GMAT Reading Comprehension section

The GMAT Reading Comprehension section is designed to assess your ability to understand and analyze written passages. This section measures your reading skills and your ability to draw conclusions, make inferences, and evaluate arguments based on the information provided in the passage. The passage topics can vary widely, ranging from social sciences to natural sciences, humanities, and business-related subjects.

Types of questions in GMAT Reading Comprehension

There are generally three types of questions that you can expect in the GMAT Reading Comprehension section:

1. Main Idea/Primary Purpose Questions:
- These questions require you to identify the main idea or primary purpose of the passage.
- They often ask you to determine the author's tone or perspective.
- Example question: "What is the main idea of the passage?"

2. Supporting Detail Questions:
- These questions ask you to identify specific details or pieces of information provided in the passage.
- They test your ability to comprehend and recall specific information from the text.
- Example question: "According to the passage, which of the following is NOT a reason for..."

3. Inference/Implication Questions:
- These questions require you to draw conclusions or make inferences based on the information presented in the passage.
- They test your ability to go beyond the explicit information and understand the implicit messages or implications.
- Example question: "Based on the passage, what can be inferred about..."

Tips to approach GMAT Reading Comprehension questions

1. Read the passage carefully: Take your time to understand the main ideas, supporting details, and the author's tone or perspective.

2. Take notes: Jot down key points, important details, and any questions or thoughts that come to mind while reading the passage.

3. Predict answers: Before looking at the answer choices, try to predict the answer based on your understanding of the passage.

4. Eliminate wrong answers: Use the process of elimination to eliminate answer choices that are clearly incorrect.

5. Refer back to the passage: When in doubt, refer back to the passage to find evidence to support your answer or eliminate incorrect choices.

6. Practice time management: Allocate your time wisely to ensure you can answer all the questions within the given time limit.

Conclusion

The GMAT Reading Comprehension section assesses your ability to comprehend and analyze written passages. By familiarizing yourself with the types of questions and applying effective strategies, you can improve your performance in this section. Remember to read the passages carefully, take notes, predict answers, and refer back to the passage when necessary. With practice and preparation, you can excel in the GMAT Reading Comprehension section.