GRE VERBAL REASONING CHEAT SHEET

READING COMPREHENSION

Active Reading Strategy

DO NOT memorize details. Focus on:

• Main argument — what is the author ultimately claiming?

• Structure — intro, counterargument, evidence, conclusion

• Tone — positive, negative, neutral, cautious

• Pivots — "however," "yet," "but" = author's key point incoming

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Inference ≠ Plausible

• Correct: "Given the passage, you would have to believe X"

• Wrong: "X could be true" or "X is related to the passage"

• Key word: "Must" — use it as your standard

Scope Errors (Main Idea)

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TEXT COMPLETION

Golden Rule: PREDICT BEFORE YOU PEEK

Read the full sentence(s)

Identify logic direction (contrast? extension? cause-effect?)

Predict your own word/phrase

Match prediction to choices

Reread with your answer inserted — does it work?

Logic Signal Keywords

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Multi-Blank Strategy

• Do NOT solve in order if one blank is easier

• Solve the clearest blank first, then use that to constrain remaining choices

• All blanks must be correct for credit—no partial credit

Common Distractors

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Degree & Tone Matching

• If context supports mild negative → mild word (not harsh)

• If passage is formal → formal vocabulary (not casual)

• Always confirm emotional register matches surrounding text

Red Flag: Reread with Your Answer

Before confirming, insert your chosen word back into the blank and read the complete sentence. Does it:

• Match the logic direction?

• Match the tone?

• Match the degree?

• Make sense?

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HIGH-YIELD DECISION RULES

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EASILY CONFUSED PAIRS

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Question Type	What to Do	Common Trap
Main Idea	Find the central claim—accurate AND appropriately scoped	Too narrow (detail), too broad (overstatement), or wrong scope
Inference	Answer must be necessarily true, not just plausible	"Could be true" ≠ "must be true"
Function	Why did author include this? How does it serve the argument?	Confusing what something says with why it's there
Strengthening/Weakening	Does this support or undermine the author's claim?	Reversing direction
SATA (Select All That Apply)	Check all three choices independently; no partial credit	Stopping after finding one correct answer
Wrong	Right
Describes one paragraph detail as main idea	Central claim across entire passage
"Always true" (when author said "sometimes")	Appropriately qualified language
Overly specific or overly general	Balanced to passage's actual scope
Signal	Meaning	Blank Direction
Although, despite, however, yet, but, while, even though	Contrast	Opposite of adjacent clause
Therefore, thus, hence, as a result, consequently, furthermore, moreover	Extension	Same direction as context
Because, since, given that, caused by, so	Cause-Effect	Caused by or causes context
Trap	Example
Right semantic family, wrong direction	"Abundant" when context demands "scarce"
Right direction, wrong degree	"Slightly upset" when passage demands "outraged"
Ignoring reversal earlier in sentence	Missing a contrast signal that flips meaning
Tone mismatch	Formal word in informal passage or vice versa
Situation	Decision
Inference question + "must be true" vs. "could be true"	Pick "must be"
Main idea + too narrow vs. too broad	Both are wrong; find middle ground
SATA + found one correct answer	Keep checking other two
TC + word "sounds okay" but you haven't predicted	Reread with prediction first
Contrast signal in TC	Blank must oppose adjacent clause
Two-blank TC + one blank is clear	Solve the clear one first
Contrast	Extension
"However," "yet," "but"	"Therefore," "thus," "furthermore"
Blank opposes prior clause	Blank continues/amplifies prior clause
Inference (Must Be True)	Consistency (Could Be True)
Necessarily follows from passage	Compatible with passage
GRE standard	Everyday inference
Main Idea	Primary Purpose
Central claim	Author's goal (persuade, describe, analyze)

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QUICK CHECKLIST

✓ RC: Read for structure & argument, not facts ✓ RC: Pivot sentences = high-priority content ✓ TC: Predict before peeking at choices ✓ TC: Identify logic signals (contrast vs. extension) ✓ Multi-blank: Each answer independent; all must be correct ✓ Inference: "Must be true," not "could be true" ✓ SATA: Evaluate all three independently; no partial credit ✓ Always reread with your answer inserted