Initial Reading: Short Passages
Glance quickly at the following paragraph and just notice its size without reading it:
When someone brings up the term “magical realism,” the work of the Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges (1899–1986) often comes to mind. Indeed, his works include many situations in which the ordinary is blended with incidents that appear to be magical or unreal, such as a common coin that the owner cannot lose. However, it is contested as to whether his work is truly representative of magical realism. Many contend that it is more likely that his work predates the term. A better example of magical realism, according to critics, can be found in the work of Gabriel García Márquez (1927–2014). In any case, it would be safe to say that Borges’s work is foundational to what we understand as magical realism today.
Most of the passages you will see in a Verbal Reasoning section of the GRE are approximately this length.
[[rcbreak]]
Based on your impression of the length of the above passage, what do you think you should do?
Absolutely right.
Unlike long passages, which use a different reading strategy that doesn't require you to read the whole selection, short passages should be read in their entirety. Pay attention to shifts in thought and structure and try to come up with your own __main idea__ Note opinions that are presented too.
Remember: Such passages can be recognized by their length, as they are only one or two paragraphs long instead of the several paragraphs you'll see in long passages.
Look at the passage again, without reading it:
When someone brings up the term “magical realism,” the work of the Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges (1899 - 1986) often comes to mind. Indeed, his works include many situations in which the ordinary is blended with incidents that appear to be magical or unreal, such as a common coin that the owner cannot lose. However, it is contested as to whether his work is truly representative of magical realism. Many contend that it is more likely that his work predates the term. A better example of magical realism, according to critics, can be found in the work of Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1927 - 2014). In any case, it would be safe to say that Borges’ work is foundational to what we understand as magical realism today.
How should you determine whether a passage is __short__ or __long__?
Good thinking.
As you know that only __one__ passage on the test is __long__, and that the long passage is going to have multiple paragraphs, you can assume that anything less than three paragraphs is a __short__ passage.
A short passage may comprise 1 or 2 paragraphs. What makes it a short passage is the fact that it is less than 220 words, but you are not expected to verify a word count before approaching a passage.
Incorrect.
Trying to precisely calculate the length of the passage is a waste of precious time. Since you know that most of the paragraphs are short and only one is long, you can assume that anything under three paragraphs is a short passage.
A short passage may comprise 1 or 2 paragraphs, and it won't be more than 220 words or so.
With just a bit of practice you will be able to quickly identify short versus long paragraphs.
You should have some of the main ideas from the passage jotted down. Take a look at the following sample notes. Which one is most relevant to the passage's main idea?
__Main Idea__ - The main idea or core point of the passage is the 'what' of the passage, the bottom line relating to content -- what you would write as a headline, summarizing the main topic of the passage.
The passage __type__ is the 'how' of the passage. How is the topic treated? Does it merely provide descriptive facts? Does it present an argument with more than one point of view, or a dispute? Does it present an evaluation or a judgment on the topic?
The main passage types are: __descriptive__ passages, __evaluation__ passages, __dispute__ passages, __change__ passages, and __problem__ passages.
A __descriptive__ passage simply presents a series of facts and constructs a picture of a certain phenomena. All passages contain some element of description, but in description passages there is nothing more than description.
An __evaluation__ passage presents a point of view on what is described, judging its worth or value.
__Dispute__ passages present opposing points of view or opinions about the subject matter.
__Change__ passages describe an evolution, transformation or shift from one state to another.
__Problem__ passages describe a problem or a challenge and may describe how it was overcome, or how it might be overcome.
__Structural__ words and __hinge__ words are words or phrase that indicate to us that the argument in the passage has changed direction. All together, the combined use of structural words, transitions, and hinges create the __logical skeleton__ of the passage..
Examples of __structural__ words are “but, however, first, second, third, for example”.
Example of __transitions__, are "Moreover, therefore, consequently."
Examples of __hinge__ words, are "despite", "although", "while".
In the passage you just read, which of the following sentence contains a __hinge__ word?
Incorrect.
_Indeed_ is used as a transition word in the sentence, but it is not a __hinge__ word because it does not indicate a change of direction. It actually reinforces what was said earlier, so it keeps the passage going in the same direction.
The correct answer is: _However, it is contested as to whether his work is truly representative of magical realism._
_However_ indicates a reservation, opposition, or dissenting point of view. It indicates a change of direction and is therefore a __hinge__ word.
Correct!
_However_ indicates a reservation, opposition, or dissenting point of view. It indicates a change of direction and is therefore a __hinge__ word.
Incorrect.
The phrase _In any case_ is used as a transition word in the sentence, but it is not a __hinge__ word because it does not clearly indicate a change of direction.
The correct answer is: _However, it is contested as to whether his work is truly representative of magical realism._
_However_ indicates a reservation, opposition, or dissenting point of view. It indicates a change of direction and is therefore a __hinge__ word.
In the current passage, which of the following sentences expresses the author's point of view?
Correct!
The phrase _it would be safe to say_ is a subtle cue indicating the author's point of view.
Incorrect.
Although this sentence uses an evaluative phrase _better_ , this point of view is attributed to critics (_according to critics_). The author is reporting neutrally that critics view Marquez' work as a _better example_.
The correct answer is that phrase _it would be safe to say_ is a subtle cue indicating the author's point of view.
Incorrect.
The phrase _Many contend_ does not include the author's point of view. It actually distances the others who hold this point of view from the author.
Incorrect. One of the sentences does in fact convey the author's point of view.
The phrase _it would be safe to say_ discloses the author's view of the matter.
To wrap things up:
[[summary]]
Incorrect.
You are right that you can tell a short passage from a long one by mere looking.
But trying to estimate the word count is unnecessary. Since you know that most of the paragraphs are __short__ and only one is __long__, you can assume that anything under three paragraphs is a short passage.
A short passage may comprise 1 or 2 paragraphs, and it won't be more than 220 words or so.
With just a bit of practice you will be able to quickly identify short versus long paragraphs.
Incorrect.
This detail likely won't be able to help you answer questions about this passage, as Borges' and Marquez's identities as Latin American authors aren't pertinent to the main idea.
That's right.
Because the passage focuses on the origins of magical realism, having a definition of the genre in your notes will be helpful in answering questions related to this topic.
Incorrect.
_Many contend_ what? There aren't enough details in this note to make it useful for answering the questions. If the notation read, _Many contend that Borges' work predates the term_, that might help you out more.
Not exactly.
If you read only the first and last sentences of the passage, you'll miss a great deal of important material that could show up in questions. Because this is a short passage, you should have plenty of time to read the entire selection.
Incorrect.
This is close. It is true that you gain understanding of the main idea of a text by noticing the beginning, but one sentence may not be enough. It may also not help you as much when it comes time to answering questions about the passage. Because this is a short passage at only one paragraph, you should be able to read the entire selection.
Firstly, as based on your quick notes, you need to extract the __main idea__, the primary point the author attempts to make through the passage.
When someone brings up the term “magical realism,” the work of the Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges (1899–1986) often comes to mind. Indeed, his works include many situations in which the ordinary is blended with incidents that appear to be magical or unreal, such as a common coin that the owner cannot lose. However, it is contested as to whether his work is truly representative of magical realism. Many contend that it is more likely that his work predates the term. A better example of magical realism, according to critics, can be found in the work of Gabriel García Márquez (1927–2014). In any case, it would be safe to say that Borges’s work is foundational to what we understand as magical realism today.
Which choice do you think most effectively sums up the passage's main idea?
Incorrect.
The passage does not make any judgments about whether or not Márquez was a better writer than Borges.
Correct!
This sentence nicely sums up the focus of the passage, that while it is contested whether he actually created magical realism, there is evidence that Borges was not only its likely creator, but also provides the foundation for study of the genre even though he may not be regarded as the best representative of the genre.
If you paid attention to the text marker/__opposition hinge__ _however_, you would notice the shift in the text that indicates this major point.
All together, the combined use of structural words, transitions, and __hinges__ create the __logical skeleton__ of a passage, so these are also important to notice.
Examples of __structural words__ are _but_, _first_, _second_, _third_, and _for example_.
Example of __transitions__ are _moreover_, _therefore_, and _consequently_.
Examples of __opposition hinge words__ are _despite_, _although_, and _however_.
In this case, this shift also informs you about another aspect you need to look into.
Your next step in the __initial reading__ is to define the passage type. The __passage type__ is the "how" of the passage. For example, how is the topic treated? Does it merely provide descriptive facts? Does it present an argument with more than one point of view, or a dispute? Does it present an evaluation or a judgment on the topic?
The six passage types you may see on the GRE are as follows:
* A __descriptive__ passage simply presents a series of facts and constructs a picture of a certain phenomena. All passages contain some element of description, but in description passages there is nothing more than description.
* An __evaluation__ passage presents a point of view on what is described, judging its worth or value.
* __Dispute__ passages present opposing points of view or opinions about the subject matter.
* __Change__ passages describe an evolution, transformation or shift from one state to another.
* __Problem__ passages describe a problem or a challenge and may describe how it was overcome, or how it might be overcome.
Which passage type do you think the sample passage best reflects?
Incorrect.
The passage does not describe a change, such as a transformation or evolution.
Incorrect.
The passage says nothing about a problem or challenge that needs to be solved or offering a prospective solution.
Correct!
In this passage, the dispute is over the role Borges actually played in the creation of magical realism, whether he was as the primary architect behind the genre or just an influential force in its development.
The final element you will need to identify in your __initial reading__ is the author's opinion, judgment, or tone. Some passages communicate the author’s view, either clearly or through subtle cues. The author may agree or disagree with an opinion described in the passage. It is important to notice this, because __Reading Comprehension__ questions may ask you about the author's point of view.
In other passages the author’s point of view is not apparent; the author remains neutral and objective.
So, in the sample passage, which of the following sentences do you think best expresses the author's view?
Correct!
This sentence clearly expresses the author's opinion, as seen through the phrase "it would be safe to say," which discloses his or her views on Borges as a writer.
Incorrect.
This sentence contains the phrase "according to critics," which makes it clear that the argument in this sentence is an alternate view the author is sharing rather than his or her own.
Incorrect.
The giveaway here is the phrase "many contend," which reveals that the expressed opinion is an alternate view, not the author's.
To wrap things up:
[[summary]]
Not quite.
While this may be true about magical realism, this is not the main idea of the text.
Think of the overall impression of the text and consider what might be its main subject.
Because __Reading Comprehension__ questions account for about half of the Verbal Reasoning questions per section and are usually more time-consuming than the other question types, it is essential that you learn an effective and systematic method for reading efficiently.
The __initial reading__ __for__ __short passages__ is the process you'll go through to gain an understanding of the content before you begin answering questions related to it. Short passages are around one or two paragraphs long (about 120–220 words) and should take you about a minute and a half to read, with 45 seconds spent on each subsequent question.
Each Verbal Reasoning section of the GRE contains around 3-6 passages. Most of them are short passages, less than 200-220 words. This lesson teaches you how to recognize and effectively approach a __SHORT__ passage.
Since Reading Comprehension questions account for about half of the Verbal Reasoning questions per section and are usually more time-consuming than the other question types, it is essential that you learn effective methods for reading efficiently.
Only one passage on the test will be a long passage (~450 words and 3-4 paragraphs). Long passages are read with a different technique, which you will learn later.
Now we are ready to begin the __Initial Reading__ of the short passage. Read consciously: proceed by reading one sentence at a time and pause to jot down your notes on your notepad to facilitate your grasp of the content. (A future lesson will teach you how to take notes effectively).
You should complete the reading in around 1.5 minutes or less. Click "continue" only after you finish writing down your notes.
When someone brings up the term “magical realism,” the work of the Argentinian writer Jorge Luis Borges (1899 - 1986) often comes to mind. Indeed, his works include many situations in which the ordinary is blended with incidents that appear to be magical or unreal, such as a common coin that the owner cannot lose. However, it is contested as to whether his work is truly representative of magical realism. Many contend that it is more likely that his work predates the term. A better example of magical realism, according to critics, can be found in the work of Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1927 - 2014). In any case, it would be safe to say that Borges’ work is foundational to what we understand as magical realism today.
The elements you need to identify to help you answer questions accurately and effective are:
What’s the __main idea__ or core point of the passage?
What is the passage __type__?
What are the __structural words__ and shifts in __direction__?
What is the author’s __opinion__ or tone?
Let's go through them one by one:
The final element you will need to identify in your __Initial Reading__ is the author's opinion, judgment or tone.
Some passages communicate the author’s view, either clearly or through subtle cues. The author may agree or disagree with an opinion described in the passage. It is important to notice this, because Reading Comprehension questions may ask you about the author's point of view.
In other passages the author’s point of view is not apparent; the author remains neutral and objective.
During this lesson you completed an __Initial Reading__ of a short passage in two stages of note-taking and identifying the key elements of the passage.
As you practice and gain experience with initial readings of short passage, you won’t accomplish this in 2 steps, but you will do them simultaneously.
You now know everything you need to know about approaching __SHORT__ passages, and are ready to begin to learn how to answer Reading Comprehension questions.
Once you've determined the length, you can begin your __initial reading__ for short passages. You will proceed by reading one sentence at a time, pausing to jot down notes on your scratch paper to facilitate your grasp of the content. Do not get bogged down in small details, as the idea is to map the reading out.
Essentially what you wish to know at this point is how to:
* Identify main idea or core point and notice logical shifts or changes of direction;
* Determine the passage type (description, evaluation, dispute, change, problem); and
* Identify author’s tone and judgment (positive, critical, neutral. etc.).
The __initial reading__ of the short passage here was completed in two stages of note-taking and identifying the key elements of the passage.
As you practice and gain experience with __initial readings__ of short passages, you won’t accomplish this in multiple steps, but you will do them simultaneously and quite a bit more effortlessly so that you will gain an understanding of what is important to take notes on and why.
Read only the first and last sentences
Read the entire passage
Read the first sentence and scan the rest
Long passages are easy to recognize, everything else is short.
Roughly calculate the number of words in the passage by multiplying the number of words per line with the number of lines in the passage.
Estimate the word count by eyeballing the passage.
Latin American literature
Magical realism is a blend of real and unreal
Many contend
Indeed, his works include many situations in which the ordinary is blended with incidents that appear to be magical or unreal, such as a common coin that the owner cannot lose.
However, it is contested as to whether his work is truly representative of magical realism.
In any case, it would be safe to say that Borges’ work is foundational to what we understand as magical realism today.
In any case, it would be safe to say that Borges’ work is foundational to what we understand as magical realism today.
A better example of magical realism, according to critics, can be found in the work of Gabriel Garcia Marquez (1927 - 2014).
Many contend that it is more likely that his work predates the term.
None of the above.
Márquez was a better magical realism writer than Borges.
As the likely creator of magical realism, Borges's writing provides the foundation for our understanding of the genre, rather than being the best representative of the genre.
Magical realism is the blending of real life with the magical or unreal.
Change
Problem
Dispute
In any case, it would be safe to say that Borges’s work is foundational to what we understand as magical realism today.
A better example of magical realism, according to critics, can be found in the work of Gabriel García Márquez.
Many contend that it is more likely that his work predates the term.
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