Medic Mind Verbal Reasoning

Verbal Reasoning UKCAT Course Book

Theory & Technique

Mock Questions

Step-by-Step Guides

Detailed Explanations

Motivate. Mentor. Maximise.

Table of Contents

Lesson

Page

Lesson 1: Introduction to Verbal Reasoning

4

Lesson 2: True, False, Can’t Tell

7

Lesson 3: Using Inferences

11

Lesson 4: Extreme Language

13

Lesson 5: Keyword Approach

16

Lesson 6: Passage Adjustments

21

Lesson 7: Writer Questions

24

Lesson 8: Type 1 Statement Questions

28

Lesson 9: Type 2 Statement Questions

32

Lesson 10: Scientific and Factual Passages

34

Lesson 11: Timing Strategies

35

Lesson 12: Reverse Questions

38

Lesson 13: Timing Contingencies

39

Lesson 14: Causation vs. Correlation

41

Lesson 15: Verbal Reasoning - Test Day

43

Lesson 16: Tips from the Experts

45

Lesson 17: Summary & Overview

47

Verbal Reasoning Mock

55

Answers and Explanations - Tutorial Questions

84

Answers and Explanations - Mock Test

90

Introduction to Verbal Reasoning Lesson 1 To gain a brief understanding of the different question types in Verbal Reasoning and the timing for this intense section.

What is Verbal Reasoning?

The Verbal Reasoning subtest assesses your ability to read and think carefully about information presented in passages and to determine whether specific conclusions can be drawn from information presented.

Why do they test it? Doctors and dentists need excellent verbal reasoning skills in order to understand complex information and communicate this clearly and simply to patients is essential. Medical practitioners must also be able to interpret findings from published materials and apply this to their own practice. It is essential they are able to critique such materials and draw their own conclusion as to the validity of any findings.

What are the different question types? There are 5 types of Verbal Reasoning Question:

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Introduction to Verbal Reasoning Lesson 1

• True, False, Cannot Tell- the question stem is a statement, and you have to choose either True, False or Cannot Tell

• Type 1- the question stem has a specific question, and you have to choose which of the four similar statements is correct.

• Type 2- the question stem is generic, and you have to choose which of the four unrelated statements is correct.

• Writer- the question asks something related to the author of the passage, whether it be his overall opinion, strongest point, or something else. Question format can be Type 1, 2 or TFCT.

• Reverse- the question involves a negative, e.g. which of the following is least likely, or not true. Question format can be Type 1, 2 or TFCT.

What are the main challenges of Verbal Reasoning? • Timing- you have under 2 minutes to answer four questions relating to a fairly large passage. Therefore you have to be efficient, quick and decisive. • Reading the passage- at normal reading pace it would take you 2 minutes to read the passage alone, so you need to use our Keywords Approach to succeed in the questions. • Variety of questions- the huge range of verbal reasoning makes it very difficult to apply a single approach. There is a different Medic Mind approach specific for each question type, and without lots of practice this can at first seem intimidating.

External Knowledge A general rule for all Verbal Reasoning questions is that you should not use any external knowledge to answer the questions. You should only use the information in the passage.

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Introduction to Verbal Reasoning Lesson 1

Consider the question statement: “Barack Obama was elected as President of the USA in November 2008”. You may know that this is true from your own knowledge. You can use this to help you knock out the option ‘False’, but the answer can still be ‘Can’t Tell’ if there is no explicit mention of this fact in the passage. You can still use external knowledge, however, if you are careful. If you know this fact is true in real life, then it is quite likely that it will not be False in this UKCAT passage, as most passages are derived from real articles. But we cannot rule out Can’t Tell.


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True, False, Can’t Tell Lesson 2 Be able to define True, False and Can’t Tell statements and know how to differentiate between them

True, False, Can’t Tell

True means that the statement is correct based on the passage. • A statement can be true if it is directly stated in the passage. This is the simplest to find, and should be an easy mark. • A statement can be true if it is an inference from the passage, even if it is not directly stated. Here there is a blur between True and Can’t Tell.

False means that the statement contradicts the passage. Again, it may not be explicitly shown to be wrong, but instead you can detect it using an inference. • A statement might go against the passage, either factually or in terms of general opinion • A statement could take something in the passage and extend it too far e.g. the passage says ‘one of the few suppliers in the market’ and the statement says ‘the only supplier’.

Can’t Tell means that you cannot be certain based on the information on the passage. • A statement could go beyond the information in the passage. • A statement may be True or False from your own knowledge, but you cannot choose based on your external knowledge. If it is not in the passage, it has to be Can’t Tell. These definitions might seem quite abstract for now and difficult to visualise, but we will go through examples step by step.

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True, False, Can’t Tell Lesson 2

Types of True 1. Directly Stated A statement can be true if it is directly stated in the passage. This is the simplest to find, and should be an easy mark. Statement: WhatsApp is owned by Facebook. Passage: ‘Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook, sanctioned the acquisition of WhatsApp’.

2. Inference A statement can be true if it is an inference from the passage, even if it is not directly stated. Here there can often a blur between True and Can’t Tell. Statement: ‘Altitude are one of the better social media management firms in the UK’ Passage: ‘Altitude has grown significantly since its launch. To date, a vast number of firms are using Altitude to boost their online marketing strategy’

Types of False 1. Contradiction A statement might go against the passage, either factually or in terms of general opinion.

2. Statement Goes Too Far A statement could take something in the passage and extend it too far Statement: ‘Krandon are the only supplier of Amaroo Extract left to date’ Passage: ‘With raw materials for Amaroo Extract becoming scarce, customers are forced to buy from dominant retailer Krandon, one of the very few suppliers left. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• UKCAT

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True, False, Can’t Tell Lesson 2

Types of Can’t Tell 1. External Knowledge “Barack Obama was elected as President of the USA in November 2008”. You may know that this is True from your own knowledge. You can use this to help you knock out the option ‘False’, but the answer can still be ‘Can’t Tell’ if there is no explicit mention of this fact in the passage

Direct Match True Inference

Beyond Passage

Can’t Tell

Contradiction False Statement Too Extreme

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True, False, Can’t Tell Lesson 2

Practice 1: True, False, Can’t Tell Questions

Sports in UK Schools On 17th February 2013, at the annual Sports Conference conference, Government has been accused of "turning its back on school sport" and undermining the Olympic legacy six months after the Games. Shadow Sports Minister Clive Efford MP told the BBC: "What has gone on in school sport is absolutely disastrous.” Education Secretary Michael Gove is expected to announce a new strategy for school sport later this month. Efford continues: ‘We need a long-term strategy blueprint to get sport into our schools. If we don't, we're storing up a huge problem for ourselves, for the economy and for the NHS. Doing nothing isn't an option’. Despite record investment in elite and community sport, the Government has made some cuts in schools sports. Ministers say they are spending £1bn on youth sport over the next five years through Sport England. But the government has abolished ring-fenced funding for the national School Sport Partnerships (SSPs) and ended recommendation for two hours of PE in schools each week. The SSP network enabled well-equipped 'hub' secondary schools to lend PE teachers to those that needed them, especially primary schools.

1. The Olympic Games began in August 2012. A. True B. False C. Can’t tell

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Using Inferences Lesson 3 Know when you can and can’t use inferences to judge whether something is True or Can’t Tell.

Using Inferences There is a fine line between True and Can’t Tell. Consider this passage and the four associated statements:

Example Passage “UCL Medical School has become one of the most popular institutes in the UK. With recent investment in a new Medical Library, and development of the lecture theatres UCL is becoming a genuine dream medical school for any UK applicants”

• “UCL Medical School is one of the best in the UK” True- you can infer from the positive comments that UCL medical school is one of the best in the UK.

• “UCL Medical School used to be worse than it is now” True- the passage references recent investment in a library and more modern lecture theatres as reasons for UCL’s development, so we can infer that it has improved.

• “UCL Medical School is the best in the UK” Can’t tell- we can suspect this based on inferences from the passage, but we cannot be sure. The statement is going beyond the terms of the passage.

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Using Inferences Lesson 3

• “The recent project to build a new Library has been a full success” Can’t tell- we can tell that it has made a difference to UCL and the quality of the medical school, but it is too far to say that it has been a ‘full success’. We do not know about costs, how long the project took based on estimations, or other related issues.

Using Inferences

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Extreme Language Lesson 4 Learn to use the Medic Mind Extreme Language approach to help you predict and guess answers wherever appropriate.

Analysing the Type of Language For True, False, Can’t Tell questions you can look at the type of language used to help you decide on the answer. You can look for extreme and mild phrases.

Examples of extreme phrases Extreme phrases tend to be False or Can’t Tell. “Will always” “Definitely” “Always” “Every time” “Biggest”


Examples of mild phrases Mild phrases tend to be True. “Might” “Could” “One of the (best)” “Sometimes”


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Extreme Language Lesson 4

• “Seeing a product used in a popular television programme will always increase the demand for the product” ‘Will always’ is very definitive language, so the answer is more likely to be Can’t Tell or False. If the statement said ‘might’ or “sometimes’ then the answer is more likely to be True.

• “Nike running shoes are the best shoes in the sports market” ‘Best’ is again extreme language. If the statement said they are ‘one of the best’, it is less extreme and more likely to be true.

Practice 2: Extreme Language Questions

Sports in UK Schools On 17th February 2013, at the annual Sports Conference conference, Government has been accused of "turning its back on school sport" and undermining the Olympic legacy six months after the Games. Shadow Sports Minister Clive Efford MP told the BBC: "What has gone on in school sport is absolutely disastrous.” Education Secretary Michael Gove is expected to announce a new strategy for school sport later this month. Efford continues: ‘We need a long-term strategy blueprint to get sport into our schools. If we don't, we're storing up a huge problem for ourselves, for the economy and for the NHS. Doing nothing isn't an option’. Despite record investment in elite and community sport, the Government has made some cuts in schools sports. Ministers say they are spending £1bn on youth sport over the next five years through Sport England. But the government has abolished ring-fenced funding for the national School Sport Partnerships (SSPs) and ended recommendation for two hours of PE in schools each week. The SSP network enabled well-equipped 'hub' secondary schools to lend PE teachers to those that needed them, especially primary schools.

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Extreme Language Lesson 4

2. Two hours of PE are no longer done at any UK schools A. True B. False C. Can’t tell

3. Michael Gove has some control over sports in schools. A. True B. False C. Can’t tell

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Keyword Approach Lesson 4 Learn Medic Mind’s Keyword Approach and how to apply it.


 Medic Mind Method: Keyword Approach You will not have the luxury of being able to read the passage. The biggest mistake students make is trying to read too much, and therefore falling heavily short of time. We teach our students to follow the Keyword Approach: 1) Read only the first two lines of the passage. By reading the first part of the passage you can gauge the topic of the passage, which will help you when choosing a relevant keyword. You will see the value in this later. 2) Read the question and pick a keyword Pick a keyword from the statement or question. This keyword will help you find the information you are looking for in the passage. 3) Search for the keyword in the passage Look for the keyword in the passage. When you find it, read from the sentence before the keyword, to the sentence after. This small section of the passage should contain your answer. 4) Eliminate the wrong answers Knock out the wrong answers, and select the correct one.

Choosing a Good Keyword • Key words should not appear all over the passage, because it won’t narrow down any information for you! • Dates, numbers and nouns (with capitalised letters) make very good keywords because they are easy to find by visual inspection ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• UKCAT

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Keyword Approach Lesson 5 • The keyword does not necessarily have to be a ‘word’. It can instead be a ‘phrase’, or a selection of two words.

Importance of Step 1 of the Keyword Approach Imagine you had a passage about the growing popularity magazines. Each paragraph discussed different types of publication, such as sport magazines, travel magazines, or cooking magazines. “Magazines relating to football are becoming increasingly popular” • True • False • Can’t Tell From the passage topic, we know that ‘magazine’ will not be a good keyword as it appears in most paragraphs. Whereas ‘football’ would be a brilliant key word. Now reverse the situation.… Imagine the passage was all about football. Each paragraph explored different elements of the sport, such as football on TV, local academies, football literature and magazines. In this scenario, a good keyword is ‘magazine’, and a weak keyword is ‘football’. This shows you the value of reading the first 2 lines of the passage to gauge the general topic and help you pick the right keyword.

Keyword

Pick a keyword which doesn’t appear too often in the passage

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Keyword Approach Lesson 5

Keywords appearing multiple times When you find the keyword, look for the answer in the sentences around it, as per the Keyword Approach: • If you find a reference to the question information, then you can be generally satisfied that you have found the right section of text. Choose the answer and move on. • If you do not find a reference to the question information, then you may be inclined to choose ‘Can’t Tell’ and move on. But the keyword may appear again later on in the passage, so do a quick scan to see if there are multiple references

Keywords that do not appear in the passage Sometimes the keyword will not appear in the passage. In this situation you have to assess the passage and decide on your approach appropriately. If you believe that the answer is ‘Can’t Tell’, choose this and move on. If you feel that the answer is still hidden somewhere, try a different approach to find it: • Check again- if you have rushed your search, it is sometimes worth scanning the passage again for the keyword. • Synonyms- you should search for synonyms or rephrasing of the keyword. For example, the keyword ‘holiday’ may instead appear as ‘vacation’ or ‘trip’. • Alternative keyword- you can choose a different keyword if you are confident the passage will have a reference to the information in the question.

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Keyword Approach Lesson 5

Practice 3: Spotting Keywords

The Final Straw for Recyclers A waste disposal firm has stepped into the row over hard-to-recycle products by demanding a tax on plastic drinking straws. The firm, BusinessWaste, says manufacturers should revert to old-style paper straws, which biodegrade. Plastic straws were described as "the ultimate in human wastefulness" by the firm. It follows news that the most hated products for recyclers are Pringles and Lucozade Sport. BusinessWaste's spokesman Mark Hall said: "A plastic straw has a lifespan of around 20 minutes, and then it's thrown away. "Where recycling facilities exist, most pubs and bars don't bother separating out used straws to recycle because it's fiddly, and - frankly - they've been in the mouth of a stranger. They are pretty much the ultimate in human waste, and a problem that can so easily be solved with very little effort.” The firm suggests a 5p plastic straw tax, in the footsteps of the plastic bag tax, which has radically cut the use of single-use bags. It also takes aim at adults who use drinking straws. Mr Hall added: "Face the facts, you're not eight years old. Only kids need a straw with their fizzy pop. Why on earth do you need a straw in your Gin and Tonic? A plastic bottle tax was considered by the government earlier in the year but abandoned after manufacturers pointed out the costs in establishing proper recycling schemes.

4. Which of the following is true? A. B. C. D.

Plastic straws are non-biodegradable Gin and Tonic is normally served with a plastic straw. Lucozade Sport are against the move to tax plastic straws Restaurants do not re-use plastic straws.

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Keyword Approach Lesson 5

Practice 4: Spotting Keywords

The Rise of Contactless Payment The use of contactless payments in the first half of the year outstripped use in the whole of 2015 as consumers switched from cash to cards. Spending and the number of transactions on contactless were higher in January to June than all of last year, figures from the UK Cards Association show. Contactless now accounts for 18% of card spending - up from 7% a year ago, the data shows. The average contactless transaction is for £8.60. This suggests that marketing by the card companies to encourage the use of contactless for small retail purchases particularly food and drink - has worked. Use is high in London, reflecting the common use of contactless by commuters on the capital's transport system. Cash is still the most common method of payment despite the increasingly popularity of contactless card use and online shopping. "Contactless cards are firmly entrenched as the preferred way to pay for millions of consumers, who expect to be able to use them for everyday purchases," said Richard Koch, head of policy at the UK Cards Association. The one-off spending limit on contactless cards rose from £20 to £30 in September last year, but some major retailers do not accept this method of payment. Research by Barclaycard earlier this year suggested that Britons over the age of 60 were the fastest growing group of people taking to contactless card payments.

5. The majority of people spend above £8 on a contactless transaction. A. True B. False C. Can’t tell

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Passage Adjustments Lesson 6 Remember that passage and statement can have a slight adjustment that changes the interpretation of the answer entirely. 


Spotting Slight Adjustments Question statements may be very similar to phrases in the passage, and this can often trick you into choosing the wrong answer. Therefore it is essential to read the sentences around the keyword carefully, word to word, from the start to end. Remember, you are skim reading to find the keyword. But once you have found the keyword, you are reading the sentence before to sentence after very carefully.

Example Passage “The number of speeding tickets issued in the UK has grown significantly with the implementation of new technology in modern cars. The technology enables cars to accelerate much more efficiently, and often the driver does not realise the high pace they are travelling at. Mark Watson, in the Road and Traffic Incidents Report, described his shock that ’65% of electric cars have been built with this new technology’. With the media fixation on modern safety and with widespread scrutiny of any single accident, it is becoming more important than ever to drive safely and carefully.” Nearly two-thirds of cars have been built with the new technology discussed in the passage. A. True B. False C. Can’t tell

A good keyword would be ‘two-thirds’, bearing in mind that you may have to look out for a numerical figure. This takes us to the line ’65% of electric cars have been built with this new technology’.

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Passage Adjustments Lesson 6 You could easily fixate on the terms ’65%’ and ‘cars’, and be tricked into thinking this statement is True. However, there is a slight adjustment in the passage, because the passage discusses ‘electric cars’ whereas the statement is generic to all ‘cars’. The answer is therefore Can’t Tell.

Other Examples of Passage Adjustments Passage

Question Statement

“2015 brought a rise in temperature in London”

Can’t Tell - the statement “In 2015, temperatures is true for London, but not in the UK increased’ the whole of the UK

“With new features such as fingerprint detection and a wider “The iPhone has the screen, the iPhone is slowly biggest share of the becoming one of the key dominant market” players in the mobile phone market” “Ristorante Pizza has a received glowing reviews in this morning’s BBC Food Blog. The blog described the quality standard of the pizza, and cited the userfriendly packaging as a big bonus”

“Ristorante Pizza has easy-to-use packaging, and is easy to cook quickly”

Analysis

Can't Tell- it has a big share, but we do not know that it is the biggest

Can't Tell- even though the first point is right, and the second could be plausible, we cannot be sure that it is easy to cook rapidly.

How can I spot a Passage Adjustment? • If you ready very carefully around the keyword, you should avoid the trap of a Passage Adjustment. • If you see the exact same wording between statement and passage, be on the alert. In most cases the passage will have synonyms and reworded the correct answer. If the statement is ‘The annual increase in interest rates has led to…’, and the passage has the exact same wording, then there may be a slight one word adjustment. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• UKCAT

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Passage Adjustments Lesson 6

Practice 5: Passage Adjustments


The Final Straw for Recyclers A waste disposal firm has stepped into the row over hard-to-recycle products by demanding a tax on plastic drinking straws. The firm, BusinessWaste, says manufacturers should revert to old-style paper straws, which biodegrade. Plastic straws were described as "the ultimate in human wastefulness" by the firm. It follows news that the most hated products for recyclers are Pringles and Lucozade Sport. BusinessWaste's spokesman Mark Hall said: "A plastic straw has a lifespan of around 20 minutes, and then it's thrown away. "Where recycling facilities exist, most pubs and bars don't bother separating out used straws to recycle because it's fiddly, and - frankly - they've been in the mouth of a stranger. They are pretty much the ultimate in human waste, and a problem that can so easily be solved with very little effort.” The firm suggests a 5p plastic straw tax, in the footsteps of the plastic bag tax, which has radically cut the use of single-use bags. It also takes aim at adults who use drinking straws. Mr Hall added: "Face the facts, you're not eight years old. Only kids need a straw with their fizzy pop. Why on earth do you need a straw in your Gin and Tonic? A plastic bottle tax was considered by the government earlier in the year but abandoned after manufacturers pointed out the costs in establishing proper recycling schemes. 6. There are currently no proper recycling facilities for plastic straws. A. True B. False C. Can’t Tell 7. The government had considered enforcing a tax on plastic straws in 2017. A. True B. False C. Can’t Tell

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Writer Questions Lesson 7 Adapt your approach for Writer Questions to help you find the writer’s strongest opinion, the overall conclusion or simply identify an opinion.


 Introduction to Writer Questions Writer Questions are centred around the writer’s opinion. For example: • Which of the following would the author most likely agree with? • Which of the following does the author cite as a reason for the recession? • The author’s strongest stated opinion is… For these questions we should only worry about the view of the author, not facts or statistics unless the writer has given an opinion on them.

Writer Question Approach You can use the keyword approach again for Writer Questions. It is, however, particularly important to do step 1 thoroughly, and it is often worth reading the last few lines of the passage too: 1.

Read the first two lines and last two lines of the passage to understand the general author opinion

2.

Pick a keyword from the question statement

3.

Search the passage to find the keyword. Read from the sentence before to the sentence after.

4.

Eliminate the incorrect answers and select the correct one.

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Writer Questions Lesson 7

Finding the Conclusion of the Passage The conclusion is the overall opinion of the passage. It can often be found at the end in the last paragraph, but the writer may also mention it in the first sentence of the passage and go on to discuss and justify the conclusion throughout the passage.

Finding the Writer’s Strongest Opinion • The writer’s most strongly stated opinion will tend to be found in the conclusion of the passage, so that is the best place to look. • The strongest stated opinion may be mentioned the most number of times, or it could be a topic discussed in the most detail. • When a question asks you for the writer’s strongest opinion, all of the options may be views held by the author. Therefore if you find a reference to statement A, for example, do not automatically assume that is the answer. You should check each option and find the strongest view. • Ideally the strongest view will be surrounded by an indicator phrase: ‘Most important of all…’ ‘The most pressing issue…’ ‘…. is very important’

Timing for Writer Questions Author questions can be quite time-consuming because to understand the writer opinion you sometimes have to read several lines. Therefore be wary not to spend too much time on them if you cannot reach the answer.




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Writer Questions Lesson 7


 Official UKCAT Passage: Writer Questions
 Unlike the rest of the questions in the book, this is not a Medic Mind Question. Instead it is an official past UKCAT Question from the UKCAT website. We want to show you how to apply our techniques to a past exam question beyond just the Medic Mind Questions which fill the rest of this book.

Decline in Golf The team turned up at the usual time — 9:15 on Saturday morning. Though it had rained for most of the summer, leaving the ground soft and very muddy, the course was still open for play. Under these conditions the green keepers would have normally closed the course in order to preserve the greens. However, due to the economic downturn, many ‘normal’ things no longer happen. Golf clubs have been hit hard in these financially difficult times, with many now offering huge discounts to encourage membership. Many clubs are forced to keep the grounds open when they may have normally closed so that ‘pay and play’ members can support the club and add to the takings. More affluent clubs are surviving by diversifying and opening their facilities for private hire and various other functions and events. Traditionally golf has always been seen as the sport for those with more time and money on their hands. It has very much been the domain of the male population, in particular those who have clinched important business deals while playing 18 holes. In more recent years it has won favour with a wide variety of people from different walks of life, and involved more women than ever before. However it is a leisure activity and when finances are tight, people are choosing not to spend large sums on membership fees and even on ‘pay and play’. Even older retired people are feeling the pinch of financial uncertainty and golf is once again seen as a luxury that people can live without in order to save money. This is unfortunate as we have a larger population of older people than ever before. If more affordable, golf is a beneficial activity in terms of exercise and social interaction, both of which are so important to an ageing population who may suffer from loneliness and depression.

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Writer Questions Lesson 7

8. Which change would the author most likely make in order to increase the popularity of golf? A. B. C. D.

Extend opening hours Returf the green Reduce membership rates Introduce discounts for businesses

9. According to the passage, the author believes that golf: A. B. C. D.

Is accessible to everyone Should be a luxury Is a man’s game Improves well-being

10. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage? A. B. C. D.

Playing golf is now the best exercise for elderly people Playing golf is cheaper now than it ever has been Fewer people play golf now than have done previously More women play golf now than businessmen

11. The author suggests that which of the following is happening as a result of the economic downturn? A. B. C. D.

Golf clubs are looking for alternative ways of generating income Only the more affluent golf clubs are surviving financially All the clubs are now staying open when conditions are unfit for play More of the population are suffering from loneliness and depression




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Type 1 Statement Questions Lesson 8 Be able to approach Type 1 Questions by selecting a single keyword in the question stem, but working quickly to assess 4 statements in time. 
 Variety of Questions in Verbal Reasoning 
 One of the trickiest aspects of Verbal Reasoning is the sheer variety of questions you get. This requires you to continually adjust your approach. • Type 2 Statements are the most time pressurised because you have to pick multiple keywords. We will explore these in Lesson 8. • Type 1 Statements are still very time pressurised, although you can normally find a single keyword in the question stem. We will explore these in this lesson. • Writer Questions require lots of reading, and they can be quite tricky. To find a fact you might have to read one line, but to find an opinion you might have to read a whole paragraph, so Writer Questions are time pressured. • Scientific and Factual Passages tend to have good keywords, even if the passages seem quite abstract. They are therefore less time pressured than Writer Questions. • True, False, Questions are the least time pressurised type of question.

Increasing Time Pressure

Type 2 Statement Questions Type 1 Statement Questions Scientific and Factual Passages Writer Questions True, False, Can’t Tell

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Type 1 Statements Lesson 8

True, False, Can’t Tell questions have 3 options (True, False, Can’t Tell). Statement questions have 4 options (all different statements).


Type 1 Question

Type 2 Question

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Type 1 Statements Lesson 8

Challenges of Statement Questions •

You have to read 4 statements = time-consuming

•

The statements can be unrelated = confusing

•

Each statement may need its own keyword = time-consuming

•

There are four options instead of three = difficult to eliminate or guess

Type 1 Statement Questions Although tougher than True, False, Can’t Tell questions, General Questions are manageable if you follow our step-by-step approach. The Type 1 Statement question has a question with four statements relating to the topic. There is a common theme amongst the four answer options, as they all relate to the question in a similar way.

Type 1 Question Approach We have learnt the Keyword Approach so far. This is the same technique we will use for each question type, although we have to adapt it slightly. For a Type 1 question the challenge is greater because you have more information to assess - 4 statements instead of 1. Yet again, follow the same approach: 1.

Read the first two lines of the passage to understand the general topic

2.

Pick a keyword from the question statement

3.

Search the passage to find the keyword. Read from the sentence before to the sentence after.

4.

Eliminate the incorrect answers and select the correct one. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• UKCAT

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Type 1 Statements Lesson 8

Sometimes the route to the correct answer will be by eliminating the wrong answers. This is a particularly useful tactic for General Questions. Be on the look out for anything that doesn’t seem right for a statement. Once you see a slight doubt, be quick to eliminate.

Practice 6: Type 1 Questions


The Final Straw for Recyclers A waste disposal firm has stepped into the row over hard-to-recycle products by demanding a tax on plastic drinking straws. The firm, BusinessWaste, says manufacturers should revert to old-style paper straws, which biodegrade. Plastic straws were described as "the ultimate in human wastefulness" by the firm. It follows news that the most hated products for recyclers are Pringles and Lucozade Sport. BusinessWaste's spokesman Mark Hall said: "A plastic straw has a lifespan of around 20 minutes, and then it's thrown away. "Where recycling facilities exist, most pubs and bars don't bother separating out used straws to recycle because it's fiddly, and - frankly - they've been in the mouth of a stranger. They are pretty much the ultimate in human waste, and a problem that can so easily be solved with very little effort.” The firm suggests a 5p plastic straw tax, in the footsteps of the plastic bag tax, which has radically cut the use of single-use bags. It also takes aim at adults who use drinking straws. Mr Hall added: "Face the facts, you're not eight years old. Only kids need a straw with their fizzy pop. Why on earth do you need a straw in your Gin and Tonic? A plastic bottle tax was considered by the government earlier in the year but abandoned after manufacturers pointed out the costs in establishing proper recycling schemes. 12. Which of the following is not a view expressed by Mark Hall in the passage? A. Plastic straws do not get recycled enough by pubs and bars B. The plastic bag tax is a successful example of a scheme which should also be used for plastic straws. C. In reality no one needs a plastic straw for their beverage D. The waste of plastic bottles is a smaller problem than the issue of plastic straws.

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Type 2 Statement Questions Lesson 9 Be able to approach Type 2 Questions by selecting a keyword for each statement, and decide tactically which statement to assess first. 
 Type 2 Statement Questions In Type 2 Statement Questions there will be no keyword in the statement of the question. Instead, the statement will be generic, for example: • Which of the following statements is true? • Which of the following statements is the author most likely to support?

Type 2 Question Approach As the statement is generic, you won’t be able to find a keyword in the question stem. Therefore you have to look at the statements to find your keywords. 1. Read the first two lines of the passage to understand the general topic 2. Find a keyword for the first statement, and search. 3. Repeat for each statement, knocking them out one by one until you find the answer. • If two statements are remotely related, you may be able to use a single keyword for each. • Start with the statement which you suspect is right using your gut instinct, rather than always starting with A. • If you cannot find a keyword for a statement be ruthless and move on to the next statement. Unlike the previous question types, with Type 2 you have multiple keywords, so you do not have time to check again, look closely for synonyms or try a different keyword for the same statement. 


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Type 2 Statements Lesson 9

Practice 7: Type 2 Questions


The Rise of Contactless Payment The use of contactless payments in the first half of the year outstripped use in the whole of 2015 as consumers switched from cash to cards. Spending and the number of transactions on contactless were higher in January to June than all of last year, figures from the UK Cards Association show. Contactless now accounts for 18% of card spending - up from 7% a year ago, the data shows. The average contactless transaction is for £8.60. This suggests that marketing by the card companies to encourage the use of contactless for small retail purchases - particularly food and drink - has worked. Use is high in London, reflecting the common use of contactless by commuters on the capital's transport system. Cash is still the most common method of payment despite the increasingly popularity of contactless card use and online shopping. "Contactless cards are firmly entrenched as the preferred way to pay for millions of consumers, who expect to be able to use them for everyday purchases," said Richard Koch, head of policy at the UK Cards Association. The one-off spending limit on contactless cards rose from £20 to £30 in September last year, but some major retailers do not accept this method of payment. Research by Barclaycard earlier this year suggested that Britons over the age of 60 were the fastest growing group of people taking to contactless card payments. 13. Which of the following statements can be inferred from the passage? A. People use contactless cards more often than cash payments. B. London has the highest number of contactless users in the UK. C. The majority of Britons using contactless payment are over 60. D. Contactless payment is often used for purchasing transport 14. Which of these statements about contactless payment is false? A. Many people consider contactless as their ideal payment method B. Transport for London have security concerns over contactless transactions on the underground. C. The one-off limit on contactless spending rose by one-third to £30. D. Contactless is a common payment method for food and drink.

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Scientific and Factual Passages Lesson 10 Be able to recognise factual passages, and ensure you do not get overwhelmed by abstract facts and difficult language.

What is a Factual Passage? Some passages will be very factual heavy, often based on scientific topics. • These passages can be quite abstract and difficult to understand. Therefore it is more important than ever to not waste time reading too much • Keywords can be much easier to find, because factual passages include more figures, dates and specialised terms.

Timing for Factual Passages Scientific passages will be easier to handle than opinion based writer questions, even if they are harder to understand. With opinion passages, you have to read several lines to grasp a single point, but with scientific passages the answers tend to be concentrated in single lines.

Medic Mind Tip for Factual Passages Do not get bogged down in the technicalities of factual or scientific terms. The UKCAT loves to throw difficult terms and language at you, but often these terms are distractors. Focus on the keyword and essential information.

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Timing Tips Lesson 11 Learn Medic Mind’s Timing Strategies to save you time in the exam.

Guessing and Moving On Some questions will require more than 30 seconds, and it can be worth spending those extra few seconds to secure the mark. But how do you know whether you should invest the extra time? • If you have eliminated 1 option by the 30 second mark, then guess out of the remaining 3 and move on • If you have eliminated 2 options by the 30 second mark, you have done most of the work so it is worth spending an extra 15 seconds to get the right answer.

Pressure of Time!

First Question in a Set 1 If you are doing the first question in a set, bear in mind two things: • Spending extra time on the first question in a set will help you understand the passage more, which will help you for the remaining three questions. Whereas spending extra time on the fourth question in a set will have no future benefit, so be more stringent. • If you are stuck on the first question, you can always move on to the next three and you might discover the answer as you learn more about the passage.

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2 3 4

Timing Tips Lesson 11

Flagging Questions In the UKCAT you can flag a question and return back to it later. However, you should be careful when you use this function: • Never flag without putting in an answer, even if it is a guess. If you do not get time to come back, at least you will then have an answer prepared • If you flag the 1st or 2nd question in a set, try to come back to it quickly when you have finished the 4th question in that set. This will save you time, because it can be quite difficult to re-familiarise yourself with a passage at the end.

Flagging Function

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Timing Tips Lesson 11

Using the whiteboard for flagging Before you start the test, number your white board 1 to 44. During the exam when you flag questions you want to distinguish between the questions you completely guessed, and the ones you would ideally like more time over: • If you completely guessed a question, put an G (guess) next to the relevant number. You want to return to these first. • If you answered a question but were not 100% sure over the answer and would like more time to re-check, put an U (unsure) next to the relevant number. You want to return to these last, only if you have luxury time (quite rare). By doing this, you avoid having a situation whereby you finish with lots of flagged questions, and unsure on what to return to first.


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


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Reverse Questions Lesson 12 Recognise Reverse questions and understand the variation that can present in this question type. 
 What is a Reverse Question? In the UKCAT most Statement Questions will ask you to pick the ‘true statement’ or the ‘author’s opinion’. However, sometimes you might see a Reverse Question, whereby the question is flipped on its head. For example: Which of the following is ‘not true’? Which of these is not an opinion held by the author?

Reverse Question Approach Reverse Questions can be tricky. Here are some tips from the Medic Mind Experts for questions asking you to find the ‘False’ Statement: • Identify the reverse- first and foremost make sure that you detect the reverse question, and realise that you are looking for a ‘false’ statement rather than a ‘true’ one. Many UKCAT candidates barely read the question stem and hence miss this crucial point. • Work by elimination - try to find Statement A in the passage, if it is present and true, knock it out. Do this for every statement, and the one left could be your answer. • Time pressures - with normal statement questions you are looking to match one statement with the passage. Here you might have to find 3 statement references to knock them all out. This is very time consuming, so don’t be scared to flag and move on after 30s.

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Reverse Questions Lesson 12

Variation in Reverse Questions The approach can vary depending on the type of reverse question. The below table can get slightly theory-heavy, so don’t get bogged down by it. In effect, it is showing you that the correct answer can either be False (and be found in the passage), or Can’t tell (and not necessarily found in the passage).

Question Stem

Correct option

“Which of the following is not mentioned by the author?”

"Which of the following is false?”

“Which of the following is not an opinion held by the author?”

Advised Method

Can’t Tell The statement will probably not be mentioned in the passage.

True The other 3 statements will be mentioned in the passage.

Work by elimination only

False You might find a reference in the passage which contradicts the statement.

True or Can’t Tell These can be True or Can’t Tell. In effect, they don’t all have to be mentioned in the passage.

Work by elimination + finding which statement is contradicted in the passage

Cant’ Tell or False This is a blend of the first two. It may not be mentioned or could be contradicted.

True or Can’t Tell Again this is a blend of the above. The author may mention these 3 and not the correct answer,

Work by elimination + finding which statement is contradicted in the passage

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Timing Contingencies Lesson 13 Learn Medic Mind’s Timing Contingencies for when you are really short of time, and develop a guessing strategy.

What if you are running out of time? With the techniques you have learnt today, we hope that you will not run out of time on the Verbal Reasoning. But from our research a huge proportion of candidates fail to finish Verbal Reasoning each year, even if they have finished during most mock tests. Therefore we have devised two contingency strategies for you. It is to be prepared for a situation where you have to do 10 questions in 2 minutes incase it does arise.

Contingency Strategy 1: Rabbit Pace You have 5 minutes left to answer 15 questions. • Extreme Language- use this technique and the Keyword approach together. You can still look for keywords, but be much more ruthless and answer based on Extreme Language if the passage doesn’t give you quick hints. • Be unforgiving- you cannot hesitate with knocking out now. You don’t have time to double-think your answer. • No time to check incorrect options- if you think A is the answer, then you can double check A with the passage, but do not go through the incorrect options to make sure they are false.

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Timing Contingencies Lesson 13

Contingency Strategy 2: Cheetah Pace You have 5 minutes left to answer 20 questions. In this scenario you have to use the above approaches, but be even more ruthless and fast. In addition to the Rabbit Pace tips, here are our tips to get to Cheetah pace: • No time to check even correct answer- if you think A could be the answer, then you do not even have time to make 100% sure. Just go on the hint or gut instinct and move on. • Do not leave any question unanswered- if you have 10 questions in one minute, then make sure you have at least put an answer down for each one.

Random Guess vs. Quality Guess Many UKCAT candidates would spend 4 minutes rush answering 12 question, and then 1 minute choosing option A for each of the remaining 8 questions. This is a random guess. We would suggest spending 3 minutes rush answering, and then spend extra time guessing. You can then have a few seconds per question to guess based on Extreme Language, common sense, and your gut instinct. This is a quality guess, and it can make a huge difference to your score. For example, for the question below, we can use extreme language to knock out A and B, and general knowledge to knock out D. Of course this is a far from fool-proof method for getting the correct answer, but it is the best way to guess effectively.

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Correlation vs. Causation Lesson 14 Be able to distinguish between Causation and Correlation.

Correlation and Causation Correlation vs. Causation

Example

Causation is when X has caused Y

“Since 2002, the rise in smoking has led to an increase in the number of patients suffering heart attacks”

Correlation is when X and Y have both “Since 2002, there has been a rise in the changed in a certain way, but they could be number of smokers and the number of completely unrelated. patients suffering heart attacks”

In the UKCAT they will try to trick you by putting two sentences next together which are not actually related. This emphasises the importance of reading carefully once you have found the keyword.

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Correlation vs. Causation Lesson 14


 Opinion vs. Fact In the UKCAT you need to distinguish between the use of opinion and fact. Of course, every passage has a writer, and technically you can say that nothing is fact as it is based on the credibility of the author. However, we always assume that the passage is correct. So only consider something opinion if it is quoted or shown to be someone’s opinion.

Laptops in Classrooms “Mark Alderwield has expressed his concern about the use of laptops in school classrooms. With the technological advancements of the modern era, we are seeing students bringing laptops, iPads and other gadgets to the school classroom. Originally a place for the traditional pen and paper, many are questioning the effect these gadgets are having on classroom concentration. Mr. Alderwield says ‘Concentration in classes has declined significantly due to the use of laptops. Many students play games or explore the internet, whilst the teacher assumes they are making notes on the lesson content. It is essential that the government places a ban on laptops in school classrooms to prevent a predictable decline in student grades’. “The use of laptops in classrooms affects concentration”. A. True B. False C. Can’t Tell

The answer to this question is Can’t Tell. The passage cites a correlation, but it is an opinion of Mark Alderwield rather than something based on research. Additionally, the language used in the statement is quite extreme, so even if research has been done we cannot be sure there is causation. In the UKCAT, they will often use a person’s opinion to express a link or trend. Be careful, as this does not mean that a link exists - it is just one person’s opinion. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• UKCAT

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Verbal Reasoning - Test Day Lesson 15 Be prepared for Test Day and plan your Verbal Reasoning revision effectively using our week by week revision plan.

When will this section be? Verbal Reasoning is the first section on test day. You will most likely be very nervous, so settle yourself down before you click ‘Start’.

What will I get in the test? • Whiteboard - as with all other sections you get your whiteboard the write on. Re-visit the section on Timing Tips for our guidance on how to use it effectively. • Flag Function - you can mark the question to re-visit after. Again, refer back to Timing Tips for guidance on how to optimise this feature. • Breaks - between each section you can take a break, and as the Instruction Time only begins once you click ‘Start’. Take a deep breath before you start Verbal Reasoning. 
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Verbal Reasoning - Test Day Lesson 15 Consolidate techniques Consolidate the techniques you have learnt on with us. Read through this course guide in detail, and make sure you understand each tutorial. Use questions to supplement the theory.

4 weeks




3 weeks to go - Practicing Questions It is time to really work on the theory with hundreds of questions. Initially, you do not want to worry too much about timing, but instead on getting the theory correct. Make sure you are using the Keyword Approach correctly, spotting Passage Adjustments, looking for Extreme Language.

3 weeks

2.5 weeks to go - Focus on Timing You now want to work to the UKCAT timer. Verbal Reasoning is the most time pressured section, so you need to become disciplined and learn to work fast. You can also work on the skill of skim reading by using newspapers or journals.

2.5 weeks

2 weeks to go - Full Mock Work on doing mock after mock for Verbal Reasoning. You need to get into the rhythm of working to the UKCAT time pressures.

2 weeks

1.5 weeks to go - Revisit Theory Use our online tutorials and course booklet to re-visit theory before the course day. You will find that you understand and visualise the techniques in a completely different way than before, and you will realise how far you have come!

1.5 weeks

1 week to go - Build Concentration Verbal Reasoning requires intense concentration, so you need to build up your concentration. Practice doing three Verbal Reasoning mocks back-to-back.

1 week

3 days to go - Adapt to Test Conditions You should have been working to UKCAT timing before, but now you should really replicate the exact format. Use a whiteboard or A4 sheet of paper. Go to your local library and do a section on the old-fashioned computers they tend to have there - it is harder to read and navigate on these, and this is what the UKCAT computer will be like.

3 days

3 days

1 day to go - Consolidate and Relax Consolidate the techniques by scanning through the 20 tutorials (hopefully you will be good at scan reading by now!), and then relax!

1 day

Test Day - Do three practice passages You need to get yourself into the right mindset for Verbal Reasoning. You will be nervous going into the test, so reading 3 passages before will help you settle down and be ready for the challenge. Do this in the car on the way there, or before you leave home.

Test Day

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Tips from the Experts Lesson 16 Here is some advice from the Medic Mind Experts.

1. Do Not Panic “When you first do a mock and barely finish half the questions in the time it is terrifying” Verbal Reasoning can be very overwhelming at first due to the time pressures you face. When you first begin, you are probably not applying the correct techniques and are falling in to the timing traps the UKCAT springs. Do not panic. Along with Abstract Reasoning, Verbal Reasoning is the section which sees the most improvement with practice.

2. Use the Keyword Technique “To begin with I was stubborn and insisted on reading the passage. I soon realised this was a recipe for disaster” It is not in your nature to skip the passage in a comprehension question. And it feels uneasy at first. But the Keyword approach is the only way to success in Verbal Reasoning. Remember to adapt the approach based on the question type you have. For example, for Type 2 Statement questions you have to pick a different keyword for each statement.

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Tips from the Experts Lesson 16

3. Don’t be Afraid to Guess “I found myself spending 2 minutes on a single question due to my stubborn desire to answer every question correctly” You may be used to answering every question in an exam. And this can be the biggest downfall for some very bright candidates, because they are often unwilling to move on after 30 seconds. Be strict with yourself throughout - it is in your own good!

4. Have a Flexible Approach “Having specific theories for each question type is invaluable, but each question is different so you have to adapt” Each question you face will be different. We suggest using the keyword approach throughout, but if you have a statement question for a 7 line passage, it may not be time efficient to pick a separate keyword for each option and search. It could be faster to read the passage to find the answer. On Test Day the Medic Mind techniques will be of incredible use to you, but also have room for flexibility.

5. Be Ready for the Start “I began the test a nervous wreck, and all the techniques I learnt went out of the window for the first 10 minutes. Once I finally settled down, I had wasted half my time!” Before you begin you have to calm yourself down. Revisit the techniques in your head. Do not panic and resort to new techniques you have never used before. The ‘Verbal Reasoning Test Day’ tutorial has some useful tips, such as reading some passages before you enter on test day, to get your mind in the flow of reading huge chunks of text. 
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Summary and Overview Lesson 17 Summarise and review each tutorial to achieve your Medic Mind.

Lesson

Objective ?

1

Gain a brief understanding of the different question types and the timing of the section.

2

Be able to define a True, False and Can’t Tell statement.

3

Know when you can and can’t use inferences to judge whether something is True or Can’t Tell.

4

Be able to spot extreme phrases by looking at qualifiers such as ‘might’ and ‘always’ to help you determine whether something is True, False or Can’t Tell.

5

Learn Medic Mind’s Keyword Approach

6

Understand that the passage and statement will have a slight adjustment that changes the meaning and interpretation of the answer entirely.

7

Be able to know how to approach writer questions

8

Be able to know how to approach Type 1 Statement Questions.

9

Be able to know how to approach Type 2 Statement Questions.

10

Be able to differentiate between a scientific and factual passage and adapt your approach accordingly.

11

Learn Medic Mind’s Timing Strategies to save you time in the exam.

12

Be able to know how to approach Reverse Questions

13

Learn Medic Mind’s Timing Contingencies when you are really short of time.

14

Be able to differentiate between correlation and causation.

15

Know how to approach Test Day

16

See what the experts have to say on how to approach Verbal Reasoning

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Summary and Overview Lesson 17

Lesson 1: Introduction to Verbal Reasoning


Timing • • • •

Different Question Types

21 minutes 11 passages 44 questions 30 seconds per question

• • • • •

True, False, Can’t Tell Type 1 Statement Type 2 Statement Writer Reverse


Lesson 2: True, False, Can’t Tell • A statement can be True if it is directly stated or it is an inference from the passage • A statement can be False if it is directly contradicted or you it has gone beyond the information of the passage. • A statement can be Can’t Tell if you cannot be certain based on the passage. You cannot use external knowledge.

Lesson 3: Using Inferences • You can infer from the passage information to deduct that a statement is true, even if it is not directly stated. • Often there can be a split between True and Can’t Tell • Use the wording of the question to help you determine whether an inference can become true, or whether it is too big an assumption.

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Summary and Overview Lesson 17

Lesson 4: Extreme Language Mild Phrases

Extreme Phrases

Tend to be True

Tend to be False or Can’t Tell

Might, could, sometimes, one of the best

Will always, definitely, every time, the best

“Sea levels will rise in the next 10 years”

“Sea levels will most likely rise in the next 10 years”

Lesson 5: Keyword Approach Step by Step Technique 1. Read the first two lines of the passage 2. Pick a keyword from the question stem 3. Find the keyword in the passage, and read from the sentence before to the sentence after 4. Eliminate the wrong answers and select the correct one. Using the Keyword Approach • Good keywords are dates, numbers and nouns. • Keywords should not appear all over the passage • The keyword can be a phrase or a synonym of the statement word • If a keyword doesn’t appear in the passage, you can: Search again for the same keyword Pick and alternative keyword Look for synonyms Choose can’t tell

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Summary and Overview Lesson 17

Lesson 6: Passage Adjustments • Sometimes the passage and statement will be very similar but there will be a slight adjustment, as small as one word, which changes the answer completely. • If you see the exact same wording for most of the sentence in both the passage and statement be on alert for a passage adjustment • Remember - scan quickly to find your keyword, but once you have found it read very carefully.

Lesson 7: Writer Questions • An example of a Writer question is “Which of the following would the author most likely agree with?”. • Spend slightly more time reading the passage if required for Step 1 • The last paragraph is the most likely place to find the conclusion or strongest opinion of the passage • Writer questions can often be time consuming and it can be difficult to pick good keywords. So if you have to move on after 30s, do so.

Lesson 8: Type 1 Statement Questions • In Type 1 questions you can find a keyword in the question stem, and the statements are related around the question stem • Statement questions are time consuming so be careful not to spend too long • Elimination is particularly useful for statement questions.

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Summary and Overview Lesson 17

Lesson 9: Type 2 Statement Questions • In Type 2 questions the question stem is generic, so you need to pick a different keyword for each statement. The statements are likely to be unrelated. • Type 2 questions are even more taxing, as you have to pick 4 keywords. Yet again, be wary of spending too long. • You have to be ruthless in eliminating, and you will not have time to double check.

Lesson 10: Scientific and Factual Passages • Scientific and Factual passages can be difficult and abstract. To avoid getting confused, ignore unnecessary terms and information which is there to distract and confuse you. • Keywords should be easier to find, as date and scientific terms are easier to find. In general the keyword approach works well for these passages, in contrast to Writer questions where you may have to read several lines to gauge the point. • Type 2 questions are even more taxing, as you have to pick 4 keywords. Yet again, be wary of spending too long.

Lesson 11: Timing Strategies Guessing and Moving On By the 30 second mark: • If you have eliminated 1 out of 4, just guess and move on. • If you have eliminated 2 out of 4, invest an extra 15 seconds. First Question in a Set • Spending extra time on the first question of a set will help you understand the passage more, so will help you later on for the next three questions. Whereas, if you are doing question four, be less willing to spend extra time. 
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Summary and Overview Lesson 17

Flagging Questions • Never flag without putting a guess down at the very minimum • If you were stuck on the first question, go back to it at the end of the fourth question, rather than at the end. It can be difficult to re-familiarise yourself with the passage if you get time at the end. • Use the whiteboard to write down which answers were complete guesses (G) or answers you were unsure about (U).

Lesson 12: Reverse Questions • An example of a Reverse question is “Which of the following is not true?”. • Working by elimination is the best technique for Reverse questions • The correct answer may be False or Can’t Tell. The incorrect answer can be True or Can’t Tell. Identify what you are looking for because this will help you choose the right approach (see the table in Lesson 11).

Lesson 13: Timing Contingencies Strategy 1: Rabbit Pace

(5 minutes - 15 questions)

• Use the Extreme Language technique to work quickly • Be unforgiving with knocking out - do not hesitate. • Do not check the incorrect options when you have an answer. Strategy 2: Cheetah Pace

(5 minutes - 20 questions)

• Do not even check your selected answer when you have one. • Do not leave any question unanswered in the test

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Summary and Overview Lesson 17

• Opt for quality guessing rather than random guessing. So leave 2 minutes to guess the remaining few using Extreme Language and your gut instinct, rather than 1 minute to select A for every question.

Lesson 14: Causation vs. Correlation • Causation is when X has caused Y. • Correlation is when X and Y have both changed in a certain way, but they could be unrelated. • Causation does not mean correlation. • In the UKCAT there may be an opinion from a person in the passage on link between X and Y. This does not mean a correlation or causation exists - it is just opinion. • They may place two sentences next to each other, and you assume there is a link whilst speed reading.

Lesson 15: Verbal Reasoning - Test Day Test Day • In the test you will have a whiteboard to use for your working • The flag function on screen enables you to mark difficult questions • You can take breaks between sections before you begin the instruction time

Week by Week Plan • 4 weeks to go- consolidate techniques by reading through the course booklet and example questions

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Summary and Overview Lesson 17

• 3 weeks to go- practice questions and adapt the theories you learnt. Timing not essential to begin with, just focus on applying the correct theory. • 2.5 weeks to go - begin working on timing by doing mini-mocks under test conditions. • 2 weeks to go- work on full mocks to develop your skills for the last run • 1.5 weeks to go- revisit the theory taught using the course booklet and online videos • 1 week to go - practice several Verbal Reasoning mocks back to back to develop your concentration skills for test day. • 3 days to go - adapt to test conditions by replicating the conditions. Do a mock in your local library using an old computer and a whiteboard. • 1 day to go - consolidate the techniques briefly and then relax! • Test day - read a few passages before the test to waken up your mind. Good luck!

Lesson 16: Tips from the Experts 1. Do not panic- it can be terrifying when you first do a Verbal Reasoning mock, but stay calm because you will definitely improve if you learn to apply the Medic Mind techniques. 2. Use the keyword technique- it may be against your natural instinct, but you simply cannot read the whole passage. The keyword technique is the best. 3. Don’t be afraid to guess- you cannot get held up for 2 minutes on a single question. You have to be strict with yourself, and guess if needed. 4. Have a flexible approach- do not be too narrow-minded when applying the techniques you have learnt. 5. Be ready for the start- having so much text to read in the first section, when you are naturally nervous, is difficult. So get a good rest, and do some warm up reading to make sure you are ready to go!

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•

UKCAT Mock Test Verbal Reasoning

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Mock Exam Questions • Khmer Rouge Tuol Svay Pray High School sits on a dusty road on the outskirts of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. In 1976, the Khmer Rouge renamed the high school S-21 and turned it into a torture, interrogation and execution center. Of the 14,000 people known to have entered, only seven survived. Not only did the Khmer Rouge carefully transcribe the prisoners' interrogations; they also carefully photographed the vast majority of the inmates and created an astonishing photographic archive. Each of the almost 6,000 S-21 portraits that have been recovered tells a story shock, resignation, confusion, defiance and horror. Although the most gruesome images to come out of Cambodia were those of the mass graves, the most haunting were the portraits taken by the Khmer Rouge at S-21. Today, S-21 Prison is known as the Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocide. Inside the gates, it looks like any high school; five buildings face a grass courtyard with pull-up bars, green lawns and lawn-bowling pitches. The ground-floor classrooms in one building have been left to appear as they were in 1977. The spartan interrogation rooms are furnished with only a school desk-and-chair set that faces a steel bed frame with shackles at each end. On the far wall are the grisly photographs of bloated, decomposing bodies chained to bed frames with pools of wet blood underneath. These were the sights that greeted the two Vietnamese photojournalists who first discovered S-21 in January of 1979. In another building the walls are papered with thousands of S-21 portraits. At first glance, the photograph of a shirtless young man appears typical of the prison photos. Closer inspection reveals that the number tag on his chest has been safety pinned to his pectoral muscle. With a bruised face and a pad-locked chain around his neck, a boy stands with his arms at his sides and looks straight into the camera. A mother with her baby in her arms stares into the camera with a look of indignant resignation. The photographs and confessions were collected in order to prove to the Khmer Rouge leaders that their orders had been carried out 1. A man in one of the portraits has had a 5 digit number tag attached to his chest. A. True B. False C. Can’t Tell 2. The S-21 Prison is also a high school A. True B. False C. Can’t Tell ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• UKCAT

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Mock Exam Questions •

3. The Khmer Rouge contains mass graves. A. True B. False C. Can’t Tell 4. Which of the following statements is true? A. B. C. D.

There were hundreds of survivors S-21 was first discovered in the last month of 1979 Khmer Rouge is found in S-21 The interrogation rooms have no furniture at all.

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Mock Exam Questions • A Paradise to Lose The Amazon region is home to more than one million species of animals and plants – some 60 % of the planet’s species. The rainforest is therefore an irreplaceable archive of biodiversity. But it also performs valuable services for plants and the soil, by binding considerable amounts of carbon dioxide, for instance. Nonetheless, the latest satellite images show that the rainforest is still under threat. Clearcutting continues, to make space for cattle ranches and soybean plantations. Climate change, moreover, is also beginning to threaten the wilderness. In the past 40 years, a rainforest area twice the sizes of France was destroyed in the Amazon basin. Most of this devastation occurred in Brazil, which is home to more than half of the rainforest. Destructive practices continue even today, although the government of Brazil, with international support, is doing quite a bit to put an end to them. However, global demand for agrofuels is increasing, and Brazil’s model of economic development is based on commodity exports. Both the national government and most state governments focus on mass exports of raw agricultural products, such as meat, soybeans and sugarcane. Borges Maggi is the world’s most important soybean producer and the governor of the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso. He says that forest romanticism has no future. He and other agro-millionaires speak of defending the “constitutional right to deforestation” for the sake of Brazil's development. But Marina Silva, Brazil’s environment minister and a former rubber-plantation worker, disagrees. She supports a different development model. As she puts it, if trends are not sustainable, they are not about development, but only about repeating catastrophes.

5. Which of the following conclusions is most likely to be true? A. B. C. D.

Deforestation will cease because of the significant amount of biodiversity. There are people who have a lot to gain economically from deforestation in Brazil Climate change is the biggest threat to the forest Brazil benefits more from deforestation than not.

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Mock Exam Questions • 6. Deforestation should cease because: A. It is affecting the level of tourism in the Amazon as less people are visiting the forest. B. It is not vital to economic development as there are other forms of income. C. Large amounts of the forest are being destroyed at the size which is equivalent of countries. D. A large portion of the animal’s species are contained there and so it could lead to species becoming extinct.

7. According to the passage, the governor of the Brazilian state said that deforestation should continue: A. B. C. D.

To maintain the romanticism of the forest. Because it is allowed to via the constitution. As it will help increase soybean production. For the development of Brazil’s economy.

8. From the information given in the passage, which of the following is not threat to the rainforest?
 A. B. C. D.

Cattle ranches Soybean plantation Tourism Climate change

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Mock Exam Questions • Bread, Beer & Yeast The history of bread and cake starts with Neolithic cooks and marches through time according to ingredient availability, advances in technology, economic conditions, sociocultural influences, legal rights (Medieval guilds), and evolving taste. The earliest breads were unleavened. Variations in grain, thickness, shape, and texture varied from culture to culture. Archaelogical evidence confirms yeast (both as leavening agent and for brewing ale) was used in Egypt as early as 4000 B.C. Food historians generally cite this date for the discovery of leavened bread and genesis of the brewing industry. There is an alternate theory regarding the invention of brewing. Some historians believe it is possible that brewing began when the first cereal crops were domesticated. Sources generally agree the discovery of the powers of yeast was accidental. "No one has yet managed to date the origins of beer with any precision, and it is probably an impossible task. Indeed, there are scholars who have theorized that a taste for ale prompted the beginning of agriculture, in which case humans have been brewing for some 10,000 years...Most archaeological evidence, however, suggests that fermentation was being used in one manner or another by around 4000 to 3500 B.C. Some of this evidence-from an ancient Mesopotamian trading outpost called Godin Tepe in presentday Iran- indicates that barley was being fermented at that location around 3500 B.C. Additional evidence recovered at Hacinegi Tepe (a similar site in southern Turkey) also suggest that ancient Mesopotamians were fermenting barley at a very early date. 9. Yeast was used in 4004 B.C A. True B. False C. Can’t Tell

10. Some historians believe that cereal crops are responsible for the beginning of brewing. A. True B. False C. Can’t Tell 
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Mock Exam Questions •

11. Hacinegi Tepe is only found in Northern Turkey A. True B. False C. Can’t Tell 12. It can be assumed that yeast was discovered accidentally. A. True B. False C. Can’t Tell

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Mock Exam Questions

£60 Fines for Being Late to School Councils are cracking down on tardy children, with parents who don’t pay up facing prosecution. Families have been told they face fines if children are repeatedly late for school, with the threat of prosecution for those who do not pay. Councils and schools in the West Midlands, Hampshire and Essex are among those that have extended the £60 fixed penalties they issue for absenteeism, including holidays in term time, to cases of lateness. Warwickshire county council has issued guidance to say it can fine families if pupils are often late, defined as arriving more than 30 minutes after the register is taken. Winter Gardens Academy in Essex has told parents they can be fined £60 if their children consistently turn up after 9am, rising to £120 if not paid within 21 days. The government’s behaviour tsar said sanctions to improve punctuality could include making children collect litter, remove chewing gum or mop classroom floors before school, a measure used in South Korea, often a leader in academic league tables. He said fines could be used as a last resort. Tom Bennet said parents whose teenage children were regularly late should walk with them. “Most pupils would rather lose an arm than be seen walking up to school with their parents,” he said. Bennet admits he was late for school every day when he was studying for his A-levels. Bennet believes that the increase in technology has had a role in increasing the number of students being late for school, because many are staying up late on their phones. 13. Which of the following statements is false? A. B. C. D.

The implementation of a fine has reduced lateness at school. South Korea has a good academic model. The maximum fine for lateness is £60, if paid within 21 days. The fines for lateness currently exist in three UK districts, including Essex.

14. Which of the following solutions for lateness are not mentioned in the passage? A. B. C. D.

Make parents walk children to school Make students come in on weekends to mop floors and collect litter Impose financial fines Make students remove chewing gum ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• UKCAT

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15. Most students would rather have their arm cut off than walk to school with their parents. A. True B. False C. Can’t tell

16. The use of technology has led to students staying up longer. A. True B. False C. Can’t tell

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Mock Exam Questions • You are what you eat right? You are what your gut microbes eat. And this appears to be one of the reasons giant pandas are struggling to survive. The microbes inside their guts are "optimized to digest meat" -- this despite the fact that pandas have been eating a nearly exclusive diet of bamboo for some 2 million years.

This conclusion comes from researchers' analysis of panda droppings. They collected fecal matter from 45 pandas in the wild -- in spring, summer and fall -- and sequenced the DNA. The findings are published in the microbiology journal mBio.

"The giant panda evolved from omnivorous bears," the study states. "It lives on a bamboo-dominated diet at present, but it still retains a typical carnivorous digestive system and is genetically deficient in cellulose-digesting enzymes.” The paper adds: "The peculiar characteristics of its gut microbiota may put it at high risk of extinction."

The giant panda is arguably the most beloved animal in the world. But despite decades of effort from conservationists (the panda is the symbol of the World Wildlife Fund), the animal remains endangered. Fewer than 2,000 giants pandas live in the wild, and the animals are well known for having trouble reproducing.

There are many reasons for the giant panda's perilous state, but the low diversity of its gut microbes is definitely not helping the situation. It is becoming conventional wisdom that high diversity in gut microbes makes it easier for animals to adapt to changing environments. The giant panda is not adapting.

"Unlike other herbivores that have successfully evolved anatomically specialized digestive systems to efficiently deconstruct fibrous plant matter, the giant panda still retains a gastrointestinal tract typical of carnivores," the researchers write.

17. Gut microbiota is at high risk of infection A. True

B. False

C. Can’t Tell

18. There are less than 2000 giant pandas left in the world. A. True

B. False

C. Can’t Tell

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19. The panda is a herbivore A. True

B. False

C. Can’t Tell

20. mBio is a neurobiology journal A. True

B. False

C. Can’t Tell

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Mock Exam Questions • The History of Pizza The precursor of pizza was probably the focaccia, a flat bread known to the Romans as panis focacius, to which toppings were then added. Modern pizza developed in Naples, when tomato was added to the focaccia in the late 18th century. Neapolitan pizza itself is believed to have originated from a similar dish called Jeyoun. The word pizza was first documented in AD 997 in Gaeta[4] and successively in different parts of Central and Southern Italy. Pizza was mainly eaten in the country of Italy and by emigrants from there. This changed after World War II, when Allied troops stationed in Italy came to enjoy pizza along with other Italian foods Foods similar to pizza have been made since the neolithic age. Records of people adding other ingredients to bread to make it more flavorful can be found throughout ancient history. •

In Sardinia, French and Italian archaeologists have found bread baked over 7,000 years ago. According to Professor Philippe Marinval, the local islanders leavened this bread.

•

The Ancient Greeks had a flat bread called plakous (πλακοῦς, gen. πλακοῦντος —plakountos) which was flavored with toppings like herbs, onion, and garlic.

•

In the 6th century BC, the soldiers in Persian King Darius I armies baked flatbreads with cheese and dates on top of their battle shields.

•

An early reference to a pizza-like food occurs in the Aeneid (ca. 19 BC), when Celaeno, queen of the Harpies, foretells that the Trojans would not find peace until they are forced by hunger to eat their tables (Book III).

21. The first mention of food like pizza was in AD 997 A. True B. False C. Can’t Tell 22. Plakous is seasoned with garlic A. True B. False C. Can’t Tell

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23. The pizza we eat today was developed in Torino A. True

B. False

C. Can’t Tell

24. Pizza is Italy’s signature dish A. True

B. False

C. Can’t Tell

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Mt Fuji, Lake Ashi and Bullet Train Day Trip from Tokyo After morning pickup at selected Tokyo hotels or Hamamatsucho Bus Terminal, relax as your deluxe coach cruises along a scenic 2.5-hour route to Mt Fuji Visitor Center. Learn about the history and geology of Japan’s highest mountain from your guide and the informational exhibits about the revered mountain. From the second floor observation deck, you can get great views of Mt Fuji on a clear day. After seeing the Visitor Center, return to your coach and proceed to Mt Fuji’s 5th Station, located about halfway up the mountain at 7,545 feet (2,300m). Take in the shrines, torii gates and shops that sell souvenirs, along with views of Mt Fuji and the surrounding lakes (subject to weather conditions). Soak in the invigorating atmosphere of 5th Station; you might even spot some climbers preparing for their adventure. Then have time for lunch. You can choose the upgrade that includes a Japanese-style lunch, or have the option to buy your own meal.After having a bite to eat, drive to nearby Lake Ashi, located in Hakone National Park. Step aboard your boat for a short cruise across the lake. Admire the spectacular scenery of pristine waters surrounded by Mt Komagatake, Mt Fuji and other mountains. Disembark from the boat and head to the Mt Komagatake Ropeway, an aerial tram that takes you from the shores of Lake Ashi to the top of Mt Komagatake. Have time to walk around the mountain top and take in amazing views of Lake Ashi, the Owakudani volcanic valley and majestic Mt Fuji. After visiting Hakone, transfer by coach to the evening bullet train (Shinkansen) for your return to Tokyo, where your guide will tell you how to get back to your hotel. This tour also offer a discounted option with pickup at Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku for direct transfer to Mt Fuji without stopping at Hamamatsucho Bus Terminal. This Shinjuku direct departure option allows you to spend more time at Mt Fuji. Please note: Views around Mt Fuji are always subject to weather conditions as mountain weather is notoriously unpredictable. Visibility tends to be better during the colder months, in the early morning and late evening. 25. Which of the following would the author most likely agree with? A. From the second floor observation deck, it is still possible to get great views on a rainy day. B. The upgrade to have a Japanese style mention is worth it. C. The scenery around Mt Komagatake is stunning D. The Hamamatsucho Bus Terminal is a must-see. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• UKCAT

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Mock Exam Questions • 26. Which of the following can be inferred from the passage? A. B. C. D.

There is no option for lunch on this trip It takes more than 3 hours to reach Mt Fuji Visitor Center from the pick-up point. Mt Fuji is under 5000m tall. Views around Mt Fuji are always majestic.

27. Which of the following statements is true? A. B. C. D.

The guide will drop you off to your hotel.

Shinkansen is the name of the bus company.

Lake Ashi is located in Mt Komagatake Ropeway

There is an option to avoid going to Hamamatsucho Bus Terminal.

28. The author suggests that which of these monuments has the most revitalising atmosphere? A. B. C. D.

Mt Fuju

5th Station

Lake Ashi

Hakone National Park

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New HIV Guidelines According to a new WHO progress report lack of an HIV diagnosis is a major obstacle to implementing the Organization’s recommendation that everyone with HIV should be offered antiretroviral therapy (ART). The report reveals that more than 18 million people with HIV are currently taking ART, and a similar number is still unable to access treatment, the majority of which are unaware of their HIV positive status. Today, 40% of all people with HIV (over 14 million) remain unaware of their status. Many of these are people at higher risk of HIV infection who often find it difficult to access existing testing services. "Millions of people with HIV are still missing out on life-saving treatment, which can also prevent HIV transmission to others," said Dr Margaret Chan, WHO DirectorGeneral. "HIV self-testing should open the door for many more people to know their HIV status and find out how to get treatment and access prevention services.” HIV self-testing means people can use oral fluid or blood- finger-pricks to discover their status in a private and convenient setting. Results are ready within 20 minutes or less. Those with positive results are advised to seek confirmatory tests at health clinics. WHO recommends they receive information and links to counselling as well as rapid referral to prevention, treatment and care services. HIV self-testing is a way to reach more people with undiagnosed HIV and represents a step forward to empower individuals, diagnose people earlier before they become sick, bring services closer to where people live, and create demand for HIV testing. This is particularly important for those people facing barriers to accessing existing services. Between 2005 and 2015 the proportion of people with HIV learning of their status increased from 12% to 60% globally. This increase in HIV testing uptake worldwide has led to more than 80% of all people diagnosed with HIV receiving ART. 29. Everyone is not offered antiretroviral therapy only because of a lack of HIV diagnosis A. True B. False C. Can’t Tell

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30. If more people self-test for HIV, it is likely that will correlate with increased treatment A. True B. False C. Can’t Tell

31. In 10 years, the number of people with HIV learning of their status has increased more than 5-fold A. True B. False C. Can’t Tell

32. HIV self-testing is beneficial mainly because it is economically viable. A. True B. False C. Can’t Tell

33. Between 15-20 million people with HIV are unable to access treatment A. True B. False C. Can’t Tell

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A Nap a Day Keeps the Doctor Away The effect of napping on memory consolidation is also influenced by how often it takes place. Milner, Fogel and Cote (2006) found that following a 20-minute nap, those who napped habitually (i.e. more than twice a week) improved more on a procedural motor learning task after a nap than those who only napped nonhabitually (i.e. less than twice a month). These results are corroborated with the previously discussed study by Kurdziel et al. (2013), where children who napped habitually had the greatest benefit in declarative memory performance. One flaw of the study by Milner et al. (2006), is that napping behaviour was decided based on frequency of naps rather than preference, as adults may be habitual nappers but may not have the time to do so. Nonetheless, it could also be argued that the participants were students and so did have sufficient time to carry out their desired napping preference. Looking at nap desirability, research by Evans et al. (1977) found that there were differences in nap infrastructure in appetitive nappers (nap unrelated to sleep need), replacement nappers (nap when tired) and sporadic nappers. Dinges, Orne EC, Orne MT and Evans (1980) carried out a replication study following on from this research, and found that appetitive nappers had greater stage 1 sleep and more stage changes than a group of non-nappers. The variation in how often people take naps, and the reasons for it could therefore have an impact on memory consolidation, as differing sleep composition has shown to be an influence. 34. Which of these are not a type of napper? A. B. C. D.

Appetitive napper Replacement napper Frequent napper Sporadic napper

35. Which of these authors are not mentioned in the text? A. B. C. D.

Evans Burgess Dinges Kurdziel ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• UKCAT

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36. Which of these was a potential weakness in the study by Milner et al. (2006)? A. The participants were students and so did have enough time to carry out their desired napping. B. Napping was not based on inclination for napping. C. The variation in how often people take naps D. Composition of sleep may have varied

37. Which of these is the correct time period for a habitual napper? A. B. C. D.

Less than once a week Twice a week More than twice a week Less than twice a week

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Does Social Media make you happy?

Social media refers to the concept of sharing and creating information and ideas via an online platform, consisting of user-generated content and offers people the ability to connect with other individuals and groups (Obar & Wildman 2015). An example of the most commonly used social media is Facebook, which had 1.79 billion global monthly active users as of September 30, 2016. Given the recent worldwide proliferation of social media, it is important to acknowledge that they are having a significant influence on several mental and emotional states, such as happiness. Happiness is defined as an individual’s subjective evaluation of their life as a whole (Sheldon & Lucas, 2014), and self-esteem is defined as a person’s overall subjective emotional evaluation of themselves. It is suggested that every individual has a need to further their self-esteem (Schlenker, 1980; Steele, 1988). Whilst research has not proven causation, self-esteem is conceptualised as an influential predictor for happiness.

38. In 2017, the number of Facebook users exceeded 2 billion. A. True B. False C. Can't Tell 39. Social media has no effect on our mental and emotional state. A. True B. False C. Can't Tell 40. Self-esteem could be a predictor for happiness A. True B. False C. Can’t Tell

Mock Exam Questions

A2n001 - The Future The A2n 001 was an experimental Diesel railcar built in Italy by CaFiCi consortium in 1982. Despite a long test period in several regional lines, the vehicle never came into regular service. The railcar was designed taking advantage of the experience developed in the construction of 2-decks vehicles gained in Italy by the Casaralta workshops (Bologna) in building railways carriages derived from those in service on the Parisian "banlieue" and supplied to Ferrovie Nord Milano and Ferrovie dello Stato companies. Such vehicles were built under CIMT Lorraine (a French firm) license. The experiment was focused on the research on a lightweight vehicle with higher capacity than railcars used at that time. The objective was to provide regional and branch lines with such vehicles, with an offer estimated at about 40-50% more passengers than equivalent traditional railcars, despite the "low power consumption and a saving of about 20% in investment and running costs". It was designed a curious double-decker railcar reminiscent of the similar coaches of the time. The vehicle was built by a company called Cafici International, with headquarters in Geneva. The engine was supplied by Fiat (IVECO 828 SRI engine 4-stroke, 8-cylinder V) and installed in only one of the two carriages, which were derived from those equipped on the double-decker coaches then being delivered by Casaralta, with secondary air suspension and brake discs and mixed strains. The arrangement of space was such as to create in practice four distinct rooms: the two vestibules allow access to the front and rear rooms, a total capacity of 17, and the two central decks, with a capacity of 60 seats respectively the upper and 48 lower.

41. Which of the following statements is true? A. The A2n 001 rail car was used by members of the public in Italy B. The Casaralta workshops are found in Torino C. The A2n 001 rail car was aimed to increase the number of passengers it could carry D. A2n 001 was produced by FiFi International

Mock Exam Questions

42. Where is Cafici International based? A. B. C. D.

Bologna Geneva London Paris

43. Which license were these railcars built on? A. B. C. D.

Ferrovie Nord Milano Ferrovie dello Stato CIMT Lorraine CaFiCi Consortium

44. Which of these is not a feature of the engine? A. B. C. D.

Air suspension Brake discs Mixed strains Battery Reserve

End of Mock

Bonus Question Questions You will not get a bonus question in the exam, take it as a special treat from Medic Mind!

Elephant Sanctuaries
 Elephants have been used by humans to perform a variety of tasks for around 5000 years, but while people have consistently profited, this relationship has not been greatly beneficial to the elephants. Revered throughout Thailand, elephants have greatly influenced Thai culture, myth, and religion, though the deep respect held for the species is unfortunately not often reflected in the treatment of individual elephants. Widespread abuse, poaching, deforestation, increased tourism, farming, and a vast reduction in habitat have all contributed to a rapid decline in elephant numbers, and Asian elephants are now officially an endangered species.    It is estimated that at the turn of the century, Asian elephants numbered approximately 100,000 in Thailand alone (and likely in the millions globally). Currently the worldwide population has decreased to around 30,000. Of these, only 2500-4000 live in Thailand, and most of those live in captivity. Unfortunately, increases in the human population tend to lead to reductions in the number of living elephants. The main reasons for this are because of poaching, habitat loss, and increased tourism. Current estimates for 1kg of ivory on the black market in China (the worlds largest market for illegal ivory sales) is around $3000 US Dollars.   Due to their high intelligence, it is possible to train elephants to perform a broad array of tasks, from hauling logs to painting. This adaptability and aptitude, coupled with their immense size and strength, meant elephants were naturally seen as ideal work animals. Historically, they have been utilised by logging companies to haul lumber, but widespread deforestation has caused legal logging to officially cease throughout Thailand. Sadly, logging camp elephants were forced by humans to contribute to the destruction of their own habitat, and deforestation is now one of the major threats to elephant survival. 45. Soon elephants will go extinct. 
 A. True
 B. False
 C. Can’t Tell 46. It can be estimated that 400kg of ivory makes over 1 million US Dollars. A. True B. False C. Can’t Tell

Bonus Question Questions

47. Legal logging is now ceased throughout Thailand. A. True B. False C. Can’t Tell

48. Deforestation is the biggest danger to elephant survival. A. True B. False C. Can’t Tell

Answers and Explanations Tutorial Questions

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Question 1 - C Looking for dates leads us to 17th February 2013. Counting back 6 months goes to August. However, we are not sure if this is a reference to the start of the month, end or both. Therefore the answer is Can’t Tell. Keywords: Olympic Games, Dates

Question 2 - C The passage says that SSPs ‘ended recommendation for two hours of PE in schools each week’. We know that the recommendation for two hours of PE has been ended, but this does not necessarily mean no schools have 2 hour sessions. The statement has used Extreme Language by saying ‘no schools’ at all. Keywords: PE

Question 3 - A Michael Gove is Education Secretary, and he is ‘announcing a new report for school sport’. So it is plausible to infer he has some control. If the statement was extreme and said ‘full control’ it would be Can’t Tell. Keywords: Michael Gove

Question 4 - A The firm advocates reverting back to the old paper straws because they biodegrade. Hence we can infer that plastic straws do not biodegrade. Keywords: Biodegradable B - Keyword ‘Gin and Tonic’. Even though it mentions some people do have a straw for it, it doesn’t mean that it is the norm.

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C - Keyword ‘Lucozade Sport’. There is no explicit mention of Lucozade Sport’s view on a plastic straw tax. D - Keyword ’restaurants’ (synonym ‘pub’). Many restaurants may not re-use, but the statement is too extreme.

Question 5 - C We know that the average transaction is £8.60. But this does not mean that the majority of transactions are above £8. Remember, averages can be skewed due to extreme values, so it could be a small cohort of people paying £30 transactions, whilst most people spend below £5. Keywords: Currency / Figures

Question 6 - B Even though the recycling facilities are poorly used, they do exist in certain areas. The statement is extreme - if it said ‘few’ instead of ‘no’, it would be true. Keywords: Recycling Facilities

Question 7 - C The government had considered a plastic bottle tax. This is a Passage Adjustment. However, they may have also considered a straw tax, so the answer is not False. Keywords: Tax

Question 8 - C Be careful here, because the author may mention each point. His strongest point is likely to be at the end. A- He doesn’t give a personal opinion on extending hours ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• UKCAT

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B - Again, he doesn’t give an explicit opinion on returfing greens. C - Again no reference. NOTICE! The answer lied in the last paragraph.

Question 9 - D Remember, the best place to look for the author’s main opinion is the last paragraph. In the last paragraph he says ‘golf is a beneficial activity in terms of exercise and social interaction’. A - He says that is should be accessible to everyone as he advocates for cheaper prices. B - The author does not want it to be a luxury, even if it is becoming the case. C - The author discusses the number of women involved NOTICE! Most the references are in the last paragraph.

Question 10 - C The general topic of the passage is the decline in the popularity of golf. Therefore C is the best answer. In the passage it says ‘However it is a leisure activity and when finances are tight, people are choosing not to spend large sums on membership fees and even on ‘pay and play’. A - Keyword ‘elderly’. This statement uses Extreme Language - golf is a good exercise, it does not say best. B - Keyword price reference. Golf is cheaper now than before, but we do not know it is the cheapest it ever has been - again Extreme Language. D - Keyword ’women’. The statement goes too far - we know that there are more women than before, but there is no comparison to businessmen.

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Question 11 - A It is difficult to find a keyword here. Scanning shows us that some clubs are moving into private hire to generate income. The passage says ‘More affluent clubs are surviving by diversifying and opening their facilities for private hire and various other functions and events.’ B - Keyword ‘affluent clubs’. The statement uses Extreme Language (‘only’). There may be 1 or 2 less affluent clubs surviving. C - Keyword ‘conditions’. Again, just because some stay open it doesn’t mean ‘all’ do Extreme Language. D - Keyword ‘loneliness and depression’. Not stated in passage.

Question 12 - C Mark Hall says that ‘Only kids need a straw with their fizzy pop’. This is not ‘no one’, so C is false. A - Mr. Hall’s general tone suggests that he agrees with this. B - Mr. Hall’s firm wants to follow in the footsteps of the plastic bag tax, so we can infer that Mr. Hall views the scheme as successful. D - Mr Hall describes plastic straws as the ‘ultimate’ in human waste.

Question 13 - D The passage refers to the ‘common use of contactless by commuters on the capital's transport system.’Common Use’ proves that it is often used for purchasing transport. Keywords: Transport A - Keyword ‘Cash’. Cash is still

more common - knock out A.

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B - Keyword ‘London’. Use is high, but the statement is using Extreme Language.It has gone too far. C - Keyword ’60’. They may have taken to it quickly, but we do not know how many over 60s there are. It is likely they make up less than 30% of the population.

Question 14 - C The limit rose from £20 to £30. At first this might seem like 1/3 more, but it definitely isn’t (50% more). Keyword: Currency Values A - No Keyword. Many prefer contactless, so this is true. B - Keyword ‘Transport’. This is not mentioned (Can’t Tell), but not false. C - Keyword ’food and drink’. Commonly used for this.

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Answers and Explanations Mock Test

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1

C

25

C

2

B

26

C

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D

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B

5

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11

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D

37

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14

B

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C

15

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C

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Question 1 - C Can’t Tell. Looking for the keyword ‘number tag’, we find it in the last paragraph where it says that the man had a ‘number tag’ on his pectoral muscle. However, we do not know how many digits it is, so the answer is Can’t Tell.

Question 2 - B False. We use the keywords ’S-21 Prison’ to guide us to the first line of the second paragraph. The prison looked ‘like a high school’, but it isn’t one.

Question 3 - A True. A good keyword here is ‘mass graves’. Using the keyword ‘Khmer Rouge’ will not help us too much as it doesn’t narrow down the passage for us much as the words are present throughout the passage. We are told that the most gruesome images to come out of Cambodia were those of the mass graves, the most haunting were the portraits taken by the Khmer Rouge at S-21.


Question 4 - C A - This is not true. We know that there were only 7 survivors. B - This is not true. Using the keyword ‘1979’ guides us to the last line of the second paragraph, where it tells us that S-21 was discovered in January 1979, not the last month (December). C - This is true. The Khmer Rouge renamed the school and turned it into their base for torture and interrogation. D - This is not true. We know that the spartan interrogation rooms are furnished with only a school desk-and-chair set.

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Question 5 - B B is likely to be true as Borges Matti is a soybean producer, and we are told that clearcutting occurs to make space for soybean production. 
 
 A is unlikely to be true as although there is a large amount of biodiversity, one of the governors of Brazil believes that there should be a constitutional right to deforestation. There is also no evidence that deforestation will cease or has ceased. C we do not know for sure. We know that it is a threat but whether it is the biggest is debatable. D there is no evidence for.

Question 6 - D D - We are told this in the passage and does support a reason as to why deforestation should stop occurring. The answer is therefore D. A - We are not told anything about tourism in the passage at all. We can therefore rule this out immediately. B - We know that deforestation helps the economy therefore this is contradicting what is being said in the passage. C - This is true and is told in the passage, however it does not provide an explanation as to why deforestation should cease.

Question 7 - B A - This is a counter-argument used to support why deforestation should occur. B - This is correct. We are told that there is a constitutional right to deforestation C - We know that he is a soybean producer, but he does not explicitly say this is the reason he wants deforestation to continue.

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D - He mentions the development of Brazil - this is not necessarily Brazil’s economy.

Question 8 - C We are told that cattle ranches and soybean plantation are two reasons why deforestation is occurring, which is a threat to the rainforest. We are also told that climate change is beginning to threaten the wilderness.

Question 9 - C Can’t Tell. We know that it was used was early as 4000 B.C, but we do not know anything about the production of yeast in 4004 B.C. What if there was a shortage of yeast that year?

Question 10 - A A - We are told that some historians believe it is possible that brewing began when the first cereal crops were domesticated.

Question 11 - B B - We are told that a Hacinegi Type is found in Southern Turkey. The use of ‘only’ makes this Extreme Language.

Question 12 - A A - True. We are told that many sources agree that the discovery of the powers of yeast were accidental.

Question 13 - D First of all notice that this is a reverse question. It is asking you which of the statements is False, so if any statements are True or Can’t Tell they are not the answer option. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• UKCAT

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For D we will use the keyword ‘Essex’, because it is a capitalised noun. We find it in the second paragraph, where it mentions that ‘councils and schools in West Midlands, Hampshire and Essex are among those’ with the penalty. ‘Among those’ indicates that there are more than just these 3, so the statement is false in saying the fine only exists in 3 UK districts. A - there is no discussion of the impact of the fines on lateness - Can’t Tell. B - South Korea is referred to as being a ‘leader in academic league tables’, so this is not False (either True or Can’t Tell). C - one scheme has a fine of £60, but we do not know that this is the maximum - Can’t Tell.

Question 14 - B Again notice that this is a Reverse Question, they are asking for the solution not mentioned. Statement B involves a Passage Adjustment, which we looked at in Lesson 5. The passage does mention making children ‘mop classroom floors’ and ‘collect litter’, but there is no mention of making them come in on weekends. This is a drastic change from after-school chores, so it is too big an adjustment for this statement to be true based on the passage. A - Tom Bennet suggests that ‘parents whose teenage children were regularly late should walk with them’. Notice that some solutions are from individuals, like Mr. Bennet, whilst others are government initiatives already in use (such as the fines). C - this is the main topic of the passage, and they mention the £60 fine regularly. D - this is mentioned by the government’s tsar in paragraph 4.

Question 15 - C In the last paragraph Tom Bennet says that “Most pupils would rather lose an arm than be seen walking up to school with their parents”. However, this statement is used as an exaggeration to get across the point that students do not want to walk with their parents, instead of being said as actual fact. This is fine to use in the passage, but in the question

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you have to look at the words literally. From a literal sense, this statement seems quite ridiculous, but without using external knowledge we still cannot put down false.

Question 16 - C The keyword ‘technology’ appears in the final line of the passage, where it says that Tom ‘Bennet believes that the increase in technology has had a role in increasing the number of students being late for school, because many are staying up late on their phones’. However, this is an opinion of Mr. Bennet, and not a fact. Therefore the statement is Can’t Tell. Look at tutorial 15, Correlations vs. Causation, where there is a discussion of the difference between opinion and fact.

Question 17 - B We are told that the giant panda is at high risk of extinction and that the peculiar characteristics of its gut microbiota may put it at high risk of extinction.

Question 18 - C We know that there are less than 2000 giant pandas living in the wild, but they could be living in other places too. Whilst this does not make sense in the real world, you should remember that you should not use external knowledge.

Question 19 - A The phrase ‘unlike other herbivores’ implies that the panda itself is a herbivore but an atypical one.

Question 20 - B We know that mBio is a microbiology journal.

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Question 21 - B The word pizza was first documented in AD 997, however we are told at the end that an early reference to pizza-like food occurred in 19BC.

Question 22 - A We are told that plakous is flavoured with toppings like garlic, and seasoned is interchangeable with flavoured.

Question 23 - B Modern Pizza developed in Naples

Question 24 - C There is no mention of Pizza being Italy’s signature dish in the text. You may know this from external knowledge but you should not use any external knowledge in the UKCAT.

Question 25 - C C - We are told that the tourist will be able to ‘admire the spectacular scenery of pristine waters surrounded by Mt Komagatake’

A is false, as we are not told anything about when it is a rainy day - only that ‘you can great views of Mt Fuji on a clear day’. B is false, as we are not given the author’s opinion on the Japanese style lunch. D is false as we are not given any information on the author’s opinion of the bus terminal.

Question 26 - C We are told that Mt Fuji’s 5th station is located about halfway up the mountain at 2,300m therefore double that is 4,600 which is less than 5000m.

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A is false, as we are told that there is time for lunch. B is false as we are told that that it is a ‘scenic 2.5-hour route’. D is false, as we are told that views around Mt Fuji are always subject to weather conditions.

Question 27 - D D - We are told this tour also offer a discounted option with pickup at Keio Plaza Hotel in Shinjuku for direct transfer to Mt Fuji without stopping at Hamamatsucho Bus Terminal

A is false, as we are told that the guide will tell you how to get back to your hotel. B is false, as we are told that Shinkansen is the evening bullet train. C is false, as we are told that Lake Ashi is located in Hakone National Park.

Question 28 - B We are told that the atmosphere of 5th station is ‘invigorating’. This is a synonym for revitalising.

Question 29 - C We know that a lack of HIV diagnosis is a major obstacle to implementing the organisation’s recommendation - however we do not know if it is the only reason.

Question 30 - A The key part of this statement is the ‘it is likely’ aspect. There is no mention of treatment and prognosis, however the fact that it will give more access to people who are undiagnosed with HIV will mean that more will have access to resources which lead to more treatment,

Question 31 - B 12% —> 60% is a 5-fold increase. It has therefore not increased more than 5-fold. ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••• UKCAT

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Question 32 - B We are told that HIV self-testing is ‘particularly important for those people facing barriers to accessing existing services’ - This does not correspond to being more economically viable.

Question 33 - C We are not given any information on how many are able to/unable to access treatment.

Question 34 - C We are told that there were appetitive nappers, replacement nappers and sporadic nappers.

Question 35 - B There is no mention of the name ‘Burgess’ in the passage.

Question 36 - B B is the correct answer. A is a counter-argument to the weakness of not being based on inclination for napping. C and D relate to other aspects of the passage.

Question 37 - B We are told on the third line ‘those that napped habitually (i.e. more than twice a week).

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Question 38 - C We only know that there were 1.79 billion global monthly active users as of September 30, 2016 - no information is given about 2017 figures.

Question 39 - B We are told that it is important to acknowledge that they are having a significant influence on several mental and emotional states

Question 40 - A We are told that self-esteem is conceptualised as an influential predictor for happiness.

Question 41 - C C is the correct answer as it says that an “offer estimated at about 40-50% more passengers than equivalent traditional railcars”. A is false, as the vehicle never came into regular service. B is false as they took place in Bologna and D is false as they were produced by Cafici International.

Question 42 - B We are told that Cafici International has its headquarters in Geneva.

Question 43 - C We are told ‘Such vehicles were built under CIMT Lorraine (a French firm) license’

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Question 44 - D It says ‘which were derived from those equipped on the double-decker coaches then being delivered by Casaralta, with secondary air suspension and brake discs and mixed strains’

Question 45 - C Looking through the passage there is no reference to the keyword ‘extinct’, which is already a hint that perhaps the answer is not True. We find in the last paragraph that there are threats to ‘elephant survival’. We know that elephants are an endangered species and that the number of elephants is declining, but we do not know for sure that they will go extinct. This is an example of Extreme Language, because if the statement said ‘elephants could go extinct’ then the answer would be True.

Question 46 - A Figures are great keywords, and we find a reference to kg and dollars in the fourth paragraph. 1kg is 3000 dollars, so 40kg = 3000 x 40 = $1200000 = $1.2m

Question 47 - A We know that widespread deforestation has caused legal logging to official cease throughout Thailand. We use the keywords ‘legal logging’, and there is a pretty exact match in the passage - ‘widespread deforestation has caused legal logging to officially cease throughout Thailand’. ‘Thailand’ can also be a possible keyword.

Question 48 - C We use the keyword ‘deforestation’, which takes us to the final line, which says deforestation is one of the ‘major threats’ to elephant survival. We know that it is one of the major threats, but not the biggest danger. This is Extreme Language. It is still possible that deforestation is the biggest danger, we just haven’t been told, so the answer is Can’t Tell.

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