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. Argument Essay Paragraph 2

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2. Strategy for Reading Comprehension
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'
A comparison trap i.e. make sure that the word after like is compared to something of a similar kind (apples and apples) e.g. 'Unlike Latvia - Lithuania - the economy of Estonia...' is incorrect (take out the economy of)
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


3. Classic flaws in Critical Reasoning 'Flaw Questions' stem
Sentence or fact
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface


4. Preposition after 'to be considered'
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)
None
After the verb


5. Argument Essay Para 4

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6. Bolded statement questions commonly ask to choose the answer that...
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.
Grammatically...logically
A native of
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface


7. Answer choices with word 'being'...
Parallel structure
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
After the verb
Are usually wrong


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


9. Items being compared must be both ... and ... comparable
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
Grammatically...logically
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)


10. Causation/correlation
At FEWER than 68000 people
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
To shrink back physically or emotionally
'as'


11. Limiting Words

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

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13. Strategy for Sentence Correction

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14. What is the evidence in Critical Reasoning questions?

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15. Appeal to authority
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
'with'
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.)


16. 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.
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL


17. In Critical Reasoning Inference questions - an inference may follow from a single...
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.)
Sentence or fact
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.


18. Typical pronouns that cause trouble
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion


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

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20. Analogies - metaphors and other comparisons all require...
After
Parallel structure
None
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.


21. 'Better than at any time' or 'better than at any OTHER time'?
Singular
OTHER
None
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)


22. Disconnect
To shrink back physically or emotionally
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
Sentence or fact


23. Typical wrong answers in Critical Reasoning
After
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
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.


24. Answer choices with 'There is/are/has/have'...
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
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
Are usually wrong


25. 'With total employment at less than 68000 people...' what should change?
Singular
At FEWER than 68000 people
None
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.


26. Argument Essay Para 3

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27. 'Not only' is always followed by

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28. Confusion of absolute numbers and percentages
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
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


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

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

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31. 'There is' 'There are'. where is the subject
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
After the verb
Native to


32. Preposition after 'to be modelled'
After
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
Parallel structure
Non countable things 'How much'


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

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34. Preposition after verb 'to credit'

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35. '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
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion


36. A llama is 'a native of' / 'native to' Peru
Native to
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).
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)
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.)


37. 'Like' or 'unlike' triggers

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38. Recoil
OTHER
To shrink back physically or emotionally
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.)
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)


39. A statistical syllogism (proportional syllogism or direct inference)
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
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 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.


40. Reading Comprehension Inference questions
A comparison trap i.e. make sure that the word after like is compared to something of a similar kind (apples and apples) e.g. 'Unlike Latvia - Lithuania - the economy of Estonia...' is incorrect (take out the economy of)
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL


41. When there is a modifying phrase at the beginning of the sentence -
Sentence or fact
After the verb
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
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).


42. Argument Essay Paragraph 1

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43. A person is 'a native of' / 'native to' the UK?
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
A native of
Parallel structure
To shrink back physically or emotionally