GMAT Reading 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. When there is a modifying phrase at the beginning of the sentence -
A native of
'but also'
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)
OTHER


2. Bolded statement questions commonly ask to choose the answer that...
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
A native of
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable


3. 'Better than at any time' or 'better than at any OTHER time'?
OTHER
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)
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) 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


4. What is the evidence in Critical Reasoning questions?

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5. Strategy for Critical Reasoning questions
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
From -between... and
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable


6. 'Distinguish red ... green' 'distinguish .... red ... green
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
From -between... and
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable


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

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8. Typical wrong answers in Critical Reasoning
Grammatically...logically
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
Answers are outside scope - 180s - and irrelevant comparisons.
Are usually wrong


9. Preposition after verb 'to credit'

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10. Analogies - metaphors and other comparisons all require...
A native of
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)
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
Parallel structure


11. Argument Essay Paragraph 2

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12. Items being compared must be both ... and ... comparable
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
Grammatically...logically
'with'


13. Preposition after 'to be considered'
None
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
A native of
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion


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

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15. Appeal to authority
Point of the author's argument. Conclusion words - the One Sentence Test - Fact vs Opinion
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.)
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
Sentence or fact


16. Causation/correlation
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
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
Non countable things 'How much'
To shrink back physically or emotionally


17. Disconnect
'but also'
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
Non countable things 'How much'
It - they - its - their - them - which and that


18. 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.
To shrink back physically or emotionally
A native of
Make sure that the subject of that phrase is what follows the comma (e.g. p175 qq34-36 of coursebook)


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

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20. 'Not only' is always followed by

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21. Typical pronouns that cause trouble
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
Countable things 'How many'
It - they - its - their - them - which and that


22. 'Like' or 'unlike' triggers

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

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24. Recoil
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
To shrink back physically or emotionally
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.
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent


25. 'There is' 'There are'. where is the subject
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.)
After the verb
Sentence or fact


26. Strategy for Reading Comprehension
A common flaw where... lack focus of evidence and focus of conclusion
None
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
Grammatically...logically


27. Classic flaws in Critical Reasoning 'Flaw Questions' stem
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).
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


28. Argument Essay Para 4

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29. Answer choices with word 'being'...
After the verb
1. Identify the question type 2. Untangle the stimulus 3. Predict the answer 4. Evaluate choices
Only infinitive e.g. 'to turn' (never 'to turning')
Are usually wrong


30. Argument Essay Para 3

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31. Limiting Words

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32. Reading Comprehension Inference questions
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
Grammatically...logically
At FEWER than 68000 people


33. Preposition after 'to be modelled'
After
'with'
Identify another flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
Finds a connection between the 2 parts of the stimulus in boldface


34. Various subjects enumerated with an 'OR' indicates singular or plural for verb conjugation?
'as'
A common flaw where... (is the relationship causal? are there other possible causes?)
It - they - its - their - them - which and that
Singular


35. 'With total employment at less than 68000 people...' what should change?
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).
Parallel structure
'with'


36. In Critical Reasoning Inference questions - an inference may follow from a single...
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.)
Sentence or fact
Make sure there is DIRECT DETAILED support for inference in the question stimulus but usually NOT CATEGORICAL


37. Answer choices with 'There is/are/has/have'...
To shrink back physically or emotionally
Are usually wrong
After
At FEWER than 68000 people


38. Strategy for Sentence Correction

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39. A llama is 'a native of' / 'native to' Peru
After the verb
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.)
Identify most offensive flaw in author's reasoning; explain why it is questionable
Native to


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

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41. Argument Essay Paragraph 1

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42. A statistical syllogism (proportional syllogism or direct inference)
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.
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).


43. A person is 'a native of' / 'native to' the UK?
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.)
Are usually wrong
A native of
Mistaking correlation for causation - confusing actual value with percent