Reference Resolution - LSAT Reading
Card 1 of 30
Identify the referent: "Researchers interviewed doctors and patients. They reported high stress." Who reported high stress?
Identify the referent: "Researchers interviewed doctors and patients. They reported high stress." Who reported high stress?
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Patients. Stress reporting fits patients (interviewees) not researchers.
Patients. Stress reporting fits patients (interviewees) not researchers.
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What is reference resolution in LSAT Reading Comprehension?
What is reference resolution in LSAT Reading Comprehension?
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Identifying what a pronoun or pointer phrase refers to in context. Pronouns and phrases like "this" point back to earlier nouns or ideas.
Identifying what a pronoun or pointer phrase refers to in context. Pronouns and phrases like "this" point back to earlier nouns or ideas.
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Identify the referent: “A and B were proposed. The former is cheaper.” What is “the former”?
Identify the referent: “A and B were proposed. The former is cheaper.” What is “the former”?
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A. "Former" refers to the first item in the preceding list.
A. "Former" refers to the first item in the preceding list.
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What does “the latter” refer to when two items were just listed?
What does “the latter” refer to when two items were just listed?
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The second of the two items. In a pair, "latter" always means the second mentioned.
The second of the two items. In a pair, "latter" always means the second mentioned.
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What does “the former” refer to when two items were just listed?
What does “the former” refer to when two items were just listed?
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The first of the two items. In a pair, "former" always means the first mentioned.
The first of the two items. In a pair, "former" always means the first mentioned.
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What is the most common trap in reference resolution questions?
What is the most common trap in reference resolution questions?
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Choosing a nearby noun that fits grammar but does not fit the author’s logic. Test answers trap you with grammatically correct but illogical matches.
Choosing a nearby noun that fits grammar but does not fit the author’s logic. Test answers trap you with grammatically correct but illogical matches.
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What is the key grammatical check when resolving “this/that” used as a noun?
What is the key grammatical check when resolving “this/that” used as a noun?
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It must refer to a specific prior idea, claim, event, or situation. "This" as a noun points to abstract concepts, not just objects.
It must refer to a specific prior idea, claim, event, or situation. "This" as a noun points to abstract concepts, not just objects.
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What is the key grammatical check when resolving “it/its”?
What is the key grammatical check when resolving “it/its”?
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Singular agreement: the antecedent must be singular and non-human in context. "It" refers to singular things, not people in formal writing.
Singular agreement: the antecedent must be singular and non-human in context. "It" refers to singular things, not people in formal writing.
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What is the key grammatical check when resolving “they/their/them”?
What is the key grammatical check when resolving “they/their/them”?
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Plural agreement: the antecedent must be plural or a plural collective. "They" can only refer to plural nouns or groups.
Plural agreement: the antecedent must be plural or a plural collective. "They" can only refer to plural nouns or groups.
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What is a pointer phrase that often requires reference resolution?
What is a pointer phrase that often requires reference resolution?
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A phrase like “this,” “that,” “these,” “such,” or “the former/latter”. These demonstratives point to previously mentioned concepts.
A phrase like “this,” “that,” “these,” “such,” or “the former/latter”. These demonstratives point to previously mentioned concepts.
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What is an antecedent in reference resolution?
What is an antecedent in reference resolution?
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The earlier noun phrase that a later pronoun or pointer refers to. The pronoun points back to this previously mentioned noun or phrase.
The earlier noun phrase that a later pronoun or pointer refers to. The pronoun points back to this previously mentioned noun or phrase.
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What is the primary rule for resolving a pronoun reference in a passage?
What is the primary rule for resolving a pronoun reference in a passage?
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Match the pronoun to the nearest grammatically and logically valid antecedent. Look for the closest noun that agrees in number and makes logical sense.
Match the pronoun to the nearest grammatically and logically valid antecedent. Look for the closest noun that agrees in number and makes logical sense.
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What is the correct resolution rule when two candidates fit grammar but only one fits causality?
What is the correct resolution rule when two candidates fit grammar but only one fits causality?
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Choose the antecedent that makes the stated cause-and-effect coherent. Logic trumps proximity when both options fit grammatically.
Choose the antecedent that makes the stated cause-and-effect coherent. Logic trumps proximity when both options fit grammatically.
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Identify the referent: “A and B were proposed. The latter is cheaper.” What is “the latter”?
Identify the referent: “A and B were proposed. The latter is cheaper.” What is “the latter”?
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B. "Latter" refers to the second item in the preceding list.
B. "Latter" refers to the second item in the preceding list.
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Identify the referent: “The committee rejected the plan because it was risky.” What does “it” refer to?
Identify the referent: “The committee rejected the plan because it was risky.” What does “it” refer to?
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The plan. "It" refers to what was rejected (the plan), not who rejected.
The plan. "It" refers to what was rejected (the plan), not who rejected.
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Identify the referent: “The plan angered the committee because it felt ignored.” What does “it” refer to?
Identify the referent: “The plan angered the committee because it felt ignored.” What does “it” refer to?
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The committee. "It" refers to what felt ignored (committee), matching the emotion.
The committee. "It" refers to what felt ignored (committee), matching the emotion.
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Identify the referent: “Researchers tested two drugs. They reduced symptoms.” What does “They” refer to?
Identify the referent: “Researchers tested two drugs. They reduced symptoms.” What does “They” refer to?
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The two drugs. "They" refers to what reduced symptoms (the drugs tested).
The two drugs. "They" refers to what reduced symptoms (the drugs tested).
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Identify the referent: “Researchers tested two drugs. They were skeptical.” What does “They” refer to?
Identify the referent: “Researchers tested two drugs. They were skeptical.” What does “They” refer to?
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The researchers. "They" refers to who felt skeptical (the researchers).
The researchers. "They" refers to who felt skeptical (the researchers).
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Identify the referent: “The author rejects the hypothesis. This is surprising.” What does “This” refer to?
Identify the referent: “The author rejects the hypothesis. This is surprising.” What does “This” refer to?
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The author’s rejection of the hypothesis. "This" refers to the action described (rejecting the hypothesis).
The author’s rejection of the hypothesis. "This" refers to the action described (rejecting the hypothesis).
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Identify the referent: “The policy reduced costs but increased delays. This undermined support.” What does “This” refer to?
Identify the referent: “The policy reduced costs but increased delays. This undermined support.” What does “This” refer to?
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The increase in delays (the immediately prior outcome causing the effect). "This" refers to the negative outcome that caused the undermining.
The increase in delays (the immediately prior outcome causing the effect). "This" refers to the negative outcome that caused the undermining.
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What is the best practice when “this/that” could refer to multiple prior ideas?
What is the best practice when “this/that” could refer to multiple prior ideas?
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Tie it to the specific claim that the current sentence evaluates or explains. Match "this/that" to the idea the sentence directly comments on.
Tie it to the specific claim that the current sentence evaluates or explains. Match "this/that" to the idea the sentence directly comments on.
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Identify the referent: "Maria criticized Elena because she was late." Who was late if "because" gives the reason for criticizing?
Identify the referent: "Maria criticized Elena because she was late." Who was late if "because" gives the reason for criticizing?
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Elena was late. "Because" clause explains Maria's action, so lateness belongs to Elena.
Elena was late. "Because" clause explains Maria's action, so lateness belongs to Elena.
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Identify the referent: "Some argue the law deters innovation. This argument assumes firms avoid risk." What does "This argument" refer to?
Identify the referent: "Some argue the law deters innovation. This argument assumes firms avoid risk." What does "This argument" refer to?
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The claim that the law deters innovation. "This argument" points to the entire preceding claim about deterrence.
The claim that the law deters innovation. "This argument" points to the entire preceding claim about deterrence.
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Identify the referent: "The policy had one flaw: it ignored rural costs." What does "one flaw" refer to?
Identify the referent: "The policy had one flaw: it ignored rural costs." What does "one flaw" refer to?
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Ignoring rural costs. The colon introduces the specific flaw being identified.
Ignoring rural costs. The colon introduces the specific flaw being identified.
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Identify the referents: "Cats and dogs are agile and loyal, respectively." Which trait matches dogs?
Identify the referents: "Cats and dogs are agile and loyal, respectively." Which trait matches dogs?
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Loyal. "Respectively" pairs items in order: cats-agile, dogs-loyal.
Loyal. "Respectively" pairs items in order: cats-agile, dogs-loyal.
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Identify the referent: "The study found no effect, a result that critics dispute." What does "a result" refer to?
Identify the referent: "The study found no effect, a result that critics dispute." What does "a result" refer to?
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The finding of no effect. Appositives rename or restate the immediately preceding phrase.
The finding of no effect. Appositives rename or restate the immediately preceding phrase.
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Identify the referent: "Two theories emerged: A and B. The latter gained support." Which theory gained support?
Identify the referent: "Two theories emerged: A and B. The latter gained support." Which theory gained support?
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Theory B. "Latter" always refers to the second of two previously mentioned items.
Theory B. "Latter" always refers to the second of two previously mentioned items.
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Identify the referent: "The committee rejected the proposal. This surprised analysts." What does "This" refer to?
Identify the referent: "The committee rejected the proposal. This surprised analysts." What does "This" refer to?
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The committee rejecting the proposal. "This" refers to the entire action/event, not just the proposal.
The committee rejecting the proposal. "This" refers to the entire action/event, not just the proposal.
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Identify the referent: "Maria criticized Elena because she was strict." Who was strict if it explains the criticism?
Identify the referent: "Maria criticized Elena because she was strict." Who was strict if it explains the criticism?
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Maria was strict. Strictness explains why Maria criticized, making it Maria's trait.
Maria was strict. Strictness explains why Maria criticized, making it Maria's trait.
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Identify the referent: "The theory is elegant, but it is untestable." What is "it"?
Identify the referent: "The theory is elegant, but it is untestable." What is "it"?
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the theory. "It" refers to the singular noun "theory" that can be untestable.
the theory. "It" refers to the singular noun "theory" that can be untestable.
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