Preparing for the GRE Verbal Section 92004 Geography

Preparing for the GRE Verbal Section 9/20/04

Geography of the Verbal Section n 30 minutes n 30 questions (in no particular order) – 6 -8 analogies – 5 -7 sentence completions – 8 -10 antonyms – 2 -4 reading comprehension passages (6 -8 questions) n Typically starts with a few antonyms

Analogies n What is an analogy? – light : dark : : pleasure : pain Looking for a clear and necessary relationship between the word pairs n Create a sentence to describe the relationship n Examples: n – stone : sculptor – aviary : birds

Analogy Tips n Clear and necessary relationship n Form a simple sentence between the stem words n Plug in all of the choices n Eliminate answers with: – Triangular relationships – Words that don’t have C & N relationship n Work backward

Analogies – common relationships n Type of – elation : emotion n Used to – ultimatum : coerce n Degree – abhorrence : dislike n Characterized by – bigot : intolerance n Without / Lacking – courageous : fear

Analogy question n Tile : mosaic Form a basic sentence with the two words

Analogy question n tile : mosaic : : “A tile is a basic unit of a mosaic. ” wood : totem stitch : sampler ink : scroll pedestal : column tapestry : rug

Reading Comprehension Tips Read quickly; main ideas, topic sentence n Locate trigger words (although, but, however, yet) n Use general knowledge & common sense n Avoid answers that have: n – Disputable choices – Direct quotes and repetitions

Antonyms – “opposites” n When you can define the stem word: – Make your own opposite – Use POE – Down to two? Make opposites and work backward – Read all choices to avoid careless errors

Antonyms n When you “sort of” know the word – Use positive/negative – Work backward on choices – Guess? Choose the most extreme choice remaining n Don’t know the stem word – Make opposites for all choices – eliminate those that don’t have an opposite – Avoid words that “sound like” the stem word – Guess? Choose the most extreme choice remaining

Antonyms – no clear opposites n Exhume – Breathe – Inter – Approve – Assess – Facilitate

Antonyms – when you “sort of” know the stem word n Positive/Negative n Debilitate – discharge – strengthen – undermine – squelch – delete connotation

Sentence completions (“fill in the blanks”) n Anticipate the word(s) in the blank(s) n Find the clue that restricts the meaning n Look for trigger words (although, but) – A fair AND ______ judge – A fair BUT ______ judge n Positive or negative? n Two blanks: solve one and eliminate