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what to do when you don't understand a RC passage

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by Sprite_TM » Mon Feb 09, 2009 12:52 pm
i find some passages really hard to understand, what should i do if i encounter this situation on test day?

i tried re-reading the passage but that still doesnt help. are there any strategies?
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by moadhia » Mon Feb 09, 2009 12:56 pm
read the first and last line of each paragraph. You will know the structure and have some idea about the "main purpose" of the passage.
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by ellexay » Wed Feb 11, 2009 2:16 pm
Sometimes, when I am in the same situation, I try to match up some of the words in the passage to certain words in answer choices. I try to look at the passage as a big mathematical formula, and the answer choices as things that can either fit in with it or leave it lacking.

Hope this doesn't sound too crazy. Good luck!
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by revoltangel » Wed Feb 11, 2009 2:38 pm
oh gosh this happened while i was studying today on this passage about caffeine and other chemistry scienterrific words!

there are a few different things you can do ...

you can start with the above, looking at the first sentences to get a feel. then, look at the answer choices. eliminate the answer choices that have something you KNOW is not correct in them. for ex, with my passage, i knew it was about a theory on caffeine. so i eliminated the passages that talked about the main idea being a "phenomenon", and the one about it being about "3 theories" .

you could also try quickly going over the passage again and using really basic, kid-speak to summarize each paragraph in one or two sentences. that will help you get a better feel for it.

hope this helps!
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by VP_Jim » Wed Feb 11, 2009 7:59 pm
Another good tip is just to ask yourself "what is this passage about?" For example, perhaps it is about "monopolies in 19th century England." Most - but not all - of the correct answers will also relate to monopolies in 19th century England. For example, an answer choice regarding monopolies in 20th century England would likely be wrong.
Jim S. | GMAT Instructor | Veritas Prep
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sentence by sentence

by comebackkid » Sat Feb 21, 2009 9:38 pm
Make sure you understand each sentence after reading it the first time. In the instances you do not, stop and re-read the sentence. It does no good to read the entire passage if you are not understanding and comprehending the material as you read.
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by JazzOne » Sat Feb 21, 2009 11:01 pm
I'm new to GMAT prep, but I have taught MCAT Verbal Reasoning and LSAT Reading Comprehension. One thing you can do is try to determine if there is a pattern to the passages that trouble you. I find that my LSAT students are least comfortable with science passages, so I often advise them to read Scientific American for a few months. I have also recommended The Economist and other journals to brush up on a particular subject that troubles you. That only works if you find a predictable pattern to the passages you can't understand.
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