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THE SIX QUESTIONS 1 MAIN IDEA QUESTIONS either overstate or understate the author’s main point. Answer-choices that stress specifics tend to understate the main idea; choices that go beyond the scope of the passage tend to overstate the main idea. The answer to a main idea question will summarize the author’s argument, yet be neither too specific nor too broad. 2 Description Questions In fact, exact quotes ("Same language" traps) are often used to bait wrong answers. wrong choices which refer directly to the passage but don’t address the question. . Writing Technique Questions All coherent writing has a superstructure or blueprint. When writing, we don ’t just randomly jot down our thoughts; we organize our ideas and present th em in a logical manner. For instance, we may present evidence that builds up to a conclusion but intentionally leave the conclusion unstated, or we may present a position and then contrast it with an opposing position, or we may draw an extended analogy. A. Compare and contrast two positions. B. Show cause and effect. C. State a position and then give supporting evidence sometimes the evidence will be structured to build up to a conclusion which is then left unstated 3 Extension Questions the correct answer will often both paraphrase and extend a statement in the passage, but it will not directly quote it. 4 Application Questions To answer an application question, take the author’s perspective. Ask yourse lf: what am I arguing for? what might make my argument stronger? what might make it weaker?
5 Tone Questions , if you did not get a feel for the writer’s attitude on the first re ading, check the adjectives that he chooses. Adjectives and, to a lesser ext ent, adverbs express our feelings toward subjects. The "two-out-of-five" rule is at work here: only choices (x) and (y) have any real merit. 6 PIVOTAL WORDS But Although， However Yet ，Despite Nevertheless ，Nonetheless Except ，In contrast Even though Pivotal words warn t hat the author is about to either make a U-turn or introduce a counter-premi se (concession to a minor point that weakens the argument). Rarely do the GMAT writers let a pivotal word pass without drawing a question from its sentence | 
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发表于 2004-4-8 18:43:00
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