1. The passage is primarily concerned with
The passage reads primarily about leaves, making that its primary concern, so eliminate Choices (C) and (D) right off. Choice (A) is too broad, as other causes of disintegration may exist that the passage doesn’t mention. Choice (B) is too specific: The passage mentions leaf structure, but not as its primary focus. Correct answer: Choice (E).
2. Which of the following is mentioned as a reason for leaf degradation in streams? Consider each of the three choices separately and select all that apply.
The second paragraph of the passage tells you that “loss of material in stream-processed leaves is a combination of biological and mechanical degradation.” Choice (C) is incorrect because the passage specifically states that the pattern of holes is contrary to that of large particle feeders. The correct answers are Choices (A) and (B).
3. The conclusion that the author reached from Ferguson’s revolving drum experiment was that
The middle of the last paragraph tells you that leaf thickness alone is unlikely to affect the final form of the leaf. You probably need to reread that sentence a few times to get past the jargon, but a detail or fact question is the type of question you should be sure to answer correctly. Choice (B) introduces facts not discussed in the passage; the passage doesn’t talk of leaves in mud or silt. Choice (C) is mentioned in the passage but not in Ferguson’s experiments.
Nothing about high temperatures appears in the passage, which eliminates Choice (D). Choice (E) sounds pretentious and pompous — and nice and scientific — but has nothing to do with Ferguson. To answer this question correctly, you need to return to the passage to look up Ferguson specifically, not merely rely on your memory of the passage as a whole. Correct answer: Choice (A).
4. The tone of the passage is
The passage is hardly persuasive; it isn’t really trying to change your opinion on an issue. It objectively presents scientific facts and experimental evidence. Because you know the gist of the passage and the context of each paragraph, the answer is obvious. Correct answer: Choice (C).
5. Select the sentence in the fourth paragraph that explains the form of mechanical breakdown of most species of leaves.
Key words come in handy in answering this question. The first and only place mechanical breakdown is mentioned is in the first sentence of the fourth paragraph. Correct answer: “In most species, the mechanical breakdown will take the form of gradual attrition at the margins.”
6. Which would be an example of “energy of the environment” (fourth paragraph, second sentence)?
The passage is about the degradation of leaves, which you already know. The fourth paragraph discusses factors that may break a brittle leaf across its center, or midrib. Sunlight may do this, but it wouldn’t necessarily target the midrib, so out with Choice (B). Animals would digest the leaves such that the leaves wouldn’t degrade, so no more Choice (C). Lumberjacks may leave leaves behind (so to speak), but the passage is all about natural factors, so down with Choice (D). Finally, there’s nothing about harvesting fuel, so Choice (E) is out. This leaves Choice (A), wind and rain, which makes sense. The wind and rain physically affect the leaf and both cause degradation and breaking along its weak point, the midrib. Correct answer: Choice (A).
The social sciences passage
The GRE usually includes a social sciences passage about history, psychology, business, or a variety of other topics. If the social sciences passage offers a perspective on a subject that you may already be familiar with, you can use your understanding of the subject as a backdrop to make the passage easier to read and understand.