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. Limiting Words

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2. Classic flaws in Critical Reasoning 'Flaw Questions' stem
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
Are usually wrong
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.
Parallel structure


3. Preposition after 'to be considered'
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
To shrink back physically or emotionally
A native of
None


4. Argument Essay Paragraph 2

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5. Typical pronouns that cause trouble
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
'but also'
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
Native to


6. In Critical Reasoning Inference questions - an inference may follow from a single...
Parallel structure
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
Singular
Sentence or fact


7. 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
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion


8. When there is a modifying phrase at the beginning of the sentence -
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
Parallel structure
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion


9. Confusion of absolute numbers and percentages
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.
Native to
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface


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

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11. Strategy for Reading Comprehension
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'
At FEWER than 68000 people
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


12. Analogies - metaphors and other comparisons all require...
Are usually wrong
After
None
Parallel structure


13. Typical wrong answers in Critical Reasoning
Native to
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
Are usually wrong
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.


14. Answer choices with 'There is/are/has/have'...
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
Are usually wrong
A native of
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable


15. 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
Are usually wrong
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable


16. 'Better than at any time' or 'better than at any OTHER time'?
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
OTHER
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).


17. Disconnect
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... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
Parallel structure
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.


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

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19. 'Like' or 'unlike' triggers

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20. A llama is 'a native of' / 'native to' Peru
OTHER
Native to
'but also'
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.


21. Argument Essay Para 4

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22. Argument Essay Paragraph 1

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23. Reading Comprehension Inference questions
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.
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... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)


24. Causation/correlation
At FEWER than 68000 people
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)
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)


25. Recoil
Non countable things 'How much'
To shrink back physically or emotionally
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
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).


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

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27. What is the evidence in Critical Reasoning questions?

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28. Strategy for Sentence Correction

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29. Preposition after 'to be modelled'
Non countable things 'How much'
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion
After


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

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31. Preposition after verb 'to credit'

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32. 'Not only' is always followed by

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33. 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.
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion
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.)
'as'


34. 'Distinguish red ... green' 'distinguish .... red ... green
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
From -between... and
Sentence or fact


35. 'With total employment at less than 68000 people...' what should change?
At FEWER than 68000 people
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
Are usually wrong


36. A person is 'a native of' / 'native to' the UK?
A native of
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
'as'


37. Answer choices with word 'being'...
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
'but also'
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
Are usually wrong


38. 'There is' 'There are'. where is the subject
After
After the verb
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.)
OTHER


39. Bolded statement questions commonly ask to choose the answer that...
Native to
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
'with'


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

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41. A statistical syllogism (proportional syllogism or direct inference)
Singular
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).
Parallel structure


42. Items being compared must be both ... and ... comparable
Grammatically...logically
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.
Native to
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion


43. Argument Essay Para 3

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