Hi All, we know that GRE is changing from August 1, 2011 .We wish to give you a feel about how changed verbal section will look, so it can clear the picture in your mind up to some extent. The revised GRE Verbal Reasoning section will consist following types of questions:

1. Reading Comprehension
2. Text Completion
3. Sentence Equivalence

Reading Comprehension (RC)

Changed RC section will consist of 3 types of questions:

1. Select one or more answer choice: In this newly introducing multiple choice type questions, students will be provided with three answer choices, and student will be asked to choose all the correct answer choices. Correct answer choice could be one, two or all three .So, students will have a privilege to choose more than one option. To score excellent in these types of questions students should focus on choosing only correct options as there would be no credit for a fractionally correct option. Example:

(Examples mentioned below is from www.ets.org)

Reviving the practice of using elements of popular music in classical composition, an approach that had been in hibernation in the United States during the 1960s, composer Philip Glass (born 1937) embraced the ethos of popular music without imitating it. Glass based two symphonies on music by rock musicians David Bowie and Brian Eno, but the symphonies’ sound is distinctively his. Popular elements do not appear out of place in Glass’s classical music, which from its early days has shared certain harmonies and rhythms with rock music. Yet this use of popular elements has not made Glass a composer of popular music. His music is not a version of popular music packaged to attract classical listeners; it is high art for listeners steeped in rock rather than the classics.

The passage suggests that Glass’s work displays which of the following qualities? A return to the use of popular music in classical compositions

1) An attempt to elevate rock music to an artistic status more closely approximating that of classical music.

2) A long-standing tendency to incorporate elements from two apparently disparate musical styles

Answer: A and C

(Answer choice is more than one choice)

2.  Select-in-Passage: This is also a newly entered section in RC. This type of question will require to choose a sentence from the passage that meets the certain description. These types of questions will definitely give an idea to GRE evaluators to judge how well a student can understand the RC passage. Example:

Select the sentence from the above mention passage distinguishing two ways of integrating rock and classical music.

Answer:

“His music is not a version of popular music packaged to attract classical listeners; it is high art for listeners steeped in rock rather than the classics.”

3. Select one answer choice: GRE‘s Reading Comprehension section will still go with traditional format, where students have to choose one option from provided five options.

Text Completion questions

The Text Completion question will include a passage comprising one to five sentences with one to three blanks .There will be three to five options per blank. Students have to choose the one option from the provided options to fill in the blank. While choosing the option, student must remember the context of passage to choose the correct option. Example:

Vain and prone to violence, Caravaggio could not handle success: the more his (1)__________ as an artist increased, the more (2)__________ his life became.

Blank 1: temperance, notoriety, eminence

Blank 2: tumultuous, providential, dispassionate

Answer: eminence and tumultuous

Sentence Equivalence Questions

These types of questions will consist of a single sentence with one blank only. Student will be provided with six answer choices and from the six choices students have to pick just two answers .Do bear in mind there will be no credit for partially correct answer.

Although it does contain some pioneering ideas, one would hardly characterize the work as __________.

1) orthodox
2) eccentric
3)original
4)trifling
5)conventional
6)innovative

Answer: C and F

These all changes that we have discussed above will be in effect from 1 August, 2011. If you are planning to take GRE before that, then you see same old pattern. Kindly post your views, comments below this blog.

Wishing you all, success!!!

Best Regards,

Shipra Srivastava

Team Learnwordlist.com

Hence, the GRE is a Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) that adapts to the students’ perceptional requirements.

When the first question of GRE appears on the screen, you will not fall into abysmal depression. The first question that appears will be just ‘moderately’ difficult. That means most of you will be happy answering it for you are almost sure of the answer. As they say well begun is half done, you will carry this positive, stress-free feeling through out the exam.

In case you are unable to answer a tough question, the subsequent question posed to you will be considerably easier. This way the entire exam will be tuned to suit your requirement. In simpler words the exam keeps you feeling better time and again. Isn’t that amazing!

A judicious preparation for the exam will certainly pay rich dividends. A very high score in GRE is something that is not unusual. It is like you have the bag of luck and awesome future in your own hands. You alone can open it. Right?

To err is human! Let us not forget this famous aphorism. Despite unlimited advice and relentless hard work one might fail to get what one pines for. That doesn’t mean one becomes pessimistic and stops looking at the rosier aspects of life. Certainly not! GRE exam can be taken at least five more times in a year. That is until you get a score that satisfies you thoroughly. Isn’t that once again amazing! And what else, the GRE test score is valid for a period of five years! Awesome!

Students keep asking me what a GRE Subject test is. The GRE Subject test is offered for a few specific programs like Biology, Chemistry, Computer Science, English Literature, Mathematics, Physics, and Psychology. Most of the grad schools value GRE General Test score only as a criterion for admission. However each grad school has its own philosophy. As a diligent student you can contact the admission board directly for more information on subject GRE.

However you want to tell the admission board that you can run for their School an extra mile. And you are passionate about being an alumnus there; the Subject GRE offers you just the right platform. The score of the GRE Subject test ranges from 200 to 990.

There is also a Paper Based GRE Test, conducted in the areas where Computer Testing paraphernalia is not available. There will be an extension of time frame by 45 minutes in the case of a Paper based GRE and naturally you cannot take the Paper Based GRE round the year. It is limited to a certain time frame. The Subject GRE exam too is conducted in the Paper Based Test centers thrice a year i.e. October, November and April. Immediate Paper Based tests for GRE are available on 23^rd November and 4^th December 2009.

I guess we are now equipped with quite a few inspiring facts about GRE. Without delaying anymore you can start your preparation. I tell always: a final minute preparation could be both stress generating and devastating. Hence give yourself adequate time to understand GRE section-wise and then prepare accordingly.

In a nutshell:

1. GRE is a Psychometric Examination
2. GRE continues to keep your spirits high throughout the test!
3. A student can take GRE five times a year, once in a month!
4. Paper Based GRE Tests are available exclusively in areas where there is a paucity of Computer Systems
5. A Subject GRE cuts the student above the rest in competition
6. A good score in GRE and a subsequent admission into a reputed grad school changes the life of a student for the better and forever!!

Have you got even more interesting aspects of GRE to share with us? Please do comment here and let the world know them!!

Wishing you Success!!

Anu Veluri

Manager- Learnwordlist.com

• Devastate: The verb ‘devastate’ can be both physical and psychological in its effect. Physically an earthquake destroys or devastates everything. The victims of earthquake are psychologically destroyed, dismayed or devastated. Aren’t they? Devastate means to destroy, to demolish, to ruin etc.

• Enjoin: The verb ‘enjoin’ means to command. Usually the prefix ‘en’ puts some emphasis on the latter part of the word. Look at the words enhance, encourage, entail, encumber all these words suggest some kind of emphasis taking place. Similarly the verb ‘enjoin’ means to command. When a doctor enjoins something it means he commands you to follow it inevitably.

· Instigate: To instigate is to stir up, make people revolt. An opposition party leader usually instigates people   to go against the ruling party.

• Effectuate: Effectuate is the verb that’s derived from the noun effect. To effectuate is to bring about a change, to effect something or someone etc.

• Expedite: When your pace becomes really slow and you are not meeting the slated deadlines your boss gets irritated. He suggests you to expedite your pace. To expedite is to accelerate, to speed up etc.

• Preempt: To preempt is to appropriate, to substitute. I will tell you how it works. Imagine a situation wherein you are anxiously seated in front of your television set waiting for the live telecast of One Day International (a cricket match). There’s an unanticipated downpour in the stadium and the match timings are rescheduled. The Television Station airs another program instead of the live telecast; say a Sitar recital or some disease awareness program. This is to preempt. I am sure you will now never forget this word.

• Coerce: To coerce is to pressurize someone, to intimidate, to make people do things by force. For example a traitor coercing (forcing) a person to sign on a document holding a gun against his head! Can you now visualize a situation like that? If yes then you will never forget this word too.

• Extirpate: To extirpate is to destroy something totally. It also means to remove something permanently.

• Commandeer: To commandeer is to order or force into active military service. Just imagine a police officer ordering a relaxed cab driver reading a newspaper to follow the bunch of robbers fleeing right in front of them. He just sits beside the cab driver and tells him ‘follow them!’ The cab driver has nothing better to do than to follow. Such an action is commandeering.

• Embroil: To embroil is to bring into a discord, a conflict. It also means to throw into confusion or complicate things.

**{Example: “Avoid . . . any step that may embroil us with Great Britain” (Alexander Hamilton).}

I suggest you all to act on these words. Imagine many more situations than the words and situations I suggested to implement these words. Think at least five more situations for each word. But please do remember whether you like it or not these are the words that keep appearing in GRE’s (Graduate Record Examination) Verbal Ability Section.

Some important advice as always:

Do not just read but work on these words. Use a notebook to jot them down and a dictionary to understand the meaning and the context better. As I always tell: Utter the words aloud- each word five times!!

Things you should never forget:

1. Work with the word.

2. Expand its meaning into a suitable context.

3. Relate it to the person or situation you know.

4. Share the word with your friends, colleagues

5. Try to pronounce the word aloud at least five times

Read this blog on action verbs more than once to imbibe its essence. Do get back to us with queries in case you have any.

Wishing you success!!

Regards,

Anu Veluri

Manager- learnwordlist.com

** The example has been quoted from dictionary.com.

]]> http://learnwordlist.com/blog/high-frequency-gre-action-words-verbs/2009/10/gre-word-list-test-blog-barrons-vocabulary/feed 89 http://learnwordlist.com/blog/high-frequency-gre-words-%e2%80%93-power-verbs-words/2009/09/gre-word-list-test-blog-barrons-vocabulary http://learnwordlist.com/blog/high-frequency-gre-words-%e2%80%93-power-verbs-words/2009/09/gre-word-list-test-blog-barrons-vocabulary#comments Sat, 19 Sep 2009 01:26:33 +0000 shipra http://learnwordlist.com/blog/?p=123 Dear Students, this week we will memorize some ‘Power Verbs’. The name itself suggests that these are very powerful words and their appearance in GRE is almost inevitable. So, let us now fold our sleeves up and sit alertly to look at and into these words and understand how they function. Let us also use them in context wherever possible in order to commit them to our memory permanently.

• Flaunt: Have you ever seen a child showing off his newly acquired toy- remote- car? Or a woman in a gathering showing off the diamond ring her husband gifted her to one and all? Most of us have come across such situations. To flaunt is to show off, exhibit. To flaunt is to parade, that means to display.

• Flout: Some employees are not very happy with the rules framed by the Human Resources Department of their company. They always make negative, derisive remarks on the company’s policies. They do not uphold the company’s integrity. Such employees are said to flout the rules of their company.

To flout is to show contempt, scoff at or to mock at something.

• Flay: The word flay has many connotations. It is a very powerful word/verb indeed. To flay is to pare, i.e. to remove the outer skin of something. Now, is that not extremely painful? Well, if it is so, it also means to make excoriating comments against someone.

To flay is to strip a person of his/her money/wealth or property. A formidable and powerful word indeed! Hope you never forget this!

• Flail: How does a politician/celebrity initially address a huge gathering? He/she raises up his/her hands and waves at the enchanted public. Got the picture in mind? Yes, to flail is to wave vigorously. It also means to whirl or to thrash. This word also has multiple definitions. Hence, you have to put some extra effort to memorize this.

• Prate: Do you get mad at people who keep on talking foolishly. Who blabber unendingly without making any point? Could you think of such people around you?

To prate is to talk foolishly, to such an extent that the person hearing this feels like pulling his hair and screaming. Funny! Isn’t it? I am sure you will memorize this word faster than most others. (( smiles))

• Rail: Rail is simpler word to commit to memory. To Rail is to make an acerbic (harsh) complaint. It is like cursing one’s own fate for a series of unfortunate events that might have taken place. To rail at one’s fate/destiny is the contextual usage of the Power Verb.
• Reek: Reek is once again a powerful word/verb which means to emit something (usually of a foul odor). It means to expose to something or treat with smoke.

• Rake: To rake is not only a power verb it is also a visual verb. How do the police search for the missing documents in a notorious criminal’s residence? Can you almost imagine the police going to the wardrobe and scattering around all the clothes, tearing the mattress, opening the cupboards and throwing away the miscellaneous household equipment helter-skelter? What are they doing? Yes, they are raking.

The police raked the apartment for the missing files. That is the word in its contextual usage.

• Cloy: Have you ever heard the saying ‘Too much of anything is good for nothing’? What happens if you keep eating sweets just because they are available around you in overabundance? You grow weary of eating them, don’t you?

To cloy is to become uninteresting.

• Foist: To foist is to impose fraudulently or pass off something as genuine.

The contractor foisted unfair agreements in the document.

I suggest you all to spend a little more time than usual with these words. Work harder on these words as we do not use them frequently in our regular conversation. On the other side whether we like it or not these are the words that keep appearing in GRE’s (Graduate Record Examination) Verbal Ability Section.

Some important advice:

Do not just read but work on these words. Use a notebook to jot them down and a dictionary to understand the meaning and the context better. As I always tell: Utter the words aloud- each word five times!!

Things you should never forget:

1. Work with the word.

2. Expand its meaning into a suitable context.

3. Relate it to the person or situation you know.

4. Share the word with your friends, colleagues

5. Try to pronounce the word aloud at least five times

Read this blog on Power Verbs more than once to comprehend its essence thoroughly. Do get back to us with pertinent queries in case you have any.

Wishing you all, success!!

Regards,

Anu Veluri

Manager- learnwordlist.com