Verbal Reasoning
What the section tests
Verbal Reasoning measures how quickly you can locate, interpret and compare information in dense text. You are not tested on prior knowledge; every answer must be supported by the passage. Expect two broad question styles: statements judged True, False or Cannot Tell, and four-option questions asking which option is supported, which is a main idea, or what can be inferred.
Concepts to master
Practise scanning for names, dates, numbers, contrast words ('however', 'although') and causal language ('because', 'leads to'). Distinguish what the passage states from what is merely plausible. 'Cannot Tell' is correct only when the text neither confirms nor contradicts the statement; if the text gives evidence against it, the answer is False.
Traps
The commonest errors are importing outside knowledge, over-reading a single word, and treating 'some' as 'all'. Watch for extreme quantifiers, swapped subjects, and statements that are true in real life but absent from the passage. Do not spend minutes on one item; flag and move on.
Worked example
Passage: 'Most sharks are marine, but a few species, including the bull shark, can tolerate freshwater.' Statement A: 'Every shark lives in saltwater.' This is contradicted, so False. Statement B: 'The bull shark is the only shark that can enter freshwater.' The passage says 'a few species, including', so it neither confirms nor denies exclusivity: Cannot Tell. Rule of thumb: match the statement's strength to the passage's strength.