Needs help on a verbal question

[qinnu]

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"Cato affords a splendid exhibition of artificial and fictitious manners, and delivers just and noble sentiments, in diction easy, elevated, and harmonious, but its hopes and fears communicate no vibration to the heart"

The above comment is

A roundly condemnatory
B somewhat self-contradictory
C ultimately negative
D effusively adulatory

What would you choose?

Thanks,

Qinnu

 

[Nutmeg]

I'd choose c) ultimately negative

 

[Idiopathic]

definitely c...not even close

 

[qinnu]

Thanks guys. I am an ESLer. The word "ultimately" here makes me feel a bit uncomfortably. It gives me the feeling of "completely, totally". That's why I posted it out to confirm with native english speakers.

Again, thanks and I really appreciate your replys.

Qinnu

 

[Nutmeg]

Originally posted by qinnu
Thanks guys. I am an ESLer. The word "ultimately" here makes me feel a bit uncomfortably. It gives me the feeling of "completely, totally". That's why I posted it out to confirm with native english speakers.

Again, thanks and I really appreciate your replys.

Qinnu

Ultimately, in this context, means "in the end", or "after all things are added together."

 

[qinnu]

In another MCAT reading comprehension, I need to tell whether Medicare and Medicaid are the same thing. As a foreigner, I could only guess they are different since they names are different. Could anybody kindly confirm this?

Thanks,

Qinnu

 

[rager1]

They are definitely different.

Medicare is a government program that subsidizes healthcare costs of American citizens (and their spouses) ages 65 or older who worked for a certain number of years (10, I think) at a medicare-sponsoring employer.

Medicaid is a welfare-type of medical coverage given to people that are very poor.

 

[Childe]

Answer C, though if you chose B I wouldnt be too disappointed 😛

 

[qinnu]

Hi:

Childe, I did choose B. So you won't be too disappointed(^_^).

I did a complete verbal section today. The passages are so long and there are nine of them. When the time ended, I still had two passages to go. I found myself keep going back to he passage for details when answering the questions. This slowed me down drastically. I am wondering how you guys do it. Do you also refers back to the passage like I am doing now? Is this a bad habit that I should try to break?

Thanks,

Qinnu

 

[PhatGtDmB]

qinnu,
your choice of B. isnt too far off but C. clearly states the intention of the statement and is the better answer🙂

 

[Childe]

Tentatively, yes. Going back for most questions will not help you, unless you are finishing early regularly. Usually certain questions that require going back will be obvious, and you should know where to look in the passage.

As a general rule, though, dont go back. Most questions can be answered by the 'main idea' of the passage, or through the authors general opinion. Try taking a test with NO going back. See how well you do. Also, dont try to memorize the passage. Similarly, dont just skim it. Read for general understanding, and make a detail 'list' in your head. Use this list sparingly to go back. This is the strategy that worked best for me. Good luck!

PS: I recommend examkrackers verbal book and strategy.

 

[PianoGirl04]

Maybe it's just me, but this type of question probably wouldn't be on the MCAT. It seems more of an SAT-style reading comprehension question than an MCAT-style verbal question. Or maybe it's just that the question here is taken out of the context of a passage. I dunno...it just seems like a weird question. As for the Medicare/Medicaid question, verbal questions should be answerable without any outside knowledge. Everything you need to know should be in the passage. Where are these questions coming from? If it's a prep book, you might look into getting a different one...people around here tend to like ExamKrackers.

I would definitely vote for looking back at the passages. If you try not to look back, you end up taking too long to read the passages in the first place and memorizing too many details. Read the passages quickly and get the main ideas (underlining or annotating can be helpful if you're quick and don't underline everything). Don't worry about the details...just know WHERE in the passage to find them so you can look back. Since English isn't your first language, you may have to practice some speed-reading in order to be able to finish on time...or at least start reading something like The New York Times a lot to increase your speed and comprehension. Good luck!!!

 

[qinnu]

Hi:

PianoGirl, thanks for the input. I just started MCAT and still in the process of collecting materials. I downloaded two sets of full test from the following website, http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Pantheon/4750/. That's where my question comes from. I am planning on buying ExamKracker since so many people recommen it.

After reading the postings on this forum, I started to get nervous. I thought six monthes was plenty of time. However seems like everybody else is already in fulltime preparation stage. What's more, I could only commit part-time.

Wish me luck, guys.


A shaking Qinnu

 

[PianoGirl04]

Don't be nervous...it's way too early for that! Just make sure you pace your studying. Starting early never hurts, but just don't stress about it too much. Good luck!🙂

 

[Childe]

Most people dont really start studying until about 2-3 months prior, so you have plenty of time. I will say that you should get a start on verbal, as it is often the hardest to improve, especially if youre not a native english speaker.

 

[LUBDUBB]

I would go with C. The quote isn't self contradictory (B), since it addresses different aspects of cato's work.

And plus, Nutmeg can't be wrong, he's an unconfirmed verbal genius.