Resolving Apparent Contradictions

LNAT passages are drawn from opinion writing, where authors frequently engage with opposing views. A passage may present two seemingly contradictory positions before arriving at a nuanced conclusion. The LNAT tests whether you can navigate these complexities — identifying the author's actual position when they appear to argue both sides.

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Why Passages Contain Apparent Contradictions

Sophisticated argumentative writing often involves:

1. Acknowledging the opposing view before arguing against it
2. Making concessions — accepting that the other side has some valid points
3. Presenting a balanced view where the truth lies between two extremes
4. Using counterarguments as a springboard for the author's own position

When you encounter a passage that seems to argue both sides, do not be confused — look for the author's dominant position.

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Identifying the Author's Actual Position

Signal Words for Concession

When an author acknowledges the opposing view, they typically use concession language:

Signal	Example
"While it is true that..."	Acknowledges a point before presenting the author's view
"Although..."	Same function — concession followed by contrast
"Admittedly..."	The author grants a point to the opposing side
"It must be acknowledged that..."	Formal concession
"Granted..."	Brief concession
"Opponents are correct that..."	Explicit acknowledgement of the other side's strength

Signal Words for the Author's Position

After the concession, the author's position is typically introduced by:

Signal	Function
"However..."	Pivots from the concession to the author's view
"Nevertheless..."	Indicates the concession does not change the author's overall position
"But..."	Simple contrast with the preceding concession
"Despite this..."	Acknowledges the concession and moves past it
"The fact remains that..."	Reasserts the author's position after a concession
"This does not mean that..."	Limits the scope of the concession

Key Pattern: Concession signal + Opposing view + Contrast signal + Author's actual position

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Worked Example 1: Simple Concession-Rebuttal

Passage:

"Critics of the minimum wage argue that it increases unemployment by making labour more expensive for businesses. There is some evidence for this — studies have shown that in certain low-margin industries, minimum wage increases have led to modest job losses. However, the broader economic evidence tells a different story. A comprehensive analysis of minimum wage increases across US states found no significant impact on overall employment, while the incomes of the lowest-paid workers rose substantially. On balance, the benefits of a higher minimum wage far outweigh its costs."

Apparent contradiction: The passage says the minimum wage causes job losses AND that it does not affect employment.

Resolution: The author acknowledges limited job losses in specific industries (concession) but argues that the overall evidence does not show significant employment effects (the author's position). The key signal words are "There is some evidence for this" (concession) and "However, the broader economic evidence tells a different story" (pivot to the author's view).

The author's actual position: The minimum wage's benefits outweigh its costs.

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Worked Example 2: Multiple Concessions

Passage:

"The case for grammar schools is not without merit. They undoubtedly provide an excellent education for the students who attend them, and their academic results are consistently impressive. It is also true that some grammar school alumni come from modest backgrounds, demonstrating that selective education can be a route to social mobility. Yet these points, while valid, obscure a more fundamental problem. Grammar schools benefit a small minority at the expense of the majority. The children who do not pass the eleven-plus examination are consigned to schools that are systematically deprived of the most academically able students, creating a two-tier system that entrenches inequality rather than reducing it."

Structure:

Component	Statements
Concession 1	Grammar schools provide an excellent education
Concession 2	Academic results are impressive
Concession 3	Some alumni come from modest backgrounds
Pivot	"Yet these points, while valid, obscure a more fundamental problem"
Author's position	Grammar schools benefit a minority at the expense of the majority and entrench inequality