Tricky CAT RC Questions Made Simple ❤️ | Tips from CAT VARC 100%iler

Summary

In this session, Vikrant, a personal coach for CAT preparation, guides students through some of the most confusing Reading Comprehension (RC) questions from the past three years of the exam. He shares tips on how to approach tricky question types, particularly those involving 'except,' 'false,' and 'inference.' Vikrant emphasizes the importance of simplifying complex questions, developing a mental overview of the passage, and focusing on logic rather than memorization. The session aims to build confidence and clarity in tackling difficult RC questions by providing practical strategies and actionable insights.

Takeaways

• 😀 Understand 'except' as 'not': When you see 'except' in a question, mentally replace it with 'not' to simplify the process of identifying what is not true, relevant, or supported by the passage.
• 😀 Inference questions require identifying what is not implied: When asked about what cannot be inferred, focus on eliminating the option that contradicts the passage or doesn't logically follow.
• 😀 Treat 'false' as 'not true': For 'false' questions, avoid converting answer choices to their opposites. Instead, ask whether the statement, if true, would support or not support the passage.
• 😀 Simplifying complex question types helps you avoid confusion: For convoluted question types like 'false except', break them down to simpler versions (e.g., 'what weakens or contradicts the passage?').
• 😀 Always think in terms of the main idea: Questions about 'complementing' or 'extending' arguments are asking for statements that support or reinforce the core point of the passage.
• 😀 Focus on the author's perspective: For questions asking what the author supports or disagrees with, focus on whether the statement aligns with the author’s argument in the passage.
• 😀 Avoid overcomplicating 'accept' questions: Once you see 'except', remember it's asking for something that isn't true or isn't supported. In most cases, this boils down to negating the statement.
• 😀 Create a mental overview of the passage: Developing the ability to summarize the key ideas of each paragraph will make it easier to tackle main idea and mapping questions.
• 😀 Use context to clarify reasoning-based questions: Questions like 'invalidate the purpose of an example' require understanding the purpose of the example and determining if the options weaken or undermine it.
• 😀 For 'complement' or 'extension' questions, ensure the answer strengthens the main argument of the passage, not a specific detail or minor point.

Q & A

What is the primary purpose of the session described in the video?

The session is designed to help students understand and tackle the most confusing reading comprehension (RC) questions from past CAT exams (2020-2023), by explaining the key strategies to approach such questions effectively.

How does the speaker suggest handling questions with the word 'except'?

The speaker advises treating 'except' as 'not'. Essentially, you should replace 'except' with 'not' to simplify the question. For example, 'all of the following except' becomes 'all of the following are not'. This helps in identifying the correct answer more easily.

What should you do when encountering questions that use the word 'none'?

The speaker suggests that 'none' essentially means 'not one'. So, when a question uses 'none', you should interpret it as 'one of the following is not true'. This simplifies the task of choosing the correct answer.

What strategy does the speaker recommend for 'main idea' type questions?

For main idea questions, the speaker recommends creating a mental overview of the passage. While reading, you should focus on identifying the key idea of each paragraph, which will make it easier to map the main arguments or keywords from the passage.

What is the primary challenge students face with 'false' questions in the CAT exam?

Students often make mistakes by converting the answer choices into their opposite form when answering 'false' questions. The speaker advises not to do this. Instead, 'false' simply means 'not true', and the task is to identify which scenario does not support the passage, without converting the answer choices.

How should you approach a question that asks which statement 'best complements' the passage's findings?

When asked which statement 'best complements' the passage's findings, you should treat it as a reasoning question. The goal is to identify an answer choice that supports or strengthens the main idea of the passage.

What does the speaker recommend when a question asks which statement 'extends' the arguments in the passage?

The speaker explains that an extension of the argument involves adding new material that supports the main idea or restating the argument with additional justification. You should choose an answer that strengthens or extends the argument rather than contradicts it.

How should you interpret 'except' when it appears in a question about political power?

In a question about political power using 'except', you should simplify the question by removing 'except' and replacing it with 'not'. The core of the question will then be to identify the statement that the author does not support.

What is the suggested approach for reasoning-based questions like 'which one of the following, if true, would invalidate the purpose of an example in the passage'?

For reasoning-based questions involving the invalidation of an example, the speaker recommends first identifying the purpose of the example in the passage—whether it explains or supports a point. Then, you should determine which answer choice challenges that purpose by showing why the example is unsuitable or unrepresentative.

How does the speaker recommend handling 'none of the following' questions in relation to 'except'?

For 'none of the following' questions with 'except', the speaker advises canceling out the 'none' (which already negates the statement) and focusing on identifying the statement that is true or relevant to the passage. Essentially, you're looking for a statement that aligns with the passage's argument.