GRE Essay Analysis Questions Practice Questions with Answers

Critical thinking and logical evaluation are the foundation of the GRE Analytical Writing measure, where success depends on your ability to dissect complex arguments. GRE Essay Analysis Questions require test-takers to identify logical fallacies, assess the relevance of evidence, and determine how specific assumptions impact the validity of a given claim. While the Quantitative section often focuses on GRE Data Analysis Questions, the essay portion tests your verbal reasoning and structural clarity. Understanding these patterns is essential for achieving a high score on the Analyze an Argument task. Organizations like Educational Testing Service (ETS) emphasize that these questions evaluate your capacity to articulate and support complex ideas through a comprehensive GRE Prep strategy.

Concept Explanation

GRE Essay Analysis Questions are prompts that ask you to evaluate the logical soundness of a provided argument rather than expressing your personal opinion on the subject. To excel, you must look for "gaps" in the reasoning. These gaps often come in the form of unwarranted assumptions, such as confusing correlation with causation, making hasty generalizations based on a small sample size, or failing to consider alternative explanations for a phenomenon. According to Wikipedia's overview of GRE Analytical Writing, the goal is to produce a critique that is both cogent and well-organized. You should focus on how well the evidence supports the conclusion and what additional information would be necessary to make the argument more persuasive. This analytical mindset is similar to the precision required for GRE Data Sufficiency Questions, where you must determine if the provided information is enough to reach a definitive conclusion.

Solved Examples

1. Example 1: Identifying a Causal Fallacy

   Prompt: "Since the city installed new streetlights last year, the crime rate has dropped by 10%. Therefore, the streetlights caused the reduction in crime."

   1. Identify the conclusion: The streetlights caused the crime reduction.
   2. Identify the evidence: The 10% drop occurred after the installation.
   3. Analyze the gap: This is a post hoc ergo propter hoc fallacy. Just because B followed A does not mean A caused B.
   4. Consider alternatives: Did the city also increase police patrols? Did the economic conditions improve?
   5. Solution: To critique this, explain that the correlation is not proof of causation and list specific external factors that could have influenced the crime rate.
2. Example 2: Analyzing a Hasty Generalization

   Prompt: "Two students from West High won the national math competition. Thus, West High has the best math department in the country."

   1. Identify the conclusion: West High has the best math department nationwide.
   2. Identify the evidence: Two specific students won a competition.
   3. Analyze the gap: The sample size (two students) is too small to represent the entire department.
   4. Solution: Point out that the success of two individuals might be due to private tutoring or innate talent rather than the school's curriculum. Mention that GRE Statistics Practice Questions often deal with similar issues regarding representative samples.
3. Example 3: Evaluating a False Analogy

   Prompt: "Company A implemented a four-day work week and saw profits rise. Company B, which is in the same city, should also implement a four-day work week to increase profits."

   1. Identify the conclusion: Company B will see higher profits with a shorter week.
   2. Identify the evidence: Company A's success.
   3. Analyze the gap: The argument assumes Company A and Company B are identical in all relevant ways besides location.
   4. Solution: Critique the argument by highlighting differences in industry, management style, or employee roles that might make the policy fail at Company B even if it worked at Company A.

Practice Questions

1. A recent survey of 100 residents in City X showed that 70% prefer coffee over tea. Therefore, a new coffee shop in City X is guaranteed to be profitable. (Analyze the assumptions).
2. The number of car accidents on Highway 5 increased after the speed limit was raised from 55 to 65 mph. Clearly, the higher speed limit is the primary cause of the accidents. (Identify the logical flaw).
3. Last year, the local library saw a 20% increase in book checkouts. This proves that the citizens of this town are reading more than they did five years ago. (What additional information is needed?).

4. Over the past decade, the average temperature in Summerland has risen by 2 degrees. During the same period, the sales of air conditioners doubled. To reduce energy consumption, Summerland must lower its average temperature. (Evaluate the reasoning).
5. The university's basketball team won the championship this year after hiring a new coach. To ensure the football team also wins, the university should replace the current football coach. (Identify the false analogy).
6. A study showed that people who eat breakfast every day live longer than those who don't. Thus, eating breakfast is the key to longevity. (Discuss alternative explanations).
7. Sales of Brand X detergent rose significantly after a series of television commercials. To maintain this growth, Brand X should double its television advertising budget. (Analyze the prediction).
8. A survey at a local gym found that 90% of members exercise for at least 3 hours a week. This shows that the general population is becoming more physically active. (Identify the sampling bias).

Answers & Explanations

1. Question 1: The assumption is that preference for coffee translates directly into a willingness to spend money at a new shop. It also ignores competition. Explanation: Just because people like coffee doesn't mean they will visit a specific new location, especially if existing shops already meet their needs.
2. Question 2: The flaw is attributing causation to a single factor (speed limit) without considering others. Explanation: Increased traffic volume, poor weather conditions, or road construction could also account for the rise in accidents.
3. Question 3: Additional information needed includes the number of library cardholders and the type of books checked out. Explanation: If the population grew by 50%, a 20% checkout increase actually suggests a decline in per-capita reading.
4. Question 4: The reasoning is flawed because it suggests a town can "lower its temperature" as a direct policy action. Explanation: Global or regional climate patterns are generally outside a single town's control.
5. Question 5: This is a false analogy between basketball and football. Explanation: The requirements for success in a 5-player court game differ significantly from an 11-player field game; a coaching change in one may not yield the same results in the other.
6. Question 6: Alternative explanations include the "healthy user bias." Explanation: People who eat breakfast might also be more likely to exercise, avoid smoking, and have regular checkups, which are the real drivers of longevity.
7. Question 7: The prediction assumes a linear relationship between ad spend and sales. Explanation: There is a point of diminishing returns where doubling the budget might not yield any new customers.
8. Question 8: This is a sampling bias. Explanation: People at a gym are inherently more likely to exercise than the general population, making the survey results unrepresentative of the whole public.

1. Which logical fallacy occurs when an author assumes that because one event followed another, the first event caused the second?

• AHasty Generalization
• BPost Hoc Ergo Propter Hoc
• CCircular Reasoning
• DFalse Dilemma

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between the Issue task and the Argument task?

The Issue task asks for your personal opinion on a topic, whereas the Argument task requires you to critique someone else's logic and evidence. In the Argument task, your personal views on the subject are irrelevant to the score.

How many logical fallacies should I identify in a GRE essay?

You should generally aim to identify and thoroughly explain 3 to 4 major logical flaws or assumptions. Focusing on a few well-developed points is better than listing many flaws with little explanation.

Do I need to know the formal names of logical fallacies?

While using terms like "post hoc" or "hasty generalization" can make your writing sound more professional, it is not required. You can get a perfect score by simply explaining the logical error in plain English.

Can I use outside knowledge to disprove the argument?

No, you should stick to the information provided in the prompt and evaluate it based on logic. Bringing in outside facts (e.g., "I know for a fact that City X has high taxes") is generally discouraged unless it is used as a hypothetical example.

How important is the structure of the GRE Argument essay?

Structure is vital for clarity and ensures the reader can follow your analysis. A standard format includes an introduction, body paragraphs for each logical flaw, and a conclusion that summarizes how the argument could be strengthened.