Paraphrasing and Summarising Arguments

Many LNAT questions require you to recognise a paraphrased version of something the author has said, or to identify the best summary of the author's argument. These questions test whether you truly understand the passage or have merely memorised its wording.

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What Is Paraphrasing?

Paraphrasing means restating someone's idea in different words while preserving the original meaning. A good paraphrase:

• Uses different vocabulary and sentence structure from the original
• Preserves the same core meaning
• Does not add new information or interpretation
• Does not omit any important element of the original

Example

Original (from a passage):

"The criminal justice system's emphasis on incarceration has demonstrably failed to reduce reoffending rates, despite decades of increasingly punitive sentencing."

Good paraphrase:

"Harsher prison sentences over many years have not succeeded in lowering the rate at which offenders commit further crimes."

Bad paraphrase (changes the meaning):

"Prison sentences are too long." — This is an opinion, not a paraphrase; it adds a value judgement.

Bad paraphrase (too close to the original):

"The criminal justice system's focus on imprisonment has clearly failed to lower reoffending rates." — This barely changes the wording.

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Why Paraphrasing Skills Matter for the LNAT

LNAT multiple-choice answers are almost always paraphrased versions of what the passage says. The correct answer rarely uses the exact same words as the passage — instead, it restates the idea using different language.

This means:

• If you see an answer option that uses the exact same words as the passage, be cautious — it may be a distractor that takes the words out of context
• The correct answer will often look different from the passage text while meaning the same thing
• You need to match meaning, not wording

Answer Type	How It Looks	Is It Correct?
Uses exact words from the passage	Familiar and tempting	Often a trap — check context
Paraphrases the passage accurately	Different words, same meaning	Often the correct answer
Uses passage words but changes meaning	Looks right at first glance	Incorrect — a classic distractor
Introduces ideas not in the passage	May seem reasonable	Incorrect — goes beyond the text

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How to Identify Accurate Paraphrases

Step 1: Understand the Original Statement

Before evaluating answer options, make sure you fully understand what the passage says. Mentally paraphrase the relevant section in your own words.

Step 2: Check for Meaning Preservation

For each answer option, ask:

• Does this say the same thing as the passage, just in different words?
• Has anything been added that was not in the passage?
• Has anything been omitted that changes the meaning?
• Has the scope been changed? (e.g., "some" changed to "all", or "often" changed to "always")

Step 3: Watch for Subtle Distortions

The most dangerous wrong answers are those that are almost right but contain a subtle distortion:

Distortion Type	Example	Why It Is Wrong
Scope change	Passage says "some studies suggest"; answer says "research has proven"	"Some studies suggest" ≠ "proven"
Absolute language	Passage says "many people believe"; answer says "everyone agrees"	"Many" ≠ "everyone"
Reversed relationship	Passage says "A caused B"; answer says "B caused A"	Causation reversed
Added information	Passage says "crime has increased"; answer says "crime has increased due to poverty"	The cause was not stated in the passage
Omitted qualification	Passage says "under certain conditions, X is effective"; answer says "X is effective"	The qualification has been removed

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Summarising Arguments

Summarising is a related but distinct skill. While paraphrasing restates a specific point, summarising condenses an entire argument into its essential elements.

What Makes a Good Summary?

A good summary of an LNAT passage: