GMAT verbal tips to be kept in mind
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24 May 2015, 22:04
The Test-Makers’ Top 10 Wrong-Answer Ploys
1. The response distorts the information in the passage. It might understate, overstate, or twist the passage’s information or the author’s point in presenting that information.
2. The response uses information from the passage, but does not answer the question. The information cited from the passage isn’t useful to respond to the question at hand.
3. The response relies on speculation or an unsupported inference. It calls for some measure of speculation in that the statement is not readily inferable from the information given.
4. The response is contrary to what the passage says. It contradicts the passage’s information or runs contrary to what the passage infers.
5. The response gets something in the passage backwards. It reverses the logic of an idea in the passage, confuses cause with effect, or otherwise turns information in the passage around.
6. The response confuses one opinion or position with another. It incorrectly represents the viewpoint of one person (or group) as that of another.
7. The response is too narrow or specific. It focuses on particular information in the passage that is too specific or narrowly focused in terms of the question posed.
8. The response is too broad (general). It embraces information or ideas that are too general or widely focused in terms of the question posed.
9. The response relies on information that the passage does not mention. It brings in information not found anywhere in the passage.
10. The response is utter nonsense. It makes almost no logical sense in the context of the question; it’s essentially gibberish.
OCTAVE
A guaranteed formula for 100% success on GMAT RC
OCTAVE stands for:
Opinion: Always look for the personal opinion of the author or the main point made by the author. Other people’s opinions are not so important.
Contrast Words: Watch out for contrast words: these are important because usually there is surely a general / inference question from these locations. The common contrast words are:
Alternatively, although, apart from, but, by contrast, contrary to that, conversely, despite, even though, however, in contrast, in spite of this, nevertheless, nonetheless, notwithstanding, on the other hand, regardless, some … but others, still, then again, yet
Tone: Always try to predict the tone of the passage as positive / negative / neutral. This is a big help.
Avoid superlatives / extreme words / strong words / emotional words in the option choices. These are almost always wrong.
Verify each word: This is the heart of RC. You must make sure that each word written in the choices must be justifiable from the passage.
Eliminate: Don’t be fixated on an answer choice if it seems attractive. Follow elimination of wrong ones rather than selection of the “right” one.
OCTAVE will be discussed over 100 passages in our classes