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.

• Go to the questions and then find the answers by skimming the passage.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Example

• ALLEVIATE Alienate Worsen Revitalize Remove Elevate

Example

• DEBILITATE discharge strengthen undermine squelch delete

Example

• DEBILITATE

At first, focus on the word given.

Do not focus on the answers.

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

Using Positive/Negative Senses

• DEBILITATE

(sounds negative – so opposite would be positive.)

discharge sounds negative – can’t be it strengthen undermine squelch delete

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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.

Example

FRICTION: ABRASION sterility: cleanliness dam: flood laceration: wound heat: evaporation literacy: ignorance

Example

FRICTION: ABRASION

At first, focus on the words given.

Do not focus on the answers.

Form your sentence, containing the words

Example

ETERNAL: END precursory: beginning grammatical: sentence implausible: credibility invaluable: worth frenetic: movement

Analogy Strategy

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

General Strategy

• Be careful of words that may have secondary meanings

CATHOLIC• uncharitable• reticent• specialized• irreverent• reckless

Example

REDOUBTABLE• unanticipated• unambiguous• unimposing• inescapable• immutable

Sentence CompletionA 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

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.

Getting a Clue

Museums are good places for students of _____

• art

• science

• religion

• dichotomy

• democracy

Getting a Clue

• Museums, which house many paintings and sculptures, are good places for students of ____.

• art

• science

• religion

• dichotomy

• democracy

Getting a Clue

• Museums, which house many elaborate talismans, are good places for students of ____.

• art

• science

• religion

• dichotomy

• democracy

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

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

Trigger Words

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

given,

Trigger Words

Words that signal support or continuation: • and, also, as well, additionally, furthermore,

indeed, • likewise, moreover, too, besides

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

Trigger WordsOther 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