Possible Sample – Test 1

LSAT Comparative Reading – Release Date – June 11, 2007

 

LSAT has announced that effective June 2007 the Reading Comprehension section of the LSAT will include some questions types of the “Comparative Reading” format. Comparative reading questions involve two passages. The two passages together will be about as long as one traditional reading comprehension passages. The questions you will be asked will include:
– questions about only one of the passages
– questions about the other passage
– questions that will be based on information about both of the passages
LSAT has made it clear that:
“A few of the questions that follow a comparative reading passage pair might concern only one of the two passages, but most questions will be about both passages and how they relate to each other.”

Current information from LSAT may be found here:

Possible Comparative Reading Exercises – This Is Purely Speculative!!

LSAT will not release sample Comparative Reading questions until February 2007. Hence, it is impossible to know exactly what the format will be. Nevertheless, here are some possible samples to get you started.
Passages provided by Nova Press: www.novapress.net

______________________________________________________________________
Passage 1
Every year, Americans spend millions of dollars on diet programs, diet supplements, and gym memberships. These are wasted dollars when you consider that all you need for weight loss is general information about carbohydrates. Carbohydrates help the body produce insulin which helps maintain a balance of blood-sugar levels. This is important for the body to function properly; however, too many carbohydrates sends blood-sugar levels plunging because of an excess of insulin. It’s at this time you reach for a “quick-fix”—often a candy bar—to replenish your energy. When you replace healthy protein snacks with sweets, proper weight loss never takes place.
To lose weight, it is imperative that you cut back on your carbohydrate intake. By making this adjustment, even a couch potato can lose weight! With a reduction in carbohydrates in your system, you will burn enough energy just sitting in a chair, that you can shed the pounds. You can’t ask for an easier way to diet.

Passage 2
In America, the latest fads are diets. With the revolving door on such diets, it’s no wonder that the rate of obesity continues to grow in the United States. What Americans need to do is go back to the basics: a well-rounded, healthy diet and a regular exercise regiment. A well-rounded diet includes eating the recommended daily allowance of fruits, vegetables, meats, and grains. Sweets and oils should be consumed sparingly, although not totally eliminated. Many dieters attempt to go “cold turkey” off of sweets and fatty foods, and they end up failing miserably. This failure leads to a lack of confidence and perseverance in dieting.
Rather than making a physical decision to “diet,” Americans should simply eat sensibly and couple this with exercise. Exercise is one of the most important components of losing weight and being healthy. Individuals should receive 20 minutes of exercise at least three times per week. If America will only get back to the basics, the nation will be back to fit and healthy.

27. Consider two people who eat from the same low-carbohydrate menu. Which one of the fol-lowing would weaken the author’s argument in Passage 1?
(A) Person A does not exercise. Person B does not exercise. Person A loses two more pounds than Person B.
(B) Person A does not exercise. Person B exercises regularly. Person B loses more weight than Person A.
(C) Person A exercises regularly. Person B does not exercise. Person B loses 5 more pounds than Person A.
(D) Person A exercises regularly. Person B exercises regularly. Neither loses any weight.
(E) Person A does not exercise. Person B does not exercise. Both lose the same amount of weight.

28. In Passage 2, diets are compared to fads because
(A) they come and go.
(B) they are adopted by younger generations.
(C) there is often a cost associated with them.
(D) they stay the same.
(E) they became popular within a year.

29. On what main idea do the authors of both passages agree?
(A) Americans don’t diet often enough.
(B) An exercise regiment in your diet is irrelevant.
(C) Americans consume too much junk food.
(D) Americans make dieting too complicated.
(E) Too many Americans suffer from obesity.

30. On what main issue do the authors of both passages disagree?
(A) Sweets should be cut from your diet.
(B) Carbohydrates should be a part of your diet.
(C) You should eat more meats and vegetables in a healthy diet.
(D) You should eat less fat in your diet.
(E) A diet should include regular exercise.

Answers and Solutions

27. Choice A is incorrect. Passage 1 argues that exercise does not matter with weight loss. Neither person exercised in this choice. Therefore, it is irrelevant that Person A lost two more pounds than Person B. It does not weaken the author’s supposition that exercise does not matter.
Choice C is incorrect because it would not weaken the author’s argument. Rather, it would strengthen it since the person who did not exercise lost the most weight.
Choice D is incorrect. Both exercised and neither lost weight. This works to support the author, not to weaken his argument.
Choice E is incorrect. The author argues that you can lose weight just by sitting on the couch. Both Person A and Person B did just that and lost the same amount of weight. This is what the author said would happen; therefore, it does not weaken his argument.
Choice B is the correct answer. In this answer-choice, Person B exercises regularly and is the one who loses weight. This weakens the author’s argument that exercise is inconsequential when it comes to weight loss.
28. Choice B is incorrect because fads are not necessarily only adopted by the younger people of a population.
Choice C is incorrect. A fad is not defined by any type of monetary cost.
Choice D is incorrect. In fact, it offers a definition that is completely opposite of what fads actually are.
Choice E is incorrect. Although fads do take awhile to spread their popularity, there is no set amount of time.
Choice A is your answer because fads, by definition, come and go. The author compares diets to fads because new diet ideas come and go.

29. Choice A is incorrect. If anything, the authors believe that Americans diet too often.
Choice B is incorrect. While the author of Passage 1 believes that exercise is irrelevant, the author of Passage 2 believes exercise is imperative to weight loss and healthy living.
Choice C is incorrect. Sweets are mentioned in each passage but neither author infers that Americans eat too much junk food. Passage 1 uses a candy bar as an example of a poor choice for a snack, and Passage 2 states that while junk food consumption should be curbed to some extent, it should not be eliminated. Therefore, neither has a real strong opinion about junk food.
Choice E is incorrect. Passage 2 mentions obesity and indicates that more and more people in the United States are suffering from obesity. However, he does not conclude that, even with the rising rate, there are “too many” who suffer from obesity. The author of Passage 1 does not even mention obesity. Therefore, this answer-choice is not right.
Choice D is correct. Both passages discuss all of the different ways Americans attempt to diet. Both passages agree that there is a simpler way. The author of Passage 1 states that “all you need is general information.” The author of Passage 2 states that what “Americans need to do is go back to the basics.” Both authors attempt to offer simplicity in the complicated world of dieting.
30. Choice A is incorrect. The author of Passage 1 suggests that sweet snacks should be replaced with protein snacks. However, he does not say that sweets should be completely cut from a diet. Along the same lines, the author in Passage 2 suggests using sweets sparingly in your diet, but cautions that you must not completely cut them from your diet as going “cold-turkey” can result in failure. Neither author suggests cutting sweets completely from your diet. Therefore, they agree on this topic, and this is not your answer.
Choice B is incorrect. The author of Passage 1 clearly feels that carbohydrate intake should be reduced; however, he seems to recommend a low-carbohydrate diet, not a no-carbohydrate diet. The author of Passage 2 suggests that Americans need to eat the recommended daily allowance of grains, which would include carbohydrates. The two authors do not fully disagree on this topic, so this is not your answer.
Choice C is incorrect. The author in Passage 1 does not mention meat and vegetables; however, for the dieter who cuts back on her carbohydrate intake, it can be assumed that meats and healthier carbohydrates like vegetables would play a larger role in her diet. Passage 2 suggests that Americans eat the recommended daily allowance for meats and vegetables. This is not to say that each person should necessarily increase their intake, but the author seems to assume that many Americans are probably not eating enough since he suggests “getting back” to the basics. In both cases, the authors do not offer a strong opinion, nor do they disagree on this topic.
Choice D is incorrect as the authors do not clearly disagree on this topic. Passage 1 does not even mention fatty foods. The author of Passage 2 suggests consuming fatty foods sparingly but cautions against cutting them completely from a diet. The authors do not clearly disagree on this topic.
Choice E is the correct answer. The author of Passage 1 clearly explains that you do not need to exercise in order to lose weight. This idea is in direct opposition of the author of Passage 2 who views exercise as an integral part of losing weight and living a healthy life.

Passages provided by Nova Press: www.novapress.net