Researchers had an actor, using a script prepared by others, give a speech to an audience of professionals in a certain field. When the actor was introduced as an expert in that field, the audience reported that the speech content was very insightful. This led the researchers to conclude that people determine the insightfulness of a speech based on their perception of the speaker's expertise in the relevant field.
Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the researchers' conclusion?
(A) When the same actor gave the same scripted speech to a different audience of professionals in the field, but was not introduced as an expert, the audience did not find the speech content to be insightful.
(B) The audience members were not told in advance whether the speaker was an expert in the field.
(C) Some of the audience members were acquainted with the actor from his previous film and television roles.
(D) The speech script was carefully prepared by the researchers to include some novel insights about the field.
(E) In a subsequent study, a different actor gave a different speech to an audience of professionals in a different field, and similar results were obtained.
A certain type of harpoon was used to hunt bowhead whales. For 80 years, no whales captured with this harpoon were found, until recently a dead bowhead whale was discovered with this harpoon lodged in its body. It is known that bowhead whales younger than 10 years old, once struck by this harpoon, have no chance of survival.
Which of the following can be properly inferred from the information above?
(A) The recently discovered dead whale was more than 90 years old.
(B) The recently discovered dead whale was at least 10 years old when it was struck by the harpoon.
(C) Bowhead whales older than 10 years can survive being struck by this type of harpoon.
(D) No bowhead whales were hunted with this type of harpoon in the past 80 years.
(E) The recently discovered dead whale died because it was struck by this harpoon when it was less than 10 years old.
AB
2.RC
In general, conventional radiocarbon dating has effectively mapped out the past 30,000 years in areas where organic preservation has been favorable. Yet beyond a threshold of about 20,000 years the number of objects whose age can be determined with certainty diminishes rapidly. Accelerator mass spectrometry can push the threshold further back in time, however.
At a horizon of 40,000 years the amount of carbon 14 in a bone or a piece of charcoal can be truly mi¬ nute: such a specimen may contain only a few thousand C-14 atoms. Consequently equally small quantities of modern carbon can severely skew the measurements. Contamination of this kind amounting to 1 percent of the carbon in a sample 25,000 years old would make it appear to be about 1,500 years younger than its actual age. Such contamination would, however, reduce the apparent age of a 60,000-year-old object by almost 50 percent. Clearly proper sample-decontamination procedures are of particular importance in the dating of very old artifacts. Unfortunately stringent specimen handling and treatment procedures ultimately result in relatively small sample sizes, which conventional radiocarbon dating is poorly equipped to handle. Moreover, conventional radiocarbon dating would still face the insurmountable problem of discriminating the radioactivity of the sample from ambient background radiation.
Neither sample size nor background radiation present problems to radiocarbon accelerator dating, and so rel¬ atively minor improvements in sample chemistry can lead to sharper and more extensive chronologies. For example, accelerator dating of purified amino acids from bones more than 25,000 years old showed that their age had previously been consistently underestimated by 1,000 or more years. The earlier, conventional measurements had been based on whole collagen, which cannot be guaranteed to be free of modern carbon.
One controversy of long standing on which the new dating technique has already had a major impact concerns the first human migrations to the New World. An accurate time scale for the colonization of America is crucial in order to assess how quickly the first Paleo-Indian hunters and gatherers dispersed, settled and developed their ethnic and linguistic diversity. Most observers agree that the earliest human inhabitants of America came from northeastern Asia probably between 25,000 and 12,000 years ago, crossing over a land bridge that then connected Siberia with Alaska. Nevertheless, human skeletons were found in the New World at disparate locations, such as Canada and Peru, that seemed to be considerably older than expected. Accelerator mass spectrometry has refuted these claims: no skeletal remains yet found in America appear to be more than 12,000 years old. If other such finds are made in the future, accelerator mass spectrometry will quite probably be the dating technique called on to determine the skeleton's age directly.
Accelerator dating may also prove to be invaluable in establishing an uthoritative chronology of Neanderthal man. The archaeological evidence available indicates a rather abrupt disappearance of this human subspecies at the beginning of the Upper Paleolithic, about 35,000 years ago. Although it is too early to be sure, dating by accelerator mass spectrometry may reveal that the Upper Paleolithic and the period preceding it, the Middle Paleolithic, were unduly compressed by the limitations of conventional dating methods. If this was the case, there would have been much more time for the Neanderthal's disappearance than has commonly been supposed.
According to the passage, which of the following is true about the relationship between an object's age and the amount of carbon 14 it contains?
(A) The amount of carbon 14 increases exponentially as the object's age increases.
(B) The amount of carbon 14 decreases logarithmically as the object's age increases.
(C) The amount of carbon 14 remains constant regardless of the object's age.
(D) The amount of carbon 14 decreases rapidly as the object's age approaches 40,000 years.
(E) The amount of carbon 14 increases linearly as the object's age increases.
The passage suggests that contamination of a sample with modern carbon is particularly problematic when:
(A) The sample is less than 25,000 years old.
(B) The sample is between 25,000 and 60,000 years old.
(C) The sample is more than 60,000 years old.
(D) The sample is being dated using conventional radiocarbon dating methods.
(E) The sample is being dated using accelerator mass spectrometry.
The author mentions the dating of purified amino acids from bones more than 25,000 years old in order to:
(A) Demonstrate the limitations of accelerator mass spectrometry in dating very old samples.
(B) Highlight the importance of sample size in obtaining accurate radiocarbon dates.
(C) Illustrate the potential for accelerator dating to improve the accuracy of age estimates for older samples.
(D) Emphasize the need for stringent sample-decontamination procedures in conventional radiocarbon dating.
(E) Provide evidence for the migration of Paleo-Indian hunters and gatherers to the New World.
Based on the information in the passage, which of the following can be inferred about the land bridge that connected Siberia with Alaska?
(A) It was submerged by rising sea levels approximately 12,000 years ago.
(B) It was discovered using accelerator mass spectrometry dating techniques.
(C) It was used by Neanderthal man to migrate from Asia to the New World.
(D) It existed during the Upper Paleolithic period, about 35,000 years ago.
(E) It was the only route by which human inhabitants could have reached America.
The passage suggests that the archaeological evidence indicates that Neanderthal man disappeared:
(A) Gradually over the course of the Upper Paleolithic period.
(B) Abruptly at the beginning of the Middle Paleolithic period.
(C) Abruptly at the beginning of the Upper Paleolithic period.
(D) Gradually over the course of the Middle Paleolithic period.
(E) At an unknown point in time, due to the limitations of conventional dating methods.
According to the passage, which of the following is a limitation of conventional radiocarbon dating that can be overcome by accelerator mass spectrometry?
(A) The inability to date samples that are more than 30,000 years old.
(B) The difficulty in obtaining large enough sample sizes for accurate dating.
(C) The potential for contamination of samples with modern carbon.
(D) The inability to discriminate between the radioactivity of the sample and background radiation.
(E) The tendency to underestimate the age of samples by 1,000 or more years.
The author suggests that accelerator dating of human skeletons found in the New World has:
(A) Confirmed that the earliest human inhabitants arrived more than 25,000 years ago.
(B) Challenged the claim that human skeletons found in disparate locations are considerably older than expected.
(C) Provided evidence for the development of ethnic and linguistic diversity among Paleo-Indian hunters and gatherers.
(D) Established a definitive time scale for the colonization of America by human migrants from northeastern Asia.
(E) Indicated that the land bridge connecting Siberia with Alaska existed as recently as 12,000 years ago.
The passage implies that the use of accelerator mass spectrometry in dating Neanderthal remains may lead to which of the following?
(A) A revised understanding of the factors that led to the abrupt disappearance of Neanderthal man.
(B) An increased appreciation for the accuracy of conventional radiocarbon dating methods.
(C) A clearer picture of the relationship between Neanderthal man and early human inhabitants of America.
(D) A more compressed timeline for the Upper Paleolithic and Middle Paleolithic periods.
(E) A recognition that Neanderthal man coexisted with modern humans for a longer period than previously thought.
DCCACDBE
3.DI
Flamenco, a musical and dance art form originating from the Andalusia region of Spain, is renowned for its passion, intensity, and improvisational performance. This unique art form combines elements of Gypsy, Moorish, Jewish, and Spanish folk music, with a history that can be traced back to the 15th century.
At the heart of flamenco music lies the combination of cante (singing), toque (guitar playing), and baile (dance). The cante is the vocal performance in flamenco, characterized by its deep, rough, and highly expressive nature. Singers use complex rhythms, ornamentations, and emotions to convey the story and feeling of the song. The flamenco guitar provides accompaniment for the singer and showcases intricate fingerings and improvisational techniques in solo performances. Flamenco dance, on the other hand, is known for its strong rhythms, graceful movements, and passionate footwork.
Flamenco music employs a wide range of complex rhythmic patterns, known as "palos," each associated with specific song themes, emotions, and regions. For example, the "Soleá" palo is known for its deep, somber characteristics and is often used to express sadness and despair, while the "Alegrías" palo is famous for its lively and bright nature, commonly used to express joy and celebration.
One of the most distinctive features of flamenco is its improvisational nature. Singers, guitarists, and dancers interact with each other throughout the performance, creating unique and unrepeatable musical moments. This improvisation requires not only a high level of skill but also a deep understanding of the rhythms, harmonies, and the other performers.
Over time, flamenco has continued to absorb elements from other musical genres, such as jazz, classical music, and rock, further enriching its expressiveness and diversity. Contemporary flamenco artists, such as guitar virtuoso Paco de Lucía and singer Camarón de la Isla, have fused traditional flamenco with modern elements, creating new musical landscapes. Despite its evolution, flamenco has retained its unique essence and continues to inspire musicians and dancers worldwide.
Quantitative information:
A survey of 500 students at Spanish music conservatories revealed that 75% of them consider flamenco to be an essential component of Spanish music, significantly influencing their musical studies and compositions.
Over the past 50 years, the number of modern Spanish classical music compositions incorporating flamenco elements has increased by 40%, highlighting the profound impact of flamenco on the development of Spanish music.
In a survey of 200 flamenco singers, 82% of respondents indicated that they frequently improvise during their performances, reflecting the importance of improvisation in flamenco music.
Flamenco music employs over 50 different rhythmic patterns (palos), each associated with specific song themes, emotions, and regions. Musicologists estimate that the combinations of these palos can generate thousands of unique flamenco forms.
Questions:
According to the passage, which of the following is the core element of flamenco music?
(A) The combination of cante (singing), toque (guitar playing), and piano
(B) The combination of cante (singing), violin, and baile (dance)
(C) The combination of toque (guitar playing), saxophone, and percussion
(D) The combination of cante (singing), toque (guitar playing), and baile (dance)
The passage mentions that flamenco music incorporates elements from which of the following musical cultures?
(A) Gypsy, Moorish, Jewish, and Spanish folk music
(B) Gypsy, Arabic, Greek, and Spanish folk music
(C) Moorish, Jewish, Greek, and Arabic music
(D) Gypsy, Moorish, Chinese, and Indian music
According to the data, how many students in the survey of Spanish music conservatories consider flamenco to be an essential component of Spanish music?
(A) 125
(B) 250
(C) 375
(D) 500
The passage mentions that Paco de Lucía and Camarón de la Isla are known for:
(A) Being staunch advocates of traditional flamenco
(B) Combining flamenco with jazz music
(C) Composing the most famous flamenco dance pieces
(D) Fusing traditional flamenco with modern elements, creating new musical landscapes
According to the passage, which of the following is one of the most distinctive features of flamenco music?
(A) The improvised duets between singers
(B) The improvised competitions between guitarists
(C) The improvised interaction between singers, guitarists, and dancers
(D) The improvised dance battles between dancers
The passage mentions that the "Soleá" palo is often used to express which emotions?
(A) Joy and celebration
(B) Sadness and despair
(C) Anger and discontent
(D) Calmness and tranquility
Over the past 50 years, the number of modern Spanish classical music compositions incorporating flamenco elements has increased by what percentage?
(A) 30%
(B) 40%
(C) 50%
(D) 60%
According to the survey of flamenco singers, how many respondents indicated that they do not frequently improvise during their performances?
(A) 18
(B) 36
(C) 164
(D) 182
The passage mentions that the combinations of rhythmic patterns (palos) used in flamenco music can generate how many unique flamenco forms?
(A) Hundreds
(B) Thousands
(C) Tens of thousands
(D) Hundreds of thousands
According to the passage, which of the following are components of flamenco art?
(A) Music and painting
(B) Music, dance, and sculpture
(C) Music, theater, and poetry
(D) Music and dance