Reading comprehension strategies and techniques - Comparativ...

Learning Outcomes

After reading this article, you will be able to recognize the main comparative-reading relationship archetypes on the LSAT, including agreement, disagreement, and contrast between passages. You will learn how to classify comparative passage relationships, extract points of agreement and contention, and apply precise strategies to answer LSAT comparative reading questions efficiently.

LSAT Syllabus

For the LSAT, you are required to understand how to analyze and compare paired reading passages. This article covers the key elements to focus on during your revision:

• identifying and classifying relationship archetypes between paired passages (agreement, disagreement, contrast)
• distinguishing points of direct agreement, disagreement, and subtle differences between authors
• applying effective comparative reading strategies and techniques to LSAT questions
• understanding question types relating to comparative relationships

Test Your Knowledge

Attempt these questions before reading this article. If you find some difficult or cannot remember the answers, remember to look more closely at that area during your revision.

1. Which of the following best describes a “direct disagreement” relationship between two LSAT comparative passages?
   1. Both authors answer the same question but with different evidence
   2. Both authors hold conflicting views about a central claim
   3. Both authors entirely agree on a main point
   4. Both authors address different subject matters
2. On LSAT comparative reading, what is the main approach for a question asking where the two authors “would be most likely to agree”?
   1. Find specific facts repeated in both passages
   2. Select an answer both authors explicitly support or would accept
   3. Pick any detail from Passage A that appears in Passage B
   4. Choose the option most related to context clues

3. True or false: On the LSAT, “neutral relationship” comparative passages always contain some hidden disagreement.

Introduction

Comparative reading on the LSAT requires you to analyze pairs of passages and assess how their authors relate to one another. These relationships form predictable archetypes: complete agreement, direct disagreement, partial disagreement, and contrast without opposition. Accurately diagnosing the relationship between paired passages is essential to identifying main claims, answering comparative questions, and managing time effectively.

Understanding the comparative-reading relationship archetypes will allow you to approach each LSAT question with a clear analytical method. This article presents the main types of relationships, offers identification techniques, and provides actionable strategies for the most common LSAT comparative question stems.

Comparative-Reading Relationship Archetypes

When reading paired passages, your first priority is to determine the overall attitude or stance of each author. Most LSAT paired passages fall into a handful of relationship types:

• Direct agreement
• Direct disagreement
• Partial or subtle disagreement/agreement
• Contrast without actual dispute (e.g., topic, emphasis, or viewpoint)

Key Term: direct agreement
A relationship where both authors express the same or highly similar viewpoints about a central idea or claim.

Key Term: direct disagreement
A relationship where each author explicitly supports different, opposing stances on a central claim or issue.

Key Term: subtle stance
A relationship in which the passages agree on certain points but diverge in emphasis, reasoning, or the scope/extent of agreement.

Key Term: contrast
Passages that address the same subject but focus on different aspects, purposes, or contexts, without necessarily disagreeing.

Identifying Relationship Types

To classify the relationship archetype, focus on the following:

1. What is the main point or purpose in each passage?
2. Does either author refer to, challenge, or build on the other’s view?
3. Are the authors’ stances on key claims similar, directly opposed, or does one passage add conditions or limitations to the other?

Recognizing the type will allow you to predict what kind of comparative questions will arise and isolate relevant evidence for rapid answering.

Worked Example 1.1

Two passages discuss genetically modified crops.

• Passage A argues GM crops are safe and essential for food security.
• Passage B claims potential environmental impacts of GM crops are unknown and urges more caution.

Which relationship archetype is most evident between these passages?

Answer:
This is a direct disagreement. Each author plainly takes an opposing stance regarding the central claim of GM crop safety and necessity.

Worked Example 1.2

Suppose Passage A presents three advantages of renewable energy adoption, while Passage B describes challenges hindering broad renewable energy use, but never rejects those advantages.

What is the relationship archetype here?

Answer:
This is contrast. Each author addresses different aspects of the renewable energy question—one focusing on benefits, the other on obstacles—without directly refuting or opposing the other.

Analyzing Agreement and Disagreement

Once you’ve classified the archetype, examine the main statements each author makes on key issues.

Direct agreement questions require you to isolate statements that both passages explicitly (or implicitly and unambiguously) support.

Direct disagreement or “point at issue” questions require you to find a claim where one author would agree and the other would reject or deny.

If passages show partial or subtle disagreement, look for claims that both would accept, then locate where their views diverge—often in reasoning, evidence, or limiting conditions.

Key Term: point at issue
A statement about which the authors clearly take opposite sides—one would accept as true, the other would reject.

Worked Example 1.3

Passage A states: "Mandatory voting increases civic engagement."
Passage B states: "Mandatory voting suppresses genuine civic engagement and leads to voter apathy."

What is their main point at issue?

Answer:
Whether mandatory voting increases or decreases civic engagement. Each author directly and explicitly expresses an opposite stance.

Exam Warning

Watch for “apparent disagreement”—sometimes authors address similar topics but do not contradict each other’s main conclusions. Only statements where one would clearly accept and the other would clearly reject count as real points at issue.

Typical LSAT Comparative Question Types

Common LSAT comparative questions include:

• "The authors would be most likely to agree that..."
• "The authors’ primary disagreement is over..."
• "Passage A and Passage B are related in which one of the following ways?"
• "Which one of the following is a point at issue between A and B?"

Each question type should be approached with the archetype in mind.

Answering “Agree” Questions

• Isolate claims directly supported by both passages.
• Check that neither passage would contradict the statement.
• Avoid statements supported by one author and merely unaddressed by the other—lack of contradiction is not enough for a true “agreement”.

Answering “Disagree” or “Point at Issue” Questions

• Find a statement one author would clearly endorse but the other would reject.
• Both passages must address the topic.
• Avoid distractors that are outside the scope of either passage or where the stance of one author is unknown.

Answering “Relationship” or “Compare/Contrast” Questions

• Reference your initial archetype diagnosis. Is it agreement, disagreement, subtle variation, or contrast?
• Scan for clear structural indicators: words like “however,” “on the other hand,” “in contrast,” or “by comparison”.

Worked Example 1.4

LSAT question: "The authors of Passage A and Passage B would be most likely to disagree over which one of the following statements?"

• Statement 1: "Renewable energy improves air quality." (Both agree.)
• Statement 2: "Government subsidies are essential for renewable energy adoption." (Only Passage A says this; Passage B says subsidies should be minimal.)

Answer:
Statement 2 is the best answer, since it is the primary point at issue: one author supports heavy subsidies, the other explicitly opposes them.

Comparative Strategy for Efficient LSAT Answers

1. Classify the archetype: Is it agreement, disagreement, subtle variation, or contrast?
2. Underline/flag the main points: Mark or note where each author's stance is stated or implied.
3. Anticipate common relationship questions: Predict likely points of agreement, disagreement, or contrast.
4. Use process of elimination: Remove options not discussed or not addressed by both authors.

Revision Tip

In the early lines of each passage, try to predict whether the authors are likely to fundamentally agree or oppose each other. Noting this upfront saves time and reduces errors on comparative questions.

Summary

Key Point Checklist

This article has covered the following key knowledge points:

• LSAT comparative reading emphasizes identifying author relationships: agreement, disagreement, subtle variation, or contrast
• Direct agreement: authors explicitly support similar main claims
• Direct disagreement: authors express clearly opposite views on key issues
• Subtle/partial: authors mostly agree but differ in part, scope, or reasoning
• Contrast: passages differ in focus or context rather than opinion
• Effective LSAT strategy: always classify the relationship archetype first
• Treat comparative questions by carefully matching question stem to the relationship type before eliminating wrong answers

Key Terms and Concepts

• direct agreement
• direct disagreement
• subtle stance
• contrast
• point at issue