Focusing on SQL Server 2005, this official study guide covers topics such as installing and configuring SQL Server, implementing database mirroring, managing database snapshots, working with XML and flat files, managing replication, backing up and restoring a database, monitoring and troubleshooting, and creating and implementing database objects.

Ace your exam preparation and ramp up quickly on SQL Server 2005 database administration by working at your own pace through the lessons, hands-on exercises, and practice tests. The flexible, best-of-class test engine on CD features 300 practice questions and pre-assessment and post-assessment capabilities. Choose timed or untimed testing mode, generate random tests, or focus on discrete objectives or chapters, and get detailed explanations for right and wrong answers—including pointers back to the book for further study. You also get a 180-day evaluation version of SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition and a 15 percent exam discount voucher—making this kit an exceptional value and a great career investment.

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Key Book Benefits: - Comprehensive study guide written by exam-certified authors - Deeper, more focused coverage of exam objectives and sub-objectives—plus instructive case studies and troubleshooting scenarios to enhance your performance on the job - 300 practice questions on CD, with a test engine that enables customized testing, pre-assessment and post-assessment, and automated scoring and feedback - Complete objective-by-objective Review section, plus a tear-out exam-mapping grid - Exam tips based on real-world test experience - 180-day evaluation version of SQL Server 2005 Enterprise Edition - 15 percent exam discount voucher from a leading authorized testing center (limited time offer) - microsoft encyclopedia of Networking, Second Edition, eBook - Practice files on CD - Entire study guide in searchable eBook format

Advance Praise for The Ten Faces of Innovation

"Essential reading for every single person in your organization--even the CEO should read it! Each page contains a nugget that's worth the price of the entire book. Wow."
—Seth Godin, author of Purple Cow
 
“A concensus is emerging that Innovation must become most every firm's ‘Job One.’ ‘Hurdle One,’ however, is a doozer: establishing a Culture of Innovation. IDEO thought leader Tom Kelley offers a thoroughly original and thoroughly tested approach to creating that ‘culture of innovation.’ Rigorously applying his ‘Ten Faces’ will get the innovation ball rolling fast. Bravo!”
— Tom Peters

Critical Acclaim for Tom Kelley’s Previous National Bestseller The art of Innovation

“Tom Kelley has unlocked the magic box of innovation for corporate America.”
—Bruce Nussbaum, BusinessWeek

“In light of all the books on the market about creativity, it takes a certain amount of chutzpah to call your book The art of Innovation. Yet Kelley makes a good case. Practical, clearly written, and highly detailed.”
—USA Today

“On nearly every page, the story of some upstart invention is recounted in patter that's as good as a skilled magician's…. Almost like visiting an IDEO workshop in person.”
—Wired

The challenging practice and proven strategies you need to get a perfect score on the GMAT.

Rest assured, everything you need to achieve your ambitious goals on the GMAT is in this book. No long-winded lessons -- just what you need to achieve an optimum score.

This advanced guide includes:

The Toughest Questions

Hundreds of difficult practice questions with detailed answer explanations, to build speed and accuracy

The Most Effective Math Tactics

Focused approaches to the hardest math concepts you'll see on the GMAT

Powerful Strategies for Critical Reasoning and Data Sufficiency Problems

In-depth coverage about how to approach these difficult question types

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.

Chapter One: The Critical Reasoning Challenge

Do you like to point out the assumptions in others' arguments? Do you like to home in on logical flaws like a detective, and analyze precisely how arguments could be made better, or worse? Then GMAT Critical Reasoning is for you. So start dissecting op-ed pieces and cutting the contestants on television debates down to size. When you see your GMAT score, you'll be glad you did!

Which of the following can be most properly inferred from the passage above?

(A) Mastering the Critical Reasoning question type will ensure an excellent GMAT score.

(B) No question type contained on the GMAT is represented in more sections of the GMAT than is Critical Reasoning.

(C) Op-ed pieces and television debates contain content that is related in some way to material tested in GMAT Critical Reasoning.

(D) Logical flaws and assumptions are question types that appear only on the GMAT.

(E) Thinking like a detective has no impact on one's GMAT score.

Explanation: Choice (C) is correct. The final two sentences strongly imply that dissecting op-eds and debates will lead to a higher score, which, in fact, it certainly can. There must therefore be some relation between GMAT content and the content of these forums. As for the others:

Mastering Critical Reasoning is necessary to achieve a top GMAT score, but is not sufficient; one must ace the other content areas of the test as well. So (A) is not inferable. There's no basis for (B) either -- the number of sections on the test is outside the scope of the argument. (D) isn't inferable. For all we know, other tests such as the LSAT test these same areas. And (E) represents the opposite of what the passage suggests: The instructor strongly implies that the proclivity for playing detective is relevant to (hence, inferably bodes well for) one's Critical Reasoning performance.

So win arguments! Prove people wrong! Amaze your friends! Be the life of the party! Get an 800 on the GMAT! . . . Just a few of the many and varied uses of the ability to master the subtle art of Critical Reasoning.

Disclaimer: Hacking through the bogus arguments of others and/or demonstrating superior logical acumen in everyday conversation will NOT make you the most popular person in town.

However, the ability to do so will do wonders for your GMAT score. The purpose of this section is to help you hone your critical thinking skills through practice on some of the toughest Critical Reasoning material around.

USING THE CRITICAL REASONING QUESTIONS IN THIS BOOK

This section is broken up into chapters that detail various difficulties commonly encountered in GMAT Critical Reasoning. It is designed to allow you to learn as you go and to apply your learning to subsequent questions as you progress through the section.

• In chapter 2 you'll be introduced to seven major categories of difficult Critical Reasoning questions, each highlighted by an example.
• In chapter 3 you'll find seven more questions that test whether or not you can recognize the distinctions and logical elements introduced in the first group.
• Finally, chapter 4 offers 28 additional questions representative of all the elements and forms discussed in the previous chapters.

STRATEGIES FOR CRITICAL REASONING

Here are a few general pointers to keep in mind when tackling all Critical Reasoning questions, but especially the challenging questions like the ones you're about to see:

Keep your eye out for the author's evidence, conclusion, and any assumptions relied upon in the argument. The wordiness and logical subtlety of the questions that follow often cause test-takers to lose sight of what's actually being said, and it's nearly impossible to answer questions like these correctly when one is foggy about the specifics. The conclusion is the "what" of the matter; the evidence is the reasons "why" the author feels entitled to make that particular claim; and assumptions are any missing premises that are nonetheless needed in order for the conclusion to stand.

Paraphrase the text. You can get a leg up on tough text by simplifying the passage's ideas and translating them into your own words. The same goes for the longer Reading Comprehension passages.

Familiarize yourself with the common Critical Reasoning concepts tested. Review the logical elements and structures discussed throughout the section, and look to recognize which of them are present in each Critical Reasoning question you encounter in this book as well as in any other questions you practice with during your GMAT preparation. While the specific subjects you'll encounter (names, places, scenarios, etc.) will naturally be different from those you'll see on your test, the underlying logical patterns remain incredibly consistent. Use the questions and explanations that follow to get to know them.

Copyright ©2006 by Kaplan, Inc.

Jeffrey K. Liker, the author of the bestselling The Toyota Way, is Professor of industrial and Operations engineering and cofounder and Director of the Japan Technology management Program at the University of Michigan. His work has appeared in The Harvard business Review, Sloan management Review, and other leading publications.

David Meier is the President of Lean Associates and was Group Leader for Toyota Motor manufacturing for ten years. He helps other organizations across many industries learn from the Toyota Way.