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
At FEWER than 68000 people
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion
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... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion


2. Preposition after verb 'to credit'

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3. Strategy for Reading Comprehension
None
Countable things 'How many'
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
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL


4. Preposition after 'to be considered'
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
None
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable


5. Argument Essay Paragraph 2

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6. Answer choices with word 'being'...
'as'
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.)
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)


7. Bolded statement questions commonly ask to choose the answer that...
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
To shrink back physically or emotionally
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
Are usually wrong


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

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9. Appeal to authority
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
Sentence or fact
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.)
'but also'


10. A statistical syllogism (proportional syllogism or direct inference)
Non countable things 'How much'
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).
OTHER


11. 'Like' or 'unlike' triggers

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12. Causation/correlation
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
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
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL


13. Classic flaws in Critical Reasoning 'Flaw Questions' stem
Grammatically...logically
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
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)


14. Recoil
None
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
To shrink back physically or emotionally
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable


15. Answer choices with 'There is/are/has/have'...
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)
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
Are usually wrong


16. Strategy for Sentence Correction

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17. In Critical Reasoning Inference questions - an inference may follow from a single...
OTHER
Sentence or fact
To shrink back physically or emotionally
'with'


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

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19. What is the evidence in Critical Reasoning questions?

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20. Argument Essay Paragraph 1

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21. Various subjects enumerated with an 'OR' indicates singular or plural for verb conjugation?
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
Grammatically...logically
None
Singular


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

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23. Strategy for Critical Reasoning questions
'with'
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
Sentence or fact
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).


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

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25. Confusion of absolute numbers and percentages
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
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.
Native to
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface


26. Argument Essay Para 4

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27. Preposition after 'to be modelled'
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
After
OTHER
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.


28. Reading Comprehension Inference questions
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
Non countable things 'How much'
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL


29. 'Distinguish red ... green' 'distinguish .... red ... green
At FEWER than 68000 people
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
From -between... and
After


30. Typical wrong answers in Critical Reasoning
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).
None
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
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.


31. Limiting Words

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

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33. 'Not only' is always followed by

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34. Items being compared must be both ... and ... comparable
Parallel structure
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
Grammatically...logically


35. 'There is' 'There are'. where is the subject
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
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 the verb
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent


36. 'With total employment at less than 68000 people...' what should change?
Native to
At FEWER than 68000 people
'with'
None


37. When there is a modifying phrase at the beginning of the sentence -
Are usually wrong
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.
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion


38. A person is 'a native of' / 'native to' the UK?
Singular
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
A native of
Parallel structure


39. Analogies - metaphors and other comparisons all require...
Parallel structure
Are usually wrong
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion


40. A llama is 'a native of' / 'native to' Peru
Native to
After
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.
'as'


41. Typical pronouns that cause trouble
From -between... and
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
Sentence or fact
Singular


42. 'Better than at any time' or 'better than at any OTHER time'?
Countable things 'How many'
OTHER
Grammatically...logically
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices


43. Argument Essay Para 3

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