When reading technical passages in verbal sections, what should you focus on?

• A. Only the figures
• B. The author's name
• C. Main ideas, definitions, relationships
• D. Every technical term

Answer: (C)

Focus on the main ideas, definitions, and the relationships between concepts. When you read a technical passage, grasp what the author is arguing, what terms are defined, and how the key ideas connect to explain the process or idea being described. This approach lets you understand the message quickly and know what points the questions will test.

Why this is best: the goal of these passages is to convey meaning and how elements relate to each other, not to memorize every term or chase every figure. The figures or data can illustrate a point, but they don’t replace the core message. The author’s name generally doesn’t affect the content, and trying to learn every technical term is unnecessary and slows you down. By concentrating on the big ideas, the definitions that anchor them, and the relationships among terms, you’re well positioned to answer questions accurately and efficiently.