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GRE General Test practice questions

213 free questions with answers and explanations.

Practice test
  1. 51.A local government proposes to fund a new public park by reallocating funds from the city's arts and culture budget. Proponents argue that a new park will improve public health and provide more accessible recreational opportunities for all residents. Opponents counter that diverting funds from arts and culture will diminish the city's vibrant cultural scene and negatively impact local artists. Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the opponents' counter-argument?Analytical Writing
  2. 52.A technology company is launching a new virtual reality (VR) headset, claiming it will revolutionize remote work by providing an immersive, distraction-free environment. A skeptical reviewer argues that the headset's high cost and technical requirements will severely limit its adoption by the average remote worker. Which of the following, if true, would most reinforce the limiting factors identified by the reviewer?Analytical Writing
  3. 53.A prominent economist argues that increased government spending on infrastructure projects will stimulate economic growth by creating jobs and boosting demand. Opponents counter that such spending will inevitably lead to increased national debt and higher taxes, ultimately harming the economy. Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the opponents' claim that increased spending will inevitably lead to higher taxes?Analytical Writing
  4. 54.A historian argues that the decline of a particular ancient empire was primarily due to its over-reliance on a single agricultural crop, which made it vulnerable to climate fluctuations. The historian supports this by noting that a series of prolonged droughts coincided with the empire's period of decline. Which of the following best describes the flaw in the historian's reasoning?Analytical Writing
  5. 55.A city council is contemplating a proposal to ban plastic water bottles in all municipal buildings. The proponent argues that this ban will significantly reduce plastic waste and promote environmental sustainability. A skeptical council member states, 'But people will just bring their own plastic bottles, or buy drinks in cans, so what's the point?' How could the proponent most effectively counter this skepticism?Analytical Writing
  6. 56.A school district implemented a new mandatory 'mindfulness break' program for all students, arguing it will reduce stress and improve academic focus. However, some parents are skeptical, claiming the time taken from academic instruction will negatively impact learning. Which of the following, if true, would most effectively strengthen the parents' skepticism?Analytical Writing
  7. 57.A company is considering implementing a mandatory 'digital detox' policy, requiring employees to disconnect from all work-related digital devices for one hour during their workday. The CEO argues that this policy will improve employee well-being and productivity by reducing stress. Which of the following, if true, would provide the strongest evidence that the CEO's plan is unlikely to achieve its intended outcome?Analytical Writing
  8. 58.A company is considering implementing a new 'flexible work hour' policy, allowing employees to choose their start and end times within a set window. Management is concerned that this policy will lead to a significant decrease in team collaboration, as employees will be working at different times. Which of the following, if true, would most effectively mitigate management's concern about decreased team collaboration?Analytical Writing
  9. 59.A prominent economist argues that increased government spending on infrastructure projects will inevitably lead to significant job growth and a boost in the national economy. A skeptic challenges this claim, stating that such spending often results in 'crowding out' private investment, thereby negating any potential economic benefits. Which of the following, if true, would most effectively challenge the skeptic's contention that crowding out is an inevitable consequence?Analytical Writing
  10. 60.A local government proposes to fund a new public park by reallocating funds from the city's street maintenance budget. Opponents argue that this will inevitably lead to a significant deterioration of road quality and increased traffic accidents. Which of the following, if true, would most effectively weaken the opponents' argument?Analytical Writing
  11. 61.A city council is considering a proposal to build a new public library. Proponents argue that a new library will foster a stronger sense of community and promote literacy among residents. Opponents contend that with the rise of digital resources, a physical library is an outdated investment. Which of the following would be the most effective counter to the opponents' argument?Analytical Writing
  12. 62.A company CEO states that employee morale has significantly improved over the last year, citing a 10% increase in positive responses on the annual employee satisfaction survey. A skeptical board member points out that during the same period, 20% of the company's employees left for other opportunities, and the survey was only distributed to remaining staff. What logical flaw is the board member most likely highlighting?Analytical Writing
  13. 63.An environmental scientist argues that a proposed dam construction project will severely harm the local ecosystem by disrupting fish migration patterns. The dam's developers counter that the project includes a state-of-the-art fish ladder designed to allow fish to bypass the dam safely. Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the developers' counter-argument?Analytical Writing
  14. 64.A university is considering implementing a new policy requiring all undergraduate students to complete a mandatory 'global citizenship' course. Proponents argue this will broaden students' perspectives and prepare them for an interconnected world. Opponents claim that this will add an unnecessary burden to students' already demanding schedules and that such a course cannot effectively convey the complexities of global citizenship. Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the opponents' claim that the course cannot effectively convey the complexities of global citizenship?Analytical Writing
  15. 65.A city council is debating whether to implement a new bike-share program. Proponents argue it will reduce traffic congestion and promote healthier lifestyles. Opponents counter that the program will be underutilized due to a lack of safe bike lanes and that maintenance costs will be excessive. Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the opponents' claim that maintenance costs will be excessive?Analytical Writing
  16. 66.A company CEO argues that employee productivity has significantly increased since the implementation of a new 'open office' layout, citing a 10% rise in quarterly output reports. Which of the following, if true, would most strongly suggest that the open office layout is NOT the primary cause of the increased productivity?Analytical Writing
  17. 67.A company is considering implementing a mandatory 'digital detox' policy, requiring employees to disconnect from all work-related digital devices for one hour during their lunch break. The CEO argues this will reduce employee stress and improve overall well-being. Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the CEO's claim?Analytical Writing
  18. 68.A company is considering implementing a new 'flexible work hour' policy, allowing employees to choose their start and end times within a set window. Proponents argue this will improve employee morale and productivity. Opponents express concern that it will lead to communication breakdowns and difficulty coordinating team projects due to varied schedules. Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the opponents' concern about communication breakdowns and coordination difficulties?Analytical Writing
  19. 69.A prominent economist argues that increased government spending on infrastructure projects will inevitably lead to a robust economic recovery. The economist asserts that such spending directly creates jobs, stimulates demand for materials, and improves long-term productivity. Which of the following, if true, would most seriously challenge the economist's prediction of a 'robust economic recovery'?Analytical Writing
  20. 70.A city council is debating a proposal to ban single-use plastic bags, arguing that this will significantly reduce plastic pollution in local waterways. Opponents argue that such a ban would inconvenience shoppers and negatively impact local businesses that rely on selling plastic bags. Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the opponents' claim that the ban would inconvenience shoppers?Analytical Writing
  21. 71.A technology company is launching a new virtual reality (VR) headset, claiming it will revolutionize remote work by providing an immersive, distraction-free environment. A market analyst counters that the high cost of the headset and the need for a powerful computer will limit its adoption to a niche market, preventing widespread revolution. Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the market analyst's counter-argument?Analytical Writing
  22. 72.A city council is considering a proposal to build a new public library. Proponents argue that a new library will improve literacy rates and provide a vital community hub. Opponents argue that with increasing digital access to information, physical libraries are becoming obsolete, and funding should instead be allocated to digital literacy programs. Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the opponents' argument that physical libraries are becoming obsolete?Analytical Writing
  23. 73.A city council is considering a proposal to ban single-use plastic bags, arguing that this will significantly reduce plastic pollution in local waterways. Which of the following, if true, would most effectively weaken the claim that the ban will significantly reduce plastic pollution in local waterways?Analytical Writing
  24. 74.A school district implemented a new educational software package, expecting it to significantly improve student test scores by providing personalized learning paths. After one year, test scores remained stagnant. The superintendent concludes that the software is ineffective. Which of the following, if true, would most seriously challenge the superintendent's conclusion?Analytical Writing
  25. 75.A university is considering implementing a mandatory 'civic engagement' course for all undergraduates, arguing that it will foster a stronger sense of community responsibility and improve students' critical thinking skills. Opponents claim that this initiative will merely add to students' already heavy workload without providing tangible benefits. Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the opponents' claim?Analytical Writing
  26. 76.A company recently launched a new mobile application designed to help users manage their finances. Despite positive reviews from early adopters, the number of active users has been declining steadily after an initial surge. The marketing department claims this decline is due to a lack of awareness among the general public. Which of the following, if true, would most undermine the marketing department's claim?Analytical Writing
  27. 77.A non-profit organization promoting literacy argues that providing free books to low-income families will significantly improve children's reading comprehension. They cite studies showing a correlation between home library size and children's reading levels. Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the organization's argument by suggesting an alternative explanation for the correlation?Analytical Writing
  28. 78.A marketing firm claims that a new advertising campaign increased product sales by 20%. Critics argue that the increase in sales might not be solely due to the campaign, pointing out that a major competitor went out of business shortly before the campaign launched. Which of the following strategies would best help the marketing firm demonstrate that the advertising campaign, rather than the competitor's exit, was the primary cause of the sales increase?Analytical Writing
  29. 79.A local government proposes building a new sports arena, arguing that it will boost the local economy by attracting tourists and creating jobs. Critics, however, contend that the economic benefits are often overstated and that such projects primarily benefit a small group of investors. What type of evidence would most effectively challenge the critics' contention?Analytical Writing
  30. 80.A school district implemented a new educational software package, expecting it to significantly improve student engagement and test scores. After one year, a report indicates no measurable improvement in either area. The school board argues that the software needs more time to demonstrate its benefits and that teachers require more training to integrate it effectively. Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the school board's argument that the software needs more time and training?Analytical Writing
  31. 81.A tech company is developing an AI-powered personal assistant, claiming it will revolutionize productivity for its users by automating routine tasks. They assert that the AI's ability to learn user preferences will ensure seamless integration into daily workflows. Which of the following, if true, would most effectively challenge the claim of seamless integration and revolutionary productivity?Analytical Writing
  32. 82.A civil engineer is planning a road construction project. The project requires 1,500 tons of gravel. Supplier A offers gravel at $45 per ton with a 10% discount on the total order. Supplier B offers gravel at $42 per ton with a flat shipping fee of $500. Which supplier offers the lower total cost, and by how much?Quantitative Reasoning
  33. 83.A farmer is fencing a rectangular plot of land. The length of the plot is 20 meters, and the width is 15 meters. If fencing costs $5 per meter, what is the total cost to fence the entire plot?Quantitative Reasoning
  34. 84.A chef is preparing a recipe that calls for 3/4 cup of flour for every 2 servings. If he needs to prepare 10 servings, how many cups of flour will he need?Quantitative Reasoning
  35. 85.A painter is mixing a custom color. He starts with 3 liters of blue paint and 2 liters of yellow paint. If he wants to maintain the same ratio of blue to yellow paint but needs a total of 25 liters of the custom color, how many liters of yellow paint will he need?Quantitative Reasoning
  36. 86.A quality control engineer inspects a batch of 500 components. He finds that 4% of the components are defective. If he then re-inspects the defective components and finds that 25% of them were actually acceptable, how many components are truly defective?Quantitative Reasoning
  37. 87.A data analyst is examining a set of exam scores: 75, 80, 85, 90, 95. If a new score of 60 is added to the set, how will the mean and median of the scores change?Quantitative Reasoning
  38. 88.A project manager is estimating task durations. Task A takes x hours. Task B takes twice as long as Task A. Task C takes 5 hours less than Task B. If the total duration for all three tasks is 40 hours, what is the duration of Task B?Quantitative Reasoning
  39. 89.A market researcher is analyzing customer survey data. Out of 200 respondents, 60% prefer product A, and the rest prefer product B. Among those who prefer product B, 40% are male. How many male respondents prefer product B?Quantitative Reasoning
  40. 90.A city planner is evaluating population growth. The population of a town is currently 15,000. If it grows at an annual rate of 2% compounded annually, what will be the approximate population after 5 years?Quantitative Reasoning
  41. 91.A financial analyst is tracking the quarterly revenue of a company. The revenue in Q1 was $120,000. In Q2, the revenue increased by 15% compared to Q1. In Q3, the revenue decreased by 10% compared to Q2. What was the company's revenue in Q3?Quantitative Reasoning
  42. 92.A scientist is observing bacterial growth. The number of bacteria in a petri dish doubles every 30 minutes. If there are initially 500 bacteria, how many bacteria will there be after 3 hours?Quantitative Reasoning
  43. 93.A gardener is designing a circular flower bed with a radius of 7 feet. He wants to install a decorative border around the edge. If the border material costs $3 per linear foot, and pi (π) is approximated as 22/7, what will be the total cost of the border?Quantitative Reasoning
  44. 94.A political analyst observed that while the new legislation was ostensibly designed to promote economic equality, its practical effects were quite ______; instead of narrowing the wealth gap, it inadvertently exacerbated existing disparities.Verbal Reasoning
  45. 95.The scientific community often champions the pursuit of pure knowledge, arguing that fundamental research, even without immediate practical applications, is inherently valuable. This perspective asserts that breakthroughs in understanding the natural world, regardless of their initial utility, frequently lay the groundwork for unforeseen technological advancements and societal benefits. However, a counter-argument posits that an overemphasis on 'knowledge for knowledge's sake' can divert resources from areas with more pressing societal needs, leading to a disconnect between scientific endeavor and public welfare. Nonetheless, the history of science is replete with examples where seemingly ______ discoveries have ultimately transformed human civilization in profound ways. Which word, if inserted into the blank, best fits the meaning of the sentence?Verbal Reasoning
  46. 96.For many years, critics bemoaned the director's films as being overly sentimental and dramatically inert, arguing that his reliance on lush visuals and melodramatic scores merely served to mask a fundamental lack of substance. However, a recent reappraisal of his early works suggests that these same qualities, when viewed through a different lens, actually contribute to a unique aesthetic that is both deeply moving and intellectually resonant. Thus, what was once considered a ______ is now being lauded as a hallmark of his distinctive style. Which word, if inserted into the blank, best completes the sentence?Verbal Reasoning
  47. 97.Text Completion: Cause and Effect: The rapid deforestation of the Amazon rainforest has led to a significant ______ in local rainfall patterns, which in turn exacerbates the risk of wildfires and further threatens biodiversity.Verbal Reasoning
  48. 98.Reading Comprehension: Application: A historian argues that the decline of the Roman Empire was not a sudden collapse but a gradual process influenced by a confluence of economic, social, and political factors over several centuries. She emphasizes that no single event or policy can be pinpointed as the sole cause, and that different regions experienced the 'decline' in varied ways and at different paces. Which of the following statements best exemplifies the historian's approach to historical analysis?Verbal Reasoning
  49. 99.The nascent field of astrobiology seeks to understand the origins, evolution, and distribution of life in the universe. While many of its inquiries remain speculative due to the lack of direct evidence from extraterrestrial sources, the discipline relies heavily on established principles of biology, chemistry, and physics. Researchers in astrobiology often employ remote sensing technologies and laboratory simulations to test hypotheses about habitable environments and potential biosignatures beyond Earth. This interdisciplinary approach is crucial, as the search for life requires a comprehensive understanding of both terrestrial life and the conditions prevalent in various cosmic settings. Consider each of the three choices separately and select all that apply. Which of the following statements can be inferred from the passage? I. Astrobiology primarily focuses on theoretical speculation rather than empirical evidence. II. Astrobiologists use methods from multiple scientific fields. III. The search for extraterrestrial life is hindered by a scarcity of direct observational data.Verbal Reasoning
  50. 100.Studies on the effect of caffeine on cognitive performance have yielded ______ results; some indicate a significant improvement in alertness and reaction time, while others show little to no measurable impact, or even detrimental effects in certain individuals. This variability suggests that individual physiological differences play a crucial role in how caffeine is metabolized and affects brain function. Which word, if inserted into the blank, best completes the sentence?Verbal Reasoning