1. 結論-解釋型(也叫論點-解釋型)
2. 新老觀點對比型來源：考試大
3. 現象解釋型(包含問題-解決方案型)
首先是“結論-解釋型”文章。這類文章在開始有一個判斷句，一般是文章的結論，也是文章的主題。這個判斷句的謂語部分通常包含系動詞(is, remain, prove, turn out, appear等)或情態動詞(can, may, should, must等)，而且含有表示態度的詞彙(如形容詞等)。例如，
Because of its accuracy in outlining the Earth's subsurface, the seismic-reflection method remains the most important tool in the search for petroleum reserves. In field practice, a subsurface is mapped by arranging a series of wave-train sources, such as small dynamite explosions, in a grid pattern…
文章首句指出：“由於‘地震反射法’(sr)在勾劃地球的地下層面這方面的準確性，該方法一直是探尋石油儲備的最重要的工具。”這是一個判斷句，為結論。其中remains為系動詞，而most important為態度詞，表示作者對“地震反射法”持非常正面的評價。後文應解釋“地震反射法”的具體過程。 第二句話對解釋進行總的說明：“在實地作業中，通過將一系列波列源，諸如小規模炸藥爆炸，排列成一個網格模式，從而將地下層面標繪出來。”接下來是“地震反射法”的詳細過程。
GRE閱讀文章的第二種常見結構是“新老觀點對比型”。 這類文章在開始提出老觀點，然後提出新觀點並進行論述。通常新觀點是文章的主題。老觀點出現的標誌詞有：
1. 傳統觀點： has been, traditionally, until recently等
2. 大眾觀點：frequently, widely, many等
新觀點出現的標誌詞有：however, recently, now等。
例如，考試大論壇
Traditionally, pollination by wind has been viewed as a reproductive process marked by random events in which the vagaries of the wind are compensated for by the generation of vast quantities of pollen, so that the ultimate production of new seeds is assured at the expense of producing much more pollen than is actually used。
However, a number of features that are characteristic of wind-pollinated plants reduce pollen waste…。
文章首句指出：“傳統上，風媒授粉過程一直被視為是一個以隨機事件為標誌的繁殖過程，其中風的不確定性通過產生大量花粉而得以補償，因此，新種子的最終繁殖得以保證，而此舉的代價是所需產生的花粉要遠遠超過實際的使用量。”由第一個詞traditionally可知文章首句為老觀點(由於風的不確定性，風媒植物要產生大量花粉補償)，那麼本文的結構是“新老觀點對比型”。
第二段首句出現了GRE閱讀中的標誌性轉折詞however，說明這句話就是新觀點：“但是，風媒植物所獨有的一系列特徵可減少花粉浪費。”這說明風媒植物除了可以產生大量花粉加以補償的消極策略之外，還可以通過一些積極機制減少花粉損失，不一定需要產生大量花粉。
GRE閱讀文章的第三種常見結構是“現象解釋型”。文章開始提出一個現象，然後解釋現象。解釋是主題。有多個解釋時，作者一般對前面的解釋持負面評價，對最後的解釋持正面評價。提出現象時的標誌詞有：phenomenon, fact; problem, difficulty, puzzle, question等。例如，
What causes a helix in nature to appear with either a dextral ("right-handed,"or clockwise) twist or a sinistral ("left-handed," or counterclockwise') twist is one of the most intriguing puzzles in the science of form…What mechanisms, control handedness and keep left-handedness rare?
It would seem unlikely that evolution should discriminate against sinistral snails if sinistral and dextral snails are exact mirror images, for any disadvantage that a sinistral twist in itself could confer on its possessor is almost inconceivable. But left- and right-handed snails are not actually true mirror images of one another…
But this evolutionary mechanism combining dissymmetry, anatomy, and chance does not provide an adequate explanation of why right-handedness should have become predominant…
Here, the evolutionary theory must defer to a theory based on an explicit developmental mechanism that can favor either right- or left-handedness…Thus, the path to a solution to the puzzle of handedness in all snails appears to be as twisted as the helix itself。
是什麼樣的原因致使自然界中的螺旋體呈現出右旋(“右向旋轉的”，或順時針的)或左旋(“左向旋轉的，”或反時針的)?這是形態科學中一個最引人入勝的不解之謎....。。究竟是一些什麼樣的機制控制著旋轉方向，並使左旋的比例為數稀少呢??
假如左旋和右旋蝸牛呈完全一致的映象對稱的話，那麼進化對左旋蝸牛不利，這近乎不太可能。幾乎無法想象左旋本身會給左旋者帶來任何不利之處。然而，左旋與右旋蝸牛彼此間實際上並不呈真正的映象對稱....。。
但是，這種結合不對稱、解剖學和偶然性的進化論機制並未提供一種充分的`解釋，以說明蝸牛的右旋何以會成為主要的旋向....。。
