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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. In Critical Reasoning Inference questions - an inference may follow from a single...
Are usually wrong
None
A native of
Sentence or fact

2. Disconnect
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
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... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion

3. 'Better than at any time' or 'better than at any OTHER time'?
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
After
Countable things 'How many'
OTHER

4. A person is 'a native of' / 'native to' the UK?
'but also'
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
A native of
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.

5. Preposition after verb 'to credit'

6. 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).
Are usually wrong
None
Sentence or fact

7. Reading Comprehension Inference questions
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.
To shrink back physically or emotionally
It - they - its - their - them - which and that

8. Classic flaws in Critical Reasoning 'Flaw Questions' stem
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
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.
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)

9. Argument Essay Paragraph 1

10. Answer choices with word 'being'...
'as'
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
Are usually wrong
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).

11. 'Not only' is always followed by

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

13. Analogies - metaphors and other comparisons all require...
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.
Countable things 'How many'
Parallel structure

14. Typical wrong answers in Critical Reasoning
Singular
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
Sentence or fact
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.

15. Appeal to authority
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
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
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.)

16. Recoil
To shrink back physically or emotionally
Sentence or fact
None
Are usually wrong

17. Various subjects enumerated with an 'OR' indicates singular or plural for verb conjugation?
Sentence or fact
Singular
'but also'
From -between... and

18. Strategy for Reading Comprehension
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
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.

19. 'With total employment at less than 68000 people...' what should change?
Are usually wrong
From -between... and
At FEWER than 68000 people
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

20. 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)
Grammatically...logically
Are usually wrong
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface

21. Bolded statement questions commonly ask to choose the answer that...
'but also'
OTHER
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
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.)

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

23. Causation/correlation
To shrink back physically or emotionally
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
Are usually wrong
'with'

24. Limiting Words

25. Items being compared must be both ... and ... comparable
Parallel structure
Grammatically...logically
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.
Singular

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

27. A llama is 'a native of' / 'native to' Peru
Native to
None
OTHER
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices

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

29. Argument Essay Para 4

30. 'There is' 'There are'. where is the subject
After the verb
Are usually wrong
OTHER
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')

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

32. Argument Essay Paragraph 2

33. Strategy for Sentence Correction

34. Typical pronouns that cause trouble
None
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
At FEWER than 68000 people
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).

35. A statistical syllogism (proportional syllogism or direct inference)
Non countable things 'How much'
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 native of
From -between... and

36. 'Like' or 'unlike' triggers

37. 'Distinguish red ... green' 'distinguish .... red ... green
From -between... and
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
Grammatically...logically
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).

38. What is the evidence in Critical Reasoning questions?

39. When there is a modifying phrase at the beginning of the sentence -
Native to
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
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)

40. Strategy for Critical Reasoning questions
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
At FEWER than 68000 people

41. Argument Essay Para 3

42. Preposition after 'to be modelled'
At FEWER than 68000 people
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
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)

43. 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.
A native of
Countable things 'How many'
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.