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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. Reading Comprehension Inference questions
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
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).
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).

2. Limiting Words

3. 'With total employment at less than 68000 people...' what should change?
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
At FEWER than 68000 people
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.)

4. Preposition after 'to be modelled'
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
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
Sentence or fact

5. 'Better than at any time' or 'better than at any OTHER time'?
OTHER
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
Identify another 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

6. Classic flaws in Critical Reasoning 'Flaw Questions' stem
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)
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

7. 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.
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)
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

8. Typical wrong answers in Critical Reasoning
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
Native to
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
At FEWER than 68000 people

9. Causation/correlation
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.
Grammatically...logically
Are usually wrong
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)

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

11. What is the evidence in Critical Reasoning questions?

12. Bolded statement questions commonly ask to choose the answer that...
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
'with'
Native to
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion

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

14. Analogies - metaphors and other comparisons all require...
Parallel structure
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
Sentence or fact
Are usually wrong

15. 'Not only' is always followed by

16. Answer choices with 'There is/are/has/have'...
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
Are usually wrong
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent

17. 'Distinguish red ... green' 'distinguish .... red ... green
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
From -between... and
OTHER
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).

18. A person is 'a native of' / 'native to' the UK?
A native of
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
Are usually wrong
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).

19. Various subjects enumerated with an 'OR' indicates singular or plural for verb conjugation?
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).
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)
Singular
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)

20. Strategy for Reading Comprehension
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
After the verb
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
Grammatically...logically

21. Typical pronouns that cause trouble
From -between... and
Countable things 'How many'
At FEWER than 68000 people
It - they - its - their - them - which and that

22. Strategy for Critical Reasoning questions
None
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.
Non countable things 'How much'
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices

23. Preposition after 'to be considered'
None
Native to
After the verb
A native of

24. Argument Essay Para 3

25. Recoil
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
Sentence or fact
To shrink back physically or emotionally
From -between... and

26. Answer choices with word 'being'...
Grammatically...logically
Parallel structure
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
Are usually wrong

27. Strategy for Sentence Correction

28. Argument Essay Paragraph 1

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

30. Appeal to authority
Grammatically...logically
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... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.
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).

31. When there is a modifying phrase at the beginning of the sentence -
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)
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
To shrink back physically or emotionally
Are usually wrong

32. Disconnect
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.
It - they - its - their - them - which and that

33. Confusion of absolute numbers and percentages
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)
Non countable things 'How much'
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.
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.

34. Argument Essay Para 4

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

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

37. A llama is 'a native of' / 'native to' Peru
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.
Grammatically...logically
Non countable things 'How much'
Native to

38. 'There is' 'There are'. where is the subject
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.
'with'
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
After the verb

39. 'Like' or 'unlike' triggers

40. Argument Essay Paragraph 2

41. Preposition after verb 'to credit'

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

43. A statistical syllogism (proportional syllogism or direct inference)
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate 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).
Sentence or fact
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