The LNAT distractor field guide
Wrong options are close. Most change the claim's scope, its role or who said it.
The eight trap types
| Trap | What changed | Share of 84 official questions |
|---|---|---|
| Qualifier | Scope, polarity or a condition | |
| Role swap | What a phrase or example is doing | |
| Near-miss claim | A true point replaces the main point | |
| Close paraphrase | Familiar words, shifted meaning | |
| Word in context | The dictionary sense replaces the local one | |
| Wrong speaker | A claim given to the wrong voice | |
| Changed principle | The governing relation is altered | |
| Tone | Approval or criticism overstated |
Check an option in four moves
- Mark the stem's polarity. Nineteen of the 84 ask what is not true.
- Underline the option's key word: all, some, only, because, proves or should.
- Find the sentence that supports it and check who says it.
- Match the degree and condition to the passage.
Same noun, different claim
Worked example A recommendation with a condition
A museum is considering free entry. The author says it may widen access, but crowds can make the collection harder to use. The museum should measure who attends and how visitors move before making the policy permanent.
Which statement is most directly supported?
- Free entry always improves access.
- A permanent free-entry policy should be adopted immediately.
- The museum should gather evidence before making the policy permanent.
- Crowded museums are less valuable than quiet museums.
Why this works: The third option keeps the condition on the recommendation.
Why the tempting route fails: The first and fourth overstate the passage. The second drops the evidence step.