Reading Passage Question
Incandescent lamps, like the sun, produce light by burning; the light they emit is a by-product of heat. Only a tiny percentage — 5 percent or less — of the energy used by an incandescent lamp produces light. The balance of the energy used produces heat, so incandescent lamps are supremely inefficient. But, like the sun, incandescent sources emit the visible wavelengths as a continuous band. Candlelight, firelight, and incandescent lamplight are sensed as familiar and comforting because they provide light in the same way the sun does. The apparent whiteness of the light given off by an incandescent lamp depends on the temperature at which it burns, called its color temperature.
“Incandescent lamps, like the sun, produce light by burning”- is a GMAT reading comprehension passage. The candidates should analyse and understand the English GMAT reading comprehension in order to score better. This section of GMAT reading Comprehension includes five sets of comprehension questions with answers. The GMAT Reading Comprehension questions consider the candidates' expertness to apprehend and summarize the passage and apply knowledge and skills. The candidates can polish up their skills and concepts by practising GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.
Solutions and Explanation
- What can be inferred about incandescent lamplight from the passage?
(A) So far, humanity has not been able to develop an electric source of light that is more efficient than lamplight.
(B) While incandescent lamps may produce heat, many people will continue use them because the light is familiar and comforting.
(C) Incandescent lights burn energy in the same way the sun does.
(D) Incandescent lamplight, a fire, and candlelight produce virtually the same emotional response.
(E) It would beneficial to find a way to harvest and keep the heat produced by incandescent lamplight.
Answer: (B)
Explanation: As per the discussion of the passage, it can be inferred that incandescent lamplight is very comforting and familiar to people. Although incandescent lamplight produces heat, people prefer to use the lamplight more often. Therefore, option B is the correct answer as it suits well with the criteria of the passage. The other options are not hinted at in the passage and thereby get eliminated.
- Which role does the final sentence in the passage play?
(A) It concludes the passage by restating the main idea.
(B) It gives a hint as to why incandescent light sources remain popular, despite their inefficiency.
(C) It provides anecdotal proof of the main assertion of the passage.
(D) It provides additional factual information about the topic of the passage.
(E) It reveals the author’s opinion of the topic of the passage.
Answer: (D)
Explanation: The final sentence in the passage depicts further factual detail about the subject matter of the passage. It exhibits the apparent whiteness of the light of the incandescent lamp based on the temperature at which it burns. This mainly illustrates the color temperature of the incandescent lamp. Therefore, option D is the correct answer as it satisfies the discussion of the passage. The rest of the options thus get eliminated.
- How much is the energy of an incandescent lamp spent on tasks other than giving off light?
(A) About 5 percent
(B) About 10 percent
(C) About 95 percent
(D) About half
(E) About 85 percent
Answer: (C)
Explanation: According to the passage, 5 percent or less of the energy is utilised by the incandescent lamp light to produce light. This indicates that about 95 percent of energy is assigned to other tasks. Therefore, option C is the correct answer as it suits well with the passage discussion. The other options thus are incorrect as they hold wrong information.
- Which of the following statements most clearly captures the main idea of the passage?
(A) Incandescent lamps should be replaced because they are hugely inefficient.
(B) Incandescent lamps give off a very white light.
(C) Despite their inefficiencies, there are reasons why incandescent lamps remain popular.
(D) If you use incandescent lamps, you like to waste energy.
(E) Incandescent lamps are hiding a dirty little secret.
Answer: (C)
Explanation: The purpose of the passage is to depict the inefficiencies of the incandescent lamp. However, in spite of the inefficiencies, the incandescent lamplight is sensed as comforting and familiar to people due to certain reasons. It is popular among people since it offers light in the same pattern the sun conducts. Therefore, option C is the correct answer as it represents the same fact described in the passage. The other options thereby get eliminated.
- Which of the following is the best definition for the word “apparent” as used in the passage (last sentence)?
(A) Visible, obvious
(B) False, misleading
(C) Incorrectly perceived
(D) Lifelike, realistic
(E) As father to child
Answer: (A)
Explanation: The passage cites that the incandescent lamp light radiates visible wavelengths like a continuous band similar as the sun. The term “apparent” mentioned in the last sentence of the passage basically determines the obvious and visible whiteness of the light. Option A is therefore the correct option since it holds the accurate information described in the passage. The remaining options hence go out of scope.
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