GMAT Reading 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. To+verb: verb can be in which tense?

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2. Answer choices with word 'being'...
None
Are usually wrong
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion


3. Recoil
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
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
Sentence or fact
To shrink back physically or emotionally


4. 'Better than at any time' or 'better than at any OTHER time'?
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
Grammatically...logically
OTHER
'but also'


5. Answer choices with 'There is/are/has/have'...
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
Are usually wrong


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

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7. 'With total employment at less than 68000 people...' what should change?
After the verb
At FEWER than 68000 people
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.
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')


8. What is the evidence in Critical Reasoning questions?

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9. Reading Comprehension Inference questions
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).
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
'with'
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)


10. Causation/correlation
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
Singular
Are usually wrong


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

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12. Various subjects enumerated with an 'OR' indicates singular or plural for verb conjugation?
Singular
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion
After
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.)


13. Typical wrong answers in Critical Reasoning
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
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


14. A person is 'a native of' / 'native to' the UK?
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).
OTHER
A native of
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface


15. Preposition after 'to be considered'
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).
None
From -between... and
Are usually wrong


16. Limiting Words

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17. 'Like' or 'unlike' triggers

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18. A llama is 'a native of' / 'native to' Peru
Parallel structure
Native to
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
OTHER


19. When there is a modifying phrase at the beginning of the sentence -
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
Are usually wrong


20. 'Distinguish red ... green' 'distinguish .... red ... green
Sentence or fact
From -between... and
OTHER
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion


21. Argument Essay Paragraph 2

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

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23. Argument Essay Paragraph 1

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24. Preposition after 'to be modelled'
'with'
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
After
Non countable things 'How much'


25. Typical pronouns that cause trouble
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)
Are usually wrong
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
A native of


26. Items being compared must be both ... and ... comparable
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
Grammatically...logically
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.)


27. Strategy for Sentence Correction

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28. Argument Essay Para 4

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29. In Critical Reasoning Inference questions - an inference may follow from a single...
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.
Sentence or fact
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
Singular


30. Strategy for Critical Reasoning questions
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).
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
'with'
Parallel structure


31. Preposition after verb 'to credit'

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32. Argument Essay Para 3

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33. Confusion of absolute numbers and percentages
Are usually wrong
At FEWER than 68000 people
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.
Sentence or fact


34. 'Not only' is always followed by

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35. Classic flaws in Critical Reasoning 'Flaw Questions' stem
'but also'
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
Sentence or fact
To shrink back physically or emotionally


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

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37. Disconnect
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
After


38. Bolded statement questions commonly ask to choose the answer that...
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
'but also'
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).
A native of


39. Strategy for Reading Comprehension
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
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
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable


40. Analogies - metaphors and other comparisons all require...
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
Singular
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).
Parallel structure


41. A statistical syllogism (proportional syllogism or direct inference)
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).
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).
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.
Singular


42. 'There is' 'There are'. where is the subject
A native of
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
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.)
After the verb


43. Appeal to authority
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
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.)
1) Read the original sentence carefully - LOOKING FOR ERRORS; if you don't spot errors - go to step 2: 2) Scan and group the answer choices 3) Eliminate choices until only one remains
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion