Note: We recommend that you go through this post slowly as this post will help you identify the

type of questions tested on the GRE and the appropriate method to tackle those questions. Reading comprehension questions account for almost 50 of the questions on the !er"al section.#n reading comprehension$ the GRE primarily tests you on % different types of questions Glo"al &uestions 'etail (nference )unction *oldface +trengthen,Weaken -eaning of word,sentence .ou need to learn the strategy for tackling each type of question as the approach for each type of question is different./et0s look at them one "y one: 1. Global Questions: 1hese questions ask you something a"out the passage as a whole. 2ere are some of the question prompts for such type of questions What is the primary purpose of the passage ? What can be an appropriate title for the passage ? Which of the following best states the central idea of the passage ? The author of the passage is primarily concerned with which of the following ? The authors primary objective in the passage is to How to approach 'o not 3ump to the options. (n glo"al questions$ 4/W4.+ 5RE'(61 the answer and then mo!e through the options looking for your prediction. (deally$ the moment you finish reading a passage and "efore you e!en mo!e to the first question$ you should summari7e the passage yourself. 5redicting the answer "ecomes much easier then. #ne of the classic wrong answer types which the GRE test makers gi!e you in glo"al questions is that one or two options state the primary purpose of one of the paragraphs of the passage. 1he candidates think that since he has read this particular paragraph in the passage and the option states the summary of that paragraph$ it is the primary purpose$ "ut it is not. .ou may not want to take more than 80 seconds in glo"al questions and this you would "e a"le to accomplish only if you predict the answer. (f you don0t predict it will take you a lot of time so prediction is the key to tackle such questions. 2. Detail questions: 1hese questions will ask you for something e9plicitly stated in the passage. /et0s ha!e a look at the question prompts for such questions: According to the passage.. which of the following is true about ? According to the passage, each of the following about is true !" #T ? The author ma$es which of the following statements concerning .. ? How to approach (n detail type of questions$ you would not "e a"le to predict the answer. What you should definitely do is try to rephrase the question in your "rain and tell yourself what e9actly will you look for

4fter that$ your first step should "e to go through the options and eliminate all the a"surd options.1here are usually : options in such questions which are way off the mark and easily "e eliminated. 1hen$for each option which is left$ scan the passage and see whether it con!eys the same meaning as is "eing con!eyed "y the te9t in the passage. *eware of the following type of traps which the test makers set in detail questions . ;. 2alf correct answers : 1he first half of the option is correct and the second half is wrong. *y the time$you finish reading the first half$ your mind switches off and assumes that the rest of the option is also correct. :. -isrepresentation of data : +ometimes a fact will "e changed !ery su"tly and that is why you should ensure that you !erify each contender<the options left after eliminating the a"surd ones= with the rele!ant te9t in the passage. )or e9ample$ a passage may state that >the employment rate in 9y7 country has decreased in the last 80 years? and the option will state that the >num"er of people employed has decreased in 9y7 country in the last 80 years?. 'id you notice that the two sentences mean different things @ (f you didn0t$ you ha!e fallen in a classic trap in such questions 8. E9aggerated,E9treme option : 1he option will use words which "e e9aggerated or e9treme. )or e9ample$ the passage may state that >the unemployment rate has increased in the last 5 years? and the option will state that >the unemployment rate has increased tremendously in the last 5 years? 3. Inference questions: (nference questions ask you to infer. 1he question can refer to a detail or sometimes may ask you something "ased on the o!erall scope and purpose of the passage. /et0s ha!e a look at the question prompts : Which of the following can be inferred from the passage ? The passage implies which of the following about .. ? The passage provides supports which of the following assertions about % ? The author would most li$ely agree with which of the following? How to approach 1hese questions require you to mark an answer that -A+1 *E 1RAE "ased on the passage. 1hese questions are similar to the inference type of questions tested on critical reasoning. 4. Function Questions: -ost candidates get this type of questions wrong. 2ere are some of the question prompts for function questions The author refers to .. in order to ? The author mentions. in order to What is the function of paragraph ? How to approach (n function questions$ you are not "eing asked for >inference? rather you are "eing asked for the role a sentence,word,e9ample,paragraph plays..ou are not "eing asked >what? a"out a particular detail "ut rather >why? a particular detail is gi!en @

1ypically$ two or more of the options in function questions will gi!e you the inference and candidates generally fall in these traps. )or e9ample$ if the question asks What is the function of paragraph &, one option will gi!e you the summary of para 8. 1his option will "e wrongB .ou are not "eing asked W241 para 8 says "ut rather W2. para 8 says what it says. 5. ol!face Questions : 1he link "elow contains the strategy for tackling "oldface questions http:,,www.aristotleprep.com,gC..nDtheDgre,
*oldface questions scare a lot of students on the GRE. 2owe!er$ if you know how to approach these questions methodically$ these questions can "e tackled with ease. (n this post$ we will gi!e you a methodical way of attacking these questions. )irstly$ let0s see what e9actly are "oldface questions. (n "oldface questions$ #ne or more sentences of the passage is highlighted .ou ha!e to determine the roles these sentences play in the argument *oldface questions test you on: .our a"ility to identify the role played "y "old segments .our a"ility to understand relationships in the passage "trate#$ : )irstly let0s see what all roles a sentence can play in a passage ;. 6onclusion :. E!idence 8. *elief E. 5rediction 5. 4lternate E9planation or Reasoning Now let0s try to understand what e9actly do the terms a"o!e mean 1. %onclusion : %onclusion is the central i!ea of the ar#u&ent. -att scored 8:0 on the GRE. 1herefore$ -att is an intelligent student /ast year$ the go!ernment of country F spent G:00 "illion on impro!ing the education facilities in primary schools. *ased on this data$ the go!ernment claims that the unemployment rate in country F will decrease. 1he underlined sentences a"o!e are conclusions.1he other terms for a conclusion : %lai&' s$nopsis' content of conclusion 2. ()i!ence : *n un!ispute! fact+infor&ation that is use! to !ispro)e so&ethin# -att scored 8:0 on the GRE. 1herefore$ -att is an intelligent student /ast year$ the go!ernment of country F spent G:00 "illion on impro!ing the education facilities in primary schools. *ased on this data$ the go!ernment claims that the unemployment rate in country F will decrease. 1he underlined sentences a"o!e are e!idences. #ther terms for e!idence: pre&ise' !ata 8. elief : *n$thin# that the author clai&s true re#ar!less of its actual truth

(t is generally seen that people who work hard mo!e up the corporate ladder. (f *ill works hard $he will also mo!e up the corporate ladder. 1he underlined sentence a"o!e is a "elief. (t0s not a fact. (t0s a "elief "ecause that0s what the author thinks is usually true. #ther terms for "elief: I&pression' ,pinion' -hesis' H$pothesis' .otion' /osition 3. %ontra!iction: 0o#ical inco&patibilit$ between 2 or &ore state&ents 1om : ( studied well for the GRE$"ut ( did not do well. 1hat shows that studying doesn0t help in getting a good score on the GRE 2arry : ( studied well for the GRE$ and ( did well . 1his shows that studying helps in getting a good score. (f you look at the argument a"o!e$ 2arry doesn0t agree $ or in other words contradicts$ with 1om0s conclusion that studying doesn0t help in getting a good score on the GRE. #ther terms for contradiction: %onflict' Discrepanc$' Disa#ree&ent 4. /re!iction : "o&ethin# that author belie)e will be true in future 1ypically certain conditions need to "e satisfied for the prediction to come true E9amples: We will "uy a *-W pro!ided we work hard 1he "lue whale will no longer "e an endangered species pro!ided the laws against hunting are strictly enforced. 5. *lternate 1easonin# /ro)i!e! for an e)ent (n this type of argument$ an alternate reasoning is pro!ided. 1he state council "elie!es that the riots took place in the city "ecause of the lack of unemployment. 2owe!er$ the recent report indicates that a small fight "etween two young men fighting o!er a piece of turkey led to widespread rioting. How to answer bol! face questions @ a=Read the entire te9t including the nonD"oldface part. "= #ut of the two "oldface sentences$ spot the easier one. c= Go through the options HER1(64//. and eliminate some options. )or e9ample$ if you think that the second "oldface statement in the passage is an e!idence$ then straightway mo!e on to the options and eliminate all options that say that this option is a conclusion,claim.1his way you would "e a"le to eliminate :D8 options without e!en "othering a"out the other "oldface statements. d=Now mo!e on to the other "oldface statement$ predict what it is and mo!e through the remaining choices to find out the correct answer.

2. "tren#then+3ea4en 1he link "elow contains the steps and strategies for tackling strengthen,weaken type of questions http:,,www.aristotleprep.com,gC..trategies,
"trate#$ for tac4lin# %ritical 1easonin# t$pe of questions +1E5; : Read the question stem first and determine the question type. +1E5:: Read the argument carefully and figure out the conclusion.

+1E58: 5redict the answer +1E5E: Go through the options looking for your prediction.

-hin#s to re&e&ber: (n step :$ make sure that you paraphrase the argument. 5araphrasing will make the understanding of the argument much easier and you will "e a"le to predict the answer with greater ease 'o not strengthen,weaken the e!idence gi!en in the argument. Asually : options will do that so you can straightaway eliminate these options (t is entirely possi"le that more than one option may"e strengthening or weakening the argument. .ou ha!e to find the option which strengthens,weakens the 5,"-. 1o figure out the conclusion in an argument easily watch out for conclusion indicators such as therefore$ thus$ as a result$ consequently etc. 4 conclusion is generally an opinion. +o it will either "e a recommendation or will ha!e some prediction. 1hat0s a really easy to figure out the conclusion. 1he question stem for a strengthen question may appear in any of the forms "elow Which of the following $ if true$ strengthens the argument a"o!e @ Which of the following $ if true$ supports the argument a"o!e @ 1he question stem for a weaken question may appear in any of the forms "elow Which of the following $ if true$ weakens the argument a"o!e @ Which of the following $ if true$ casts doubt on the argument a"o!e @ Which of the following $ if true$ undermines the argument a"o!e @ Which of the following $ if true$ challenges the argument a"o!e @ 1o summari7e$ words such as weakens$casts dou"t$ undermines$ challengesin the question stem indicate that it0s a weaken type of question. (n all of the a"o!e question stems$ the word argument could also "e replaced "y the >conclusion? "ut your strategy will remain same.

6. 5eanin# of a wor!+sentence 1his type of questions will ask you to find out the meaning of the sentence. .ou need to make sure that you look for an answer which is conte9tually correct. )or e9ample$ take the word >critical0 . 1his word has multiple meanings I important$ essential . 4 good !oca"ulary is critical to your success on the G-41 I (nclined to 3udge se!erely and find faults. I a state of emergency. 6ritical shortage of food. *y following the guidelines a"o!e$ you should "e "etter prepared to tackle R6 questions on the GRE.

Top 10 essential tips for GRE reading comprehension

'y( jill muttera posted )arch *, +,-+

+tudying for the new GRE to get into graduate school@ Get off )ace"ook and 1witter$ put some classical music on 5andora$ and "rush up on your reading comprehension strategies for the GRE test. 4pply these tips to practice tests and you0ll "e on your way to acing the GRE and getting that mastersB 1. Focus on the openin# an! closin# para#raphs of lon#er passa#es. D 1he ma3ority of the passages you will encounter on the reading comprehension questions of the GRE will "e shorter$ "ut one or two will "e longer. (f you are running out of time$ read the opening and closing paragraphs and skim the middle. 1he first and last paragraphs contain the passage0s main idea in most passages. .ou can go "ack and read "ody paragraphs more carefully as questions call for it. 2. 7se conte8t to help $ou. D (f a question asks a"out a particular line$ don0t go "ack in to the passage and read 3ust that line. 4 good rule of thum" is to read at least : sentences "efore and after the line in question. 1his will gi!e you an idea of where the point started and where the author is going with it. 3. "a)e unfa&iliar passa#es for last. D 1he GRE passages will co!er a !ariety of su"3ects$ from history to science to literature. /ike with any question type$ do the questions that are easier first and sa!e the harder ones for last. Each question is worth the same amount$ so you don0t want to waste a "ig chunk of time on a passage with a few questions when you could answer twice as many questions on easier passages. (f science passages are confusing to you$ come "ack to that one after you0!e completed the rest. 1he great thing a"out the GRE is that it lets you skip around within a section$ so use this to your ad!antage. 4. 1eall$ un!erstan! what the question is as4in#. D Reading comprehension questions ha!e the most >gray area? of any question type on the GRE. +ome people skim through the question$ not really understanding what it is specifically asking$ start reading the answer choices$ and pick the first one that sounds true. 1his is not a good strategyImany times more than one answer choice will ring true or partially true with the passage$ "ut only one will specifically and "est answer that particular question. 5. Do not brin# in outsi!e 4nowle!#e. D 1he GRE does not require you to ha!e any outside knowledge for the reading comprehension passages$ so check any you ha!e at the door. .our own "iases might actually hurt you when answering the questions$ especially if it is an opinion passage. 1ry this GRE reading comprehension application question for practice. 2. .ote how )ocabular$ is use! in the sentence. D .ou will come across some >!oca"ulary in conte9t? questions where you will "e gi!en possi"le definitions of a !oca"ulary word in the passage. 1here may "e more than one answer choice that gi!es a correct definition for the !oca"ulary word$ "ut only one choice will fit the word in this particular conte9t. Notice how the word is used in the sentence$ and plug in the answer choices to see which one works "est. 6. For 9"elect ,ne or 5ore *nswer %hoices: questions' consi!er each choice separatel$. D )or some of the reading comprehension questions$ you will ha!e to choose one$ two$ or three of the answers. 1his format can lead you to secondDguess yourself more than with a typical multipleDchoice question where you can eliminate choices decisi!ely. 1o a!oid these issues$ consider each choice separately and only select it if you feel that it could "e the only correct answer to the question. ;. 7n!erline an! ta4e notes as $ou rea!. D Read the passage acti!ely. Anderline key words or sentences that contain the main idea. Jot down any notes$ pro"a"ly 3ust a word or two$ that you think might help you. (f the

author is taking a side on a certain issue$ write a positi!e or negati!e sign ne9t to the passage to remind yourself later what his or her position is. <. *)oi! e8tre&e answers. D Generally$ if an answer choice sounds !ery e9treme in tone$ it0s not the "est choice. *e wary of answers that use words like ne!er$ always$ completely$ etc. 1here0s usually an e9ception to the rule. 1=. Don>t &a4e assu&ptions. D (nferring and assuming are not the same thing. When you infer$ you make an inference "ased on the information in the passage. When you assume$ you make an assumption that "rings in outside information or "iases and is not "ased solely on the gi!en passage. 4n assumption may seem !alid$ "ut if you can0t "ack it up with statements from the passage$ it0s pro"a"ly "est to stay away from it. #ur Grockit tutors can teach you e!en more strategies for reading comprehension and all other content of the GRE. -essage one todayB