How to Answer Comparative Passage Questions in LSAT Reading Comprehension

Comparative Reading Comprehension passages on the LSAT ask you to understand, analyze, and compare two distinct but related texts. These passage types assess how well you can synthesize and differentiate perspectives within two passages, each with its own approach to a shared topic or theme.

Here, we’ll explore effective strategies for handling comparative passages, including analyzing the structure, understanding the relationship between the texts, and tackling specific question types.

What Are Comparative Reading Passages on the LSAT?

Comparative reading passages on the LSAT test your ability to draw connections, contrasts, and distinctions between two passages on a related theme or question. 

These passages are structured as Passage A and Passage B, each roughly half the length of a typical LSAT reading passage. Questions often focus on how the two passages are related, requiring you to analyze similarities, contrasts, or the ways one passage responds to the other.

Each passage usually presents its perspective on the same topic, but with a different argument, set of evidence, or tone. To tackle reading passages effectively, you need to first identify the main point of each passage individually, then recognize how they interact—whether they support, critique, or expand upon each other.

Comparative passages often present subtle differences in argumentation or perspective, so your goal is to read actively, questioning each passage’s intent and viewpoint. This will give you the clarity needed to answer accurately.

2-Step Formula for Evaluating Comparative Reading Passages

When you're evaluating comparative reading questions, apply this 2-step formula:

1. Read the Passage Individually and Establish Its Main Point

Start by reading passage A independently, just as you would with any other LSAT Reading Comprehension section.

Focus on identifying the main point, purpose, and tone of the passage. This helps you develop a clear, unbiased understanding of the argument on its own terms.

• Determine the central claim or main argument of the passage. This will serve as a reference when you're comparing A with B in later questions.

• Identify the primary evidence or reasoning techniques the author uses. Comparative questions often ask how authors support their arguments, so aim to recognize the passage’s approach early on.

• Pay attention to the author’s tone. Tone differences can sometimes reveal contrasting attitudes toward the topic, which might form the basis of comparison questions.

2. Identify the Relationship Between the Two Passages

Once you’ve read and understood passage A, start reading passage B. Follow the same process as outlined above, but as you’re reading, you also need to ask yourself, “How is this similar or different from the first passage?"

You’re aiming to correctly identify the relationship between passages A and B to answer comparative questions accurately. Typical relationships include:

• Agreement or support, where both passages take similar stances or support each other’s conclusions in different ways.

• Contrast or critique, where one passage may oppose or critique the arguments of the other, offering alternative evidence or challenging conclusions.

• Expansion or addition, where one passage expands on the topic by adding new insights, broader contexts, or different applications.

Use the authors’ tone and arguments, along with the specific details of each passage, to gauge the relationship. This should guide you toward the correct answer to questions about each passage’s stance.

Common Types of Comparative Passage Questions

Once you've evaluated the two passages and understand how they relate, you can move on to answer the questions.

Comparative passage questions come in various forms, and you'll need to adjust your approach depending on the question you're facing. When you familiarize yourself with common question types, you'll find it easier to structure your responses effectively.

The common types of comparative passage questions are:

Main Point and Purpose Questions

These questions ask about the main idea or purpose of each passage individually or in relation to each other. To answer these:

• Refer back to each passage’s main point. 

• Consider how each passage’s purpose relates to the other’s. If the two passages share similar purposes, your answer choice should reflect that; if they differ, focus on the precise nature of that difference.

Example Main Point Questions

Main point questions are worded like this:

• How do the authors’ main points in Passage A and Passage B compare?

• Which of the following best describes the central argument of both passages?

Attitude and Tone Questions

Tone or attitude questions assess the author's attitude, or how each author feels about the topic or each other’s perspective. For these:

• Pay attention to words or phrases that indicate approval, skepticism, neutrality, or criticism as you’re reading the passages.

• Compare the tones directly—does one author sound more skeptical, or does one take a neutral stance while the other is more positive?

Example Attitude and Tone Questions

Attitude and tone questions typically have wording similar to this: 

• What is the tone of Author A toward the viewpoint presented in Passage B?

• How would you characterize each author’s attitude toward the use of government intervention?

• Which of the following best captures the difference in tone between the two authors?

Stated Questions

These questions ask about a particular detail or piece of evidence found in one or both passages. The answer may require that you understand not just the fact itself but also its significance in the context of the argument.

• For single-passage detail questions, locate the detail in the relevant passage and clarify how it supports the author’s point.

• For comparative questions, determine if a similar detail appears in the other passage or if it contrasts with the evidence used there. These questions often hinge on slight distinctions between how each passage treats the same fact or concept.

Example Detail and Evidence Questions

Questions worded similarly to these are asking you about a particular detail or piece of evidence in the passages:

• What evidence does Author B provide to support their position on public policy?

• According to Passage A, what role does cultural context play in shaping social norms?

• How does Passage B respond to the evidence cited in Passage A?

Agreement or Disagreement Questions

In these questions, your job is to identify where the two authors agree or disagree on a specific point.

• Start by clarifying each author’s position on the point mentioned. These questions often feature statements that only one of the authors supports, making it easier to rule out incorrect answer choices.

• Avoid overgeneralizing. Some answers may look correct because they vaguely fit both authors’ views, but the correct answer will directly and specifically reflect each author’s stance.

Example Agreement or Disagreement Questions

Agreement or disagreement questions have wording like this: 

• On which of the following points do both authors agree?

• In what way does Author A's position conflict with that of Author B?

• Which of the following statements would both authors most likely accept as true?

Tips for Practicing Comparative Reading Questions

When you're practicing comparative reading questions, the following tips should prove helpful:

Practice Active Prediction to Narrow Down Answer Choices

As with other questions in the LSAT Reading Comprehension section, predicting an answer based on your understanding of each passage will improve your accuracy.

For each question, before you look at the answer choices, try to predict the answer based on what you remember or what you noted about each passage. Predicting the answer in advance means you're less likely to be influenced by tempting but incorrect choices.

After predicting the answer, check the text to confirm that your prediction aligns with each passage’s content. For instance, if you’ve identified a contrasting viewpoint in one passage, make sure that contrast holds throughout before choosing a related answer.

Carefully rule out incorrect answers. Comparative questions often feature subtle distractors—answers that sound plausible but don’t accurately reflect the passages’ relationship. Pay attention to each answer’s specifics, especially if it suggests that both authors share a perspective when they don’t.

Key Takeaways for Comparative LSAT Reading Comprehension Questions

To get good at answering questions about comparative passages in LSAT Reading Comprehension, you need to thoroughly understand each passage independently. Only from there can you identify the passages' relationship and anticipate the types of questions you may face.

The strategy is simple: read the first passage as you would any other, focusing on its main point, structure, and purpose. When you move to the second passage, apply the same approach, but keep the first passage in mind as you read. This way, you naturally start comparing the two, noting where they differ and how their purposes or arguments intersect. 

With careful practice, you’ll strengthen your ability to differentiate and compare multiple viewpoints—skills that help you improve your LSAT reading comprehension score and prove beneficial in any setting that requires you to carefully analyze and synthesize information.