Last year, land values in most parts of the pinelands rose almost so fast, and in some parts even faster than what they did outside the pinelands.

A. so fast, and in some parts even faster than what they did

B. so fast, and in some parts even faster than, those

C. as fast, and in some parts even faster than, those

D. as fast as, and in some parts even faster than, those

E. as fast as, and in some parts even faster than what they did

Answer : D


The answer choices of A and E are committing the same error of comparing ‘ land values’, the subject of the whole clause, with ‘what they did’, not ‘land values’. And the subordinate conjunction ‘as’ is needed right behind ‘fast’ to compare two different land values idiomatically in the answer choices of B and C. So, the answer is D.

Many people suffer an allergic reaction to certain sulfites, including those that are commonly added to wine as preservatives. However, since there are several wine makers who add sulfites to none of the wines they produce, people who would like to drink wine but are allergic to sulfites can drink wines produced by these wine makers without risking an allergic reaction to sulfites.


Which of the following is an assumption on which the argument depends?

A. These wine makers have been able to duplicate the preservative effect produced by adding sulfites by means that do not involve adding any potentially allergenic substances to their wine.

B. Not all forms of sulfite are equally likely to produce the allergic reactions.

C. Wine is the only beverage to which sulfites are commonly added.

D. Apart from sulfites, there are no substances commonly present in wine that give rise to an allergic reaction.

E. Sulfites are not naturally present in the wines produced by these wine makers in amounts large enough to produce an allergic reaction in someone who drinks these wines.

Answer : E


The author argues that since some wine makers are not adding sulfites in making wines, people who are allergic to sulfites can drink wines produced by these wine makers without worrying about their allergic reaction. The author is saying that wines produced by these wine makers are sulfite free. In other words, the author is making an assumption that the only way wines can contain sulfites is when sulfites are added by wine makers. Thus, the correct answer is (E), which says that sulfites are not naturally present in the wines produced by these wine makers.

*(ds) (integer) If p, q, r are integers, what is the value of p?
1) p, q, r are consecutive integers
2) r-2 = p
==> The number of the variables is 3(p,q,r), the E is the available answer, therefore 1) and 2) together, p=3, q=3, r=5, or p=4, q=5, r=6, the value of p are 5,6, It is not unique, NOT sufficient, the best answer is E.


*(ps) (probability) If you tossed a coin three times, what s the probability that you get the same side all three times.
A. 1/2 B. 1/3 C. 1/4 D. 1/5 E. 1/8
==> Put head(H) and tail(T), the all case are HHH or TTT, therefore the probability is (1/2)(1/2)(1/2)+(1/2)(1/2)(1/2)=1/4, hence the best answer is C.