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GMAT Reading Comprehension

Subjects : gmat, reading-and-comprehension

Instructions:

Answer 43 questions in 15 minutes.
If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
Match each statement with the correct term.
Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.

1. Typical pronouns that cause trouble
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
After the verb
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
'but also'

2. To be regarded 'as' or not 'as'

3. 'Distinguish red ... green' 'distinguish .... red ... green
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
From -between... and
After the verb

4. Bolded statement questions commonly ask to choose the answer that...
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
A common flaw where... for example - which is larger - one-third of x or one-half of y? Without any information to compare x and y - we cannot answer this question.
Countable things 'How many'

5. 'Less' and 'amount' refer to ...and answer the question...

6. Reading Comprehension Inference questions
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
'as'
Singular

7. Disconnect
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
'as'
OTHER

8. Confusion of absolute numbers and percentages
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
A common flaw where... for example - which is larger - one-third of x or one-half of y? Without any information to compare x and y - we cannot answer this question.
At FEWER than 68000 people
'with'

9. Preposition after 'to be considered'
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
'with'
None
Sentence or fact

10. Recoil
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
Describe evidence that would STRENGTHEN the argument and CONCLUDE that without such evidence you're not persuaded (DON'T have 1 sad and lonely sentence here).
Sentence or fact
To shrink back physically or emotionally

11. 'There is' 'There are'. where is the subject
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
'but also'
After the verb
A common flaw where... for example - which is larger - one-third of x or one-half of y? Without any information to compare x and y - we cannot answer this question.

12. Strategy for Reading Comprehension
1) Read strategically: Passage Map - Topic/Scope/Purpose or Main Idea 2) Analyse question stem 3) Research relevant text in passage 4) Make Prediction 5) Evaluate answer choices
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
Describe evidence that would STRENGTHEN the argument and CONCLUDE that without such evidence you're not persuaded (DON'T have 1 sad and lonely sentence here).

13. In Critical Reasoning Inference questions - an inference may follow from a single...
After the verb
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
Sentence or fact
'but also'

14. When there is a modifying phrase at the beginning of the sentence -
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
Native to
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
Are usually wrong

15. To+verb: verb can be in which tense?

16. Appeal to authority
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
A common flaw where... (Most of what authority a has to say on subject matter S is correct. a says p about S. Therefore - p is correct.)
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')

17. Limiting Words

18. Argument Essay Paragraph 1

19. 'Like' or 'unlike' triggers

20. A statistical syllogism (proportional syllogism or direct inference)
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
A common flaw where... argues from a generalization true for the most part to a particular case (in contrast to induction - which argues from particular cases to generalisations).
After
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)

21. 'Not only' is always followed by

22. Items being compared must be both ... and ... comparable
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
Grammatically...logically
Countable things 'How many'

23. 'With total employment at less than 68000 people...' what should change?
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)
At FEWER than 68000 people
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
Parallel structure

24. 'Fewer' and 'number' refer to ...and answer the question...

25. Answer choices with 'There is/are/has/have'...
Are usually wrong
'as'
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
1) Read strategically: Passage Map - Topic/Scope/Purpose or Main Idea 2) Analyse question stem 3) Research relevant text in passage 4) Make Prediction 5) Evaluate answer choices

26. Typical wrong answers in Critical Reasoning
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion
'as'
1) Read strategically: Passage Map - Topic/Scope/Purpose or Main Idea 2) Analyse question stem 3) Research relevant text in passage 4) Make Prediction 5) Evaluate answer choices
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.

27. Causation/correlation
To shrink back physically or emotionally
A common flaw where... argues from a generalization true for the most part to a particular case (in contrast to induction - which argues from particular cases to generalisations).
None
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)

28. A llama is 'a native of' / 'native to' Peru
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.
Native to
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
Non countable things 'How much'

29. A person is 'a native of' / 'native to' the UK?
A native of
'but also'
At FEWER than 68000 people
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface

30. Strategy for Sentence Correction

31. Preposition after verb 'to credit'

32. What is the evidence in Critical Reasoning questions?

33. What is the conclusion in Critical Reasoning questions? How do you find it.

34. Argument Essay Para 4

35. Argument Essay Paragraph 2

36. Classic flaws in Critical Reasoning 'Flaw Questions' stem
A common flaw where... argues from a generalization true for the most part to a particular case (in contrast to induction - which argues from particular cases to generalisations).
To shrink back physically or emotionally
At FEWER than 68000 people
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent

37. Various subjects enumerated with an 'OR' indicates singular or plural for verb conjugation?
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
Singular
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
'with'

38. Argument Essay Para 3

39. Analogies - metaphors and other comparisons all require...
Parallel structure
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.
Non countable things 'How much'
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices

40. Preposition after 'to be modelled'
Non countable things 'How much'
'but also'
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.
After

41. 'Better than at any time' or 'better than at any OTHER time'?
Parallel structure
A common flaw where... (Most of what authority a has to say on subject matter S is correct. a says p about S. Therefore - p is correct.)
Describe evidence that would STRENGTHEN the argument and CONCLUDE that without such evidence you're not persuaded (DON'T have 1 sad and lonely sentence here).
OTHER

42. Answer choices with word 'being'...
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
Are usually wrong
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent

43. Strategy for Critical Reasoning questions
A common flaw where... for example - which is larger - one-third of x or one-half of y? Without any information to compare x and y - we cannot answer this question.
'but also'
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
After the verb