GRE General Test (Master of Science Admissions) — Questions and Answers

Question 1: What term describes the maximum population size an environment can sustainably support?

Carrying capacity (Correct answer)
Ecological footprint
Biotic potential
Population density

Correct answer: Carrying capacity

Carrying capacity (K) is the maximum population size of a species that a given environment can sustain indefinitely given available resources.

Question 2: The rate constant k for a reaction following the Arrhenius equation doubles approximately every 10°C increase because of:

Increased collision frequency only
Higher fraction of molecules exceeding activation energy (Correct answer)
Decreased activation energy
Reduced steric hindrance

Correct answer: Higher fraction of molecules exceeding activation energy

Higher temperature increases the Maxwell-Boltzmann fraction of molecules with energy ≥ Ea, dramatically increasing the rate constant per the Arrhenius equation k = A·e^(−Ea/RT).

Question 3: The Hückel rule states that monocyclic, planar, fully conjugated systems are aromatic when they contain:

Exactly 6 π electrons only
(4n) π electrons where n is a positive integer
(4n+2) π electrons where n is a non-negative integer (Correct answer)
Any even number of π electrons

Correct answer: (4n+2) π electrons where n is a non-negative integer

Hückel's rule (4n+2 π electrons, n = 0, 1, 2, …) predicts aromaticity for cyclic conjugated systems; benzene (n=1, 6 π e⁻) is the classic example.

Question 4: Beer-Lambert Law (A = εbc) relates absorbance to concentration. If you double the path length (b) while halving the concentration (c), absorbance will:

Double
Remain the same (Correct answer)
Quadruple
Halve

Correct answer: Remain the same

Since A = ε·b·c and both b and c change by reciprocal factors (×2 and ×0.5), their product b·c is unchanged, so absorbance remains constant.

Question 5: The Diels-Alder reaction is classified as a [4+2] cycloaddition because it involves:

4 single bonds and 2 double bonds formed
4 carbons and 2 heteroatoms
4 reactants and 2 products
A 4π diene and a 2π dienophile (Correct answer)

Correct answer: A 4π diene and a 2π dienophile

In the Diels-Alder reaction, the 4π electron diene reacts with the 2π electron dienophile in a concerted pericyclic [4+2] cycloaddition to form a six-membered ring.

Question 6: What is the purpose of a heat exchanger in engineering systems?

To transfer thermal energy between two fluid streams without mixing them (Correct answer)
To measure temperature differentials in fluids
To store thermal energy for later use
To convert heat directly into mechanical work

Correct answer: To transfer thermal energy between two fluid streams without mixing them

Heat exchangers facilitate thermal energy transfer between two fluids at different temperatures through a separating wall, without the fluids mixing.

Question 7: What type of analytics focuses on understanding why something happened?

Predictive analytics
Diagnostic analytics (Correct answer)
Descriptive analytics
Prescriptive analytics

Correct answer: Diagnostic analytics

Diagnostic analytics examines historical data to identify the root causes and reasons behind past outcomes.

Question 8: Which polymer synthesis mechanism produces a broad molecular weight distribution (high dispersity Đ > 1.5) due to rapid chain initiation and slow termination steps?

Ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP)
Living anionic polymerization
Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP)
Free-radical chain-growth polymerization (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Free-radical chain-growth polymerization

In free-radical polymerization, chains initiate continuously throughout the reaction and terminate randomly, producing polymers with broad molecular weight distributions (Đ typically 1.5–2.0).

Question 9: Which concept refers to the degree to which a test measures what it is intended to measure?

Standardization
Reliability
Norming
Validity (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Validity

Validity is the extent to which a psychological measure accurately assesses the construct it is designed to measure, distinguishing it from reliability which concerns consistency.

Question 10: What is 'hedging' in risk management?

Concentrating investments in a single high-return sector
Borrowing at short-term rates to invest in long-term assets
Taking an offsetting position to reduce exposure to price risk in an existing position (Correct answer)
Buying undervalued securities and waiting for prices to recover

Correct answer: Taking an offsetting position to reduce exposure to price risk in an existing position

Hedging involves taking a position in a financial instrument (often a derivative) that will profit if the original position loses value, thereby reducing net risk exposure.

Question 11: In NMR spectroscopy, chemical shift (δ) is reported relative to which reference compound?

Tetramethylsilane (TMS) (Correct answer)
Benzene (C6H6)
Acetone (d6)
Chloroform (CDCl3)

Correct answer: Tetramethylsilane (TMS)

Tetramethylsilane (TMS) is the universal NMR reference set at 0 ppm because it is inert, volatile, and gives a single sharp peak.

Question 12: Which theorem states that the current through a resistor in a linear circuit equals the sum of currents from each independent source acting alone?

Maximum Power Transfer Theorem
Thevenin's Theorem
Superposition Theorem (Correct answer)
Norton's Theorem

Correct answer: Superposition Theorem

The Superposition Theorem states that in a linear circuit, the response is the sum of responses due to each independent source acting alone.

Question 13: Which probability distribution is used to model the number of events occurring in a fixed time interval?

Normal distribution
Poisson distribution (Correct answer)
Exponential distribution
Binomial distribution

Correct answer: Poisson distribution

The Poisson distribution models the probability of a given number of events occurring in a fixed interval when events happen at a known average rate.

Question 14: According to Howard Gardner's theory of Multiple Intelligences, what does the theory propose?

Human intelligence encompasses multiple distinct capacities, not a single general ability (Correct answer)
Intelligence is entirely determined by genetics
IQ tests perfectly measure all forms of human intelligence
Only mathematical and linguistic intelligences are academically relevant

Correct answer: Human intelligence encompasses multiple distinct capacities, not a single general ability

Gardner proposed eight distinct intelligences (linguistic, logical-mathematical, spatial, musical, bodily-kinesthetic, interpersonal, intrapersonal, naturalist) to recognize the diverse ways humans demonstrate capability.

Question 15: Which modulation technique is used in 5G NR (New Radio) for its efficient use of spectrum?

FM (Frequency Modulation)
OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing) (Correct answer)
AM (Amplitude Modulation)
CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access)

Correct answer: OFDM (Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing)

5G NR uses OFDM because it efficiently handles multipath fading, supports high data rates, and allows flexible spectrum allocation.

Question 16: What is herd immunity threshold, and what determines it?

The speed at which a virus mutates
The percentage of cases that are fatal
The proportion of immune individuals needed to prevent epidemic spread, determined by the basic reproduction number R₀ (Correct answer)
The number of vaccinated individuals in a hospital

Correct answer: The proportion of immune individuals needed to prevent epidemic spread, determined by the basic reproduction number R₀

Herd immunity threshold = 1 - (1/R₀); for measles with R₀ ≈ 15, approximately 93% of the population must be immune to prevent sustained transmission.

Question 17: What is the term for organisms that break down dead organic matter into simpler inorganic substances?

Apex predators
Producers
Primary consumers
Decomposers (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Decomposers

Decomposers, including bacteria and fungi, break down dead organisms and waste materials into inorganic nutrients that cycle back through ecosystems.

Question 18: What is the meaning of 'biodiversity hotspot' as defined by Conservation International?

Any area with more than 1,000 species
A region with exceptional plant endemism and significant habitat loss (Correct answer)
A coral reef system with maximum marine diversity
A protected national park with high species richness

Correct answer: A region with exceptional plant endemism and significant habitat loss

A biodiversity hotspot must contain at least 1,500 endemic vascular plant species and have lost at least 70% of its original habitat, signaling high conservation urgency.

Question 19: Which normal form eliminates transitive functional dependencies from a relational database table?

Third Normal Form (3NF) (Correct answer)
Second Normal Form (2NF)
Boyce-Codd Normal Form (BCNF)
First Normal Form (1NF)

Correct answer: Third Normal Form (3NF)

3NF requires that every non-key attribute depend only on the primary key, not on other non-key attributes.

Question 20: Which statistical parameter describes the precision of an analytical method by expressing the standard deviation as a percentage of the mean?

Coefficient of variation (CV%) (Correct answer)
Limit of detection (LOD)
Recovery percentage
Bias

Correct answer: Coefficient of variation (CV%)

The coefficient of variation (CV% = SD/mean × 100) normalizes standard deviation to the mean, allowing precision comparison across different concentration ranges.

Question 21: In the context of interlibrary loan, what does the acronym IFM stand for?

Interlibrary Fee Management (Correct answer)
IFM Fee Management
Integrated File Management
International Format Module

Correct answer: Interlibrary Fee Management

IFM stands for Interlibrary Fee Management, the OCLC system used to handle billing between libraries for ILL transactions.

Question 22: What research-based reading instruction approach is supported by the 'Science of Reading' movement?

Whole language approach using contextual guessing
Sight word memorization as the primary reading strategy
Systematic, explicit phonics instruction as foundational for decoding skills (Correct answer)
Silent reading time without teacher-guided phonics instruction

Correct answer: Systematic, explicit phonics instruction as foundational for decoding skills

The Science of Reading confirms that systematic, explicit phonics instruction is essential for developing decoding skills in early readers, supported by decades of cognitive and neuroscience research.

Question 23: What is the Finite Element Method (FEM) used for in mechanical engineering?

Numerically solving structural, thermal, and fluid problems by discretizing the domain (Correct answer)
Measuring material hardness
Designing gears and bearings
Calculating theoretical stress analytically

Correct answer: Numerically solving structural, thermal, and fluid problems by discretizing the domain

FEM divides a complex domain into smaller finite elements and solves governing equations numerically, enabling analysis of structures under various loading conditions.

Question 24: Which reagent converts a primary alcohol to an aldehyde without further oxidation to a carboxylic acid?

Jones reagent (CrO3/H2SO4)
KMnO4 in acidic solution
K2Cr2O7 in H2SO4
PCC (pyridinium chlorochromate) in CH2Cl2 (Correct answer)

Correct answer: PCC (pyridinium chlorochromate) in CH2Cl2

PCC is a mild oxidant in anhydrous conditions that stops at the aldehyde stage; aqueous chromate reagents continue to oxidize aldehydes to carboxylic acids.

Question 25: In the context of recommendation systems, what is collaborative filtering?

Filtering recommendations based on content keywords
Using demographic data to filter irrelevant items
Collaborating with content editors to curate recommendations
Recommending items based on the preferences of similar users (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Recommending items based on the preferences of similar users

Collaborative filtering identifies users with similar behavior patterns and recommends items that similar users have liked, without needing item content features.

Question 26: Which technique provides direct measurement of bond lengths and angles in crystalline solids?

UV-Vis spectroscopy
Mass spectrometry
Raman spectroscopy
X-ray crystallography (Correct answer)

Correct answer: X-ray crystallography

X-ray crystallography uses diffraction patterns from periodic crystal lattices to determine exact atomic positions, yielding precise bond lengths and angles.

Question 27: What does 'reliability' mean in the context of psychological measurement?

Consistency of a measure across repeated administrations (Correct answer)
Accuracy in measuring the construct it claims to measure
Cultural fairness of a psychological test
The range of scores a test can produce

Correct answer: Consistency of a measure across repeated administrations

Reliability refers to the degree to which a measurement yields consistent, stable results across time, raters, or equivalent test forms.

Question 28: What is the purpose of a needs assessment in public health program development?

Train public health workers
Evaluate completed program outcomes
Secure grant funding for programs
Identify gaps between current and desired health status to prioritize interventions (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Identify gaps between current and desired health status to prioritize interventions

A needs assessment systematically gathers data to identify community health problems, their causes, and existing resources, providing the evidence base for targeted program planning.

Question 29: The Born-Oppenheimer approximation assumes that:

Spin-orbit coupling is negligible
Electrons and nuclei move at the same speed
All molecular vibrations are harmonic
Nuclear motion can be treated separately from electronic motion (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Nuclear motion can be treated separately from electronic motion

Because nuclei are much heavier than electrons, the Born-Oppenheimer approximation treats nuclear and electronic motion as separable, simplifying quantum chemical calculations.

Question 30: Which electrochemical technique measures the current as a function of applied potential while analyte concentration is varied to generate calibration data?

Voltammetry (Correct answer)
Conductimetry
Potentiometry
Coulometry

Correct answer: Voltammetry

Voltammetry (e.g., cyclic or differential pulse voltammetry) sweeps the applied potential and records resulting current, allowing quantitative determination of analyte concentrations.

Question 31: What is the primary goal of the US Healthy People 2030 initiative?

Improve health and well-being of all Americans through science-based national objectives (Correct answer)
Regulate pharmaceutical pricing
Mandate annual physicals for all citizens
Reform hospital billing practices

Correct answer: Improve health and well-being of all Americans through science-based national objectives

Healthy People 2030 sets data-driven national objectives to improve health, well-being, and equity for all Americans over the decade.

Question 32: In inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), the plasma temperature (~6,000–10,000 K) primarily serves to:

Vaporize the solvent only
Ionize analyte atoms for mass analysis (Correct answer)
Reduce polyatomic interferences
Separate isotopes based on charge

Correct answer: Ionize analyte atoms for mass analysis

The extremely high plasma temperature atomizes and ionizes nearly all elements with >99% efficiency, producing M⁺ ions that are then separated and detected by the mass spectrometer.

Question 33: In environmental health, what is the significance of the dose-response relationship?

It establishes how the magnitude of a health effect changes with increasing exposure levels (Correct answer)
It identifies the source of environmental contamination
It measures the speed of toxic chemical absorption
It calculates healthcare costs from environmental illness

Correct answer: It establishes how the magnitude of a health effect changes with increasing exposure levels

The dose-response relationship is fundamental to toxicology and risk assessment, demonstrating that as exposure (dose) increases, the probability and severity of adverse health effects also increase.

Question 34: What is the primary purpose of foodborne illness surveillance systems like FoodNet in the US?

Inspect restaurant sanitation
Regulate food manufacturing processes
Set dietary guidelines for Americans
Monitor trends in foodborne disease incidence and identify outbreak sources (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Monitor trends in foodborne disease incidence and identify outbreak sources

FoodNet (Foodborne Diseases Active Surveillance Network) tracks the incidence of laboratory-confirmed foodborne illnesses to monitor trends, identify outbreaks, and evaluate prevention measures.

Question 35: The practice of embedding library instruction within a faculty member's course curriculum is called:

Embedded librarianship (Correct answer)
Bibliographic instruction
Roving reference
Pathfinder creation

Correct answer: Embedded librarianship

Embedded librarianship integrates the librarian into a course or department to deliver targeted instruction and research support within the learning context.

Question 36: In HPLC with a reverse-phase column, which solvent system would elute a polar compound first?

100% acetonitrile
100% methanol
90% water / 10% acetonitrile (Correct answer)
50% water / 50% methanol

Correct answer: 90% water / 10% acetonitrile

In reverse-phase HPLC, polar compounds have less affinity for the nonpolar C18 stationary phase and elute earlier in high-aqueous (polar) mobile phases.

Question 37: What does the social determinants of health (SDOH) framework emphasize?

Lifestyle choices alone determine individual health
Medical care is the most important factor in population health
Genetics is the primary driver of health
Non-medical factors like income, education, and housing strongly influence health outcomes (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Non-medical factors like income, education, and housing strongly influence health outcomes

The SDOH framework recognizes that economic stability, education, social context, neighborhood environment, and healthcare access profoundly shape health outcomes.

Question 38: In gas chromatography (GC), the stationary phase separates compounds primarily based on:

Ionic charge
Polarity and volatility interactions with the column (Correct answer)
Refractive index
Molecular weight

Correct answer: Polarity and volatility interactions with the column

GC separation depends on differential partitioning of analytes between the mobile gas phase and the stationary liquid or solid phase, governed by volatility and polarity interactions.

Question 39: In classical mechanics, what does Newton's Second Law state?

Action equals reaction
Energy is conserved in all systems
Objects in motion stay in motion
Net force equals mass times acceleration (F = ma) (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Net force equals mass times acceleration (F = ma)

Newton's Second Law states that the net force acting on an object equals the product of its mass and acceleration (F = ma).

Question 40: In an SN2 reaction, which substrate undergoes the fastest substitution?

Neopentyl bromide
Tertiary alkyl halide
Primary alkyl halide (Correct answer)
Secondary alkyl halide

Correct answer: Primary alkyl halide

SN2 reactions are bimolecular and sterically sensitive; primary alkyl halides have the least steric hindrance around the electrophilic carbon, allowing fastest backside nucleophilic attack.

Question 41: Which quantum number determines the shape of an atomic orbital?

Spin quantum number (ms)
Magnetic quantum number (ml)
Principal quantum number (n)
Angular momentum quantum number (l) (Correct answer)

Correct answer: Angular momentum quantum number (l)

The angular momentum quantum number (l) defines the shape of the orbital (s, p, d, f), while n determines the energy level.

Question 42: Which type of semiconductor device is primarily used as a voltage-controlled current source in amplifier circuits?

Diode
Schottky Diode
MOSFET (Correct answer)
Zener Diode

Correct answer: MOSFET

A MOSFET (Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor) acts as a voltage-controlled current source where gate voltage controls drain current.

Question 43: What is the PRECEDE-PROCEED model used for in health program planning?

Allocating hospital resources
Systematic assessment and planning framework for health education and promotion programs (Correct answer)
Calculating disease mortality rates
Designing clinical trials

Correct answer: Systematic assessment and planning framework for health education and promotion programs

PRECEDE-PROCEED is a comprehensive planning framework that guides assessment of health needs (PRECEDE) and program implementation/evaluation (PROCEED) for health promotion.

Question 44: In software engineering, what is the main goal of regression testing?

Verifying that new changes have not broken previously working functionality (Correct answer)
Testing performance under peak load
Measuring code coverage for new features
Validating user interface accessibility

Correct answer: Verifying that new changes have not broken previously working functionality

Regression testing re-runs existing test cases after a change to ensure that previously correct behavior has not been inadvertently broken.

Question 45: In enzyme kinetics, the Michaelis constant Km represents:

The substrate concentration at which reaction velocity is half of Vmax (Correct answer)
The maximum reaction velocity
The enzyme turnover number
The inhibitor dissociation constant

Correct answer: The substrate concentration at which reaction velocity is half of Vmax

Km is defined as the substrate concentration [S] at which v = Vmax/2; a lower Km indicates higher enzyme affinity for its substrate.

Question 46: What is the purpose of an Institutional Review Board (IRB) in public health research?

Train researchers in laboratory techniques
Fund public health research projects
Protect the rights and welfare of human research participants (Correct answer)
Publish research findings

Correct answer: Protect the rights and welfare of human research participants

An IRB reviews research protocols involving human subjects to ensure ethical conduct, informed consent, and minimization of risks to participants.

Question 47: What is the concept of 'attachment theory' as developed by John Bowlby?

Attachment bonds only form after age three
Infants form strong emotional bonds with caregivers that serve as a secure base for exploration and shape future relationships (Correct answer)
Children attach to all adults equally during development
Secure attachment requires fathers as primary caregivers

Correct answer: Infants form strong emotional bonds with caregivers that serve as a secure base for exploration and shape future relationships

Bowlby's attachment theory holds that infants have an innate need to form close emotional bonds with caregivers, with the quality of early attachment shaping expectations about relationships throughout life.

Question 48: In public health ethics, what does the principle of 'justice' primarily require?

That all research participants receive the best available treatment
That costs of public health programs are shared equally
Fair distribution of health burdens and benefits across all population groups (Correct answer)
That individual autonomy is always prioritized over community benefit

Correct answer: Fair distribution of health burdens and benefits across all population groups

Justice in public health ethics requires equitable distribution of health benefits and burdens, addressing health disparities, and ensuring vulnerable populations are not exploited.

Question 49: What is the difference between primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention in public health?

Primary treats disease; secondary prevents complications; tertiary monitors
Primary is most effective for chronic diseases only
Primary prevents disease onset; secondary detects early; tertiary reduces disability from existing disease (Correct answer)
All three aim to treat existing conditions

Correct answer: Primary prevents disease onset; secondary detects early; tertiary reduces disability from existing disease

Primary prevention stops disease before it occurs (e.g., vaccination), secondary detects and treats early disease (e.g., screening), and tertiary manages existing disease to prevent disability.

Question 50: Which statistical measure do library managers most often use to express database usage in terms of cost-effectiveness?

Return on investment
Downloads per FTE
Cost per use (Correct answer)
Turnaways per month

Correct answer: Cost per use

Cost per use divides the database subscription cost by the number of recorded uses, giving managers a straightforward metric to evaluate resource value.

Question 51: What is 'bioremediation' used for in environmental management?

Using microorganisms to clean up contaminated soil or water (Correct answer)
Removing invasive plants using biological agents
Reintroducing native species to restore habitats
Measuring biodiversity through genetic sampling

Correct answer: Using microorganisms to clean up contaminated soil or water

Bioremediation uses microorganisms — bacteria, fungi, or algae — to metabolize and detoxify pollutants such as petroleum hydrocarbons and heavy metals in contaminated sites.

Question 52: What is the primary purpose of a PID controller in a feedback control system?

Amplify sensor signals
Minimize steady-state error and improve transient response using proportional, integral, and derivative terms (Correct answer)
Convert analog signals to digital
Measure system temperature

Correct answer: Minimize steady-state error and improve transient response using proportional, integral, and derivative terms

A PID controller combines proportional (present error), integral (accumulated past error), and derivative (predicted future error) actions to achieve accurate and stable control.

Question 53: This sorting method has the least complexity in the worst-case scenario.

Merge sort (Correct answer)
Quick sort
Bubble sort
None of the above

Correct answer: Merge sort

Merge sort consistently exhibits a time complexity of O(n log n) in its worst-case, average-case, and best-case scenarios. This makes it a very stable and reliable sorting algorithm, especially when compared to Quick sort, which can degrade to O(n^2) in its worst-case, or Bubble sort, which is always O(n^2) in its worst and average cases. Its divide-and-conquer approach ensures predictable performance.

Question 54: Which network protocol resolves IP addresses to MAC addresses on a local area network?

DHCP
ARP (Correct answer)
DNS
ICMP

Correct answer: ARP

ARP (Address Resolution Protocol) broadcasts a request on the local network to discover which MAC address corresponds to a given IP address.

GRE General Test (Master of Science Admissions)

The GRE General Test is the standard graduate admissions exam for Master of Science programs, assessing verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing skills required for graduate-level academic study across STEM, health, business, and social science disciplines.

Questions

88 min

Time Limit

70%

To Pass

Checking for saved progress...

Exam Rules

You can skip questions and return to them later
Flag questions for review before submitting
No feedback shown until you submit the entire exam
Unanswered questions count as wrong — answer everything
10 pretest questions are mixed in and don't affect your score
Timer auto-submits when time runs out
Your progress is auto-saved every 30 seconds