LSAT 134, Section 4, RC Passage 2, Proverbs

RC Passage 2 Explanation

This is an explanation for passage 2 of LSAT preptest 64, the October 2011 LSAT. This passage is about Mexican-American proverbs. It discusses the origin and role of proverbs in the Mexican-American community.

This section has paragraph summaries and an analysis of the passage, links to the explanations for the questions are below.

Paragraph Summaries

1. Definition of proverb, and origins of Mexican-American proverbs.
2. The role of proverbs in the Mexican-American community: they’re often educational.
3. Proverbs also link Mexican-Americans with their heritage.

Analysis

The passage is a description of the role of proverbs within the Mexican-American community. The material is easy to understand compared to other passages. I encourage you to reread if it you’ve got any points of uncertainty. I don’t have anything to add beyond the paragraph summaries above.

On easier passages it’s vital to have a good map of the passage. Since the concepts aren’t difficult, the questions test you on knowledge of specific details. Questions 8-12 are all about specific details. It’s easiest to answer by finding a specific line in the passage that supports the right answer.

The best way to make a mental map of the passage is to skim over it again after reading it. 15-20 seconds should be enough. This lets you see the order of the passage more clearly, and seeing the details a second time helps confirm them in your memory.