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. 'Better than at any time' or 'better than at any OTHER time'?
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
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
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)


2. Answer choices with word 'being'...
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
Are usually wrong
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
Native to


3. Disconnect
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
'as'
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion


4. In Critical Reasoning Inference questions - an inference may follow from a single...
After
'as'
Sentence or fact
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent


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

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6. Confusion of absolute numbers and percentages
At FEWER than 68000 people
Countable things 'How many'
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.
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable


7. 'Distinguish red ... green' 'distinguish .... red ... green
From -between... and
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
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.)


8. Strategy for Critical Reasoning questions
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
At FEWER than 68000 people
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion


9. What is the evidence in Critical Reasoning questions?

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

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11. 'With total employment at less than 68000 people...' what should change?
To shrink back physically or emotionally
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
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


12. Classic flaws in Critical Reasoning 'Flaw Questions' stem
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
Countable things 'How many'
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
Singular


13. Appeal to authority
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).
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
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.)


14. Argument Essay Paragraph 2

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15. Argument Essay Paragraph 1

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16. A llama is 'a native of' / 'native to' Peru
To shrink back physically or emotionally
Native to
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
Grammatically...logically


17. Answer choices with 'There is/are/has/have'...
Are usually wrong
'with'
Native to
Grammatically...logically


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

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19. Typical wrong answers in Critical Reasoning
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.)
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')


20. Preposition after 'to be modelled'
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
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
After


21. Limiting Words

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22. '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
After the verb
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion


23. Various subjects enumerated with an 'OR' indicates singular or plural for verb conjugation?
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)
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
Singular


24. Strategy for Sentence Correction

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25. Argument Essay Para 3

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26. Recoil
To shrink back physically or emotionally
Native to
OTHER
A native of


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

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28. Typical pronouns that cause trouble
Singular
'as'
Are usually wrong
It - they - its - their - them - which and that


29. Preposition after 'to be considered'
After the verb
Sentence or fact
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.
None


30. Analogies - metaphors and other comparisons all require...
After
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
Parallel structure


31. Bolded statement questions commonly ask to choose the answer that...
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
Grammatically...logically
Are usually wrong
'but also'


32. Argument Essay Para 4

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33. Causation/correlation
OTHER
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
Grammatically...logically
Native to


34. Preposition after verb 'to credit'

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35. Items being compared must be both ... and ... comparable
None
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
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).


36. Reading Comprehension Inference questions
OTHER
From -between... and
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL


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

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38. 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
Native to
None
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.


39. When there is a modifying phrase at the beginning of the sentence -
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
From -between... and
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)


40. 'Like' or 'unlike' triggers

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41. 'Not only' is always followed by

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42. A person is 'a native of' / 'native to' the UK?
'with'
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.
A native of
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL


43. A statistical syllogism (proportional syllogism or direct inference)
None
Countable things 'How many'
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
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).