GMAT: Verbal Section — Critical Reasoning & Sentence Correction

What is the rule for subject-verb agreement when using the correlative conjunction 'either... or'?

The verb must agree with the subject that is physically closest to it in the sentence.

What is the primary goal of a 'Strengthen' question in Critical Reasoning?

To identify an answer choice that provides additional support for the conclusion, making the argument more likely to be valid.

In a list of three or more items, what grammatical requirement must be met for Sentence Correction?

Parallelism; all items in the list must be in the same grammatical form (e.g., all nouns, all gerunds, or all phrases).

What defines a 'Conclusion' in a Critical Reasoning argument?

The main point or claim that the author is trying to prove, which is supported by one or more premises.

Why is the pronoun 'it' frequently flagged as an error in GMAT Sentence Correction?

It often lacks a clear, singular noun antecedent, leading to ambiguity or a pronoun reference error.

What is the objective of a 'Weaken' question in Critical Reasoning?

To identify information that undermines the link between the premises and the conclusion, making the conclusion less likely to follow.

What is a 'dangling modifier' and how is it corrected?

A modifier that describes a word not clearly stated; it is corrected by placing the intended noun immediately after the modifying phrase.

How does the 'Negation Test' help identify a necessary assumption in an argument?

If negating an answer choice causes the entire argument to collapse or become logically impossible, that choice is a necessary assumption.

When is the 'Past Perfect' tense (had + past participle) required in a sentence?

It is used to clarify the sequence of two past events, specifically indicating which action was completed before the other.

What is a 'Causal Flaw' in a Critical Reasoning argument?

The error of assuming that because two events are correlated or occur together, one must have caused the other.