LSAT Comparative Reading

What It Is

One of the four RC sets consists of two shorter passages on the same general topic. Questions ask about each passage individually and about how they relate to each other. The comparative reading set tests your ability to hold two perspectives in mind simultaneously.

Attack Strategy for Paired Passages

• Step 1: Read Passage A fully and identify its main point, argument, and author's attitude
• Step 2: Read Passage B with Passage A in mind -- as you read, note agreements and disagreements
• Step 3: Before reading questions, articulate the relationship in one sentence: 'B challenges A's claim about X while agreeing about Y'
• Step 4: Answer questions about each passage individually first, then tackle the relationship questions

Common Passage Relationships

• One supports the other's thesis with different evidence
• One challenges or qualifies the other's central claim
• They address the same phenomenon with different explanations
• They share a conclusion but reach it by different paths
• One provides historical context for the other's contemporary argument

Key Question Types for Comparative Reading

• 'Both authors would agree that...' -- find a claim supported by evidence in BOTH passages
• 'The authors disagree about...' -- find an issue where positions are directly opposed
• 'How would Author B respond to the argument in Passage A?' -- apply B's position to A's claims
• 'The relationship between the passages is...' -- describe the structural/argumentative relationship

Example Problem

Passage A argues that social media increases political polarization by creating echo chambers. Passage B argues that social media actually exposes users to more diverse views than traditional media. Agreement: Both acknowledge social media affects political views. Disagreement: Whether the effect increases or decreases polarization.

Top Tips

• Never attribute to both authors a view that only one holds -- a common trap
• The relationship question is usually the hardest -- save it for last after understanding each passage
• Map each passage separately before identifying the relationship