This GRE reading comprehension practice set has one original passage and five questions, written to show you the question types you will see. Time yourself for about seven minutes, then read the explanations. These are not ETS questions and they cannot predict your score.
GRE Reading Comprehension Practice Passage
For decades, urban planners treated street trees mainly as decoration. Recent research has complicated that view. Trees cool neighborhoods by shading pavement and releasing water vapor, and some studies link tree cover to lower summer energy use. Yet these benefits are not shared evenly: wealthier neighborhoods often have more tree cover than poorer ones. Planting programs may also fall short of their goals, since young trees need years of watering and care before they provide much shade. For this reason, some researchers argue that cities should measure success by the number of trees that survive rather than by the number planted.
Question 1: Main Idea
The primary purpose of the passage is to:
- A. Argue that cities should stop planting street trees
- B. Explain the benefits of street trees and some limits on achieving them
- C. Compare the energy use of wealthy and poor neighborhoods
- D. Describe how trees release water vapor
Answer: B. The passage first describes the benefits, then explains the uneven distribution and the problems with planting programs. A contradicts the passage. C and D are too narrow.
Question 2: Select All That Apply
Consider each choice separately and select all that apply. According to the passage, how do trees cool neighborhoods?
- A. By shading pavement
- B. By releasing water vapor
- C. By absorbing heat from buildings
Answer: A and B. Both are stated directly. The passage never mentions C, however reasonable it may sound. On select-all questions, you must choose every correct answer, and there is no partial credit.
Question 3: Inference
The researchers mentioned in the last sentence would most likely favor a program that:
- A. Plants as many trees as possible in one year
- B. Plants trees only in wealthy neighborhoods
- C. Tracks how many planted trees are still alive after five years
- D. Replaces street trees with other forms of shade
Answer: C. The researchers care about survival rather than the number planted. C is the only choice that measures survival.
Question 4: Word in Context
In the passage, "complicated" most nearly means:
- A. Made more difficult to perform
- B. Added nuance to
- C. Proved false
- D. Made more expensive
Answer: B. The research did not disprove the older view. It showed that trees do more than decorate a street, so the picture is more nuanced. On the GRE, the common meaning of a word is often a trap.
Question 5: Select a Sentence
Which sentence gives a reason why a planting program might not produce the results it hoped for?
Answer: "Planting programs may also fall short of their goals, since young trees need years of watering and care before they provide much shade." The word "since" gives the reason directly. On the computer-based test, you answer this type by clicking the sentence.
How to Read a GRE Passage
You do not need to remember every detail, since you can go back to the text. As you read, look for:
- The main point: What is the author trying to say overall?
- The structure: What is the job of each sentence? Is it giving evidence, a contrast or a conclusion?
- Signal words: "Yet", "however" and "although" often point to the key idea.
- The author's tone: Is the author neutral, critical or supportive?
Try writing a few words about each main point on your scratch paper. Your notes will help you find information quickly later.
How to Spot Wrong Answers
Wrong answers often follow familiar patterns:
- True but not relevant: The statement appears in the passage but does not answer the question.
- Too extreme: Be careful with words like "always", "never" and "only".
- Too narrow: The choice covers one detail when the question asks about the whole passage.
- Outside knowledge: The statement may be true in real life but is not supported by the passage.
- Word trap: The choice repeats words from the passage but changes the meaning.
Managing Your Time
The Verbal Reasoning measure has 27 questions in 41 minutes across two sections. It also includes text completion and sentence equivalence. These can often be done more quickly, which may leave more time for reading.
If you are stuck, mark the question and return to it. You can move back and forth within a section. There is no penalty for wrong answers, so never leave a question blank.
How to Practice Reading Comprehension
- Use official questions first. POWERPREP Online from ETS offers two free practice tests.
- Read challenging articles. Try science, economics and history writing, and summarize each article in one sentence.
- Review every wrong choice. Being able to explain why each option is wrong is a sign of real progress.
- Build up to timed practice. Focus on accuracy first and add time pressure gradually.
- Log your errors. Track whether inference, main idea or select-all questions cost you the most points.
Next Steps
For more question types, try these free GRE practice questions online. Our GRE prep starts with your target score and focuses on your weakest areas, and you can add a question bank for extra practice. Read more about private GRE tutoring or compare options on the pricing page.
You take the real exam yourself, under ETS rules. To start, order GRE prep online or call or WhatsApp +1 (217) 426-5403.