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. Argument Essay Paragraph 2

2. Argument Essay Para 3

3. Typical wrong answers in Critical Reasoning
To shrink back physically or emotionally
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
A native of

4. 'There is' 'There are'. where is the subject
OTHER
'as'
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
After the verb

5. Items being compared must be both ... and ... comparable
Non countable things 'How much'
Grammatically...logically
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.

6. Typical pronouns that cause trouble
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.
From -between... and
Are usually wrong
It - they - its - their - them - which and that

7. Preposition after 'to be modelled'
'with'
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
Non countable things 'How much'
After

8. Argument Essay Para 4

9. 'Better than at any time' or 'better than at any OTHER time'?
'with'
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)
Non countable things 'How much'
OTHER

10. 'With total employment at less than 68000 people...' what should change?
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion
'as'
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
At FEWER than 68000 people

11. A llama is 'a native of' / 'native to' Peru
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')
Native to
A native of

12. In Critical Reasoning Inference questions - an inference may follow from a single...
Sentence or fact
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
'with'
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.

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

14. Reading Comprehension Inference questions
Are usually wrong
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
A native of
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL

15. 'Like' or 'unlike' triggers

16. Limiting Words

17. A person is 'a native of' / 'native to' the UK?
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).
'but also'
A native of
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).

18. Argument Essay Paragraph 1

19. 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
A native of
Parallel structure
Are usually wrong

20. Appeal to authority
To shrink back physically or emotionally
After
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.)
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices

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

22. Preposition after verb 'to credit'

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

24. Recoil
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
To shrink back physically or emotionally
'as'

25. Classic flaws in Critical Reasoning 'Flaw Questions' stem
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
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.

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

27. Strategy for Critical Reasoning questions
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. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
'with'
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

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

29. Bolded statement questions commonly ask to choose the answer that...
'with'
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)
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface

30. Answer choices with 'There is/are/has/have'...
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
Are usually wrong
OTHER
'but also'

31. Confusion of absolute numbers and percentages
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
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.
'but also'
Are usually wrong

32. 'Distinguish red ... green' 'distinguish .... red ... green
From -between... and
Are usually wrong
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
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)

33. Various subjects enumerated with an 'OR' indicates singular or plural for verb conjugation?
None
After the verb
Singular
Native to

34. Answer choices with word 'being'...
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... 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.
Countable things 'How many'
Are usually wrong

35. A statistical syllogism (proportional syllogism or direct inference)
Are usually wrong
None
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).

36. Causation/correlation
Singular
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
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).

37. When there is a modifying phrase at the beginning of the sentence -
From -between... and
At FEWER than 68000 people
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
Are usually wrong

38. Disconnect
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.
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... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion

39. Preposition after 'to be considered'
Parallel structure
None
After the verb
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)

40. Analogies - metaphors and other comparisons all require...
Parallel structure
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)
'but also'
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

41. What is the evidence in Critical Reasoning questions?

42. 'Not only' is always followed by

43. Strategy for Sentence Correction