Online CAT 2009: Punch of the week(28-March-09)

Person

Sureshbala

Online CAT 2009: Punch of the week(28-March-09)

Author: Sureshbala

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What is "Punch Of The Week"?

Every week Learnhub's team will post one question each on Verbal Ability and Quantitative Ability of the GMAT Test Preparation
Members can post their answers along with explanations for the next one week.
After one week, Learnhub's team will post the official answer along with the explanation.Besides answering the previous week's questions, Learnhub's Team will come up with the next set of questions for that week as well.

What are the rules of "Punch Of The Week"?

	Every user must refrain from posting sarcastic comments on the answers posted by others.
	Once the Learnhub's team posts the official answer along with the explanation, no comments must be made regarding those questions. In case of further clarification please send a personal message to the respective team member
	If you think that there is something wrong with the explanation of the Learnhub's Team, which seldom happens, please send a personal message to the respective team member informing him/her the same. Posting the same here will not be considered and will be deleted.
	Please bear in mind that only Learnhub's Team members have the privilege of posting questions here. Questions posted by other members will not be entertained and hence will be deleted immediately.

"Punch Of The Week" Team Members

This Week's Punches

Verbal Reasoning

The governor claims that the state faces a drought and has implemented new water-use restrictions; but that's just a move to get some free publicity for his reelection campaign. So far this year we have had 3.5 inches of rain, slightly more than the average amount of rain for the same period over the last three years.

Which of the following, if true, would most weaken the conclusion of the argument above?

1.The governor did not declare drought emergencies in the previous three years.

2. City officials who have the authority to mandate water-use restrictions have not done so.

3. The snowmelt that usually contributes significantly to the state's reservoirs is several inches below normal.

4. The amount of water the state can draw from rivers that cross state boundaries is limited by federal law.

5. Water-use restrictions are short-term measures and do little to reduce long-term water consumption.

Quantitative Ability

P(x) = kx^3 + 2k^2x^2 + k^3

Find the sum of all real numbers

for which

is a factor of P(x).

1) -8

2) -4

3) 0

4) 4

5) 8

Click here for last week's Punch and explanatory answers for the same

Posted on 04-April-09

So,folks here are the correct answers

Verbal Reasoning
The correct answer is (3). This question stem asks you to attack the stimulus material. The argument is weak because it depends upon a hidden assumption: Rainfall is the only source of water for the reservoirs. So, your prephrased answer might be "there is another source of water for the reservoirs."

Problem Solving

The correct answer is (1).

(x-2) is a factor of P(x) if and only if P(2)=0

$\Rightarrow 8k + 8k ^ 2 + k ^ 3 = 0$
$\Rightarrow k(k ^ 2 + 8k + 8) = 0$
$\Rightarrow k = 0 \quad or \quad k ^ 2 +8k + k = 0$
$\Rightarrow k = 0 or k = \frac{-8\pm\sqrt{32}}{2}$

Hence the sum of the possible real values of K is -8

Click here for the next week's Punch

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emranchowdhury said – Sun, 29 Mar 2009 03:27:46 -0000 ( Flag Edit Link )

verbal (1) quantative (1)
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arjunnijagal said – Sun, 29 Mar 2009 15:54:38 -0000 ( Flag Edit Link )

for the first question…i thnk the first option is acceptable…..
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jaskyac said – Sun, 29 Mar 2009 16:33:43 -0000 ( Flag Edit Link )
Verbal: Conclusion: new water-use restrictions -> just a move to get some free publicity for the governor reelection campaign

1, 2, 4 -> strengthen
```
3 -> weaken
```
```
5 -> assumption
```
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jaskyac

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bluffmaster said – Sun, 29 Mar 2009 18:01:33 -0000 ( Flag Edit Link )

i thnk 3rd pt weakens d conclusion .
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anand1987 said – Mon, 30 Mar 2009 06:43:07 -0000 ( Flag Edit Link )

verbal 3 quantitative 3
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nivi rawat said – Mon, 30 Mar 2009 11:21:23 -0000 ( Flag Edit Link )

for verbal, i also think its 3rd. but cudnt crack d second question.
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nivi rawat

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invinseble said – Tue, 31 Mar 2009 08:22:32 -0000 ( Flag Edit Link )

verbal 3
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ujju said – Tue, 31 Mar 2009 10:01:36 -0000 ( Flag Edit Link )

verbal 3 quantitative 3
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ujju said – Tue, 31 Mar 2009 10:13:35 -0000 ( Flag Edit Link )

verbal 3 quantitative 3
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catspeak said – Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:04:02 -0000 ( Flag Edit Link )

Verbal 3. The author is concluding that the Governor is making some free precampaign publicity moves. Therefore #3 weakens that conclusion
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lamaster said – Wed, 01 Apr 2009 09:23:27 -0000 ( Flag Edit Link )

verbal 3
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pokharna said – Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:41:47 -0000 ( Flag Edit Link )

verb 3 quant 1:: k^2+8k+1=0:sum of roots = -b\a
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rajucreative2007 said – Thu, 02 Apr 2009 08:14:29 -0000 ( Flag Edit Link )

verbal 2 or 1
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Sureshbala said – Mon, 06 Apr 2009 18:50:31 -0000 ( Flag Edit Link )

So,folks here are the correct answers

Verbal Reasoning
The correct answer is (3). This question stem asks you to attack the stimulus material. The argument is weak because it depends upon a hidden assumption: Rainfall is the only source of water for the reservoirs. So, your prephrased answer might be “there is another source of water for the reservoirs.”

Problem Solving
The correct answer is (1).

(x-2) is a factor of P(x) if and only if P(2)=0
$\Rightarrow 8k+8k^2+k^3=0$
$\Rightarrow k(k^2+8k+8)=0$
$\Rightarrow k=0 \quad or \quad k^2+8k+k=0$
$\Rightarrow k = 0 or k = \frac{-8 \pm \sqrt{32}}{2}$
Hence the sum of the possible real values of K is -8

Click here for the next week’s Punch

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