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Verbal Section

Verbal Section. There are 4 types of questions: Reading Comprehension (easiest) Antonyms Fill in the blank Analogies (hardest). Strategies for Reading Comprehension Section. It’s not a reading task; it’s a scavenger hunt. Don’t spend too much time reading the passage.

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Verbal Section

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  1. Verbal Section There are 4 types of questions: • Reading Comprehension (easiest) • Antonyms • Fill in the blank • Analogies (hardest)

  2. Strategies for Reading Comprehension Section • It’s not a reading task; it’s a scavenger hunt. • Don’t spend too much time reading the passage. • Go to the questions and then find the answers by skimming the passage.

  3. Reading Comprehension GRE Directions: • Each passage in this group is followed by questions based on its content. After reading a passage, choose the best answer to each question. Answer all questions following a passage on the basis of what is stated or implied in that passage. “Cracking the GRE” Directions: • This is not really a test of reading, nor is it a test of comprehension. It’s a treasure hunt! The answers are in the passage. You just have to find them.

  4. General Strategy • For every section, you should plan to use scratch paper. • For each problem, jot down the following. You don’t need to copy down the answers, which will be on the computer screen. • A • B • C • D • E • When you eliminate an answer, you can draw a line through the option on your scratch paper.

  5. General Strategy • For every section, you should plan to use scratch paper. • For each problem, jot down the following. You don’t need to copy down the answers, which will be on the computer screen. • A • B • C • D • E • When you eliminate an answer, you can draw a line through the option on your scratch paper.

  6. General Strategy • Be sure to go through the entire list of answers. • Do not stop when you think you have found the answer. • Any answer that strikes you as “obvious” is likely not the correct answer. These are called “eye-catcher” answers.

  7. Strategies for Antonym Section • You are given a word; you must identify the word that is the opposite. • Draw a line through any word that is clearly not similar in meaning to the word that you generated. • Draw a line through any word that does not have an opposite (e.g., chair, cloth). • If you cannot find one best answer, guess among the remaining answers.

  8. Example • ALLEVIATE • Alienate • Worsen • Revitalize • Remove • Elevate

  9. Example • DEBILITATE • discharge • strengthen • undermine • squelch • delete

  10. Example • DEBILITATE At first, focus on the word given. Do not focus on the answers.

  11. Using Positive/Negative Senses • is useful when you only “sort of” know the given word. • DEBILITATE (sounds negative – so opposite would be positive.) • discharge • strengthen • undermine • squelch • delete

  12. Using Positive/Negative Senses • DEBILITATE (sounds negative – so opposite would be positive.) • discharge sounds negative – can’t be it • strengthen • undermine • squelch • delete

  13. Using Positive/Negative Senses • DEBILITATE (sounds negative – so opposite would be positive.) • discharge sounds negative – can’t be it • strengthen sounds positive – could be it • undermine • squelch • delete

  14. Using Positive/Negative Senses • DEBILITATE (sounds negative – so opposite would be positive.) • discharge sounds negative – can’t be it • strengthen sounds positive – could be it • undermine sounds negative – can’t be it • squelch • delete

  15. Using Positive/Negative Senses • DEBILITATE (sounds negative – so opposite would be positive.) • discharge sounds negative – can’t be it • strengthen sounds positive – could be it • undermine sounds negative – can’t be it • squelch sounds negative – can’t be it • delete

  16. Using Positive/Negative Senses • DEBILITATE (sounds negative – so opposite would be positive.) • discharge sounds negative – can’t be it • strengthen sounds positive – could be it • undermine sounds negative – can’t be it • squelch sounds negative – can’t be it • delete sounds negative – can’t be it

  17. Working Backwards If you don’t know the meaning of the given word, then generate opposite words for the answers and match each one to the given word. • DEBILITATE • discharge • strengthen • undermine • squelch • delete

  18. Working Backwards If you don’t know the meaning of the given word, then generate opposite words for the answers and match each one to the given word. • DEBILITATE • discharge absorb? • strengthen • undermine • squelch • delete

  19. Working Backwards If you don’t know the meaning of the given word, then generate opposite words for the answers and match each one to the given word. • DEBILITATE • discharge absorb? • strengthen weaken? • undermine • squelch • delete

  20. Working Backwards If you don’t know the meaning of the given word, then generate opposite words for the answers and match each one to the given word. • DEBILITATE • discharge absorb? • strengthen weaken? • undermine build up? • squelch • delete

  21. Working Backwards If you don’t know the meaning of the given word, then generate opposite words for the answers and match each one to the given word. • DEBILITATE • discharge absorb? • strengthen weaken? • undermine build up? • squelch amplify? • delete

  22. Working Backwards If you don’t know the meaning of the given word, then generate opposite words for the answers and match each one to the given word. • DEBILITATE • discharge absorb? • strengthen weaken? • undermine build up? • squelch amplify? • delete insert?

  23. Analogies • Take the two words that are given and form a sensible sentence. • Write the sentence on your scratch paper. • Take each answer set and use those words in your sentence. • If you go through all answers, try making your starting sentence better – more detailed.

  24. Example FRICTION: ABRASION • sterility: cleanliness • dam: flood • laceration: wound • heat: evaporation • literacy: ignorance

  25. Example FRICTION: ABRASION At first, focus on the words given. Do not focus on the answers. Form your sentence, containing the words

  26. Example ETERNAL: END • precursory: beginning • grammatical: sentence • implausible: credibility • invaluable: worth • frenetic: movement

  27. Analogy Strategy • Eliminate word pairs among the answers that have no relationship.

  28. General Strategy • Be careful of words that may have secondary meanings CATHOLIC • uncharitable • reticent • specialized • irreverent • reckless

  29. Example REDOUBTABLE • unanticipated • unambiguous • unimposing • inescapable • immutable

  30. Sentence Completion A recent poll shows that, while 81 percent of college students are eligible for some form of financial aid, only 63 percent of these students are ____ such aid. • complain about • recipients of • dissatisfied with • paying for • turned down for

  31. Sentence Completions • Cover up answers • Generate your own word for blank • FIND A CLUE in the passage • Use positive/negative connotation of words to guess. • Use Process of Elimination • If more than one blank, don’t try to do them at the same time; work on one, then work on the other.

  32. Getting a Clue Museums are good places for students of _____ • art • science • religion • dichotomy • democracy

  33. Getting a Clue • Museums, which house many paintings and sculptures, are good places for students of ____. • art • science • religion • dichotomy • democracy

  34. Getting a Clue • Museums, which house many elaborate talismans, are good places for students of ____. • art • science • religion • dichotomy • democracy

  35. Getting a Clue • Museums, because they house not just paintings, but paintings that depict human anatomy with great accuracy, are good places for students of ___. • art • science • religion • dichotomy • democracy

  36. Getting a Clue • Museums, because they house not just paintings and sculptures selected to reflect the tastes of the broadest possible segment of the population, are good places for students of ___. • art • science • religion • dichotomy • democracy

  37. Trigger Words Words that signal cause and effect: • because, if…then, thus, consequently, accordingly, • therefore, so…that, hence, in order to, when…then, given,

  38. Trigger Words Words that signal support or continuation: • and, also, as well, additionally, furthermore, indeed, • likewise, moreover, too, besides

  39. Trigger Words Words that signal contrast (difference): • but, although, even though, yet, rather than, despite, in spite • of, in contrast, however, nevertheless, nonetheless, • notwithstanding, on the contrary, on the other hand, still, while

  40. Trigger Words Other words that hint at a contrast (difference): • surprise, surprising, surprisingly • paradox, paradoxical, paradoxically • irony, ironic, ironically • incongruity, incongruous, incongruously • illogic, illogical, illogically • anomaly, anomalous, anomalously • unexpected, unexpectedly

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