GAMSAT GAMSAT Reasoning in Humanities and Social Sciences 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which section of the GAMSAT assesses reasoning in humanities and social sciences through interpretation of written texts and visual materials?
- Section I (Correct answer)
- Section II
- Section III
- Section IV
Correct answer: Section I
Section I of the GAMSAT tests reasoning in humanities and social sciences using texts, cartoons, poems, and other materials.
Question 2: In GAMSAT Section I, a passage argues that urban green spaces reduce stress. Which type of reasoning is the author primarily using?
- Deductive reasoning
- Inductive reasoning (Correct answer)
- Analogical reasoning
- Abductive reasoning
Correct answer: Inductive reasoning
Inductive reasoning moves from specific observations (green spaces reduce stress) to a general conclusion, which is the pattern used in this argument.
Question 3: When answering GAMSAT Section I questions about poetry, which literary device involves attributing human qualities to non-human objects?
- Simile
- Metaphor
- Personification (Correct answer)
- Alliteration
Correct answer: Personification
Personification is a literary device that gives human characteristics or emotions to non-human entities, objects, or abstract ideas.
Question 4: A GAMSAT humanities passage presents a philosophical argument. Which fallacy occurs when someone attacks the person making an argument rather than the argument itself?
- Straw man
- Ad hominem (Correct answer)
- False dichotomy
- Slippery slope
Correct answer: Ad hominem
Ad hominem is the logical fallacy of attacking the character of the person making an argument rather than addressing the argument's content.
Question 5: In GAMSAT social science passages, which sociological concept describes the unwritten rules and expectations that govern behavior in social groups?
- Mores
- Norms (Correct answer)
- Folkways
- Laws
Correct answer: Norms
Norms are the shared expectations and rules that guide behavior within social groups, existing across cultures and societies.
Question 6: Which reading strategy is most effective for GAMSAT Section I when encountering an unfamiliar humanities passage?
- Memorizing every detail before answering
- Identifying the main argument and tone before addressing specific questions (Correct answer)
- Skipping the passage and guessing answers
- Reading only the first and last paragraphs
Correct answer: Identifying the main argument and tone before addressing specific questions
Identifying the main argument and overall tone of a passage before answering questions helps efficiently locate relevant details in GAMSAT Section I.
Which section of the GAMSAT assesses reasoning in humanities and social sciences through interpretation of written texts and visual materials?