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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. Bolded statement questions commonly ask to choose the answer that...
Non countable things 'How much'
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
A native of
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL

2. 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.)
Grammatically...logically
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)

3. 'With total employment at less than 68000 people...' what should change?
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
Singular
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
At FEWER than 68000 people

4. Answer choices with 'There is/are/has/have'...
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
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.

5. Causation/correlation
Non countable things 'How much'
'but also'
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)

6. Preposition after 'to be considered'
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
None
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)

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

8. 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)
Singular
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

9. 'There is' 'There are'. where is the subject
None
To shrink back physically or emotionally
After the verb
Grammatically...logically

10. Argument Essay Para 3

11. Strategy for Critical Reasoning questions
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
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)
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.

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

13. What is the evidence in Critical Reasoning questions?

14. Argument Essay Paragraph 1

15. Preposition after 'to be modelled'
From -between... and
After
Are usually wrong
Parallel structure

16. 'Like' or 'unlike' triggers

17. Analogies - metaphors and other comparisons all require...
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)
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
Parallel structure
Native to

18. Appeal to authority
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
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).

19. Argument Essay Para 4

20. Limiting Words

21. Confusion of absolute numbers and percentages
OTHER
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.
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).
Countable things 'How many'

22. Strategy for Sentence Correction

23. A llama is 'a native of' / 'native to' Peru
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).
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.
Native to
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.)

24. 'Distinguish red ... green' 'distinguish .... red ... green
From -between... and
None
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')

25. 'Not only' is always followed by

26. Argument Essay Paragraph 2

27. A person is 'a native of' / 'native to' the UK?
'as'
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 native of
It - they - its - their - them - which and that

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

29. Typical pronouns that cause trouble
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
Countable things 'How many'
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)

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

31. A statistical syllogism (proportional syllogism or direct inference)
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
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)
From -between... and
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).

32. Typical wrong answers in Critical Reasoning
'as'
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).
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.

33. Disconnect
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.
Native to
At FEWER than 68000 people

34. Preposition after verb 'to credit'

35. Classic flaws in Critical Reasoning 'Flaw Questions' stem
'but also'
Native to
Singular
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent

36. Reading Comprehension Inference questions
Sentence or fact
To shrink back physically or emotionally
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
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.)

37. In Critical Reasoning Inference questions - an inference may follow from a single...
None
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)
OTHER
Sentence or fact

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

39. Items being compared must be both ... and ... comparable
Grammatically...logically
Non countable things 'How much'
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
To shrink back physically or emotionally

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

41. 'Better than at any time' or 'better than at any OTHER time'?
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.)
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)
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).
OTHER

42. When there is a modifying phrase at the beginning of the sentence -
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
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... (Most of what authority a has to say on subject matter S is correct. a says p about S. Therefore - p is correct.)
Grammatically...logically

43. Strategy for Reading Comprehension
A native of
OTHER
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) 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