Verbal Question Types

[plzNOCarribbean]

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Hey everyone, I know there have been several posts on this but no-body has really addressed to listed the diff verbal ? types (maybe because its not helpful)

But, since verbal is my weakest section and I have been seeing slight improvements in my ability to read the passage and find the main idea, and my comprehension has improved tremendously (it was HORRIBLE before), I was wondering if you verbal gems could list the various verbal question types.

I read Vishadas verbal strategy, and I have improved my speed and comprehension (partly because I have stopped re-reading sentences). Today, I was able to finish verbal on time for the first time. It is a week before my test, and I am wondering if becoming familiar with the diff ? types will get me over the hump and a decent (7/8/9) verbal score on the real thing. Yes, I know that is not very high but I would be ECSTATIC with an 8 considering my sciences are solid and my GPA and EC's are solid, so please, if you guys can please post the ? types and/or any other verbal strategies that you have found useful. I think that everyone could significantly benefit from this. Thanks

 

[mzblue]

it might. the question types are basically stuff like main idea questions, strengthen/weaken type of questions, purpose (why did the author mentions such and such), structural, must be true questions and what not. The MCAT verbal mastery books lists others such as topic, setting, etc but i've yet to see an mcat question that asks for a topic or setting so i'll say those are rare. I read the powerscore book and it helped me (tremendously) understand how to attack these question types and when i practiced afterwards, i was scoring perfectly on most of my passages with worst case scenario being 5/7 on a passage. After 2 weeks of not practicing, my scores dropped. my goal is to read again, retain the info and practice consistently till test day. God help us all.

 

[moose45]

What is the powerscore book?

it might. the question types are basically stuff like main idea questions, strengthen/weaken type of questions, purpose (why did the author mentions such and such), structural, must be true questions and what not. The MCAT verbal mastery books lists others such as topic, setting, etc but i've yet to see an mcat question that asks for a topic or setting so i'll say those are rare. I read the powerscore book and it helped me (tremendously) understand how to attack these question types and when i practiced afterwards, i was scoring perfectly on most of my passages with worst case scenario being 5/7 on a passage. After 2 weeks of not practicing, my scores dropped. my goal is to read again, retain the info and practice consistently till test day. God help us all.

 

[mzblue]

It's their RC book for the LSAT. I borrowed from the library because i was desperate and it helped. It taught me active reading skills.

 

[jissho]

Maybe this will help?
https://www.aamc.org/students/download/85564/data/vstopics.pdf

 

[vayntraubinator]

This is a really good idea!

I did horribly this last EK test so I did some heavy post-game analysis.

I came up with one very solid question type that I continually got tripped up on.

It was of the following type:

Q) Give the fact/quote that...",,: can most justifiably be interpreted as support for...

This Question got me every EK test! Why? Because I would always fall for picking the paraphrased Answer! I would do this mistake because before my post-game analysis of the question type that gave a quote most often showed the correct answer the one that most directly paraphrased the quote.

This question is much easier when you know the key. Here I'll give you two examples that were both in the EK test of this question type:

Ex.1: The contention that "research has shown a link between suspension/expulsion and later dropping out of school, with resulting personal and social costs: (lines 31-33) can most justifiably be interpreted as support for the idea that:
A/ reduced prison costs may be achieved through providing educational services that will keep students in school
B/ in cases of suspension/expulsion and later dropping out of school, alternative education may cost a great deal of money.
C/ students who are expelled and return to school are able to modify their behavior and peacefully resolve disputes
D/ personal and social costs should prompt us to link suspension/expulsion and later dropping out of school

Now with this question, I eliminated answers B and C. I'm unsure about A and D. But with our methodology, we are looking for an answer thats an idea supported by the "..." quote and we will realize that D is a paraphrase, which eliminates it and brings us to A.

Heres another example in the same test!:

Ex 2: The contention that, "it seems that this admiration of the activist judicial figure, as popularized by the 'great judge' view of legal history is currently strong among the electorate, if not academics." (lines 73-76), can most justifiably be interpreted as support for the idea that.

A/ those who study and teach law for a living do not think so highly of the electorate
B/ the academicians generally admire and activist judge, while the public prefers a more populist one.
C/ the electorate strongly supports the idea of a "great judge" who can discern the truth, as to the academicians
D/ the public loves the idea of a judge who will "stand up" to Big Government

Again, with this question I picked the paraphrased answer because I did not have the methodology down to this question type. I eliminated answers A and B when taking the test undertimed conditions, and picked answer C because it sounds like exactly what the quote is addressing. But now we see answer C is just a paraphrase, so we eliminate it. And D is the correct answer choice.


The best part is that this question is very scary because of how wordy it all looks, but now you know the key! 🙂


Lets figure out these Question types! 😕

Hey everyone, I know there have been several posts on this but no-body has really addressed to listed the diff verbal ? types (maybe because its not helpful)

But, since verbal is my weakest section and I have been seeing slight improvements in my ability to read the passage and find the main idea, and my comprehension has improved tremendously (it was HORRIBLE before), I was wondering if you verbal gems could list the various verbal question types.

I read Vishadas verbal strategy, and I have improved my speed and comprehension (partly because I have stopped re-reading sentences). Today, I was able to finish verbal on time for the first time. It is a week before my test, and I am wondering if becoming familiar with the diff ? types will get me over the hump and a decent (7/8/9) verbal score on the real thing. Yes, I know that is not very high but I would be ECSTATIC with an 8 considering my sciences are solid and my GPA and EC's are solid, so please, if you guys can please post the ? types and/or any other verbal strategies that you have found useful. I think that everyone could significantly benefit from this. Thanks

 

[plzNOCarribbean]

This is a really good idea!

I did horribly this last EK test so I did some heavy post-game analysis.

I came up with one very solid question type that I continually got tripped up on.

It was of the following type:

Q) Give the fact/quote that...",,: can most justifiably be interpreted as support for...

This Question got me every EK test! Why? Because I would always fall for picking the paraphrased Answer! I would do this mistake because before my post-game analysis of the question type that gave a quote most often showed the correct answer the one that most directly paraphrased the quote.

This question is much easier when you know the key. Here I'll give you two examples that were both in the EK test of this question type:

Ex.1: The contention that "research has shown a link between suspension/expulsion and later dropping out of school, with resulting personal and social costs: (lines 31-33) can most justifiably be interpreted as support for the idea that:
A/ reduced prison costs may be achieved through providing educational services that will keep students in school
B/ in cases of suspension/expulsion and later dropping out of school, alternative education may cost a great deal of money.
C/ students who are expelled and return to school are able to modify their behavior and peacefully resolve disputes
D/ personal and social costs should prompt us to link suspension/expulsion and later dropping out of school

Now with this question, I eliminated answers B and C. I'm unsure about A and D. But with our methodology, we are looking for an answer thats an idea supported by the "..." quote and we will realize that D is a paraphrase, which eliminates it and brings us to A.

Heres another example in the same test!:

Ex 2: The contention that, "it seems that this admiration of the activist judicial figure, as popularized by the 'great judge' view of legal history is currently strong among the electorate, if not academics." (lines 73-76), can most justifiably be interpreted as support for the idea that.

A/ those who study and teach law for a living do not think so highly of the electorate
B/ the academicians generally admire and activist judge, while the public prefers a more populist one.
C/ the electorate strongly supports the idea of a "great judge" who can discern the truth, as to the academicians
D/ the public loves the idea of a judge who will "stand up" to Big Government

Again, with this question I picked the paraphrased answer because I did not have the methodology down to this question type. I eliminated answers A and B when taking the test undertimed conditions, and picked answer C because it sounds like exactly what the quote is addressing. But now we see answer C is just a paraphrase, so we eliminate it. And D is the correct answer choice.


The best part is that this question is very scary because of how wordy it all looks, but now you know the key! 🙂


Lets figure out these Question types! 😕

Hey! thanks!
In the LSAT Powerscore books, I came stumbled upon this as one of the common traps! but thanks for sharing. I haven't finished reading the book yet, but I should (hopefully) get done with the chapter on question types by the end of the week. I will try and post it on here.

 

[vayntraubinator]

Hey! thanks!
In the LSAT Powerscore books, I came stumbled upon this as one of the common traps! but thanks for sharing. I haven't finished reading the book yet, but I should (hopefully) get done with the chapter on question types by the end of the week. I will try and post it on here.

Ah, please do! I began noticing these question type trends and wish I had them so I can actually study Verbal!!!!

Did you say an LSAT powerscore book your using for MCAT?

Thats a really good idea !


I just borrowed my friends Powerscore LSAT logic reasoning bible. Is this what youre referring to?:

"
1. Must Be True/Most Supported
This category is simply known as “Must Be True.” Must Be True
questions ask you to identify the answer choice that is best proven by
the information in the stimulus. Question stem examples:
“If the statements above are true, which one of the following must also
be true?”
“Which one of the following can be properly inferred from the
passage?”

2. Main Point
Main Point questions are a variant of Must Be True questions. As you
might expect, a Main Point question asks you to find the primary
conclusion made by the author. Question stem example:
“The main point of the argument is that”

3. Point at Issue
Point at Issue questions require you to identify a point of contention
between two speakers, and thus these questions appear almost
exclusively with two-speaker stimuli. Question stem example:
“Larew and Mendota disagree about whether”

4. Assumption
These questions ask you to identify an assumption of the author’s
argument. Question stem example:
“Which one of the following is an assumption required by the
argument above?”

5. Justify the Conclusion
Justify the Conclusion questions ask you to supply a piece of
information that, when added to the premises, proves the conclusion.
Question stem example:
“Which one of the following, if assumed, allows the conclusion above
to be properly drawn?”

46 The PowerScore LSAT Logical Reasoning Bible

6. Strengthen/Support
These questions ask you to select the answer choice that provides
support for the author’s argument or strengthens it in some way.
Question stem examples:
“Which one of the following, if true, most strengthens the argument?”
“Which one of the following, if true, most strongly supports the
statement above?”

7. Resolve the Paradox
Every Resolve the Paradox stimulus contains a discrepancy or seeming
contradiction. You must find the answer choice that best resolves the
situation. Question stem example:
“Which one of the following, if true, would most effectively resolve
the apparent paradox above?”

8. Weaken
Weaken questions ask you to attack or undermine the author’s
argument. Question stem example:
“Which one of the following, if true, most seriously weakens the
argument?”

9. Method of Reasoning
Method of Reasoning questions ask you to describe, in abstract terms,
the way in which the author made his or her argument. Question stem
example:
“Which one of the following describes the technique of reasoning used
above?”

10. Flaw in the Reasoning
Flaw in the Reasoning questions ask you to describe, in abstract terms,
the error of reasoning committed by the author. Question stem
example:
“The reasoning in the astronomer’s argument is flawed because this
argument”
In the answer key
to this book, all
questions are
classified as one
of these thirteen
types. There are
also additional
indicators
designating
reasoning type,
etc.

47 Chapter Three: The Question Stem and Answers

11. Parallel Reasoning
Parallel Reasoning questions ask you to identify the answer choice that
contains reasoning most similar in structure to the reasoning presented
in the stimulus. Question stem example:
“Which one of the following arguments is most similar in its pattern of
reasoning to the argument above?”

12. Evaluate the Argument
With Evaluate the Argument questions you must decide which answer
choice will allow you to determine the logical validity of the argument.
Question stem example:
“The answer to which one of the following questions would contribute
most to an evaluation of the argument?”

13. Cannot Be True
Cannot Be True questions ask you to identify the answer choice that
cannot be true or is most weakened based on the information in the
stimulus. Question stem example:
“If the statements above are true, which one of the following
CANNOT be true?”

😕

 

[infid3l]

Did anyone try the lsat book method?