focus: reading comprehension reading comprehension is the only question type that appears on all major standardized1 tests, and the reason isn't too surprising. no matter what academic area you pursue, you have to make sense of dense2, unfamiliar3 prose. law, of course, is no exception.
◆◇reading comprehension on the lsat
this section consists of four passages, each about 450 words long with five to eight corresponding questions. these long excerpts4 of scholarly passages are reminiscent of the kind of prose found in law texts. the TOPics are chosen from the areas of social sciences, humanities, natural sciences, and the law.
35 minutes
approximately 25 percent of your score
usually 27 questions
common question-types: main idea, detail, inference, logic5, extrapolation
tests ability to read dense, scholarly material and ascertain6 the structure, purpose, and logic.
key skill is identifying main idea of a passage, gist7 of argumentdoesn't require outside knowledge
very different from sat reading comp: dense, more difficult prose and inferences
not a test of memorizing details
◆◇kaplan quick tip阅读捷径
certainly knowing a little about the TOPic discussed in a passage can be helpful. if you can relate the ideas in the passage to what you know of the world, you'll be more confident. but remember to answer the questions based on what's in the passage, not on what you may have learned elsewhere about the TOPic.
◆◇seven basic principles七大原则
1. read the first third of passage carefully
the first third of any passage usually introduces the TOPic and scope, the main idea, the tone, and almost always hints at the structure that the passage will follow. first, get a sense of the general TOPic; then pin down the more specific scope of the passage; and finally, glean8 the author's purpose in writing the passage and the main idea that he or she is trying to convey about that particular subject.
2. focus on the main idea
almost every passage boils down to one big idea. you should always keep the main idea in mind, even when answering questions that don't explicitly9 ask for it. correct answers on even the detail questions tend to echo the main idea in one way or another.
3. get the gist of each paragraph
the paragraph is the main structural10 unit of any passage. after you've read the first third of the passage carefully, you need only find the gist, or general purpose, of each succeeding paragraph. then, attempt to relate each paragraph back to the passage as a whole. try labeling each paragraph, so you know what's covered and how it fitssintosthe overall structure of the passage. this will help you get a fix on the passage as a whole and locate specific details later.
4.don't obsess11 over details
don't feel that you have to memorize or understand every little thing as you read. remember, you can always refer back to the passage to clarify the meaning of any specific detail.
5.attack the passages
you receive zero points for just getting through the passage. you're entering the passage for the sole purpose of picking up the author's key ideas that will enable you to rack up points. by thinking in terms of an attack, you're less likely to be perted from this mission or to let the densely-worded prose distract you.
