GRE Reading Comprehension — Passage Analysis Guide

Conquer GRE Reading Comprehension with passage analysis strategies, question type breakdowns, and time management tips for all passage lengths.

Overview

GRE Reading Comprehension tests your ability to understand, analyze, and evaluate written material. Passages range from one paragraph to several paragraphs.

How It Works

You'll encounter short (1 paragraph) and long (2-4 paragraph) passages followed by 1-6 questions. Question types include multiple choice (select one), multiple choice (select one or more), and select-in-passage.

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Words you'll learn

  • journal — A newspaper or magazine; a daily record of events
  • evaluate — To form an idea of the amount, number, or value of something
  • option — A thing that is or may be chosen
  • focus — The center of interest or activity
  • overall — Taking everything into account; in general
  • analyze — To examine something methodically and in detail
  • range — The extent to which something varies; a set of different things
  • encounter — To unexpectedly experience or face something
  • identify — To recognize or establish what something is
  • structure — The arrangement of and relations between the parts of something
  • mental — Relating to the mind
  • require — To need something or make something necessary