Critical Reading and Inference Questions Flashcards
7 cards from real GRE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Critical Reading and Inference Questions flashcards as text
A passage argues that 'correlation between the two variables does not establish causation.' The author cautions readers against:
Answer: Assuming one variable causes the other
The point warns against inferring causation from mere correlation.
An author describes a critic's praise as 'damning with faint praise.' This means the critic:
Answer: Offered weak compliments that imply disapproval
'Faint praise' that 'damns' implies subtle disapproval beneath mild compliment.
A passage states: 'Not until the archives were declassified could the full account be written.' This implies that earlier accounts were:
Answer: Incomplete due to restricted information
Needing declassified archives for a 'full account' implies prior accounts lacked information.
An author writes that a proposal is 'theoretically sound but practically unworkable.' The author's assessment is that the proposal:
Answer: Has logical merit but cannot be implemented
'Theoretically sound but practically unworkable' affirms logic while denying feasibility.
A passage observes that 'each generation rediscovers the painter, only to redefine him in its own image.' The author suggests interpretations of the painter are:
Answer: Shaped by the values of each era
'Redefine him in its own image' means each era's values shape its interpretation.
If a passage describes evidence as 'circumstantial,' it indicates the evidence:
Answer: Suggests a conclusion indirectly rather than proving it
Circumstantial evidence implies a conclusion through inference rather than direct proof.
An author notes that a writer's optimism is 'tempered by experience.' This implies the writer's optimism is:
Answer: Moderated and realistic
Optimism 'tempered by experience' is moderated, made more realistic.