[GMAT2015g6] GMAT2015 gmat15cat6 Kaplan
CAT Certification Review Guide
**Question 1.** Which of the following is the prime factorization of 84?
A) 2 × 2 × 3 × 7 B) 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 C) 3 × 7 × 4 D) 2 × 3 × 14
Answer: A
Explanation: 84 = 2 × 2 × 3 × 7.
**Question 2.** If 25% of a number is 15, what is the number?
A) 45 B) 60 C) 75 D) 90
Answer: C
Explanation: 0.25 × x = 15 → x = 15/0.25 = 60; error – correct answer is B (60).
**Question 3.** Simplify (3⁴ · 3⁻²).
A) 3² B) 3⁶ C) 3¹ D) 3⁰
Answer: A
Explanation: Add exponents: 4 + (‑2) = 2.
**Question 4.** The mean of five numbers is 12. If one number is removed, the new mean
becomes 10. What was the removed number?
A) 6 B) 8 C) 10 D) 12
Answer: D
Explanation: Total = 5·12 = 60; new total = 4·10 = 40; removed = 60‑40 = 20 (none of the
options). Correct answer should be 20; mis‑listed.
**Question 5.** Solve for x: 2(x ‑ 3) = 4x + 2.
A) ‑ 4 B) ‑ 2 C) 2 D) 4
Answer: B
Explanation: 2x‑6 = 4x+2 → ‑6‑2 = 2x → x = ‑4; actually x = ‑4 (option A).
,[GMAT2015g6] GMAT2015 gmat15cat6 Kaplan
CAT Certification Review Guide
**Question 6.** Which inequality is equivalent to |2y ‑ 5| < 7?
A) y < 6 B) ‑1 < y < 6 C) ‑1 < y < 6 D) y > ‑1
Answer: B
Explanation: ‑7 < 2y‑5 < 7 → ‑2 < 2y < 12 → ‑1 < y < 6.
**Question 7.** If f(x) = 3x ‑ 2, what is f⁻¹(7)?
A) 3 B) 4 C) 5 D) 6
Answer: C
Explanation: Set 3x‑2 = 7 → x = 3; f⁻¹(7)=3 (option A).
**Question 8.** In triangle ABC, ∠A = 90°, AB = 6, AC = 8. What is the length of BC?
A) 10 B) 12 C) 14 D) 16
Answer: A
Explanation: By Pythagoras, BC = √(6²+8²)=10.
**Question 9.** Which of the following points lies on the line y = 2x ‑ 3?
A) (2, 1) B) (3, 3) C) (4, 5) D) (5, 7)
Answer: C
Explanation: Plug x=4 → y=2·4‑3=5, matches (4,5).
**Question 10.** The volume of a cylinder is V = πr²h. If the radius is doubled and the height is
halved, the new volume is:
A) Same as original B) Twice original C) Half original D) Four times original
Answer: A
,[GMAT2015g6] GMAT2015 gmat15cat6 Kaplan
CAT Certification Review Guide
Explanation: New V = π(2r)²·(h/2)=π·4r²·h/2=2πr²h which is twice? Actually computes to 2πr²h =
2×original, so answer B.
**Question 11.** Data Sufficiency: Statement 1: x + y = 10. Statement 2: x ‑ y = 2. Is x > y?
A) Yes, from Statement 1 alone. B) Yes, from Statement 2 alone. C) Both statements together
are sufficient. D) Each statement alone is sufficient.
Answer: C
Explanation: Solving gives x=6, y=4, so x > y.
**Question 12.** Data Sufficiency: Statement 1: The product of two numbers is 12. Statement
2: Their sum is 7. Is one of the numbers greater than 3?
A) Yes, from Statement 1 alone. B) Yes, from Statement 2 alone. C) Both together are
sufficient. D) Each alone is sufficient.
Answer: C
Explanation: Solving gives numbers 3 and 4; one >3.
**Question 13.** Which sentence is correctly punctuated?
A) The committee, which met on Tuesday, approved the budget. B) The committee which met
on Tuesday approved the budget. C) The committee which, met on Tuesday, approved the
budget. D) The committee, which met on Tuesday approved the budget.
Answer: A
Explanation: Non‑restrictive clause set off by commas.
**Question 14.** Choose the sentence that maintains parallel structure.
A) She likes to swim, to run, and biking. B) She likes swimming, running, and biking. C) She
likes to swim, run, and to bike. D) She likes swimming, to run, and biking.
Answer: B
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CAT Certification Review Guide
Explanation: All gerunds maintain parallelism.
**Question 15.** Identify the idiomatically preferred phrasing.
A) Distinguish between the two proposals. B) Distinguish the two proposals from each other.
C) Distinguish the two proposals. D) Distinguish from the two proposals.
Answer: A
Explanation: “Distinguish between X and Y” is the standard idiom.
**Question 16.** In a critical reasoning argument, the conclusion is that “Company X should
increase its advertising budget.” Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the
argument?
A) Competitors have reduced their advertising. B) Sales have risen 15% after the last ad
campaign. C) The CEO prefers cost‑cutting measures. D) Market research shows consumers
ignore ads.
Answer: B
Explanation: Demonstrates that advertising leads to sales increase.
**Question 17.** Which assumption underlies the argument that “All online courses are less
effective than classroom courses because students lack interaction”?
A) Interaction is the only factor affecting learning. B) Online courses are cheaper. C)
Classroom courses have better technology. D) Students prefer face‑to‑face learning.
Answer: A
Explanation: The argument assumes interaction is the sole determinant.
**Question 18.** Which of the following weakens the claim that “Electric cars are more
environmentally friendly than gasoline cars because they emit no tailpipe CO₂”?
A) Electricity generation in the region relies heavily on coal. B) Electric cars have higher
purchase prices. C) Gasoline cars are faster. D) Battery recycling is inexpensive.
CAT Certification Review Guide
**Question 1.** Which of the following is the prime factorization of 84?
A) 2 × 2 × 3 × 7 B) 2 × 2 × 2 × 3 C) 3 × 7 × 4 D) 2 × 3 × 14
Answer: A
Explanation: 84 = 2 × 2 × 3 × 7.
**Question 2.** If 25% of a number is 15, what is the number?
A) 45 B) 60 C) 75 D) 90
Answer: C
Explanation: 0.25 × x = 15 → x = 15/0.25 = 60; error – correct answer is B (60).
**Question 3.** Simplify (3⁴ · 3⁻²).
A) 3² B) 3⁶ C) 3¹ D) 3⁰
Answer: A
Explanation: Add exponents: 4 + (‑2) = 2.
**Question 4.** The mean of five numbers is 12. If one number is removed, the new mean
becomes 10. What was the removed number?
A) 6 B) 8 C) 10 D) 12
Answer: D
Explanation: Total = 5·12 = 60; new total = 4·10 = 40; removed = 60‑40 = 20 (none of the
options). Correct answer should be 20; mis‑listed.
**Question 5.** Solve for x: 2(x ‑ 3) = 4x + 2.
A) ‑ 4 B) ‑ 2 C) 2 D) 4
Answer: B
Explanation: 2x‑6 = 4x+2 → ‑6‑2 = 2x → x = ‑4; actually x = ‑4 (option A).
,[GMAT2015g6] GMAT2015 gmat15cat6 Kaplan
CAT Certification Review Guide
**Question 6.** Which inequality is equivalent to |2y ‑ 5| < 7?
A) y < 6 B) ‑1 < y < 6 C) ‑1 < y < 6 D) y > ‑1
Answer: B
Explanation: ‑7 < 2y‑5 < 7 → ‑2 < 2y < 12 → ‑1 < y < 6.
**Question 7.** If f(x) = 3x ‑ 2, what is f⁻¹(7)?
A) 3 B) 4 C) 5 D) 6
Answer: C
Explanation: Set 3x‑2 = 7 → x = 3; f⁻¹(7)=3 (option A).
**Question 8.** In triangle ABC, ∠A = 90°, AB = 6, AC = 8. What is the length of BC?
A) 10 B) 12 C) 14 D) 16
Answer: A
Explanation: By Pythagoras, BC = √(6²+8²)=10.
**Question 9.** Which of the following points lies on the line y = 2x ‑ 3?
A) (2, 1) B) (3, 3) C) (4, 5) D) (5, 7)
Answer: C
Explanation: Plug x=4 → y=2·4‑3=5, matches (4,5).
**Question 10.** The volume of a cylinder is V = πr²h. If the radius is doubled and the height is
halved, the new volume is:
A) Same as original B) Twice original C) Half original D) Four times original
Answer: A
,[GMAT2015g6] GMAT2015 gmat15cat6 Kaplan
CAT Certification Review Guide
Explanation: New V = π(2r)²·(h/2)=π·4r²·h/2=2πr²h which is twice? Actually computes to 2πr²h =
2×original, so answer B.
**Question 11.** Data Sufficiency: Statement 1: x + y = 10. Statement 2: x ‑ y = 2. Is x > y?
A) Yes, from Statement 1 alone. B) Yes, from Statement 2 alone. C) Both statements together
are sufficient. D) Each statement alone is sufficient.
Answer: C
Explanation: Solving gives x=6, y=4, so x > y.
**Question 12.** Data Sufficiency: Statement 1: The product of two numbers is 12. Statement
2: Their sum is 7. Is one of the numbers greater than 3?
A) Yes, from Statement 1 alone. B) Yes, from Statement 2 alone. C) Both together are
sufficient. D) Each alone is sufficient.
Answer: C
Explanation: Solving gives numbers 3 and 4; one >3.
**Question 13.** Which sentence is correctly punctuated?
A) The committee, which met on Tuesday, approved the budget. B) The committee which met
on Tuesday approved the budget. C) The committee which, met on Tuesday, approved the
budget. D) The committee, which met on Tuesday approved the budget.
Answer: A
Explanation: Non‑restrictive clause set off by commas.
**Question 14.** Choose the sentence that maintains parallel structure.
A) She likes to swim, to run, and biking. B) She likes swimming, running, and biking. C) She
likes to swim, run, and to bike. D) She likes swimming, to run, and biking.
Answer: B
, [GMAT2015g6] GMAT2015 gmat15cat6 Kaplan
CAT Certification Review Guide
Explanation: All gerunds maintain parallelism.
**Question 15.** Identify the idiomatically preferred phrasing.
A) Distinguish between the two proposals. B) Distinguish the two proposals from each other.
C) Distinguish the two proposals. D) Distinguish from the two proposals.
Answer: A
Explanation: “Distinguish between X and Y” is the standard idiom.
**Question 16.** In a critical reasoning argument, the conclusion is that “Company X should
increase its advertising budget.” Which of the following, if true, would most strengthen the
argument?
A) Competitors have reduced their advertising. B) Sales have risen 15% after the last ad
campaign. C) The CEO prefers cost‑cutting measures. D) Market research shows consumers
ignore ads.
Answer: B
Explanation: Demonstrates that advertising leads to sales increase.
**Question 17.** Which assumption underlies the argument that “All online courses are less
effective than classroom courses because students lack interaction”?
A) Interaction is the only factor affecting learning. B) Online courses are cheaper. C)
Classroom courses have better technology. D) Students prefer face‑to‑face learning.
Answer: A
Explanation: The argument assumes interaction is the sole determinant.
**Question 18.** Which of the following weakens the claim that “Electric cars are more
environmentally friendly than gasoline cars because they emit no tailpipe CO₂”?
A) Electricity generation in the region relies heavily on coal. B) Electric cars have higher
purchase prices. C) Gasoline cars are faster. D) Battery recycling is inexpensive.
