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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. Preposition after 'to be considered'
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
Non countable things 'How much'
None

2. Preposition after verb 'to credit'

3. Strategy for Critical Reasoning questions
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
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?)

4. Analogies - metaphors and other comparisons all require...
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.
Parallel structure
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion
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. Argument Essay Para 4

6. 'With total employment at less than 68000 people...' what should change?
'as'
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)
At FEWER than 68000 people
After

7. 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?)
After the verb
Countable things 'How many'
Singular

8. Reading Comprehension Inference questions
Countable things 'How many'
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface

9. 'Like' or 'unlike' triggers

10. Answer choices with word 'being'...
'but also'
From -between... and
Are usually wrong
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.

11. 'There is' 'There are'. where is the subject
After the verb
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
To shrink back physically or emotionally
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.

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

13. Recoil
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
To shrink back physically or emotionally

14. Preposition after 'to be modelled'
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.
After
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

15. 'Distinguish red ... green' 'distinguish .... red ... green
From -between... and
Are usually wrong
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)

16. Typical wrong answers in Critical Reasoning
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.
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... (Most of what authority a has to say on subject matter S is correct. a says p about S. Therefore - p is correct.)
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.

17. Causation/correlation
Parallel structure
A native of
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
Singular

18. In Critical Reasoning Inference questions - an inference may follow from a single...
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion
Native to
Sentence or fact
Countable things 'How many'

19. Answer choices with 'There is/are/has/have'...
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.)
Are usually wrong
Countable things 'How many'
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.

20. Classic flaws in Critical Reasoning 'Flaw Questions' stem
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
From -between... and
After
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent

21. A llama is 'a native of' / 'native to' Peru
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
Native to
To shrink back physically or emotionally

22. 'Better than at any time' or 'better than at any OTHER time'?
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)
At FEWER than 68000 people
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion
OTHER

23. When there is a modifying phrase at the beginning of the sentence -
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
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).
None

24. Typical pronouns that cause trouble
To shrink back physically or emotionally
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
Native to

25. A statistical syllogism (proportional syllogism or direct inference)
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
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)
'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).

26. A person is 'a native of' / 'native to' the UK?
At FEWER than 68000 people
Native to
A native of
To shrink back physically or emotionally

27. Bolded statement questions commonly ask to choose the answer that...
'as'
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
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).

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

29. Argument Essay Para 3

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

31. 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.
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)
Parallel structure
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')

32. Strategy for Reading Comprehension
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.
After
Parallel structure
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

33. Argument Essay Paragraph 2

34. Disconnect
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
Native to
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
At FEWER than 68000 people

35. What is the evidence in Critical Reasoning questions?

36. Items being compared must be both ... and ... comparable
To shrink back physically or emotionally
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)
Grammatically...logically
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

37. Strategy for Sentence Correction

38. Appeal to authority
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion
Grammatically...logically
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.)

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

40. Argument Essay Paragraph 1

41. Limiting Words

42. 'Not only' is always followed by

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