• Business School
    • Free MBA Admissions Consultation
    • MBA Admissions Services
    • School-Specific MBA Essay Tips
    • Executive MBA Essay Tips
    • MBA Admissions Calendar
    • Free Guides
    • Video Tips
    • Podcast
    • Selectivity Index
    • EMBA: The Ultimate Guide for Applicants
  • Medical School
    • Free Med School Admissions Consultation
    • Med School Admissions Services
    • Med School Admissions 101
    • Secondary Essay Tips (by School)
    • Student Interviews
    • Free Guides
    • Video Tips
    • Podcast
    • Selectivity Index
  • Law School
    • Free Law School Admissions Consultation
    • Law School Admissions Services
    • Law School Admissions 101
    • Selectivity Index
    • Free Guides
    • Podcast
    • Video Tips
  • Graduate School
    • Free Grad School Admissions Consultation
    • Grad School Admissions Services
    • Grad School Admissions 101
    • Free Guides
    • Video Tips
    • Podcast
  • College
    • Free College Admissions Consultation
    • College Admissions Services
    • Free Guides
    • Supplemental Essay Tips
    • Video Tips
    • Podcast
Accepted

Speak with an Accepted admissions expert for FREE!

Blog HomePodcastContact Us

Accepted Admissions Blog

Everything you need to know to get Accepted

January 22, 2010

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Attitude Problems on the LSAT

Attitude questions—you know, those pesky problems that pretty much ask you how the author feels about something—may be the trickiest questions on the Reading Comp section of the LSAT. If only those authors would just come out and say how they felt about the topic (for ex, I think that Yeats’ poetry is crap)! Luckily for us, these attitudes can come across loud and clear, as long as you know what types of language to look for.

A few things to keep in mind:

  1. Eliminate any answer choice with the words indifferent or neutral—if the author didn’t have an opinion about the subject, the LSAT writers wouldn’t be asking the question.
  2. Check out the adjectives and adverbs that describe the topic: Are these mostly positive (comprehensive, enlightening, insightful, etc) or negative (disappointing, inadequate, unsatisfactory)?
  3. Check out the verbs that are associated with the topic: Does the author say that it attempts, succeeds, or fails at anything?
  4. Unless your findings are OVERWHELMINGLY positive or STAGGERINGLY negative, eliminate extreme answer choices (outright disdain, ardent admiration, unmitigated criticism, unconditional acceptance, etc).

Let’s take a look at this excerpt and see if we can figure out what the author’s attitude toward Hoffman’s study is:

Hoffman’s study provides one of the more illuminating accounts of the Great Migration. Unfortunately, it fails to fully address the reaction of Northern whites to this sudden influx of African Americans.

Okay, so the author describes the study as one of the more illuminating accounts. That sounds pretty positive! However, the author then throws in a negative qualification: it unfortunately fails to fully address something. So, the author has a somewhat positive attitude toward Hoffman’s study.

We need to keep this in mind as we look over the answer choices:

A. Enthusiastic reverence

This is an extreme answer choice. We know that the author feels positively about Hoffman’s study, but we also know that he has certain reservations about it. So this option is out.

B. Complete indifference

This choice tells us that the author has no opinion on Hoffman’s study—we can eliminate it right off the bat.

C. Qualified rejection

This choice implies that the author’s attitude toward Hoffman’s study is mostly negative, but we know the author’s feelings are primarily positive.

D. Reserved admiration

Here’s our correct answer! The author has admiration for Hoffman’s study (it is one of the more illuminating accounts.) We also know this admiration is reserved, because the author points out one of the study’s unfortunate shortcomings (it fails to fully address…).

E. Pointed skepticism

Here’s another extreme answer choice. Plus, it’s entirely negative, while we know the author has somewhat positive feelings about Hoffman’s study.

Now, go solve those attitude problems!

Emily Holleman is a Content Developer at Knewton, helping students with their LSAT preparation.


Article by Accepted / Law School Admissions / LSAT

Get Accepted!

Sign up for a free consultation today!

Which program are you applying to?

Most Popular Blog Posts

1. 7 Simple Steps to Writing an Excellent Diversity Essay

2. 4 Ways to Show How You’ll Contribute in the Future

3. How to Write About Your Research Interests

4. Tips for Answering the Yale University Supplemental Essays and Short Answer Questions [2022-2023]

5. When Will Medical Schools Give You an Answer?

6. Sample Essays from Admitted HBS Students

7. Tips for Answering the University of Pennsylvania Supplemental Essay Prompts [2022-2023]

8. Top STEM MBA Programs: A Comprehensive List and Overview of STEM-OPT Eligible B-Schools

Sample Essays

MBA Personal Statement Examples

Medical School Personal Statement Examples

Graduate School Personal Statement Examples

Law School Personal Statement Examples

College Application Essay Examples

 

This Site is Featured on GMATClub

Home Page Services and Prices MBA Med School Law School Grad School College

About Us Press Room Contact Us Podcast Accepted Blog
Privacy Policy Website Terms of Use Disclaimer Client Terms of Service

Accepted 1171 S. Robertson Blvd. #140 Los Angeles CA 90035 +1 (310) 815-9553
© 2022 Accepted

BBB A+ RatingStamp of AIGAC Excellence

Copyright © 2023 · Education Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in