GSE VERBAL REASONING TEST

Passage 1
Groundwater is usually free of contaminants and does not require filtration, but it
often contains iron and other minerals that must be removed to soften the water.
Hard water contains ions called calcium and magnesium which renders it unsuitable
for many purposes. When soap is used with hard water, it is precipitated by these
irons to form scum, so that more soap is required to produce lather. Hard water is
also undesirable in hot water system because it deposits calcium carbonate and
calcium sulphate inside pipes and boilers. This is known as limescale. Iron exchange
is sometimes used to soften water. This involves zeolites or ion exchange resins
which release positive irons and take up in exchange , is sometimes used to soften
water. This involves zeolites or ion exchange resins which releases positive irons
and take up in exchange the calcium and magnesium irons of hard water. Another
method of softening water is precipitation, where chemicals added to hard water
combines with the calcium and
magnesium irons to form insoluble precipitates that are easily removed.
1. Which 2 of these statements must be true?
--The interaction of chemicals plays an important role in some methods of water
softening
--The chemicals in hard water are dissolved during the process of precipitation
--The process of water softening is speeded up by combining calcium and
magnesium ions with other chemicals
--The precipitates created by the addition of chemicals can be easily removed to
leave behind softened water
2. Which 2 of these statements must be true?
--The presence of calcium carbonate and calcium sulphate in hot water system can
be countered by the use of soft water
--Pipes and boilers are affected by the composition of hard water
--The use of hard water in heating systems can lead to the buildup of limescale
--Limescale always accumulates inside heating system which function with hard
water
3. Which 2 of these statements must be true?
--Calcium and magnesium ions in hard water are removed in the process of
precipitation

--The process of water softening depends on the action of zeolites or ion exchange
resins
--Softened water contributes to the formation of insoluble precipitates
--Hard water contains calcium and magnesium ions that are taken up by zeolites in
the process of ion exchange
4. Which 2 of these statements must be true?
--The ion content of hard water is increased by the soap
--Calcium and magnesium ions precipitates soap to produce scum
--Greater volumes of hard water than soft water are required in order to produce
lather
--The production of lather is influenced by the iron level of hard water

Passage2
Although sometimes used to describe a style of cooking, the term molecular
gastronomy was first used in 1988 to describe the scientific study of cooking
Pioneered by the Hungarian physicist Nicholas Kurti, a keen amateur cook,
molecular gastronomy investigates the chemical and physical changes that occur
during cooking. The discipline explores culinary transformations in three areas:
society, artistic and technical. The field differs from food science in that it focuses
on home and restaurant cooking, rather than industrial food preparation and
processing. Although molecular gastronomy is sometimes disparaged as a pseudoscience, an understanding of scientific principles can certainly improve cooking
results, For example, knowing that protein and fat react differently with air can
make the difference between a light, airy souffl and one that fails to rise. Similarly,
evaporation can explain why the souffl must be heated from the bottom. Not only
have molecular gastronomists appropriated lad equipment for kitchen use, they
have also experimented with the use of chemical reactions to produce certain
flavours. Molecular gastronomists have also analysed the molecular components of
foods, discovering that complementary flavours often share an aroma molecule.
This has inspired some surprising but lasting flavor combinations, such as coffee
and garlic.
5. Which 2 of these statements must be true?
( ) there are both personal and commercial applications of molecular gastronomy
( ) molecular gastronomy is the application of scientific principles to the
understanding of food preparation

( ) molecular gastronomy is just food science in a smaller scale

( ) the term molecular gastronomy was developed by the Hungarian Chef Nicholas
Kurti
6. Which 2 of these statements must be true?
( ) Baking a souffl involves a variety of scientific processes
( ) Molecular gastronomy can refer to an academic discipline as well as a type of
cuisine
( ) If 2 flavours work well together they have an aroma molecule in common
( ) A Chef must have a working knowledge of the chemistry and physics involved in
cooking
7. Which 2 of these statements must be true?
( ) Molecular gastronomy uses chemical substitutes instead of fresh ingredients
( ) Practitioners of molecular gastronomy work in a lab rather than a kitchen
( ) More cooks can benefit from knowledge of the scientific principles behind
cooking
( ) Molecular analysis sometimes suggests unusual flavor pairings
8. Which 2 of these statements must be true?
( ) Food science is a disciple that deals with home and restaurant cooking
( ) Molecular gastronomy sometimes chemically modify the taste of certain dishes
( ) Molecular gastronomy takes a theoretical approach to cooking
( ) An experimental style of cooking is sometimes referred to as molecular
gastronomy.

Passage3
With up to 40% of all marriages ending in divorce in some countries, lawyers have
reported an increase in couples singing prenuptial agreement. A prenuptial
agreement is a legal contract entered into before marriage to decide how a couples
property and financial assets will be divided if they divorce. A postnuptial
agreement fulfills the same function, but is executed after the couple married. A
prenuptial agreement may include conditions such as the forfeit of assets if
adultery occurs. Prenuptial agreements however, do not usually determine custody

of children, which is often the bitterest aspect of divorce settlement. Prenuptial

agreements are, according to many legal professionals, a practical solution to make
divorce settlements faster and fairer. Critics, however, believe prenuptial
agreements undermine the institution of marriage and create an expectation of
divorce. The Catholic Church for example, does not recognize marriages that are
subject to future conditions. Prenuptial agreements are often drafted when one
spouse is much wealthier than the other and thus are open to abuse by the party
with greater bargaining power. Furthermore, prenuptial agreements do not take into
account the fact that family circumstances may change dramatically over the
course of marriage for instance if one spouse gives up a career to raise children.
9. Which 2 of these statements must be true?
( ) Katrin Radmachers prenuptial agreement was the first to be recognized in Britain
courts.
( ) one advantage of prenuptial agreements is they make custody decisions fairer.
( ) In the USA, a prenuptial agreement may not be valid if one party fails to disclose
his or her asserts.
( ) Lawyers have reported a 40% increase in couples seeking prenuptial
agreements.
10. Which 2 of these statements must be true?
( ) Not all objections to prenuptial agreements are on religious grounds
( ) Oral prenuptial agreements are not valid in the United States
( ) A postnuptial agreement is executed when a married couple decides to divorce
( ) Prenuptial agreements reduce the bitterness often involves in the divorce process
11. Which 2 of these statements must be true?
( ) One criticism of prenuptial agreements is that they are biased against the poorer
spouse
( ) Prenuptial agreements are controversial legal contracts
( ) The Catholic Church objects to prenuptial agreements because they promote
divorce
( ) Prenuptial agreements are not upheld in British divorce courts
12. Which 2 of these statements must be true?
( ) Prenuptial agreements are always invalid if one spouse commits adultery

( ) Prenuptial agreements are growing in popularity

( ) Prenuptial agreements typically have chances to reflect altered family
circumstances
( ) There are five criteria for enforcing a prenuptial agreement in the United States