Reading comprehension strategies and techniques - Lexical in...

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this article, you will know how to infer the meaning of unfamiliar words in LSAT passages, understand how authors use term-shifting to alter meaning, and apply context clues to decode vocabulary in reading comprehension. You will be able to recognize and resolve ambiguities in lexical meaning and spot shifts in terminology that affect the logic or structure of an LSAT passage.

LSAT Syllabus

For the LSAT Reading Comprehension section, you are required to understand not only explicit statements but also implied meanings. Pay close attention during revision to:

• inferring the meaning of unfamiliar or ambiguous words using context
• understanding and identifying term-shifting—when key words or phrases change definition during a passage
• recognizing how context, tone, and structure influence word meaning and passage interpretation
• how you would spot subtle shifts in terminology that impact the argument or author’s position

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. When a word's meaning appears to change mid-passage, what is this called, and why is it important for reading comprehension?
2. Which of the following clues most reliably signals a shift in an author’s use of a term? a) quotation marks used around a repeated word
   b) topic sentence restates key vocabulary
   c) explicit definition statements
   d) all of the above
3. How can you use context to infer the meaning of an unfamiliar word in an LSAT passage?
4. True or false? For LSAT, terms used in the passage must always be understood with their most common dictionary definition.

Introduction

Success in LSAT Reading Comprehension requires more than simply understanding sentences. Many questions depend on interpreting vocabulary and recognizing when an author changes how a key word is used. Lexical inference and term-shifting are core LSAT skills: you must work out word meaning from clues in the passage and detect when a word changes meaning partway through text. Misreading lexical shifts can completely alter your answer to main point, inference, or reasoning questions.

Key Term: lexical inference
The process of determining the meaning of an unfamiliar word or ambiguous term using context clues, sentence structure, or contrast within the passage.

Key Term: term-shifting
The deliberate or subtle changing of a key term’s meaning as it recurs within a passage, often changing the logic or argument.

LEXICAL INFERENCE IN LSAT PASSAGES

A strong LSAT reading strategy involves inferring, not guessing, the meaning of unknown or context-dependent words. Most LSAT passages use words in precise but sometimes unfamiliar ways, or use words with multiple possible meanings.

Common strategies for lexical inference:

• Examine surrounding words and sentences for definitions, descriptions, or examples.
• Look for contrasting statements—these often clarify meaning by showing what the word does not mean.
• Notice when the text uses synonyms or analogous expressions elsewhere.
• Pay special attention to qualifying phrases (“in this context,” “so-called,” etc.) and punctuation (commas, dashes, quotation marks).

Worked Example 1.1

In the passage: "The committee quickly reached a consensus, but this apparent unanimity was superficial."

What does 'superficial' most likely mean in this context?

Answer:
The sentence contrasts "apparent unanimity" with "superficial," suggesting the agreement was only on the surface. "Superficial" here means 'lacking real depth or substance,' i.e., the consensus was not genuine.

Context Clues and Exam Technique

Look for:

• Definitions, restatements, or appositive phrases near the unfamiliar word.
• Contrast indicators (“however,” “but,” “in contrast”)—these often reveal or clarify how a word is meant.
• Examples or lists that illustrate the word in use.

Key Term: context clue
Information provided by the rest of the sentence or passage, which reveals or constrains the word’s meaning.

TERM-SHIFTING AND ITS EFFECTS

Term-shifting—when an author subtly or explicitly changes how an important word or phrase is used—is a classic LSAT reading trap. Shifts may occur in technical terms (e.g., “law,” “theory,” “efficiency”), or in everyday words used differently in different paragraphs.

Common signals for term-shifting:

• Use of quotation marks for a term after it was previously used without them.
• Introduction of new definitions (“by ‘efficiency’ I mean…”), or explicit redefinition within the passage.
• Shifts in the subject under discussion, even if the same term is repeated.

Recognizing term-shifting is critical because passage logic often depends on a single word changing sense partway through the text. Missing this can lead directly to incorrect inferences or misreading the author’s main conclusion.

Worked Example 1.2

Early in a passage, "democracy" is used to mean "majority rule," but later the passage says, "True democracy, however, demands protection for minorities."

How has the author shifted the term "democracy"?

Answer:
The author has changed the meaning from simple majority rule (the will of most) to a definition that includes protection for minorities, i.e., broader political rights. Recognizing this is essential to correctly identifying the author’s actual argument and resolving conflicting details in questions.

Exam Warning

For LSAT Reading Comprehension, do not assume that the sense of a repeated word stays constant. Always check how the term is framed in each section—especially where there are quotation marks, contrast statements, or shifts in viewpoint.

TIPS FOR DEALING WITH TERM-SHIFTING AND LEXICAL AMBIGUITY

• If you see a key word used repeatedly, underline or highlight it each time—look for differences in surrounding language.
• If a passage points out that a word is 'misused,' 'so-called,' or 'strictly speaking,' expect a definition change and mark it in your notes.
• Beware especially when LSAT questions ask about the "meaning in context" of a word—likely that term-shifting is at play.

Worked Example 1.3

Passage excerpt: "Economists disagree on what counts as 'efficiency.' In business, the term usually means cost-minimization, but in welfare economics, 'efficiency' involves maximizing societal benefit. This difference divides the two schools of thought."

What’s the term shift, and why does it matter?

Answer:
"Efficiency" first refers to minimizing business costs, then to maximizing collective welfare. Noticing this explains the authors' argument about the roots of an economic debate, and may be directly tested in a question about author disagreement or main point.

Revision Tip

When reviewing a passage, make a short note or margin mark every time a key term appears. Always check if the meaning remains constant or shifts in subsequent uses.

Summary

Key Point Checklist

This article has covered the following key knowledge points:

• Lexical inference allows you to deduce unfamiliar word meanings from context, structure, and contrast cues within a passage
• Term-shifting occurs when a repeated term changes definition or scope in different sections of a passage
• Spotting term-shifting is critical to LSAT main point, inference, and reasoning questions and avoids major traps
• Context clues, contrast indicators, and explicit definitions are the most reliable tools for inferring meaning on LSAT Reading Comprehension

Key Terms and Concepts

• lexical inference
• term-shifting
• context clue