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. Argument Essay Paragraph 2

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php on line 183


2. Classic flaws in Critical Reasoning 'Flaw Questions' stem
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
Countable things 'How many'
Parallel structure


3. When there is a modifying phrase at the beginning of the sentence -
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).
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 there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)


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

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php on line 183


5. Reading Comprehension Inference questions
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
Countable things 'How many'
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


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

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php on line 183


7. Disconnect
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion


8. Analogies - metaphors and other comparisons all require...
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.)
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
Parallel structure
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion


9. Answer choices with word 'being'...
After the verb
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
Are usually wrong
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface


10. Strategy for Reading Comprehension
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)
From -between... and
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


11. Preposition after verb 'to credit'

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php on line 183


12. 'Distinguish red ... green' 'distinguish .... red ... green
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.
From -between... and
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices


13. Items being compared must be both ... and ... comparable
Grammatically...logically
Singular
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
A native of


14. 'With total employment at less than 68000 people...' what should change?
At FEWER than 68000 people
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)
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


15. 'Like' or 'unlike' triggers

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php on line 183


16. 'Better than at any time' or 'better than at any OTHER time'?
OTHER
Are usually wrong
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.


17. Argument Essay Para 3

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php on line 183


18. Preposition after 'to be modelled'
After
To shrink back physically or emotionally
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
Sentence or fact


19. A person is 'a native of' / 'native to' the UK?
A native of
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).
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)
Singular


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


21. Strategy for Critical Reasoning questions
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion
'as'
After


22. Causation/correlation
After
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
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)


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

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php on line 183


24. 'Not only' is always followed by

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php on line 183


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

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php on line 183


26. What is the evidence in Critical Reasoning questions?

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php on line 183


27. Answer choices with 'There is/are/has/have'...
Singular
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
Are usually wrong


28. A statistical syllogism (proportional syllogism or direct inference)
After the verb
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
OTHER
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).


29. Limiting Words

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php on line 183


30. Argument Essay Para 4

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php on line 183


31. Typical wrong answers in Critical Reasoning
Sentence or fact
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
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


32. In Critical Reasoning Inference questions - an inference may follow from a single...
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
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).
Sentence or fact
Singular


33. Appeal to authority
At FEWER than 68000 people
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.
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.)


34. Recoil
To shrink back physically or emotionally
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
A native of
It - they - its - their - them - which and that


35. A llama is 'a native of' / 'native to' Peru
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
Native to
Parallel structure


36. Bolded statement questions commonly ask to choose the answer that...
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
After the verb
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface


37. Various subjects enumerated with an 'OR' indicates singular or plural for verb conjugation?
Singular
Are usually wrong
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices


38. Confusion of absolute numbers and percentages
Non countable things 'How much'
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.
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.


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

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php on line 183


40. Typical pronouns that cause trouble
A native of
Native to
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion


41. Argument Essay Paragraph 1

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php on line 183


42. Strategy for Sentence Correction

Warning: Invalid argument supplied for foreach() in /var/www/html/basicversity.com/show_quiz.php on line 183


43. Preposition after 'to be considered'
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).
None
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
'but also'