Reading Passage Question
A logarithmic unit known as the decibel (dB) is used to represent the intensity of sound. The decibel scale is similar to the Richter scale used to measure earthquakes. On the Richter scale, a 7.0 earthquake is ten times stronger than a 6.0 earthquake. On the decibel scale, an increase of 10 dB is equivalent to a 10-fold increase in intensity or power. Thus, a sound registering 80 dB is ten times louder than a 70 dB sound. In the range of sounds audible to humans, a whisper has an intensity of 20 dB; 140 dB (a jet aircraft taking off nearby) is the threshold of immediate pain.
The perceived intensity of sound is not simply a function of volume; certain frequencies of sound appear louder to the human ear than do other frequencies, even at the same volume. Decibel measurements of noise are, therefore, often “A-weighted” to take into account the fact that some sound wavelengths are perceived as being particularly loud. A soft whisper is 20 dB, but on the A-weighted scale, the whisper is 30 dBA. This is because human ears are particularly attuned to human speech. Quiet conversation has a sound level of about 60 dBA.
Continuous exposure to sounds over 80 dBA can eventually result in mild hearing loss, while exposure to louder sounds can cause much greater damage in a very short period of time. Emergency sirens, motorcycles, chainsaws, construction activities, and other mechanical or amplified noises are often in the 80 to 120 dBA range. Sound levels above 120 dBA begin to be felt inside the human ear as discomfort and eventually as pain.
Unfortunately, the greatest damage to hearing is done voluntarily. Music, especially when played through headphones, can grow to be deceptively loud. The ear becomes numbed by the loud noise, and the listener often turns up the volume until the music approaches 120 dBA. This level of noise can cause permanent hearing loss in a short period of time, and in fact, many young Americans now have a degree of hearing loss once seen only in much older persons.
“A logarithmic unit known as the decibel (dB) is used to represent the”- is a GMAT reading comprehension passage with answers. Candidates must have a solid grasp on English GMAT reading comprehension. There are three comprehension questions in this GMAT Reading Comprehension section. GMAT Reading Comprehension questions are designed to evaluate candidates' abilities to comprehend, analyze, and apply information or concepts. Candidates can actively prepare by answering GMAT Reading Comprehension Practice Questions.
Solutions and Explanation
- The primary purpose of the passage is to
(A) argue for government mandates that decibel levels produced by headphones be reduced
(B) compare the scale used to measure intensity of sound to the scale used to measure the strength of earthquakes
(C) describe the way that sound intensity is measured and explain its effect on human hearing
(D) define which volume levels and sound exposure times are safe for humans and which are harmful
(E) warn readers about the harmful effects of continuous exposure to sounds over 80 dBA
Answer: C
Explanation: For this kind of question, it is necessary to understand the overall objective of the passage and select the option that matches with it. The passage's primary goal is to describe how sound intensity is measured and clarify how it affects human hearing. As a result, the third option is the right answer. The rest of the options are all wrong answers as they correspond only with small portions of the passage.
- The author mentions that “emergency sirens, motorcycles, chainsaws, construction activities, and other mechanical or amplified noises” fall in the 80 to 120 dBA range. It can be inferred from this statement that these noises
(A) are unwanted, outside intrusions common in urban life
(B) can cause hearing loss with constant exposure
(C) are more dangerous to hearing than sounds of the same dBA level from headphones
(D) are loud enough to cause immediate pain
(E) have no negative impacts
Answer: B
Explanation: The second option is the right answer. This is because from the passage, it can clearly be inferred that prolonged exposure to those noises can affect hearing that can result in hearing impairment. The rest of the options are all wrong answers. The first option is irrelevant and the rest of the options are not disclosed in the passage or have distorted information.
- The second paragraph of the passage states “Decibel measurements of noise are therefore often ‘A-weighted’ to take into account the fact that some sound wavelengths are perceived as being particularly loud. A soft whisper is 20 dB, but on the A-weighted scale the whisper is 30 dBA.” Therefore, for any particular sound, the A-weighted decibel level differs from the unweighted decibel level in that
(A) the A-weighted number is 10 points higher than the unweighted number
(B) the A-weighted number is based on the way the noise is perceived in the human ear
(C) the unweighted number is always higher than the A-weighted number
(D) the A-weighted number is measured by more accurate instruments
(E) only on the unweighted scale does a 10 dB increase in sound equal a ten-fold increase in intensity
Answer: B
Explanation: Except the second option, all the remaining options are incorrect answers. This is because the statement in the second option is factually correct in correspondence with the passage. It is deduced as being loud. The rest of the options have statements that cannot be inferred with the passage.
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