GMAT Question of the Day

September 2, 2014

 

 

Every weekday, GMAT Hacks publishes a realistic GMAT practice question. In general, you'll see Quant problems on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and Verbal questions on Tuesday and Thursday. You'll always be able to find them at www.gmathacks.com/daily.

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Today's Practice GMAT Question:

From 1970 to 1990, sea otters made up a steadily decreasing percentage of the marine life population in North America. The increasingly widespread effects of pollution and habitat destruction were responsible for this decrease. However, although pollution was a more frequent target of environmental legislation, it was found that pollution in North America increased by a greater percentage than did the rate of habitat destruction.
 
Which of the following, if true, most helps to account for the finding?
(A) Environmental legislation limiting industrial pollution was much more financial onerous on North American firms than legislation protecting marine habitats.
(B) The decreasing percentage of sea otters among the marine population had a positive effect on the species that sea otters typically prey on.
(C) Most of the habitats likely to be destroyed by human activity had already been compromised for marine life by 1970.
(D) Habitat destruction was a more frequent target of environmental legislation than pollution in the decade preceding 1960.
(E) Marine life as a whole was more significantly affected by pollution than by habitat destruction.


 

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Need more work in this area? In Total GMAT Verbal, there is an entire chapter, including practice problems, that covers Explanation questions.

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About the author: Jeff Sackmann has written many GMAT preparation books, including the popular Total GMAT Math, Total GMAT Verbal, and GMAT 111. He has also created explanations for problems in The Official Guide, as well as 1,800 practice GMAT math questions.

Total GMAT Verbal

The comprehensive guide to the GMAT Verbal section. Recognize, dissect, and master every question type you'll face on the test. Everything you need, all in one place, including 100+ realistic practice questions.
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