Focus:　Reading　Comprehension　Reading　Comprehension　is　the　only　question　type　that　appears　on　all　major　standardized¹　tests,　and　the　reason　isn't　too　surprising.　No　matter　what　academic　area　you　pursue,　you　have　to　make　sense　of　dense²,　unfamiliar³　prose.　Law,　of　course,　is　no　exception.　

Reading　Comprehension　on　the　LSAT

This　section　consists　of　four　passages,　each　about　450　words　long　with　five　to　eight　corresponding　questions.　These　long　excerpts⁴　of　scholarly　passages　are　reminiscent　of　the　kind　of　prose　found　in　law　texts.　The　topics　are　chosen　from　the　areas　of　social　sciences,　humanities,　natural　sciences,　and　the　law.　

·35　minutes　
·Approximately　25　percent　of　your　score　
·Usually　27　questions　
·Common　question-types:　main　idea,　detail,　inference,　logic⁵,　extrapolation　
·Tests　ability　to　read　dense,　scholarly　material　and　ascertain⁶　the　structure,　purpose,　and　logic.　
·Key　skill　is　identifying　main　idea　of　a　passage,　gist⁷　of　argument　
Doesn't　require　outside　knowledge　
·Very　different　from　SAT　Reading　Comp:　dense,　more　difficult　prose　and　inferences　
·Not　a　test　of　memorizing　details　

KAPLAN　QUICK　TIP　阅读捷径

Certainly　knowing　a　little　about　the　topic　discussed　in　a　passage　can　be　helpful.　If　you　can　relate　the　ideas　in　the　passage　to　what　you　know　of　the　world,　you'll　be　more　confident.　But　remember　to　answer　the　questions　based　on　what's　in　the　passage,　not　on　what　you　may　have　learned　elsewhere　about　the　topic.　

Seven　Basic　Principles　七大原则

1.　Read　the　First　Third　of　Passage　Carefully

The　first　third　of　any　passage　usually　introduces　the　topic　and　scope,　the　main　idea,　the　tone,　and　almost　always　hints　at　the　structure　that　the　passage　will　follow.　First,　get　a　sense　of　the　general　topic;　then　pin　down　the　more　specific　scope　of　the　passage;　and　finally,　glean⁸　the　author's　purpose　in　writing　the　passage　and　the　main　idea　that　he　or　she　is　trying　to　convey　about　that　particular　subject.

2.　Focus　on　the　Main　Idea

Almost　every　passage　boils　down　to　one　big　idea.　You　should　always　keep　the　main　idea　in　mind,　even　when　answering　questions　that　don't　explicitly⁹　ask　for　it.　Correct　answers　on　even　the　detail　questions　tend　to　echo　the　main　idea　in　one　way　or　another.

3.　Get　the　Gist　of　Each　Paragraph

The　paragraph　is　the　main　structural¹⁰　unit　of　any　passage.　After　you've　read　the　first　third　of　the　passage　carefully,　you　need　only　find　the　gist,　or　general　purpose,　of　each　succeeding　paragraph.　Then,　attempt　to　relate　each　paragraph　back　to　the　passage　as　a　whole.　Try　labeling　each　paragraph,　so　you　know　what's　covered　and　how　it　fits　into　the　overall　structure　of　the　passage.　This　will　help　you　get　a　fix　on　the　passage　as　a　whole　and　locate　specific　details　later.

4.Don't　Obsess¹¹　over　Details

Don't　feel　that　you　have　to　memorize　or　understand　every　little　thing　as　you　read.　Remember,　you　can　always　refer　back　to　the　passage　to　clarify　the　meaning　of　any　specific　detail.

5.Attack　the　Passages

You　receive　zero　points　for　just　"getting　through"　the　passage.　You're　entering　the　passage　for　the　sole　purpose　of　picking　up　the　author's　key　ideas　that　will　enable　you　to　rack　up　points.　By　thinking　in　terms　of　an　attack,　you're　less　likely　to　be　diverted　from　this　mission　or　to　let　the　densely-worded　prose　distract　you.

6.Beware　of　Classic　Wrong　Answers

Knowing　the　most　common　types　of　wrong　answers　can　help　you　eliminate　wrong　choices　quickly,　winning　you　extra　time.　Always　be　on　the　lookout¹²　for　choices　that:　

·go　beyond　the　author's　scope　
·are　half-right,　half-wrong　
·use　the　wrong　verb　
·distort　the　passage's　ideas　
·say　the　exact　opposite　of　what　you're　looking　for　

7.Read　Critically

The　single　most　important　factor　in　Reading　Comprehension　success　is　critical　reading.　Critical　reading　involves　perspective　-　the　ability　to　step　back　from　a　piece　of　prose　and　carefully　evaluate　it.　Here　are　some　ways　in　which　you　can　improve　the　specific　critical-reading　skills　necessary　for　success:　

·get　a　handle　on　the　spirit　of　the　passage　
·keep　paraphrasing　key　ideas　
·keep　anticipating　where　the　author　is　going　
·don't　let　complex-sounding　words　and　sentences　scare　you　
·connect　abstract　ideas　to　your　own　experience　
·read　carefully　for　the　gist　of　the　main　point　
·remember　that　authors　are　repetitious　
·use　keywords