What is sentence equivalence? What is the strategy to solve sentence equivalence questions, Know the GRE connectors, How to read & remember words as a non-native applicant

 Sentence Equivalence

Sentence equivalence is like single blank text completion, the only difference is there will be six options and two will be the correct answer.

In other words, you will be given sentences with partial information and have to fill out with a logical understanding of the theme. It is generally picked from published newspapers, so newspapers are the source of sentence equivalence questions (Also applicable for text completion).

 

               Strategy to solve sentence equivalence questions:

Success on sentence equivalence questions depends on strong vocabulary (also its using skill) and understanding of the sentence; even success on sentence equivalence sometimes depends on both, I mean; Vocabulary and context of the sentence. So we can use two strategies to answer sentence equivalence questions:

1.       

         1. Context analysis:  

       GRE test your instant problem-solving skill, how are you responding within the time pressure that is the main them of the GRE exam.  Below are some tricks that help you understanding sentence equivalence (also applicable in text completion) questions.

Direction: Sentence equivalence questions can go in the same direction & also can go in the opposite direction. We can refer to the same direction as positive one & opposite direction as a negative one.

Connectors: Know the correct grammatical use of connectors. Some connectors lead to the same direction & others go in the opposite direction.

Know the math: Mathematically sentence equivalence question (also applicable in text completion) has two parts, namely blank part & without blank part.   Let’s see an example, 

The macromolecule RNA is common to all living beings, and DNA, which is found in all organisms except some bacteria, is almost as ______.

First part: The macromolecule RNA is common to all living beings (without blank part)

Second part: and DNA, which is found in all organisms except some bacteria, is almost as ______. (With blank part)

 Let’s understand the math,

If first part becomes positive then the second part will be negative. That means,

The first part (+) × second part (-) = - (negative)

If first is negative then the second part will be positive. That means,

The first part (-) × second part (+) = - (negative)

If first is negative then the second part will be negative. That means,

The first part (-) × second part (-) = + (positive)

If first is positive then the second part will be positive. That means,

The first part (+) × second part (+) = + (positive)

Grammar: With the above tricks, grammar helps you to understand complex sentence patterns. Let’s read the above example again, 

The macromolecule RNA is common to all living beings, and DNA, which is found in all organisms except some bacteria, is almost as ______.

First part talking about macromolecule RNA that is available to all, so “available” is the answer clue.

Second part start with “AND”  a connector that is used to link similar idea; “Which” a relative pronoun refers to DNA, [which is found in all organisms except some bacteria, is an apposition that tells us more about DNA]. So, this part becomes, DNA is almost as _______. 

Now solve the prompt with the tricks:

Step-1: Read the entire sentence & try to figure out what the subject matter is here, the sentence is talking about macromolecule RNA & DNA.

Step-2: Do not see the answer choices, try to find out answer clue, you will find this clue in the without blank part.

Step-3: What you have found, common, will be your answer clue. 

Step-4: Are there any connectors, figure out it. Here “and” is a connector that leads in to the same direction.

Final short: mRNA is common, DNA is ____

Common (+) × AND (+ connectors) = +

Now check the option, find out positive pair or synonym of common.

The macromolecule RNA is common to all living beings, and DNA, which is found in all organisms except some bacteria, is almost as ______.

A.   Comprehensive

B.   Fundamental

C.   Inclusive

D.   Universal

E.   Significant

F.    ubiquitous

Now check the relation,

Can Comprehension be common, No, so Comprehension≠ Common, 

Can fundamental be common, No, so fundamental≠ Common, 

Can inclusive be common, No, so inclusive≠ Common, 

Can universal be common, yes, make sense, so universal= Common,

Can significant be common, No, so significant≠ Common, 

Can ubiquitous be common, yes, make sense, so ubiquitous= Common,

So, the answer will be D & F

Let’s solve a difficult one,

While in many ways their personalities could not have been more different --she was ebullient where he was glum, relaxed where he was awkward, garrulous where he was _______ they were surprisingly well suited.

Step-1: Read the entire sentence & try to figure out what the subject matter here, this sentence is about human personality or compare personality.

Step-2: Do not see the answer choices, try to find out the answer clue, you will find this clue in the without blank part. Here, while part

Step-3: What you have found, positive & negative clue.

Step-4: Are there any connectors, figure out it. Here, we have found “While” connector in the without blank part & “where” with the blank part.

Final short: in many ways, their personality could not have been different, which means about 90% similar. So, this is a positive contextual clue.

What connectors they have used to complex the meaning? They used where structure.

Know the structure of where (without blank part):

The first part (garrulous +)    Where  (negative that means opposite of garrulous)

The first part (negative -)  Where (positive or opposite of the first part.)

(Blank part) well suited that means 90% similar.

Now do the math:

Without blank part:  While (- connectors) × in many ways their personality could not have been different (+) = Negative (-)

So, this part gives us the negative comparison, “While in many ways their personalities could not have been more different --she was ebullient where he was glum, relaxed where he was awkward”   

Blank part: surprisingly (- connectors).

So, without blank part (-) × with blank part (-) = positive (+) 

Now check the option, find out positive pair or synonym of garrulous.  

While in many ways their personalities could not have been more different --she was ebullient where he was glum, relaxed where he was awkward, garrulous where he was _______ they were surprisingly well suited.

A.   Solicitous

B.  Munificent

C.    Irresolute

D.   Laconic

E.    Fastidious  

F.     Taciturn

A.   

Now check the relation,

Can solicitous be garrulous, No, so solicitous ≠ garrulous,    

Can irresolute be garrulous, No, so irresolute ≠ garrulous,    

 Can munificent be garrulous, No, so munificent ≠ garrulous,  

Can laconic be garrulous, Yes, so laconic = garrulous,    

Can fastidious be garrulous, No, so fastidious ≠ garrulous,

Can taciturn be garrulous, Yes, so taciturn = garrulous,    

     So, the answer will be D & F

                                                            What is Transition? 

A transition or connectors can be any language indicating that two parts, ideas, or actions in the sentence are the same or opposite in sense.

Connectors table

Same direction/ Same transitions/Positive /Keep going/Complement /No shift signal.                 Math trick:  + × + = +

Opposite direction/ Negative/Change direction/ shift signal /Opposite transition Math trick:  + × - = -

Furthermore/ similar to/ so/ coma (,)/ And/ Since/ Also/ Thus/ Because/ Because of/Semi-colon (;) / Likewise/ Moreover/ Similarly/ In addition/ Consequently/ therefore/ Not only... But also/ Nothing but (something)/ In fact/ Indeed/ too/ Further/As well as/As a result of/Due to/Thereafter /Hence/Additionally/Just as---So too/Colon (:) /Accordingly/For example /Next/similarly/like/in so far as/ Thereafter /Likewise/ The…., the…

Instead/ even though/even when/even with/meanwhile/But /Hardly/Unlike/Distinct/Differing/Differ /Unexpected/Actually /Despite/Yet/However /Unless/Rather/Although/While/On the other hand/ At the same time/ conversely/ In contrast /In spite of/Anything but (something) /Far from (something)/Even though /Even if/Notwithstanding /For all the (typically negative)/Whereas/still /Even so/ On the other hand/Nevertheless/ nonetheless/ compared with/besides/Ironically /Paradoxically/Though/ Contrastingly/ Divergently/unfortunately /on the contrary/ rather than/ Rather/surprised/ surprisingly/unexpected/ less than/surprising/ illogically/unexpectedly/ Belied/Belies/Or/  Previously/Not/contradicting/alternatively/ironic /unfortunate/more than/ otherwise/even after N.B: On the other hand= At the same time –give the same meaning

 

2.   Option analysis  

      If you know many words then option strategy will be perfect for you. What you need to do is just read the options and tries to figure out the relationship among them. This strategy is only applicable when you have found one pair, that means, if you found two or three pairs, then this strategy will not work.

 Let's introduce a hidden option strategy:

Strongly related pair: The pair that is closely related with meaning and usage. For Example, wicked & evil are closely related with it's meaning and usage, so it is a strongly related pair.

Loosely related pair: The words that are sort of related with its use and its meaning.  For example, gifted and well-practiced are loosely connected with the meaning and use, so it is a loosely connected pair.

Know ETS concept: ETS mostly provides 2 pairs in the exam but it is possible to get 1 or 3 pairs in the exam. In this case, a strongly related pair will be the answer. If you found one pair that will be your bonus mark, you do not need to think about other options, just circle the answer and move out.

Sometimes ETS is set to 3 words that seem synonyms, for example hapless, unsuccessful and unlucky appear to be a synonym but hapless really does mean unlucky. A person can be unsuccessful without being unlucky, so hapless and unlucky are the right pair.

The weak part of ETS: ETS never set its option orderly that means

A≠B

C≠D

E ≠ F

ETS loves to set its option randomly which means

A=C

B=E

D=F

50-50 strategy 

It is quite impossible to read millions of words & also not possible to remember all of them. Therefore, you have to rely on partial context & partial words. This is applicable to all types of students & the best strategy to solve sentence equivalence questions. Let’s solve a question, 

The macromolecule RNA is common to all living beings, and DNA, which is found in all organisms except some bacteria, is almost as ______.

A.   A.   Comprehensive

B.   Fundamental

C.   Inclusive

D.   Universal

E.   Significant

F.    ubiquitous

Step-1: Goodbye text

Step-2: Welcome options

Step-3: Pair synonyms

Now check the synonym,

Comprehension means include everything to understand i.e. details, Inclusive means include everything. These two words have relation, so; they can be a synonym.

Fundamental means basic, significant means vital something, so they have no relation.

Universal means everywhere

Ubiquitous means everywhere. Universal & ubiquitous have a relation, so; they can be a synonym.

Final short: We have found two pairs, now check the context, and try to find out what the text is about. The text is about easily availability of mRNA & DNA. Here, Comprehension & Inclusive do not make any sense but universal & ubiquitous fit with the context.

So, the answer will be D & F

N.B. If you do not focus on partial context & 100% rely on synonyms or option analysis strategy, then you will circle the wrong options.

Free advice but effective:

1.      *If you don't know the words, just answer on the basis of your guessing power. Do not waste time; there is no benefit to repeating the questions. The moral of the study is, learn unlimited words.

2.     *  Learn words using context & images it is possible to get triple pair in the real exam, if triple pair comes then check that one of the words is logically, grammatically, stylistically, and idiomatically unfit.  So it is very important to know the different use of words using.

 

Do not fall into the trap of ETS

Most of the candidates wrongly believe that sentence equivalence is just finding synonyms, in short; synonym words will be the answer. Here is the trap, ETS never mentions that synonym will be the answer, instead clearly indicate that two words grammatically fit with the sentence. The two words could be a synonym, could not be synonym but coherently fit with the sentence.

Let’s solve a prompt,

Liza broke up with Steffen’s because he was ________.

A.   A.  Boring

B.     B. Handsome

C.     C. Limber

D.    D. Unintelligent

E.     E. Kind

F.      F. Fun

Liza broke up because of any bad reason, so the answer word will be the synonym of bad. But here, boring & unintelligent are negative words. So, this will be the answer, although boring & unintelligent have no relation.

Let’s apply the 50-50 strategy:

 Broke up=negative

Because=positive

So, the math will be,

Negative × Positive= Negative

Here, only one option gives us negative meaning, boring & unintelligent. So, this will be the answer.

In summary,

1.      * If you  know all the words then apply the option analysis, only if you found one pair.

2.      * When you know partial words apply context analysis

3.     * Develop the skill of pairing words and learn unlimited words.

How to read & remember words as a non-native applicant

For those whose mother tongue is not English, when preparing for the GRE exam, they think that, if I knew a lot of words, I could understand everything on verbal reasoning, that means, I could easily answer the questions that come up in the GRE exam. Let's see how true this idea is.

Suppose a student's mother tongue is English or he memorized 10,000 words with great difficulty, in this case, it is not wrong to expect good results as a student but even then when you see at the end of the exam the desired result did not come or the result is much worse than you expected. It is normal to be emotionally broken. You will sit all day thinking about the question paper, I have answered everything correctly, then why scored badly, my luck is bad or I am not talented.

Actually, there is nothing wrong with your luck or that you are not a good student. Suppose you want to go to London, will you go to London if you catch an American plane, or suppose you want to be a doctor but you have been admitted to an engineering college, will you be a doctor, certainly no? If you want to be a doctor, you have to be admitted to a medical college, because the only engineer will come from an engineering college.

Now the question is how many words do you need to read? In fact, there is no right answer. It depends on the individual. The number of words may be less for those who have the ability to use words or are already involved in English reading and speaking English, but for those who are far away from English or who do not use English words in their daily life, then the number of words will be higher. In short, you have to read all the words you need to understand the question.

You've finished Barron's 1100 words, now if you think you needn't read any more words you'll perform badly on the test. When you practice, you have to read the words that you don't know the meaning of. 

Underline unknown words

Then you have to know all the words as well as you need to understand well if you do not understand the question, how to do well. Here again, you need to know the use of the word to understand its meaning, that is, to understand the context.

So what do you do now? Read newspapers, read books, talk, listen to music but one condition, try to do everything in English, that is, read English newspapers every day, read English novels, listen to English songs, watch English movies. You will succeed when it becomes your habit.

How to read words? 

1.      Read the words through images:

 

Think about the truck. Ask yourself if you have ever wondered what the truck's meaning or spelling is, or how the truck works and how it works. The human brain is just like this. If a picture is introduced with a word, then it can remember and use for the rest of its life. 

The word that you could not able to remember, search on Google, you will see that many uses of that word, first there is pronunciation, with which parts of speech, you can download from many images that you like, then write the word on that image. It will help you to understand contextual use & also help your memory to remember long-time.

How to search a word on google

How to choose images from google

2.      Get in the habit of reading:

Read good newspapers, like New York Times, www.aldaily.com, www.aoen.com , Good Writer's Novel Biography Fiction, Read some useful magazines like The Economist, National Geographic Nature, Scientific America, books such as Harry Potter Series & Oliver Twist

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