Short GRE reading comprehension passages - How do I identify the answer quickly?

 Is it possible to get all the GRE short passages questions correct?

 

Yes, it is possible to get all of the questions correct in the GRE.

I have tutored students since 2008. Some of them get all the questions correct. They also get the questions correct in less than a minute.

 

So what strategy did they use?

Almost all of them practice diagramming.

I teach students to diagram math problems as well.

 

Diagramming helps students analyse the question better. Students can

• break down a complex problem
• identify the essential information
• eliminate the unnecessary data

Lets try this question

You are asked to identify the assumption

Spend 1 minute reading the paragraph

Now what sort of diagram will you draw for this question???

I teach students to draw diagram like this

 To identify the assumption, you have to focus on the conclusion and the reason why the scientist makes the conclusion.

 The conclusion - 

great apes have a capacity for self-awareness unique among nonhuman species.

So I will draw a circle and write capacity for self awareness..

 

Now whats the reason? Why did the scientist say this?

Reason:

animals recognize the reflection as an image of self -mirror self-recognition (MSR)

This i will represent as another circle.

 

 In the middle I  will put a black box.. In that box.. you have to put each answer option and check if the answer option gives additional information which can lead to the conclusion..

  

In this question only Option B gives a valid reason

 

the scientist assumes that if animal doesn't have capacity for MSR, then it doesn't have the capacity for self awareness.  Only then we can say great apes have a capacity for self-awareness unique among nonhuman species. If we are given that they have capacity for self awareness, then conclusion fails.

 Other options don't give a valid reason.

 You can use diagramming to break down any problem.

 

Happy learning.

To reach me

 My facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/GREpreperation

 My linkedin profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgeanand/

 

How to study for GRE reading comprehension

Reading passages are drawn from many different disciplines and sources - the physical sciences, biological sciences, social sciences, arts and humanities and everyday topics and are based on material found in books and periodicals, both academic and nonacademic. All the questions can be answered on the basis of the information provided in the passage.

The test contains 12 to 15 passages, the majority of which are one paragraph in length and only one or two of which are several paragraphs long. 

Each reading comprehension question is based on a passage that may range in length from one paragraph to several paragraphs. 

One important skill you have to develop, to master this section, is critical reading.

so ,what is critical reading?

Critical reading means the reader applies certain

• Process
• Models
• Questions
• Theories

which results in enhanced clarity and comprehension.

 Generally students merely “skim” a passage. i.e the reader superficially reads the text, without noticing the

• tone
• organization
• logical consistency
• of the passage.

 

"Skimming" doesnt help much in GRE, as questions are mostly inference based questions.

 Critical reading help you tackle inference based questions easily.

 So, what does it take to be a critical reader? Here are few ways to build this skills

 

1. Read slowly

During the preparation phase, you should spend 20 to 30 mins on a passage. Only when you read slowly you will notice the 

• tone
• organization
• logical consistency

of a passage.

 Do not worry about speed.at this stage of your preparation

When you master this reading style, your speed improves. Albeit gradually.

 While attempting the GRE, you should attempt to read and answer the questions in 6 to 8 mins.

 Does this sound intimidating?

 Feel free to contact me… we can chalk out a plan. I usually conduct reading aloud sessions with students. In that way they understand how my mind works. and how to read.

 

To reach me

 My facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/semanticsgre

 My linkedin profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgeanand/

 

2. Use the dictionary

During GRE preparation, use a dictionary to understand words.

 Keep in mind, the meaning of the word, changes in context. 

 So you have to very careful while reading the passage.

 I usually give students a list of commonly tested words in the GRE

 

3. Make notes.

Jot down notes. Summarize ideas.

 When you read a line, see if it is related to the previous line or paragraph.. 

1. Is it an explanation?
2. Is it contrasting the information given earlier
3. Is it supporting the information?

….

Note down the main ideas in a paragraph. 

• Is the author making a claim?
• Is he giving supporting reasons to the claim?
• Also note the tone of the opinions..

 

is it mildly supporting or overtly supporting or moderately supporting or vociferously supporting?

 Note the degree - mildly/overtly/moderately/vociferously….

I will show you how to do this in another blog post..

  

4. Make a passage map.

Make a rough passage map from memory: test what you can recall from your reading of the text

 Make headings of the main ideas and note supporting evidence in dot points.

Include your evaluation: the strengths and weaknesses.

Identify gaps.

While answering questions.. refer your map.. go to that particular paragraph and reread those lines and then you can arrive at the answer.

 

5. Practice..practice

Practice makes perfect.

 I would recommend reading upto 150 GRE passages..

 Critical reading takes time to master..

 On an average students take 1.5 months to see progress in this section

   Keep in mind........

 Critical reading involves using logical and rhetorical skills. Identifying the author's thesis is a good place to start, but to grasp how the author intends to support it is a difficult task.

 More often than not an author will make a claim (most commonly in the form of the thesis) and support it in the body of the text. The support for the author's claim is in the evidence provided to suggest that the author's intended argument is sound, or reasonably acceptable.

 What ties these two together is a series of logical links that convinces the reader of the coherence of the author's argument: this is the warrant. If the author's premise is not supportable, a critical reading will uncover the lapses in the text that show it to be unsound.

 

Happy learning... 

GRE Live online classes

 

The classes for the revised GRE, are delivered in two stages

(i)Concepts and reasoning     (ii). Higher order questions

·         Context – based word building

Given the reasoning – based test design of the GRE, language building–words, idioms and sentence formation – is done in real contexts

·         Unique approaches to text completion  and reading completion and reading comprehension questions

·         Progress assessment

Regular progress tests – word tests, concept tests and mock tests – conducted in order to gauge your performance levels and to plan special lessons.

·         Faculty support

Continuous faculty support –individual and group – during the entire period of 

preparation

For more details ping me (George - GRE coach)

Our learning Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/preparation4gre

 

GRE math thinking skills 1

GRE tests your logical skills as well as your knowledge of math concepts.  To score high, you need to remember various formulas, theorems. Also you need to master critical problem-solving skills.

 I am going to take you through one problem-solving skill –

 Problem analysis with a diagram

Take this problem .

If you follow approach 1.

 You will use many formulas and theorems. You will get an answer, but it will take more time.

 If you follow approach 2.

You will minimize the number of formulas used. You will use your logical skills and reduce complex computation. You will solve questions faster.

In GRE time-taken per question is the key. If you solve questions in less than 30 seconds, then you will have more time in the bank to solve harder questions. You will also be able to complete the section in the allotted time.

Can logic be taught?

Yes!  Logic can be taught. If the tutor teaches you reasoning skills and demonstrates those skills on a wide range of problems, your thinking will get re-oriented. You will be able to solve questions using more than one approach.

 I feel Logic is best taught in a tutor-driven class, not through generic videos

If you need help in GRE, here are my details

My contact link is here:

LinkedIn profile : https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgeanand/

Facebook learning group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/semanticsgre

Now let us understand both the approaches.

Approach 1

This approach involves formulae/theorem...

Area of square ABCD = side²

Side = 8. Hence area =64

F and E are midpoints of the respective sides. AB=AD=8

 Hence AF=FB=4 and AE=ED=4

 Triangle AEF, Triangle BFC and Triangle EDC are right angled triangles. Hence we can use Pythagoras theorem

This approach was time consuming. Also, This approach involves lots of calculation.

Approach 2 - faster approach

 

When you encounter geometry problems, look at the picture for few seconds.

Can you observe a square and 4 triangles?

Spend time observing the pictures and look for clues.

The area of shaded portion is equal to the area of the square – (sum of the area of the 3 triangles).

This approach requires you to know the area of the triangle = 0.5 x base x height.

Now let’s analyze the figure. F and E are the midpoints

 The sides of the square are 8

 Area of triangle AEF = 0.5x4x4 = 8

 Area of triangle EDC = 0.5x4x8 = 16

 Area of triangle FBC = 0.5x8x4 = 16

 Area of square =64

 Area of shaded region = 64- 16-16-8 =24

 This approach is far easier and involves less calculation.

 So always use logic to arrive at answers faster