Learning Outcomes
This article explains LSAT-specific detail and retrieval questions in the Reading Comprehension section. You will learn how to accurately identify and locate concrete information stated in a passage, distinguish these questions from inference-based ones, and efficiently select the best evidence-supported answer. You will also gain strategies for scanning, understanding question wording, and avoiding traps or distractors commonly found in LSAT detail questions.
LSAT Syllabus
For LSAT, you are required to understand how to quickly locate explicitly stated information in reading passages and answer specific detail and retrieval questions. Close attention to scanning, recognizing information cues, and distinguishing stated facts from inferences will be key to your revision.
- Apply retrieval techniques to locate information in dense text passages efficiently
- Understand and recognize the various formats of LSAT-specific detail questions
- Select answer choices based only on evidence directly stated or paraphrased in the passage
- Identify and avoid common trap answers, such as unsupported details or subtle distortions
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.
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Which of the following best describes a "specific detail" question on the LSAT Reading Comprehension section?
- Asks you to draw a broad conclusion based on the passage
- Asks you to locate and select what is directly stated in the passage
- Requires you to predict what the author would say on a new topic
- Involves identifying the author's tone towards a subject
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True or False? When answering a specific retrieval question, you should rely only on information clearly found in the passage, even if an answer matches your outside knowledge.
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Which type of wrong answer is most common in LSAT-specific detail questions?
- An outright contradiction
- An answer taken from another part of the passage
- An answer that goes beyond what is directly stated
- All of the above
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According to the LSAT, how should you approach a question framed as, “According to the passage, which of the following statements is true?”
Introduction
LSAT Reading Comprehension often challenges you with questions focused on “specific detail” or “retrieval.” These questions ask you to identify information or statements that are explicitly stated in the passage, as opposed to inferences or overall main ideas. This article outlines the main skills required, the wording of LSAT detail questions, and key strategies for handling them quickly and accurately.
WHAT ARE SPECIFIC DETAIL AND RETRIEVAL QUESTIONS?
Specific detail questions (sometimes called "fact retrieval" or "fact" questions) require you to locate a direct statement, definition, or fact in the passage and select the answer that is most clearly supported by specific text.
Key Term: specific detail question
A question type that asks you to select information directly stated in the passage, without any inference.Key Term: retrieval question
A question type that asks you to find and select an answer based on text explicitly present in the passage.
These questions often begin with phrases such as:
- According to the passage...
- The passage states that...
- The author mentions...
- Which one of the following is mentioned in the passage?
How Do These Differ from Inference Questions?
Inference questions require you to go “beyond” what is directly stated—drawing logical conclusions based on the passage as a whole. By contrast, specific detail questions restrict you to concrete, directly referenced facts or statements.
STRATEGIES FOR ANSWERING SPECIFIC DETAIL QUESTIONS
A retrieval question’s correct answer is always supported by the passage’s language (word-for-word or as a safe paraphrase). The key is to:
- Identify the keywords in the question stem
- Quickly scan (do not reread everything) for where the relevant topic is discussed
- Read a few lines above and below the targeted reference for full context
- Compare each answer directly against what is stated
- Eliminate answers that mix in content from elsewhere, exaggerate, or distort details
Revision Tip
When scanning for an answer, use your highlighter or pencil to mark keywords in the question stem, then look for the same wording or synonyms in the passage.
COMMON QUESTION FORMATS
You may see variations such as:
- According to the passage, the author does which of the following?
- The passage provides information supporting which of the following?
- Which one of the following is mentioned by the author?
- The author refers to which of the following in paragraph 3?
Watch for the instruction to select what the passage "states," "mentions," or "describes."
Worked Example 1.1
A passage includes: “In 1834, Parliament enacted the Factory Act, which limited child workers’ hours to twelve per day.”
Question: According to the passage, the Factory Act of 1834 did which of the following?
A) Abolished all child labor
B) Required schooling for children
C) Established limits on child work hours
D) Outlawed all factory work for children
Answer:
C. The passage states the Act set limits on child work hours. The other choices are not mentioned or stated and cannot be correct.
DEALING WITH COMMON DISTRACTORS
Be alert for the following wrong answer types:
Key Term: distractor
An incorrect answer designed to appear attractive by echoing the passage or using similar wording, but does not fit the actual question or is unsupported.
- Details taken from another paragraph or part of the passage
- Factual statements that are almost, but not quite, what the passage actually says ("twisted detail" distractors)
- Statements that require inference, generalization, or outside knowledge
- Extreme language that exaggerates what is actually stated
Worked Example 1.2
A passage states: “Plant X blooms only in the wet season, after the first heavy rainfall.”
Question: According to the passage, what causes Plant X to bloom?
A) Any increase in temperature
B) Dry soil
C) Heavy rain starting the wet season
D) High wind
Answer:
C. The passage specifically connects Plant X’s blooming to the onset of the wet season by heavy rainfall. Other choices are unsupported or contradict the passage.
SCANNING AND EVIDENCE-SELECTION SKILLS
Top scorers answer detail questions efficiently by:
- Reading the question before looking for the answer
- Identifying and underlining keywords in the question
- Locating the paragraph/subsection which discusses those keywords
- Reading a few lines before and after the direct reference (for full context)
- Checking that your answer matches the exact fact as stated
Worked Example 1.3
The passage says: “The research found that 47% of test subjects responded positively to the new medication.”
Question: According to the passage, what percentage of test subjects had a positive response?
A) Less than 4%
B) 47%
C) At least 90%
D) Half
Answer:
B. “47%” is explicitly stated. “Half” is tempting but not specific enough; “at least 90%” and “less than 4%” are clearly unsupported.
Exam Warning
Many specific detail questions are deliberately worded to tempt you with partial or distorted restatements. Always check each word in the answer against the text. If any word overstates, understates, or contradicts the passage, it cannot be correct.
PRACTICE: ERROR TYPES
Be wary of:
- “Almost correct” answers: Details close to what’s stated but not exact
- “Inference” answers: Go beyond or summarize, but do not match directly
- “Reverse” answers: State the opposite of the correct detail
Worked Example 1.4
A passage says: “Lakeview Reservoir supplies water to three nearby towns: Danbury, Elston, and Fernville.”
Question: According to the passage, which community is among those supplied by Lakeview Reservoir?
A) Elston
B) Norfield
C) Greenville
D) Lakeview
Answer:
A. Only Elston is specified. The other options are not mentioned as supplied communities.
Key Point Checklist
This article has covered the following key knowledge points:
- Specific detail/retrieval questions require selection of concrete facts directly stated in the passage
- The correct answer is always explicitly referenced or safely paraphrased from the passage
- Effective scanning and keyword identification quickly guide you to the answer area in the text
- Common distractors include partial detail distortions, inference answers, or information from other sections
- Always compare each word in the answer choice to the passage’s actual language before selecting
Key Terms and Concepts
- specific detail question
- retrieval question
- distractor