Here are the free GRE events we’re holding this week.

9/17/12 – Chicago, IL – Free Trial Class – 6:30-9:30 PM

9/18/12 – Austin, TX – Free Trial Class – 6:30-9:30 PM

9/19/12 – Atlanta, GA – Free Trial Class – 6:30-9:30 PM

9/23/12 – New York, NY – Free Trial Class – 5:30-8:30 PM

Looking for more free events? Check out our Free Events Listings Page.

Here are the free GRE events we’re holding this week.

9/10/12 – Denver, CO – Free Trial Class – 6:30-9:30 PM

9/10/12 – Online – Free Trial Class – 8:00-11:00 PM

9/11/12 – Online – Mondays with Jen GRE Study Hall – 7:00-8:30 PM

9/10/12 – New York, NY – Free Trial Class – 6:30-9:30 PM

Looking for more free events? Check out our Free Events Listings Page.

Have you started studying Number Properties yet? Most people find this topic on the more difficult side in general, particularly the area of divisibility and prime. We did learn all of these basic concepts years ago, when we were about 8 or 10 years old “ number properties refers to all of the building blocks we use later in school to do algebra, geometry, and more advanced math.

However, most of what we learned in school was at a much more basic level (we were only 10 after all!) and we also didn’t have to understand the number properties theory or answer questions that were anything like some of the bizarre-seeming questions we find on standardized tests.

Let’s try this problem first (© Manhattan Prep) from our GRE Number Properties Strategy Guide. Set your timer for 2 minutes.

The quantity 3³4⁴5⁵6⁶ “ 3⁶4⁵5⁴6³ will end in how many zeros?

(A) 3

(B) 4

(C) 5

(D) 6

(E) 9

Got your answer? Great, let’s get started. You want to know what the correct answer is? Let me ask you a couple of questions first.

Are you confident about your answer? Did you end up having to guess? Did you give up without guessing? (If the last, make a guess right now. You can’t keep reading till you do. Well, obviously I can’t stop you, but I’m serious “ make a guess.)

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Did you know that you can attend the first session of any of our online or in-person GRE courses absolutely free? We’re not kidding! Check out our upcoming courses here.

Did you know that you can find everything you ever wanted to know about Reading Comprehension here on our blog? Well, okay, perhaps I’m exaggerating just a little but not that much! Follow the links! Read more

How much did you study for the GRE this past week-end? For how many hours? Over how many sittings? What did you study and how did you study it?

Most importantly: how many breaks did you take and how long were they?

Time Magazine just published a fascinating little article: To Boost Memory, Shut Your Eyes and Relax. Go take a look at it. Don’t worry, I’ll wait. : )

Has this happened to you? You have ambitious plans to study a ton of things this week-end. You get tired, but you’re determined to push through, so you keep studying. You begin to get a bit anxious because you feel you aren’t learning well (and you’re not!), so you study even more. You get even more tired, and that makes it even harder to learn. By the end of the week-end, you’re exhausted, frustrated, and demoralized.

You may have already heard me say this (many times on various forums or in blog posts!), but I’m saying it again because it’s so important: your brain makes better memories when it’s not tired.

The Time article quotes Michaela Dewar, the lead author of a new research study on this topic. She notes that we are at a very early stage of memory formation when we first start to study new information, and further neural processes have to occur after this stage for us to be able to remember this information at a later point in time.

The italics are mine. Note what Ms. Dewar has said: more stuff has to happen in our brains after we have studied this info in order for us to be able to recall that information later on.

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Did you know that you can attend the first session of any of our online or in-person GRE courses absolutely free? We’re not kidding! Check out our upcoming courses here.

Just over a month ago we had our GRE instructors weigh in on the best books to read this summer if you’re prepping for the GRE (or if you just love a great novel!). We hope that you had the chance to pick up one, two, or all of the books from our first round of recommendations and are hungry for more! With only a few weeks left of summer, we would like to satisfy that hunger with a fresh batch of reading suggestions from our tried and trusted GRE instructors. Bon appétit!

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In recent articles, we’ve talked about how to read RC passages and we’ve also discussed how to analyze an RC practice problem when we’re studying. (I recommend reading those articles before you read this, if you haven’t already.)

Today, we’re going to do another question from the Language Power passage (follow the link for the passage!), and we’re going to analyze that question using the how to analyze a problem process. If you haven’t already read this passage (or if it has been a while since you read it), go take a look at the Language Power article first. Give yourself roughly 3 minutes to read through the passage and take notes (not much time!), then read the rest of that article.

Okay, finally, you can get started on this article! Below is the full text of the passage followed by the question (© ManhattanPrep).

Sarah Meyers McGinty, in her new book Power Talk: Using Language to Build Authority and Influence, argues that while the simple lingual act of declaring power does not help a powerless person gain influence, well-considered linguistic techniques and maneuvers do. McGinty does not dispute the importance of factors such as expertise and ability in determining stature, but argues persuasively that these power determinants amount to little in a person unable to communicate effectively. Many surveys have shown that the ability to communicate effectively is the characteristic judged by managers to be most critical in determining promotability in the workplace or an academic environment.

McGinty divides speech into two categories: “language from the center” and “language from the edge”. In McGinty’s words, “Language from the center makes a speaker sound like a leader. McGinty suggests that language from the center is not only for those in high positions of power, but also for those of lower ranks who wish to gain more power and credibility. A speaker using language from the center exhibits the following characteristics: he directs rather than responds; he makes statements rather than asks questions; he contradicts, argues, and disagrees; he uses his experience persuasively; and he maintains an air of impersonality in the workplace. McGinty suggests that the use of language from the center can alter or create a new balance of power. These assertions are supported by studies that show that people accept leadership from those they perceive to be experts.

Language from the edge stands in stark contrast to language from the center. Language from the edge is careful, exploratory, and inquiring. It is inclusive, deferential, and collaborative. A speaker using language from the edge responds rather than directs; asks questions; strives to make others feel heard and protected; and avoids argument. The main purpose of language from the center is to claim authority for a speaker, while language from the edge strives to build consensus and trust. McGinty argues that true power comes from a deep understanding of when to use which style and the ability to use both as necessary.

What distinguishes McGinty’s discussion of effective communication is her focus on communication skills as a way of gaining power; this contrasts with most workplace communication theory, which focuses on communication skills as a way of preventing misunderstandings, avoiding conflict, and fostering interpersonal relationships. McGinty, however, holds that language not only helps maintain relationships but also lends authority. According to Power Talk, effective communication skill is an understanding of how situation shapes speech and how speech shapes situation and an understanding of how speech styles and the forces that affect those styles . . . can build your authority, and enhance your credibility and impact.

According to the passage, McGinty believes that ineffective communication can undermine which of the following power determinants?

(A) experience

(B) stature

(C) expertise

(D) an air of impersonality

(E) confidence

The first thing everybody does is check the answer “ but I’m not going to tell you what it is till later. : )

Now we’re going to analyze our work. I’ve reproduced the questions from the How To Analyze article below, but in a shorter form. I’ve followed the questions with italicized notes. These italics represent what I would think to myself when analyzing this problem.

Note: I’m going to pretend that I chose answer choice D (so I got it wrong!).

1. Did I know WHAT they were trying to test?

Questions: Was I able to categorize this question? Did I comprehend all the words, vocab, concepts, and answer choices? Do I know what I’m supposed to do for questions of this type?

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If you’ve been feeling frustrated with the abstruse, opaque, even occult charts and tables on the GRE’s Data Interpretation section, you might find this amusing.

Click to enlarge.

To practice GRE charts and tables for real, see:

• Three sample questions with explanations, directly from ETS
• Data Interpretation is Really About Reading Carefully (Well, That and Percents!)
• GRE Data Interpretation for Hipsters

In recent articles, we’ve talked about how to read RC passages and we’ve also discussed how to analyze an RC practice problem when we’re studying. (If you haven’t already read those articles, you may want to do so before you continue with this article.)

Today, we’re going to do another question from the Language Power passage that we reviewed in a previous article, and we’re going to analyze that question using the how to analyze a problem process. If you haven’t already read this passage (or if it has been a while since you read it), go take a look at the Language Power article first (linked in the first sentence of this paragraph). Give yourself roughly 3 minutes to read through the passage and take notes, then read the rest of that article.

Okay, finally, you can get started on this article! Below is the full text of the passage followed by the question (© ManhattanPrep).

Sarah Meyers McGinty, in her new book Power Talk: Using Language to Build Authority and Influence, argues that while the simple lingual act of declaring power does not help a powerless person gain influence, well-considered linguistic techniques and maneuvers do. McGinty does not dispute the importance of factors such as expertise and ability in determining stature, but argues persuasively that these power determinants amount to little in a person unable to communicate effectively. Many surveys have shown that the ability to communicate effectively is the characteristic judged by managers to be most critical in determining promotability in the workplace or an academic environment.

McGinty divides speech into two categories: “language from the center” and “language from the edge”. In McGinty’s words, “Language from the center makes a speaker sound like a leader. McGinty suggests that language from the center is not only for those in high positions of power, but also for those of lower ranks who wish to gain more power and credibility. A speaker using language from the center exhibits the following characteristics: he directs rather than responds; he makes statements rather than asks questions; he contradicts, argues, and disagrees; he uses his experience persuasively; and he maintains an air of impersonality in the workplace. McGinty suggests that the use of language from the center can alter or create a new balance of power. These assertions are supported by studies that show that people accept leadership from those they perceive to be experts.

Language from the edge stands in stark contrast to language from the center. Language from the edge is careful, exploratory, and inquiring. It is inclusive, deferential, and collaborative. A speaker using language from the edge responds rather than directs; asks questions; strives to make others feel heard and protected; and avoids argument. The main purpose of language from the center is to claim authority for a speaker, while language from the edge strives to build consensus and trust. McGinty argues that true power comes from a deep understanding of when to use which style and the ability to use both as necessary.

What distinguishes McGinty’s discussion of effective communication is her focus on communication skills as a way of gaining power; this contrasts with most workplace communication theory, which focuses on communication skills as a way of preventing misunderstandings, avoiding conflict, and fostering interpersonal relationships. McGinty, however, holds that language not only helps maintain relationships but also lends authority. According to Power Talk, effective communication skill is an understanding of how situation shapes speech and how speech shapes situation and an understanding of how speech styles and the forces that affect those styles . . . can build your authority, and enhance your credibility and impact.

And here’s the problem; give yourself about 1 minute to answer it.

The third paragraph suggests that McGinty would be most likely to agree with which of the following?

(A) Language from the center is more effective than language from the edge.

(B) Managers who use language from the edge are not authoritative.

(C) Powerful people are both authoritative and inclusive.

(D) A person using both language from the center and language from the edge will develop true power.

(E) People who use language from the center have difficulty building consensus.

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Grammarly.com claims to be the world’s most accurate online grammar checker. Interesting!

Fortunately, grammar is not tested on the GRE (as it is on the SAT and GMAT). However, Grammarly’s Facebook page is full of (that is, replete with) vocab learning and other word fun.

Do you know the meanings of agog, voracious, loquacious, frolicsome, tortuousness, and indelicate? Check out these explanations, then try a GRE problem at the bottom of the post.

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