On the GRE (Graduate Record Examination) test, reading comprehension accounts for almost ten long passages, the length which varies from small, medium, and long and the number of questions after every passage is not more than six.
Points to observe while reading Passages:
Concept: It covers two aspects that are narrow concept and wider concept. Wider concept includes the topic in a broader aspect like it can be about literature in 1990s, while the narrow concept includes the further topics included in it, like the explanations involved and the geographical area covered. For example, may be the topic covers the aspects of all around the world or of a particular region which will help you to judge the passage in a better way.
Tone: It is also imperative for the test takers to know the tone of the author while they are reading the passage. The tone can be polite, angry, optimistic, pessimistic or satirical which makes it easier to the reader to comprehend the passage.
Conclusion: It is the end result of the passage and gives the answer to the question as to the purpose of the passage and conclusions that can be drawn on that basis.
Types of questions
After every passage, some multiple choice questions are asked where you are supposed to answer as per the instructions given as to how many options are to be selected. These types of questions are:
Types of Questions
Main Idea Questions: These are the questions which generally appear as first question. These questions are asked to identify the primary purpose of the passage or the primary purpose of the author
Example: In this passage, the author is primarily concerned with…?
Tone of the author questions: In this type of question, author’s attitude is asked from the test-takers as what tone the author uses to present his ideas that can be polite, angry, sardonic or hopeful.
Example: The author’s attitude towards contemporary literature can be best described as…?
Vocabulary-in-context: This question tests the vocabulary of the test taker. An unfamiliar word is given from the text and you are supposed to answer its meaning from the text written in the passage.
Example: The term ‘enigma’, used by the author in line 19, refers to?
Structure of passage Questions: These questions are asked to identify the technique or writing style followed by the author to present his ideas or opinions.
Example: Which of the following best describes the structure of the passage?
Inference Questions: Inference means what you have understood from the text written without any assumption. These questions are also quite common on the GRE test.
Example: It can be inferred from the passage that, while evaluating the scientist’s theory, some of the critics were….?
Weaken and Strengthen Questions:
Test takers may be asked to select to select an option from the choices given which weakens the argument’s main claim if it were true or to select a new fact that would make the argument stronger, if true.
Example: Which of the following option weakens ………..