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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. Argument Essay Para 3

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

3. Strategy for Critical Reasoning questions
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
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
It - they - its - their - them - which and that

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

5. Causation/correlation
Singular
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
Are usually wrong
Sentence or fact

6. A statistical syllogism (proportional syllogism or direct inference)
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.)
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?)

7. Preposition after 'to be considered'
'as'
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion
None
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.

8. Typical pronouns that cause trouble
Are usually wrong
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
A native of
It - they - its - their - them - which and that

9. Disconnect
Sentence or fact
A native of
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... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion

10. Preposition after 'to be modelled'
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.
Are usually wrong
Sentence or fact
After

11. Strategy for Reading Comprehension
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
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).
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
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

12. 'There is' 'There are'. where is the subject
After the verb
Grammatically...logically
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable

13. A llama is 'a native of' / 'native to' Peru
'as'
Are usually wrong
Native to
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')

14. When there is a modifying phrase at the beginning of the sentence -
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
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)

15. In Critical Reasoning Inference questions - an inference may follow from a single...
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.)
Sentence or fact
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
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent

16. Confusion of absolute numbers and percentages
OTHER
Sentence or fact
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

17. Argument Essay Paragraph 1

18. A person is 'a native of' / 'native to' the UK?
'with'
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion
A native of
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices

19. Argument Essay Paragraph 2

20. Strategy for Sentence Correction

21. Answer choices with 'There is/are/has/have'...
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)
'with'
Are usually wrong

22. Bolded statement questions commonly ask to choose the answer that...
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
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

23. Recoil
To shrink back physically or emotionally
None
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.
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable

24. Answer choices with word 'being'...
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
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... argues from a generalization true for the most part to a particular case (in contrast to induction - which argues from particular cases to generalisations).

25. 'Distinguish red ... green' 'distinguish .... red ... green
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
None
'with'
From -between... and

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

27. 'With total employment at less than 68000 people...' what should change?
To shrink back physically or emotionally
At FEWER than 68000 people
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
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).

28. Limiting Words

29. 'Like' or 'unlike' triggers

30. Classic flaws in Critical Reasoning 'Flaw Questions' stem
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
Are usually wrong
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent

31. Argument Essay Para 4

32. Analogies - metaphors and other comparisons all require...
Parallel structure
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
None

33. Items being compared must be both ... and ... comparable
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
Grammatically...logically
After the verb
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.

34. What is the evidence in Critical Reasoning questions?

35. Typical wrong answers in Critical Reasoning
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).
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
Non countable things 'How much'

36. Reading Comprehension Inference questions
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
A native of
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

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

38. 'Better than at any time' or 'better than at any OTHER time'?
Parallel structure
OTHER
None
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL

39. Appeal to authority
Singular
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.)
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL

40. 'Not only' is always followed by

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

42. Various subjects enumerated with an 'OR' indicates singular or plural for verb conjugation?
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) 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
Sentence or fact
Singular

43. Preposition after verb 'to credit'