RC Question approach

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RC Question approach

by seekerk » Sat Sep 10, 2011 2:22 am
When practicing reading comprehension questions, one will come across these key words: Logical structure, main idea...

I am rather puzzled and not sure how these key words can help me better answer the reading comprehension questions. Please correct my understanding(or add in your points) if they are wrong.

Logical structure - test your ability to understand that particular sentence. When answering such questions, I have to look at the sentences before and after to find a clue.

Main idea - main purpose of the passage, and what the author is trying to convey. Usually found in the introduction passage, before the author gets into all the details.

Inference - test your ability to read between the lines. I have to understand that passage and use my own judgement. (so what happens if I do not understand that passage? which does happen)

Evaluation - evaluate and critic the author's reasoning/findings/conclusion. Similar to inference. What is the author trying to tell you with that line?

Application - given the author's belief/point of view, do you think the author will agree/disagree to the following statements (the 5 statements will be listed down in the question). To answer such questions, I need to anticipate the author's response. So it is critical to find out whether the author is for or against whatever that was being discussed in the passage.

Supporting idea - Secondary content that supports the primary idea??? I have no clue on this.

Thanks.
Source: — Reading Comprehension |

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by bblast » Wed Sep 14, 2011 8:39 am
please go through the RC post I made {link in my signature}, it may help you a little if not much !!!
Cheers !!

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https://www.beatthegmat.com/710-bblast-s ... 90735.html
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by Ilana@EconomistGMAT » Mon Oct 03, 2011 5:01 am
A few notes/corrections to your descriptions:

Main Idea - not only the first paragraph. The correct answer choice should reflect aspects covered in each of the paragraphs, but without giving too much weight to particular arguments. It is a bird's eye view of the passage.

Logical Structure - relates to how ideas are interconnected - the flow of the passage.

Inference - "reading between the lines" is a nice definition, but you don't use your own judgment. You rather tease out what is implied in the information given, or what "must be true", if the information in the passage is true.

Evaluation - is not the same as inference. An evaluation question rather asks you for a way to 'test' the truth or validity of something that is stated in the passage.

Application - use the knowledge in the passage and apply it to a new context.

Supporting idea - simply ask about what is directly stated in the passage - not implied.