TC Questions Help (Big Book)

GRE Verbal Problem Solving
1

Hello all,

First post here. I have given the GRE once and noticed that my score suffered because i am weak in TC and SE. As a result, I have been focusing a lot on improving my TC and SE accuracy by working on vocab and using Gregmat strategies.

I got the below questions wrong and wanted to get some perspective on the reasoning i used to chose the answers that i chose. I would be really grateful for any feedback on my reasoning and what could possibly be my blind side.

Question

Before 1500 North America was inhabited by
more than 300 cultural groups, each with differen
t customs, social structures, world views,
and languages; such diversity -------- the existence
of a single Native American culture.
(A) complements (B) implies (C) reiterates
(D) argues against (E) explains away

Reasoning: I was stuck between D and E, and ended up choosing E. The reason I didn’t choose D was because I didn’t see evidence for an existing argument FOR the existence of a native american culture, and that’s why E seemed better. Would you say that is the correct reasoning?

Question

Darwin’s method did not really ------- the idea of
race as an important conceptual category; even the
much more central idea of species was little more
than a theoretical -------.
(A) require … convenience
(B) apply … measurement
(C) exclude. . practice
(D) subsume … validation
(E) reject… fact

Reasoning: I understood that the sentence required two words that helped support the two clauses. Only D seemed like the best option to me in the moment. However, upon reflecting, I see that A helps convey a similar message as D does. However, I am not sure why A is the correct answer over D as they help carve a similar meaning. Is “Requiring” the idea better than “Subsuming” the idea?

Question

Borrowing a copyrighted book from a library
amounts to a form of theft ------- by entrenched
custom: the copyright owner’s property, the book,
is used repeatedly without ------- for such use.
(A) engendered … application
(B) anticipated … acknowledgment
(C) sanctioned … compensation
(D) provoked … adjustment
(E) perpetrated … permission

Reasoning: I chose E as the answer and the correct answer is C. I was battling between E and C, and ended chosing E because of the grammar of the second clause. The subject seems to be the “owner’s property”, and using the property without “permission” seemed to me as a more grammatically correct Subject/Verb pair than using the property without “compensation”.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Asfand

2

Hiyah,

First question - - > sentence 1 says theres a lot of diversity due to various groups and sentence 2 is saying that this diversity is doing what? to idea of single group existence. This diversity is clearly denouncing the single group theory, so only one option fits which is argues against.

Explains away - - > doesn’t mean its a contrast, its just explanation

Question 2. Requiring and subsuming are almost same, the differentating factor here is second blank.

I can’t explain in good way but I will try

As the question says its a little more than theoretical, ask yourself does validation fit in? No, because theoretical is a word we normally use in cases where hypothesis rules over practicality, ie., theoretical doesn’t need a validation per se, if it has validation , its no longer theoretical but practical or fundamental laws of physics kinda thing

Question 3. This should be easy if you are binary in options, if a book is copyrighted then to read it what do you need to do? Ask your self for reading this book do i have to purchase this copyrighted book or do i need to get permission for Reading this? Most books seen in library are copyrighted, so have you seen anyone asking permission to read them? If you are thinking about permission for borrowing then thats wrong because last two words say about use of book, your use of book is not borrowing but reading

Also perpetrated is wrong because if this is chosen then entrenched custom is doing theft, do you think established custom can do theft? Although slightly it needs outside knowledge in this custom - theft thing, it still has good reason to choose C just based on compensation

1 Like
3

Hey Ram - Thanks so much for your response. Your explanations for the answer choices are really helpful. It seems like I wasn’t staying IN the sentence for the second and third question.

I am still a little unsure about the answer to number one, because explains away does indicate a contrast. One of the definitions on Merriam Webster is “to get rid of by or as if by explanation”, and as a result i’m still struggling to understand the distinction between the logic produced by choice D and E.

Once again, thanks for your help.