Synonym Repetition
Definition of synonym repetition: Questions where the sentence uses obvious demonstrative pronouns and referential nouns to repeat content before or after.
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Common synonym repetition markers:
this, that, such, this very (precisely this), the, the same, the former/latter, etc. -
Extended synonym repetition markers:
necessarily, surely, definitely, equally, parallel
Broad synonyms/antonyms
Words and phrases with the same/opposite positive/negative evaluation direction (kind, brave VS ignorant, stingy)
Supplementary knowledge: Usage of “if”
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If: (conditional)
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Whether:
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Even if: if not all (even if not all), meaning “most”
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Other phrases:
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If any: even if there are any
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If ever: if it ever really happens
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If at all: even if something really happens
Causal Relationships
Causal Relationship Logic Words
Indicating cause: because, since, for, in that (common in GRE!), now that (since), as, because of, due to, given (common in GRE!), on the ground that, on ground of, as long as
Example sentences:
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Dramatic literature often recapitulates the history of a culture in that it takes as its subject matter the important events that have shaped and guided the culture.
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= Dramatic literature often recapitulates the history of a culture in that it takes the important events that have shaped and guided the culture as its subject matter. Supplementary knowledge: Object postposition
Object postposition: In the sentence pattern “subject + predicate + object + adverbial,” when the object has modifiers, the object can be placed after.
Indicating result: therefore, thereby, thus, so, whereby, as a result, consequently, so(such)…that…, so(such)…as to, too…to…, etc.
- Other causal logic words: result in (left causes right), result from (right causes left), lead to, give rise to, bring about
Solution Points
Determine blank semantics based on known causal relationships, then select synonyms or broad synonyms.
Supplementary knowledge: Usage of “as long as”
`- As long as...: This stick is as long as that one
- As long as..., if...: We can do this directly as long as we have certain types of information
- Since, because: As long as you have been here, you could wait for a moment.
`Purpose and Means
Words or phrases indicating purpose:
to do, for doing, in order to, so that, for fear that, lest, in case, for, etc.
Words or phrases indicating means:
by doing, whereby, by means of, by way of, depend on, rely on, by virtue of, etc.
Solution Points for Purpose and Means Questions
Deduce means or methods from purpose, or deduce purpose or result from means
Explanation
Explanation markers:
Colon (:), dash (—), attributive clause, participial phrase as adverbial, appositive, adjective phrase, subject-system-predicate structure, etc.
Solution Points
Paraphrase the explained information with synonyms
Analogy Relationships
Analogy relationship markers
just as, like, as...as, as if/as though, resemble, similarly, in the same way, likewise, etc.
Solution Points
Find analogies and paraphrase with synonyms
Parallel Relationships
Parallel relationship markers
and, or, not only...but also, not just...but also, as well as, at once...and, etc.
Parallel relationships are divided into progressive parallel and contrastive parallel
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I appreciate her beauty and kindness
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I both like this book and mind some of its details
Solution Points
Find synonyms or broad synonyms (rarely find direct synonyms)
Progressive Relationships
Progressive relationship logic words
even, not only ... but also, indeed, especially, particularly, in addition, moreover, furthermore, all the more
Note the usage of “even”
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even indicates concession and contrast: mostly at the beginning of a sentence, even if
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even indicates progressive relationship: mostly in the middle of a sentence, even more
Solution Points
Strengthen progression/weaken progression
Concession and Contrast
Concession and contrast logic words
even, although, though, despite, however, nevertheless, but, in spite of, for all=despite, even as, even when, as
Solution Points
Take antonyms or broad antonyms
Contrast Relationships
Contrast relationship logic words
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Connective words:
rather than, far from, on the contrary, in contrast to, compare with, unlike, different from, not but -
Other contrast logic words:
ironic, surprising, stunning, strange, mask, belie, veil, seem, appear, paradox, contradiction, dichotomy
Solution Points
Take antonyms or broad antonyms
