1. Preparing for the GRE
Verbal Section
9/20/04

2. Geography of the Verbal Section
30 minutes
30 questions (in no particular order)
6-8 analogies
5-7 sentence completions
8-10 antonyms
2-4 reading comprehension passages (6-8 questions)
Typically starts with a few antonyms

3. Analogies What is an analogy?
light : dark :: pleasure : pain
Looking for a clear and necessary relationship between the word pairs
Create a sentence to describe the relationship
Examples:
stone : sculptor
aviary : birds

4. Analogy Tips Clear and necessary relationship
Form a simple sentence between the stem words
Plug in all of the choices
Eliminate answers with:
Triangular relationships
Words that don’t have C & N relationship
Work backward

5. Analogies – common relationships
Type of
elation : emotion
Used to
ultimatum : coerce
Degree
abhorrence : dislike
Characterized by
bigot : intolerance
Without / Lacking
courageous : fear

6. Analogy question Tile : mosaic
Form a basic sentence with the two words

7. Analogy question tile : mosaic ::
“A tile is a basic unit of a mosaic.”
wood : totem
stitch : sampler
ink : scroll
pedestal : column
tapestry : rug

8. Reading Comprehension Tips
Read quickly; main ideas, topic sentence
Locate trigger words (although, but, however, yet)
Use general knowledge & common sense
Avoid answers that have:
Disputable choices
Direct quotes and repetitions

9. Antonyms – “opposites”
When you can define the stem word:
Make your own opposite
Use POE
Down to two? Make opposites and work backward
Read all choices to avoid careless errors

10. Antonyms When you “sort of” know the word Don’t know the stem word
Use positive/negative
Work backward on choices
Guess? Choose the most extreme choice remaining
Don’t know the stem word
Make opposites for all choices – eliminate those that don’t have an opposite
Avoid words that “sound like” the stem word

11. Antonyms – no clear opposites
Exhume
Breathe
Inter
Approve
Assess
Facilitate

12. Antonyms – when you “sort of” know the stem word
Positive/Negative connotation
Debilitate
discharge
strengthen
undermine
squelch
delete

13. Sentence completions (“fill in the blanks”)
Anticipate the word(s) in the blank(s)
Find the clue that restricts the meaning
Look for trigger words (although, but)
A fair AND ______ judge
A fair BUT ______ judge
Positive or negative?
Two blanks: solve one and eliminate