Catalog of Question Types | Reading Comprehension | LSAT Prep
Understanding LSAT Reading Comprehension Question Types
According to the Law School Admission Council, LSAT Reading Comprehension questions assess your ability to analyze complex texts similar to those encountered in law school. Each question type tests a specific reading skill, from identifying main ideas to drawing sophisticated inferences. Recognizing question types instantly allows you to apply the most effective strategy for each question, significantly improving your accuracy and speed.
The Reading Comprehension section contains approximately 26-28 questions across four passages, with each passage followed by 5-8 questions. While question wording varies, all questions fall into recognizable categories established by LSAC. Understanding these categories transforms your approach from reactive guesswork to strategic problem-solving.
The Official LSAC Question Type Framework
LSAC identifies 10 primary question characteristics that Reading Comprehension questions may address:
- The main idea or primary purpose
- Information that is explicitly stated
- Information or ideas that can be inferred
- The meaning or purpose of words or phrases as used in context
- The organization or structure
- The application of information to a new context
- Principles that function in the selection
- Analogies to claims or arguments in the selection
- An author's attitude as revealed in tone or language
- The impact of new information on claims or arguments
Quick Reference: Question Type Overview
| Question Category | What It Tests | Frequency |
|---|---|---|
| Main Point / Primary Purpose | Global understanding of passage thesis | Very Common (1-2 per passage) |
| Detail / Explicit Information | Ability to locate stated facts | Common (1-2 per passage) |
| Inference / Implication | Drawing supported conclusions | Very Common (2-3 per passage) |
| Function / Purpose | Understanding why information is included | Common (1-2 per passage) |
| Meaning in Context | Interpreting words/phrases contextually | Moderate (0-1 per passage) |
| Structure / Organization | Understanding passage architecture | Moderate (0-1 per passage) |
| Tone / Attitude | Identifying author's perspective | Moderate (0-1 per passage) |
| Application | Extending passage ideas to new scenarios | Less Common |
| Strengthen / Weaken | Impact of new information | Rare |
| Comparative Reading | Relationship between two passages | 5-8 questions per RC section |
Global Questions: The Big Picture
Global questions require you to understand the passage as a whole rather than focusing on specific details. These questions appear on virtually every Reading Comprehension passage and test whether you've grasped the author's central message, purpose, or overall argumentative approach.
1. Main Point / Main Idea Questions
What It Tests: Your ability to identify the passage's central thesis, primary argument, or overarching idea that ties all elements together.
🎯 How to Recognize
- "Which one of the following most accurately expresses the main point of the passage?"
- "Which one of the following most accurately states the main point of the passage?"
- "Which one of the following most accurately expresses the central idea of the passage?"
- "The main purpose of the passage is to..."
- "Which of the following describes the central idea of the passage?"
✅ Characteristics of Correct Answers
- Encompasses the entire passage: The correct answer must account for all major sections, not just one or two paragraphs
- Captures the author's perspective: If the author takes a position, the main point must reflect that stance
- Right level of specificity: Not too broad (could apply to many passages) and not too narrow (describes only part of the passage)
- Matches the passage's emphasis: The main point reflects what the author spent most time discussing
❌ Common Wrong Answer Traps
- Too narrow: Describes only one paragraph or section rather than the whole passage
- Too broad: So general it could apply to many different passages on the topic
- Supporting detail: Mentions an important point but not THE main point
- Outside the scope: Introduces ideas not discussed in the passage
- Reverses the emphasis: Makes a secondary point seem primary
💡 Strategic Approach
Step 1: After reading the passage, articulate the main point in your own words before looking at answer choices.
Step 2: Identify where the main point appears (often in the first or last paragraph, sometimes both).
Step 3: Eliminate answers that describe only parts of the passage or miss the author's perspective.
Step 4: Verify that your chosen answer accounts for all major passage elements.
2. Primary Purpose Questions
What It Tests: Your understanding of why the author wrote the passage and what they aimed to accomplish.
🎯 How to Recognize
- "The primary purpose of the passage is to..."
- "The author's main purpose in the passage is to..."
- "Which one of the following most accurately describes the primary function of the passage?"
- "In the passage, the author is primarily concerned with..."
✅ Key Differences from Main Point Questions
Answer format: Primary purpose answers use more abstract language and active verbs (explain, critique, describe, advocate, compare), while main point answers state content more directly.
Focus: Primary purpose asks about the author's goal or intention; main point asks about the central thesis or argument.
Example distinction: Main point might be "Theory X is flawed," while primary purpose would be "To critique Theory X by exposing its methodological weaknesses."
✅ Common Purpose Verbs
- Explain: The author clarifies a concept or phenomenon
- Argue/Advocate: The author takes a position and defends it
- Describe: The author presents information neutrally
- Critique/Challenge: The author questions or opposes an existing view
- Compare/Contrast: The author analyzes similarities and differences
- Propose/Recommend: The author suggests a new approach or solution
- Reconcile: The author resolves an apparent contradiction
- Trace/Chronicle: The author follows historical development
💡 Strategic Approach
Pay special attention to the passage's overall tone and structure. Is the author objectively presenting information, passionately arguing for a position, or methodically dismantling an opposing view? The purpose must match this rhetorical approach.
3. Organization / Structure Questions
What It Tests: Your understanding of how the passage is constructed and how different parts relate to create the overall argument.
🎯 How to Recognize
- "Which one of the following most accurately describes the organization of the passage?"
- "The passage is structured so as to..."
- "Which one of the following best describes the structure of the passage?"
- "The organization of the passage can best be described as..."
✅ Common Passage Structures
- Problem-Solution: Presents a problem, then proposes or evaluates solutions
- Claim-Evidence: States a thesis, then provides supporting evidence
- Historical Development: Traces how ideas or theories evolved over time
- Theory-Critique: Presents an existing theory, then critiques or challenges it
- Compare-Contrast: Analyzes similarities and differences between concepts
- Question-Answer: Poses a question, explores possible answers, defends one
- Paradox-Resolution: Presents an apparent contradiction, then resolves it
💡 Strategic Approach
As you read, mentally label each paragraph's function: introduction, background, theory presentation, evidence, counterargument, response, conclusion, etc. Structure answers describe these functions in sequence.
Detail Questions: What the Passage Says
Detail questions test your ability to locate and understand specific information explicitly stated in the passage. These questions reward careful reading and the ability to return to the passage to verify information rather than relying on memory.
4. Explicit Information / Detail Questions
What It Tests: Your ability to locate specific facts, statements, or claims made explicitly in the passage text.
🎯 How to Recognize
- "According to the passage, which of the following is true?"
- "The passage states that..."
- "The author mentions which of the following?"
- "Which one of the following does the passage say about X?"
- "The passage indicates that..."
- "According to the author, X is..."
✅ Characteristics of Correct Answers
- Directly stated: The information appears explicitly in the passage, often paraphrased rather than using identical wording
- Verifiable: You can point to specific lines where this information appears
- No inference required: The answer doesn't require reading between the lines
- Precisely accurate: Doesn't distort, exaggerate, or misrepresent what the passage states
❌ Common Wrong Answer Traps
- Subtle distortion: Changes a key word or relationship, making the answer untrue
- Reversal: States the opposite of what the passage actually says
- Half-right: Starts correctly but adds unsupported information
- Requires inference: True based on the passage but not explicitly stated
- Outside knowledge: May be factually true but not stated in this passage
💡 Strategic Approach
Always return to the passage to verify detail answers. Don't trust your memory—subtle distortions are designed to trap test-takers who rely on recollection. Line references or key terms in the question stem help you locate the relevant passage section quickly.
Inference Questions: Reading Between the Lines
Inference questions require you to draw logical conclusions based on passage information without adding outside knowledge or making unsupported leaps. These questions test whether you can recognize what must be true, what's strongly suggested, or what logically follows from the text.
5. Inference / Implication Questions
What It Tests: Your ability to draw logical conclusions that are strongly supported by passage information even when not explicitly stated.
🎯 How to Recognize
- "The passage suggests that..."
- "It can be inferred from the passage that..."
- "The author implies that..."
- "Which one of the following is most strongly supported by the passage?"
- "Based on the passage, which of the following can be inferred about X?"
- "The passage most strongly supports which one of the following?"
- "With which one of the following would the author be most likely to agree?"
✅ Characteristics of Correct Answers
- Strongly supported: The passage information makes this conclusion highly probable
- Logically follows: Represents a reasonable next step from stated information
- Stays grounded: Doesn't require adding information from outside the passage
- Conservative: Often uses qualifying language (likely, probably, suggests) rather than absolute statements
- Combines information: May synthesize facts from multiple passage sections
❌ Common Wrong Answer Traps
- Too extreme: Goes beyond what the passage supports, using absolute language
- Outside the scope: Requires information or assumptions not provided in the passage
- Reverses logic: Confuses cause and effect or necessary and sufficient conditions
- Too big a leap: Requires multiple unsupported inferences to reach the conclusion
- Could be true vs. must be true: Possible but not necessarily supported by the passage
💡 Strategic Approach
The "prove it" test: For inference questions, ask yourself "Could I prove this answer to a skeptic using only passage information?" The correct answer should be provable through direct quotations and logical connections within the text.
Degree of support matters: LSAC often asks for what is "most strongly supported." When comparing answers, choose the one requiring the smallest inferential leap.
Function and Context Questions: Why and How
These questions test your understanding of rhetorical purpose and contextual meaning. Rather than asking what the passage says, they ask why the author included specific information or how particular elements function within the overall argument.
6. Function / Purpose Questions
What It Tests: Your understanding of why the author included specific information, examples, or arguments and how they relate to the passage's overall purpose.
🎯 How to Recognize
- "The author mentions X primarily in order to..."
- "The author discusses X in order to..."
- "The third paragraph functions in the passage to..."
- "The author's reference to X serves primarily to..."
- "In the context of the passage, the author's discussion of X serves to..."
- "The primary function of the second paragraph is to..."
✅ Common Functions
- Provide an example: Illustrates an abstract concept with a concrete instance
- Support a claim: Offers evidence for a previously stated argument
- Introduce a contrast: Presents an opposing view or alternative perspective
- Address a counterargument: Acknowledges and responds to potential objections
- Qualify a statement: Limits or adds nuance to a previous claim
- Provide background: Gives context necessary for understanding the main argument
- Establish credibility: Shows the author understands alternative perspectives
- Transition between ideas: Connects different sections of the argument
💡 Strategic Approach
Function questions require understanding both the specific element mentioned and the broader context. Ask yourself: "What is the passage trying to accomplish overall, and how does this specific part contribute to that goal?"
Look at what comes immediately before and after the referenced material—this context often reveals the function.
7. Meaning in Context Questions
What It Tests: Your ability to determine the specific meaning of words, phrases, or sentences based on how they're used in the passage context.
🎯 How to Recognize
- "In the context in which it appears, 'X' most nearly means..."
- "The phrase 'X' (line Y) refers most specifically to..."
- "As it is used in the passage, the term 'X' most clearly refers to..."
- "By 'X,' the author most likely means..."
- "Which one of the following phrases most accurately conveys the meaning of the word 'X' as it is used in line Y?"
✅ Strategic Approach
Don't rely on dictionary definitions—the LSAT tests contextual meaning. A word might have one common meaning but be used differently in the passage.
Substitution technique: Read the sentence with each answer choice in place of the original word/phrase. Which substitution preserves the intended meaning?
Consider the paragraph's purpose: The word's meaning should align with what that paragraph is trying to accomplish.
❌ Common Traps
- Dictionary definition trap: Provides the common definition that doesn't fit the context
- Surface similarity: Uses related words that don't capture the contextual meaning
- Ignores tone: Misses whether the term is used positively, negatively, or neutrally
Tone and Attitude Questions: Author's Perspective
These questions test your ability to identify the author's viewpoint, opinion, or emotional stance toward the subject matter based on word choices, argumentative approach, and qualifying language.
8. Tone / Attitude Questions
What It Tests: Your ability to determine the author's perspective, opinion, or emotional stance toward the passage's subject matter.
🎯 How to Recognize
- "The author's attitude toward X can best be described as..."
- "The tone of the passage is most accurately described as..."
- "Which one of the following best describes the author's attitude toward X?"
- "The author's stance regarding X is most accurately described as..."
- "The author's discussion of X suggests that the author regards it with..."
✅ Common Attitude Descriptors
Positive tones: Enthusiastic, supportive, approving, sympathetic, optimistic, admiring
Negative tones: Critical, skeptical, disapproving, dismissive, pessimistic, concerned
Neutral tones: Objective, impartial, analytical, descriptive, informative
Qualified tones: Cautiously optimistic, mildly critical, guardedly supportive, ambivalent
✅ Evidence for Tone
- Word choice: Positive or negative adjectives, emotionally charged language
- Qualifying language: "Merely," "surprisingly," "unfortunately," "remarkably" reveal attitude
- Space allocation: How much attention the author gives to different viewpoints
- Counterargument treatment: How the author presents and responds to opposing views
- Conclusion strength: Confident assertions vs. hedged statements
❌ Common Traps
- Too extreme: "Vehemently opposed," "unqualified enthusiasm" when the author is more measured
- Confusing objectivity with neutrality: The author can present information objectively while still taking a position
- Missing subtlety: Overlooking qualified support or mild criticism
Application Questions: Beyond the Passage
These less common question types test your ability to apply passage principles to new scenarios, evaluate how new information would affect passage arguments, or identify analogies to passage claims.
9. Application / Analogy Questions
What It Tests: Your ability to extend passage reasoning to new contexts or identify scenarios analogous to situations described in the passage.
🎯 How to Recognize
- "Which one of the following situations is most analogous to X as described in the passage?"
- "Based on the passage, the author would be most likely to believe that..."
- "The situation described in the passage is most similar to which of the following?"
- "The passage suggests that which one of the following would be most consistent with the principles discussed?"
💡 Strategic Approach
Identify the key principles, relationships, or patterns from the passage, then look for answer choices that replicate those elements in a different context. The correct analogy preserves the logical structure even when the subject matter changes.
10. Strengthen / Weaken Questions
What It Tests: Your ability to evaluate how new information would affect arguments or claims made in the passage.
🎯 How to Recognize
- "Which one of the following, if true, would most strengthen the argument?"
- "Which one of the following, if true, would most weaken the claim that...?"
- "The discovery of which of the following would most undermine the theory described?"
- "Which one of the following findings would most support the author's hypothesis?"
💡 Note on Frequency
These question types are rare in Reading Comprehension (more common in Logical Reasoning). When they appear, they test whether you understand the logical structure of arguments well enough to predict what evidence would support or challenge them.
Comparative Reading: Analyzing Relationships
Introduced in June 2007, Comparative Reading presents two shorter related passages and asks questions about their relationship. One of your four Reading Comprehension passage sets will always use this format, generating 5-8 questions that test both individual passage comprehension and cross-passage analysis.
11. Comparative Reading Question Types
What It Tests: Your ability to understand two related passages individually and analyze how they relate to each other structurally, thematically, and argumentatively.
🎯 Types of Comparative Questions
A. Questions About Individual Passages
These work like standard Reading Comprehension questions but specify which passage:
- "According to passage A..."
- "The author of passage B suggests that..."
- "Passage A indicates that..."
B. Questions About Both Passages
- "Both passages are primarily concerned with..."
- "Which one of the following is discussed in both passages?"
- "The relationship between the two passages can most accurately be described as..."
- "The passages have which one of the following goals in common?"
C. Questions About Relationships
- "The author of passage A would most likely respond to the claim in passage B by..."
- "Which one of the following is a point of disagreement between the passages?"
- "Unlike the author of passage B, the author of passage A..."
- "Passage B provides support for which one of the following claims made in passage A?"
- "The relationship between passage A and passage B is most analogous to the relationship between..."
✅ Common Passage Relationships
- Point-Counterpoint: Passages take opposing positions on the same issue
- General-Specific: One passage discusses a broad principle, the other applies it to a specific case
- Problem-Solution: One passage describes a problem, the other proposes a solution
- Theory-Application: One passage presents a theory, the other demonstrates its practical use
- Question-Answer: One passage raises questions, the other provides answers
- Complementary: Both passages support the same position from different angles
- Historical Development: One passage discusses an earlier view, the other a more recent development
💡 Strategic Approach
Read both passages before answering questions. While you could answer passage-A-only questions after reading just passage A, you'll need both passages for relationship questions anyway.
Take notes on each passage's main point and tone. Comparative questions often hinge on understanding how the authors' perspectives differ.
Identify agreement and disagreement explicitly. Where do the passages align? Where do they diverge? These are prime territory for questions.
Question Type Recognition: Practice Exercise
🔍 Quick Recognition Tips
"According to" = Detail question
"Suggests/Infers" = Inference question
"Main point/Central idea" = Main point question
"In order to" = Function question
"Attitude/Tone" = Tone question
⚡ Speed Reading Strategies
Identify question type before reading answers—this primes your brain for the right approach
Different types require different speeds: detail questions need precision, inference questions need careful logic
📊 Difficulty Patterns
Easiest: Detail questions (if you can locate the info)
Moderate: Main point, function questions
Hardest: Inference, application questions
🎯 Common Mistakes
Treating inference like detail (making unsupported leaps)
Treating detail like inference (overthinking explicitly stated info)
Choosing partial main points
Official LSAC Resources for Question Type Practice
🎓 LawHub Question-Type Drill Sets
The Law School Admission Council now offers free drill sets organized by question type through LawHub. These practice sets allow you to focus on specific question categories, receive personalized performance feedback, and access hints and explanations for every question.
These official drill sets represent authentic LSAT questions from past exams, ensuring you practice with the same question styles, difficulty levels, and answer patterns you'll encounter on test day. Each drill set isolates a specific question type, allowing you to build mastery systematically rather than encountering question types randomly.
Access Free LawHub Drill Sets →Sample Questions from LSAC
The Law School Admission Council provides official sample Reading Comprehension questions with passages on their website. These materials include complete passages with questions and detailed explanations, allowing you to see exactly how LSAC constructs each question type.
View Official LSAC Question Types →Official LSAT PrepTests
The most comprehensive way to practice all question types is through Official LSAT PrepTests available via LawHub Advantage. These complete exams present questions in realistic combinations and difficulty progressions, helping you develop the ability to switch between question types seamlessly.
Building Question Type Expertise
📈 Progressive Practice Approach
Phase 1: Isolated Practice - Use LawHub drill sets to master one question type at a time. Understand the specific skills required and recognition patterns.
Phase 2: Mixed Practice - Work through complete passages where question types are mixed. Practice rapidly identifying types and switching strategies.
Phase 3: Timed Practice - Complete full Reading Comprehension sections under 35-minute time constraints, maintaining question type awareness while managing time pressure.
Developing Type Recognition Speed
Expert LSAT test-takers identify question types almost instantly, allowing them to apply the appropriate strategy without conscious deliberation. This automaticity comes from extensive practice with official materials. As you work through PrepTests, consciously identify each question type before reading answer choices. Over time, this recognition becomes intuitive.
Common Cross-Type Confusions
| Often Confused | Key Distinction |
|---|---|
| Detail vs. Inference | Detail: explicitly stated. Inference: logically follows but not stated |
| Main Point vs. Primary Purpose | Main point: what the passage argues. Primary purpose: what the author aims to accomplish |
| Function vs. Detail | Function: why information is included. Detail: what information is stated |
| Inference vs. Application | Inference: conclusion from passage. Application: extending principles to new scenarios |
| Tone vs. Main Point | Tone: how the author feels. Main point: what the author argues |
Question Type Distribution Strategy
Understanding typical question type distribution helps you allocate time and mental energy effectively. Most passages follow predictable patterns in the types and order of questions they present.
- 1-2 global questions (main point, purpose, structure)
- 1-2 detail questions
- 2-3 inference questions
- 1-2 function or context questions
- 0-1 tone, application, or specialized question
This distribution means you'll encounter more inference questions than any other type across a full Reading Comprehension section. Building strong inference skills therefore provides the greatest score improvement potential for most test-takers.
Advanced Question Type Tactics
Recognizing Question Type Combinations
Sometimes LSAC combines elements of multiple question types. For example, a question might ask for an inference (requiring logical reasoning) about the author's attitude (requiring tone analysis). These hybrid questions require applying multiple strategies simultaneously.
Using Question Types to Guide Passage Reading
Before reading a passage, quickly scan the question stems (not the answer choices) to see which types appear. If you notice several function questions, pay extra attention to rhetorical purpose while reading. If many inference questions appear, focus on logical relationships between ideas.
Wrong Answer Patterns by Question Type
Each question type has characteristic wrong answer patterns. Detail questions feature distortions and reversals. Inference questions include extreme answers and unsupported leaps. Main point questions offer answers that are too narrow or too broad. Recognizing these patterns accelerates answer elimination.