Title questions

Last updated: 13 Oct 2008

Title questions are very similar to main idea questions, though are less common.

Although the example passage that we use in this tutorial is republished from another publication and therefore has a title, the passages in the real GMAT will not have titles.

The question might look like this:

• "Which of the following titles best summarizes the passage as a whole?"

Strategy

Treat this as a main idea question. A good title sums up the central idea of a passage.

Therefore, in order to answer this type of question:

1. Look in the first and last paragraphs for the main idea. Any conclusion words like therefore, thus, so, hence, etc. that you see are most likely introducing the main idea/title. The correct answer will say the same thing as it says in the text, but using different words.
2. Re-read the first line of every passage, and the last line of the first and last paragraphs. This should give you the general structure or outline of the argument, with which you can answer the title question.
3. Make brief notes - a couple of words- regarding the title on the text on your noteboard while you read.
4. After determining the general structure or content of the argument, eliminate answer choices that are too broad or too specific, i.e. answer choices that go beyond the content of the passage, or that deal with content only discussed in one paragraph of the passage.

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