Understanding the Basic Components of the Text
The most fundamental questions on the Critical Analysis and Reasoning Skills section ask about the basic components of the passages. Comprehension questions at this level may ask you to provide a general overview of the passage or to focus on specific portions of the text. You may be asked to recognize the literal meaning of a particular word or phrase. You may be asked to identify the author’s thesis, the main point or theme of the passage, or specific examples. In responding to these questions, you need to be able to recognize the purpose of particular sentences and rhetorical labels such as “for example,” “therefore,” or “consequently.”