Easy LSAT Reading Author Attitude Questions Practice Questions

Concept Explanation

Author attitude questions on the LSAT require test-takers to identify the writer's emotional tone, perspective, or level of commitment regarding the subject matter of the passage. These questions are a staple of the LSAT Prep curriculum because they test your ability to read between the lines and distinguish between objective reporting and subjective advocacy. Unlike main idea questions, which focus on what is being said, attitude questions focus on how the author feels about what is being said. On the LSAT, authorial attitudes are rarely extreme; authors are seldom "outraged" or "ecstatic." Instead, they tend to be "measured," "guardedly optimistic," "skeptical," or "approving." Identifying these nuances involves looking for "indicator words"—adjectives and adverbs like unfortunately, rightly, flawed, or compelling—that signal the author's stance. Understanding this concept is as fundamental as mastering hard GRE author tone questions, though the LSAT often demands a more precise legalistic or academic focus.

Solved Examples

To help you recognize these patterns, here are three solved examples that demonstrate how to extract attitude from short passage excerpts.

1. Example 1: The Guarded Scientist
   Passage excerpt: "While the new data regarding dark matter is certainly suggestive, it would be premature to claim that the standard model of physics requires immediate revision."
   Question: What is the author's attitude toward revising the standard model?
   Solution:
   1. Identify keywords: "suggestive" (positive but weak) and "premature" (negative/cautious).
   2. Analyze the relationship: The author acknowledges the data but warns against rushing to a conclusion.
   3. Determine the attitude: The author is cautious or skeptical of an immediate revision.
2. Example 2: The Legal Reformer
   Passage excerpt: "The current sentencing guidelines are not merely inefficient; they are a demonstrable affront to the principle of judicial discretion."
   Question: Which of the following best describes the author's attitude toward the sentencing guidelines?
   Solution:
   1. Identify keywords: "inefficient" and "demonstrable affront."
   2. Analyze the intensity: These are strong, critical terms. The author is not just observing; they are judging.
   3. Determine the attitude: The author is strongly critical or disapproving.
3. Example 3: The Nuanced Historian
   Passage excerpt: "Smith’s biography of Eleanor Roosevelt provides a wealth of previously untapped primary sources, though his prose occasionally lapses into hagiography."
   Question: What is the author's attitude toward Smith's biography?
   Solution:
   1. Identify keywords: "wealth of... sources" (positive) and "lapses into hagiography" (negative—hagiography implies uncritical praise).
   2. Analyze the balance: The author likes the research but dislikes the writing style/bias.
   3. Determine the attitude: The author is qualifiedly admiring or mixed.

Practice Questions

Apply your skills to the following easy LSAT Reading Author Attitude questions. Focus on finding the specific words that reveal the author's point of view.

1. The author describes the recent court ruling as "a necessary, if somewhat belated, step toward environmental justice." What is the author's attitude?
2. A passage concludes by stating, "It remains to be seen whether the proposed economic policy can withstand the pressures of a global recession." The author's tone is best described as:
3. If an author characterizes a theory as "elegant but ultimately untestable," how do they feel about the theory?

4. The author notes that a specific archaeological find is "the crown jewel of the decade's excavations." What is the author's attitude toward the find?
5. An author writes: "Critics argue the play is derivative, but this view ignores the radical structural innovations present in the second act." What is the author's attitude toward the critics?
6. The passage states that a politician's speech was "heavy on rhetoric but light on substantive policy proposals." The author's tone is:
7. An author refers to a scientific breakthrough as "a glimmer of hope in an otherwise bleak field of research." The author's attitude is:
8. The author describes a new literary movement as "nothing more than a pale imitation of early 20th-century modernism." The author's attitude is:
9. A passage claims that "While the CEO's plan is ambitious, its success relies on several highly questionable assumptions." The author's attitude is:
10. The author calls a historical figure's actions "bold and visionary, yet tragically misunderstood by his contemporaries." The author's attitude is:

Answers & Explanations

1. Answer: Approving but critical of the timing. The word "necessary" shows approval, while "belated" indicates the author thinks it should have happened sooner.
2. Answer: Uncertain or Skeptical. The phrase "remains to be seen" indicates that the author is not yet convinced the policy will work.
3. Answer: Ambivalent or Mixed. "Elegant" is a compliment to the theory's logic, but "untestable" is a major scientific criticism.
4. Answer: Enthusiastic or Highly positive. Calling something a "crown jewel" is a strong metaphor for high value and importance.
5. Answer: Dismissive or Disagreeing. By saying the critics "ignore" key facts, the author is positioning the critics' view as incorrect or incomplete.
6. Answer: Critical or Unimpressed. The contrast between "heavy on rhetoric" and "light on substantive" suggests the author finds the speech superficial.
7. Answer: Guardedly optimistic. "Glimmer of hope" is positive, but the context of an "otherwise bleak field" keeps the tone restrained.
8. Answer: Derisive or Scornful. "Nothing more than" and "pale imitation" are phrases used to diminish the value of the movement.
9. Answer: Cautious or Doubtful. The author acknowledges the ambition but points to "questionable assumptions," indicating they don't fully believe it will work. Use the AI Question Generator to practice more of these logical evaluations.
10. Answer: Sympathetic and Admiring. "Bold and visionary" shows high praise, and "tragically misunderstood" shows the author sides with the historical figure against their critics.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find the author's attitude if they don't use "I"?

You can find the author's attitude by looking for "loaded" words—adjectives and adverbs that carry a value judgment. Even without using first-person pronouns, an author reveals their stance through the evidence they choose to highlight and the words they use to describe opposing views.

Are LSAT authors ever completely neutral?

While some passages are purely informative, most LSAT passages have a subtle "slant" or a specific point the author is trying to make. Truly neutral passages are rare; usually, the author is at least "approving" of the subject's importance or "skeptical" of a certain theory.

What is the difference between tone and attitude?

Tone refers to the general "feel" or style of the writing (e.g., academic, informal, ironic), whereas attitude refers specifically to the author's feelings toward a particular subject within the passage. On the LSAT, these terms are often used interchangeably in question stems.

Can an attitude be both positive and negative?

Yes, many LSAT authors hold "qualified" or "mixed" attitudes. They might admire a person's goals but criticize their methods, or they might find a theory interesting but believe it lacks empirical evidence.

How should I handle extreme answer choices like "furious" or "joyful"?

You should generally avoid extreme answer choices on the LSAT unless the passage contains very strong, unambiguous language. Most correct answers for attitude questions use moderate language like "tempered," "qualified," "guarded," or "sympathetic."