PRETHINKING FOR INFERENCE QUESTION.

It is generally a good idea to use this technique for Critical Reasoning questions. It definitely helps to understand the structure of an argument more deeply. If you use this technique, you are more likely to find the correct answer and faster eliminate wrong answer choices. Inference questions are no exception, the technique of coming up with a possible answer before you read the answers given makes the process of elimination much more efficient.

Just remember that on the GMAT inference means: what must be true.

Kasia@MasterGMAT wrote:It is generally a good idea to use this technique for Critical Reasoning questions. It definitely helps to understand the structure of an argument more deeply. If you use this technique, you are more likely to find the correct answer and faster eliminate wrong answer choices. Inference questions are no exception, the technique of coming up with a possible answer before you read the answers given makes the process of elimination much more efficient.

Exactly. If you can figure out (in your own words) what you need from the correct answer, finding the answer that provides that info becomes much easier.

I am going to differ a little with my colleagues. I do not try to predict the correct answer to an inference question. I prefer to use a pure process of elimination. Since as Jim notes the correct answer to an inference question is simply one that must be true it is possible for any number of things to be the correct answer to an inference question. I wrote an article about one type of correct answer - I call it the self-proving answer choice - that would be especially hard to predict! Here is the link https://www.beatthegmat.com/mba/2012/01/ ... -questions

So now you have a variety of opinions from the experts and I guess that means that you should try it yourself both ways and see what works for you!

David, that is a great article I've always loved that zebra mussels question.