GMAT Reading 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. Disconnect
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
Countable things 'How many'
Parallel structure
Are usually wrong


2. 'Like' or 'unlike' triggers

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3. 'Not only' is always followed by

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

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5. Preposition after 'to be considered'
A native of
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
None


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

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7. When there is a modifying phrase at the beginning of the sentence -
After the verb
'but also'
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
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.


8. Reading Comprehension Inference questions
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
'but also'
At FEWER than 68000 people
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL


9. Items being compared must be both ... and ... comparable
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.
Grammatically...logically
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)


10. Typical wrong answers in Critical Reasoning
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
'as'


11. 'Distinguish red ... green' 'distinguish .... red ... green
From -between... and
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
At FEWER than 68000 people


12. Limiting Words

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13. 'Better than at any time' or 'better than at any OTHER time'?
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).
OTHER
'as'


14. Answer choices with word 'being'...
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.
Countable things 'How many'
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
Are usually wrong


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

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16. Argument Essay Para 3

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

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18. What is the evidence in Critical Reasoning questions?

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19. Appeal to authority
To shrink back physically or emotionally
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
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.)
Non countable things 'How much'


20. Confusion of absolute numbers and percentages
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
Are usually wrong
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.


21. Argument Essay Paragraph 1

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22. Bolded statement questions commonly ask to choose the answer that...
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
To shrink back physically or emotionally
It - they - its - their - them - which and that


23. Preposition after 'to be modelled'
To shrink back physically or emotionally
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
After


24. 'With total employment at less than 68000 people...' what should change?
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
At FEWER than 68000 people
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.


25. Strategy for Sentence Correction

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26. 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 native of
Are usually wrong
Singular


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

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28. Classic flaws in Critical Reasoning 'Flaw Questions' stem
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
Non countable things 'How much'


29. In Critical Reasoning Inference questions - an inference may follow from a single...
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.
Sentence or fact
None
It - they - its - their - them - which and that


30. Recoil
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
Are usually wrong
To shrink back physically or emotionally
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.


31. Answer choices with 'There is/are/has/have'...
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
Are usually wrong
From -between... and
After


32. Strategy for Reading Comprehension
From -between... and
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
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
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices


33. A llama is 'a native of' / 'native to' Peru
Are usually wrong
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).
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.
Native to


34. Causation/correlation
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 common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion


35. Typical pronouns that cause trouble
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
OTHER
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
Non countable things 'How much'


36. Analogies - metaphors and other comparisons all require...
After the verb
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)
Parallel structure


37. Preposition after verb 'to credit'

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38. Argument Essay Para 4

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39. A person is 'a native of' / 'native to' the UK?
OTHER
A native of
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
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


40. Strategy for Critical Reasoning questions
None
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
At FEWER than 68000 people


41. Argument Essay Paragraph 2

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42. 'There is' 'There are'. where is the subject
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 common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
After the verb
'but also'


43. Various subjects enumerated with an 'OR' indicates singular or plural for verb conjugation?
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
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)