Reading Comprehension

### Section: Reading Comprehension Estimated study time: 45 minutes Content: Reading Comprehension (RC) is the largest question type on the GRE Verbal sections, accounting for roughly half of all verbal questions. In the shortened GRE General Test (effective September 22, 2023), the two Verbal Reasoning sections total 27 questions (12 in section 1 / 18 minutes; 15 in section 2 / 23 minutes). RC questions span all difficulty levels and appear in both sections. Passages range from approximately 100 to 450 words and cover topics in humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and business. Each passage is followed by 1–4 questions. Question types include: main idea/primary purpose, specific detail, inference, function (why did the author include this?), strengthening/weakening an argument, and "select all that apply" (SATA) — where you must choose every correct answer from three options, with full credit only if all correct choices are selected. The foundational RC strategy is active reading with a focus on structure, not facts. As you read, track: the main argument (what the author is ultimately claiming), the passage structure (introduction, counterargument, evidence, conclusion), the author's tone (positive, negative, neutral, cautious), and any pivot or contrast (a sentence beginning with "however," "yet," or "but" is high-priority — the author is about to say something important). Do not try to memorize details during your first read. The passage will remain visible during the question, so you can return to it. What you must extract in your initial read are the argumentative skeleton: what is the passage ultimately arguing, and how does each paragraph contribute? Specific…