14 to 15 questions from 4 to 5 passages
This section comprises passages drawn from varied
sources- sciences, socio - history, art/philosophy,
literary criticism and an occasional business passage.
The passages, mostly abstract with rich diction,
are followed by implied idea questions.
Added to these are the challenges of reading on computer,
speed and time management.
| Most frequently tested reading comprehension
questions |
CONTENT
BASED QUESTIONS
The questions that are based on the information stated
directly in the passage (denotations) include these.
Content based questions are based of two types: main
idea questions, specific idea question (with line
or paragraph references)
STRUCTURE
BASED QUESTIONS
These questions ask you to analyze and evaluate
the organization and logic of a passage
the author’s style of writing
how the paragraphs are arranged
how the author takes the discussion forward
APPLICATION
QUESTIONS
These are questions that ask how information given
in the passage
can be applied in contexts outside the passage. These
include
working with hypothetical situations
recognizing scope of the text outside its context
evaluating analogous situations
the ideas the author would agree/ disagree with
INFERENCE
QUESTIONS
The questions ask about ideas that are implied in
the passage
(connotations)
meaning that are drawn from the passage
suggested ideas
inference based on comparisons
inference based on cause- effects
drawing generalizations/ conclusions
EVALUATION
QUESTIONS
A higher-difficulty question type requiring you to
judge the information given in the passage, evaluate
the author’s arguments and/or assess the scope
and application of the information in the passage.
These questions would also require you to identify,
if any, the flaws in the judgment, question the validity
of a proposition and the like.
ASSUMPTION QUESTIONS
These are questions in which you are required to identify the assumption that the author is making while stating something within a passage.
LOGICALCONCLUSION QUESTONS
In this question type you are asked to identify a statement that would logically follow the passage. The answer is closely related to the content. In that it summarizes the ideas discussed in the passage.
ATTITUDE / TONE QUESTIONS
These questions require you to make a statement about the author, his attitude,
values and principles as inferable from the passage or the tone of the passage (again an indirect reference to the author himself)
SPECIALISATION OF THE AUTHOR
A not - so - common question; nevertheless, there could be questions in which you are asked to infer the specialization of the author.
IDENTIFYING THE SOURCE OF THE PASSAGE
An occasional question may be asked on the source from which the passage is drawn.
AUDIENCE THE AUTHOR IS ADDRESSING
An occasional question that requires you to identify and infer from the context the audience the author is addressing, if the passage is an extract/excerpt from an address or discourse.
A closer look at GMAT passages
Read passage sources
Literary
reviews
Science
research articles
Economic
and business
Philosophy
–history
Politics
and contemporary issues
GMAT
passages are edited from three times more lengthy
articles. Hence though passages are short, information
is plenty; read closely and thoroghly
While
preparing, try and read faster than your normal speed.
Experiment and find your optimum pace. Control speed
when comprehension suffers.
Practice
purposeful reading
While
reading any essay as basic reading practice or taking
a passage with questions, keep some questions in mind
What is the objective of the speaker?
Purpose of using example?
Is there cause effect relationship?
Is there comparison or contrast?
