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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. Typical pronouns that cause trouble
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
A common flaw where... 'always -' 'none -' 'some -' and 'only' etc. set boundaries for the logic of an argument. Be careful with scope.
Native to
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')

2. Strategy for Reading Comprehension
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
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)

3. Argument Essay Paragraph 2

4. Strategy for Sentence Correction

5. A llama is 'a native of' / 'native to' Peru
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. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
Native to
To shrink back physically or emotionally

6. A person is 'a native of' / 'native to' the UK?
Countable things 'How many'
A native of
Parallel structure
None

7. Answer choices with word 'being'...
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
Are usually wrong
Grammatically...logically
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.

8. Argument Essay Para 4

9. What is the evidence in Critical Reasoning questions?

10. Argument Essay Para 3

11. Appeal to authority
None
Identify another 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
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.)

12. Argument Essay Paragraph 1

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

14. Preposition after verb 'to credit'

15. Classic flaws in Critical Reasoning 'Flaw Questions' stem
Parallel structure
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
OTHER

16. Confusion of absolute numbers and percentages
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
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)
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. Analogies - metaphors and other comparisons all require...
Parallel structure
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
From -between... and

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

19. Strategy for Critical Reasoning questions
Singular
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
A native of
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable

20. 'There is' 'There are'. where is the subject
To shrink back physically or emotionally
Sentence or fact
After the verb
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface

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

22. 'Not only' is always followed by

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

24. Disconnect
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
After
A native of
None

25. In Critical Reasoning Inference questions - an inference may follow from a single...
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
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
'with'
Sentence or fact

26. Recoil
Grammatically...logically
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.
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion

27. Causation/correlation
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
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)

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

29. Preposition after 'to be considered'
Show that you understand the argument by PARAPHRASING it and saying IT FAILS TO CONVINCE (don't have to say why yet)
To shrink back physically or emotionally
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
None

30. Various subjects enumerated with an 'OR' indicates singular or plural for verb conjugation?
Native to
Are usually wrong
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
Singular

31. 'Like' or 'unlike' triggers

32. 'Better than at any time' or 'better than at any OTHER time'?
'as'
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.)
OTHER
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL

33. 'With total employment at less than 68000 people...' what should change?
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
None
At FEWER than 68000 people
Are usually wrong

34. 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... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
'with'

35. Bolded statement questions commonly ask to choose the answer that...
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
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

36. Typical wrong answers in Critical Reasoning
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
Grammatically...logically
Supports the conclusion. usually what isn't the conclusion. Sometimes this is just a conjecture.
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)

37. Items being compared must be both ... and ... comparable
'but also'
Grammatically...logically
Non countable things 'How much'
From -between... and

38. 'Distinguish red ... green' 'distinguish .... red ... green
From -between... and
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
'as'
OTHER

39. Preposition after 'to be modelled'
After
At FEWER than 68000 people
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

40. A statistical syllogism (proportional syllogism or direct inference)
'as'
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)
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

41. When there is a modifying phrase at the beginning of the sentence -
Grammatically...logically
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL
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).

42. Limiting Words

43. Answer choices with 'There is/are/has/have'...
To shrink back physically or emotionally
'as'
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent
Are usually wrong