Test your basic knowledge |

GMAT Reading Comprehension

Subjects : gmat, reading-and-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. Strategy for Sentence Correction

2. Preposition after verb 'to credit'

3. Argument Essay Para 4

4. Limiting Words

5. Classic flaws in Critical Reasoning 'Flaw Questions' stem
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
Identify another 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.
Non countable things 'How much'

6. A statistical syllogism (proportional syllogism or direct inference)
Grammatically...logically
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).
'as'

7. Recoil
To shrink back physically or emotionally
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.
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. Argument Essay Paragraph 2

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

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

11. Various subjects enumerated with an 'OR' indicates singular or plural for verb conjugation?
Singular
'as'
OTHER
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent

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

13. Bolded statement questions commonly ask to choose the answer that...
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
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
To shrink back physically or emotionally

14. Confusion of absolute numbers and percentages
'but also'
Non countable things 'How much'
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.
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices

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

16. A llama is 'a native of' / 'native to' Peru
A native of
Non countable things 'How much'
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.)
Native to

17. Preposition after 'to be modelled'
Are usually wrong
Sentence or fact
'but also'
After

18. A person is 'a native of' / 'native to' the UK?
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
To shrink back physically or emotionally
Are usually wrong
A native of

19. Appeal to authority
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
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.
'but also'

20. '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).
To shrink back physically or emotionally
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
OTHER

21. Reading Comprehension Inference questions
Grammatically...logically
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
'with'
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.

22. 'Distinguish red ... green' 'distinguish .... red ... green
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
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
It - they - its - their - them - which and that

23. 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
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
Are usually wrong

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

25. Typical pronouns that cause trouble
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
Are usually wrong
From -between... and
It - they - its - their - them - which and that

26. 'With total employment at less than 68000 people...' what should change?
Are usually wrong
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
Sentence or fact
At FEWER than 68000 people

27. 'There is' 'There are'. where is the subject
At FEWER than 68000 people
After the verb
Sentence or fact
None

28. Answer choices with word 'being'...
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
Are usually wrong
After
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. Disconnect
After
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
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).

30. Typical wrong answers in Critical Reasoning
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
'with'
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.

31. 'Like' or 'unlike' triggers

32. Analogies - metaphors and other comparisons all require...
Parallel structure
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion
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)

33. When there is a modifying phrase at the beginning of the sentence -
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
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)

34. In Critical Reasoning Inference questions - an inference may follow from a single...
Sentence or fact
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
From -between... and
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)

35. Items being compared must be both ... and ... comparable
Non countable things 'How much'
Grammatically...logically
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')

36. 'Not only' is always followed by

37. Preposition after 'to be considered'
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
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.
'as'
None

38. Strategy for Critical Reasoning questions
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
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)
Parallel structure

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

40. Argument Essay Para 3

41. Argument Essay Paragraph 1

42. Causation/correlation
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.
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
Countable things 'How many'

43. What is the evidence in Critical Reasoning questions?