Preparing for the GRE

Verbal Section

9/20/04

Geography of the Verbal Section

30 minutes 30 questions (in no particular order)

– 6-8 analogies– 5-7 sentence completions– 8-10 antonyms– 2-4 reading comprehension passages (6-

8 questions) Typically starts with a few antonyms

Analogies

What is an analogy?– light : dark :: pleasure : pain

Looking for a clear and necessary relationship between the word pairs

Create a sentence to describe the relationship

Examples:– stone : sculptor– aviary : birds

Analogy Tips

Clear and necessary relationship Form a simple sentence between the

stem words Plug in all of the choices Eliminate answers with:

– Triangular relationships– Words that don’t have C & N relationship

Work backward

Analogies – common relationships

Type of– elation : emotion

Used to– ultimatum : coerce

Degree– abhorrence : dislike

Characterized by– bigot : intolerance

Without / Lacking– courageous : fear

Analogy question

Tile : mosaic

Form a basic sentence with the two words

Analogy question

tile : mosaic ::“A tile is a basic unit of a mosaic.”

wood : totem

stitch : sampler

ink : scroll

pedestal : column

tapestry : rug

Reading Comprehension Tips

Read quickly; main ideas, topic sentence Locate trigger words (although, but, however,

yet) Use general knowledge & common sense Avoid answers that have:

– Disputable choices– Direct quotes and repetitions

Antonyms – “opposites”

When you can define the stem word:– Make your own opposite– Use POE– Down to two? Make opposites and work

backward– Read all choices to avoid careless errors

Antonyms

When you “sort of” know the word– Use positive/negative– Work backward on choices– Guess? Choose the most extreme choice remaining

Don’t know the stem word– Make opposites for all choices – eliminate those that

don’t have an opposite– Avoid words that “sound like” the stem word– Guess? Choose the most extreme choice remaining

Antonyms – no clear opposites

Exhume– Breathe– Inter– Approve– Assess– Facilitate

Antonyms – when you “sort of” know the stem word Positive/Negative connotation Debilitate

– discharge– strengthen– undermine– squelch– delete

Sentence completions (“fill in the blanks”) Anticipate the word(s) in the blank(s) Find the clue that restricts the meaning Look for trigger words (although, but)

– A fair AND ______ judge– A fair BUT ______ judge

Positive or negative? Two blanks: solve one and eliminate