Book Information

• Alternative strategies for pacing and time allocation are discussed and evaluated.
• Techniques for outlining and annotating are explored and evaluated.
• The various question "types" used over and over again by the test makers are identified; for each type, the test makers' favorite wrong-answer ploys are exposed.
• Ample question sets are included, so that you can experiment and practice with various techniques in order to determine your score-optimizing strategy.
• Detailed explanations for all question sets are included; in fact, the explanations not only explain why the correct response is indeed the best one, but also why each of the incorrect responses is not.
• A special section addressing the unique challenges of the computerized GRE and GMAT is included.

• How should I use the materials in this book?
• Can I really improve my reading skills in a few weeks, or even a few months?
• Would it be worthwhile to increase my vocabulary for the test by learning as many new words as possible before exam day?
• Should I use other materials in addition to this book to prepare for the Reading Comprehension questions?
• What abilities are Reading Comprehension questions designed to measure?
• From what sources are Reading Comprehension passages drawn?
• Am I at an advantage if a passage involves a topic that is familiar to me?

• How significant is reading comprehension on my exam?
  • The GRE (Graduate Record Exam)
  • The LSAT (Law School Admission Test)
  • The GMAT (Graduate Management Admission Test)
  • The MCAT (Medical College Admission Test)

• Questions about pacing and time allocation
  • Should I skip one entire question set so that I have more time for each question set that I attempt?
  • Should I move on to the next question set after a certain number of minutes, even if I haven't finished the question set I am currently working on?
  • Should I reserve some time at the end of the timed section to go back and reexamine questions that I was uncertain about? Should I read the passages in the order in which they appear?
  • Do the passages appear in ascending order of difficulty? If not, is there any pattern at all?
  • Should I skip a passage if it is not accompanied by as many questions as the other passages?
  • Are some types of questions inherently more difficult than others? If so, should I skip them?
  • Are some questions more difficult than others? If so, should I skip them?

• The GMAT and GRE Computerized Tests: Questions and Answers
  • How is my level of reading comprehension tested and measured on the Computer-Based GRE and GMAT?
  • What is the format of the computerized GRE and GMAT?
  • Isn't a reading comprehension test inherently more difficult when the examinee is viewing a computer screen?
  • Does the inherent nature of a Computerized Test suggest any peculiar strategy for handling reading comprehension questions?

PART 2: APPROACHING THE PASSAGES

• The Operating Principle

• The Four Modes of Reading
  • The Passive Mode
  • The Preview Mode
  • The Interactive Mode
  • The Question-Driven Mode

• Pre-Reading Techniques
  • Reading Question Stems First
  • Previewing the Passage

• Dialogue, Anticipation, and Recap
  • Continually form and reform a mental outline.
  • Get to know the author.
  • Think out loud as you practice.
  • Do not allow the test maker to intimidate you.
  • Look for structural triggers.
  • Annotate and make margin notes.
  • Apply the operating principle to each paragraph.

• Common Organizational Patterns
  • Theory and Critique
  • Chronological Tracing
  • Classification
  • Structural Clues

• Annotating the Passage
  • The Annotation "Toolbox"
  • Margin Notes and Outlines
  • Illustrative Examples
  • Sample Passage #1
  • Sample Passage #2

• Approaching a Passage on the GRE or GMAT Computerized Test

PART 3: APPROACHING THE QUESTIONS

• The best response? Isn't this awfully subjective?
• Introduction to question types
• Why is it important to identify distinct question types?
• What's next?
• "Main Idea" Questions
• "Primary Purpose" Questions
• "Explicit Detail" Questions
• "Inference" Questions
• "Purpose of Detail" Questions
• "Logical Continuation" Questions
• "Method of Argumentation" Questions
• "Author's Attitude" Questions
• "Extrapolation" Questions

PART 4: SAMPLE PASSAGES

• Instructions
• Sample Passage #1
• Sample Passage #2

PART 5: PRACTICE SETS

• Instructions
• Passage #1
• Passage #2
• Passage #3
• Passage #4
• Passage #5
• Passage #6
• Passage #7
• Passage #8
• Passage #9
• Passage #10
• Passage #11
• Passage #12

• Long Passages (MCAT)
  • Instructions
  • Passage #13
  • Passage #14
  • Passage #15

• Short Passages (GRE and GMAT)
  • Instructions
  • Passage #16
  • Passage #17
  • Passage #18
  • Passage #19
  • Passage #20

Copyright © 1997-2000 by Mark Alan Stewart. All rights reserved.
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