CR is one of the crucial sections on the GMAT test. In this section, you are given a snippet of around 50 to 200 words which necessarily contains an argument which has a claim, supported by reasons/evidences and after every CR passage, there will be one question related to the passage.
Types of Questions
- Strengthening of an argument
- Weakening of the argument
- Identify an Inference /Conclusion
- Summarise an argument
- Identify the relevance of the Argument
- Identify cause and effect relationship methods
- Identify the flaws and fallacies in an argument
- Evaluate the method of the argument
Strengthening of an argument: In this type of question, out of the options given, you are supposed to select the option which strengthens the argument. Arguments can be strengthened in two ways: either by introducing some supporting evidence or by introducing some supporting reasons.
Weakening of the argument: These questions are similar to above type of questions, the only difference is that they are on the other side of the fence. The evidence/reason that most/least seriously weakens the support of an arguments claim is the answer.
Identify an Inference /Conclusion: This type of questions asks the test takers to choose the option that is/ not an inference or a conclusion that can be drawn from the details mentioned in the paragraph.
Summarise an argument: Summary is reduction of the large amount of the large amount of information to its most crucial points. Just keep in mind that the, main idea should be properly communicated.
Identify the relevance of the Argument: Relevant information is defined as something that affects the argument- either positively by strengthening it or negatively by weakening it. The degree at which the argument is affected is not a factor while testing the relevance of the information. Therefore, when an argument is not affected by the information provided in any way, it becomes irrelevant in the context of the text provided.
Identify cause and effect relationship methods: In this type of question, you are supposed to spot or reason out casual relationships between diverse events/ phenomena.
Identify the flaws fallacies in an argument: These are the questions where the validity of an argument matters. You are supposed to identify whether there is an error in the entire argument or whether it is in a specific part of the argument.
Evaluate the method of the argument: Here, the test takers need to identify the technique applied by author of the argument in order to make his argument or the logic for the support of the claim that the author has made.