
The GMAT reading comprehension passages are about 200 to 400 words long. The subject matter of a passage can be almost anything, but the most common themes are politics, history, culture, science, and business. Most people find the passages difficult because the subject matter is dry and unfamiliar. Obscure subject matter is chosen so that your reading comprehension will be tested, not your knowledge of a particular subject. Also the more esoteric the subject the more likely everyone taking the test will be on an even playing field. However, because the material must still be accessible to laymen, you won’t find any tracts on subtle issues of philosophy or abstract mathe–matics. In fact, if you read books on current affairs and the Op/Ed page of the newspaper, then the style of writing used in the GMAT passages will be familiar and you probably won’t find the reading comprehension section particularly difficult.
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