GRE Verbal Reasoning key terms

The central claim the passage is written to convey, usually broad enough to cover every paragraph. Correct answers state it without adding detail the passage never discusses or narrowing it to one supporting point.

Why the author wrote the passage, for instance to argue, explain, describe, or evaluate. It is broader than the main idea because it names the author's activity rather than only the content being communicated.

A conclusion the passage strongly supports but never states outright. Valid inferences follow only from what is written, not from outside knowledge or from what is merely plausible in general.

An unstated belief the argument needs in order for its reasoning to work. If denying the belief would break the conclusion, it counts as an assumption.

A consequence that a claim carries with it, even though the author never spells it out. Test it by asking what else must be true if the stated claim is true.

The job a particular sentence or phrase does inside the passage's argument, such as introducing a view, supplying evidence, or conceding a point. Answer by role, not by restating content.

The strategic reason an author includes a specific detail, example, or aside. It asks what the element accomplishes for the reader or the argument rather than what it literally says.

The emotional coloring of the writing as revealed by word choice, such as skeptical, admiring, or resigned. Tone belongs to the text's manner; it is not the same as the author's overall opinion.

The author's evaluative stance toward the subject, ranging from approving to dismissive. Look for adjectives, hedges, and verbs of judgment that reveal feeling rather than neutral fact.

A limitation the author places on a claim, often signaled by words like usually, in most cases, or except. It narrows a statement and often makes it more defensible than an absolute version.

Admitting a point that favors the other side before answering it. Concessions often appear after although or granted and signal that the author is being balanced rather than contradicting the main claim.

A position opposed to the author's own that the passage raises and then answers. Identifying it helps you see which sentences express the author's view and which are borrowed from opponents.

The order in which the passage's parts are arranged, for example claim, then evidence, then objection. Naming the sequence helps you locate where a detail fits in the overall argument.

The range of material a passage or a question actually covers. Answers that fall outside the passage's scope are wrong even when they are true in the real world.

A statement that seems self-contradictory yet may express a real truth, or a situation with two apparently incompatible features. Passages often use one to signal complexity or surprise.

A comparison used to explain or support a point by mapping one situation onto another. Test an analogy by checking whether the relationship transferred matches the original relationship.

A pattern of reasoning that fails to support its conclusion, such as treating correlation as cause or attacking a person instead of an argument. Spotting the flaw helps you predict correct answer choices.

Material offered in support of a claim, such as data, examples, quotations, or expert testimony. Strong evidence bears directly on the claim rather than merely restating the assertion in other words.

A proposed explanation offered as a possibility, often in science passages, that must be tested against data. Track which hypothesis a given finding supports or undermines.

Explicit content is stated in so many words; implicit content is conveyed indirectly and must be inferred. Many wrong answer choices swap one for the other.

A broad statement applied to a whole class on the basis of limited cases. In passages, overgeneralization is a common flaw, and answer choices often fail by being too sweeping.

Words elsewhere in the sentence or paragraph that reveal what a missing word must mean. Clues may restate the idea, contrast with it, or describe its effect.

A word or phrase telling you the sentence reverses direction, such as although, yet, despite, or on the contrary. It usually means two blanks will hold opposing ideas.

A word or phrase showing that the next idea continues or explains the previous one, such as because, moreover, or indeed. It tells you the blanks move in the same direction.

The underlying relationship among a sentence's parts, such as cause, contrast, definition, or example. Reading for logic before choosing words prevents picking a word that fits the topic but not the structure.

The requirement that a chosen word match the emotional register of the surrounding sentence, so a light passage does not receive a solemn word. Tone clashes are a common trap.

A text completion with two missing words and several choices per blank, scored only if both answers are right. Solve the easier blank first, then use the resulting sentence to eliminate pairs.

A text completion with three blanks, each with its own short choice list, requiring all three to be correct. Partial credit is not given, so confirm every blank before committing.

Writing your own word for a blank before reading the answer choices. A confident prediction protects you from being pulled toward a familiar-sounding option that does not fit.

In sentence equivalence, two of the six choices that mean nearly the same thing and both fit the sentence. Finding the pair first is the fastest route to the answer.

The condition that both correct answers in a sentence equivalence item must produce sentences alike in meaning. Choices that fit individually but differ in sense are both wrong.

The associations or feelings a word carries beyond its literal meaning, such as the harshness of stubborn versus the warmth of steadfast. Connotation often decides between otherwise similar choices.

The literal, dictionary meaning of a word, stripped of emotional coloring. Two words with similar denotation can still differ sharply in connotation.

The level of formality or technicality a word belongs to, from slang to scholarly prose. A word can be accurate in meaning yet wrong because its register clashes with the sentence.

Two or more choices that look related in meaning but are not interchangeable, designed to lure test takers who match topic rather than logic. Check each against your predicted meaning.

The sentence equivalence format: one sentence plus six choices, exactly two of which are correct. Because only pairs survive, a lone plausible word is almost always wrong.