STAT - Special Tertiary Admissions Interpreting Informative Texts Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Read the following passage: 'The phenomenon of soil liquefaction occurs in saturated, or partially saturated, soil that substantially loses strength and stiffness in response to an applied stress, such as earthquake shaking. When liquefaction occurs, the soil behaves like a liquid and can no longer support structures. This is most often observed in sandy, silty, or gravelly soils. While devastating to infrastructure built upon it, the process is temporary; the soil regains its solidity after the shaking stops.' Based on the passage, which of the following is the most reasonable inference?
- Buildings in earthquake-prone areas should not be built on sandy soils without specific foundation engineering. (Correct answer)
- All types of soil are equally susceptible to liquefaction during an earthquake.
- The best way to prevent liquefaction is to stop earthquakes from happening.
- Soil liquefaction is a permanent change to the geological landscape.
Correct answer: Buildings in earthquake-prone areas should not be built on sandy soils without specific foundation engineering.
The passage explicitly states that liquefaction occurs in sandy/silty soils during earthquakes and causes the soil to lose its ability to support structures. This directly supports the logical inference that building on such soils in earthquake zones requires special precautions or engineering solutions. The other options are either directly contradicted by the text or are impractical and not suggested by it.
Question 2: The flowchart below outlines a customer support ticket escalation process. [A flowchart shows the following path: It starts with 'Receive Ticket'. The first decision diamond asks, 'Is it a technical issue?'. If 'No', it goes to another decision diamond. If 'Yes', it goes to a process box labeled 'Assign to Level 1 Tech Support'. From there, another decision diamond asks, 'Resolved in 24 hours?'. If 'Yes', the process ends at 'Close Ticket'. If 'No', it goes to a process box labeled 'Escalate to Level 2 Tech Support'.] A customer submits a ticket about being unable to log into their account. The Level 1 Tech Support team cannot identify the problem within one day. According to the flowchart, what is the next step for this ticket?
- The ticket is assigned to General Inquiries.
- The ticket is escalated to Level 2 Tech Support. (Correct answer)
- The ticket is closed.
- The ticket is assigned to the Accounts Dept.
Correct answer: The ticket is escalated to Level 2 Tech Support.
The issue of being 'unable to log in' is a technical one, so the ticket is correctly assigned to Level 1 Tech Support. The flowchart then specifies the path for an unresolved issue: if it is not resolved in 24 hours (one day), the next step is to 'Escalate to Level 2 Tech Support'.
Question 3: The table below shows the estimated population and the number of public parks in four different cities. | City | Population (2025 est.) | Number of Public Parks | |-----------|------------------------|------------------------| | Northwood | 250,000 | 50 | | Southgate | 400,000 | 60 | | Eastville | 150,000 | 45 | | Westburg | 300,000 | 75 | Based on the data provided, which city has the highest number of public parks per capita?
- Eastville (Correct answer)
- Southgate
- Northwood
- Westburg
Correct answer: Eastville
To find the parks per capita, we calculate the ratio of population to parks for each city. A lower number of people per park means more parks per capita. - Eastville: 150,000 / 45 ≈ 3,333 people per park. - Westburg: 300,000 / 75 = 4,000 people per park. - Northwood: 250,000 / 50 = 5,000 people per park. - Southgate: 400,000 / 60 ≈ 6,667 people per park. Eastville has the lowest number of people per park, therefore it has the highest number of parks per capita.
Question 4: Read the following passage: 'While the proliferation of electric vehicles (EVs) is heralded as a crucial step towards reducing urban air pollution, a myopic focus on this single solution is perilous. The environmental cost of battery production, particularly the mining of lithium and cobalt, is substantial. Furthermore, the source of the electricity used to charge these vehicles is critical; an EV powered by a coal-fired grid merely shifts the point of emission. A truly sustainable transport policy must be holistic, integrating EVs with robust public transit, cycling infrastructure, and urban planning that reduces travel demand.' What is the primary purpose of this passage?
- To argue that electric vehicles offer no real environmental benefits.
- To inform readers about the process of manufacturing EV batteries.
- To advocate for a broader, more integrated approach to sustainable transportation. (Correct answer)
- To condemn countries that mine lithium and cobalt.
Correct answer: To advocate for a broader, more integrated approach to sustainable transportation.
The author acknowledges the benefits of EVs but then introduces several limitations ('perilous' focus, battery costs, electricity source). The final sentence provides the main conclusion and purpose: to argue that a 'truly sustainable' policy must be 'holistic' and include more than just EVs.
Question 5: To access a university's advanced research archive, the following rules apply: 1. Access is granted only to postgraduate students or academic staff. 2. All users must have completed the 'Research Ethics' training module within the last 12 months. 3. Anyone accessing materials classified as 'Sensitive' must also obtain specific project approval from the Ethics Committee. Dr. Evans is an academic staff member whose 'Research Ethics' training expired 14 months ago. He wants to access materials that are not classified as 'Sensitive'. Based on the rules, is he currently eligible for access?
- Yes, because he is an academic staff member.
- No, because his ethics training is not current. (Correct answer)
- Yes, because the materials are not classified as 'Sensitive'.
- No, because he has not obtained specific project approval.
Correct answer: No, because his ethics training is not current.
Rule 2 is a mandatory condition for all users. It states that the 'Research Ethics' training must be completed within the last 12 months. Since Dr. Evans' training expired 14 months ago, he fails to meet this condition and is therefore ineligible, regardless of his status as academic staff (Rule 1) or the non-sensitive nature of the materials (Rule 3).
Question 6: A company evaluates its sales team's performance based on two key metrics: the 'Conversion Rate' (the percentage of client meetings that result in a sale) and the 'Average Deal Value'. Management considers a conversion rate of 20% or higher to be 'Efficient' and an average deal value above $15,000 to be 'High-Impact'. | Sales Team | Total Meetings | Successful Sales | Total Revenue from Sales | |------------|----------------|------------------|--------------------------| | Alpha | 150 | 33 | $660,000 | | Bravo | 120 | 20 | $380,000 | | Charlie | 80 | 24 | $300,000 | | Delta | 100 | 18 | $252,000 | According to the company's performance metrics, which team is both 'Efficient' and 'High-Impact'?
- Bravo
- Charlie
- Delta
- Alpha (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Alpha
First, calculate the Conversion Rate (CR) and Average Deal Value (ADV) for each team. - Alpha: CR = (33/150) * 100 = 22%; ADV = $660,000 / 33 = $20,000. This team is both 'Efficient' (>=20%) and 'High-Impact' (>$15,000). - Bravo: CR = (20/120) * 100 ≈ 16.7%; ADV = $380,000 / 20 = $19,000. This team is 'High-Impact' but not 'Efficient'. - Charlie: CR = (24/80) * 100 = 30%; ADV = $300,000 / 24 = $12,500. This team is 'Efficient' but not 'High-Impact'. - Delta: CR = (18/100) * 100 = 18%; ADV = $252,000 / 18 = $14,000. This team is neither. Only Team Alpha meets both criteria.
STAT - Special Tertiary Admissions Interpreting Informative Texts Questions and Answers
Read the following passage:
'The phenomenon of soil liquefaction occurs in saturated, or partially saturated, soil that substantially loses strength and stiffness in response to an applied stress, such as earthquake shaking.
When liquefaction occurs, the soil behaves like a liquid and can no longer support structures.
This is most often observed in sandy, silty, or gravelly soils.
While devastating to infrastructure built upon it, the process is temporary; the soil regains its solidity after the shaking stops.'
Based on the passage, which of the following is the most reasonable inference?