Test - GRE-Reading Comprehension

Select one answer choice from the given options.

1

Although many people claim to have stayed awake for days, weeks and years altogether, what is indisputable is the fact that complete lack of sleep, at least in humans, is just not possible and the brain automatically shuts down for intervals that range between one second to a minute to prohibit total lack of sleep. Such periods are called 'microsleeps' and in light of the emerging, nascent research into human sleep requirements and the effects of the lack of the same, states that these just might be the body's defense mechanism to prevent a total breakdown of faculties.

Sleep, outside of Rapid Eye Movement allows enzymes to repair brain cell damage caused by free radicals. In a university study, sleep deprivation was found to affect the brain receptors controlling mood, energy levels, digestion and immune system. Among the other and many physical repercussions of sleep deprivation, attention deficits can perhaps be the most disastrous. One night total sleep deprivation causes errors to creep into physical and mental coordination. Sleep deprivation, in combination with intake of alcohol is perhaps one of the most dangerous combinations that one can subject oneself to.

Sleep deprivation can also be used as a means of interrogation. Under one interrogation technique, a subject might be kept awake for several days and when finally allowed to fall asleep, suddenly awakened and questioned. His sole desire to sleep. The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that the techniques "did not occasion suffering of the particular intensity and cruelty implied by the word torture ... [but] amounted to a practice of inhuman and degrading treatment", in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Which of the following, if true, most weakens the findings of the passage?

Sleep deprivation, when countered with caffeine, decreases the frequency of simulated car crashes.

Each involuntary shutdown of the brain produces a correspondingly larger period of full alertness.

Sleep characterized by quick, involuntary movement of eyeballs allows for repair of brain damage.

Legality of sleep deprivation as an interrogation technique is subject to subjectivity.

Prolonged lack of sleep causes lapses in concentration and dimmed reflexes.

Select one answer choice from the given options.

2

Although many people claim to have stayed awake for days, weeks and years altogether, what is indisputable is the fact that complete lack of sleep, at least in humans, is just not possible and the brain automatically shuts down for intervals that range between one second to a minute to prohibit total lack of sleep. Such periods are called 'microsleeps' and in light of the emerging, nascent research into human sleep requirements and the effects of the lack of the same, states that these just might be the body's defense mechanism to prevent a total breakdown of faculties.

Sleep, outside of Rapid Eye Movement allows enzymes to repair brain cell damage caused by free radicals. In a university study, sleep deprivation was found to affect the brain receptors controlling mood, energy levels, digestion and immune system. Among the other and many physical repercussions of sleep deprivation, attention deficits can perhaps be the most disastrous. One night total sleep deprivation causes errors to creep into physical and mental coordination. Sleep deprivation, in combination with intake of alcohol is perhaps one of the most dangerous combinations that one can subject oneself to.

Sleep deprivation can also be used as a means of interrogation. Under one interrogation technique, a subject might be kept awake for several days and when finally allowed to fall asleep, suddenly awakened and questioned. His sole desire to sleep. The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that the techniques "did not occasion suffering of the particular intensity and cruelty implied by the word torture ... [but] amounted to a practice of inhuman and degrading treatment", in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Which of the following is a correct inference of the ruling on sleep deprivation by the European Court of Human Rights?

It was torture in a milder form and hence acceptable.

It was not torture at all since torture means extreme physical or mental abuse.

It was a cruel and intense form of torture.

It was mistreatment but to call it torture would be stretching things too far.

It was a milder form of torture but still needed to be censured.

Select one or more choices from the given options.

3

Although many people claim to have stayed awake for days, weeks and years altogether, what is indisputable is the fact that complete lack of sleep, at least in humans, is just not possible and the brain automatically shuts down for intervals that range between one second to a minute to prohibit total lack of sleep. Such periods are called 'microsleeps' and in light of the emerging, nascent research into human sleep requirements and the effects of the lack of the same, states that these just might be the body's defense mechanism to prevent a total breakdown of faculties.

Sleep, outside of Rapid Eye Movement allows enzymes to repair brain cell damage caused by free radicals. In a university study, sleep deprivation was found to affect the brain receptors controlling mood, energy levels, digestion and immune system. Among the other and many physical repercussions of sleep deprivation, attention deficits can perhaps be the most disastrous. One night total sleep deprivation causes errors to creep into physical and mental coordination. Sleep deprivation, in combination with intake of alcohol is perhaps one of the most dangerous combinations that one can subject oneself to.

Sleep deprivation can also be used as a means of interrogation. Under one interrogation technique, a subject might be kept awake for several days and when finally allowed to fall asleep, suddenly awakened and questioned. His sole desire to sleep. The European Court of Human Rights has ruled that the techniques "did not occasion suffering of the particular intensity and cruelty implied by the word torture ... [but] amounted to a practice of inhuman and degrading treatment", in breach of the European Convention on Human Rights.

Which of the following, if true, would lend additional credence to the findings of the passage?

Commandos able to operate efficiently behind enemy lines for a week with less than four hours of sleep a night.

Documentary evidence of increased aggressiveness in sleep deprived primates.

A man moonlighting throughout night and outperforming his colleagues at regular work in the day.

Select one answer choice from the given options.

4

A country's standard of living, including the wages of its workers, depends on the productivity of labor; high productivity depends on machines, inventions, and capital investment; which depend on the creative ingenuity of individual men; which requires, for its exercise, a politico-economic system that protects the individual's rights and freedom. The productive value of physical labor as such is low. If the worker of today produces more than the worker of fifty years ago, it is not because the former exerts more physical effort; quite the contrary, the physical effort required of him is far less. The productive value of his effort has been multiplied many times by the tools and machines with which he works; they are crucial in determining the economic worth of his services.

The primary purpose of the passage is to

highlight the contrast in the economic standing of America over time

compare the economic standing of workers in the developed world

talk about a concept that is generally not given much importance

clarify certain concepts about the economic placement of the proletariats

see how high productivity leads to a better standard of living

Select one answer choice from the given options.

5

When trying to imagine something we've never seen, we often default to something we have seen. For that reason, in our search for extraterrestrial life we are usually looking for life as we know it. But is there a path for expanding our imagination to life as we don't know it?

In physics, an analogous path was already established a century ago and turned out to be successful in many contexts. It involves conducting laboratory experiments that reveal the underlying laws of physics, which in turn apply to the entire universe. For example, around the same time when the neutron was discovered in a laboratory, Lev Landau suggested that there might be stars made of neutrons. Astronomers realized subsequently that there are, in fact, some 100 million neutron stars in our Milky Way galaxy alone—and a billion times more in the observable universe. The moral of this story is that physicists were able to imagine something new in the universe at large and search for it in the sky by following insights gained from laboratory experiments on Earth.

The search for extraterrestrial life can follow a similar approach. By creating synthetic life in various ways from a soup of chemicals in the lab, we might be able to imagine new environments where life might occur differently than on Earth. The situation is similar to composing a recipe book with prescriptions for baking different types of cakes. In order to write a rich recipe book, we need to experiment with many types of chemicals. And also, this experimentation may use fluids other than water, which is considered essential for life as we know it.

The neutron analogy serves which of the following purposes for the author to develop his argument about extraterrestrial life?

It provides hints to create the universe inside the laboratory.

It nudges us to rethink the whole concept of the origin of life on earth.

It makes the known unknowns visible to our mental eye.

It makes us see that extraterrestrial life will be a heady soup of the same chemicals.

It helps us appreciate that laws of nature are the same everywhere.

Select one answer choice from the given options.

6

When trying to imagine something we've never seen, we often default to something we have seen. For that reason, in our search for extraterrestrial life we are usually looking for life as we know it. But is there a path for expanding our imagination to life as we don't know it?

In physics, an analogous path was already established a century ago and turned out to be successful in many contexts. It involves conducting laboratory experiments that reveal the underlying laws of physics, which in turn apply to the entire universe. For example, around the same time when the neutron was discovered in a laboratory, Lev Landau suggested that there might be stars made of neutrons. Astronomers realized subsequently that there are, in fact, some 100 million neutron stars in our Milky Way galaxy alone—and a billion times more in the observable universe. The moral of this story is that physicists were able to imagine something new in the universe at large and search for it in the sky by following insights gained from laboratory experiments on Earth.

The search for extraterrestrial life can follow a similar approach. By creating synthetic life in various ways from a soup of chemicals in the lab, we might be able to imagine new environments where life might occur differently than on Earth. The situation is similar to composing a recipe book with prescriptions for baking different types of cakes. In order to write a rich recipe book, we need to experiment with many types of chemicals. And also, this experimentation may use fluids other than water, which is considered essential for life as we know it.

Which of the following is implied by the author by his use of recipe book as an example?

Either the mix or the conditions need to be changed for surprising new products to emerge.

Variations and combinations are essential to achieve knowledge about the unseen.

Revelation of extraterrestrial life can emerge out of experimentation with earthly life.

Imagined outcomes become readily discernible through random experimentation.

The path for experimenting with life as it exists in the other worlds can be visualized.

Select one answer choice from the given options.

7

When trying to imagine something we've never seen, we often default to something we have seen. For that reason, in our search for extraterrestrial life we are usually looking for life as we know it. But is there a path for expanding our imagination to life as we don't know it?

In physics, an analogous path was already established a century ago and turned out to be successful in many contexts. It involves conducting laboratory experiments that reveal the underlying laws of physics, which in turn apply to the entire universe. For example, around the same time when the neutron was discovered in a laboratory, Lev Landau suggested that there might be stars made of neutrons. Astronomers realized subsequently that there are, in fact, some 100 million neutron stars in our Milky Way galaxy alone—and a billion times more in the observable universe. The moral of this story is that physicists were able to imagine something new in the universe at large and search for it in the sky by following insights gained from laboratory experiments on Earth.

The search for extraterrestrial life can follow a similar approach. By creating synthetic life in various ways from a soup of chemicals in the lab, we might be able to imagine new environments where life might occur differently than on Earth. The situation is similar to composing a recipe book with prescriptions for baking different types of cakes. In order to write a rich recipe book, we need to experiment with many types of chemicals. And also, this experimentation may use fluids other than water, which is considered essential for life as we know it.

In context in which it appears, the term "synthetic life" most nearly means

formulations in varied settings to get basic forms of life that may be alien to our experience

basic ingredients of life created to find evidence elsewhere in the universe

differentiations in any imaginable form that extraterrestrial life might take

conditions that might replicate the evolutionary path of life on earth

formulations of life-producing chemicals that simulate the natural process of procreation.

Number	Status	Marked
1	Not answered
2	Not answered
3	Not answered
4	Not answered
5	Not answered
6	Not answered
7	Not answered

GRE-Reading Comprehension - 4