Sentence Completion

The Four Basic Rules of Sentence Completion:

1. Every clue is right in front of you.
Each sentence contains a few crucial clues that determine the answer. Clues in the
sentence limit the possible answers, and finding these clues will guide you to the correct
answer.
2. Look for Whats directly implied and expect clichs.
The correct answer is the one most directly implied by the meanings of the words in the
sentence.
3. Dont imagine strange scenarios.
Read the sentences literally; pay attention to the meanings of the words, not associations
or feelings you have.
4. Look for structural roadsigns.
Structural roadsigns, such as since, are keywords that will point you to the right answer.
The missing words in sentence completions will usually have a relationship similar or
opposite to other words in the sentence. Keywords, such as and or but will tell which
it is.
Four-Step Method for Sentence Completion:
1. Read the sentences strategically, looking for structural roadsigns and other clues
to see where the sentence is heading.
2. In your own words, anticipate the answer.
3. Look for answers close in meaning to yours and eliminate tempting wrong
choices using the clues.
4. Read your choice back into the sentence to make sure it fits.

Analogies
The Four basic Principles of Analogies:
1) Every analogy question consists of two words, called the stem pair, that are
separated by a colon.
2) There will always be a direct and necessary relationship between the words in the
stem pair.
You express this relationship by making a short sentence that is called a bridge. A
bridge is whatever simple sentence you come up with to relate the two words. Your goals
when you build your bridge should be to keep it as short and clear as possible.
A weak bridge expressed a relationship that isnt necessary or direct. You know you have
a weak bridge if it contains such words as usually, can, might, or sometimes.
A strong bridge expresses a direct and necessary relationship. Strong bridges express a
definite relationship and can contain an unequivocal word, such as always, never, or
must. The best bridge is a strong bridge that fits exactly one answer choice.
3) Always try to make a bridge before looking at the answer choices
a) The definition bridge (is always or never):
PLATITUDE : TRITE :: OMEN : PORTENTOUS
A platitude (by definition) is always trite; an omen (by definition) is always
portentous.
b) The function/ purpose bridge:
AIRPLANE : HANGAR :: MONEY : VAULT
The function of a hangar is to house airplanes; the function of a vault is to
house money.
c) The lack bridge:
LUCID : OBSCURITY :: ECONOMICAL : EXTRAVAGANCE
Something lucid lacks obscurity; something economical lacks extravagance.
d) The characteristic actions / items bridge:
PIROUETTE : DANCER :: PARRY : FENCER
A dancer characteristically pirouettes; a fencer characteristically parries.
e) The degree (often going to an extreme) bridge:

ATTENTIVE : RAPT :: CRITICAL : DERISIVE

Raptness is an extreme form of attentiveness; derision is an extreme form of
criticism,
4) Dont fall for Both Are analogies:
Both Are analogies are pairs of words that are not related to each other but only
to a third word. For instance, it may seem as though there is a strong relationship in
RING : NECKLACE; theyre both types of jewelry. But this type of relationship will
never be a correct answer on the GRE. If you see an answer choice like this --- where
the two words are not directly related to one another but only to a third word (like
jewelry)--- you can always eliminate it.
The Four-Step Method for Analogies:
1. Find a strong bridge between the stem words.
2. Plug the answer choices into the bridge. Be flexible: sometimes its easier to use
the second word first.
3. Adjust the bridge as necessary. You want your bridge to be simple and somewhat
general, but if more than one answer choice fits into your bridge, it was too
general. Make it a little more specific and try those answer choices again.
4. 4. If stuck, eliminate all answer choices with weak bridges. If two choices have
the same bridge--- for example (A) TRUMPET : INSTRUMENT or (B)
SCREWDREIVER : TOOL--- eliminate them both. Try to work backwards from
remaining choices to the stem pair and make your best guess.

Antonyms
The Five Basic Principles of Antonyms:
1. Think of a context in which youve heard the word before (e.g. travesty of justice;
crimes and misdemeanors; mitigating circumstances; abject poverty).
2. Look at word roots, stems, and suffixes. Even if you dont know what benediction
means, its prefix, (bene, meaning good) tells you that its opposite is likely to be
something bad. Perhaps the answer will begin with mal, and in malefaction.
3. Use your knowledge of a romance language (Good luck with that, Alla).
4. Use the positive or negative charges of the words to help you. Use your scratch
paper to make little + signs for words with positive connotations, - signs for
words with negative connotations, and = signs for neutral words.
5. Eliminate any answer choices that do not have a clear opposite.

The Four-Step Method for Antonyms

1. Define the root words.
2. Reverse it by thinking about the words opposite.
3. Now go to the answer choices and find the opposite--- that is, the choice that
matches your preconceived notion of the choice.
4. If stuck, eliminate any choices you can and guess among those remaining.

Reading Comprehension
The Seven Basic Principles of Reading Comprehension
5) Pay special attention to the first third of the passage.
1.