Self-study
RC Question Stem
21 RC Question Stem tags
What is Reading Comprehension?
One of your three scored sections on the LSAT will be Reading Comprehension (RC). Each RC section contains four passages, each followed by 5 to 8 questions, for a total of 26 to 28 questions. The section is designed to assess your ability to read and understand materials that are similar to those you'll encounter in law school.
Why Question Types Matter
The RC section asks the same kinds of questions about every passage: What does the passage state? What does the author imply? Why was a detail included? How is the passage organized? Each question type rewards a specific approach. When you understand the different question types, you know exactly what to look for—and what traps to avoid.
The 13 Question Types
RC questions fall into 13 types, grouped here by what aspect of a passage they ask you to think about:
Overall structure: Main Point, Purpose of Passage, Describe Organization
Internal structure: Purpose of Paragraph, Meaning in Context, Purpose in Context
Stated/Implied: Stated, Implied, Author's Attitude
Other: Application, Analogy, Logical Continuation, Weaken/Strengthen/Evaluate
How to Use This Page
The information below breaks down effective approaches to the different RC question types. Don't try to memorize everything on this page at once. Instead, use this page after you've studied for a little bit to quiz yourself or refresh your memory on tips and patterns for different question types. With consistent practice, what's on this page will become second nature.
RC Cheat Sheet
Analogy (RC)
Application
Author’s attitude
Author’s perspective
Describe approach
Describe organization
Describe relationship
Except (RC)
Implied
Logical continuation
Main point
Meaning in context (of word, phrase, or idea)
Miscellaneous (RC)
Other’s perspective
Principle or generalization
Purpose in context (of word, phrase, or idea)
Purpose of paragraph
Purpose of passage
Stated
Structure
WSE (RC)
Analogy (RC)
Avg. 0.9 per section
Stems asking us to find an analogy to some aspect of the passage. Similar to Parallel Reasoning in LR. Learn more.
Which one of the following is most analogous to the process, described in the last paragraph, by which the spread of thistles can be curtailed?
Correct answer criteria
- Describes something analogous to the thing we're asked about
Key tactics
- Define up front the key elements required to be analogous
- Ask about the broader point supported by the part we're asked about
Answer choice tips
- Wrong answers often meet some, but not all of the key elements we're looking for
- Need for process of elimination is common, since correct answers are often difficult to predict
Most similar LR type
Application
Avg. 0.9 per section
Questions asking us to apply a rule/definition from the passage, or to find the best example of something from the passage. Learn more.
According to the description of the passage, which one of the following best illustrates the concept of self-similarity? Which one of the following would most likely be an example of one of the "rituals, ceremonies, and traditions" mentioned in the second sentence of the second paragraph?
Correct answer criteria
- Describes example of thing we're asked about
Key tactics
- Define up front the key elements required to constitute an example
Answer choice tips
- Wrong answers often meet some, but not all of the key elements we're looking for
Most similar LR type
Describe approach
Avg. 0.1 per section
Stems that ask us to characterize the approach the authors take in presenting their passages, often in abstract terms (e.g. "applying general principles to particular examples"). Exclusive to comparative reading passages. Learn more.
The argument described in passage A and the argument made by the author of passage B are both advanced by
Correct answer criteria
- Accurate description of the way the authors develop their arguments
Key tactics
- Do you recall, or did you note, a common form of reasoning from the stimulus? (rule-application, phenomenon-hypothesis, generalization, analogy, cost/benefit, etc.)
- If you can't, that's OK; not every argument uses an easy-to-describe form of reasoning
Answer choice tips
- Be careful about answers that are extreme - wrong answers will often go beyond what the argument actually said (e.g., The second author said the first author's conclusion was "unjustified," but a wrong answer says the second author called the first author's conclusion "false.")
- Be prepared for abstract answers - take time to match different parts of the correct answer to the stimulus. If you can't match every part of the answer to the stimulus, it's wrong
Most similar LR type
Describe organization
Avg. 0.5 per section
Stems that ask us to describe the organization of a passage or paragraph in abstract terms (e.g. "a proposition is stated and then arguments for and against it are summarized"). Learn more.
Which one of the following most accurately describes the organization of the passage?
Correct answer criteria
- Describes what passage does in correct sequence
- Does not contain anything unsupported
Key tactics
- Rely on low-res summaries
- Answers tend to be long; be ready to eliminate quickly once any part of it is inaccurate
Answer choice tips
- Wrong answers often leave out a key part of the passage
- Need for process of elimination is common, since correct answers are often difficult to predict
Most similar LR type
Describe relationship
Avg. 0.3 per section
Questions that appear in comparative passages that ask us to describe the relationship between the two mini-passages. Learn more.
How does the purpose of passage B relate to the content of passage A?
Correct answer criteria
- Accurately describes the relationship between one passage and another
- Does not contain anything unsupported
Key tactics
- Forming a broad anticipation is often useful (e.g. noting where the passages agree and disagree, or whether they build on one another), but often process of elimination is required
- Read the stem carefully, noting the precise elements being compared (e.g. in the example stem, the PURPOSE of one passage is compared to the CONTENT of the other)
Answer choice tips
- Judge answer choices by a MSS standard -- wrong answers will often contain subtle unsupported elements
- Be prepared for abstract answers - take time to match different parts of the correct answer to the stimulus. If you can't find support for every part of the answer, it's wrong
Except (RC)
Avg. 0.6 per section
Stems featuring the word EXCEPT, flipping the default status of right & wrong answers. Learn more.
The passage gives information that helps answer all of the following questions EXCEPT:
Correct answer criteria
- Flipped from the usual -- "right" answers are wrong and the "wrong" answer is right.
Key tactics
- Keep the "exceptness" of the question constantly in mind. By far the most common error is to select a "right" answer, forgetting that "right" means wrong.
Answer choice tips
- Process of elimination is often crucial -- confidently identifying the answer choice that is NOT stated in the passage often means confirming that the other four answers ARE stated.
Implied
Avg. 11.0 per section
Stems asking us to infer an idea implied by the claims in the passage (as opposed to identifying an idea that appears explicitly). Similar to most strongly supported questions in LR. Learn more.
Which one of the following statements is most strongly supported by the passage? Which one of the following is most strongly implied by the passage?
Correct answer criteria
- Strongly supported by passage
- Does not contain anything unsupported
Key tactics
- Rely on understanding of main point and low-res summaries for initial reaction to answers
- Go back to passage if you know where to look
Answer choice tips
- Wrong answers often (1) sound reasonable, but aren't stated, or (2) twist, reverse, or go beyond what is stated
- Be careful about extreme answers; they can be correct, but you want to be confident they're actually supported
- Need for process of elimination is common, since correct answers are often difficult to predict
Most similar LR type
Logical continuation
Avg. 0.0 per section
Stems that ask us to append an additional sentence onto the passage that continues the logical structure of the content it follows. Learn more.
Which one of the following sentences would most logically conclude the final paragraph of the passage? Which one of the following is the most logical continuation of the last paragraph of the passage?
Correct answer criteria
- Fits the reasoning flow of the last paragraph and the passage
Key tactics
- Rely on low-res summaries and understanding of MP
Answer choice tips
- Wrong answers often sound like something author supports, but don't fit with the point made at the end
- Need for process of elimination is common, since correct answers are often difficult to predict
Most similar LR type
Main point
Avg. 2.3 per section
Stems asking us to articulate the main point of the passage. Often the first question associated with a given passage. Learn more.
Which one of the following most accurately states the main point of the passage?
Correct answer criteria
- Captures author's perspective about the subject (or, if author is neutral, the perspective(s) the passage focuses on); AND
- Does not contain anything unsupported
Key tactics
- Ask what the author would tell you if (s)he only had 10 seconds to speak
- Keep in mind the different passage styles. Is the author critiquing a view, explaining a phenomenon, presenting a solution to a problem, drawing attention to an interesting artist?
- Think about the whole passage as an LR stimulus. What's other people's view? What's the author's?
Answer choice tips
- Wrong answers often (1) take author's opinion too far, (2) describe only a supporting point, or (3) sounds similar to the main point, but includes something unsupported
- The correct answer does not need to summarize the whole passage; it just needs to capture author's perspective (or, if author is neutral, the perspective the passage focuses on)
Most similar LR type
Meaning in context (of word, phrase, or idea)
Avg. 1.9 per section
Stems that ask us to interpret the meaning of a word, phrase, or idea given the context in which it appears. Learn more.
Which one of the following most closely expresses the author's intended meaning in using the word "initiatory" (first sentence of last paragraph)?
Correct answer criteria
- Captures author's intended meaning of the word/phrase/sentence; AND
- Does not contain anything unsupported
Key tactics
- Rely on low-res summary of paragraph containing the word/phrase/sentence
- Ask about relationship of the word/phrase/sentence to paragraph containing it
- Define referential words and phrases
Answer choice tips
- Wrong answers often describe a meaning that's divorced from the context in which the word/phrase/sentence was used
- Be careful about answers that merely match the dictionary definition of a word; the contextual meaning is what matters
Most similar LR type
Miscellaneous (RC)
Avg. 0.0 per section
Stems that depart from traditional question types, or phrase the challenge in an unusual way. Learn more.
Which one of the following, if true, would most help to explain the claim about suspension of disbelief (near the middle of the second paragraph)?
Key tactics
- Take extra time reading the stem to understand the precise criteria for correct and incorrect answers.
Most similar LR type
Other’s perspective
Avg. 1.6 per section
Stems that ask us to describe or apply a viewpoint other than the author's. Learn more.
It can be inferred from the passage that Bettelheim believes that children are
Correct answer criteria
- Other party's agreement with the claim has positive support in the passage, using standards similar to MSS from logical reasoning
- The claim does not contain anything unsupported
Key tactics
- Locate portions of the passage involving the other party's viewpoint, then close-read their surrounding sentences for support
Answer choice tips
- Wrong answers often take claims too far (e.g. "[something] is disastrous" when the author says it is merely "problematic")
Principle or generalization
Avg. 0.6 per section
Questions asking us to identify a principle used in the passage or a generalization supported by the passage. Akin to PSAr questions from LR. Learn more.
Which one of the following principles most likely governs the author's evaluation of Jacobs's narrative?
Correct answer criteria
- Describes an abstract rule or principle which, when applied to the passage's reasoning, justifies or explains the author's conclusions
- The rule is not dramatically overinclusive -- e.g. if the author says a thief should be punished, the principle shouldn't say "all criminals should be executed"
Key tactics
- Revisit the passage to find the reasoning (premises and conclusion) to which the stem refers
- Anticipate a principle that roughly says "when the premises are true, the conclusion is true"
Answer choice tips
- If you've formed a solid anticipation, look first for the answer choice that expresses your anticipated principle
- Be ready to think about contrapositives - the correct answer is often presented in this form
Most similar LR type
Purpose in context (of word, phrase, or idea)
Avg. 2.0 per section
Stems that ask us to describe the purpose of a word, phrase, or idea given the context in which it appears. Answers often use abstract, structural language. Learn more.
The author's discussion of nuclear fusion in the last paragraph serves primarily to. The author mentions "crimes of passion" (first sentence of first paragraph) primarily in order to
Correct answer criteria
- Captures why author wrote the word/phrase/sentence; AND
- Does not contain anything unsupported
Key tactics
- Rely on low-res summary of paragraph containing the word/phrase/sentence
- Ask about relationship of the word/phrase/sentence to paragraph containing it
Answer choice tips
- Wrong answers often describe purpose of a different word/phrase/sentence
Most similar LR type
Purpose of paragraph
Avg. 0.6 per section
Stems that ask us to describe the purpose of a paragraph within the passage's broader structure, often in abstract language (e.g. "to offer evidence in support of the contention that..."). Learn more.
The main function of the third paragraph of the passage is to. The primary purpose of the first paragraph in relation to the rest of the passage is to describe
Correct answer criteria
- Captures why author wrote paragraph; AND
- Does not contain anything unsupported
Key tactics
- Rely on low-res summaries
- Ask about paragraph's relationship to main point
Answer choice tips
- Wrong answers often (1) describe something author does in paragraph, but not author's motivation, or (2) describe purpose of a different paragraph
Most similar LR type
Purpose of passage
Avg. 1.3 per section
Stems that ask us to describe the overall purpose of the passage. Similar to main point questions, but often call for more abstract language in the answer choices (e.g. "to criticize a popular theory"). Learn more.
The primary purpose of the passage is to
Correct answer criteria
- Captures why author wrote the passage; AND
- Does not contain anything unsupported
Key tactics
- Ask whether author's goal is to persuade or to inform
- Keep in mind the different passage styles. Is the author critiquing a view, explaining a phenomenon, presenting a solution to a problem, drawing attention to an interesting artist?
Answer choice tips
- Wrong answers often (1) describe something author does in the passage, but not author's motivation, or (2) describe purpose of one paragraph, but not overall passage
Most similar LR type
Stated
Avg. 4.9 per section
Stems asking us to identify an idea that appears explicitly in the passage (as opposed to ideas that are merely implied). Learn more.
The passage indicates which of the following? The passage provides enough information to answer which one of the following questions?
Correct answer criteria
- Stated in the passage
- Does not contain anything unsupported
Key tactics
- Rely on understanding of main point and low-res summaries for initial reaction to answers
- Go back to passage if you know where to look
Answer choice tips
- Wrong answers often (1) sound reasonable, but aren't stated, or (2) twist, reverse, or go beyond what is stated
- Be careful about extreme answers; they can be correct, but you want to be confident they're actually stated
- Need for process of elimination is common, since correct answers are often difficult to predict
Most similar LR type
Structure
Avg. 4.6 per section
An umbrella tag marking questions that test our understanding of the passage's overall structure (e.g. Main point, Purpose of paragraph, Meaning in context, Describe organization). Learn more.
Which one of the following most accurately describes the organization of the passage?
Correct answer criteria
- Accurately captures the structural elements tested by the question's stem
Key tactics
- Create a low-res summary of the passage on your first readthrough, then use that summary as a framework for the structural elements tested
Answer choice tips
- Be prepared for abstract answers - take time to match different parts of the correct answer to the stimulus. If you can't find support for every part of the answer, it's wrong
WSE (RC)
Avg. 1.3 per section
Weaken, Strengthen, or Evaluate questions that appear in RC and operate along the same principles as their LR counterparts. Learn more.
Which one of the following, if true, would provide the most support for Emeagwali's prediction mentioned in the last paragraph? Which one of the following would, if true, most weaken the author's argument as expressed in the passage?
Correct answer criteria
- Strengthens, weakens, or identifies a question whose answer would strengthen or weaken the position or argument we're asked about
Key tactics
- Identify conclusion, premises, assumptions
Answer choice tips
- Wrong answers often (1) sound like something that would be correct if we were asked what passage supports, (2) do the opposite of what we want, or (3) seem relevant, but aren't strong enough to impact the argument