Two stem families, two standards
LSAT Reading Comprehension questions split into two big families based on a few words in the stem. "According to the passage" and "the author states" ask for something explicitly said. "The passage suggests," "implies," or "the author would most likely agree" ask for something that follows from what's said but isn't stated outright.
The distinction changes what counts as a correct answer. On a detail question, the right answer is a faithful paraphrase of text that's actually on the page. On an inference question, the right answer is a small, safe logical step beyond the page — supported by the text, but not a direct quote of it.
Spot the stem family first. It tells you how far you're allowed to travel from the literal words before you've gone too far.
What each family rewards
| Detail ("according to the passage") | Inference ("the passage suggests") |
|---|---|
| Answer is stated in the text | Answer follows from the text |
| Correct answer paraphrases a sentence | Correct answer is a short, safe step beyond a sentence |
| Trap: adds meaning that isn't there | Trap: leaps too far, or demands a quote |
| "states," "according to," "indicates" | "suggests," "implies," "most likely agree" |
Both families share the bedrock RC rule: the correct answer maps to specific text. The difference is the size of the gap allowed between that text and the answer. Detail questions allow almost none; inference questions allow a small, defensible one.
Both still need a sentence
It's tempting to think inference questions let you reason freely. They don't. Even "the passage suggests" answers have to be tethered to specific text — you should be able to point to the sentence or two that the inference rests on. If you can't find that anchor, the answer is probably a leap, not an inference.
On detail questions the anchor is even tighter: the answer should be a near-restatement of a sentence, just with synonyms swapped in. If an answer adds a cause, a comparison, or a judgment the passage didn't make, it's failed the detail standard even if it sounds reasonable.
So the same evidence habit serves both: locate the supporting text. For detail, the answer mirrors it. For inference, the answer takes one careful step from it.
The common mistake: wrong distance from the text
Two opposite errors track the two families. On detail questions, students over-infer — they pick an answer that's a logical consequence of the text rather than something the text actually said. On inference questions, students under-infer — they demand the answer appear verbatim and reject the correct small step because it "wasn't stated."
Calibrate to the stem. If it says "according to the passage," stay close: the answer should be findable, almost quotable. If it says "suggests" or "most likely agree," allow one safe step, but no more — and keep that step anchored to a sentence.
When you're down to two answers, ask which one matches the stem's distance. The detail question's answer should be the more literal of the two; the inference question's answer should be the supported step, not the wild one and not the verbatim one.
Frequently asked questions
What does "according to the passage" mean on the LSAT?
It signals a detail question: the answer is something the passage explicitly states. The correct choice is a faithful paraphrase of text that's actually on the page, so you should be able to find the supporting sentence almost word for word.
How is "the passage suggests" different?
"Suggests," "implies," and "the author would most likely agree" signal inference questions. The answer isn't stated outright — it's a short, safe logical step that follows from the text. You still anchor it to a specific sentence, but it goes slightly beyond the literal words.
Do inference questions let me reason freely?
No. Even inference answers must be tethered to specific text — you should be able to point to the sentence the inference rests on. If you can't find that anchor, the answer is a leap rather than a supported inference, and it's probably wrong.
What's the most common mistake on these RC questions?
Misjudging the distance from the text. On detail questions students over-infer and pick a consequence the passage didn't state; on inference questions they under-infer and reject the correct small step because it wasn't said verbatim. Calibrate how far you travel to the stem's wording.
Related Verbloom guides
Want LSAT logic to feel visual?
Verbloom turns argument structure into short visual lessons, drills, and explanations built for actual score movement.