What are some good sources for reading comprehension suitable for the GRE?

Answer 1

Hi,

A decent place to start would be this example from the ETS website:

https://www.ets.org/gre/revised_general/prepare/verbal_reasoning/reading_comprehension/sample_questions

However, this is only one passage so I would recommend getting (or even simply reading over at the library) a GRE prep book such as the one from Princeton Review or Kaplan in order to get sample passages and questions specifically formatted to look like GRE passages. While the GRE passages are similar to many things you might find elsewhere (and I'll recommend a few good places to find similar passages below), it's imperative that you get a sense of the types of questions asked and the pacing needed to get through a passage in time by looking at the real thing.

Once you have begun prepping with sample GRE passages you may find that you want to increase your reading comprehension and vocabulary by doing some outside reading besides your GRE prep. This can be a great way to increase your reading ability and practice for the GRE. It's also a good way to break up the dull parts of GRE prep with something that can be a little more interesting. In terms of outside reading materials to prep for the GRE I've found the most relevant and helpful materials for my students have been shorter news articles or editorials. These tend to be close to the length and complexity of GRE materials. Some good publications to start with might be the NY Times (particularly the Week in Review and editorials), The New Yorker (especially their shorter online pieces or Talk of the Town), The Economist, The Financial Times, and Wired. While you are reading, try to focus on picking up the sorts of information that could conceivably be asked about in a GRE question: the main argument, authorial intent, tone, and how the author is constructing an argument.

Good luck!