1.CR
A company decided to reduce the packaging size of its products to cut costs. However, consumers were not in favor of this change. It was discovered that even with smaller packaging, there were still defects. Eventually, the company decided to revert to the original packaging size despite the potential for a price increase. Which of the following most weakens the company's decision to revert to the original packaging size?
A) The defects in smaller packaging were no more frequent than in the original packaging.
B) A significant number of consumers expressed a willingness to pay a higher price for the original packaging size.
C) Competitor companies also reduced their packaging sizes without experiencing a decrease in sales.
D) After the increase in price, consumers began choosing alternative products over the company's product.
E) The company’s overall production costs increased significantly after reverting to the original packaging size.
Scientists believe that by studying documentary films from a particular era, they can determine the prevalence of left-handedness during that time. They observed that many people in these films tended to use their left hand for greeting and other activities, leading to the conclusion that there were indeed many left-handed people in that era. What is the underlying assumption in this conclusion?
A) The people in the documentary films represent a statistically significant sample of the population of that era.
B) Left-handedness was not considered undesirable or uncommon in that era.
C) The people in the films did not behave unnaturally due to the rarity of being filmed.
D) There were no social conventions at that time that dictated the use of the left hand for greeting.
E) Documentary films of that era accurately captured everyday activities without any bias or staging
答案:
2.During the tumultuous period of the Three Kingdoms (220-280 CE), the kingdom of Shu Han, led by the brilliant strategist Zhuge Liang, sought to bolster its defenses against the rival kingdoms of Cao Wei and Eastern Wu. Zhuge Liang proposed the construction of a series of watchtowers along the kingdom's borders to provide early warning of enemy invasions.
To determine the optimal locations for these watchtowers, Zhuge Liang consulted historical records of past invasions and conducted surveys of the terrain. He narrowed down the potential sites to three key locations:
Jianmen Pass - Situated at a critical chokepoint, this location could alert the capital to invasions from the north. The pass could accommodate 8 to 12 watchtowers, with each tower requiring a garrison of 50 soldiers.
Yangping Pass - Guarding the eastern border, this strategic location could warn of attacks from Cao Wei. The terrain allows for 10 to 15 watchtowers, each needing a garrison of 60 soldiers.
Yinping Pass - Protecting the southern frontier from Eastern Wu, this pass has space for 6 to 10 watchtowers, with each tower requiring a garrison of 55 soldiers.
Zhuge Liang estimated that the cost of constructing each watchtower would be 1,000 taels of silver, with an additional annual maintenance cost of 100 taels per tower. The kingdom had a budget of 50,000 taels of silver for the initial construction and a maximum of 5,000 taels per year for maintenance.
To optimize the watchtower placements, Zhuge Liang gathered data on the frequency of past invasions through each pass. Over the past 50 years, Jianmen Pass had seen an average of 3 invasions per decade, Yangping Pass had experienced 2 invasions per decade, and Yinping Pass had faced 1 invasion per decade.
Zhuge Liang also considered the economic importance of the regions protected by each pass. The capital region, shielded by Jianmen Pass, accounted for 50% of the kingdom's GDP. The eastern region, guarded by Yangping Pass, contributed 30% of the GDP, while the southern region, watched over by Yinping Pass, made up the remaining 20%.
1. Based on the historical invasion data, which pass is most likely to face an invasion in the next 10 years?
A. Jianmen Pass
B. Yangping Pass
C. Yinping Pass
D. All passes are equally likely to face an invasion
2. If Zhuge Liang decides to allocate watchtowers proportionally to the economic importance of each region, which of the following represents the closest distribution of the total budget for initial construction?
A. Jianmen Pass: 25,000 taels; Yangping Pass: 15,000 taels; Yinping Pass: 10,000 taels
B. Jianmen Pass: 20,000 taels; Yangping Pass: 20,000 taels; Yinping Pass: 10,000 taels
C. Jianmen Pass: 30,000 taels; Yangping Pass: 15,000 taels; Yinping Pass: 5,000 taels
D. Jianmen Pass: 15,000 taels; Yangping Pass: 25,000 taels; Yinping Pass: 10,000 taels
3. Assuming Zhuge Liang builds the maximum number of watchtowers at each pass while staying within the budget for initial construction, what is the minimum total number of soldiers required to garrison all the watchtowers?
A. 1,020
B. 1,200
C. 1,350
D. 1,500
4. If the actual invasion frequency at Yangping Pass over the next 50 years is 50% higher than the historical average, and the invasion frequencies at the other passes remain consistent with historical data, which pass will have the highest probability of facing an invasion in a given year?
A. Jianmen Pass
B. Yangping Pass
C. Yinping Pass
D. Jianmen Pass and Yangping Pass will have an equal probability
5. Suppose Zhuge Liang is able to negotiate a 10% discount on the construction cost of each watchtower. What is the maximum number of additional watchtowers that could be built with the savings, assuming the distribution of watchtowers across the passes remains proportional to the economic importance of each region?
A. 3
B. 4
C. 5
D. 6
6. If the maintenance cost per watchtower increases by 20% after the first year, what will be the total maintenance cost for all watchtowers in the second year, assuming Zhuge Liang builds the maximum number of watchtowers at each pass while staying within the initial construction budget?
A. 4,800 taels
B. 5,400 taels
C. 6,000 taels
D. 6,600 taels
7. Zhuge Liang estimates that each watchtower will have an average lifespan of 20 years. If the cost of rebuilding a watchtower is 1,200 taels of silver, and the rebuilding process begins in the 21st year, how much should the kingdom budget annually for rebuilding costs to ensure a stable number of watchtowers over the long term?
A. 1,500 taels
B. 1,800 taels
C. 2,100 taels
D. 2,400 taels
8. If the kingdom's GDP grows by an average of 5% per year, and the allocation of watchtowers remains proportional to the initial economic importance of each region, which pass will have the greatest number of watchtowers after 10 years, assuming the total budget for watchtowers grows at the same rate as the GDP?
A. Jianmen Pass
B. Yangping Pass
C. Yinping Pass
D. The number of watchtowers will remain the same at all passes
9. Suppose a new type of watchtower design is developed that costs 20% more to build but requires 30% fewer soldiers to garrison. If Zhuge Liang decides to use this new design for all watchtowers, what is the maximum number of watchtowers that can be built within the initial construction budget?
A. 40
B. 42
C. 44
D. 46
10. If the average time for a messenger to travel from a watchtower to the capital is 2 days from Jianmen Pass, 3 days from Yangping Pass, and 4 days from Yinping Pass, and a messenger is dispatched immediately upon sighting an invasion, which region is most likely to suffer the greatest damage before reinforcements can arrive, assuming invasion frequencies remain consistent with historical data?
A. The capital region
B. The eastern region
C. The southern region
D. All regions are equally likely to suffer the greatest damage
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has recently initiated a lawsuit against Facebook, alleging that the company has been illegally maintaining its personal social networking monopoly through a protracted course of anticompetitive conduct. The complaint, which follows an extensive investigation in collaboration with a coalition of attorneys general from 46 states, the District of Columbia, and Guam, contends that Facebook has engaged in a systematic strategy to eliminate threats to its monopoly. This strategy includes the 2012 acquisition of the up-and-coming rival Instagram, the 2014 acquisition of the mobile messaging app WhatsApp, and the imposition of anticompetitive conditions on software developers. This course of conduct has allegedly harmed competition, left consumers with limited choices for personal social networking, and deprived advertisers of the benefits of competition.
The FTC is seeking a permanent injunction in federal court that could, among other things, require divestitures of assets, including Instagram and WhatsApp, prohibit Facebook from imposing anticompetitive conditions on software developers, and require Facebook to seek prior notice and approval for future mergers and acquisitions.
According to the FTC's complaint, Facebook's unmatched position as the world's dominant personal social networking service has provided the company with staggering profits, generating revenues of more than $70 billion and profits of more than $18.5 billion in the previous year alone.
The complaint alleges that Facebook targeted potential competitive threats to its dominance, quickly recognizing Instagram as a vibrant and innovative personal social network and an existential threat to Facebook's monopoly power. Facebook initially attempted to compete with Instagram on the merits by improving its own offerings but ultimately chose to acquire Instagram for $1 billion in April 2012, allegedly neutralizing the direct threat posed by Instagram and making it more difficult for another personal social networking competitor to gain scale.
Around the same time, Facebook perceived that "over-the-top" mobile messaging apps also presented a serious threat to its monopoly power. The complaint alleges that Facebook's leadership understood and feared that a successful mobile messaging app could enter the personal social networking market, either by adding new features or by spinning off a standalone personal social networking app. By 2012, WhatsApp had emerged as the clear global "category leader" in mobile messaging. Again, Facebook chose to buy an emerging threat rather than compete, announcing an agreement in February 2014 to acquire WhatsApp for $19 billion, allegedly neutralizing the prospect that WhatsApp itself might threaten Facebook's personal social networking monopoly and ensuring that any future threat would have a more difficult time gaining scale in mobile messaging.
The complaint also alleges that Facebook, over many years, has imposed anticompetitive conditions on third-party software developers' access to valuable interconnections to its platform, such as the application programming interfaces (APIs) that allow the developers' apps to interface with Facebook. In particular, Facebook allegedly has made key APIs available to third-party applications only on the condition that they refrain from developing competing functionalities and from connecting with or promoting other social networking services. Facebook has allegedly enforced these policies by cutting off API access to blunt perceived competitive threats from rival personal social networking services, mobile messaging apps, and other apps with social functionalities.
Here are 8 GMAT-style Reading Comprehension questions based on the given passage, including main idea questions and detailed explanations for each question:
1. The primary purpose of the passage is to:
A. Explain the FTC's legal case against Facebook's alleged monopolistic practices
B. Describe Facebook's acquisition strategy and its impact on the social networking market
C. Analyze the financial performance of Facebook and its acquired companies
D. Discuss the importance of API access for third-party software developers
E. Highlight the collaboration between the FTC and state attorneys general
2. According to the passage, Facebook's acquisition of Instagram was motivated by:
A. Instagram's innovative features and potential to become a direct competitor
B. The desire to integrate Instagram's mobile messaging capabilities
C. Facebook's inability to improve its own offerings and compete on merit
D. Pressure from the FTC to diversify its portfolio of social networking services
E. Instagram's strong appeal to advertisers and potential for generating revenue
3. The passage suggests that Facebook's acquisition of WhatsApp was primarily intended to:
A. Expand Facebook's presence in the mobile messaging market
B. Prevent WhatsApp from becoming a direct competitor in personal social networking
C. Acquire WhatsApp's user base and merge it with Facebook's existing user base
D. Gain access to WhatsApp's proprietary technology and patents
E. Comply with the FTC's demand to promote competition in the social networking market
4. Based on the information provided in the passage, which of the following can be inferred about Facebook's API policies?
A. Facebook has consistently made its APIs available to all third-party developers without restrictions
B. Facebook's API policies have primarily targeted mobile messaging apps
C. Facebook has used its API policies to discourage the development of competing social networking services
D. The FTC's complaint does not address Facebook's API policies and their impact on competition
E. Third-party developers have not been affected by Facebook's API policies
5. The author's stance towards Facebook's actions can best be described as:
A. Supportive of Facebook's acquisition strategy and business practices
B. Critical of Facebook's alleged anticompetitive conduct and its impact on the market
C. Neutral and objective, presenting both sides of the argument equally
D. Uncertain about the validity of the FTC's complaint against Facebook
E. Advocating for stronger regulation of the social networking industry
6. The passage mentions all of the following as part of the FTC's complaint against Facebook EXCEPT:
A. Facebook's acquisition of Instagram in 2012
B. Facebook's acquisition of WhatsApp in 2014
C. Facebook's imposition of anticompetitive conditions on third-party software developers
D. Facebook's restriction of API access to perceived competitive threats
E. Facebook's failure to seek prior approval for its acquisition of Oculus VR
7. According to the passage, which of the following best describes the FTC's desired outcome in its lawsuit against Facebook?
A. The imposition of fines and penalties on Facebook for its anticompetitive conduct
B. The breakup of Facebook into smaller, independent companies
C. A permanent injunction that could require divestitures and prohibit anticompetitive practices
D. The establishment of a regulatory framework for the social networking industry
E. The revocation of Facebook's licenses to operate in the United States
8. The passage indicates that Facebook's anticompetitive practices have led to:
A. Increased choices for consumers in the personal social networking market
B. The suppression of potential competitors and reduced market competition
C. The development of innovative new features and services by Facebook
D. Higher advertising revenues for competing social networking platforms
E. The growth of third-party software developers building on Facebook's platform
作者: Katelynns 时间: 2024-4-5 13:48
CR：1.对比DE D说明回到以前包装size，产品价格上升，消费者会寻找替代品；E说明生产成本会大幅增加。DE相比，D对公司和该产品线发展更致命，选D
2. ACE对比，取非。A说明样本在数量上具有代表性，C说明纪录片中的人们不是刻意用左手，E说明纪录片不是摆拍，捕捉到人们日常活动。三者对比，选了C。蹲一波解析～
RC：结合时事，2月份senator们刚刚拷问完四大social media巨头：discord, meta, google and snapchat~
FTC initiated a lawsuit against FB and why
FTC seeks to prohibit FB from imposing anticompetition conditions on software developers
FB's position in the mkt and its revenue
3 examples on FB dealing with their potential competitors
AABC BECB作者: E杀G必成功 时间: 2024-4-5 15:19
Day100
RC：A A B C B E C B
P1：FTC对脸书的指控what
P2：惩处内容
P3：脸书的地位、创收
P4：指控1-脸书关于Ins的不正当竞争
P5：指控2-脸书对移动通讯应用威胁的应对、whatsapp
P6：指控3-脸书对第三方施加的反竞争条件作者: momomo219 时间: 2024-4-5 21:28
cr1:p：even with smaller packaging, there were still defects.
c：company's decision to revert to the original packaging size
选C) Competitor companies also reduced their packaging sizes without experiencing a decrease in sales.同因反果削弱
2:p：many people in these films tended to use their left hand for greeting and other activities,
c： leading to the conclusion that there were indeed many left-handed people in that era
选A) The people in the documentary films represent a statistically significant sample of the population of that era.样本可以代表整体作者: 陌小夏 时间: 2024-4-5 22:21
DAY100
CR DA
RC A A B C B E C B
1-(FTC) 对脸书提出垄断诉讼
complaint投诉coalition联盟a protracted course长期
2- the FTC's desired outcome in its lawsuit against Facebook
permanent injunction永久禁令divestitures剥夺财产
3-FBhas provided the company with staggering profits
staggering profits,惊人的利润
4- Facebook对ins的收购
5-Facebook对whatsapp收购over-the-top超一流spinning off 剥离standalone 独立的
6-脸书has imposed anticompetitive conditions on third-party software developers' access to valuable interconnections to its platform作者: 小一2 时间: 2024-4-6 00:30
1.P:消费者不喜欢包装变小
C:公司revert to原包装尽管价格上升了
前提与消费者偏好有关，BD，问削弱，选D。
RC:BAACCECB
纠错
第一题：正确答案A。纠结过这个选项，重点是B没有FTC 但实际上文章主要内容是关于FCT诉FB
第三题：B。没有回顾原文，直接凭记忆选的。实际上文章中说了收购主要是怕WA成为竞争对手
第五题：正确选项B，对FB持negative看法。作者的感觉总是捉摸不透...
P1:FTC V. facebook: maintain personal social networking monopoly: limited choices for customer and deprived（剥夺）advertisers benefits of competition
P2: FTC is seeking a permanent injunction（禁令） to prohibit facebook from imposing anticompetitive conditions and ask facebook to seek prior notice and approval for future mergers and acquisitions
P3: 根据FTC Facebook获利应超18.5billion
P4:本来打算跟ins竞争，但最后1billion收购（acquire）了ins 也使得市面上其他personal networking competitor更难与FB竞争了
P5: 对于WhatsApp FB也是购买代替竞争，中和/抵消（neutralize）了WA的威胁，并且垄断了mobile messaging市场
P6: FB使得三方软件developer不能进入它的platform。（又是一种变相的垄断）作者: gmatcantkillme 时间: 2024-4-7 07:12
Day 100
CR
weaken - D
逻辑链：reduce packaging size to cut cost - consumer not like it - revert back to larger despite price increase
A - 和包装的破损无关
B - 削弱
C - 竞争者无关
D - 正确
E - 和cost无关
assumption - D（正确答案A）
逻辑链：study documentary — determine prevalence of left-handedness
A - 无关
B - 无关
C - 无关
D - 正确
E - 无关
RC
P1: FTC initiated lawsuit against Facebook for anticompetitive conduct.
P2: FTC wants to require divestitures of assets, and require Facebook to seek prior approval for merger and acquisition.
P3: FTC says Facebook gained staggering profits from being the dominant
P4: Facebook targeted competitors and neutralized the direct threat (i.g. instagram)
P5: Facebook bought WhatsApp (the threat) instead of compete, because it might threat it’s dominance
P6: same as API
AABC BECB 作者: Rosie2022 时间: 2024-4-7 11:52
感谢分享！ 作者: Rosie2022 时间: 2024-4-7 12:48
Day 100
RC
- **Main Idea and structure:**
- P1: FTC against Facebook on monopoly: ins, WhatsApp, software developers, the bad influence of FB
- P2: The expectation of FTC
- P3: FTC: FB benefit a lot of MP
- P4: FTC: FB target threats, so acquire Ins
- P5: FTC: FB target mobile message apps, acquire WhatsApp
- P6: FCT: FB control third-party software developers' access, cut off APIs
my: ACBCCECB
✅ : AABCBECB
2. P4:neutralizing the direct threat posed by Instagram and making it more difficult for another personal social networking competitor to gain scale是收购的目的, c选项inability属于过度推理
5.即便作者在描述时都用的是the claim alleged blabla, 但是c选项的both side 是不对的, 作者基本都是在阐述ftc的观点.作者: setmefree1 时间: 2024-4-7 15:25
DAY100
CR
DD
RC
AABCBECB
- 联邦贸易委员会诉讼脸书通过反竞争获得个人社交网络垄断，限制消费者个人社交网络选择，剥夺广告商竞争获益
- FTC寻求永久禁令阻止脸书实施反竞争，并且脸书需要提前通知和允许在未来的收购之前
- 脸书收益情况
- 哀巨是脸书垄断力量潜在的威胁，最初试图竞争，于2012年收购，使其他个人社交网络竞争者更难获得规模
- WA威胁，2014收购，确保其他移动通讯更难时间获得规模
- 脸书还多年实施反竞争条件在第三方软件开发人员获取其平台的宝贵连接，如API作者: Jamie_ee 时间: 2024-4-7 18:06
CR
1. 文章主旨题，主要是在说诉讼案件
2. 定位到第四段：Facebook initially attempted to compete with Instagram on the merits by improving its own offerings but ultimately chose to acquire Instagram for $1 billion in April 2012, allegedly neutralizing the direct threat posed by Instagram and making it more difficult for another personal social networking competitor to gain scale.
3. 定位到第五段：llegedly neutralizing the prospect that WhatsApp itself might threaten Facebook's personal social networking monopoly
4. 定位最后一段
5. 作者态度的题：作者在全文中列举了FTC对Facebook反竞争行为的指控,并强调了这些行为对市场的负面影响,可以看出作者对Facebook的行为持批评态度。
6. 定位第一段和全文的篇章，没有提到E
7. 定位第二段
8. 定位最后一段 作者: Eunice12 时间: 2024-4-8 09:05
我的选项：DA
正确选项：
第一题：削弱题
公司决定降低产品的包装尺寸以削减成本
但是消费者不支持这样的改变
结果表明，即便包装再小，仍然存在缺陷
最终公司决定恢复原来的包装，即便可能会价格上升
削弱：包装越大，缺陷越多
A:小包装的缺陷不比原来包装的缺陷更频繁，即差不多——不能削弱
B:倾向增强
C:无关
D:削弱
E:解释前提
第二题：假设题
Premise：在纪录片中很多人倾向使用左手打招呼和做其他活动
Conclusion：在那个时代确实存在很多左撇子
样本偏差：真正的样本是左撇子，前提的样本是使用左手打招呼和做其他活动；真正的样本是时代里的人们，前提的样本是纪录片的人们
草率偏差：不存在反例
A:纪录片的人们代表统计上的重要样本——弥补样本偏差
B:无关
C:纪录片里的人们没有因为是在拍摄而表现得不自然，纠结项
D:倾向削弱
E:记录每天的活动作者: 一定700！ 时间: 2024-4-10 07:56
感谢分享！ 作者: 一定700！ 时间: 2024-4-10 08:00
day 101
CR
1. B
AI -> stop CB -> cost
However, one airline -> low ticket -> still CB
Why?
A. large revenue. 没办法说明cost
B. crew clean, 没有 additional cost. 可以解释
C. clean technologies, 没有办法说明cost
D. no pressure to reduce cost, 没法解释cleaning 的 additional cost
E. subsidies from government, 可能没法cover 全部的cost。 没有B 解释的强
2. A
OD -> reduce BP
DO with high BP
Why?
A. high BP所以养狗， 可以解释contradiction
B. sedentary lifestyle, 无法解释， 因为文章说了OD -> reduce BP
C. adopt breeds that don't require exercise. 理由同B
D. demographic 理由同B
E. don't follow regular exercise and diet. 理由同B
RC
1. D
A. 第二段内容
B. 第一段后半部分内容
C. 第二段前半部分内容
D. 贯穿全文
E. 最后一段内容
2. D
第一段最后一句
3. D (C)
“ no one would seriously contend that it achieved monetarily for
Black land-grant institutions anything comparable to what the 1862
legislation accomplished for other land-grant institutions”
4. B
最后一段第一句话
5. A (D)
第二段最后一句
就算 adhered faithfully， 说明没有faithfully。 所以D不对
6. C
最后一段
7. B
第一段
8. C
最后一段，第一句
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
day 100
CR
1. D
reduce PS -> CC
CON not in favor
revert to OPS
weaken?
A. defect 和CC 无关
B. pay higher for revert OPS 增强
2. B (A)
RC
1. B (A)
2. A
3. B
4. C
5. B
6. E
7. C
8. B 作者: 一定700！ 时间: 2024-4-10 08:00
day 100
CR
1. D
reduce PS -> CC
CON not in favor
revert to OPS
weaken?
A. defect 和CC 无关
B. pay higher for revert OPS 增强
2. B (A)
RC
1. B (A)
2. A
3. B
4. C
5. B
6. E
7. C
8. B作者: sunsair 时间: 2024-4-10 20:04
EA
又不知道选什么了。。。
第一题要削弱换回原包装，感觉E选项是最直接相关的。
第二题的gap其实就是电影是否反映真实，或者是否反映可观数量的样本。作者: Donatella 时间: 2024-4-10 21:03 RC
FTC控告Facebook非法垄断，Facebook进行了一些列策略来扩大垄断
FTC正在制订惩罚来防止Facebook反竞争
Facebook的统治地位使它获得大量利益
Facebook针对有潜力的竞争对手，与Instagram竞争，后来想收购Instagram
Facebook要收购WhatsApp
Facebook正在限制API，企图反对竞争，实现垄断
B A B C B E C B 作者: Rita糖糖 时间: 2024-4-11 11:35
CR
D, A
A