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Know How to Answer Reading Comprehension LSAT Questions

By U.S. News & World Report

In the previous installment of our series on LSAT basics, I discussed the most effective method for reading the passage in the reading comprehension section. This week, I’ll cover how to answer the major question types in this section.

The two most common question types are main point questions and inference questions. Both of these question types requires you to use different information from the passage, and each requires a different approach.

[Excel at the logical reasoning section of the LSAT.]

Main Point Questions: Main point questions ask you to identify the passage’s main point or central idea. Almost every passage contains a main point question, and it’s almost always the first question asked about the passage.

The correct answer for this question will be a complete summary of the contents of the passage. One way to quickly check for the completeness of the answer choice is to make sure that some element of each paragraph is represented in the answer choice.

Incorrect answers tend to follow one of three patterns: they are too broad, too narrow or inconsistent with the author’s tone. An answer choice that is too broad will be attractive because it will contain all the information in the passage, but it will also contain information outside that passage. An answer choice that is too narrow will also contain information in the passage, but there will be important information in the passage that it does not contain.

By identifying the main point of each paragraph as you read, you should have all the information needed to answer a main point question. These paragraph summaries will help you determine which answer choices are too broad, which are too narrow and which strike the correct balance. Knowing the author’s opinion on the subject will enable you to eliminate answer choices that are inconsistent with that opinion.

[Decide if you should take the LSAT in June.]

Since the reading method described last week gives you all the information you need to answer these questions, you should usually answer them first.

Inference Questions: Inference questions will often be worded deceptively. They might ask you to identify an answer choice with which the author would agree or to infer information from the passage. These questions are simply asking you to restate information that is already in the passage. To answer these questions try not to think critically or infer anything. Instead, treat these questions as a process of identifying the relevant information, then finding an answer choice that is an accurate restatement of that information.

There are two types of inference questions in the reading comprehension section: those that ask for specific information, and those that don’t. For questions that ask for specific information, find that information in the passage before attempting to choose the correct answer choice. For questions that do not identify any specific information, first eliminate answer choices that are inconsistent with either the main point of the passage or the author’s opinion.

As we mention above, the correct answer for an inference question is simply a restatement of some piece of information in the passage. This idea is counterintuitive to most LSAT test-takers. The LSAT is viewed as a complex, dense test, so how could they want something as simple as a restatement without any type of critical thought or analysis? Once you internalize this idea, answering these questions will become much more straightforward.

Incorrect answers for this question type tend to take one of two forms. They mention something that isn’t a part of the passage, or they state something that is inconsistent with the main point of the passage.

It is not a good use of time to try to internalize detailed information contained in the passage. Unfortunately, many of the answer choices in the inference questions will ask you to retrieve a bit of that detailed information. The best way to retrieve that information is by using your understanding of the basic content and the structure of the passage as a map. By knowing the basic content and the structure, you can usually know approximately where specific information is located.

Have questions about LSAT prep? You can reach me via email.

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Know How to Answer Reading Comprehension LSAT Questions originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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