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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. Items being compared must be both ... and ... comparable
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
After
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.
Grammatically...logically

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

3. Appeal to authority
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.)
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
Countable things 'How many'

4. 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
After
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable

5. Preposition after verb 'to credit'

6. Typical wrong answers in Critical Reasoning
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
A native of
Singular
After the verb

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

8. Strategy for Sentence Correction

9. When there is a modifying phrase at the beginning of the sentence -
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
Singular
Parallel structure

10. Answer choices with word 'being'...
Grammatically...logically
Are usually wrong
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
Non countable things 'How much'

11. 'Not only' is always followed by

12. What is the evidence in Critical Reasoning questions?

13. Disconnect
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.

14. Various subjects enumerated with an 'OR' indicates singular or plural for verb conjugation?
Singular
A native of
'as'
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

15. A statistical syllogism (proportional syllogism or direct inference)
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
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).
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion

16. Confusion of absolute numbers and percentages
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.
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
A native of
Countable things 'How many'

17. Answer choices with 'There is/are/has/have'...
Native to
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
Parallel structure
Are usually wrong

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

19. Strategy for Critical Reasoning questions
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
Are usually wrong
Non countable things 'How much'
Singular

20. A person is 'a native of' / 'native to' the UK?
Non countable things 'How much'
Native to
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
A native of

21. Argument Essay Para 3

22. Argument Essay Paragraph 2

23. Preposition after 'to be modelled'
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
'with'
After

24. Reading Comprehension Inference questions
After
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
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

25. Analogies - metaphors and other comparisons all require...
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)
Parallel structure
From -between... and
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.

26. 'Distinguish red ... green' 'distinguish .... red ... green
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
After the verb
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

27. 'With total employment at less than 68000 people...' what should change?
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)
A native of
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion
At FEWER than 68000 people

28. Recoil
To shrink back physically or emotionally
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
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.)

29. Causation/correlation
OTHER
'with'
Grammatically...logically
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)

30. 'Like' or 'unlike' triggers

31. 'Better than at any time' or 'better than at any OTHER time'?
OTHER
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)
At FEWER than 68000 people

32. Argument Essay Paragraph 1

33. Typical pronouns that cause trouble
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices

34. Argument Essay Para 4

35. 'There is' 'There are'. where is the subject
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
To shrink back physically or emotionally
From -between... and
After the verb

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

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

38. Bolded statement questions commonly ask to choose the answer that...
'with'
Parallel structure
None
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface

39. Classic flaws in Critical Reasoning 'Flaw Questions' stem
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
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
Are usually wrong

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

41. In Critical Reasoning Inference questions - an inference may follow from a single...
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion
Native to
'with'
Sentence or fact

42. A llama is 'a native of' / 'native to' Peru
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)
Native to
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

43. Limiting Words