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Verbal Practice Test 1

Description: GMAT Verbal test - 1
Number of Questions: 38
Created by:
Tags: GMAT Verbal test - 1 Sentence GMAT Pattern) Improvement Sentence Improvement
Attempted 0/37 Correct 0 Score 0

Directions: The following question presents a sentence, part of which or all of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

Machines replacing human labor, there was wide anticipation that the workweek would continue to become shorter.

  1. Machines replacing human labor, there was wide anticipation that

  2. When machines replaced human labor, there was wide anticipation

  3. As machines replaced human labor, it was widely anticipated that

  4. Insofar as machines replaced human labor, it was widely anticipated

  5. Human labor being replaced by machines, there was wide anticipation that


Correct Option: C

Directions: The following question presents a sentence, part of which or all of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

Common stocks, which are shares of ownership in a corporation, is the most direct way to participate in the fortunes of a company.

  1. is the most direct way to participate in the fortunes of a company.

  2. is the most direct way for participating in the fortunes of a company.

  3. is the most direct way of participating in the fortunes of a company.

  4. are the most direct way to participate in the fortunes of a company.

  5. are the most direct way for participating in the fortunes of a company.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The best answer is (4). The sentence has a plural subject, common stocks, therefore it needs the plural form of the verb: are.

Directions: For this question, select the best of the answer choices given.

It would cost Rosetown one million dollars to repair all of its roads. In the year after completion of those repairs, however, Rosetown would thereby avoid incurring three million dollars worth of damages, since currently Rosetown pays that amount annually in compensation for damage done to cars each year by its unrepaired roads. Which of the following, if true, gives the strongest support to the argument above?

  1. Communities bordering on Rosetown also pay compensation for damage done to cars by their unrepaired roads.

  2. After any Rosetown road has been repaired several years will elapse before that road begins to damage cars.

  3. Rosetown would need to raise additional taxes if it were to spend one million dollars in one year on road repairs.

  4. The degree of damage caused to Rosetown's roads by harsh weather can vary widely from year to year.


Correct Option: B

Directions: For this question, select the best of the answer choices given.

The CEO of Black's International has proposed replacing their Marmacil semiconductor manufacturing equipment with Fasttech equipment since it costs 30 percent less to train new staff on the Fasttech equipment. Those opposed to the change have pointed out the savings in training cost does not justify the change. Instead, they suggested that the company hire only people who already know how to use the Marmacil equipment. Which of the following, if true, most seriously undermines the objection to the replacement of Marmacil semiconductor manufacturing equipment with Fasttechs?

  1. Currently all employees in the company are required to attend workshops on how to use Marmacil semiconductor manufacturing equipment in new applications.

  2. Once employees learn how to use semiconductor-manufacturing equipment, they tend to change employers more readily than before.

  3. Experienced users of Marmacil equipment command much higher salaries than do prospective employees who have no experience in the use of such equipment.

  4. The average productivity of employees in the general manager's company is below the average productivity of the employees of its competitors.


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The best answer is (3). Those objecting to the change claim that the advantage of Fasttech's relatively low cost can be mitigated by hiring experience users of Marmacil semiconductor manufacturing equipment. However, if such people command much higher salaries as choice (3) states, doing so would not result in savings to the company.

Directions: The following question presents a sentence, part of which or all of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

By necessary, munitions plants hired many young woman during the war; at least as much as 500,00 and more others who had not any previous experience in factory work of any kind.

  1. at least as much as 500,000 and more others who had not any

  2. at least as much as more than 500,000 others who had no

  3. more than 500,000 had not any

  4. more than 500,000 had no

  5. there were at least 500,000 or more others without any


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The best answer is (4). It is idiomatic, clear, and concise. Both (1) and (2) incorrectly use much rather than many. In (1) and (3), not any is wordy and awkward. (5) redundantly uses at least and more.

Directions: For this question, select the best of the answer choices given.

The cotton farms of Country Q became so productive that the market could not absorb all that they produced. Consequently, cotton prices fell. The government tried to boost cotton prices by offering farmers who took 25 percent of their cotton acreage out of production direct support payments up to a specified maximum per farm. The government's program, if successful, will not be a net burden on the budget. Which of the following, if true, is the best basis for an explanation of how this could be so?

  1. Depressed cotton prices meant operating losses for cotton farms, and the government lost revenue from taxes on farm profits.

  2. Cotton production in several countries other than Q declined slightly the year that the support-payment program went into effect in Q.

  3. The first year that the support-payment program was in effect, cotton acreage in Q was 5% below its level in the base year for the program.

  4. The specified maximum per farm meant that for very large cotton farms the support payments were less per acre for those acres that were withdrawn from production than they were for smaller farms.

  5. Farmers who wished to qualify for support payments could not use the cotton acreage that was withdrawn from production to grow any other crop.


Correct Option: A

Directions: The following question presents a sentence, part of which or all of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

It seemed that hardly any vote was cast on the Senate or House floor without some calculation as to how it might affect the midterm election.

  1. without some calculation as to how

  2. without there is some calculation as to how

  3. without that there is some calculation as to how

  4. without some calculation as how

  5. without some calculation to how


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The best answer is (1). The construction as to is idiomatic. In (4) and (5), the use of as alone or to alone is incorrect.

Directions: For this question, select the best of the answer choices given.

Holden's Ltd. two subsidiaries performed with remarkable consistency over the past five years: in each of those years, Lexton has accounted for roughly 30 percent of dollar sales and 60 percent of profits, and Stillmore for the balance. Which of the following can properly be inferred regarding the past five years from the statement above?

  1. Total dollar sales for each of the subsidiaries have remained roughly constant.

  2. Lexton has faced stiffer competition in its markets than has Stillmore.

  3. Stillmore has realized lower profits per dollar of sales than has Lexton.

  4. The product mix offered by each of the company's divisions has remained unchanged.


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The best answer is (3). If Lexton has accounted for roughly 30 percent of dollar sales and 60 percent of profits, then it has realized more profit per dollar of sales than Stillmore. There are not enough facts to support the inferences reached in the other answers.

Directions: The following question presents a sentence, part of which or all of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

Archaeologists in Ireland believe that a recently discovered chalice, which dates from the eighth century, was probably buried to keep from being stolen by invaders.

  1. to keep from

  2. to keep it from

  3. to avoid

  4. in order that it would avoid

  5. in order to keep from


Correct Option: B

Directions: The following question presents a sentence, part of which or all of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

Certain pesticides can become ineffective if used repeatedly in the same place; one reason is suggested by the finding that there are much larger populations of pesticide-degrading microbes in soils with a relatively long history of pesticide use than in soils that are free of such chemicals.

  1. Certain pesticides can become ineffective if used repeatedly in the same place; one reason is suggested by the finding that there are much larger populations of pesticide-degrading microbes in soils with a relatively long history of pesticide use than in soils that are free of such chemicals.

  2. If used repeatedly in the same place, one reason that certain pesticides can become ineffective is suggested by the finding that there are much larger populations of pesticide-degrading microbes in soils with a relatively long history of pesticide use than in soils that are free of such chemicals.

  3. If used repeatedly in the same place, one reason certain pesticides can become ineffective is suggested by the finding that much larger populations of pesticide-degrading microbes are found in soils with a relatively long history of pesticide use than those that are free of such chemicals.

  4. The finding that there are much larger populations of pesticide-degrading microbes in soils with a relatively long history of pesticide use than in soils that are free of such chemicals is suggestive of one reason, if used repeatedly in the same place, certain pesticides can become ineffective.

  5. The finding of much larger populations of pesticide-degrading microbes in soils with a relatively long history of pesticide use than in those that are free of such chemicals suggests one reason certain pesticides can become ineffective if used repeatedly in the same place.


Correct Option: A

Directions: For this question, select the best of the answer choices given.

Shereen cosmetics sometimes discounts the price of its premium eye shadows to retailers for a promotion period when the product is advertised to consumers. Such promotions often result in a dramatic increase in amount of premium eye shadows sold by the manufacturers to retailers. Nevertheless, the manufacturers could often make more profit by not holding the promotions. Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the claim above about the manufacturers' profit?

  1. The amount of discount generally offered by manufacturers to retailers is carefully calculated to represent the minimum needed to draw consumers' attention to the eye shadows.

  2. For many consumer products the period of advertising discounted prices to consumers is about a week, not sufficiently long for consumers to become used to the sale price.

  3. For cosmetics that are not newly introduced, the purpose of such promotions is to keep the products in the minds of consumers and to attract consumers who are currently using competing products.

  4. During such a promotion retailers tend to accumulate in their warehouses inventory bought at discount; they then sell much of it later at their regular price.

  5. If a manufacturer fails to offer such promotions but its competitor offers them, that competitor will tend to attract consumers away from the manufacturer's product.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The best answer is (4). According to choice (4), the promotion does not bring about increased sales to the consumer, but a hoarding of the product by the retailer. Without the promotion, retailers would eventually buy the same numbers of the product at its full price, therefore, choice (4) supports the claim.

Directions: For this question, select the best of the answer choices given.

Small-business groups are lobbying to defeat proposed federal legislation that would substantially raise the federal minimum wage. This opposition is surprising since the legislation they oppose would, for the first time, exempt all small businesses from paying any minimum wage. Which of the following, if true, would best explain the opposition of small-business groups to the proposed legislation?

  1. Under the current federal minimum-wage law, most small businesses are required to pay no less than the minimum wage to their employees.

  2. In order to attract workers, small companies must match the wages offered by their larger competitors, and these competitors would not be exempt under the proposed laws.

  3. The exact number of companies that are currently required to pay no less than the minimum wage but that would be exempt under the proposed laws is unknown.

  4. Some states have set their own minimum wages—in some cases, quite a bit above the level of the minimum wage mandated by current federal law—for certain key industries.


Correct Option: B

Directions: For this question, select the best of the answer choices given.

When three Everett-owned Lightning-built airplanes crashed in the same month, the Everett company ordered three new Lightning-built airplanes as replacements. This decision surprised many in the airline industry because, ordinarily when a product is involved in accidents, users become reluctant to buy that product. Which of the following, if true, provides the best indication that the Everett company's decision was logically well supported?

  1. Although during the previous year only one Lightning-built airplane crashed, competing manufacturers had a perfect safety record.

  2. The Lightning-built airplanes crashed due to pilot error, but because of the excellent quality of the planes there were many survivors.

  3. The Federal Aviation Association issued new guidelines for airlines in order to standardize safety requirements governing preflight inspections.

  4. Consumer advocates pressured two major airlines into purchasing safer airplanes so that the public would be safer while flying.

  5. Many Lightning Airplane Company employees had to be replaced because they found jobs with the competition.


Correct Option: B

Directions: For this question, select the best of the answer choices given.

Recently a court ruled that current law allows companies to reject a job applicant if working in the job would entail a 90 percent chance that the applicant would suffer a heart attack. The presiding judge justified the ruling, saying that it protected both employees and employers. This use of his court ruling as part of the law could not be effective in regulating employment practices if which of the following were true?

  1. The best interests of employers often conflict with the interests of employees.

  2. No legally accepted methods exist for calculating the risk of a job applicant's having a heart attack as a result of being employed in any particular occupation.

  3. Some jobs might involve health risks other than the risk of heart attack.

  4. Employees who have a 90 percent chance of suffering a heart attack may be unaware that their risk is so great.

  5. The number of people applying for jobs at a company might decline if the company, by screening applicants for risk of heart attack, seemed to suggest that the job entailed high risk of heart attack.


Correct Option: B

Directions: The following question presents a sentence, part of which or all of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

Advances in networking technology and home computers have made it easy for millions of Americans to work in their homes, often facilitating the communication between the manager, who continues to work on-site at the office, with his distant employees.

  1. communication between the manager, who continues to work on-site at the office, with his distant employees.

  2. communication between the manager, who continues the work on-site at the office, with his distant employees.

  3. communication between the manager, who continues to work on-site at the office, to his distant employees.

  4. communication between the manager, who continues to work on-site at the office, and his distant employees.

  5. communication between the manager, who continues to work on-site at the office, with his distance employees.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The best answer is (4). The communication has to be between the manager and his employee.

Directions: For this question, select the best of the answer choices given. According to the Tristate Transportation Authority, making certain improvements to the main commuter rail line would increase ridership dramatically. The authority plans to finance these improvements over the course of five years by raising automobile tolls on the two highway bridges along the route the rail line serves. Although the proposed improvements are indeed needed, the authority's plan for securing the necessary funds should be rejected because it would unfairly force drivers to absorb the entire cost of something from which they receive no benefit.

Which of the following, if true, would provide the authority with the strongest counter to the objection that its plan is unfair?

  1. Even with the proposed toll increase, the average bridge toll in the tristate region would remain less than the tolls charged in neighboring states.

  2. Any attempt to finance the improvements by raising rail fares would result in a decrease in ridership and so would be self-defeating.

  3. Automobile commuters benefit from well-maintained bridges, and in the tristate region bridge maintenance is funded out of general income tax revenues to which both automobile and rail commuters contribute.

  4. The roads along the route served by the rail line are highly congested and drivers benefit when commuters are diverted from congested roadways to mass transit.

  5. The only alternative way of funding the proposed improvements now being considered is through a regional income tax surcharge, which would affect automobile commuters and rail commuters alike.


Correct Option: D

Directions: The following question presents a sentence, part of which or all of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

Samuel Sewall viewed marriage, as other seventeenth-century colonists, like a property arrangement rather than an emotional bond based on romantic love.

  1. Samuel Sewall viewed marriage, as other seventeenth-century colonists, like a property arrangement rather than

  2. As did other seventeenth-century colonists, Samuel Sewall viewed marriage to be a property arrangement rather than viewing it as

  3. Samuel Sewall viewed marriage to be a property arrangement, like other seventeenth-century colonists, rather than viewing it as

  4. Marriage to Samuel Sewall, like other seventeenth-century colonists, was viewed as a property arrangement rather than

  5. Samuel Sewall, like other seventeenth-century colonists, viewed marriage as a property arrangement rather than


Correct Option: E

Directions: For this question, select the best of the answer choices given.

In an attempt to discourage the widespread acceptance of clothing manufactured in sweatshops, the council of a small town plans to ban the sale of sweatshop goods for which substitutes manufactured under humane conditions exist. The council argues that non-sweatshop apparel is morally preferable. Which of the following, if true, indicates that the plan to ban the sale of sweatshop goods is ill suited to the town council's moral objectives?

  1. Although clothing manufactured in sweatshops is now available, members of the town council believe non-sweatshop apparel is better for workers in the clothing manufacturing business.

  2. The clothing factory at which most of the townspeople are employed plans to improve their working conditions.

  3. After other towns enacted similar bans on the sale of clothing manufactured in sweatshops, the benefits to workers in the clothing manufacturing business were not discernible for several years.

  4. Since most townspeople prefer clothing manufactured in sweatshops in many instances, they are likely to purchase them in neighboring towns where such goods are available for sale.

  5. Sweatshops sometimes produce items other than apparel.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The best answer is (4). If the town's residents are likely to purchase the same items from another town, then the town council's objectives of limiting purchases of sweatshop manufactured clothing will not be met.

Directions: The following question presents a sentence, part of which or all of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

A patient accusing a doctor of malpractice will find it difficult to prove damage if there is a lack of some other doctor to testify about proper medical procedures.

  1. if there is a lack of some other doctor to testify

  2. unless there will be another doctor to testify

  3. without another doctor's testimony

  4. should there be no testimony from some other doctor

  5. lacking another doctor to testify


Correct Option: C

Directions: For this question, select the best of the answer choices given.

The pharmaceutical industry argues that because new drugs will not be developed unless heavy development costs can be recouped in later sales, the current 20 years of protection provided by patents should be extended in the case of newly developed drugs. However, in other industries new-product development continues despite high development costs, a fact that indicates that the extension is unnecessary. Which of the following, if true, most strongly supports the pharmaceutical industry's argument against the challenge made above?

  1. No industries other than the pharmaceutical industry have asked for an extension of the 20-year limit on patent protection.

  2. Clinical trials of new drugs, which occur after the patent is granted and before the new drug can be marketed, often now take as long as 10 years to complete.

  3. There are several industries in which the ratio of research and development costs to revenues is higher than it is in the pharmaceutical industry.

  4. An existing patent for a drug does not legally prevent pharmaceutical companies from bringing to market alternative drugs, provided they are sufficiently dissimilar to the patented drug.


Correct Option: B

Directions: The following question presents a sentence, part of which or all of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

For almost five thousand years after its beginning 2.5 million years ago, Homo habilis roamed the earth, lived in semi-permanent camps, gathered food and shared their economy.

  1. For almost five thousand years after its beginning 2.5 million years ago,

  2. Beginning 2.5 million years ago for a period of almost five thousand years,

  3. Beginning a period of almost five thousand years 2.5 million years ago,

  4. During five thousand years, a period beginning 2.5 million years ago,

  5. Over a period of five thousand years beginning 2.5 million years ago,


Correct Option: E
Explanation:

The best answer is (5). Choice (5) is precise and idiomatically phrased. Choice (1) is illogical because it refers grammatically to Homo habilis. Choice (2) is less clear and direct.

Directions: The following question presents a sentence, part of which or all of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

As measured by the Commerce Department, corporate profits peaked in the fourth quarter of 1988 and have slipped since then, as many companies have been unable to pass on higher costs.

  1. and have slipped since then, as many companies have been unable to pass on higher costs

  2. and have slipped since then, the reason being because many companies have been unable to pass on higher costs

  3. and slipped since then, many companies being unable to pass on higher costs

  4. but, many companies unable to pass on higher costs, they have slipped since then

  5. yet are slipping since then, because many companies were unable to pass on higher costs


Correct Option: A

Directions: The following question presents a sentence, part of which or all of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

The acrimony in Washington, communicated to the general public to a large degree in sound-bite epithets from the principals on evening television newscasts, contributed to a sour mood between the electorate.

  1. contributed to a sour mood between the electorate.

  2. contributing to a sour mood between the electorate.

  3. contributed to a sour mood among the electorate.

  4. contributing to a sour mood among the electorate.

  5. contributing to a sour mood inside the electorate.


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The best answer is (3). (1) and (2) are incorrect because of the use of between for more than two. (2), (4) and (5) are incorrect because of the use of the gerund form of the word where the past form, contributed, is needed.

Directions: The following question presents a sentence, part of which or all of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

Government policies should ensure that network owners charge nondiscriminatory prices to any client who wants to use their home network to distribute information.

  1. who wants to use their home network to distribute information

  2. who wants to be using his home network to distribute information

  3. who wants to use his home network to distribute information

  4. which wants to use his home network to distribute information

  5. which wants to use their home network to distribute information


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The best answer is (3). The pronoun there is inappropriate because it refers to the singular noun phrase: any client, and must be replaced by his.

Directions: The following question presents a sentence, part of which or all of which is underlined. Beneath the sentence you will find five ways of phrasing the underlined part. The first of these repeats the original; the other four are different. If you think the original is best, choose the first answer; otherwise choose one of the others.

The Senate approved immigration legislation that would grant permanent residency to millions of aliens currently residing here and if employers hired illegal aliens they would be penalized.

  1. if employers hired illegal aliens they would be penalized

  2. hiring illegal aliens would be a penalty for employers

  3. penalize employers who hire illegal aliens

  4. penalizing employers hiring illegal aliens

  5. employers to be penalized for hiring illegal aliens


Correct Option: C

Directions: For this question, select the best of the answer choices given.

A pharmaceutical company developed a new diuretic reported to cause fewer side effects than their old diuretic, which was still being manufactured. During the first year that both were sold, the earlier medication far outsold the new one; the manufacturer thus concluded that reducing side effects was not the customers' primary consideration. Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the manufacturer's conclusion?

  1. Both hospitals and patients buy diuretics from this pharmaceutical company.

  2. Many customers consider older medications a better safety risk than new ones, since more is usually known about the safety of the earlier drugs.

  3. Many customers of this pharmaceutical company also bought medications from companies who did not produce new diuretics reported to cause fewer side effects.

  4. The newer diuretic can be used by all the patients who could use the earlier diuretic.


Correct Option: B
Explanation:

The best answer is (2). The manufacture's conclusion was that reducing side effects was not the customers' primary consideration. Choice (2) states that customers consider older medication a better safety risk, so those customers bought the older diuretic out of safety considerations.

Directions: For this question, select the best of the answer choices given.

A discount retailer of basic household necessities employs thousands of people and pays most of them at the minimum wage rate. Yet following a federally mandated increase of the minimum wage rate that increased the retailer's operating costs considerably, the retailer's profits increased markedly. Which of the following, if true, most helps to resolve the apparent paradox?

  1. Over half of the retailer's operating costs consist of payroll expenditures; yet only a small percentage of those expenditures go to pay management salaries.

  2. The retailer's customer base is made up primarily of people who earn, or who depend on the earnings of others who earn, the minimum wage.

  3. The retailer's operating costs, other than wages, increased substantially after the increase in the minimum wage rate went into effect.

  4. When the increase in the minimum wage rate went into effect, the retailer also raised the wage rate for employees who had been earning just above minimum wage.


Correct Option: B

The primary purpose of this passage is to

Directions: This question is based on the following reading passage. Choose the best answer to the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage.

For a generation of suppressed, restless, working-class youths living in 1960 Jamaica, ska was a medium through which they could find expression. Since its original appearance, ska has resurfaced twice, each time presenting itself in a different guise to a new generation of music aficionados. Overcoming its humble beginnings, it has become one of the twentieth century’s most enduring and influential styles of music.
Since the early 1940's, Jamaica had adopted and adapted many forms of American musical styles. The predominantly black inhabitants of Jamaica took a liking to rhythm and blues music, importing a considerable number of American records that were showcased at dance halls in the early 1960s. Jamaican musicians took up the elements of rhythm and blues and combined it with traditional Jamaican mento music. The result was the first wave of ska.
Musically, ska is a shuffle rhythm similar to mento but with even closer ties to rhythm and blues, placing the accent on the second and fourth beats, often moving in a 12-bar blues frame. The after beat, played on the piano or strummed by a rhythm guitar, came to be characteristic of the form. A horn section, usually consisting of trumpets, trombones, and saxophones, was a vital element. Classic bands, such as the Wailers wrote songs written about Trench Town (a ghetto), rude boys (street thugs), romance, and even religious themes. In 1965, ska began to take a backseat to a newly evolved type of music, called rock steady, which was more dependent than ska had been on rhythm provided by the bass guitar and drums.
Ska was later exported by traveling Jamaican artists to Great Britain, where it became known as "blue beat." By the mid 1970's, early British punk bands were infusing reggae, a style of music that came from rock steady, into their music. Near the end of the decade, however, there was a resurgence of the influence of ska because of its upbeat, danceable rhythm. This faster paced ska came to be known as two tone. One of the essential messages of two-tone ska was the promotion of racial harmony and of having fun in the face of subjugation.
The third wave of ska began in America around 1990. Bands influenced by the two-tone ska scene began to use punk and metal music to a greater extent. The combination, which is much faster than two tone, sounds very different from the original Jamaican brand of ska.
In its three different waves, ska has given voice to seemingly voiceless, downtrodden generations. Each time it resurfaces, a new message is taken up, however, the old messages are never forgotten.

 

  1. contrast the musical rhythm of two-tone music with original Jamaican ska from which it developed

  2. illustrate various ways in which rhythm and blues has influenced ska music

  3. outline the influences on the various forms of ska music from its inception in Jamaica in early 1960s through its third wave in the 1990s

  4. describe events leading to the inception, rise and final demise of Jamaican ska music

  5. trace to evolution of ska music from its inception in Jamaica in early 1960s through its third wave in the 1990s


Correct Option: E
Explanation:

The best answer is (5). The passage follows the development of ska. (4) is incorrect because the passage does not deal with the demise, or death, of ska music.

According to the passage, Ska music has

Directions: This question is based on the following reading passage. Choose the best answer to the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage.

For a generation of suppressed, restless, working-class youths living in 1960 Jamaica, ska was a medium through which they could find expression. Since its original appearance, ska has resurfaced twice, each time presenting itself in a different guise to a new generation of music aficionados. Overcoming its humble beginnings, it has become one of the twentieth century’s most enduring and influential styles of music.
Since the early 1940's, Jamaica had adopted and adapted many forms of American musical styles. The predominantly black inhabitants of Jamaica took a liking to rhythm and blues music, importing a considerable number of American records that were showcased at dance halls in the early 1960s. Jamaican musicians took up the elements of rhythm and blues and combined it with traditional Jamaican mento music. The result was the first wave of ska.
Musically, ska is a shuffle rhythm similar to mento but with even closer ties to rhythm and blues, placing the accent on the second and fourth beats, often moving in a 12-bar blues frame. The after beat, played on the piano or strummed by a rhythm guitar, came to be characteristic of the form. A horn section, usually consisting of trumpets, trombones, and saxophones, was a vital element. Classic bands, such as the Wailers wrote songs written about Trench Town (a ghetto), rude boys (street thugs), romance, and even religious themes. In 1965, ska began to take a backseat to a newly evolved type of music, called rock steady, which was more dependent than ska had been on rhythm provided by the bass guitar and drums.
Ska was later exported by traveling Jamaican artists to Great Britain, where it became known as "blue beat." By the mid 1970's, early British punk bands were infusing reggae, a style of music that came from rock steady, into their music. Near the end of the decade, however, there was a resurgence of the influence of ska because of its upbeat, danceable rhythm. This faster paced ska came to be known as two tone. One of the essential messages of two-tone ska was the promotion of racial harmony and of having fun in the face of subjugation.
The third wave of ska began in America around 1990. Bands influenced by the two-tone ska scene began to use punk and metal music to a greater extent. The combination, which is much faster than two tone, sounds very different from the original Jamaican brand of ska.
In its three different waves, ska has given voice to seemingly voiceless, downtrodden generations. Each time it resurfaces, a new message is taken up, however, the old messages are never forgotten.

 

  1. been influenced by rhythm and blues, mento and blue beat

  2. been influenced by rhythm and blues, and has influenced mento and rock steady

  3. been influenced by rhythm and blues and rock steady and has influenced punk and metal musicians

  4. influenced rhythm and blues, reggae and metal musicians

  5. been influenced by mento music and has influenced punk and metal musicians


Correct Option: E
Explanation:

The best answer is (5). Ska music has been influenced, among other things, by mento music. In paragraph five, it is mentioned that ska musicians have influenced both punk and metal musicians.

Which of the following statements about ska music is supported by information in the passage?

Directions: This question is based on the following reading passage. Choose the best answer to the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage.

For a generation of suppressed, restless, working-class youths living in 1960 Jamaica, ska was a medium through which they could find expression. Since its original appearance, ska has resurfaced twice, each time presenting itself in a different guise to a new generation of music aficionados. Overcoming its humble beginnings, it has become one of the twentieth century’s most enduring and influential styles of music.
Since the early 1940's, Jamaica had adopted and adapted many forms of American musical styles. The predominantly black inhabitants of Jamaica took a liking to rhythm and blues music, importing a considerable number of American records that were showcased at dance halls in the early 1960s. Jamaican musicians took up the elements of rhythm and blues and combined it with traditional Jamaican mento music. The result was the first wave of ska.
Musically, ska is a shuffle rhythm similar to mento but with even closer ties to rhythm and blues, placing the accent on the second and fourth beats, often moving in a 12-bar blues frame. The after beat, played on the piano or strummed by a rhythm guitar, came to be characteristic of the form. A horn section, usually consisting of trumpets, trombones, and saxophones, was a vital element. Classic bands, such as the Wailers wrote songs written about Trench Town (a ghetto), rude boys (street thugs), romance, and even religious themes. In 1965, ska began to take a backseat to a newly evolved type of music, called rock steady, which was more dependent than ska had been on rhythm provided by the bass guitar and drums.
Ska was later exported by traveling Jamaican artists to Great Britain, where it became known as "blue beat." By the mid 1970's, early British punk bands were infusing reggae, a style of music that came from rock steady, into their music. Near the end of the decade, however, there was a resurgence of the influence of ska because of its upbeat, danceable rhythm. This faster paced ska came to be known as two tone. One of the essential messages of two-tone ska was the promotion of racial harmony and of having fun in the face of subjugation.
The third wave of ska began in America around 1990. Bands influenced by the two-tone ska scene began to use punk and metal music to a greater extent. The combination, which is much faster than two tone, sounds very different from the original Jamaican brand of ska.
In its three different waves, ska has given voice to seemingly voiceless, downtrodden generations. Each time it resurfaces, a new message is taken up, however, the old messages are never forgotten.

 

  1. Rock steady is more dependent than ska on the rhythm provided by the bass guitar and drums.

  2. Reggae, which counts ska as one of its primary influences, developed only after it was exported by traveling Jamaican artists to Great Britain.

  3. Ska's appeal over the last half century has been limited to voiceless, downtrodden generations.

  4. Two-tone is a faster paced form of ska that developed in the late 1970s.


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The best answer is (4). In paragraph four, it says that this faster paced ska came to be known as two tone.

The primary function of the fifth paragraph is to

Directions: This question is based on the following reading passage. Choose the best answer to the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage.

Gene therapy offers a new treatment paradigm for curing human disease. Rather than altering the disease phenotype by using agents that interact with gene products, or are themselves gene products, gene therapy can theoretically modify specific genes resulting in disease cure following a single administration. Initially gene therapy was envisioned for the treatment of genetic disorders, but is currently being studied for use with a wide range of diseases, including cancer, peripheral vascular disease, arthritis, Neurodegenerative disorders and other acquired diseases.
Certain key elements are required for a successful gene therapy strategy. The most elementary of these is that the relevant gene be identified and cloned. Upon completion of the Human Genome Project, gene availability will be unlimited. Once identified and cloned, the next consideration must be expression of the gene. Questions pertaining to the efficiency of gene transfer and gene expression remain at the forefront of gene therapy research, with current debates revolving around the transfer of desired genes to appropriate cells, and then to obtaining sufficient levels of expression for disease treatment. With luck, future research on gene transfer and tissue-specific gene expression will resolve these issues for the majority of gene therapy protocols.
Other important considerations for a gene therapy strategy include a sufficient understanding of the pathogenesis of the targeted disorder, potential side effects of the gene therapy treatment, and a more in depth understanding of the target cells which are to receive gene therapy.
Gene transfer vector is the mechanism by which the gene is transferred into a cell. Currently there are at least 150 clinical gene therapy protocols worldwide. Since the approval process for these protocols is not as public outside the U.S., it is difficult to ascertain the exact number of worldwide protocols. As of December 1995, 1024 patients had been treated with either a gene transfer or gene therapy protocol. Much controversy exists regarding how many of these patients have benefited from their gene therapy, and no one has yet been cured.
Public controversy in the field of human gene therapy is driven by several factors. Ordinary citizens as well as scientists easily understand the enormous potential of gene therapy, but the former may not appreciate all the pitfalls and uncertainly that lie in the immediate future. The financial interests of biotechnology firms and, some have asserted, the career interests of some gene therapists have encouraged extravagant, or at least overly optimistic public statements about contemporary gene therapy. In spite of the proliferation of protocols, the actual number of patients treated remains small, and only one genuinely controlled study of human gene therapy has been published as of this date.

  1. explain effects

  2. recommend actions

  3. identify problems

  4. evaluate solutions

  5. warn of consequences


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The best answer is (3). The fifth paragraph is devoted to identifying various problems in the field today, such as the exaggerated claims made by biotechnological firms with vested financial interests.

The passage suggests that two tone music I. resurged near the end of the 1970s II. influenced bands in America in the 1990s III. promoted of racial harmony and of having fun in the face of oppression

Directions: This question is based on the following reading passage. Choose the best answer to the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage.

For a generation of suppressed, restless, working-class youths living in 1960 Jamaica, ska was a medium through which they could find expression. Since its original appearance, ska has resurfaced twice, each time presenting itself in a different guise to a new generation of music aficionados. Overcoming its humble beginnings, it has become one of the twentieth century’s most enduring and influential styles of music.
Since the early 1940's, Jamaica had adopted and adapted many forms of American musical styles. The predominantly black inhabitants of Jamaica took a liking to rhythm and blues music, importing a considerable number of American records that were showcased at dance halls in the early 1960s. Jamaican musicians took up the elements of rhythm and blues and combined it with traditional Jamaican mento music. The result was the first wave of ska.
Musically, ska is a shuffle rhythm similar to mento but with even closer ties to rhythm and blues, placing the accent on the second and fourth beats, often moving in a 12-bar blues frame. The after beat, played on the piano or strummed by a rhythm guitar, came to be characteristic of the form. A horn section, usually consisting of trumpets, trombones, and saxophones, was a vital element. Classic bands, such as the Wailers wrote songs written about Trench Town (a ghetto), rude boys (street thugs), romance, and even religious themes. In 1965, ska began to take a backseat to a newly evolved type of music, called rock steady, which was more dependent than ska had been on rhythm provided by the bass guitar and drums.
Ska was later exported by traveling Jamaican artists to Great Britain, where it became known as "blue beat." By the mid 1970's, early British punk bands were infusing reggae, a style of music that came from rock steady, into their music. Near the end of the decade, however, there was a resurgence of the influence of ska because of its upbeat, danceable rhythm. This faster paced ska came to be known as two tone. One of the essential messages of two-tone ska was the promotion of racial harmony and of having fun in the face of subjugation.
The third wave of ska began in America around 1990. Bands influenced by the two-tone ska scene began to use punk and metal music to a greater extent. The combination, which is much faster than two tone, sounds very different from the original Jamaican brand of ska.
In its three different waves, ska has given voice to seemingly voiceless, downtrodden generations. Each time it resurfaces, a new message is taken up, however, the old messages are never forgotten.

 

  1. I only

  2. II only

  3. III only

  4. II and III only

  5. I and II and III


Correct Option: E
Explanation:

The best answer is (5). (5) is the best choice because all of the facts presented above are supported by the passage.

It can be inferred from the passage that which of the following statement was true of the Parisian art scene?

Directions: This question is based on the following reading passage. Choose the best answer to the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage.

Alexander Calder was one of the most innovative and original American artists of the twentieth century. Calder arrived in Paris in 1926 and devoted himself to a innovative project comprised of animals made out of wire, scraps of cloth, wood, cork, labels, bits of scrap metal and pieces of rubber that he called the Circus. During his performances, Calder invented ways to simulate the flight of birds: “These are little bits of white paper, with a hole and slight weight on each one, which flutter down
several variously coiled thin steel wires which I jiggle so that they flutter down like doves.” The Circus was the laboratory of Calder’s work; in it he experimented with new formulas and techniques. By 1930, Calder's Circus had developed into one of the real successes of the Montparnasse art world attracting the attention of such renowned artists as Fernand Leger and Joan Miro. Encouragement from the upper echelons of the Parisian art scene undoubtedly led him to try more serious experiments in wire sculptures.
Calder eventually becoming interested in the movement of objects, some of which he motorized. In 1933, Calder completed Object with Red Discs, a sculpture he described as a two-meter rod with a heavy sphere, suspended from the apex of a wire, giving it a cantilever effect. It had five thin aluminum discs projected at right angels from five wires, held in position by a spherical counterweight. With this new creation, the idea of the mobile was born. In creating a work named Constellations in 1943, Calder explored the plastic possibilities of mobiles; he used small pieces of wood, which he shaped and sometimes painted. From this point on, Calder’s ambition changed focus. He sought more challenging designs. One of Calder’s objectives was to display objects in the air, giving the viewer the experience of finding new skies filled with moving and colored constellations. Calder accomplished this in Acoustic Ceiling (1954). Calder’s humor was evident in such works as Le Bougnat (1959) and The Pagoda (1963). Later, Calder cut fantastic animals from sheet metal, creating La Vache and Elephant (both 1970) and a mobile entitled Nervous Wreck (1976), which represents the red skeleton of a fish.
Calder defined volume without mass and incorporated movement and time in art. His inventions, which redefined certain basic principles of sculpture, have established him as the most innovative sculptor of the twentieth century.

 

  1. The work of Fernand Leger and Joan Miro was influenced by that of Alexander Calder.

  2. The work of Alexander Calder was influenced by that of Fernand Leger and Joan Miro.

  3. Fernand Leger and Joan Miro had earned success in the art world before Alexander Calder.

  4. Alexander Calder had earned success in the art world before Fernand Leger and Joan Miro.


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The best answer is (3). According to the passage, Calder's early work attracting the attention of such renowned artists as Fernand Leger and Joan Miro. It can be inferred that Leger and Miro were already famous when Calder was just starting out.

The author's attitude toward the mobiles of Alexander Calder is best described as

Directions: This question is based on the following reading passage. Choose the best answer to the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage.

Alexander Calder was one of the most innovative and original American artists of the twentieth century. Calder arrived in Paris in 1926 and devoted himself to a innovative project comprised of animals made out of wire, scraps of cloth, wood, cork, labels, bits of scrap metal and pieces of rubber that he called the Circus. During his performances, Calder invented ways to simulate the flight of birds: “These are little bits of white paper, with a hole and slight weight on each one, which flutter down
several variously coiled thin steel wires which I jiggle so that they flutter down like doves.” The Circus was the laboratory of Calder’s work; in it he experimented with new formulas and techniques. By 1930, Calder's Circus had developed into one of the real successes of the Montparnasse art world attracting the attention of such renowned artists as Fernand Leger and Joan Miro. Encouragement from the upper echelons of the Parisian art scene undoubtedly led him to try more serious experiments in wire sculptures.
Calder eventually becoming interested in the movement of objects, some of which he motorized. In 1933, Calder completed Object with Red Discs, a sculpture he described as a two-meter rod with a heavy sphere, suspended from the apex of a wire, giving it a cantilever effect. It had five thin aluminum discs projected at right angels from five wires, held in position by a spherical counterweight. With this new creation, the idea of the mobile was born. In creating a work named Constellations in 1943, Calder explored the plastic possibilities of mobiles; he used small pieces of wood, which he shaped and sometimes painted. From this point on, Calder’s ambition changed focus. He sought more challenging designs. One of Calder’s objectives was to display objects in the air, giving the viewer the experience of finding new skies filled with moving and colored constellations. Calder accomplished this in Acoustic Ceiling (1954). Calder’s humor was evident in such works as Le Bougnat (1959) and The Pagoda (1963). Later, Calder cut fantastic animals from sheet metal, creating La Vache and Elephant (both 1970) and a mobile entitled Nervous Wreck (1976), which represents the red skeleton of a fish.
Calder defined volume without mass and incorporated movement and time in art. His inventions, which redefined certain basic principles of sculpture, have established him as the most innovative sculptor of the twentieth century.

 

  1. hesitance

  2. detachment

  3. amusement

  4. admiration


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The best answer is (4). The author presents only a positive criticism of Calder, stating that he is the most innovative sculptor of the twentieth century.

According to the passage, which of the following is an accurate statement about Object with Red Discs?

Directions: This question is based on the following reading passage. Choose the best answer to the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage.

Alexander Calder was one of the most innovative and original American artists of the twentieth century. Calder arrived in Paris in 1926 and devoted himself to a innovative project comprised of animals made out of wire, scraps of cloth, wood, cork, labels, bits of scrap metal and pieces of rubber that he called the Circus. During his performances, Calder invented ways to simulate the flight of birds: “These are little bits of white paper, with a hole and slight weight on each one, which flutter down
several variously coiled thin steel wires which I jiggle so that they flutter down like doves.” The Circus was the laboratory of Calder’s work; in it he experimented with new formulas and techniques. By 1930, Calder's Circus had developed into one of the real successes of the Montparnasse art world attracting the attention of such renowned artists as Fernand Leger and Joan Miro. Encouragement from the upper echelons of the Parisian art scene undoubtedly led him to try more serious experiments in wire sculptures.
Calder eventually becoming interested in the movement of objects, some of which he motorized. In 1933, Calder completed Object with Red Discs, a sculpture he described as a two-meter rod with a heavy sphere, suspended from the apex of a wire, giving it a cantilever effect. It had five thin aluminum discs projected at right angels from five wires, held in position by a spherical counterweight. With this new creation, the idea of the mobile was born. In creating a work named Constellations in 1943, Calder explored the plastic possibilities of mobiles; he used small pieces of wood, which he shaped and sometimes painted. From this point on, Calder’s ambition changed focus. He sought more challenging designs. One of Calder’s objectives was to display objects in the air, giving the viewer the experience of finding new skies filled with moving and colored constellations. Calder accomplished this in Acoustic Ceiling (1954). Calder’s humor was evident in such works as Le Bougnat (1959) and The Pagoda (1963). Later, Calder cut fantastic animals from sheet metal, creating La Vache and Elephant (both 1970) and a mobile entitled Nervous Wreck (1976), which represents the red skeleton of a fish.
Calder defined volume without mass and incorporated movement and time in art. His inventions, which redefined certain basic principles of sculpture, have established him as the most innovative sculptor of the twentieth century.

 

  1. It was the first mobile created by Calder.

  2. It was one of the many mobiles without motors created by Calder.

  3. It was one of the many motorized mobiles created by Calder.

  4. It was the first motorized mobile created by Calder.

  5. It was the first of the many mobiles without motors created by Calder.


Correct Option: A
Explanation:

The best answer is (1). According to the passage, Object with Red Discs is Calder's first mobile. It states that Calder became interested in the movement of objects, some of which he motorized, but there is no information given on whether this particular sculpture was motorized.

The author's attitude toward the gene therapy as a future cure for cancer, peripheral vascular disease, arthritis, Neurodegenerative disorders and other acquired diseases is

Directions: This question is based on the following reading passage. Choose the best answer to the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage.

Gene therapy offers a new treatment paradigm for curing human disease. Rather than altering the disease phenotype by using agents that interact with gene products, or are themselves gene products, gene therapy can theoretically modify specific genes resulting in disease cure following a single administration. Initially gene therapy was envisioned for the treatment of genetic disorders, but is currently being studied for use with a wide range of diseases, including cancer, peripheral vascular disease, arthritis, Neurodegenerative disorders and other acquired diseases.
Certain key elements are required for a successful gene therapy strategy. The most elementary of these is that the relevant gene be identified and cloned. Upon completion of the Human Genome Project, gene availability will be unlimited. Once identified and cloned, the next consideration must be expression of the gene. Questions pertaining to the efficiency of gene transfer and gene expression remain at the forefront of gene therapy research, with current debates revolving around the transfer of desired genes to appropriate cells, and then to obtaining sufficient levels of expression for disease treatment. With luck, future research on gene transfer and tissue-specific gene expression will resolve these issues for the majority of gene therapy protocols.
Other important considerations for a gene therapy strategy include a sufficient understanding of the pathogenesis of the targeted disorder, potential side effects of the gene therapy treatment, and a more in depth understanding of the target cells which are to receive gene therapy.
Gene transfer vector is the mechanism by which the gene is transferred into a cell. Currently there are at least 150 clinical gene therapy protocols worldwide. Since the approval process for these protocols is not as public outside the U.S., it is difficult to ascertain the exact number of worldwide protocols. As of December 1995, 1024 patients had been treated with either a gene transfer or gene therapy protocol. Much controversy exists regarding how many of these patients have benefited from their gene therapy, and no one has yet been cured.
Public controversy in the field of human gene therapy is driven by several factors. Ordinary citizens as well as scientists easily understand the enormous potential of gene therapy, but the former may not appreciate all the pitfalls and uncertainly that lie in the immediate future. The financial interests of biotechnology firms and, some have asserted, the career interests of some gene therapists have encouraged extravagant, or at least overly optimistic public statements about contemporary gene therapy. In spite of the proliferation of protocols, the actual number of patients treated remains small, and only one genuinely controlled study of human gene therapy has been published as of this date.

  1. indifference

  2. disapproval

  3. amusement

  4. cautious optimism


Correct Option: D
Explanation:

The best answer is (4). In the opening sentence, the author optimistically states that gene therapy offers a new treatment paradigm for curing human disease. However, in the fifth paragraph the author mentions some of the problems.

All of the following are mentioned in the passage as elements that are required for a successful gene therapy strategy EXCEPT that

Directions: This question is based on the following reading passage. Choose the best answer to the question on the basis of what is stated or implied in the passage.

Gene therapy offers a new treatment paradigm for curing human disease. Rather than altering the disease phenotype by using agents that interact with gene products, or are themselves gene products, gene therapy can theoretically modify specific genes resulting in disease cure following a single administration. Initially gene therapy was envisioned for the treatment of genetic disorders, but is currently being studied for use with a wide range of diseases, including cancer, peripheral vascular disease, arthritis, Neurodegenerative disorders and other acquired diseases.
Certain key elements are required for a successful gene therapy strategy. The most elementary of these is that the relevant gene be identified and cloned. Upon completion of the Human Genome Project, gene availability will be unlimited. Once identified and cloned, the next consideration must be expression of the gene. Questions pertaining to the efficiency of gene transfer and gene expression remain at the forefront of gene therapy research, with current debates revolving around the transfer of desired genes to appropriate cells, and then to obtaining sufficient levels of expression for disease treatment. With luck, future research on gene transfer and tissue-specific gene expression will resolve these issues for the majority of gene therapy protocols.
Other important considerations for a gene therapy strategy include a sufficient understanding of the pathogenesis of the targeted disorder, potential side effects of the gene therapy treatment, and a more in depth understanding of the target cells which are to receive gene therapy.
Gene transfer vector is the mechanism by which the gene is transferred into a cell. Currently there are at least 150 clinical gene therapy protocols worldwide. Since the approval process for these protocols is not as public outside the U.S., it is difficult to ascertain the exact number of worldwide protocols. As of December 1995, 1024 patients had been treated with either a gene transfer or gene therapy protocol. Much controversy exists regarding how many of these patients have benefited from their gene therapy, and no one has yet been cured.
Public controversy in the field of human gene therapy is driven by several factors. Ordinary citizens as well as scientists easily understand the enormous potential of gene therapy, but the former may not appreciate all the pitfalls and uncertainly that lie in the immediate future. The financial interests of biotechnology firms and, some have asserted, the career interests of some gene therapists have encouraged extravagant, or at least overly optimistic public statements about contemporary gene therapy. In spite of the proliferation of protocols, the actual number of patients treated remains small, and only one genuinely controlled study of human gene therapy has been published as of this date.

  1. identifying the relevant gene

  2. expressing the relevant gene

  3. determining the side effects of the relevant gene

  4. understanding of the pathogenesis of the targeted disorder

  5. gaining and a more in depth understanding of the target cells which are to receive gene therapy


Correct Option: C
Explanation:

The best answer is (3). One must determine the side effects of the relevant gene therapy treatment, and not of the relevant gene itself.

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