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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. Appeal to authority
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
Are usually wrong
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.)
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface

2. Bolded statement questions commonly ask to choose the answer that...
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
A native of
After
To shrink back physically or emotionally

3. A statistical syllogism (proportional syllogism or direct inference)
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
A native of
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).
Parallel structure

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

5. Argument Essay Paragraph 1

6. 'There is' 'There are'. where is the subject
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
To shrink back physically or emotionally
After the verb
'as'

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

8. Answer choices with 'There is/are/has/have'...
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
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
Native to
Are usually wrong

9. When there is a modifying phrase at the beginning of the sentence -
Grammatically...logically
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
From -between... and
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.

10. 'Not only' is always followed by

11. Strategy for Sentence Correction

12. Confusion of absolute numbers and percentages
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
After the verb
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.

13. Argument Essay Para 3

14. Strategy for Reading Comprehension
'with'
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
Native to

15. Causation/correlation
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)
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)

16. Typical wrong answers in Critical Reasoning
Are usually wrong
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
To shrink back physically or emotionally
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices

17. A person is 'a native of' / 'native to' the UK?
To shrink back physically or emotionally
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 native of

18. Strategy for Critical Reasoning questions
Grammatically...logically
Parallel structure
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)

19. Preposition after 'to be modelled'
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
To shrink back physically or emotionally
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

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

21. Recoil
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.
To shrink back physically or emotionally

22. 'Like' or 'unlike' triggers

23. Disconnect
'as'
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
After

24. Argument Essay Paragraph 2

25. 'Better than at any time' or 'better than at any OTHER time'?
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
OTHER
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

26. A llama is 'a native of' / 'native to' Peru
Native to
At FEWER than 68000 people
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.
To shrink back physically or emotionally

27. 'With total employment at less than 68000 people...' what should change?
'as'
Singular
At FEWER than 68000 people
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion

28. Typical pronouns that cause trouble
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
Native to
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')

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

30. Preposition after verb 'to credit'

31. In Critical Reasoning Inference questions - an inference may follow from a single...
Are usually wrong
Countable things 'How many'
To shrink back physically or emotionally
Sentence or fact

32. Reading Comprehension Inference questions
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
Grammatically...logically
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL

33. Preposition after 'to be considered'
Grammatically...logically
None
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
After the verb

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

35. What is the evidence in Critical Reasoning questions?

36. Analogies - metaphors and other comparisons all require...
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
After
Parallel structure
Native to

37. Various subjects enumerated with an 'OR' indicates singular or plural for verb conjugation?
Native to
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)
Singular
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')

38. Classic flaws in Critical Reasoning 'Flaw Questions' stem
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
Parallel structure

39. 'Distinguish red ... green' 'distinguish .... red ... green
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')
From -between... and
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent

40. Items being compared must be both ... and ... comparable
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
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
Grammatically...logically

41. Answer choices with word 'being'...
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
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

42. Limiting Words

43. Argument Essay Para 4