1. READING COMPREHENSION
GRE VERBAL REASONING
READING COMPREHENSION

2. Reading Comprehension - Overview
10 reading passages distributed between 2 Verbal Reasoning sections
Some passages are one paragraph – others are longer
1-6 questions follow each passage
Questions test ability to:
Determine author’s purpose
Determine author’s meaning
Consider inferences that can drawn from passage
Research details in context
To understand the meaning of words & function of sentences in context

3. Reading Comprehension – Passage Structures
Three Classic GRE Passage Structures
1. Arguing a Position
2. Discussing something specific within a field of study
3. Explaining significant new findings or research

4. Reading Comprehension – Question Types
Questions will take 1 of 3 forms:
1. Select the best answer from a set of 5 possible answers
2. Select all correct answers from a set of 3 possible answers
Note: No credit is given for partially correct answers
3. Select a sentence within passage that best demonstrates the information requested by the question

5. Reading Comprehension – General Approach
Read Passage Strategically
Identify the Topic , Scope, and Purpose of the passage
Analyze the Question Stem
Do not read the question stems before reading the passage
Correct answers require Active Awareness & Understanding
Research the Relevant Text in the Passage
Do not consider more text from the passage than necessary
Make a Prediction
GRE tests Comprehension & not ability to mine for details
Form a Prediction about answers to questions targeting main idea, purpose, etc.
Develop Ability to Infer an answer based on clues
Evaluate Answer Choices

6. Reading Comprehension - Steps
#1 Read Strategically & Make Passage Map
Read actively – work to understand what you are reading
Identify topic, scope, & purpose
Map main idea, primary & secondary arguments, supporting statements, conclusion (use scratch paper)
#2 Analyze the Question Stem
Don’t read question stems before reading the passage
Use question stem to determine where to research passage information
Goal is to determine the specificity of answer being sought

7. Reading Comprehension – Steps (cont’d)
#3 Research Relevant Text in Passage
Don’t consider more than necessary to answer question
#4 Make a Prediction
Questions test comprehension of material – not ability to mine for details
Before looking at answer choices, try to form your own response or target a section that you think will contain the answer
Not possible to predict for inference questions – instead use passage map
#5 Evaluate Answer Choices
Read and consider all choices, even if one jumps out at you
Eliminate incorrect choices to help select or validate your choice

8. Reading Comprehension - Tips
Express the Main Idea in Your Own Words
Focus on Retaining Ideas, not Facts
Focus on ideas, arguments, and conclusions
Use only what Passage Gives You
Do not be influenced by outside knowledge
Don’t approach Highlighted Sentence Questions differently
Remember that surrounding material provides key context information
Don’t be Misled by Variations on Standard Question Stems
Some questions are concerned with what is true
Some questions require you to determine what is not supported by passage