Preparation Course for GMAT

GMAT CRITICAL REASONING

8 QUESTION TYPES
1. Assumption questions 2. Strengthen and Weaken Questions 3. Flaw Questions 4. Inference questions 5. Explain questions (explains inconsistency) 6. Parallel-the reasoning questions ( mimics original argu. ) 7. Evaluate-the-argument questions 8. Identify-the-reasoning questions( method/technique author is using )

ASSUMPTION QUESTIONS
1/ Assumptions are never stated in the passage. If an answer choice that comes straight from the passage, it is not correct 2/ An assumption must support the conclusion; eliminate answer choices that do not strengthen the conclusion. 3/ Assumptions frequently work to fill in gaps in the reasoning of the argument. 4/ Look to see if the assumption, whether it is statistical, analogical or causal, links the evidence to the conclusion.

2) STRENGTHEN THE ARGUMENT QUESTIONS 1/ The best answer will strengthen the argument with new information. If an answer choice comes straight from the passage, its wrong. 2/ The new information will support the conclusion. Find the conclusion, then try out each answer choice to see whether it makes the conclusion stronger. WEAKEN THE ARGUMENT QUESTIONS

. Find the conclusion , try out each answer choice to see

whether it makes the conclusion less tenable/or provide an alternative explanation.

3) Flaw Questions You know the evidence doesnt support the conclusion, and you have to explain why.

4) Inference Questions Treat the entire stimulus as evidence and draw your own conclusion. Wrong answers: - Go outside the scope of the passage - Are too extreme ( never, always, must, etc. )

5) Explain questions Make sure you have a good grasp of the situation that needs explaining In these questions, the passage will present you with two seemingly contradictory facts Find the answer choice that allows both of the facts from the passage to be true. PRACTICE QUESTIONS, p.100 CRITICAL REASONING PRACTICE SET 1, 2, 3, p.185

6) Parallel the reasoning questions You are asked to find an argument in one of the answer choices that mimics the method of reasoning used in the original argument. Most of these questions can be answered by simplifying (if A, then B)

7) Evaluate-the-argument questions You are asked to pick an answer choice that would help to evaluate an unspoken assumption about the argument. 8) Identify-the-reasoning questions You are asked to pick an answer choice that identify the purpose of a word or phrase or the type of reasoning used in an argument