Sample LSAT Questions

This question requires the examinee to analyze the passage to determine the organization of the information it contains and then recognize the structure of the passage described abstractly.

The credited response is (A). In the opening paragraph of the passage, the author discusses Sanders' hypothesis, i.e., that species diversity in the Amazon River basin of South America is due to climactic stability (lines 1–3). After discussing this hypothesis, the author then presents evidence that undercuts this hypothesis, namely that different species of Amazon River basin birds were found to inhabit different parts of the basin, something that should not be the case if their habitat had remained stable (lines 21–33). Finally, the author describes Haffer's alternate hypothesis, which posits a relationship between species diversity and distribution and various climactic disturbances and changes, and which may account for this evidence regarding the birds of the Amazon basin, as well as the evidence of species diversity (lines 34–53).

Response (B) is incorrect because it does not describe all the elements discussed in the passage. Response (B) excludes the information discussed in the first paragraph—the "old belief that climactic stability accounts for the high level of species diversity in the Amazon River basin of South America" (lines 1–3). The "recently observed phenomenon" to which this response refers would most reasonably be the different species of the Amazon River basin birds that were found to inhabit different parts of the basin—a recently observed phenomenon that the author of the passage does not describe until the second paragraph. Further, even without this neglect of information in the first paragraph, response (B) is still incorrect. While an explanation of the recent phenomenon is discussed (Haffer's hypothesis), there is no mention of previous research findings in the passage, except perhaps for evidence that some tree species have survived for 30 million years, and that is not mentioned in connection with the exposition of Haffer's hypothesis.

Response (C) is incorrect in the number of hypotheses it attributes to the passage. The mention of "several hypotheses" and then in addition "a more promising hypothesis" indicates the presence of at least three hypotheses in the passage. But the author of the passage discusses only two, one being Sanders' hypothesis that climactic stability accounts for species diversity in the Amazon River basin of South America and the second being Haffer's hypothesis that climactic disturbances and changes account for species diversity and distribution.

Response (D) is incorrect because it can give, at best, only a partial account of the passage. Sanders' hypothesis and the assumption upon which it is based (namely, that all the regions of the Amazon rain forest have always had the same tropical climate) is indeed described. Evidence from the distribution of species is then given to show that Sanders' hypothesis does not account for recently observed species distribution. While the evidence cited could be used to argue that Sanders' view is completely wrong, one could also argue that since some climactic stability somewhere in the basin would have been necessary for species to exist for millions of years (an implication of Haffer's view is that the uplands' climate would have been fairly stable), Sanders' hypothesis is at least partially correct. Nevertheless, even granting this, (D) makes no mention of the discussion of an alternative hypothesis (Haffer's), a discussion that takes up half the passage. It cannot, therefore, be the best answer.

Response (E) is incorrect because, although the two hypotheses discussed in the passage—Sanders' hypothesis and Haffer's hypothesis—are alternative explanations for species diversity and distribution in the Amazon River basin of South America, there is no subsequent discussion of experiments designed to test each theory. Mere observation of that which is naturally occurring does not constitute an experiment. An experiment involves observations under controlled conditions. The observation of the natural existence of "some species of rain-forest trees [that] have persisted for some 30 million years in the Amazon basin [without] winter and glaciation" (lines 17–20), and the observation of "different species of [Amazon basin] birds [that] inhabit different corners of the basin" (lines 20–21), are observations of natural phenomena without an attempt to control conditions. Hence they do not describe experiments.

Approximately 70 percent of test takers answered this question correctly, making it an "easy" question.

The purpose of reading comprehension questions is to measure your ability to read, with understanding and insight, examples of lengthy and complex materials similar to those commonly encountered in law school work. The reading comprehension section of the test consists of four passages, each approximately 450 words long, followed by five to eight questions that test your reading and reasoning abilities. Passages for reading comprehension items draw from subjects such as the humanities, the social sciences, biological and physical sciences, and issues related to the law.

Reading comprehension questions require test takers to read carefully and accurately, to determine the relationships among the various parts of the passage, and to draw reasonable inferences from the material in the passage. The questions may ask about:

• the main idea or primary purpose of the passage;
• the meaning or purpose of words or phrases used in the passage;
• information explicitly stated in the passage;
• information or ideas that can be inferred from the passage;
• the organization of the passage;
• the application of information in the passage to a new context; and
• the tone of the passage or the author's attitude as it is revealed in the language used.

Suggested Approach

Since passages are drawn from many different disciplines and sources, you should not be discouraged if you encounter material with which you are not familiar. It is important to remember that questions are to be answered exclusively on the basis of the information provided in the passage. There is no particular knowledge that you are expected to bring to the test, and you should not make inferences based on any prior knowledge of a subject that you may have. You may, however, wish to defer working on a passage that seems particularly difficult or unfamiliar until after you have dealt with passages you find easier.

Strategies. In preparing for the test, you should experiment with different strategies, and decide which work most effectively for you. These include:

• reading the passage very closely and then answering the questions;
• reading the questions first, reading the passage closely, and then returning to the questions; and
• skimming the passage and questions very quickly, then rereading the passage closely and answering the questions.

Remember that your strategy must be effective under timed conditions.

Reading the passage. Whatever strategy you choose, you should give the passage at least one careful reading before answering the questions. Separate main ideas from supporting ideas and the author's own ideas or attitudes from factual, objective information. Note transitions from one idea to the next and examine the relationships among the different ideas or parts of the passage. For example, are they contrasting or complementary? Consider how and why the author makes points and draws conclusions. Be sensitive to the implications of what the passage says.

You may find it helpful to mark key parts of the passage. For example, you might underline main ideas or important arguments, and you might circle transitional words—"although," "nevertheless," "correspondingly," and the like—that will help you map the structure of the passage. Moreover, you might note descriptive words that will help you identify the author's attitude toward a particular idea or person.

Answering the Questions.

• Always read all the answer choices before selecting the best answer. The best answer choice is the one that most accurately and completely answers the question being posed.
• Respond to the specific question being asked. Do not pick an answer choice simply because it is a true statement. For example, picking a true statement might yield an incorrect answer to a question in which you are asked to identify the author's position on an issue, since here you are not being asked to evaluate the truth of the author's position, but only to identify correctly what that position is.
• Answer the questions only on the basis of the information provided in the passage. Your own views, interpretations, or opinions, and those you have heard from others, may sometimes conflict with those expressed in the passage; however, you are expected to work within the context provided by the passage. You should not expect to agree with everything you encounter in reading comprehension passages.