Section 2 of 3

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Verbal Reasoning

23 questions. 45 minutes. RC + CR only.

No sentence correction. Pure logic and reading comprehension. ~60% RC, ~40% CR.

Reading Comprehension

Reading Comprehension

~13-14 questions. Passages of 200-350 words on business, science, social science, humanities. 3-4 questions per passage.

RC · Question Type

Main Idea & Primary Purpose

Read for the big picture FIRST. Details come second.

What is the central argument?
What is the author trying to accomplish?
Distinguish primary purpose from secondary details
Common stem: "The primary purpose of the passage is..."
RC · Question Type

Supporting Detail

Find specific information stated in the passage
Identify facts, examples, evidence cited
Common stem: "According to the passage..."
Tip: the answer is paraphrased, not copied verbatim
RC · Question Type

Inference Questions

Conclusions NOT explicitly stated but logically supported
Reading between the lines
Must be provable from the passage
Common stem: "It can be inferred that..."
Trap: over-inference (going too far beyond the text)
RC · Question Type

Tone, Style & Attitude

Identify the author's emotional stance
Objective, critical, supportive, skeptical, enthusiastic?
Word choice reveals tone
Common stem: "The author's tone can best be described as..."
RC · Question Type

Function & Application

WHY did the author include a specific detail?
How is the passage organized?
Apply the author's logic to a new situation
Common stem: "The author mentions X in order to..."
Common stem: "Which situation is most analogous..."
Critical Reasoning

Critical Reasoning

~9-10 questions. Short passages (<100 words). Master argument structure: Premise → Assumption → Conclusion.

CR · Question Type

Find the Assumption

The most important CR skill. Every other type builds on this.

The unstated premise the argument depends on
The GAP between evidence and conclusion
Negation test: negate it → argument falls apart
Common stem: "The argument assumes that..."
CR · Question Type

Strengthen & Weaken

Strengthen: new info that supports the conclusion
Weaken: new info that undermines the conclusion
Both target the ASSUMPTION
Look for alternative explanations (weaken)
Look for supporting evidence (strengthen)
CR · Question Type

Evaluate the Argument

Think: "If I knew the answer to this question, would it change my view of the argument?"

What additional info would help assess this?
The answer should be relevant to the assumption
Common stem: "Which would be most useful to know?"
CR · Question Type

Inference & Must Be True

What MUST be true based on the statements?
Stay close to the text — don't over-infer
Often combines 2+ statements
Common stem: "Which must also be true?"
CR · Question Type

Resolve the Paradox

Two facts that seem contradictory
Find info that explains BOTH facts simultaneously
Don't pick an answer that only explains one side
Common stem: "Which best explains the discrepancy?"
CR · Question Type

Bold-Face & Structure

Identify roles of bolded portions in the argument
Is it a premise, conclusion, counter-argument, evidence?
Match BOTH bolded parts to their roles
Common stem: "The two boldfaced portions play which roles?"
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