McGraw-Hill Education GRE 2019

Detail Questions

Detail questions can be phrased as:

■ “According to the passage.. .”

■ “Based on the passage, which of the following is true.. .”

■ “The author mentions which of the following.. .”

According to the passage, the primary difference between Tolleter’s findings

and the “prevailing explanation” (line 8) is that Tolleter’s findings

A de-emphasize the role of climate change in coral bleaching

B provide a new explanation for the mechanism behind coral

bleaching

C show that coral bleaching is initiated by means other than the

disruption of photosynthesis

D resolve the debate over the causes of coral bleaching

E reinforce the role that temperature change has on coral bleaching

How to Tackle a Detail Question

To answer a detail question, you should focus on finding specific text from the

passage that answers the question. For detail questions, you do not need to make

any inferences and should avoid making assumptions. Instead, look at each choice,

and identify which choice is best supported by concrete evidence from the passage.

Let’s review the previous choices with this advice in mind.

■ Choice A. The passage states that Tolleter’s team focused on the cellular

mechanisms behind coral bleaching. The role of climate change is not

questioned. → Incorrect

■ Choice B. At first glance, this answer might appear correct. However, the

author explicitly states that Tolleter’s findings “question the exact mechanism

through which this bleaching occurs.” Questioning the mechanism is

different from “providing a new explanation.” Since there is no evidence

that Tolleter’s team has provided a new explanation, eliminate Choice B. →

Incorrect

■ Choice C. This choice restates the author’s description of the significance

of Tolleter’s findings. The author states that Tolleter’s findings “question

the exact mechanism through which this bleaching occurs.” Choice C is a

restatement of this fact and is thus supported by the passage. → Correct

■ Choice D. There is no evidence that Tolleter’s team has “resolved” the debate;

instead, they have questioned the “prevailing explanation.” → Incorrect

■ Choice E. The role of temperature change is not an issue in the passage. →

Incorrect

CHAPTER 6 ■ READING COMPREHENSION 131

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