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. Causation/correlation
Countable things 'How many'
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
OTHER
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable


2. 'Not only' is always followed by

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3. A person is 'a native of' / 'native to' the UK?
Native to
A native of
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable


4. Strategy for Critical Reasoning questions
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
Native to
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
Parallel structure


5. Various subjects enumerated with an 'OR' indicates singular or plural for verb conjugation?
Singular
Non countable things 'How much'
From -between... and
Native to


6. Items being compared must be both ... and ... comparable
'as'
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
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).
Grammatically...logically


7. Preposition after verb 'to credit'

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8. Recoil
Singular
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
To shrink back physically or emotionally


9. Strategy for Reading Comprehension
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
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)
After
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


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

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11. Classic flaws in Critical Reasoning 'Flaw Questions' stem
Sentence or fact
From -between... and
After
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent


12. Preposition after 'to be modelled'
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
After
Native to
Non countable things 'How much'


13. When there is a modifying phrase at the beginning of the sentence -
'but also'
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
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).
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)


14. Argument Essay Paragraph 1

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15. 'Better than at any time' or 'better than at any OTHER time'?
Grammatically...logically
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
OTHER
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


16. What is the evidence in Critical Reasoning questions?

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17. Argument Essay Para 3

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18. Bolded statement questions commonly ask to choose the answer that...
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
Grammatically...logically
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


19. 'Like' or 'unlike' triggers

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20. 'Distinguish red ... green' 'distinguish .... red ... green
From -between... and
'but also'
After
Native to


21. Limiting Words

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22. Argument Essay Paragraph 2

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23. Analogies - metaphors and other comparisons all require...
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).
Parallel structure
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).


24. Disconnect
To shrink back physically or emotionally
None
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
Singular


25. Strategy for Sentence Correction

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26. A llama is 'a native of' / 'native to' Peru
Native to
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... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
After the verb


27. Appeal to authority
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
Parallel structure
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.)
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable


28. In Critical Reasoning Inference questions - an inference may follow from a single...
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
To shrink back physically or emotionally
Sentence or fact
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)


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

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

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31. 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).
Countable things 'How many'
From -between... and
None


32. Answer choices with 'There is/are/has/have'...
Are usually wrong
Parallel structure
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
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


33. Argument Essay Para 4

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34. Answer choices with word 'being'...
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.)
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).
Singular


35. Typical pronouns that cause trouble
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)
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
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.)


36. Confusion of absolute numbers and percentages
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
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.
OTHER


37. 'With total employment at less than 68000 people...' what should change?
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.
At FEWER than 68000 people


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

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39. Reading Comprehension Inference questions
A native of
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')
Are usually wrong


40. Preposition after 'to be considered'
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
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.)
None


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

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42. Typical wrong answers in Critical Reasoning
'but also'
After
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
It - they - its - their - them - which and that


43. 'There is' 'There are'. where is the subject
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.
Native to
After the verb
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable