Tests Directory > GRE - Graduate Record Examinations

GRE Details: Test Takers

C urrent section: Test Preparation > Sample Questions S kip section a!i"ation

#$out t%e Test Re"istration Test Preparation &n Test Day Scores Disa$ilities Contact 's (ree Test Prep Sample Questions )ritin" Topics Priced Test Prep Tips

The Pool of Issue Topics

T%is pa"e contains t%e *ssue topics +or t%e analytical ,ritin" section o+ t%e GRE General Test)%en you take t%e test. you ,ill $e presented ,it% t,o *ssue topics +rom t%is poolT%e ,ordin" o+ some topics in t%e test mi"%t !ary sli"%tly +rom ,%at is presented %ereT%ere+ore. read your test topics care+ully and respond to t%e ,ordin" as it appears in t%e actual testPresent your perspective on the issue below, using relevant reasons and or e!a"ples to support your views# /T%e ,ell-$ein" o+ a society is en%anced ,%en many o+ its people 0uestion aut%ority-/ 111111111111111 /#rtists s%ould pay little attention to t%eir critics-2 Criticism tends to undermine and constrain t%e artist3s creati!ity-/

2t%ose ,%o e!aluate ,orks o+ art. suc% as no!els. +ilms. music. paintin"s. etc111111111111111 /*t is t%e artist. not t%e critic.2 ,%o "i!es society somet%in" o+ lastin" !alue-/ 2a person ,%o e!aluates ,orks o+ art. suc% as no!els. +ilms. music. paintin"s. etc111111111111111 /# crucial test o+ c%aracter is ,%et%er one is a$le to adapt to c%an"in" social con!entions ,it%out sacri+icin" one3s principles-/ 111111111111111 /People ,%o are t%e most deeply committed to an idea or policy are t%e most critical o+ it-/ 111111111111111 /Tradition and moderni4ation are incompati$le- &ne must c%oose $et,een t%em-/ 111111111111111 /5any people admire idealism. $ut it usually leads to disappointment or trou$le-/ 111111111111111 /T%e most practical and e++ecti!e ,ay to protect ,ilderness areas is to attract more tourists to t%ese areas t%rou"% en!ironmentally sensiti!e pro6ects-/ 111111111111111 /7ecause o+ tele!ision and ,orld,ide computer connections. people can no, $ecome +amiliar ,it% a "reat many places t%at t%ey %a!e ne!er !isited- #s a result. tourism ,ill soon $ecome o$solete-/ 111111111111111 /8i"%-speed electronic communications media. suc% as electronic mail and tele!ision. tend to pre!ent meanin"+ul and t%ou"%t+ul communication-/ 111111111111111 /T%e only responsi$ility o+ corporate executi!es. pro!ided t%ey stay ,it%in t%e la,. is to make as muc% money as possi$le +or t%eir companies-/ 111111111111111 /Students s%ould $rin" a certain skepticism to ,%ate!er t%ey study- T%ey s%ould 0uestion ,%at t%ey are tau"%t instead o+ acceptin" it passi!ely-/ 111111111111111 /7ot% parents and communities must $e in!ol!ed in t%e local sc%ools- Education is too important to lea!e solely to a "roup o+ pro+essional educators-/

111111111111111 /Contemporary society o++ers so many ,ays o+ learnin" t%at readin" $ooks is no lon"er !ery important-/ 111111111111111 /C%oice is an illusion- *n reality. our li!es are controlled $y t%e society in ,%ic% ,e li!e-/ 111111111111111 /T%ere is no suc% t%in" as purely o$6ecti!e o$ser!ation- #ll o$ser!ation is su$6ecti!e9 it is al,ays "uided $y t%e o$ser!er3s expectations or desires-/ 111111111111111 T%e arts :music. dance. !isual arts. etc-; are !itally important to students3 education and s%ould t%ere+ore recei!e as muc% emp%asis as mat%ematics. science. readin" and ot%er mainstream su$6ects-/ 111111111111111 /T%e %uman mind ,ill al,ays $e superior to mac%ines $ecause mac%ines are only tools o+ %uman minds-/ 111111111111111 /T%e most essential 0uality o+ an e++ecti!e leader is t%e a$ility to remain consistently committed to particular principles and o$6ecti!es- #ny leader ,%o is 0uickly and easily in+luenced $y s%i+ts in popular opinion ,ill accomplis% little-/ 111111111111111 /*n t%is a"e o+ intensi!e media co!era"e. it is no lon"er possi$le +or a society to re"ard any ,oman or man as a %ero- T%e reputation o+ anyone ,%o is su$6ected to media scrutiny ,ill e!entually $e diminis%ed-/ 111111111111111 /&ne o+ten %ears a$out t%e need +or indi!iduals to take responsi$ility +or t%eir o,n li!es8o,e!er. t%e conditions in ,%ic% people +ind t%emsel!es %a!e $een lar"ely esta$lis%ed lon" $e+ore people $ecome a,are o+ t%em- T%us. t%e concept o+ personal responsi$ility is muc% more complicated and unrealistic t%an is o+ten assumed-/ 111111111111111 /5ost people li!e. ,%et%er p%ysically or morally. in a !ery restricted circle- T%ey make use o+ a !ery limited portion o+ t%e resources a!aila$le to t%em until t%ey +ace a "reat pro$lem or crisis-/ 111111111111111 /Sometimes ima"ination is a more !alua$le asset t%an experience- People ,%o lack experience are +ree to ima"ine ,%at is possi$le and t%us can approac% a task ,it%out constraints o+ esta$lis%ed %a$its and attitudes-/

111111111111111 /*n any "i!en +ield. t%e leadin" !oices come +rom people ,%o are moti!ated not $y con!iction $ut $y t%e desire to present opinions and ideas t%at di++er +rom t%ose %eld $y t%e ma6ority-/ 111111111111111 /&!er t%e past century. t%e most si"ni+icant contri$ution o+ tec%nolo"y %as $een to make people3s li!es more com+orta$le-/ 111111111111111 /*t is impossi$le +or an e++ecti!e political leader to tell t%e trut% all t%e time- Complete %onesty is not a use+ul !irtue +or a politician-/ 111111111111111 /Critical 6ud"ment o+ ,ork in any "i!en +ield %as little !alue unless it comes +rom someone ,%o is an expert in t%at +ield-/ 111111111111111 /T%ose ,%o treat politics and morality as t%ou"% t%ey ,ere separate realms +ail to understand eit%er t%e one or t%e ot%er-/ 111111111111111 /T%e surest indicator o+ a "reat nation is not t%e ac%ie!ements o+ its rulers. artists. or scientists. $ut t%e "eneral ,el+are o+ all its people-/ 111111111111111 /People ,%o pursue t%eir o,n intellectual interests +or purely personal reasons are more likely to $ene+it t%e rest o+ t%e ,orld t%an are people ,%o try to act +or t%e pu$lic "ood-/ 111111111111111 /*mportant trut%s $e"in as outra"eous. or at least uncom+orta$le. attacks upon t%e accepted ,isdom o+ t%e time-/ 111111111111111 /&ri"inality does not mean t%inkin" somet%in" t%at ,as ne!er t%ou"%t $e+ore9 it means puttin" old ideas to"et%er in ne, ,ays-/ 111111111111111 /<a,s s%ould not $e ri"id or +ixed- *nstead. t%ey s%ould $e +lexi$le enou"% to take account o+ !arious circumstances. times. and places-/ 111111111111111 /*t is al,ays an indi!idual ,%o is t%e impetus +or inno!ation9 t%e details may $e ,orked out $y a team. $ut true inno!ation results +rom t%e enterprise and uni0ue perception o+ an indi!idual-/

111111111111111 /T%e +unction o+ science is to reassure9 t%e purpose o+ art is to upset- T%erein lies t%e !alue o+ eac%-/ 111111111111111 /T%e study o+ an academic discipline alters t%e ,ay ,e percei!e t%e ,orld- #+ter studyin" t%e discipline. ,e see t%e same ,orld as $e+ore. $ut ,it% di++erent eyes-/ 111111111111111 /*t is possi$le to pass la,s t%at control or place limits on people3s $e%a!ior. $ut le"islation cannot re+orm %uman nature- <a,s cannot c%an"e ,%at is in people3s %earts and minds-/ 111111111111111 /)%at most %uman $ein"s really ,ant to attain is not kno,led"e. $ut certainty- Gainin" real kno,led"e re0uires takin" risks and keepin" t%e mind open1$ut most people pre+er to $e reassured rat%er t%an to learn t%e complex and o+ten unsettlin" trut% a$out anyt%in"-/ 111111111111111 /5any pro$lems o+ modern society cannot $e sol!ed $y la,s and t%e le"al system $ecause moral $e%a!ior cannot $e le"islated-/ 111111111111111 /T%e ,ay students and sc%olars interpret t%e materials t%ey ,ork ,it% in t%eir academic +ields is more a matter o+ personality t%an o+ trainin"- Di++erent interpretations come a$out ,%en people ,it% di++erent personalities look at exactly t%e same o$6ects. +acts. data. or e!ents and see di++erent t%in"s-/ 111111111111111 /*t is dan"erous to trust only intelli"ence-/ 111111111111111 /#s ,e ac0uire more kno,led"e. t%in"s do not $ecome more compre%ensi$le. $ut more complex and more mysterious-/ 111111111111111 /*t is a "ra!e mistake to t%eori4e $e+ore one %as data-/ 111111111111111 /Scandals1,%et%er in politics. academia. or ot%er areas1can $e use+ul- T%ey +ocus our attention on pro$lems in ,ays t%at no speaker or re+ormer e!er could-/ 111111111111111 /Practicality is no, our "reat idol. ,%ic% all po,ers and talents must ser!e- #nyt%in" t%at is not o$!iously practical %as little !alue in today3s ,orld-/

111111111111111 /*t is easy to ,elcome inno!ation and accept ne, ideas- )%at most people +ind di++icult. %o,e!er. is acceptin" t%e ,ay t%ese ne, ideas are put into practice-/ 111111111111111 /Success. ,%et%er academic or pro+essional. in!ol!es an a$ility to sur!i!e in a ne, en!ironment and. e!entually. to c%an"e it-/ 111111111111111 /*+ people disre"ard t%e "reat ,orks o+ t%e past. it is $ecause t%ese ,orks no lon"er ans,er t%e needs o+ t%e present-/ 111111111111111 /#s lon" as people in a society are %un"ry or out o+ ,ork or lack t%e $asic skills needed to sur!i!e. t%e use o+ pu$lic resources to support t%e arts is inappropriate1and. per%aps. e!en cruel1,%en one considers all t%e potential uses o+ suc% money-/ 111111111111111 /Education s%ould $e e0ually de!oted to enric%in" t%e personal li!es o+ students and to trainin" students to $e producti!e ,orkers-/ 111111111111111 /Success in any realm o+ li+e comes more o+ten +rom takin" c%ances or risks t%an +rom care+ul and cautious plannin"-/ 111111111111111 /*t is not t%e %eadline-makin" political e!ents $ut t%e seldom-reported social tran+ormations t%at %a!e t%e most lastin" si"ni+icance-/ 111111111111111 /T%e $est preparation +or li+e or a career is not learnin" to $e competiti!e. $ut learnin" to $e cooperati!e-/ 111111111111111 /T%e "oal o+ politics s%ould not $e t%e pursuit o+ an ideal. $ut rat%er t%e searc% +or common "round and reasona$le consensus-/ 111111111111111 /Tec%nolo"y creates more pro$lems t%an it sol!es. and may t%reaten or dama"e t%e 0uality o+ li+e-/ 111111111111111 /T%e material pro"ress and ,ell-$ein" o+ one country are necessarily connected to t%e material pro"ress and ,ell-$ein" o+ all ot%er countries-/

111111111111111 /*nstead o+ encoura"in" con+ormity. society s%ould s%o, "reater appreciation o+ indi!idual di++erences-/ 111111111111111 /Truly inno!ati!e ideas do not arise +rom "roups o+ people. $ut +rom indi!iduals- )%en "roups try to $e creati!e. t%e mem$ers +orce eac% ot%er to compromise and. as a result. creati!e ideas tend to $e ,eakened and made more con!entional- 5ost ori"inal ideas arise +rom indi!iduals ,orkin" alone-/ 111111111111111 /T%e most elusi!e kno,led"e is sel+-kno,led"e. and it is usually ac0uired t%rou"% solitude. rat%er t%an t%rou"% interaction ,it% ot%ers-/ 111111111111111 /T%e purpose o+ education s%ould $e to pro!ide students ,it% a !alue system. a standard. a set o+ ideas1not to prepare t%em +or a speci+ic 6o$-/ 111111111111111 /'nlike "reat t%inkers and "reat artists. t%e most e++ecti!e political leaders must o+ten yield to pu$lic opinion and a$andon principle +or t%e sake o+ compromise-/ 111111111111111 /T%e $est ,ay to understand t%e c%aracter o+ a society is to examine t%e c%aracter o+ t%e men and ,omen t%at t%e society c%ooses as its %eroes or its %eroines-/ 111111111111111 /)e learn t%rou"% direct experience9 to accept a t%eory ,it%out experiencin" it is to learn not%in" at all-/ 111111111111111 /#s societies all o!er t%e ,orld %a!e more and more access to ne, in+ormation. t%e e++ects on li+e-lon" learnin" can only $e positi!e-/ 111111111111111 /People are too 0uick to take action9 instead t%ey s%ould stop to t%ink o+ t%e possi$le conse0uences o+ ,%at t%ey mi"%t do-/ 111111111111111 /Rituals and ceremonies %elp de+ine a culture- )it%out t%em. societies or "roups o+ people %a!e a diminis%ed sense o+ ,%o t%ey are-/ 111111111111111 /T%e ,ay people look. dress. and act re!eals t%eir attitudes and interests- =ou can tell muc% a$out a society3s ideas and !alues $y o$ser!in" t%e appearance and $e%a!ior o+ its people-/

111111111111111 /Pro"ress is $est made t%rou"% discussion amon" people ,%o %a!e contrastin" points o+ !ie,-/ 111111111111111 /5ost people c%oose a career on t%e $asis o+ suc% pra"matic considerations as t%e needs o+ t%e economy. t%e relati!e ease o+ +indin" a 6o$. and t%e salary t%ey can expect to make8ardly anyone is +ree to c%oose a career $ased on %is or %er natural talents or interest in a particular kind o+ ,ork-/ 111111111111111 /#ny decision-,%et%er made $y "o!ernment. $y a corporation. or $y an indi!idual personmust take into account +uture conditions more t%an present conditions-/ 111111111111111 /*+ a "oal is ,ort%y. t%en any means taken to attain it is 6usti+ia$le-/ 111111111111111 /Too muc% emp%asis %as $een placed on t%e need +or students to c%allen"e t%e assertions o+ ot%ers- *n +act. t%e a$ility to compromise and ,ork ,it% ot%ers1t%at is. t%e a$ility to ac%ie!e social %armony1s%ould $e a ma6or "oal in e!ery sc%ool-/ 111111111111111 /Society s%ould identi+y t%ose c%ildren ,%o %a!e special talents and a$ilities and $e"in trainin" t%em at an early a"e so t%at t%ey can e!entually excel in t%eir areas o+ a$ility- &t%er,ise. t%ese talents are likely to remain unde!eloped-/ 111111111111111 /T%e $om$ardment o+ !isual ima"es in contemporary society %as t%e e++ect o+ makin" people less a$le to +ocus clearly and extensi!ely on a sin"le issue o!er a lon" period o+ time-/ 111111111111111 /5ost important disco!eries or creations are accidental: it is usually ,%ile seekin" t%e ans,er to one 0uestion t%at ,e come across t%e ans,er to anot%er-/ 111111111111111 /*n order to produce success+ul ori"inal ,ork. sc%olars and scientists must +irst study t%e success+ul ,ork o+ ot%ers to learn ,%at contri$utions remain to $e made-/ 111111111111111 /*n order +or any ,ork o+ art1,%et%er +ilm. literature. sculpture. or a son"1to %a!e merit. it must $e understanda$le to most people-/ 111111111111111

/ o, t%at computer tec%nolo"y %as made possi$le t%e rapid accessin" o+ lar"e amounts o+ +actual in+ormation. people are less likely t%an e!er to t%ink deeply or ori"inally- T%ey +eel una$le to compete ,it%1muc% less contri$ute to1t%e 0uantity o+ in+ormation t%at is no, a!aila$le electronically-/ 111111111111111 /T%e increase in kno,led"e is +orcin" people to speciali4e- #s a result. t%e distance $et,een +ields o+ speciali4ation %as $ecome so !ast t%at specialists in di++erent areas are rarely a$le to in+luence eac% ot%er-/ 111111111111111 /T%e c%ie+ $ene+it o+ t%e study o+ %istory is to $reak do,n t%e illusion t%at people in one period o+ time are si"ni+icantly di++erent +rom people ,%o li!ed at any ot%er time in %istory-/ 111111111111111 /<earnin" +or learnin"3s sake is an outdated concept- Today. education must ser!e an ulterior purpose and $e directed to,ard clear "oals-/ 111111111111111 /Education is primarily a personal matter9 it %as little to do ,it% sc%ool or colle"e-/ 111111111111111 /Censors%ip is rarely. i+ e!er. 6usti+ied-/ 111111111111111 /People o+ten look +or similarities. e!en $et,een !ery di++erent t%in"s. and e!en ,%en it is un%elp+ul or %arm+ul to do so- *nstead. a t%in" s%ould $e considered on its o,n terms9 ,e s%ould a!oid t%e tendency to compare it to somet%in" else-/ 111111111111111 /People are mistaken ,%en t%ey assume t%at t%e pro$lems t%ey con+ront are more complex and c%allen"in" t%an t%e pro$lems +aced $y t%eir predecessors- T%is illusion is e!entually dispelled ,it% increased kno,led"e and experience-/ 111111111111111 /To remain !i"orous. any academic +ield needs to $e led $y truly independent t%inkers ,%o are ,illin" to i"nore esta$lis%ed $oundaries and c%allen"e lon"-standin" assumptions-/ 111