How to Break Down a Science Reading Comprehension Passage
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On Friday August 20, famed Beat The GMAT member Dana Jinaru (DanaJ) held a live workshop on tackling one of the toughest problems on the GMAT, Reading Comprehension Science passages. Like many of you in this community, Dana is not a native-English speaker. But when she took the GMAT, Dana was able to score a 770 on the GMAT and had a near-100% hit rate when it came to her reading comprehension practice.
During this workshop, Dana shared some of her best RC tips by breaking down an example of a very tough science RC passage. Her full video session can be seen above, with the science passage/questions that she examined below.
This science passage was provided by Beat The GMAT Practice Questions.
Highlights from this Video
3:05 – Today’s agenda
4:27 – A detailed analysis of the first paragraph of the text
5:32 – Explanation of the concept of “lead actor” or “hero”
6:48 – Explanations of the concept of “connectors”
8:48 – We move on to the second paragraph of the text
10:07 – Last but not least, the third paragraph of the text
12:58 – Some interesting note taking advice
14:59 – General breakdown of RC questions types: detail and general
16:20 – The session’s first question
22:58 – Our second question
29:00 – The final, general question
34:47 – Key takeaways
37:40 – Q&A session
The Science Passage in This Workshop
In their relationship to the general ecology of the reefs, the Mollusca as a group of animals play a highly significant role. Because of the nature of their shells, mollusc remains may be found among the limestone debris of a reef dating back to its very earliest stages of evolution in the geological past, and may, therefore, be considered as having aided in its construction. Yet, as boring organisms, in both living and dead coral, certain species of molluscs rank among the most destructive agents to be found on the reefs. Mollusc eggs are laid in tens of millions, and the floating larval stages form a very important part of the zooplankton that sustains life in the waters over the reefs. In their vast numbers, as herbivores and carnivores, the molluscs are both prey and predator on the reefs.
Most molluscs obtain their oxygen directly from the seawater by means of gills in the mantle cavity. Molluscs with two valves, or shells, hinged together are referred to as bivalves. In bivalves the gills have become so developed that in many species they also act as the food-catching apparatus. Because most bivalves are filterfeeding animals, sieving minute organisms from the surrounding seawater, they have no differentiated head region and no radula (tonguelike organ).
It is in the method of feeding that the clams of the family Tridacnidae display their remarkable adaption to their environment. In the course of their evolution, the various members have become structurally modified to best enable them to develop in their particular habitat. These clams normally live with the animal lying on the hinge side of the shell, and the edges of the shell valves pointing upwards. The result of this mode of living is that the internal organs in their relationship to the mantle and shell differ from those of all other bivalve molluscs. The mantle tissue, by reason of the animal’s way of life, is capable of considerable expansion, and is exposed to the direct rays of the sun to the greatest possible extent. This is undoubtedly associated with the most unusual feature of all displayed by these remarkable molluscs: Within this mantle tissue are millions of tiny zooxanthellae, closely resembling the symbiotic algae found in the corals and the alcyonarians. It has been definitely established that these zooxanthellae form a considerable part of the diet of the Tridacnas, and the modifications found in these molluscs indicate that they are not only specialized for harboring these minute algae, but that they also deliberately “farm” them. This must surely be one of the most fascinating examples of symbiosis to be found in nature. The whole ecology of the clams, bound exclusively to warm, shallow waters of tropical seas, appears linked to an increase in the efficiency of that symbiosis, which gives food and protection to the algae and very considerable additional nutrient from its symbionts to the clams.
The Questions
1. According to this passage, the ability of the clams of the family Tridacnidae to harbor microscopic zooxanthellae in their mantles is an illustration of:
(A) symbiosis
(B) an inability to adapt to one’s environment
(C) bivalve function
(D) oxygen replenishment
(E) evolution
2. Bivalve molluscs possess neither differentiated heads nor radula for which of the following reasons?
(A) Better locomotion on the ocean floor is accomplished without the need for a differentiated head or radula.
(B) Visual apparatus is located in antennae, which obviates the need for a differentiated head or radula.
(C) They strain plankton through their gills, which eliminates the need for a differentiated head and radula.
(D) They trap their prey by closing their hinged shell, which performs all the functions of a differentiated head and radula.
(E)These apiary would interfere with their symbiotic relationships with other organisms.
3. An appropriate title for this passage would be:
(A) Filter Feeding in Bivalve Molluscs
(B) Plankton in Coral Reef Ecology
(C) Prey and Predator in the Tropical Seas
(D) Role of Molluscs in the Reef Ecosystem
(E) Molluscs and Coelenterates of the Coral Reef
See other tough GMAT practice problems like this, with full video explanations in Beat The GMAT Practice Questions.
16 comments
Vidyasagar on August 25th, 2010 at 8:20 am
Very very impressive...Eric and Dana..kudos!!! Best breakdown of an RC passage ever!!! from lead hero, to replacing complex words with simple words, to question types......highly recommended for all!!!
Eric Bahn on August 25th, 2010 at 10:32 am
Thanks Vidya! Dana is a rockstar.
YCM on August 25th, 2010 at 1:21 pm
This video is very helpful. I read the passage and answered the question prior to watching the video and I got the three answers correct. But it is easear to read the passage the way she explained it, by following connectors and finding the "hero" or "lead actor". Thank you. One more thing, you guys forgot to list thank you in Spanish, I saw it in different languages but not in Spanish. Gracias.
Akhilesh Prasad on August 25th, 2010 at 9:45 pm
Good video
Thanks to Dana and Eric
YR on August 25th, 2010 at 11:36 pm
Excellent tips.
Thank you!
Maciej on August 26th, 2010 at 12:19 pm
thank you Dana.
It is great!
have a beautiful day
rohit gulati on August 31st, 2010 at 2:50 am
Hi,
I am not able to see the video .
Please help .
Thanks.
Regards,
Rohit
DanaJ on August 31st, 2010 at 1:50 pm
Hi Rohit,
Have you tried refreshing it? Please click the button on the lower left side of the screen. Thanks!
Dana
aditya on September 1st, 2010 at 3:58 am
Hey,I'm also not able to see the video.
Please help.
Thanx in advance.
victoryv on September 3rd, 2010 at 10:55 am
Nice post.Very lucid.Impressed by the way she could extract answers so easily from such difficult passage.
Praveen on September 5th, 2010 at 1:19 pm
Good work Dana. Appreciate your efforts.
Gaurav on September 11th, 2010 at 9:30 pm
Excellent Video Dana. Explanation was quite impressive.
Amir on September 13th, 2010 at 8:53 am
Thanks Dana, nice and perfect job. Keep doing more and help us more and more. Thanks.
Venkat on October 12th, 2010 at 12:16 pm
It was a really good way to work on RC passages. I have never seen such a crisp and clear practical explanation and practical way of solving RCs which is most of the times a night mare for non-native english speakers.
Thanks Dana..and the Beat the GMAT Team for sharing this wonderful video.
Rishi on September 16th, 2011 at 9:30 pm
Can you please post a similar video for social science passages like.......women rights....or american history ...or say such similar passages.
Thanks a lot
Rishi
vidhya on December 21st, 2011 at 1:54 pm
Excellent resource!!! Thanks Dana & Eric -