Verbal Reasoning Sample Test

“Founded in 1954, the Bilderberg Group holds an annual conference of 120 of the world’s most powerful and influential people. Participants from 18 different countries, invited by a steering committee comprised of two people, typically include financiers, industrialists, politicians, royalty and newspaper editors. Past delegates have included Tony Blair and Bill Clinton, shortly before becoming heads of state. Reporters, however, are not invited: the Bilderberg Group’s meetings are conducted in privacy, with strict confidentiality rules to foster open discussion. The Group was established to promote understanding and cooperation between the United States and Europe and to create an informal network for the global elite. No votes are taken at the conference and no policies are agreed. However, the secrecy surrounding the conferences has given rise to numerous conspiracy theories. Right-wing critics believe that the Bilderberg Group is a shadowy global government, with some conspiracy theorists holding the Group responsible for organising events including the overthrow of Margaret Thatcher, the Bosnian War and the invasion of Iraq. Left- wing activists, who call for greater transparency, accuse the Group of being an unelected capitalist cabal controlling world finance. While opponents view the Group as undemocratic, supporters argue that modern democracies depend on cooperation between banking and politics, and that organisations such as the Bilderberg Group help ensure their success.” 

The Bilderberg Group has critics on both sides of the ideological spectrum.

“Founded in 1954, the Bilderberg Group holds an annual conference of 120 of the world’s most powerful and influential people. Participants from 18 different countries, invited by a steering committee comprised of two people, typically include financiers, industrialists, politicians, royalty and newspaper editors. Past delegates have included Tony Blair and Bill Clinton, shortly before becoming heads of state. Reporters, however, are not invited: the Bilderberg Group’s meetings are conducted in privacy, with strict confidentiality rules to foster open discussion. The Group was established to promote understanding and cooperation between the United States and Europe and to create an informal network for the global elite. No votes are taken at the conference and no policies are agreed. However, the secrecy surrounding the conferences has given rise to numerous conspiracy theories. Right-wing critics believe that the Bilderberg Group is a shadowy global government, with some conspiracy theorists holding the Group responsible for organising events including the overthrow of Margaret Thatcher, the Bosnian War and the invasion of Iraq. Left- wing activists,  who call for greater transparency, accuse the Group of being an unelected capitalist cabal controlling world finance. While opponents view the Group as undemocratic, supporters argue that modern democracies depend on cooperation between banking and politics, and that organisations such as the Bilderberg Group help ensure their success.” 

Representatives from the media are not allowed to attend the Bilderberg Group conference.

“Founded in 1954, the Bilderberg Group holds an annual conference of 120 of the world’s most powerful and influential people. Participants from 18 different countries, invited by a steering committee comprised of two people, typically include financiers, industrialists, politicians, royalty and newspaper editors. Past delegates have included Tony Blair and Bill Clinton, shortly before becoming heads of state. Reporters, however, are not invited: the Bilderberg Group’s meetings are conducted in privacy, with strict confidentiality rules to foster open discussion. The Group was established to promote understanding and cooperation between the United States and Europe and to create an informal network for the global elite. No votes are taken at the conference and no policies are agreed. However, the secrecy surrounding the conferences has given rise to numerous conspiracy theories. Right-wing critics believe that the Bilderberg Group is a shadowy global government, with some conspiracy theorists holding the Group responsible for organising events including the overthrow of Margaret Thatcher, the Bosnian War and the invasion of Iraq. Left- wing activists, who call for greater transparency, accuse the Group of being an unelected capitalist cabal controlling world finance. While opponents view the Group as undemocratic, supporters argue that modern democracies depend on cooperation between banking and politics, and that organisations such as the Bilderberg Group help ensure their success.” 

The Bilderberg Group was created as a private forum to set Europe and America’s political and financial agenda.

” Although today used to describe any movement to claim back territory for ethnic, linguistic, geographical or historical reasons, the term irredentism originally came from the Italian nationalist movement Italia irredenta. Meaning “unredeemed Italy”, Italian irredentism was an opinion movement rather than a formal organisation. It sought to unify ethnically Italian territories, such as Trieste, Trentina, and Istria, that were outside of Italian borders at the time of the unification of Italy in 1866. The annexation of these Italian territories from Austria provided Italy with its strongest motive for participating in World War I. The Treaty of Versailles in 1919 satisfied most of Italy’s irredentist claims, however new borders delineated by the treaty gave rise to new irredentist claims. Dividing the German Empire into separate nations created German minority populations in the new countries of Poland and Hungary. German irredentist claims to these territories, as well as to Austria, resulted in the Second World War. The Treaty of Versailles created Yugoslavia to be a Slavic homeland, but ethnic and religious differences between Bosnians, Serbs and Croats eventually led to war in the 1990s. The artificial political states created by the Treaty of Versailles in East Africa failed to take tribal boundaries into account, and thus remain subject to irredentist claims. Similarly, borders drawn up in the Near East are still contentious today.” 

Trieste, Trentina and Istria were reunified with Italy following the Treaty of Versailles.

“Although today used to describe any movement to claim back territory for ethnic, linguistic, geographical or historical reasons, the term irredentism originally came from the Italian nationalist movement Italia irredenta. Meaning “unredeemed Italy”, Italian irredentism was an opinion movement rather than a formal organisation. It sought to unify ethnically Italian territories, such as Trieste, Trentina, and Istria, that were outside of Italian borders at the time of the unification of Italy in 1866. The annexation of these Italian territories from Austria provided Italy with its strongest motive for participating in World War I. The Treaty of Versailles in 1919 satisfied most of Italy’s irredentist claims, however new borders delineated by the treaty gave rise to new irredentist claims. Dividing the German Empire into separate nations created German minority populations in the new countries of Poland and Hungary. German irredentist claims to these territories, as well as to Austria, resulted in the Second World War. The Treaty of Versailles created Yugoslavia to be a Slavic homeland, but ethnic and religious differences between Bosnians, Serbs and Croats eventually led to war in the 1990s. The artificial political states created by the Treaty of Versailles in East Africa failed to take tribal boundaries into account, and thus remain subject to irredentist claims. Similarly, borders drawn up in the Near East are still contentious today.” 

Borders imposed in 1919 by the Treaty of Versailles resulted in twentieth century conflicts.

“Although today used to describe any movement to claim back territory for ethnic, linguistic, geographical or historical reasons, the term irredentism originally came from the Italian nationalist movement Italia irredenta. Meaning “unredeemed Italy”, Italian irredentism was an opinion movement rather than a formal organisation. It sought to unify ethnically Italian territories, such as Trieste, Trentina, and Istria, that were outside of Italian borders at the time of the unification of Italy in 1866. The annexation of these Italian territories from Austria provided Italy with its strongest motive for participating in World War I. The Treaty of Versailles in 1919 satisfied most of Italy’s irredentist claims, however new borders delineated by the treaty gave rise to new irredentist claims. Dividing the German Empire into separate nations created German minority populations in the new countries of Poland and Hungary. German irredentist claims to these territories, as well as to Austria, resulted in the Second World War. The Treaty of Versailles created Yugoslavia to be a Slavic homeland, but ethnic and religious differences between Bosnians, Serbs and Croats eventually led to war in the 1990s. The artificial political states created by the Treaty of Versailles in East Africa failed to take tribal boundaries into account, and thus remain subject to irredentist claims. Similarly, borders drawn up in the Near East are still contentious today.” 

Irredentist movements advocate the annexation of territories only on the grounds of prior historical possession.

“Many organisations predict that the global water crisis presents this century’s biggest threat. Today 84% of people in developing countries have access to clean water, 2 billion more than in 1990. However, millions still lack clean water for drinking and sanitation, posing a major health threat. In the developed world, water consumption is unsustainably high, doubling every twenty years. Agriculture accounts for 70% of the world’s fresh water use, and an increasing population to feed means this demand will only increase. Groundwater sources, used to irrigate crops, are running dry because of overuse. While limiting the use of groundwater is a possible solution, it would have a financial impact on farmers and result in lower yields. While climate change has resulted in increased precipitation in some areas, it is contributing to water shortages in other regions. Rising temperatures have caused the Himalayan glaciers, the source for all of Asia’s major rivers, to retreat. A reservoir for nearly half of the world’s fresh water, these glaciers are predicted to lose four-fifths of their area by 2040. The solution to the global water crisis lies predominantly in new technologies. Desalination plants, which convert seawater into fresh water, have now been built in countries including Israel and Singapore. The process’s high costs however limit its widespread adoption. Organising bodies and treaties are also needed to ensure that cross-border water sources are managed properly and do not become a source of conflict.” 

The global water crisis has resulted in less of the world’s population having access to fresh water

“Many organisations predict that the global water crisis presents this century’s biggest threat. Today 84% of people in developing countries have access to clean water, 2 billion more than in 1990. However, millions still lack clean water for drinking and sanitation, posing a major health threat. In the developed world, water consumption is unsustainably high, doubling every twenty years. Agriculture accounts for 70% of the world’s fresh water use, and an increasing population to feed means this demand will only increase. Groundwater sources, used to irrigate crops, are running dry because of overuse. While limiting the use of groundwater is a possible solution, it would have a financial impact on farmers and result in lower yields. While climate change has resulted in increased precipitation in some areas, it is contributing to water shortages in other regions. Rising temperatures have caused the Himalayan glaciers, the source for all of Asia’s major rivers, to retreat. A reservoir for nearly half of the world’s fresh water, these glaciers are predicted to lose four-fifths of their area by 2040. The solution to the global water crisis lies predominantly in new technologies. Desalination plants, which convert seawater into fresh water, have now been built in countries including Israel and Singapore. The process’s high costs however limit its widespread adoption. Organising bodies and treaties are also needed to ensure that cross-border water sources are managed properly and do not become a source of conflict.” 

The irrigation of crops comprises the majority of groundwater usage.

“Many organisations predict that the global water crisis presents this century’s biggest threat. Today 84% of people in developing countries have access to clean water, 2 billion more than in 1990. However, millions still lack clean water for drinking and sanitation, posing a major health threat. In the developed world, water consumption is unsustainably high, doubling every twenty years. Agriculture accounts for 70% of the world’s fresh water use, and an increasing population to feed means this demand will only increase. Groundwater sources, used to irrigate crops, are running dry because of overuse. While limiting the use of groundwater is a possible solution, it would have a financial impact on farmers and result in lower yields. While climate change has resulted in increased precipitation in some areas, it is contributing to water shortages in other regions. Rising temperatures have caused the Himalayan glaciers, the source for all of Asia’s major rivers, to retreat. A reservoir for nearly half of the world’s fresh water, these glaciers are predicted to lose four-fifths of their area by 2040. The solution to the global water crisis lies predominantly in new technologies. Desalination plants, which convert seawater into fresh water, have now been built in countries including Israel and Singapore. The process’s high costs however limit its widespread adoption. Organising bodies and treaties are also needed to ensure that cross-border water sources are managed properly and do not become a source of conflict.” 

Despite increasing rainfall in some areas, climate change is the main cause of the global water crisis.

“Many organisations predict that the global water crisis presents this century’s biggest threat. Today 84% of people in developing countries have access to clean water, 2 billion more than in 1990. However, millions still lack clean water for drinking and sanitation, posing a major health threat. In the developed world, water consumption is unsustainably high, doubling every twenty years. Agriculture accounts for 70% of the world’s fresh water use, and an increasing population to feed means this demand will only increase. Groundwater sources, used to irrigate crops, are running dry because of overuse. While limiting the use of groundwater is a possible solution, it would have a financial impact on farmers and result in lower yields. While climate change has resulted in increased precipitation in some areas, it is contributing to water shortages in other regions. Rising temperatures have caused the Himalayan glaciers, the source for all of Asia’s major rivers, to retreat. A reservoir for nearly half of the world’s fresh water, these glaciers are predicted to lose four-fifths of their area by 2040. The solution to the global water crisis lies predominantly in new technologies. Desalination plants, which convert seawater into fresh water, have now been built in countries including Israel and Singapore. The process’s high costs however limit its widespread adoption. Organising bodies and treaties are also needed to ensure that cross-border water sources are managed properly and do not become a source of conflict.” 

The main impediment to desalination is expense.

“Birds were long considered stupid, however laboratory research has shown that corvids – the group of birds including crows and jays – are actually highly intelligent. Their ability to make and use tools rivals that of chimpanzees. When hiding stores of food, corvids demonstrate their episodic memory and future planning ability; cognitive abilities previously thought unique to humans. Not only do corvids remember where they have caught food, they remember when they stored it. If seen catching food, corvids will return and re-hide it, unobserved by competitors. This anticipation of pilfering shows that corvids acknowledge the mental state of other individuals. Being the most social group of birds, corvids raise their young cooperatively and form long-term relationships. The social function of intellect theory, which hypothesised that social living was the impetus for the development of primate intelligence, is now applied to other species, such as corvids. Although capable of doing many of the same things as primates, corvids have smaller brains and lack the neocortex that is responsible for mammalian cognition. Instead, corvids have a nidopallium, which scientists believe fulfils a similar function more efficiently. Primate and corvid intelligence is sometimes used as an example of convergent evolution, whereby two unrelated species independently develop the same adaptations to similar environmental conditions. But animal intelligence is a controversial subject, with no consensus on its definition. Some scientists argue that corvid behaviour can be explained by adaptive specialization and is not equivalent to primate intelligence, and thus convergent evolution does not apply.”

A corvid’s nidopallium is smaller, but more powerful, than a primate’s neocortex.

“Birds were long considered stupid, however laboratory research has shown that corvids – the group of birds including crows and jays – are actually highly intelligent. Their ability to make and use tools rivals that of chimpanzees. When hiding stores of food, corvids demonstrate their episodic memory and future planning ability; cognitive abilities previously thought unique to humans. Not only do corvids remember where they have caught food, they remember when they stored it. If seen catching food, corvids will return and re-hide it, unobserved by competitors. This anticipation of pilfering shows that corvids acknowledge the mental state of other individuals. Being the most social group of birds, corvids raise their young cooperatively and form long-term relationships. The social function of intellect theory, which hypothesised that social living was the impetus for the development of primate intelligence, is now applied to other species, such as corvids. Although capable of doing many of the same things as primates, corvids have smaller brains and lack the neocortex that is responsible for mammalian cognition. Instead, corvids have a nidopallium, which scientists believe fulfils a similar function more efficiently. Primate and corvid intelligence is sometimes used as an example of convergent evolution, whereby two unrelated species independently develop the same adaptations to similar environmental conditions. But animal intelligence is a controversial subject, with no consensus on its definition. Some scientists argue that corvid behaviour can be explained by adaptive specialization and is not equivalent to primate intelligence, and thus convergent evolution does not apply.”

Corvids’ cognitive abilities are the result of both brain structure and social structure.

“Birds were long considered stupid, however laboratory research has shown that corvids – the group of birds including crows and jays – are actually highly intelligent. Their ability to make and use tools rivals that of chimpanzees. When hiding stores of food, corvids demonstrate their episodic memory and future planning ability; cognitive abilities previously thought unique to humans. Not only do corvids remember where they have caught food, they remember when they stored it. If seen catching food, corvids will return and re-hide it, unobserved by competitors. This anticipation of pilfering shows that corvids acknowledge the mental state of other individuals. Being the most social group of birds, corvids raise their young cooperatively and form long-term relationships. The social function of intellect theory, which hypothesised that social living was the impetus for the development of primate intelligence, is now applied to other species, such as corvids. Although capable of doing many of the same things as primates, corvids have smaller brains and lack the neocortex that is responsible for mammalian cognition. Instead, corvids have a nidopallium, which scientists believe fulfils a similar function more efficiently. Primate and corvid intelligence is sometimes used as an example of convergent evolution, whereby two unrelated species independently develop the same adaptations to similar environmental conditions. But animal intelligence is a controversial subject, with no consensus on its definition. Some scientists argue that corvid behaviour can be explained by adaptive specialization and is not equivalent to primate intelligence, and thus convergent evolution does not apply.”

Corvids’ feeding behaviour indicates that they have some awareness of what their competitors are thinking.

“Birds were long considered stupid, however laboratory research has shown that corvids – the group of birds including crows and jays – are actually highly intelligent. Their ability to make and use tools rivals that of chimpanzees. When hiding stores of food, corvids demonstrate their episodic memory and future planning ability; cognitive abilities previously thought unique to humans. Not only do corvids remember where they have caught food, they remember when they stored it. If seen catching food, corvids will return and re-hide it, unobserved by competitors. This anticipation of pilfering shows that corvids acknowledge the mental state of other individuals. Being the most social group of birds, corvids raise their young cooperatively and form long-term relationships. The social function of intellect theory, which hypothesised that social living was the impetus for the development of primate intelligence, is now applied to other species, such as corvids. Although capable of doing many of the same things as primates, corvids have smaller brains and lack the neocortex that is responsible for mammalian cognition. Instead, corvids have a nidopallium, which scientists believe fulfils a similar function more efficiently. Primate and corvid intelligence is sometimes used as an example of convergent evolution, whereby two unrelated species independently develop the same adaptations to similar environmental conditions. But animal intelligence is a controversial subject, with no consensus on its definition. Some scientists argue that corvid behaviour can be explained by adaptive specialization and is not equivalent to primate intelligence, and thus convergent evolution does not apply.”

Although they lack a common ancestor, primates and corvids acquired their intelligence under the same evolutionary processes.

“Birds were long considered stupid, however laboratory research has shown that corvids – the group of birds including crows and jays – are actually highly intelligent. Their ability to make and use tools rivals that of chimpanzees. When hiding stores of food, corvids demonstrate their episodic memory and future planning ability; cognitive abilities previously thought unique to humans. Not only do corvids remember where they have caught food, they remember when they stored it. If seen catching food, corvids will return and re-hide it, unobserved by competitors. This anticipation of pilfering shows that corvids acknowledge the mental state of other individuals. Being the most social group of birds, corvids raise their young cooperatively and form long-term relationships. The social function of intellect theory, which hypothesised that social living was the impetus for the development of primate intelligence, is now applied to other species, such as corvids. Although capable of doing many of the same things as primates, corvids have smaller brains and lack the neocortex that is responsible for mammalian cognition. Instead, corvids have a nidopallium, which scientists believe fulfils a similar function more efficiently. Primate and corvid intelligence is sometimes used as an example of convergent evolution, whereby two unrelated species independently develop the same adaptations to similar environmental conditions. But animal intelligence is a controversial subject, with no consensus on its definition. Some scientists argue that corvid behaviour can be explained by adaptive specialization and is not equivalent to primate intelligence, and thus convergent evolution does not apply.”

The social function of intellect theory states that corvid intelligence developed as a result of their complex social structure.