GRE Test Taking Methods and Review for English

incorrigible

(Of a person or their tendencies) not able to be corrected, improved, or reformed

What are the six steps for approaching the "Analyze an Issue" task?

1.) Brainstorm (3 Minutes) 2.) Create an Outline (3 Minutes) 3.) Write Your Body Paragraphs (5 Minutes per Paragraph) 4.) Write Your Introductory and Concluding Paragraphs (6 Minutes) 5.) Proofread (3 Minutes)

What are two important guidelines to remember when answering reading comprehension questions?

1.) Eliminate any choices that contradict the passage. 2.) Eliminate any choices that are irrelevant to the question being asked.

What are the five strategies for reading information-based passages?

1.) Engage yourself with the text (Ask why instead of what) 2.) Slow down then speed up (Essential information is always at the begging of a passage. Make sure you understand this first before moving on) 3.) Identify the Main Purpose (Why did the author write this) 4.) Understand the Role of Evidence (Do not overly focus on supporting details/information - stay focused on the main point and why the author is including said details) 5.) Identify the Authors Tone (You can use the author's tone to eliminate wrong answer choices)

Generally, an authors purpose falls into what four main categories?

1.) Explain 2.) Resolve/reconcile (The author's goal is to resolve two or more competing viewpoints) 3.) Introduce (The author's goal is to introduce a surprising discovery, phenomenon, or perspective) 4.) Solve

What are the steps for approaching the "Analyze an Argument" task?

1.) Read the Argument and Identify the Claim and Evidence (2 Minutes) 2.) Identify the Major Assumptions and Create Your Outline (3 Minutes) 3.) Write Your Body Paragraphs (5 Minutes per Paragraph) 4.) Write Your Introduction and Conclusion (7 Minutes) 5.) Proofread (3 Minutes)

If we ask ourselves wherein consists the immense superiority of Chaucer's poetry over the romance-poetry—why it is that in passing from this to Chaucer we suddenly feel ourselves to be in another world, we shall find that his superiority is both in the substance of his poetry and in the style of his poetry. His superiority in substance is given by his large, free, simple, and clear yet kindly view of human life—so unlike the total want, in the romance-poets, of all intelligent command of it. Chaucer has not their helplessness; he has gained the power to survey the world from a central, a truly human point of view. We have only to call to mind the Prologue to The Canterbury Tales. The right comment upon it is Dryden's: "It is sufficient to say, according to the proverb, that here is God's plenty." And again: "He is a perpetual fountain of good sense." It is by a large, free, sound representation of things, that poetry, this high criticism of life, has truth of substance; and Chaucer's poetry has truth of substance. Select the sentence in the passage in which the author uses evidence to support an assertion about the difference between Chaucer and the romance poets.

4 ("We have only to call to mind the Prologue to The Canterbury Tales" -> The author uses the selected sentence to support the following assertion: "He has gained the power to survey the world from a central, a truly human point of view.")

Though Locke's tabula rasa—the theory that all behavior is learned— was long ago debunked by experimental psychologists, only recently have scientists found neuroscientific evidence supporting the position of instinctive thoughts and behaviors. Fundamental to these investigations has been the use of fMRI, which enables scientists to "peer" into the brain of subjects and identify the brain regions activated by certain tasks. In direct contradiction of the Enlightenment myth of a tabula rasa, recent evidence shows that pre-verbal infants' brains demonstrate much of the same neural activity during social interactions as do the brains of fully mature adults. One of the most illuminating studies in this field measured the activation in infants' brains when they observed an actor grasp a toy. Scientists found that infants who grasped a toy after observing someone else grasp a toy exhibited substantial activity in the motor regions of their brains, whereas infants who observed the same actor but subsequently did not grasp the toy did not reveal such activity. These findings strongly support a hard-wired, instinctive capacity for empathy in infants, one that mirrors the same capacity in adult humans. Select the sentence in the passage that highlights a scientific finding's significance.

6 (Sentences 4 and 5 give an example of a study that supports the position that infants have "instinctive thoughts and behaviors." The following sentence, sentence 6, explains why these findings are important)

Evidence indicates that the wavelengths emitted by distant stars in the galaxy are longer than would be expected, given the atmospheres of the stars. Most astrophysicists agree that a longer wavelength emitted by a star signifies an increased distance. From this information, scientists claim that the universe is expanding. The two items that appear in boldface play which of the following roles? A.) The first boldfaced phrase provides evidence in support of a claim; the second boldfaced statement is that claim. B.) The first boldfaced phrase provides a claim in opposition to another claim; the second boldfaced statement is that claim. C.) The first boldfaced phrase provides a claim in support of a larger claim; the second boldfaced statement is that claim. D.) Both boldfaced phrases provide evidence in support of a major claim.

A (The first boldfaced phrase provides the major claim of the argument; the second boldfaced statement provides a claim in support of that major claim)

Unfortunately for the new employee, the ___________ that served him so well in his prior job is inadequate for his present one, since success in his new role is predicated more on analytical skills than raw work ethic. A.) industriousness B.) discord C.) prolixity D.) tact A.) subterfuge

A (The trait that served him well in his prior job was his "work ethic," of the choices, the word closest in meaning to "work ethic" is industriousness)

Members of elite families in ancient Rome might be tapped to become flamines maiores, the trio of high priests who served the major deities. The Flamen Dialis oversaw the cult of Jupiter, king of the gods. The Flamen Martialis oversaw the cult of Mars, god of war and agriculture. The Flamen Quirinalis oversaw the cult of Quirinus, a major god of early Rome who was later deemed to be the reincarnation of Romulus, Rome's founder. The altar to peace known as the Ara Pacis, built in 13 BC to honor Augustus, features friezes that illustrate the flamines of the time as well as a variety of secular characters, from senators and magistrates, to children of the ruling class. Which of these facts could most logically be added somewhere within the passage? (Consider each of the choices separately and select all that apply.) A.) Each member of the triad was chosen, not elected, by the pontifical college. B.) Romulus and his twin, Remus, were deemed to be the sons of Mars. C.) In Augustan Rome, the god Janus was given the epithet Quirinus.

A (To decide which details to add, think about the main idea of the passage. The passage is mostly about the triad of flamines maiores. Choice A tells more about them; the other choices are extraneous to the passage as a whole.)

The Professional Children's School was founded in 1914 by reformers who hoped to give a decent education to those children who worked on the Broadway stage. Today its students include professional musicians; stage, television, and film actors; and dancers. Unlike the School of Performing Arts, which trains pupils for performance, the Professional Children's School is a typical college prep school. Probably the main difference between it and other prep schools is the fact that children are expected to be absent for professional reasons, sometimes for extended periods of time. Famous alumni of the school include actors Sarah Jessica Parker and Christopher Walken, dancers Suzanne Farrell and Darci Kistler, and musicians Yo-Yo Ma and Beverly Sills. Based on the information in the passage, which of these can be inferred about the Professional Children's School? (Consider each of the choices separately and select all that apply.) A.) Its community of learners has broadened from that of the school's inception. B.) It features a flexible schedule that enables actors to make films or appear in plays. C.) Its sliding fee scale is largely based on whether its students are currently employed.

A and B (Choice A refers to the first two sentences; the school started by educating Broadway children but now educates dancers, musicians, and stars of television and film. Choice B refers to this line: "Probably the main difference between it and other prep schools is the fact that children are expected to be absent for professional reasons, sometimes for extended periods of time." There is no mention of a sliding fee scale, so choice C cannot be correct.)

In the upper Midwest, especially in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and North Dakota, a surprising percentage of the population claims to be of Norwegian _____. (Select two answer choices that (1) complete the sentence in a way that makes sense and (2) produce sentences that are similar in meaning.) A.) descent B.) patronage C.) extraction D.) idiom E.) society F.) pursuit

A and C (Choice A should be an easy one; extraction (choice C) is a synonym in this context.)

Hedonist

A person who believes that the pursuit of pleasure is the most important thing in life; a pleasure-seeker

Dearth

A scarcity or lack of something

Presage

A sign or warning that something, typically something bad, will happen; an omen or portent

Aristotle wrote, "The whole is more than the sum of its parts," he laid the foundation for today's systems biology. Systems biologists study the integrated and interactive web of structures and systems that make up a living organism. To do that, they must fuse disciplines to create a "big picture" outlook. For example, Harvard's new Department of Systems Biology welcomes students in applied mathematics and engineering as well as the usual biology or chemistry. Rather than looking at how individual components of an organism function, systems biologists view the interactions of components. Rather than explaining or predicting the action of a system based on an understanding of its parts, systems biologists explain the function of the parts based on the behavior of the system. Identifying and modeling the effects of a new drug on genes, proteins, cell structure, and so on is one way to use systems biology in the marketplace. The author mentions applied mathematics and engineering in order to (Consider each of the choices separately and select all that apply.) A.) indicate the need for an interdisciplinary approach when considering problems of systems biology B.) make the point that systems biologists are not necessarily biologists at all C.) suggest that the expected paths of study are not always required of students applying to the Harvard program

A, B, and C (The author gives those disciplines as examples of the fusing of disciplines that makes up systems biology (choice A), but the phrase "as well as the usual biology and chemistry" implies that systems biologists need not be biologists (choice B) and that the path to systems biology is not always the expected one (choice C).)

His writing is at once illuminating and (i) ___________: He uses his talents to take the adventurous reader onto (ii) ___________ detours, but these same detours will frustrate the reader accustomed to direct and (iii) ___________ argumentation. Blank (i) A. exasperating B. ambiguous C. bellicose Blank(ii) D. irrelevant E. ill-construed F. edifying Blank (iii) G. circumstantial H duplicitous I. unequivocal

A; F; I (The easiest word to begin with is the second blank. The writing is "illuminating" for the adventurous reader. Of the words in blank 2, the word closest in meaning to "illuminating" is edifying. Now, look at blank 1. If these detours "frustrate" some readers, then they are exasperating. Now, look at blank 3. The frustrated readers do not like detours, and are used to "direct" argumentation. Of the choices, the word closest in meaning to "direct" is unequivocal)

Tact

Adroitness and sensitivity in dealing with others or with difficult issues

Belligerence

Aggressive or warlike behavior

Confluence

An act or process of merging; the junction of two rivers, especially rivers of approximately equal width

Despite the ___________ of evidence supporting his theory, Wasselman used his charisma to attract a legion of followers. A.) confluence B.) dearth C.) nadir D.) elision E.) consumption

B

Historic buildings are often regarded as energy inefficient in measurement systems that focus solely on annual energy usage. This approach ignores two important factors: (1) the annual energy use in an appropriately rehabilitated historic building is not measurably greater than for a new building; and (2) 15 to 30 times as much energy is used in the construction of a building than its annual operation. For an existing building, the energy expended in construction has already been "embodied" in the structure. When the energy consumption analysis is approached from a life-cycle perspective, wherein both the energy needed to construct the building as well as annual energy usage is included, the energy inefficiency claim against historic buildings largely disappears. This is an area, however, where more research and more widely dispersed research is necessary. The passage suggests that which of the following are advantages of an "appropriately rehabilitated historic building" relative to a newly constructed building? (Indicate all that apply.) A.) The historic building will use less energy on an annual basis. B.) Rehabilitating a historic building uses less energy than constructing a new building. C.) The life-cycle energy usage of a historic building is no greater than that of a newly constructed building.

B (Choice A contradicts the passage and is thus incorrect -> Choice B can be inferred from the following sentence: "When the energy consumption analysis is approached from a life-cycle perspective, wherein both the energy needed to construct the building as well as annual energy usage is included, the energy inefficiency claim against historic buildings largely disappears." Thus, choice B is correct -> Choice C is too extreme. Though the author mentions that "the energy inefficiency claim against historic buildings largely disappears," the last sentence leaves open the possibility that differences might exist)

[Sigmund] Freud was also a social critic. He believed that society, which has been fashioned by man, reflects to a great extent man's irrationality. As a consequence, each new generation is corrupted by being born into an irrational society. The influence of man on society and of society on man is a vicious circle from which only a few hardy souls can free themselves. Freud felt that the situation might be ameliorated by the application of psychological principles in raising and educating children. This would mean, of course, that parents and teachers would have to undergo a psychological reeducation before they could be effective agents of reason and truth. Freud did not minimize the immensity of this task, but he did not know any other way by which to create a better society and better people. Freud's social criticism is presented in his book Civilization and Its Discontents. What then was Freud? Physician, psychiatrist, psychoanalyst, psychologist, philosopher, and critic—these were his several vocations. Yet, taken separately or together, they do not really convey Freud's importance to the world. Although the word ''genius" is used indiscriminately to describe a number of people, there is no other single word that fits Freud as well as this word does. He was a genius. One may prefer to think of him, as I do, as one of the few men in history who possessed a universal mind. Like Shakespeare and Goethe and Leonardo da Vinci, whatever Freud touched he illuminated. He was a very wise man. The passage is primarily concerned with A.) explaining how Freud wanted to change society B.) identifying the appropriate categorization for Freud C.) analyzing Freud's beliefs about society D.) discussing ways to reeducate society E.) comparing Freud to other great thinkers

B (The author discusses how Freud might be a social critic to lead up to his larger point that the only appropriate categorization for Freud is as a "genius.")

The Little House series of books by Laura Ingalls Wilder are usually (i) _____ as historical novels, although the later books are nearly entirely (ii) _____. (Complete the text by picking the best entry for each blank from the corresponding column of choices.) Blank (i) A. overlooked B. classified C. rendered Blank (ii) A. autobiographical B. fictional C. chronological

B and A (Remember that although sets up a contrast. Even though the later books are true, or autobiographical (choice A in blank ii), the series is usually classified (choice B in blank i) as historical fiction.)

Boston's major airport was once simply named Boston Airport. In 1944 it became Commonwealth Airport, and in 1956 it was renamed Logan Airport, after a famous local general who became a judge and legislator. Now some Massachusetts residents want to rename it once more, this time in honor of the late Ted Kennedy, Massachusetts's longtime senator. The controversy surrounding the name change may remind some of that surrounding the 1998 change from Washington National Airport to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. Some said that renaming an airport after one president (Reagan) when it was already named for another (Washington) was inappropriate. If Logan does undergo a name change, it will probably merge the old and new and reemerge as Logan-Kennedy or Kennedy-Logan Airport. Why does the author compare Logan Airport to Ronald Reagan Airport? (Consider each of the choices separately and select all that apply.) A.) To indicate what may happen when a local airport goes national B.) To demonstrate how changing familiar names may be contentious C.) To present an applicable and parallel example as a cautionary tale

B and C (Choice A does not apply to the passage. The comparison shows that changing names can cause trouble (choice B); it is a parallel situation raised to make that point (choice C).)

Her actions call into question the belief that those in powerful positions forgo (i) ___________. Since taking office, she has prioritized (ii) ___________ over platitudes, even if doing so meant (iii) ___________ some of her party's supporters. Blank (i) A. reticence B. candor C. loyalty Blank(ii) D. forthrightness E. triteness F. felicity Blank (iii) G. vindicating H. alienating I. ingratiating

B; D; H (Start with the second blank, which is the opposite of "platitudes." The best choice is forthrightness -> Now, move on to the first blank. If the politician prioritizes forthrightness, then her actions question the belief that politicians forgo "honesty." The closest choice is candor -> Now, look at the third blank. The phrase "even if" indicates that her actions might have a negative effect. They might alienate her supporters)

Sycophantic

Behave or done in an obsequious way in order to gain advantage

A fjord is an inlet formed when glaciers cut valleys into the bedrock (i) _____ the ocean; many were (ii) _____ during the last ice age. (Complete the text by picking the best entry for each blank from the corresponding column of choices.) Blank (i) A. overhanging B. beneath C. adjoining Blank (ii) A. removed B. saturated C. formed

C and C (If the bedrock were beneath the ocean (choice B in blank i), the fjords would not form inlets. The most logical choices are C and C.)

The _____ Rubik's Cube measures about 2¼ inches on each side, with 26 smaller, pivoting cubes making up the puzzle; however, there are many accepted variations. (Select two answer choices that (1) complete the sentence in a way that makes sense and (2) produce sentences that are similar in meaning.) A.) multihued B.) amazing C.) classic D.) perplexing E.) instructive F.) standard

C and F (Look for the synonyms. The author is referring to the typical, or classic (choice C), cube, which might also be called the standard (choice F) cube)

The term in medias res is a Latin (i) _____ referring to the narrative technique in which a story is told not from the beginning, (ii) _____ from a point in the middle of the action. The technique is especially common in epic poetry, two well-known (iii) _____ being the Iliad and Paradise Lost. (Complete the text by picking the best entry for each blank from the corresponding column of choices.) Blank (i) A. adage B. theme C. phrase Blank(ii) A. but rather B. instead of C. rather than Blank (iii) A. canons B. conventions C. exemplars

C, A, and C (In media res is not an adage, or proverb (choice A in blank i); nor is it a theme, or premise (choice B in blank i). It is simply a phrase that refers to a particular narrative technique. The other choices should be easy to determine if you read the passage aloud.)

Artifice

Clever or cunning devices or expedients, especially as used to trick or deceive others

Trite

Commonplace; overused, stale

Members of elite families in ancient Rome might be tapped to become flamines maiores, the trio of high priests who served the major deities. The Flamen Dialis oversaw the cult of Jupiter, king of the gods. The Flamen Martialis oversaw the cult of Mars, god of war and agriculture. The Flamen Quirinalis oversaw the cult of Quirinus, a major god of early Rome who was later deemed to be the reincarnation of Romulus, Rome's founder. The altar to peace known as the Ara Pacis, built in 13 BC to honor Augustus, features friezes that illustrate the flamines of the time as well as a variety of secular characters, from senators and magistrates, to children of the ruling class. The author introduces the Ara Pacis in the last sentence primarily to (Select one answer choice.) A.) suggest that flamines were kept apart from the rest of Roman society B.) contrast the religious and secular personages of ancient Rome C.) discuss the classes of Romans who lived in the time of Augustus D.) illustrate one extant resource for learning more about flamines E.) show that by the era of Augustus's reign, flamines were in decline

D (Again, think about the main idea of the passage, which is a discussion of the flamines maiores. Although the author names some other classes of Romans, as choices A, B, and C discuss, the main reason for bringing up the altar is because it shows pictures of the flamines.)

The Leonese language, like many endangered languages, has a handful of proponents who are desperately trying to keep it alive. In the case of Leonese, these speakers and history lovers have banded together to create an online encyclopedia in the Leonese language. Titled Llionpedia, the encyclopedia is a wiki, allowing collaborative writing and editing. Leonese is derived directly from Latin and is spoken in a handful of Spanish provinces and Portuguese villages— the area that in the Middle Ages made up the Kingdom of León. Much of the monastic history of the kingdom remains in texts written in Leonese. Although the language is in some ways very similar to Spanish, in other ways it is closer to the original Latin. An example is the verb to make, which in Latin and Leonese is facere, but in Castilian Spanish is hacer. Which of the following best describes the function of the last sentence of the passage? (Select one answer choice.) A.) It presents a conclusion drawn from prior examples. B.) It offers supporting evidence for the author's earlier judgment. C.) It puts forward a thesis statement that will be supported by reasons. D.) It provides a case in point confirming the preceding supposition. E.) It summarizes a hypothesis by reiterating the passage's premise.

D (The last sentence gives an example of how Leonese is closer in some ways to Latin than to Spanish, which was the author's preceding premise)

Detritus

Dead organic matter; waste or debris of any kind

Bellicose

Demonstrating aggression and willingness to fight

John Wesley led his young Methodist movement to take a leadership role in many of the political issues of the day, including prison reform and abolitionism; in this way, he _____ many political preachers of the twentieth century. (Select one answer choice.) A.) mimicked B.) countered C.) involved D.) denoted E.) presaged

E (He could not mimic (choice A) a group that came after him. Instead, he foreshadowed, or presaged (choice E), later preachers.)

Hubris

Excessive pride or self-confidence

Avarice

Extreme greed for wealth or material gain.

True or False: There is partial credit for text completion questions.

False

True or False: Your approach to argument-based passages should be the same as your approach to information-based passages.

False

Fecundity

Fertility/fruitfulness; the ability to produce many new ideas

Essays that receive high scores tend to have several consistent features, what are they

Fluid Writing, Complex Sentence Structure, Organization, and Sound Reasoning.

Bonhomie

Friendliness, open and simple good heartedness

Intractable

Hard to control or deal with

Asperity

Harshness of tone or manner

Pernicious

Having a harmful effect, especially in a gradual or subtle way

Impecunious

Having little or no money

Ambivalent

Having mixed feelings or contradictory ideas about something or someone

Bombastic

High-sounding but with little meaning; inflated

Deference

Humble submission and respect

What is the step for approaching the "Analyze an Argument" task that I am most likely to forget?

Identify the major assumptions (it is really important to break down the claim into its assumptions because these assumptions become the main points and body paragraphs)

Derrivative

Imitative of the work of another person, and usually disapproved of for that reason.

Inexorable

Impossible to stop or prevent

Dilapidated

In a state of disrepair or ruin as a result of age or neglect

Beleaguered

In a very difficult situation

Ingratiating

Intended to gain approval or favor; sycophantic

Felicity

Intense happiness

Unequivocal

Leaving no doubt; unambiguous

Circumscribe

Limit

Contrast signals and continuity signals and helpful in identifying the _________________ ________________ of a passage

Main Point/Idea (Purpose)

_________________information should not concern you. The reason the author mentions it is the larger concern.

Minor

Deft

Neatly skillful and quick in one's movements Demonstrating skill and cleverness

Is there partial credit for sentence equivalence questions?

No

When answering double and triple text completion questions, do you have to start with the first blank?

No (Just start with whichever blank is easier to work with)

Obsequious

Obedient or attentive to an excessive or servile degree

Really Review Assumptions - Especially with Argument-Based Passages

Okay, I will

Argument-based passages will always be "multiple choice, choose _______________."

One (Only one answer is correct)

Prolific

Producing much fruit or foliage or many offspring

Commensurate

Proportional

Edifying

Providing moral or intellectual instruction

For text completion questions, what is the best strategy to use?

Read the sentence and predict the answer. Then see which choice best matches your prediction.

If you are short on time for the English section, what questions are best to guess on?

Reading Comprehension: Select one or more answer choices (These are significantly more difficult and offer no partial credit)

Profligate

Recklessly extravagant or wasteful in the use of resources

Sophomoric

Relating to or characteristic of a sophomore; pretentious or juvenile

Reticence

Restraint in speech, reluctance to speak

Apathetic

Showing or feeling no interest, enthusiasm, or concern

Frugal

Sparing or economical with regard to money or food

For long passages or any passage that contains information that is difficult to absorb, try not to overly focus on ______________________ ____________.

Supporting Details/Information

Abnegation

The act of renouncing or rejecting something

Dispersion

The action or process of distributing things or people over a wide area

For sentence equivalence questions, what is important to remember?

The answers will always be synonyms

Concomitance

The fact of existing or occurring together with something else (Think Catholicism with Jesus' blood and the wine)

Denouement

The final part of a play, movie, or narrative in which the strands of the plot are drawn together and matters are explained or resolved; the climax of a chain of events, usually when something is decided or made clear

Miscegenation

The interbreeding of people considered to be of different racial types

Nadir

The lowest point in the fortunes of a person or organization; the point on the celestial sphere directly below an observer (astronomy)

Conflate

The merging of two or more sets of information, texts, ideas, opinions, etc., into one, often in error.

Serendipity

The occurrence and development of events by chance in a happy or beneficial way

Elision

The omission of a sound or syllable when speaking (as in I'm, let's, e ' en ); an omission of a passage in a book, speech, or film; the process of joining together or merging things, especially abstract ideas

Putrefaction

The process of decay or rotting in a body or other organic matter

Perspicacity

The quality of having a ready insight into things; shrewdness

Attenuation

The reduction of the force, effect, or value of something

Dereliction

The state of having been abandoned and become dilapidated

Transcience

The state or fact of lasting only for a short time; changing nature

True or False: The author's tone in a GRE passage will almost never be extreme.

True

True or False: You should always read the passage first.

True

Pecuniousness

Wealthy

Malfeasance

Wrongdoing, especially by a public official

What is important to note that when approaching the "analyze an issue" task?

You do not need to take a stance that you agree with (evidence is vital to the issue task, you should consider both sides of the issue and adopt the stance that you can provide more evidence for)