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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 Para 3

2. A person is 'a native of' / 'native to' the UK?
A native of
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
At FEWER than 68000 people
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)

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

4. 'With total employment at less than 68000 people...' what should change?
At FEWER than 68000 people
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
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.
OTHER

5. Answer choices with word 'being'...
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
Are usually wrong
Countable things 'How many'
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)

6. Typical wrong answers in Critical Reasoning
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
It - they - its - their - them - which and that

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

8. Argument Essay Paragraph 1

9. When there is a modifying phrase at the beginning of the sentence -
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)
Are usually wrong

10. 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.)
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
Sentence or fact

11. 'There is' 'There are'. where is the subject
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)
After the verb
Are usually wrong
A native of

12. A llama is 'a native of' / 'native to' Peru
Singular
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
Native to

13. Classic flaws in Critical Reasoning 'Flaw Questions' stem
'as'
Countable things 'How many'
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent

14. Preposition after 'to be modelled'
Are usually wrong
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
None
After

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

16. Reading Comprehension Inference questions
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
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)
'with'

17. Bolded statement questions commonly ask to choose the answer that...
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
Singular
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)

18. What is the evidence in Critical Reasoning questions?

19. Typical pronouns that cause trouble
From -between... and
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
It - they - its - their - them - which and that

20. 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.
Are usually wrong
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.)

21. Confusion of absolute numbers and percentages
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
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.
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.

22. Various subjects enumerated with an 'OR' indicates singular or plural for verb conjugation?
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.
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
Singular

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

24. Items being compared must be both ... and ... comparable
Sentence or fact
'but also'
Grammatically...logically
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).

25. 'Distinguish red ... green' 'distinguish .... red ... green
Parallel structure
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
Grammatically...logically

26. Limiting Words

27. 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).
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
Grammatically...logically
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable

28. Causation/correlation
Sentence or fact
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
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

29. Preposition after verb 'to credit'

30. Strategy for Reading Comprehension
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'
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
'as'

31. 'Better than at any time' or 'better than at any OTHER time'?
OTHER
Native to
After the verb
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent

32. 'Not only' is always followed by

33. Argument Essay Paragraph 2

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

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

36. Preposition after 'to be considered'
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).
At FEWER than 68000 people
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
None

37. Argument Essay Para 4

38. Disconnect
At FEWER than 68000 people
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
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.
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

39. Recoil
To shrink back physically or emotionally
'but also'
After
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.

40. 'Like' or 'unlike' triggers

41. Strategy for Sentence Correction

42. Analogies - metaphors and other comparisons all require...
Parallel structure
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)
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
From -between... and

43. Strategy for Critical Reasoning questions
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
After the verb
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable