LSAT Reading Comprehension

Question types: Recognition

What’s in it?

Asks you to recognize things that are explicitly stated.

Question types: Clarifying meaning

What does it mean?

understand use of word/phrase/term in a context of a passage by choosing an alternative with an equivalent meaning.

Question types: Purpose of Reference 

Why did the author include that?

Question types: Organizing Info

How does the passage work?

Asks you to understand how the structure of the passage works.

Question types: Inferences about views

Would they agree?

Asks us to select an idea, position, or view that we can reasonably infer that the author would agree with, based on info.

Question types: Inferences about info

What does this fact suggest?

What can be inferred from facts presented in passage. Test ability to read between the lines and determine what is implied. - what else is likely to be true?

Question types: Inferences about attitudes

What is the authors attitude?

Make inferences about the authors attitude towards something or about a person or groups attitude towards a thing/idea/person/group.

Question types: Applying to new contexts

Asks to apply principle/idea in passage to a new context presented in choices.

Question types: Discovering principles and analogies

What is the principle? What choice is analogous?

Analogy - asks you to identify a situation that is analogous to the one described.

Principle - asks you to identify the principle that is at work.

Question types: Additional Evidence

Which of the following would strengthen/weaken the argument?

Question types: Primary Purpose

Why did the author write the passage?

Because, since, for, for example, for the reason that, in that, given that, as indicated by, due to, owing to, this can be seen from, we know this by

Premise

Thus, therefore, hence, consequently, as a result, so, accordingly, clearly, must be that, shows that, conclude that, follows that

Conclusion

Main Point

Usually in the final sentence of the first paragraph, in the first sentence of the second paragraph, or in the last paragraph.

Specific Reference

Refer you to a specific line, sentence, or paragraph.

Word/phrase/sentence - start reading 3-5 lines above the reference.

Concept Reference

Refer you to ideas/themes within the passage that are not identifiable by a specific line or paragraph.

Review the relevant info.

Global Reference

Asks about the passage as a whole or they fail to identify a defined area or isolated concept.

Answered from your initial reading of the passage.