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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. Argument Essay Paragraph 2

2. Preposition after 'to be considered'
From -between... and
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
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices

3. Typical wrong answers in Critical Reasoning
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.

4. Typical pronouns that cause trouble
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).
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
Are usually wrong
OTHER

5. 'Better than at any time' or 'better than at any OTHER time'?
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
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).

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

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

8. Recoil
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)
Parallel structure
To shrink back physically or emotionally
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL

9. Preposition after verb 'to credit'

10. 'There is' 'There are'. where is the subject
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
After the verb
From -between... and
'with'

11. Classic flaws in Critical Reasoning 'Flaw Questions' stem
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)
Native to
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

12. Causation/correlation
Grammatically...logically
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
OTHER

13. Argument Essay Paragraph 1

14. Strategy for Reading Comprehension
A native of
'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
Countable things 'How many'

15. Answer choices with 'There is/are/has/have'...
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)
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

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

17. Various subjects enumerated with an 'OR' indicates singular or plural for verb conjugation?
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).
None
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.)

18. Argument Essay Para 3

19. Preposition after 'to be modelled'
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
After
'but also'
Countable things 'How many'

20. 'Not only' is always followed by

21. Strategy for Sentence Correction

22. 'Like' or 'unlike' triggers

23. 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... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.
Are usually wrong
Native to

24. Limiting Words

25. When there is a modifying phrase at the beginning of the sentence -
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
'but also'
After the verb
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface

26. Answer choices with word 'being'...
Parallel structure
Singular
Are usually wrong
It - they - its - their - them - which and that

27. Argument Essay Para 4

28. Analogies - metaphors and other comparisons all require...
A native of
Parallel structure
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).
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')

29. Reading Comprehension Inference questions
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.
Countable things 'How many'
Sentence or fact

30. What is the evidence in Critical Reasoning questions?

31. Disconnect
Grammatically...logically
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
A native of
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface

32. Items being compared must be both ... and ... comparable
Grammatically...logically
Are usually wrong
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)

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

34. Bolded statement questions commonly ask to choose the answer that...
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
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)
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface

35. Strategy for Critical Reasoning questions
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
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).
After the verb
'as'

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

37. 'Distinguish red ... green' 'distinguish .... red ... green
At FEWER than 68000 people
From -between... and
Are usually wrong
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

38. 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.)
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).
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... argues from a generalization true for the most part to a particular case (in contrast to induction - which argues from particular cases to generalisations).

39. A person is 'a native of' / 'native to' the UK?
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
After
A native of

40. In Critical Reasoning Inference questions - an inference may follow from a single...
Sentence or fact
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)
Countable things 'How many'
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).

41. 'With total employment at less than 68000 people...' what should change?
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
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
Countable things 'How many'
At FEWER than 68000 people

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

43. Confusion of absolute numbers and percentages
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion
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... 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