhairlikefossilmaterialwasthefirstclear

evidencethathisreasoningwascorrect.

Effortstoexplainhowthepterosaursbecameairbornehaveledtosuggestionsthat

theylaunchedthemselvesbyjumpingfromcliffs,bydroppingfromtrees,orevenbyrising

intolightwindsfromthecrestsofwaves.Eachhypothesishasitsdifficulties.Thefirst

wronglyassumesthatthepterosaurs*hindfeetresembledabafsandcouldserveashooks

bywhichtheanimalcouldhanginpreparationforflight.Thesecondhypothesisseems

unlikelybecauselargepterosaurscouldnothavelandedintreeswithoutdamagingtheir

wings.Thethirdcallsforhighwavestochannelupdrafts.Thewindthatmadesuchwaves

however,mighthavebeentoostrongforthepterosaurstocontroltheirflightonce

airborne.

1.Itcanbeinferredfromthepassagethatscientistsnowgenerallyagreethatthe

(A)enormouswingspanofthepterosaursenabledthemtoflygreatdistances

(B)structureoftheskeletonofthepterosaurssuggestsacloseevolutionary

relationshiptobats

(C)fossilremainsofthepterosaursrevealhowtheysolvedtheproblemof

poweredflight

(D)pterosaurswerereptiles

(E)pterosaurswalkedonallfours

2.Theauthorviewstheideathatthepterosaursbecameairbornebyrisingintolight

windscreatedbywavesas

(A)revolutionary

(B)unlikely

(C)unassailable

(D)probable

(E)outdated

3.Accordingtothepassage,theskeletonofapterosaurcanbedistinguishedfrom

thatofabirdbythe

(A)sizeofitswingspan

(B)presenceofhollowspacesinitsbones

(C)anatomicoriginofitswingstrut

(D)presenceofhooklikeprojectionsonitshindfeet

(E)locationoftheshoulderjointjoiningthewingtoitsbody

4.TheideasattributedtoT.H.Huxleyinthepassagesuggestthathewouldmost

likelyagreewithwhichofthefollowingstatements?

(A)AnanimaFsbrainsizehaslittlebearingonitsabilitytomastercomplex

behaviors.

(B)Ananimafsappearanceisofteninfluencedbyenvironmentalrequirements

andphysicalcapabilities.

(C)Animalswithinagivenfamilygroupareunlikelytochangetheirappearance

dramaticallyoveraperiodoftime.

(D)Theoriginofflightinvertebrateswasanaccidentaldevelopmentratherthan

theoutcomeofspecializationoradaptation.

(E)Thepterosaursshouldbeclassifiedasbirds,notreptiles.

5.Itcanbeinferredfromthepassagethatwhichofthefollowingischaracteristicof

thepterosaurs?

(A)Theywereunabletofoldtheirwingswhennotinuse.

(B)Theyhungupsidedownfrombranchesasbatsdobeforeflight.

(C)Theyflewinordertocaptureprey.

(D)Theywereanearlystageintheevolutionofthebirds.

(E)Theylivedprimarilyinaforest-likehabitat.

6.Whichofthefollowingbestdescribestheorganizationofthelastparagraphof

thepassage?

(A)Newevidenceisintroducedtosupportatraditionalpointofview.

(B)Threeexplanationsforaphenomenonarepresented,andeachisdisputedby

meansofspecificinformation.

(C)Threehypothesesareoutlined,andevidencesupportingeachisgiven.

(D)Recentdiscoveriesaredescribed,andtheirimplicationsforfuturestudyare

projected.

(E)Asummaryofthematerialintheprecedingparagraphsispresented,and

conclusionsaredrawn.

7.Itcanbeinferredfromthepassagethatsomescientistsbelievethatpterosaurs

(A)livednearlargebodiesofwater

(B)hadsharpteethfortearingfood

(C)wereattackedandeatenbylargerreptiles

(D)hadlongertailsthanmanybirds

(E)consumedtwicetheirweightdailytomaintaintheirbodytemperature

Passage5(5/63)

Howmanyreallysufferasaresultoflabormarketproblems?Thisisoneofthemost

criticalyetcontentioussocialpolicyquestions.Inmanyways,oursocialstatistics

exaggeratethedegreeofhardship.Unemploymentdoesnothavethesamedire

consequencestodayasitdidinthe1930'swhenmostoftheunemployedwereprimary

breadwinners,whenincomeandearningswereusuallymuchclosertothemarginof

subsistence,andwhentherewerenocountervailingsocialprogramsforthosefailinginthe

labormarket.Increasingaffluence,theriseoffamilieswithmorethanonewageearner,

thegrowingpredominanceofsecondaryearnersamongtheunemployed,andimproved

socialwelfareprotectionhaveunquestionablymitigatedtheconsequencesofjoblessness.

Earningsandincomedataalsooverstatethedimensionsofhardship.Amongthemillions

withhourlyearningsatorbelowtheminimumwagelevel,theoverwhelmingmajorityare

frommultiple-earner,relativelyaffluentfamilies.Mostofthosecountedbythepoverty

statisticsareelderlyorhandicappedorhavefamilyresponsibilitieswhichkeepthemoutof

thelaborforce,sothepovertystatisticsarebynomeansanaccurateindicatoroflabor

marketpathologies.