Reading Comprehension Ch 9

Main passage types in LSAT Reading Comprehension

The LSAT Reading Comprehension section consistently features three main passage types: Humanities (often with Diversity themes), Science, and Law-Related passages. Familiarity with their patterns boosts performance.

General Humanities passages

General Humanities passages lack a consistent structure or theme beyond diversity and law. Use tools like VIEWSTAMP to succeed, but understanding test makers’ intentions for Diversity, Science, and Law-Related passages provides an edge.

Diversity passages

Nearly every LSAT includes a Humanities passage centered on diversity. Understanding their patterns offers a strategic advantage. Recent LSATs feature nuanced diversity passages, requiring careful reading beyond just the topic.

Addressing test bias in Diversity passages

The LSAC addresses test bias by positively portraying underrepresented groups, critically portraying overrepresented groups, and handling mixed group passages carefully, allowing anticipation of answer choices.

Affirming Underrepresented Groups

LSAC consistently portrays traditionally underrepresented groups positively due to historical test bias, enabling anticipation of answer choices and faster selection of correct answers.

Undermining Overrepresented Groups

LSAT passages often take a critical or partially critical stance toward traditionally overrepresented groups (e.g., Caucasian male scholars rooted in Western thought), helping anticipate the author’s critical tone for efficient processing.

Mixed Group Passages

Include both underrepresented and overrepresented groups. If an underrepresented group responds to an overrepresented group’s criticism, the response is dismissive. If an overrepresented group addresses an underrepresented group, criticism is rejected and the critic attacked; praise is supported but with mild criticism of the scholar (“Assessing the Scholars”).

Common Diversity Passage Theme: Blending of the Old and New

Describes individuals or groups combining traditional practices with modern ideas to create something unique and powerful, preserving the old while embracing the new. Praised as innovative and forward-thinking.

Common Diversity Passage Theme: Defiance of Classification

Describes people or groups too unique or unconventional for traditional standards, with critics failing to recognize their exceptional value, highlighting their originality.

Law-Related Passages

Usually one per LSAT, presenting the law as a positive, dynamic system with flaws, exploring improvements. Topics include overinclusive laws, blackmail, crime deterrence, medical illustrations, legal protections, human rights, and reforms.

Legal Theory in Law-Related Passages

Some focus on abstract issues like interpreting laws, modeling legal reasoning with computers, or the purpose of punishment. These feel harder than real-world examples and cover legal systems beyond the U.S. (e.g., Canada, England, South Africa).

Special Topics in Law-Related Passages: Regulation

Law is shown as necessary to regulate industries and prevent harm, with passages nearly always arguing for needed or expanded regulation, reflecting a pro-regulation stance.

Special Topics in Law-Related Passages: Diversity

When touching on diversity, law passages almost always support using legal remedies to protect or assist underrepresented groups, aligning with the LSAT’s pro-diversity perspective.

Science Passages

Appear regularly, usually one per section. Two types: Soft Science (connects to society, e.g., technology effects, easier) and Hard Science (technical, e.g., Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, ocean floor geology, lichenometry, more common).

Approach to Science Passages

No prior knowledge needed; success depends on passage content and idea relationships. Use VIEWSTAMP. Technical terms defined in the passage or via context, ensuring equal footing for all students.

Handling unfamiliar terms in Science Passages

Unfamiliar terms are defined in the passage, either right after, a few lines later, or before the term. Focus on structure and logic, not prior knowledge.

Practice passage strategy

Aim to finish in 8 minutes 45 seconds, record time, read using VIEWSTAMP, and review the full explanation to identify missed elements and improve.