Reading Comprehension¶
Usual Topics¶
- Social Sciences
- Sociology
- Psychology
- Business, Law, Government
- Hard Sciences
- Literature
- History
Types of passages¶
| Type | |
|---|---|
| Short | Paragraph argument |
| Short | Critical reading |
| Medium | 20-40 lines |
| Long | 40+ lines |
Types of questions¶
- Line summarizing the passage
- Meaning of certain word, in the context of the passage
- Replace the word with a blank and try to match it with the options
- Meaning of certain line, in the context of the passage
- Inference: Parallel reasoning
- Multiple correct answers (denoted with alphabet bulleted options)
- Select the sentence in the passage
- Which of the following options does the author imply?
Tips¶
- Read actively
- Identify key words
- Read for general meaning
- Understand structure
- Eliminate wrong options
- Incorrect
- Out of scope
- Extreme
- Too many assumptions
- Rotten fruit: one/two words make the sensible part insensible
- Too broad/narrow
- True, but doesn’t answer the question and hence is not relevant
- True in the real world
- Pertains to another part of passage
Paragraph Argument¶
Elements of argument¶
- Premises = Facts
- Conclusion = Statement tying facts together
- Gap: Something that the conclusion does not take into account
5 options
Types of questions¶
- Weaken/casts the most doubt
- Strengthening
- Paradox argument
- Bold-faced
- Percentage vs Numbers: Likelihood
Elimination of choices¶
- Irrelevant
- Opposite