List of sentence styles encountered in
passages of the GRE Reading
Comprehension exercises
Style 1
Examples
Example 1: It is not unusual to find men occupying seats reserved for women in public transportation
during peak hours. Had it been a case of physical disability or age, such a behavior would have perhaps
been tolerable.
Example 2: The demand for a better health care policy has systematically been ignored by governments
in a row. Had it been shortage of funds, such neglect would have perhaps been justified.
Basic sentence structure:
<A not so ideal situation is described>. Had it not been for <some reason>, the <non-ideal situation>
would have been justified.
It most likely means, that <reason> is not true and there is no real justification for the non-ideal
situation.
A small variation:
<A not so ideal situation is described>. If it were for <some reason>, the <non-ideal situation> would
have been justified.
Example from GRE passages: passage 129 from Codecoax
The hypothesis of an expanding Earth has never attracted notable support, and if it were not for the
historical example of continental drift, such indifference might be a legitimate response to an apparently
improbable concept.
Style 2
Granted that <a situation or an object> does not <completely address all concerns>, <the situation or
the object> does something good or serves some limited purpose.
Examples
Example 1: Granted that installation of surveillance cameras in public places and adequate
lighting will not completely eliminate crime in the late hours, their presence could serve as a
deterrent to unlawful activities and increase public confidence.
Example 2: Granted that the mere possession of degrees from highly reputed universities does
not necessarily guarantee professional success, there is nevertheless a preference for those who
possessing such degrees. Employers feel there is a higher probability of success as the individual
has been through the grind and has been successful.
Passage 175, Codecoax:
Granted that the presence of these elements need not argue an authorial awareness of novelistic
construction comparable to that of Henry James, their presence does encourage attempts to unify the
novel's heterogeneous parts.
Style 3
The members of the religious brotherhood was so much indoctrinated with narrow religious philosophy
that even a utterance of a mild praise to a person from another faith would, in the opinion of the group,
be an act of disloyalty.
It is same as:
The members of the religious brotherhood was so much indoctrinated with narrow religious philosophy
that even a utterance of a mild praise to a person from another faith would be an act of disloyalty in the
opinion of the group.
Style 4
Bill does not necessarily depend on public transport for his daily commute to the office because he
cannot afford a personal vehicle. He does so because of his strong belief in the green cause.
It is same as:
It is not that Bill uses public transport because he cannot afford a personal vehicle. (Thus, implying that
he can afford a personal vehicle). The reason for using public transport is because of his strong belief in
the green cause. (since using public transport is environment friendly).
Style 5
When events contribute to an outcome A, we could write in this manner:
The outcome was because of event1, event2 and event3.
Now lets say, Event1 and Event2 were the prime contributors and Event3 was secondary.
Here is a sentence style used communicating this:
Outcome A was as much due to event1 as due to event2, while event 3 was a strong facilitator.
Example:
In the last two decades, India has taken significant lead in software exports as compared to
other sectors. It is as much as to the spectacular efforts of the early pioneers as the availability
of a large talent pool, supported as much by the timely incentives by the government to this
sector.
In summary:
The prime reasons for the development: early pioneers and the availability of a large talent pool. (both
equally important for success of the industry). It was supported by: Friendly government policies.
The following would have been a extremely plain sentence:
In the last two decades, India has taken significant lead in software exports as compared to
other sectors. It is can be attributed to the spectacular efforts of the early pioneers, as the
availability of a large talent pool and the timely incentives by the government to this sector.
Note: this sentence style does not create a sense of 'importance or order' among the events that led to
the growth.
Example of this sentence style in GRE RC:
Passage 6, Codecoax
Although shortfalls in overlords income resulted almost as much from laxity among their tax collectors
(the nearly inevitable outcome of hereditary office-holding) as from their higher standards of living, a
misfortune like a fire or flood, bringing an increase in expenses or a drop in revenue, could put a domain
in debt to the city rice-brokers who handled its finances.