Verbal Reasoning Test

For the ALL questions given below please follow these instructions.

Select your answer as

A - If the given Statement is CORRECT, or would be a reasonable conclusion to draw from the passage.

B - If the given Statement is INCORRECT, or would be a reasonable conclusion to draw from the passage.

C - INSUFFICIENT INFORMATION provided in the passage to answer either of the above with any certainty

(A) cardiovascular disease is so prevalent that virtually all businesses are likely to have employees who suffer from, or may develop, this condition. Research shows that between 50-80% of all people who suffer a heart attack are able to return to work. However, this may not be possible if they have previously been involved in heavy physical work. In such cases, it may be possible to move the employee to lighter duties, with appropriate retraining where necessary. Similarly, high-pressure, stressful work, even where it does not involve physical activity, should also be avoided. Human Resources managers should be aware of the implications of job roles for employees with a cardiac condition.

1. Physical or stressful work may bring on a heart attack.

2. The majority of people who have suffered a heart attack can later return to work.

3. Heart disease may affect employees in any type of business.

4. Heart disease can affect people of any age.

(B) So much of the literature of the western world, including a large part of its greatest literature, was either written for actual speaking or in a mode of speech, that we are likely to deform it if we apply our comparatively recent norm of writing for silent reading. It is only that so much of this work is drama or oratory (the latter including the modern forms of sermons, lectures and addresses which as late as the nineteenth century play a most important part). It is also that through classical and mediaeval times, and in many cases beyond these, most reading was either aloud or silently articulated as if speaking - a habit we now recognize mainly in the slow. Most classical histories were indeed quite close to oratory and public speech, rather than silent reading of an artifacts, was the central condition of linguistic composition.

5. Until the nineteenth century, most people could only read with difficulty

6. In ancient times, literature was intended to be read aloud

7. Classical histories were passed on orally and never written down

8. Only people with literacy problems now read aloud

(C) Millions of lives around the world could be saved, and the quality of life of hundreds of millions markedly improved - very inexpensively - by eradicating three vitamin and mineral deficiencies in people's diets. The three vitamins and minerals are vitamin A, iodine and iron - so- called micronutrients. More than 2 billion people are at risk from micronutrient deficiencies and more than 1 billion people are actually ill or disabled by them, causing mental retardation, learning disabilities, low work capacity and blindness. It costs little to correct these deficiencies through fortification of food and water supplies. In a country of 50 million people, this would cost about $25 million a year. That $25 million would yield a forty fold return on investment.

9. Most illensses in developing countries are caused by vitamin and mineral deficiencies

10. Micronutrients provide inadequate nourishment to maintain a healthy life

11. Vitamin A, iodine and iron are the only micronutrients that people need in their diet

12. Correcting micronutrient deficiencies would cost about $2 per person per year

(D) The clinical guidelines in asthma have now moved towards anti-inflammatory therapy - and away from regular bronchodilator therapy - for all but the mildest asthmatics. This is now being reflected in prescribing patterns. In the U.S., combined prescription volumes of the major bronchodilators peaked in 1991 (having risen slowly in the preceding years), though they still account for around half of the 65 million asthma prescriptions there. During the same period, prescriptions for inhaled steroids have doubled, but still account for less than 10% of asthma prescriptions in the U.S.

13. Only mild cases of asthma can be helped by anti-inflammatory therapy

14. Use of bronchodilators has been increasing since 1991

15. Doctors are reluctant to treat asthma with inhaled steroids for fear of potential side-effects

16. Bronchodilators are the single most prescribed treatment for asthma

(E) Relations between Sweden and the European Community had always been restricted in scope by Sweden's traditional neutrality and for many years any suggestion of Community membership was out of the question. But the upheavals in Eastern Europe in the early 1990s gradually led to the conclusion that membership of the EC was no longer incompatible with its neutral stance. People came to the conclusion that Sweden has already taken over a large part of the Community rules and began to weight up the pros and cons of membership along the lines sought by Austria.

17. Political changes in Eastern Europe led to a change in relations between Sweden and the European Community

18. The European Community rejected Sweden's application for membership because of its neutrality

19. After abandoning its policy of neutrality, Sweden applied to join the European Community

20. Sweden applied for membership of the European Community after other neutral countries had joined.

(F) Buddhism was introduced to Japan from India via China and Korea around the middle of the sixth century. After gaining imperial patronage, Buddhism was propagated by the authorities throughout the country. In the early ninth century, Buddhism in Japan entered a new era in which it catered mainly to the court nobility. In the Kamakura period (1192-1338), an age of great political unrest and social confusion, there emerged many new sects of Buddhism offering hope of salvation to warriors and peasants alike. Buddhism not only flourished as a religion but also did much to enrich the country's arts and learning.

21. Buddhism was adopted by the court nobility at the urging of the emperor

22. The introduction of Buddhism to Japan led to great political unrest and social confusion

23. Buddhism replaced the Shinto religion which had previously been followed in Japan

24. Japanese arts and culture were greatly enriched by the introduction of Buddhism

(G) In Japan, companies generally expect their employees to put in long hours of overtime. But it is difficult for women, who also have household chores to do and children to take care of, to work at the same pace as men, who are not burdened with such responsibilities. Many women invitably opt for part-time jobs, which enable them to combine work and domestic duties. At present, 23% of all female salaried workers are part-timers and the ratio has been on the rise in recent years. Part-time work places women at a disadvantage. The wages of part-time workers are considerably lower than those of full-time employees, and part-time work tends to involve menial labour. Moreover, because slary and promotion in Japanese companies are often based on seniority, it is extremely difficult for women either re-entering the labour force or switching from part-time to full-time work to climb the ladder.

25. Japanese men do not share household chores and childcare with their wives.

26. A quarter of all part-time workers in Japan are female.

27. Part-time workers hold a low status in Japanese companies.

28. Women in Japan are unwilling to work overtime.

Answers -

1. B

2. A

3. A

4. C

5. C

6. A

7. B

8. A

9. C

10. B

11. C

12. B

13. B

14. C

15. C

16. A

17. A

18. B

19. B

20. C

21. B

22. B

23. C

24. C

25. A

26. B

27. A

28. C

{2006/04/26}