LCAT Verbal, Reading comprehension
Reading comprehension for the LCAT
The LCAT includes longer passages followed by several questions. Read the whole passage once for its main point, then answer each question by going back to the exact lines it depends on. Most wrong choices are too narrow, too strong, not in the passage, or contradicted by it.
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| Question type | What to do |
|---|---|
| Main idea / summary | Choose the answer that covers every paragraph |
| Detail | Find the sentence and match it closely |
| Vocabulary in context | Replace the word with each choice; the everyday meaning is often a trap |
| Inference | Choose the conclusion the passage fully supports |
| Purpose or structure | Describe what a paragraph does, not what it says |
A method for passage sets
- Read the questions’ first words so you know what to look for.
- Read the passage once, writing a two- or three-word note for each paragraph.
- Answer detail questions first, then main idea and purpose questions last, when you understand the whole passage.
Common mistakes
Choosing a true detail for a main-idea questionIt must cover the whole passage.
Extreme answersAuthors usually support ideas with reservations.
Answering from memoryGo back to the lines every time.
Sample questions with answers
1. A passage says the delta’s mangroves protect the coast, shelter young fish, and shrank but are recovering. Main idea?
- Mangroves grow only there.
- They protect the coast and support fishing, and need care and fresh water. (correct)
- Fishing caused their decline.
- Their roots look like stilts.
It covers every paragraph.
2. In "the fixed costs of power plants", fixed most nearly means
- repaired
- constant (correct)
- fastened
- corrected
Costs that do not change with use.
3. A planner “concedes” a ban could hurt shops. Concede means
- admit (correct)
- deny
- forget
- surrender
To acknowledge something as true.
Frequently asked questions
Does the LCAT have long reading passages?
Yes. LUMS’s official sample includes a passage followed by five comprehension questions.
Are there short texts as well as long passages?
Yes. LUMS’s sample includes short single-question texts as well as a longer passage with five questions.
How should I manage time on passage sets?
Read once with brief notes, then return to the text for each question instead of rereading everything.