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SESSION 1
READING COMPREHENSION PART I
Directions for Q1 to Q10: Read the following information and answer the questions given below.

The Most Productive Day of the Week

It's possible that while you are at work, you may dream about a month of Sundays, but your boss wishes for a week of
Tuesdays. That's because s/he probably knows that productivity is one of the main factors bolstering a company's
growth. And a recent poll shows that workers are most productive on Tuesdays! Accountemps, an employment
agency, conducted a national survey of office managers, which shows that by the middle of the week, they see a
dramatic productivity decrease. While Monday is considered second in "productivity value," only nine percent of
office managers think Wednesday is the peak productivity day. Five percent believe it is Thursday. And Friday, well,
you can just imagine! However, forty-eight percent of the managers polled said that Tuesday is, by far, the most
productive day of the week.
A close analysis of workweek rhythms would turn up some obvious reasons for those survey results. First of all,
Monday is overloaded with meetings, designed to "get things moving," and everybody knows meetings aren't very
productive. Wednesday is "hump day" - get over it as painlessly as possible, a worker thinks, and the week is more
than halfway over. On Thursday, people are running out of steam; and Friday, everybody's thinking about the
weekend. There are reasons why the other days aren't productive, but what makes Tuesday special? Tuesdays,
employees hit peak performance because they are very focused on day-to-day activities. Also, it's usually the first day
of the week when they're focused on their own task. They're not in meetings that take them away from their primary
responsibilities. Actually, Tuesdays can be quite hectic. Workers are arriving at work fairly frantic. And so, in 10 hours,
they're doing 20 hours work. That's productive, but it's also tough.
This does not mean that nothing happens on the last three days of the workweek. Things do not get so lax that people
are sitting with their feet on desks, sipping coffee and talking on the phone all day, but there's a definite lack of focus.
The pace softens and the rhythm slows down. And this is not healthy: it produces fatigue and lowers productivity. To
prevent this midweek slowdown, some management consultants suggest that employers avoid jamming so many
meetings into Mondays. Work deadlines can be rescheduled to stretch out the workflow. Variations in productivity are
only natural, but both workers and bosses win when the peaks and valleys are less dramatic than they are now.
1.

This reading does not explain

(a) the concern managers have about low productivity on different week-days and how it affects their companies
(b) the reasons for differing productivity levels on different week-days
(c) the results of a survey on low productivity

2.

According to this survey which day of the week should be the most productive?
(a) Monday
(b) Thursday
(c) Wednesday

3.

According to the survey workers are most stressed on

(a) Monday
(b) Tuesday
(c) Thursday

4.

The writer is suggesting that

(a) workers would be more productive if they worked on other days as they do on Tuesday
(b) workers would be more productive if they attended fewer meetings
(c) workers would be more productive if the work deadlines were readjusted

5.

In general this article

(a) reports the surprising results from a national survey of office managers
(b) gives the reasons why Tuesday is a particularly productive day in the work week
(c) reports on the productivity for different work days and makes suggestions for making work week
productivity more balanced
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Okinawans Know the Formula for Longevity

Okinawa is a small island in Japan. Some of the people who live there are the poorest people in the country. But
Okinawans enjoy riches of a different kindthey have the longest life-expectancy rate in the world. The average
Okinawan woman lives to the age of 86, while the average Okinawan man lives to be 78. The island also has the
highest ratio of centenarians in the world. At the beginning of 2002, 457 Okinawans were 100 years old or older.
That's 34.7 centenarians per 100,000 Okinawans. Compare that to the United States, which only has 10 centenarians
per 100,000 Americans.
Okinawans don't wait out the final years of their long lives in hospitals or convalescent care facilities. They remain
healthy through their final days. Dementia, senility, and coronary heart disease are almost nonexistent among these
older Okinawans. In fact, compared to the United States, Okinawa's death rate for coronary heart disease is 80%
lower. And Okinawans are more likely than Americans to survive heart attacks on the rare occasions that heart
attacks occur.
So what is the secret to the Okinawans' health and longevity? Is it a healthy diet? Exercise? Stress reduction? Attention
to spirituality? It isn't any one of these things, but a balanced combination of the four.
The Okinawan diet consists mostly of vegetables and whole grains. Okinawans also eat a lot of fruit, soy products, like
tofu, and fish rich in Omega-3 fatty acids, such as tuna, mackerel, and salmon. Most Okinawans drink at least six
glasses of water and six cups of tea every day. The green tea that many of them drink is lower in caffeine than other
teas and is rich in antioxidants, which are believed to help prevent cancer, heart disease, and stroke.
Okinawans continue to practice martial arts, ride bicycles, dance, garden, walk, and fish well into their old age, which
helps keep them looking and feeling healthy. They have relaxed schedules, which reduces their stress levels. And they
pay attention to their spirituality and their inner selves through prayer and meditation. Each of these behaviors is an
important piece of the Okinawan formula for health and longevity.
There is evidence that it is their behavior, not genetics, that allows Okinawans to live longer than most of us.
Okinawans living in Brazil and eating a typical Brazilian diet rich in red meat have a life expectancy 17 years lower
than that of their countrymen in Okinawa. This means that there is hope for the rest of us to learn the habits that
Okinawans have developed so we can live long, healthy lives too.
6.

Okinawans _____ than anyone else in the world.

(a) are richer
(b) live longer

(c) farm and fish more

7.

People in Okinawa eat a lot of _____.

(a) vegetables, fruit, soy, and whole grains
(b) vegetables, read meat, soy, and fish
(c) vegetables, soy, milk products, and whole grains

8.

The four things that contribute to Okinawans' long lives are a healthy diet, exercise,
(a) longevity and spirituality
(b) low stress levels and spirituality
(c) martial arts and spirituality

9.

At the beginning of 2002, there was an average of _____ centenarians per 100,000 people in Okinawa.
(a) 457
(b) 10
(c) 34.7

10.

Okinawans have such long lives because of _____.

(a) genetics
(b) their behavior

(c) their diet

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SESSION 2
READING COMPREHENSION PART II
Directions for Q1 to Q10: Read the following information and answer the questions given below.

Modern Day Meditation

In a world where bad news has become everyday news, people are turning to an ancient technique to deal with stress:
meditation. At meditation centers, prayer groups and yoga studios around the United States, more and more are
finding peace of mind by being quiet. Some use meditation to help deal with life changes; others, to process the painful
reality of political and social unrest around the world of the type that has been experienced more recently. Stress from
the September 11 terrorist attacks is "probably about 70 percent" of the reason one Chicago man started meditating
and practicing yoga with his new wife. He became so emotionally affected that he realized he needed help in managing
his stress. The yoga classes he takes begin and end with meditation. This "quiet time" helps him feel a lot more relaxed
and gives him more breath control. The fact is, though, that he is not alone.
Across the country, many are turning to more meditative exercise as they seek both psychological and physiological
relief. In addition to helping people work out their stress, these classes bring people together, in the same way that
religious services or other community activities have done in the past. Different schools of meditation teach particular
techniques, but they share a common basis - focusing attention on something your mind can return to if you are
distracted. This may be the rhythm of breathing, a mantra (a word or phrase repeated continually, either silently or
aloud), an object such as a candle flame or religious icon, a positive affirmation, feelings of loving kindness, or a
repetitive movement, as in walking or t'ai chi. Regardless of the specific technique or mode that is followed,
meditation has well-documented benefits. Medical research indicates that it causes a sharp decrease in metabolic
activity, reduced muscle tension, slower breathing, and a shift from faster beta brainwaves to slower alpha, theta and
delta waves. It also reduces high blood pressure. Practitioners are convinced that meditation is good for health
because it relaxes the body.
For ages, meditation has been a core practice of many groups meeting in their communal or religious centers.
However, let's not forget that this is the twenty-first century. So, for those people who are too shy or busy to go to the
nearest meditation center, there are Internet sites that offer online guided meditation. One has a variety of
meditations from various religious traditions. At another, Jesuit priests post meditations and readings from the
Scriptures every day, and at still another, Buddhist and Hindu practitioners include music and visuals to accompany
their offerings. These websites allow anyone with a computer access to meditation at any time. The fact is that
whether online, at yoga classes, or at local spiritual centers, more people are turning to the practice of meditation.
1.

According to this article meditation is becoming more popular today because

(a) people have to work much harder than in the past
(b) people have to work much harder to find peace of mind
(c) people have to cope with more difficulties in their personal and communal lives

2.

The example of one Chicago man shows

(a) the physical and psychological benefits of yoga and meditation
(b) the physical benefits of yoga and meditation
(c) the psychological benefits of yoga and meditation

3.

What is the basic underlying approach of all meditative techniques?

(a) People repeat a phrase over and over.
(b) People focus on something that they can return to.
(c) People concentrate on a candle flame or a religious object.

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4.

What two important points are explained in this reading?

(a) An explanation of the various teachers and the different schools of meditation.
(b) A description of the places to go and procedures people can follow to learn meditation.
(c) An explanation of the best practices and various health benefits from meditation.

5.

What is one idea that is explained in this reading?

(a) The future growth of religious centers that teach meditation.
(b) The present day appeal of meditation classes compared to the past attraction to religious or community
celebrations.
(c) The increasing popularity of meditation through the availability of on-line resources.

The Second "Battle of New Orleans"

In 1815, the pirate-turned-patriot Jean Lafitte joined the future president Andrew Jackson to protect Louisiana, the
Mississippi River, and America from a British military invasion. Lafitte pulled, pushed, and floated his large guns
through bayous, swamps, and marshes to fight in the Battle of New Orleans. In a shocking victory, Jackson and Lafitte
routed the British and saved New Orleans, Louisiana and the Mississippi River for the United States. Today, due to the
work of modern man and progress, the wetlands that Lafitte crossed to protect his homeland are being swallowed by
the salt water of the Gulf of Mexico. The state of Louisiana and the Mississippi Delta are gradually disappearing. The
coastal wetlands are lost at the rate of 100 yards, the length of a football field, every 15-20 minutes.
Over many thousands of years, nature created Louisiana and the Mississippi Delta. Along the over 2,000-mile course,
the Mississippi River drains soil from much of America's heartland to create the rich land of the Mississippi Delta.
Over time, the Delta region grew abundant in vegetation, fish, ancient trees, and other life forms. But in the last two
centuries, the wetlands created by the Mississippi were drained for a variety of reasons. At first it was to stop diseases
that endangered people who moved there and to grow crops to feed America and the world. Then the valuable
cypress trees were cut down to build homes and to export the wood. Natural canals were turned into large channels to
facilitate transportation. This massive work was called "reclamation," the reclaiming of the land from the water that
the Mississippi River delivered. Later, more land was reclaimed to develop a lucrative and thriving petroleum
industry. Then, more canals were needed to make way for large ships. Levees were built for protection from the
annual spring floods. Ultimately, less fresh water drained into the Mississippi Delta.
Now, the natural habitat that nurtured wildlife, 300 species of birds, thousands of species of fish, flora, and other
ecological systems is rapidly disappearing. The ecology-friendly island barriers that were created by the flow of the
Mississippi and protected the coast have crumbled into the salt water. The salt water, without the island barriers and
the soil drainage of the Mississippi, now comes to meet the great river. The fresh water ecological system is dying and
disappearing. Daily, the salty Gulf waters cover what was once a thriving wetland full of fresh water life.
There are plans to save the coast, re-establish freshwater flooding, and drive back the advancing salt water. One plan
spends $14 billion dollars over the next 20 years to save this fragile, endangered, and disappearing land. Most people
see a need to protect their homeland. Some others disagree with taking immediate steps to protect the wetlands and
environment. It is safe to say that the battle has begun. Whether an Andrew Jackson or a band of pirates led by Jean
Lafitte will come to Louisiana's rescue in this war for the environment is not yet known. We can be sure though, in the
end, nature will have the final say.
6.

Andrew Jackson ____________ in 1815.

(a) protected Louisiana from the Mississippi River
(b) was forced to join the British to fight pirates on the Mississippi
(c) attempted to stop a British invasion of America

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7.

In Louisiana, coastal wetlands ______________.

(a) are disappearing daily
(b) enjoy the refreshing salt water from the Gulf
(c) are vital to the expansion of the state of Louisiana

8.

The Mississippi River _______________.

(a) has remained the way it has always been for thousands of years
(b) has changed rapidly in the last few years to meet the needs of a growing population
(c) has changed steadily over the last two centuries to meet the needs of the population

9.

The island barriers _____________.

(a) have grown as a result of the flow of the Mississippi
(b) have changed the flow of the Mississippi
(c) have disappeared as a result of the flow of the Mississippi

10.

There is _______________ to drive back the salt water and save the wetlands.
(a) general agreement that a plan should be made
(b) complete agreement that a plan must be made
(c) little agreement that a plan can be made

SESSION 3
CRITICAL REASONING

Critical Reasoning questions involve reading brief arguments (each argument is generally one to three sentences
long) and answering questions relating to those arguments.

In order to analyze arguments, it is important to understand their basic structure:

Premises + (Assumptions) = Conclusion

In words, premises and assumptions lead to a conclusion.

PREMISES are STATED pieces of information or evidence that generally provide support for the given
conclusion.

ASSUMPTIONS are UNSTATED parts of the argument that are NECESSARY to reach the given conclusion.

The main point of the argument is the CONCLUSION, which is logically supported by the assumptions and
premises. Conclusions are in the form of an opinion or a claim.

Here is an example of Crtitical Reasoning argument

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There are two broad things we need to understand in order to answer Critical Reasoning questions effectively
and efficiently.

We need to understand the specific information given for that question, and also how to conduct the necessary
reasoning to answer a question of this type.

Question Types
The four major question types in Critical Reasoning are as follows:
(1) Find the Assumption
(2) Draw a Conclusion
(3) Strengthen the Conclusion
(4) Weaken the Conclusion

Notice that three of the four major question types involve finding the conclusion in order to answer the question,
and the fourth requires us to find the conclusion itself among the answer choices. Clearly, the conclusion is the
most important part of each argument!

You may also encounter any of seven minor question types:

Explain an Event or Discrepancy

Analyze the Argument Structure

Evaluate the Conclusion

Fill in the Blanks

Resolve a Problem

Provide an Example

Mimic the Argument

Classify Statements as True/False based on Content

How to Approach Critical Reasoning Questions?

1.

Read the question stem first, and determine what type of question you are facing.

2.

Read the passage critically; analyze the basic components of the argument in light of the question.

3.

Formulate a correct answer to the question in your head or on scratch paper.

4.

Attack the answer choices until only one remains.

Critical Reasoning Exercise

1.

Insect Infestations in certain cotton growing regions of the world have caused dramatic increases of cotton on
the world market. Knowing that cotton plants mature quickly, many soybean growers in Ortovia plan to cease
growing soybeans, the price of which has long been stable and to begin raising cotton instead, thereby taking
advantage of the high price of cotton to increase their income significantly over the next several years.
Which of the following, if true, most calls into question the reasoning on which the plan is based?
(a) The cost of raising soybeans has increased significantly over the past several years and is expected to
continue to climb.

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(b) Tests of a newly developed, inexpensive pesticide have shown it to be both environmentally safe and effective
against the insects that have infected the cotton crops.
(c) In the past several years, there has been no sharp increase in the demand for cotton, and for goods made out
of cotton.
(d) Many consumers consider cotton cloth a necessity rather than a luxury and would be willing to pay
significantly higher prices for cotton goods than they are currently paying.
(e) The species of insect that has infested the cotton plants has never been known to infest soybean plants
2.

Jennifer: Video rental outlets in Centerville together handled 10,000 fewer video rentals in 1994 than in 1993.
The decline in rentals was probably due almost entirely to the February 1994 opening of Videorama, the first
and only video rental outlet in the area that, in addition to renting videos, also sold them cheaply.
Brad: There must be another explanation: as you yourself said, the decline was on the order of 10,000 rentals. Yet
Videorama sold only 4,000 videos in 1994.
Which of the following, if true, would most seriously weaken the force of the objection that Brad presents to
Jennifer's explanation?
(a) In 1994 Videorama rented out more videos than it sold.
(b) In 1994 two new outlets that rent but that do not sell videos opened in Centerville.
(c) Most of the video rental outlets in Centerville rent videos at a discount on certain nights of the week.
(d) People often buy videos of movies that they have previously seen in a theater.
(e) People who own videos frequently loan them to their friends.

3.

Finding of a survey of Systems magazine subscribers: Thirty percent of all merchandise orders placed by
subscribers in response to advertisements in the magazine last year were placed by subscribers under age
thirty-five.
Finding of a survey of advertisers in Systems magazine: Most of the merchandise orders placed in response to
advertisements in Systems last year were placed by people under age thirty-five.
For both of the findings to be accurate, which of the following must be true?
(a) More subscribers to Systems who have never ordered merchandise in response to advertisements in the
magazine are age thirty-five or over than are under age thirty-five.
(b) Among subscribers to Systems, the proportion who are under age thirty-five was considerably lower last year
than it is now.
(c) Most merchandise orders placed in response to advertisements in Systems last year were placed by Systems
subscribers over age thirty-five.
(d) Last year, the average dollar amount of merchandise orders placed was less for subscribers under age thirtyfive than for those aged thirty-five or over.
(e) Last year many people who placed orders for merchandise in response to advertisements in Systems were
not subscribers to the magazine.

4.

For several years, per capita expenditure on prescription drugs in Voronia rose by fifteen percent or more
annually. In order to curb these dramatic increases, the ministry of health prohibited drug manufacturers from
raising any of their products prices. Even though use of prescription drugs did not expand after this price freeze,
per capita expenditure for prescription drugs continued to increase by a substantial percentage each year.
Which of the following, if true, most helps to explain why the ministrys action did not achieve its goal?
(a) After price increases were prohibited, drug manufacturers concentrated on producing new medications to
replace existing products.
(b) The population of Voronia rose steadily throughout the period.
(c) Improvements in manufacturing processes enable drug manufacturers to maintain high profit levels on drugs
despite the price freeze.

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(d) In addition to imposing a price freeze, the government encouraged doctors to prescribe generic versions of
common drugs instead of the more expensive brand-name versions.
(e) After price increases were prohibited, some foreign manufacturers of expensive drugs ceased marketing
them in Voronia.
5.

When people engage in activities that help others, their brain releases endorphins, the brains natural opiates,
which induce in people a feeling of well-being. It has been suggested that regular release of endorphins increases
peoples longevity. And a statistic on adults who regularly engage in volunteer work helping others shows that
they live longer, on average, than adults who do not volunteer. However, that statistic would be what we would
expect even if volunteering does not boost longevity, because ________________________
Which of the following most logically completes the argument?
(a) in the communities studied, women were much more likely to do regular volunteer work than men were, and
women tend to live longer than men do.
(b) the number of young adults who do regular volunteer work is on the increase.
(c) the feelings of well-being induced by endorphins can, at least for a time, mask the symptoms of various
conditions and diseases, provided the symptoms are mild.
(d) it is rare for a person to keep up a regular schedule of volunteer work throughout his or her life.
(e) some people find that keeping a commitment to do regular volunteer work becomes a source of stress in their
lives.

6.

United Lumber will use trees from its forest for two products. The tree trunks will be used for lumber and the
branches converted into wood chips to make fiberboard. The cost of this conversion would be the same whether
done at logging site, where the trees are debranched, or at the United's factory. However, wood chips occupy less
than half the volume of the branches from which they are made.
The information given, if accurate, most strongly supports which of the following?
(a) Converting the branches into wood chips at the logging site would require transporting a fully assembled
wood-chipping machine to and from the site.
(b) It would be more economical to debranch the trees at the factory where the fireboard is manufactured.
(c) The debranching of trees and the conversion of the branches into chips are the the only stages in the
processing of branches that would be in the economic advantage to perform at the logging site.
(d) Transportation costs from the logging site to the factory that are determined by volume of the cargo would be
lower if the conversion into chips is done at the logging site rather than at the factory.
(e) In the wood- processing industry, branches are used only for the production of wood chips for fibre board.

7.

It is theoretically possible that bacteria developed on Mars early in its history and that some were carried to
Earth by a meteorite. However, strains of bacteria from different planets would probably have substantial
differences in protein structure that would persist over time, and no two bacterial strains on Earth are different
enough to have arisen on different planets. So, even if bacteria did arrive on Earth from Mars, they must have
died out.
The argument is most vulnerable to which of the following criticisms?
(a) It fails to establish whether bacteria actually developed on Mars.
(b) It fails to establish how likely it is that Martian bacteria were transported to Earth.
(c) It fails to consider whether there were means other than meteorites by which Martian bacteria could have
been carried to Earth.
(d) It fails to consider whether all bacteria now on Earth could have arisen from transported Martian bacteria.
(e) It fails to consider whether there could have been strains of bacteria that originated on Earth and later died
out.

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8.

A prominent investor who holds a large stake in the Burton Tool company has recently claimed that the company
is mismanaged, citing as evidence the company's failure to slow production in response to a recent rise in its
inventory of finished products. It is doubtful whether an investor's sniping at management can ever be anything
other than counterproductive, but in this case it is clearly not justified. It is true that an increased inventory of
finished products often indicates that production is outstripping demand, but in Burton's case it indicates no
such thing. Rather, the increase in inventory is entirely attributable to products that have already been assigned
to orders received from customers.
In the argument given, the two boldfaced portions play which of the following roles?
(a) The first provides evidence to support the conclusion of the argument as a whole; the second states the
conclusion.
(b) The 1st states the conclusion of the argument as a whole; the second states an intermediate conclusion that is
drawn in order to support that conclusion.
(c) The 1st is the position that the argument as a whole opposes; the second provides evidence against the
position being opposed.
(d) The first states an intermediate conclusion that is drawn in order to support the conclusion of the argument
as a whole; the 2nd states the conclusion of the argument as a whole.
(e) The first and second both state intermediate conclusions that are drawn in order to support jointly the
conclusions of the argument as a whole.

9.

Radio stations with radio data system (RDS) technology broadcast special program information that only radios
with an RDS feature can receive. Between 1994 and 1996, the number of RDS radio stations in Verdland
increased from 250 to 600. However, since the number of RDS-equipped radios in Verdland was about the same
in 1996 as in 1994, the number of Verlanders receiving the special program information probably did not
increase significantly.
Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?
(a) Few if any of the RDS radio stations that began broadcasting in Verdland after 1994 broadcast to people with
RDS-equipped radios living in areas not previously reached by RDS stations.
(b) In 1996 most Verdlanders who lived within the listening area of an RDS station already had a radio equipped
to receive RDS.
(c) Equipping a radio station with RDS technology does not decrease the station's listening area.
(d) In 1996 Verlanders who did not own radios equipped to receive RDS could not receive any programming
from the RDS radio stations that began broadcasting in Verdland after 1994.
(e) The RDS radio stations in Verdland in 1996 did not all offer the same type of programming.

10. The emission of sulfur dioxide when high-sulfur coal is burned is restricted by law. New coal-burning plants
usually comply with the law by installing expensive equipment to filter sulfur dioxide from their emissions.
These new plants could save money by installing instead less expensive cleaning equipment that chemically
removes most sulfur from coal before combustion.
Which of the following, if known, would be most relevant to evaluating the claim above about how new coalburning plants could save money?
(a) Whether existing oil-burning plants are required to filter sulfur dioxide from their emissions
(b) Whether the expense of installing the cleaning equipment in a new plant is less than the expense of installing
the cleaning equipment in an older plant.
(c) Whether the process of cleaning the coal is more expensive than the process of filtering the emissions.
(d) Whether lawful emissions of sulfur dioxide from coal-burning plants are damaging the environment.
(e) Whether existing plants that use the filtering equipment could replace this equipment with the cleaning
equipment and still compete with new plants that install the cleaning equipment.

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11. In the United States, of the people who moved from one state to another when they retired, the percentage who
retired to Florida has decreased by three percentage points over the past ten years. Since many local businesses
in Florida cater to retirees, this decline is likely to have a noticeable negative economic effect on these
businesses.
Which of the follow, if true, most seriously weakens the argument?
(a) Florida attracts more people who move from one state to another when they retire than does any other state.
(b) The number of people who move out of Florida to accept employment in other states has increased over the
past ten years.
(c) There are more local businesses in Florida that cater to tourists than there are local businesses that cater to
retirees.
(d) The total number of people who retired and move to another state fro their retirement has increased
significantly over the past ten years.
(e) The number of people who left Florida when they retired to live in another state was greater last year than it
was ten years ago.
12. A city plans to attract new citizens with new housing and new facilities such as parks, recreation centers and
libraries. One component of the city's plans is to require that development seeking permission is to build this
new housing to provide these additional facilities at no cost to the city.
Which of the following, if true, would point to a possible flaw in the city's plan?
(a) Developers would pass along their costs to the buyer; thereby raising the cost of housing units beyond the
ability of likely purchasers to afford them.
(b) Light, nonpolluting industries have located in the area, offering more jobs and better-paying jobs than do the
more established industries in the area.
(c) Other towns and cities nearby have yet to embark on comparable plans to attract new citizens
(d) Most developers see the extra expense of providing municipal facilities as simply one of the many costs of
doing business.
(e) Studies show that purchasers of new houses, especially first-time buyers, rank recreational resources as an
important factor in deciding to buy a particular house.
13. 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%
of their cotton acreage out of production direct support payments up to a specified maximum per farm. The
governments program, if successful, will not be a net burden on the budget.
Which of the following, if true, is the basis for the best explanation of how this is so?
(a) Depressed cotton prices meant operating losses for cotton farms, and the government lost revenue from
taxes on farm profits.
(b) Cotton production in several counties other than Q declined slightly the year that the support-payment
program went into effect in Q.
(c) 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.
(d) 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.
(e) Farmers who wished to qualify for support payments could not use the cotton acreage that was withdrawn
from production to grow any other crop.

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14. Environmentalist: Snowmobiles in the park north of Milville create unacceptable levels of air pollution and
should be banned.
Milville Business Spokesperson: Snowmobiling brings many out-of-towners to Milville in the winter months, to
the great direct financial benefit of many local residents. In addition, the money the town collects in fees for the
recreational use of the park indirectly benefits all Milville residents. So, it is basic economics for us to put up with
the pollution.
Which of the following, if true, could best be used by the environmentalist to counter the business
spokespersons argument?
(a) A great many cross-country skiers are now kept from visiting Milville by the noise and pollution that
snowmobiles generate.
(b) Not all of the people who go snowmobiling in the vicinity of Milville are from out of town.
(c) Snowmobiles, because they run on two-cycle engines, emit greater amounts of hydrocarbons and particulate
matters than cars do.
(d) Industrial pollution in Milville has been significantly reduced in the past few years without any adverse effect
on the town's economy.
(e) Many Milville residents object to having to pay fees for recreational use of the park in the winter.
15. Yeasts capable of leavening bread are widespread, and in the many centuries during which the ancient Egyptians
made only unleavened bread, such yeasts must frequently have been mixed into bread dough accidentally. The
Egyptians, however, did not discover leavened bread until about 3000 B. C. That discovery roughly coincided
with the introduction of a wheat variety that was preferable to previous varieties because its edible kernel could
be removed from the husk without first toasting the grain.
Which of the following, if true, provides the strongest evidence that the two developments were causally related?
(a) Even after the ancient Egyptians discovered leavened bread and the techniques for reliably producing it were
well known, unleavened bread continued to be widely consumed.
(b) Only when the Egyptians stopped the practice of toasting grain were their stone lined grain-toasting pits
available for baking bread.
(c) Heating a wheat kernel destroys its gluten, a protein that must be present in order for yeast to leaven bread
dough.
(d) The new variety of wheat, which had a more delicate flavor because it was not toasted, was reserved for the
consumption of high officials when it first began to be grown.
(e) Because the husk of the new variety of wheat was more easily removed, flour made from it required less
effort to produce.
16. The general availability of high-quality electronic scanners and color printers for computers has made the
counterfeiting of checks much easier. In order to deter such counterfeiting, several banks plan to issue to their
corporate customers checks that contain dots too small to be accurately duplicated by any electronic scanner
currently available; when such checks are scanned and printed, the dots seem to blend together in such a way
that the word "VOID" appears on the check.
A questionable assumption of the plan is that:
(a) In the territory served by the banks the proportion of counterfeit checks that are made using electronic
scanners has remained approximately constant over the past few years.
(b) Most counterfeiters who use electronic scanners counterfeit checks only for relatively large amounts of
money.
(c) The smallest dots on the proposed checks cannot be distinguished visually except under strong magnification.
(d) Most corporations served by these banks will not have to pay more for the new checks than for traditional
checks.
(e) The size of the smallest dots that generally available electronic scanners are able to reproduce accurately will
not decrease significantly in the near future.

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17. That the application of new technology can increase the productivity of existing coal mines is demonstrated by
the case of Tribnias coal industry. Coal output per miner in Tribnia is double what it was five years ago, even
though no new mines have opened.
Which of the following can be properly concluded from the statement about coal output per miner in the
passage?
(a) If the number of miners working in Tribnian coal mines has remained constant in the past five years,
Tribnias total coal production has doubled in that period of time.
(b) Any individual Tribnian coal mine that achieved an increase in overall output in the past five years has also
experienced an increase in output per miner.
(c) If any new coal mines had opened in Tribnia in the past five years, then the increase in output per miner
would have been even greater than it actually was.
(d) If any individual Tribnian coal mine has not increased its output per miner in the past five years, then that
mines overall output has declined or remained constant.
(e) In Tribnia the cost of producing a given quantity of coal has declined over the past five years.
18. Which of the following most logically completes the passage?
Concerned about the well-being of its elderly citizens, the government of Runagia decided two years ago to
increase by 20 percent the government-provided pension paid to all Runagians over 65. Inflation in the
intervening period has been negligible, and the increase has been duly received by all eligible Runagians.
Nevertheless, many of them are no better off financially than they were before the increase, in large part because
______________.
(a) they rely entirely on the government pension for their income.
(b) runagian banks are so inefficient that it can take up to three weeks to cash a pension check.
(c) they buy goods whose prices tend to rise especially fast in times of inflation.
(d) the pension was increased when the number of elderly Runagians below the poverty level reached an all-time
high.
(e) in Runagia children typically supplement the income of elderly parents, but only by enough to provide them
with a comfortable living
19. The violent crime rate (number of violent crimes per 1,000 residents) in Meadowbrook is 60 percent higher now
than it was four years ago. The corresponding increase for Parkdale is only 10 percent. These figures support the
conclusion that residents of Meadowbrook are more likely to become victims of violent crime than are residents
of Parkdale.
The argument above is flawed because it fails to take into account
(a) Changes in the population density of both Parkdale and Meadowbrook over the past four years.
(b) How the rate of population growth in Meadowbrook over the past four years compares to the corresponding
rate for Parkdale.
(c) The ratio of violent to nonviolent crimes committed during the past four years in Meadowbrook and
Parkdale.
(d) The violent crime rates in Meadowbrook and Parkdale four years ago.
(e) How Meadowbrooks expenditures for crime prevention over the past four years compare to Parkdales
expenditures.
20. Because postage rates are rising, Home Decorator magazine plans to maximize its profits by reducing by one half
the number of issues it publishes each year. The quality of articles, the number of articles published per year, and
the subscription price will not change. Market research shows that neither subscribers nor advertisers will be
lost if the magazine's plan is instituted.

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Which of the following, if true, provides the strongest evidence that the magazine's profits are likely to decline if
the plan is instituted?
(a) With the new postage rates, a typical issue under the proposed plan would cost about one-third more to mail
than a typical current issue would.
(b) The majority of the magazine's subscribers are less concerned about a possible reduction in the quantity of
the magazine's articles than about a possible loss of the current high quality of its articles.
(c) Many of the magazine's long-time subscribers would continue their subscriptions even if the subscription
price were increased.
(d) Most of the advertisers that purchase advertising space in the magazine will continue to spend the same
amount on advertising per issue as they have in the past.
(e) Production costs for the magazine are expected to remain stable.

SESSION 4
SYLLOGISM
Syllogism is a verbal reasoning type problem in which a conclusion is drawn from two given or assumed propositions
(premises); a common or middle term is present in the two premises but not in the conclusion.
The best method of solving the Syllogisms problem is through Venn Diagrams. There are four ways in which
the relationship could be made.
Category 1
All A are B Means the whole circle representing A lies within the circle representing B.

Category 2
No A is B means that circles representing A and B does not intersect at all.

Example : No chair is a table.

Category 3
Some A are B
Means that some part of the circle represented by A is within the circle represented by B.

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(i) Some A are B, also indicates that Some A are not B

(ii) Some A are B also indicates that All A are B.

(iii) Some A are B also indicates that All B are A.

For e.g.: Some mangoes are pears.

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

Category 4
Some A are not B
Means that some portion of circle A has no intersection with circle B while the remaining portion of circle A is
uncertain whether this portion touches B or not.
(i) Some A are not B also indicates that Some A are B.

(ii) Some A are not B also indicates that No A is B.

Complementary Pairs: (Either & or) Either and or cases only take place in complementary pairs.
Conclusions: (i) Some A are B.

(ii) No A are B.

From the given above conclusions, it is easy to understand that one of the given conclusions must be true, which is
represented by option either (i) or (ii).
These types of pairs are called complementary pairs.
Note: All A are B & Some A are not B are also complementary pairs.
It is important to note that, in complementary pairs, one of the two conclusions is true and other will be false
simultaneously.
For example
Statement: All A are B. Some B are C.
Conclusion: I. All C are A. II. Some C are not A.

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Here we can make conclusion, either I or either II follows.

Possibility cases in Syllogism In possibilities cases, we have to create all possibilities to find whether the given
conclusion is possible or not. If it is possible and satisfies the given statement then given conclusion will follow
otherwise conclusion will not follow.

Exercises:
Directions for Q1 and Q2: State whether the given conclusion is True or False.
1.

Statement: All A are B. Some B are C.

Conclusion: All A being C is a possibility.

2.

Statements:
Some mouse is cat.
All mouse are pets.
No pet is animal.
Conclusion: All mouse being animal is a possibility.

3.

Statements:
Some Red Boxes are Green Boxes. All Red Boxes are Yellow Boxes.
Conclusions:
I. Some Yellow Boxes are Green Boxes.
II. All Green Boxes are Red Boxes.
(a) Only I can be true always
(b) Only II can be true always
(c) Both I and II can be true always
(d) Both I and II cannot be true always

4.

Which of these is a logical conclusion?

Statements:
No animals are plants.
All sheep are animals.
Therefore,
(a) All sheep are plants.
(c) Some Sheep Are Plants.

(b) All animals are sheep.

(d) None of the above.

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5.

6.

Statements:
Some actors are singers.
All the singers are dancers.
Conclusions:
1. Some actors are dancers.
2. No singer is actor.
(a) Only conclusion 1 follows
(c) Either 1 or 2 follows
(e) Both 1 and 2 follow
Statements:
All states are towns.
Some villages are not towns.
Conclusion:
1. All states are villages.
2. Some states are villages.
3. Some villages are not states.
4. Some states are not villages.
(a) None follows
(c) Only 2 and 3 follow

7.

Statements:
Some mangoes are yellow.
Some tixo are mangoes.
Conclusions:
1. Some mangoes are green.
2. Tixo is yellow.
(a) Only conclusion 1 follows
(b) Only conclusion 2 follows
(c) Either 1 or 2 follows
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 follows
(e) Both 1 and 2 follow

8.

Statements:
All the trucks are flies.
Some scooters are flies.
Conclusions:
1. All the trucks are scooters.
2. Some scooters are trucks.
(a) Only conclusion 1 follows
(d) Neither 1 nor 2 follows

9.

(b) Only conclusion 2 follows

(d) Neither 1 nor 2 follows

(b) Only 2 and 4 follow

(d) All follow

(b) Only conclusion 2 follows

(e) Both 1 and 2 follow

(c) Either 1 or 2 follows

Statements:
All the books are pencils.
No pencil is eraser.
Conclusions:
1. All the pencils are books.
2. Some erasers are books.

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3. No book is eraser.
4. Some books are erasers.
(a) Only 3 follow
(c) Only 1 and 2 follow
(e) Only 3 and 4 follow
10.

11.

12.

13.

Statements:
No man is sky.
No sky is road.
Some men are roads.
Conclusions:
1. No road is man.
2. No road is sky.
3. Some skies are men.
4. All roads are men.
(a) Only 1 and 3 follow

(b) Only 1 and 3 follow

(d) Only 2 and 3 follow

(b) Only 2 and 3 follow

(c) Only 2 and 4 follow

(d) None follows

Statements:
All players are spectators.
Some spectators are theatres.
Some theatres are dramas
Conclusions:
1. Some dramas are spectators.
2. Some players are dramas.
3. Some theatres are players.
4. All spectators are players.
(a) Only 1 and 3 follow
(b) Only 2 and 3 follow

(c) Only 2 and 4 follow

(d) None follows

Statements:
All the papers are books.
All the bags are books.
Some purses are bags.
Conclusions:
1. Some papers are bags.
2. Some books are papers.
3. Some books are purses.
(a) Only 1 follows
(c) Only 1 and 2 follow

(b) Only 2 and 3 follow

(d) Only 1 and 3 follow

Statements:
Some trains are cars.
All cars are branches.
All branches are nets.
Some nets are dresses.
Conclusions:
1. Some dresses are cars.
2. Some nets are trains.

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14.

15.

16.

17.

3. Some branches are trains.

4. Some dresses are trains.
(a) Only 1 and 3 follow
(b) Only 2 and 3 follow

(c) Only 2 and 4 follow

(d) All follow

Some jackfruits are lilies.

No lily is a canoe.
All canoes are oceans.
Conclusions:
1. Some jackfruits are oceans.
2. Some oceans are canoes.
3. Some oceans are jackfruits.
4. Some lilies are jackfruits.
(a) Only 1 and 3 follow
(b) Only 2 and 3 follow

(c) Only 2 and 4 follow

(d) All follow

Statements:
A. Only stars are moons.
B. No galaxy is a star.
C. No planets are moons.
Conclusions:
1. Some moons are not planets.
2. No moon is a galaxy.
3. No galaxy is a planet.
4. No stars are planets.
(a) Only 1, 2 and 4 follow
(d) Only 3 and 4 follow

(b) Only 1, 3 and 4 follow

(e) Only 1 and 2 follow

(c) Only 2, 3 and 4 follow

Statements:
No navies are air forces.
All armies are navies.
All air forces are combats.
Conclusions:
I. No air forces are navies.
II. Some combats are air forces.
III. Some combats are not navies.
IV. No armies are air forces.
(a) Only either I or II follows
(d) All follows

(b) Only II follows

(e) None follows

(c) Only either I or IV follows

Statements:
All petals are flowers.
Some flowers are buds.
Some buds are leaves.
All leaves are plants.
Conclusions:
1. Some petals are not buds.
2. Some flowers are plants.
3. No flower is plant.
(a) Only 1 and 2 follow
(d) Only 1 and 3 follow

(b) Either 2 or 3 follows

(e) Only 1, 2 and 3 follow

(c) Only 1 follows

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18.

Statements:
Some trains are cars.
All cars are branches.
All branches are nets.
Some nets are dresses.
Conclusions:
Some dresses are cars.
Some nets are trains.
Some branches are trains.
Some dresses are trains.

Directions for Q19 and Q20: Each question contains six statements followed by four sets of combinations of three.
Choose the set in which the statements are most logically related.
19.

20.

A. All roses are fragrant.

B. All roses are majestic.
C. All roses are plants.
D. All roses need air.
E. All plants need air.
F. All plants need water.
(a) CED
(b) ACB

(c) BDC

(d) CFE

A. Some mammals are carnivores.

B. All whales are mammals.
C. All whales are aquatic animals.
D. All whales are carnivores.
E. Some aquatic animals are mammals.
F. Some mammals are whales.
(a) ADF
(b) ABC

(c) AEF

(d) BCE

SESSION 5
ANALOGIES
What is an Analogy?
An analogy is a problem of the form A is to B as C is to D. For notational convenience, the problem is often written as
A : B :: C : D.

Ways of Presenting Analogies

Type 1: One of the terms A, B, C or D will be missing. In its place will be four options and you will have to choose
the option that best fits the analogy.
E.g.: BLACK : WHITE :: DARK : LIGHT
This may be presented as
1.
2.

BLACK : WHITE :: DARK : ___________

(a) grey
(b) shaded

(c) light

(d) heavy

BLACK : WHITE :: ___________ : LIGHT

(a) somber
(b) blue

(c) grey

(d) dark
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3.
4.

BLACK : ____________ :: DARK : LIGHT

(a) color
(b) white

(c) grey

(d) coal

_____________ : WHITE :: DARK : LIGHT

(a) grey
(b) black

(c) heavy

(d) somber

Type 2: One pair of words A : B or C : D is presented and you will have to find another pair with a similar
relationship.
E.g.: BLACK : WHITE :: DARK : LIGHT
This may be presented as
1.
2.

BLACK : WHITE :: ______ : ______

(a) grey : dull
(b) dark : light

(c) shaded : open

(d) red : green

______ : ______ :: DARK : LIGHT

(a) bulb : fuse
(b) dull : cheerful

(c) black : white

(d) thunder : rain

Directions for Q1 to Q15: In each of the following questions, you will find three initial terms and four answer options
designated a, b, c and d. You are to select from the four answer options the one that best completes the analogy with
the three initial terms.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

__________ : MISOLOGY :: NOVELTY : MISONEISM

(a) women
(b) marriage

(c) falsehood

(d) enlightenment

LIE : ________ :: LAY : LAID

(a) lie
(b) lay

(c) laid

(d) lain

SPOOL : LOOPS :: ________ : SLOOP

(a) water
(b) pools

(c) dinghy

(d) tools

FROM : TO :: ________ : JUGULAR

(a) artery
(b) ventricle

(c) atrium

(d) carotid

INVOCATION : __________ :: START : FINISH

(a) benediction
(b) recessional

(c) prayer

(d) vesper

________ : MANIFEST :: COVERT : OVERT

(a) obvious
(b) latent

(c) proximate

(d) apposite

DIRGE : REQUIEM :: GRIEF : _________

(a) thanksgiving
(b) mourning

(c) penitence

(d) joy

_________ : BISHOP :: PARISH : PRIEST

(a) metropolitan
(b) synod

(c) district

(d) diocese

CONSONANT : VOWEL :: COMPOSITE : _________

(a) prime
(b) irrational

(c) integer

(d) zero

IMPLODE : __________ :: IMPLY : HINT AT

(a) explode
(b) beseech

(c) implicate

(d) burst inward

EARTH : SUN :: PLANET : _______

(a) heavenly body
(b) sol

(c) star

(d) nova

OCTOPUS : _________ :: PERSON : TWO

(a) six
(b) eight

(c) ten

(d) twelve
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13.
14.
15.

WORK : ___________ :: POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE : VOLT

(a) joule
(b) ohm
(c) ampere

(d) coulomb

PHILOLOGY : LANGUAGES :: MYCOLOGY : __________

(a) flowering plants
(b) ferns

(d) fungi

(c) weeds

DEPENDENT : INDEPENDENT :: __________ : SELF-RELIANT

(a) autochthonous
(b) canonical
(c) anaclitic

(d) irrecusable

Directions for Q16 to Q30: Each of the following analogy questions presents a related pair of words linked by a
colon. Five lettered pairs of words follow the linked pair. Choose the lettered pair of words whose relationship is most
like the relationship expressed in the original linked pair.
16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

21.

22.

23.

24.

25.

26.

CAPTAIN : SHOAL ::
(a) lawyer : litigation
(d) doctor : hospital

(b) pilot : radar

(e) corporal : sergeant

(c) soldier : ambush

GULLIBLE : DUPED ::
(a) credible : cheated
(d) myopic : misled

(b) careful : cautioned

(e) articulate : silenced

(c) malleable : molded

DUNGEON : CONFINEMENT ::
(a) church : chapel
(d) hospital : mercy

(b) school : truancy

(e) courthouse : remorse

(c) asylum : refuge

MENDACITY : HONESTY ::
(a) courage : cravenness
(d) turpitude : depravity

(b) truth : beauty

(c) courage : fortitude
(e) unsophistication : ingenuousness

NAVE : INGENUE ::
(a) ordinary : genius
(d) crafty : artisan

(b) venerable : celebrity

(e) modest : braggart

(c) urbane : sophisticate

SHALE : GEOLOGIST ::
(a) catacombs : entomologist
(d) love : philologist

(b) aster : botanist

(e) reef : astrologer

(c) obelisk : fireman

HACKNEYED : ORIGINAL ::
(a) mature : juvenile
(d) evasive : elusive

(b) trite : morbid

(e) derivative : traditional

(c) withdrawn : reserved

DWELL : DENIZEN ::
(a) shun : outcast
(d) obey : autocrat

(b) inherit : heir

(e) patronize : protg

(c) squander : miser

MEANDERING : DIRECTINESS ::
(a) menacing : ambition
(b) affable : permissiveness
(d) circuitous : rotation
(e) aboveboard : openness

(c) digressive : conciseness

PIGHEADED : YIELD ::
(a) lionhearted : retreat
(d) featherbrained : giggle

(c) dogged : pursue

(b) lily-livered : flee

(e) eagle-eyed : discern

SIGNATURE : ILLUSTRATION ::
(a) byline : column
(b) alias : charge
(d) note : scale
(e) reference : recommendation

(c) credit : purchase

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27.

28.

29.

30.

SURPRISE : EXCLAMATION ::
(a) insolence : bow
(d) deference : nod

(b) dismay : groan

(e) contentment : matter

(c) happiness : grimace

EULOGY : BLAME ::
(a) elegy : loss
(d) simile : likeness

(b) satire : mockery

(e) benediction : curse

(c) tirade : abuse

MENDICANT : IMPECUNIOUS ::
(a) critic : quizzical
(b) complainer : petulant
(d) liar : compulsive
(e) philanthropist : prodigal

(c) physician : noble

SNICKER : DISRESPECT ::
(a) whimper : impatience
(d) sneer : detachment

(c) frown : indifference

(b) chortle : glee

(e) glower cheerfulness

SESSION 6
EUPHEMISM
It is a mild or pleasant word or phrase that is used instead of one that is unpleasant or offensive; the substitution of
an agreeable or inoffensive expression for one that may offend or suggest something unpleasant.
Did You Know?
Euphemism derives from the Greek word euphmos, which means "auspicious" or "sounding good.
Some euphemisms are used in order to make a blunt or unpleasant truth seem less harsh.

Passed away instead of died

Put to sleep
Its quite a common death euphemism, but its specific to animals, usually pets, as in being put down by a vet.
Couch potato
This is one of many common euphemisms that can mean slightly different depending on where youre from.
A lot of people use it to describe somebody who is overweight, while others understand it to really describe somebody
who is just lazy, whatever size they are.

Differently abled

One of the nicest common euphemisms we have, we can describe someone as differently abled to avoid saying they
are disabled.

Visually challenged

This is another euphemism about people having disabilities, although this one is specifically about being blind or
partially sighted.

Didnt make it

This is yet another one meaning that someone has died, although we tend to say that someone didnt make it if they
were fighting an illness.

A few extra pounds

When you find yourself discussing someone that you recently saw and want to express your opinion about your
observations, it is much more polite to say that they have gained a few extra pounds than bluntly calling them fat.
#Weight is a sensitive subject especially for women, which is why we all avoid blurting out words like obese, fat, and
overweight.
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Letting someone go

When it comes to firing someone, you rarely hear the exact words of 'You are fired' unless of course your boss doesn't
care about your feelings.

Categorical inaccuracy

When ordinary people conceal the truth and say something that is not consistent with the facts, that is considered
lying.
However when it comes to politics it is all different.
If somebody in power is not saying the truth, it is incompetent to call them liars instead we say that there were
categorical inaccuracies in what they said

Between jobs

Unemployment rates are high, especially in the current state of the economy and some people are suffering
financially.
Many have been cut and now are having a hard #timefinding a permanent job but instead of referring to themselves
as unemployed these people say that they are between jobs.

Relocation center instead of prison camp

Put to sleep instead of euthanize

Euphemism is an expression which loses its literal meaning and refers to something else in order to hide its
unpleasantness.
Many organizations use the term downsizing for the distressing act of firing its employees.
Euphemism depends largely on the social context of the speakers and writers where they feel the need to replace
certain words which may prove embarrassing for particular listeners or readers in a particular situation.
Techniques for Creating Euphemism
Euphemism masks a rude or impolite expression but conveys the concept clearly and politely. Several techniques are
employed to create euphemism.

Foreign words may be used to replace an impolite expression e.g. faux (fake), or faux pas (foolish error) etc.

Sometimes, they are abstractions e.g. before I go (before I die).

He is a special child (disabled or retarded).

The Squealer, a character in George Orwells Animal Farm, uses euphemisms to announce the reduction of
food to the animals of the farm, Orwell quotes him saying:

For the time being, he explains, it had been found necessary to make a readjustment of rations.

Substituting the word reduction with readjustment was an attempt to suppress the complaints of other
animals about hunger. It works because reduction means cutting food supply while readjustment implies
changing the current amount of food.

If you are a bank, the bad, debts are non- or under-performing assets.

A Few Sandwiches Short Of A Picnic

In Other Words: Stupid, Dim, Dull, Slow
We are looking forward to settlement of the account
In Other Words: You Owe Us Money
Reverse Engineering
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In other words: taking something apart to see how it works and then copying it
Intellectually Challenged
In Other Words: Stupid, Dim, Dull, Slow
Happy Hour
In other words: time set aside for drinking, usually in late afternoon
Fabricate
In Other Words: Make Up
In Other Words: Lie
Simply put idioms are typically phrases that have known meanings different from what would be expected by simply
trying to define the words.
Example :
"kick the bucket" (die)
"a dime a dozen" (common or easily attainable)
"bite your tongue" (keep quiet)
"between a rock and a hard place" (in a situation with no easy solution)
Euphemism: a substitution for an expression that may offend or suggest something unpleasant to the receiver, using
instead an agreeable or less offensive expression, or to make it less troublesome for the speaker.
Idiom is a manner of speaking, a way of expressing oneself while euphemism is (uncountable) the use of a word or phrase
to replace another with one that is considered less offensive, blunt or vulgar than the word or phrase it replaces.
I used to think I was poor. Then they told me I wasnt poor, I was needy. Then they told me it was self-defeating to think of
myself as needy, I was deprived. Then they told me deprived was a bad image, I was underprivileged. Then they told me
underprivileged was over used, I was disadvantaged. I still dont have a dime. But I sure have a great vocabulary.
(Jules Feifer)

Activity 1
A

birth

Jills got a bit of a spare tire these days, hasnt she?

prison

Their TV fell off the back of a truck.

crime

When is the happy event going to be?

unemployment

Would you like to wash your hands?

lying

He is a guest of Her majesty for six months.

toilets

My cousin is an actor but he is resting at the moment.

alcohol

The politician seemed to be rather tired and emotional during the debate.

warfare

Pats being rather economical with the truth, wouldnt you agree?

strikes

There were three hundred casualties in yesterdays battle.

obesity

The trade union is organizing a day of action tomorrow.

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VERBAL MODULES
HSTS3010716

Activity 2
Directions: Make the sentences less direct by replacing the words in bold with a euphemism (potential answers
below).
1.

I have a coworker who comes from a rich family.

2.

Let me talk this over with my boss and Ill get back to you.

3.

John quit. His last day was Tuesday.

4.

You need to talk to Kevin about this. Hes the fat guy in the orange shirt.

5.

Unfortunately, my brother doesnt have a job.

6.

Margaret is on bereavement leave for a few days. Her cousin died last night.

7.

This Christmas, my coworkers and I are buying presents for poor kids.

8.

Ill be right there. Just let me go to the bathroom first.

9.

Did you hear that management has fired some people?

10. Were looking to hire a new secretary for our vice president.
11. Many very old people are upset about their pensions.
12. We have two full-time janitors who work form 8 AM to 5 PM.
13. What he said about me is a total lie.
14. We can cut costs by moving our manufacturing facilities to a poor country.
15. There is a problem with the functionality of the software.
16. This is out of my price range. Maybe we should consider buying a used car.
17. Hes cheap and doesnt like to spend money on things he doesnt need.
18. Many illegal immigrants are employed in this industry.
19. You owe us money.
20. Were worried that it might be an expensive solution.

Activity 3
Complete the blanks with suitable Euphemisms.
being economical with the truth, between jobs, have had too many,
put to sleep, died, fell off the back of a lorry, Dear John letter, ethnic cleansing
armed intervention, big boned
1.

How much did you pay for your flat screen telly? B: It was really cheap. I think it _____________.

2.

A: Is your grandfather any better? B: Oh didn't you know? He _____________ last Monday.

3.

The USA is threatening _____________ in Iran unless they agree to cease developing nuclear power.

4.

John is _____________ at the moment so I don't think he can afford to come on holiday with us.

5.

I'm afraid that Dennis will have to be _____________. His kidneys aren't working and he seems to be in pain all of the
time.

6.

Instead of telling David face to face that she didn't want to continue the relationship she wrote him _____________
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