Review Contents

Idioms

A list of frequent idioms that have appeared recently in actual GMAT questions.

Practices

1. The glittering wealth of Venice was attributable not so much to exotic spices as to commonplace salt, a commodity Venetians exchanged in Constantinople for the spices of Asia.
   
   A.not so much to exotic spices as to commonplace salt,
   B. not so much to exotic spices but rather it was to commonplace salt,
   C. to commonplace salt rather than so much to exotic spices
   D. to commonplace salt not so much as to exotic spices,
   E. not to exotic spices so much as to commonplace salt, and
    
2. The proposals for commercial and residential building in the area have been scaled down because of a disagreement between commercial planners and the regional planing commission over if continued growth will hasten the decline of neighboring cities.
   
   A. and the regional planing commission over if continued growth will hasten the decline of
   B. with the regional planning commission over if continued growth will hasten decline in
   C. and the regional planning commission over whether continued growth will hasten the decline of
   D. with the regional planning commission over whether continued growth will hasten the declension in
   E. and the regional planning commission about continued growth hastening declension in
    
3. A computer that operates on beams of light, not electric currents, might be capable to do a trillion operations per second.
   
   A. light, not electric currents, might be capable to do
   B. light rather than electric currents might be capable of
   C. light instead of electric currents may be capable to do
   D. light, and not by electric currents, might be capable of
   E. light, as opposed to electric currents, may be capable to do
    
4. When scrap steel is recycled, energy is saved in the mining, transportation, and processing of not only iron ore but also of coal and limestone.
   
   A. processing of not only iron ore but also of coal and limestone.
   B. processing not only of iron ore but also of coal and limestone
   C. processing not only of iron ore but also coal and limestone
   D. the processing of not only iron ore but of coal and limestone as well
   E. the processing of not iron ore only but of coal and limestone as well
    
5. Because pesticide has been found to cause birth defects and fetal death in some animals, the federal Environmental Protection Agency is now considering whether the evidence warrants restricting its use or removing it from the market entirely.
   
   A. whether the evidence warrants restricting its use or removing it
   B. whether there is evidence that warrants a restriction of use or removal
   C. whether or not the evidence warrants restrictions of use of removing
   D. if there is evidence that warrants restriction of its use or removing it
   E. if the evidence warrants that its use be restricted or that it be removed.
    
6. The Mormons’ interest in genealogy stems from a belief as to family relationships being intended to remain eternal.
   
   A. a belief as to family relationships being intended to remain
   B. beliefs that family relationships are intended that they be
   C. a belief that family relationships are intended to be
   D. their believing that family relationships intend to remain
   E. beliefs in family relationships intended to be
    
7. Thomas Jefferson cultivated a good many varieties of green peas in an enormous vegetable garden and attributed the fact that he is long-lived to abjuring red meat and eating peas instead.
   
   A. attributed the fact that he is long-lived to abjuring red meat and eating peas instead.
   B. has attributed the fact that he lives so long to abjuring red meat and eating peas
   C. attributed his long life to eating peas and abjuring red meat
   D. abjured red meat for peas, to this he has attributed his long life
   E. abjures red meat and eats peas, attributing his long life to this
    
8. Joan of Arc, a young Frenchwoman who claimed to be divinely inspired, turned the tide of English victories in her country by liberating the city of Orleans and she persuaded Charles VII of France to claim his throne.
   
   A. she persuaded Charles VII of France to claim his throne.
   B. persuaded Charles VII of France in claiming his throne
   C. persuading that the throne be claimed by Charles VII of France
   D. persuaded Charles VII of France to claim his throne
   E. persuading that Charles VII of France should claim the throne
    
9. A recording system was so secretly installed and operated in the Kennedy Oval Office that even Theodore C. Sorensen, the White House counsel, did not know it existed.
   
   A. A recording system was so secretly installed and operated in the Kennedy Oval Office that
   B. So secret was a recording system installation and operation in the Kennedy Oval Office
   C. It was so secret that a recording system was installed and operated in the Kennedy Oval Office
   D. A recording system that was so secretly installed and operated in the Kennedy Oval Office
   E. Installed and operated so secretly in the Kennedy Oval Office was a recording system that
    
10. In the mid-1960’s a newly installed radar warning system mistook the rising of the moon as a massive missile attack by the Soviets.
    
    A. rising of the moon as a massive missile attack by the Soviets.
    B. rising of the moon for a massive Soviet missile attack
    C. moon rising to a massive missile attack by the Soviet
    D. moon as it was rising for a massive Soviet missile attack
    E. rise of the moon as a massive Soviet missile attack
     

Answers and explanations