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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. Strategy for Critical Reasoning questions
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
Native to
To shrink back physically or emotionally
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices

2. Reading Comprehension Inference questions
A native of
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.
Parallel structure
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL

3. 'Distinguish red ... green' 'distinguish .... red ... green
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.)
From -between... and
Grammatically...logically
After the verb

4. In Critical Reasoning Inference questions - an inference may follow from a single...
Sentence or fact
'but also'
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
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).

5. Strategy for Reading Comprehension
OTHER
To shrink back physically or emotionally
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
None

6. Causation/correlation
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.)
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
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).

7. Limiting Words

8. Argument Essay Paragraph 2

9. 'Better than at any time' or 'better than at any OTHER time'?
None
OTHER
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface

10. Answer choices with word 'being'...
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion
Singular
None
Are usually wrong

11. Typical pronouns that cause trouble
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
Are usually wrong
Sentence or fact

12. 'There is' 'There are'. where is the subject
After the verb
'but also'
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).
Grammatically...logically

13. Argument Essay Para 3

14. When there is a modifying phrase at the beginning of the sentence -
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
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)
From -between... and

15. Typical wrong answers in Critical Reasoning
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
Countable things 'How many'

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

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

18. Preposition after 'to be considered'
After the verb
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.
None

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

20. Answer choices with 'There is/are/has/have'...
After the verb
OTHER
Are usually wrong
Sentence or fact

21. Disconnect
Grammatically...logically
At FEWER than 68000 people
After the verb
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion

22. 'Like' or 'unlike' triggers

23. Confusion of absolute numbers and percentages
Grammatically...logically
To shrink back physically or emotionally
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.
From -between... and

24. A person is 'a native of' / 'native to' the UK?
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion
Native to
A native of
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.

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

26. Appeal to authority
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.)
Non countable things 'How much'
At FEWER than 68000 people
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.

27. Various subjects enumerated with an 'OR' indicates singular or plural for verb conjugation?
Singular
After the verb
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
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.)

28. Preposition after verb 'to credit'

29. Recoil
To shrink back physically or emotionally
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.
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
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')

30. Argument Essay Paragraph 1

31. 'Not only' is always followed by

32. What is the evidence in Critical Reasoning questions?

33. Argument Essay Para 4

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

35. 'With total employment at less than 68000 people...' what should change?
Countable things 'How many'
'as'
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.
At FEWER than 68000 people

36. Analogies - metaphors and other comparisons all require...
A native of
Parallel structure
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL

37. Classic flaws in Critical Reasoning 'Flaw Questions' stem
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
After
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)

38. 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).
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 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
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface

39. Strategy for Sentence Correction

40. Items being compared must be both ... and ... comparable
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
At FEWER than 68000 people
Grammatically...logically
OTHER

41. Preposition after 'to be modelled'
After
Non countable things 'How much'
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
'but also'

42. A llama is 'a native of' / 'native to' Peru
Are usually wrong
After the verb
Native to
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')

43. Bolded statement questions commonly ask to choose the answer that...
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
Grammatically...logically
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
At FEWER than 68000 people