Could You Pass This Hardest GMAT Reading Comprehension Test?

1.

According to the passage, what aspect of mathematics is receiving new attention?

A.

Graphical representation of information.
B.

Trigonometric functions.
C.

Analysis.
D.

Scientific math.
E.

Statistical analysis.

Correct Answer
A. Graphical representation of information.

Explanation
According to the passage: "The effective use of representations in mathematics and science education has gained more importance as we enter the new millennium."

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2.

According to the author, what is the advantage of using graphs?

A.

Students understand graphical representations better than calculations.
B.

Graphs take up less space than complex calculations.
C.

Graphs can represent complex information effectively.
D.

Most students understand how to make graphs by the time they reach high school.
E.

Most students are taught how to analyze graphs in science and social science classes.

Correct Answer
C. Graphs can represent complex information effectively.

Explanation
According to the passage: "Graphs can summarize very complex information or relationship very effectively."

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3.

From the information in the passage how are graphs used in the mathematics classroom?

A.

Graphs are used to illustrate complex relationships between data points.
B.

Graphs are used to explain the outcome of mathematical functions.
C.

Graphs are used to compare different data sets.
D.

Graphs are used to analyze complex information.
E.

Graphs are used to teach graphing.

Correct Answer
E. Graphs are used to teach graphing.

Explanation
According to the passage: "...graphs are explicitly taught in mathematics classrooms as an end in themselves..." The author believes that students are taught how to make graphs without being taught how to interpret graphical information.

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4.

How are graphs used in science and social science classrooms?

A.

Graphs are used to illustrate complex relationships between data points.
B.

Graphs are used to explain the outcome of mathematical functions.
C.

Graphs are used to measure differences between data sets.
D.

Graphs are used to analyze simple relationships among data points.
E.

Graphs are used to teach graphing.

Correct Answer
A. Graphs are used to illustrate complex relationships between data points.

Explanation
According to the passage: "... many subject areas such as social science or social studies utilize graphs to represent and interpret relationships."

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5.

According to the author, why is it important for students to know how to construct and interpret graphs?

A.

Students will not do well in math if they can't construct graphs.
B.

Graphical information is used in many careers that may or may not be related to mathematics.
C.

Students will not truly appreciate mathematical functions until they can see them graphically.
D.

Students will not do well in high school physics classes unless they understand how to create graphs.
E.

Otherwise, students will not understand the fundamental properties and functions of graphs.

Correct Answer
B. Graphical information is used in many careers that may or may not be related to mathematics.

Explanation
According to the author: "... being able to interpret or construct graphical representations is a crucial skill for every student whether they want to pursue science or mathematics related careers."

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6.

In the Brasell and Rowe study, what did the authors conclude about high school physics students' understanding of graphical information?

A.

Students were well prepared in mathematics classes to work with graphs.
B.

Students were well prepared in science and social science classes to interpret graphical information.
C.

Students were well prepared to interpret graphical information as long as they took both science and math classes.
D.

Students' abilities to work with and interpret graphical information was superficial.
E.

Most students were able to glean the meaning of a graph when it was presented to them.

Correct Answer
D. Students' abilities to work with and interpret graphical information was superficial.

Explanation
From the passage, "Their facility with graphs was generally superficial, grounded on a few, simplistic algorithms such as plotting data points."

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7.

Based on the information in the passage, what would the author recommend?

A.

More emphasis in the science classroom on the construction and interpretation of graphical data.
B.

More emphasis in social science classrooms on graphical interpretation.
C.

More emphasis in mathematics classrooms on the construction and interpretation of graphical data.
D.

More emphasis in mathematics classrooms on the construction of graphical representation.
E.

More research on how students perceive graphical information.

Correct Answer
C. More emphasis in mathematics classrooms on the construction and interpretation of graphical data.

Explanation
According to the passage, the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics has included representation in the four process standards they advocate for high school math curriculum. If his point is that students can construct graphs without knowing what they mean, the author would recommend that teachers place more emphasis in mathematics classrooms on the interpretation of graphical data.

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8.

According to Janvier, what is lacking in the teaching of graphing skills?

A.

There is too much focus on graphical representation of information.
B.

There is too little focus on graphical representation of information.
C.

There is not enough focus on true mathematical skills in the mathematics classroom.
D.

There is little focus on the overall meaning of a graph, and too much focus on the data points that make up a graph.
E.

There is not enough opportunity for students to translate what they know about data into graphical representations.

Correct Answer
D. There is little focus on the overall meaning of a graph, and too much focus on the data points that make up a graph.

Explanation
According to the passage: "...Mostly he argues how global meanings of graphs and interpreting graphs are left out in mathematics classrooms while reading data and constructing and reading certain points on graphs are emphasized."

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