Thursday, July 25, 2013
Short GRE Reading Comprehension Breakdown
Reading comprehension is, perhaps, the most frightened verbal parts by the test takers. Gre reading comprehension is of two types- short and long. Short could be more denser than long reading comprehension. All you have to care about big idea, focus, authors intention and read actively, if needed every words. Here is a typical short passage--
It is commonly assumed that even if some forgeries have aesthetic merit, no forgery has as much as an original by the imitated artist would. Yet even the most prominent art specialists can be duped by a talented artist turned forger into mistaking an almost perfect forgery for an original. For instance, artist Han van Meegeren’s The Disciples at Emmaus(1937)—painted under the forged signature of the acclaimed Dutch master Jan Vermeer (1632–1675)—attracted lavish praise from experts as one of Vermeer’s finest works. The painting hung in a Rotterdam museum until 1945, when, to the great embarrassment of the critics, van Meegeren revealed its origin. Astonishingly, there was at least one highly reputed critic who persisted in believing it to be a Vermeer even after van Meegeren’s confession.
BREAKDOWN OF THE PASSAGE:
It is commonly assumed that even if some forgeries have aesthetic merit, no forgery has as much as an original by the imitated artist would.
The words "commonly assumed" that is going to contrast with this point. This statement is introduced to prelude authors point. next-
Yet even the most prominent art specialists can be duped by a talented artist turned forger into mistaking an almost perfect forgery for an original.
--CONTRAST and Authors point
For instance, artist Han van Meegeren’s The Disciples at Emmaus(1937)—painted under the forged signature of the acclaimed Dutch master Jan Vermeer (1632–1675)—attracted lavish praise from experts as one of Vermeer’s finest works.
--Supporting point
The painting hung in a Rotterdam museum until 1945, when, to the great embarrassment of the critics, van Meegeren revealed its origin.
--Supporting Point
Astonishingly, there was at least one highly reputed critic who persisted in believing it to be a Vermeer even after van Meegeren’s confession.
--supporting
A,B,C
All the options are inferred from the passages.
Lets check now a question based on the passage, inference question-most difficult question in revised GRE.
1.Which of the followings can be inferred from the passage? Indicate ALL that apply.
- Some forgery can mislead people to believe that forgery is genuine
- Some critic believed that the art was genuinely Vermmer's.
- The painting is removed after 1945
A,B,C
All the options are inferred from the passages.
