Reading Comprehension questions appear in the Verbal section of GMAT exam and they are meant to test your understanding of the implications, meanings, and structures presented in the passages. Each passage has up to 350 words and is followed by 2~4 questions. Because the GMAT is now a computer adaptive test, you will only see 1 question at a time. The passage, however, will remain on your computer screen.

There are 3 types of topics addressed in the the passages and each type of passage calls for a slightly different optimum test-taking strategy

1. Science topics. These passages deal with topics including astronomy, biology and medicine.
2. Social science topics. Typically, these passages deal with topics such as history, politics, and geography.
3. Business topics.

Business school students are likely unfamiliar with science passages but actually they are very factual and straightforward. Hence, they will likely provide the easiest reading comprehension questions you will encounter on the GMAT exam. You are not likely to see any inference questions drawing on a science passage. You are much more likely to see several factual questions that can be answered directly from the passage.

Generally there are 4 types of question a GMAT test taker can encounter. The 4 types are:

1. Main idea questions (primary purporse). For example:
   

   The primary purpose of the passage is to

2. Inference questions. For example
   

   It can be inferred from the passage that both Tulving and Clayton would agree with which of the following statements?

3. Details interpretation questions. Sample question:
   

   According to the passage, the WIDC believed that the proposed legislation resembled earlier legislation concerning women’s labor in that it

4. Structure questions. Sample question:

The function of the first sentence of second paragraph is