RC Solutions
Passage 1
1. Apocalypse Now Redux and Apocalypse Now were discussed in the final two
paragraphs. In the third paragraph, Apocalypse Now is described as a film
that was released years after the conflict it portrayed and had a more complex
view of the war. In the last paragraph, Apocalypse Now Redux is presented
as further evidence that the pattern discussed in this passage continues. That
pattern is that war movies presented less glorified and more layered
portrayals when the conflict was further in the past. Thus, the correct answer
will note that its perspective was more complex and morally ambiguous.
(A) This choice distorts the meaning of the passage. While the last paragraph
notes that film audiences are more diverse, this is not connected to the
information provided about Apocalypse Now Redux.
(B) CORRECT. The last paragraph notes that the extra footage was not orginally
included because it might repel audiences. Thus, the updated film's portrayal of war
must be less appealing and more ambiguous than that of the original.
(C) This choice indicates a change in the opposite direction; the last paragraph
indicates that the additional footage made the film's perspective on war harsher as
opposed to more glorified.
(D) The passage indicates that not all war movies had the same tone, and the
answer choice does not specify which "other movies" are referred to; therefore, this
choice is incorrect.
(E) There is no mention of any removed footage in the passage. As it is not possible
to know if any footage was removed, this choice is incorrect.
2. The theme of the passage is that the glories of war were emphasized in films
made during the conflict but questioned in those made years afterward. In the
second paragraph, All Quiet on the Western Front is cited as an example from
the latter category. Therefore, its portrayal of combat would have the least in
common with a film made during a conflict.
(A) In the last paragraph, Jarhead is listed as a film that was made years after
the conflict it portrayed and had an ambivalent attitude to its topic. Thus, it can
be inferred that it would resemble All Quiet on the Western Front. Remember
that any information gleaned from seeing the film is outside knowledge. If this
information cannot be deduced from the passage, it cannot be used to answer
a question.
(B) In the third paragraph, Apocalypse Now is listed as a film that was made years
after the conflict it portrayed and had an ambivalent attitude to its topic. Thus, it can
be inferred that it would resemble All Quiet on the Western Front.
(C) In the second paragraph, The Bridge on the River Kwai is described as a film
that was made years after the conflict it portrayed and showed the moral confusion
of war. Thus, it can be inferred that it would resemble All Quiet on the Western Front.
(D) In the third paragraph, Platoon is described as a film that was made years after
the conflict it portrayed and had an ambivalent attitude to its topic. Thus, it can be
inferred that it would resemble All Quiet on the Western Front.
,(E) CORRECT. In both the second and third paragraphs, Guadalcanal Diary is
mentioned as a film made in wartime. In the second paragraph, it is listed as an
example of a film that portrayed the “’the ultimate sacrifice’ as a noble and
undoubted good.” In contrast, the first paragraph states that “All Quiet on the
Western Front put forth an anti-war message by displaying the horrors of combat.”
Thus, Guadalcanal Diary must be the portrayal of combat that least resembles that in
All Quiet on the Western Front.
3. The second sentence of the second paragraph reads “After America declared
war against Germany during World War I, the still infant film industry glorified
the fight against “the Hun.” Thus, it must follow that the Germans are referred
to by that name. GMAT inferences generally follow directly from the text of
the passage.
(A) There is no direct evidence in the passage that indicates this meaning for "the
Hun." Furthermore, the use of quotation marks indicates that the reference is not
literal.
(B) There is no direct evidence in the passage that indicates this meaning for "the
Hun."
(C) There is no direct evidence in the passage that indicates this meaning for "the
Hun." The fact that the Hungarians were then part of Austro-Hungary is outside
knowledge which cannot be deduced from the passage.
(D) CORRECT. Since the passage states that America declared war on Germany, it
must follow that the Germans were “the Hun” against whom America was fighting.
(E) There is no direct evidence in the passage that indicates this meaning for "the
Hun." GMAT inferences must follow from the text of the passage.
4. The passage clearly enunciates in the first paragraph that it plans to illustrate
the cyclical pattern of the tone of Hollywood war movies. The second and third
paragraphs trace the pattern's history through the last century, and then the
passage ends by returning to the resilience of that cycle. Thus, the main point
of the passage must reference establishing and describing the recurring
pattern over time.
(A) This choice does not address the cyclical pattern; instead, it suggests a point not
made in the passage.
(B) This is a minor detail mentioned in the last paragraph, not the main point.
Furthermore, this choice ignores the issue of a cyclical pattern.
(C) CORRECT. This choice reiterates the theme that a pattern is durable, despite
the doubts of some during "those days of social change" -- i.e., the late 1960's. This
choice exactly mirrors the structure of the passage, which makes this point, provides
historical evidence, and then reiterates that the pattern continues to endure.
(D) Besides its extreme quality, this choice is incorrect because it distorts the
meaning. The passage's assertion that a more nuanced view of America’s conflicts
emerges in movies made years later cannot automatically be equated with a lack of
support.
,(E) This choice presents an irrelevant comparison. The passage is only concerned
with the existence of this pattern and does not address the relative influence of
various individuals.
5. The last paragraph begins by noting that the changes in the industry and
audience have not changed the pattern discussed. The paragraph ends by
stating that this aspect of the film industry, that is, the pattern discussed,
remains intact. The correct answer should reflect this point.
(A) CORRECT. This choice correctly summarizes the point made in the first and last
sentences of the last paragraph: that this pattern continues despite changes in the
industry and audience.
(B) This choice is too extreme. The passage merely says that one pattern of the film
industry has not changed. The last paragraph acknowledges that changes in the
industry have occurred.
(C) This choice is incorrect as the last paragraph explicitly states that the pattern
discussed largely continues.
(D) In the last paragraph, Jarhead and Apocalypse Now Redux are mentioned as
examples proving that the discussed pattern continues. Thus, they cannot be
fundamentally different from other war movies.
(E) The point of the last paragraph is that the pattern of the last century continues.
Thus, it cannot make the point that war movies have changed in response to
changes in the audience.
6. In the second paragraph, The Bridge on the River Kwai is mentioned as a
post-WWII example of the continuing pattern of war movies becoming more
ambivalent years after the conflict. The phrases “once again” and “for example”
highlight this. In the third paragraph, the movie is again mentioned as an example of
a more complex view of war. Thus, the correct answer must follow from these points.
(A) This is incorrect; the author does not discuss the quality of the movie or the merit
of any awards.
(B) The passage does not compare the intelligence or crafting of these, or any, films;
it merely discusses their tone and approach to the depiction of war. A movie could
present a glorified depiction of war and also be very intelligent and well-crafted.
(C) This is incorrect. The passage indicates that there were movies with ambivalent
perspectives produced after the first war, citing All Quiet on the Western Front as an
example. Furthermore, the phrase “once again” indicates that it was not the first to
have such a tone.
(D) CORRECT. The third paragraph states that Guadalcanal Diary was much closer
in tone to The Green Berets and contrasts those two to The Bridge on the River
, Kwai. This contrast is in terms of the greater ambivalence and moral confusion
shown in The Bridge on the River Kwai.
(E) The passage does not mention the financial success, or lack thereof, of any of
the movies it discusses.
Passage 2
1.
The correct answer to this question will be a claim that must follow from text
contained in the passage. This question does not provide any clues as to where the
justifying text will be found.
(A) The first paragraph mentions that the the Javan rhino is the most endangered
species of large mammal. However, it does not have to be true that it is one of the
most endangered animals, a category that is far broader than mammals.
(B) CORRECT. The first paragraph states that very little is known about the life of
the Javan rhino. The passage does indicate, however, that scientists have been able
to extract information on the species’ DNA from gathered dung. The paragraph also
suggests that very little information about female Javan rhinos has been gained,
given that scientists only recently discovered whether or not females of the species
even have horns. Thus, one can infer that more is known about the genetics of the
Javan rhino than its mating patterns.
(C) The second paragraph indicates that hunters slaughtered many rhinos, but it
does not mention where. Furthermore, it does not have to be true that more rhinos
were killed in Vietnam simply because fewer rhinos remain there.
(D) The passage only discusses the Javan rhino; therefore, a generalization about
the extinction of "most animals" is not supported by the passage.
(E) The passage does not mention other survival factors for a species or rank them;
therefore, this inference is not supported by the passage.
2.
In the second paragraph, after citing human actions as the cause of the Javan
rhino’s plight, the author goes on to mention that the population in Vietnam is
probably not viable and that human efforts in Indonesia, such as the protection of the
rhino on the Ujung Kulun peninsula, have had mixed results. The passage ends with
the thought that human benevolence is not helping the rhinos much more than past
maltreatment. Thus, the correct answer will note the problems with current human
efforts.
(A) The author is certainly not optimistic, as the passage mentions that in Vietnam
the outlook is doubtful and in Indonesia, problems plague the effort. It is possible,
although not certain, that the author considers the effort worthwhile.
(B) The author gives no indication that he or she believes the effort is pointless.
Furthermore, especially in Indonesia, the passage does not indicate a certainty that it
will fail.