Want to learn a game? It’s a writing game, based on general rules of English—grammar and style—but with its own idiosyncrasies. It may not be the most fun game in the world, depending on your proclivities, but if you are up for the game, then, like any game, you must learn the rules. The good [...]
About Chris Lele
Chris Lele has been helping students excel on the GRE, GMAT, and SAT for the last 10 years. He is the Lead Content Developer and Tutor for Magoosh. His favorite food is wasabi-flavored almonds. Follow him on Google+!
GRE Vocab Wednesday: What’s in a Name?
In a quirk of the English language, common people’s names have made it into some vocabulary words. Such names as vocabulary words is mostly coincidence, meaning that there was no pope named Gregory the something or other who loved being around other people (hence the word ‘gregarious). Nonetheless, we do not always perceive the associations [...]
May GRE Article of the Month
I know, I know, it’s June. Better late than never! For “this” month’s article of the month, I’ve decided to do a two-for-one special. By that I mean there will be two articles. But mere bounty is not my aim here. Sometimes, readers feel that the articles I recommend, while engaging and thought provoking, are [...]
Text Completion Challenge Answers
These are the explanations from last week’s Text Completion Challenge. Explanations: Easy 1. I must admit that this is quite a toughie for an easy question (it’s probably more of a medium-level question). The clue word here is deleterious, which means harmful. The contrast in the sentence is from the seemingly __________….actually… Therefore, the blank [...]
Vocab Thursday: In a Pickle?
A day late this week! Which puts us in a bit of pickle, so it’s called “Vocab Thursday”, just for today. A pickle is another way of saying an unpleasant and potentially embarrassing situation. We’ve all been in a pickle or a jam (though nobody has probably ever been in a jar of pickle jam). [...]
Text Completion Challenge
Text Completions are notoriously difficult—that’s even if you know all the words in the answer choices. Beyond vocabulary, you will need a lot of practice with this question type. Below are eight questions to help you gauge where you stand, as far as Text Completions. To really get the most out of this challenge, you [...]
The GRE and IQ Comparison
Over the years, IQ has become a dirty word. Mention your IQ in polite conversation and you’re seen as showboating (depending on your IQ score and whom you are hanging out with), or as outright gauche (that’s like telling someone how much money, to the nearest dollar, you have in your bank account). Of course [...]
GRE Vocab Wednesday: How Dare You!
There is a fine line between boldness and rashness. What can be seen as a courageous or defiant act can quickly be seen as downright foolish. A mountaineer summiting Everest is courageous; a mountaineer summiting Everest with a storm quickly approaching is foolhardy. The Everest example embodies sheer physicality. Oftentimes courage—or foolishness—manifests in a social [...]
Technical Passages on the GRE: Difficult Practice Questions
This is the last in a series about difficult, highly technical science passages in the Reading Comprehension section on the GRE. Previous posts in this series went over basic strategies for tackling this type of passage, and applying them to an actual example passage. This post offers practice questions and explanations for the same passage, [...]
GRE Vocab Wednesday: How Awkward!
“To err is human” is a familiar saying, and applies to social situation. After all, everybody has blundered before his or her peers, whether by saying something inappropriate or behaving in an awkward manner. In honor of this tendency, I have five “awkward” GRE words for you to learn. Gaffe Ever done or said [...]
