Real Ingenious GRE - Reading Comprehension and Driving Sdn Bhd

'You know, somebody actually complimented me on my driving today. They left a little note on the windscreen, it said 'Parking Fine.' = Tommy Cooper

Some approaches to reading comprehension passages are like driving down a winding road at night without a map. You start the passage on a straightaway- perhaps the description of an issue like the environmental implications of a drilling project. But then you approach a twist or a turn- will the author agree or disagree with the proposed solution? Will he suggest an alternative?

Having such an understanding before beginning the passage can provide a distinct advantage- it allows you to tune into nuances of the writer’s prose - which can be worth points here or there.

Fortunately, there is a way to gain a ‘map’ of the passage for a small time investment up front. The secret is to read the introduction in full, followed by the first sentence of each of the following paragraphs. GRE essays are usually structured so that the first sentence of each paragraph usually contains enough information to encapsulate that paragraph’s ‘main point’. So by previewing the first sentence of each paragraph, we give ourselves the opportunity to preview the entire passage, before reading it all the way through.

Thanks to Real Ingenious for sharing these reading and comprehension guides & strategies.