BSEP Inference and Drawing Conclusions 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A passage reads: 'After the bridge was repaired, traffic times across town dropped by an average of 15 minutes.' What is the most reasonable inference?
- Drivers are now driving faster than the speed limit.
- The bridge repair reduced a major traffic bottleneck. (Correct answer)
- The city added new roads after the repair.
- Fewer people are driving since the repair.
Correct answer: The bridge repair reduced a major traffic bottleneck.
A significant drop in travel times after a bridge repair strongly suggests the bridge was a major source of traffic delays.
Question 2: A student's report card shows A's in all subjects except math, where they received a D. What can you infer?
- The student does not like their teacher.
- Math is a particular area of difficulty for this student. (Correct answer)
- The student did not attend math class.
- The grading system in math is unfair.
Correct answer: Math is a particular area of difficulty for this student.
Performing well in all subjects except one suggests that specific subject presents a greater challenge for the student.
Question 3: A passage describes a character who pauses before answering every question, looks away, and gives very short answers. What can you infer about the character?
- The character is bored with the conversation.
- The character may be uncomfortable, nervous, or hiding something. (Correct answer)
- The character is very confident.
- The character does not understand the questions.
Correct answer: The character may be uncomfortable, nervous, or hiding something.
Pausing, avoiding eye contact, and giving brief answers are common nonverbal signs of discomfort, nervousness, or evasiveness.
Question 4: A recipe calls for baking soda, but the cook only has baking powder. The cook uses baking powder and notices the baked goods do not rise properly. What can you infer?
- Baking soda and baking powder are interchangeable in all recipes.
- Baking soda and baking powder affect leavening differently and cannot always be substituted directly. (Correct answer)
- The oven temperature was too low.
- The recipe had an error in the original instructions.
Correct answer: Baking soda and baking powder affect leavening differently and cannot always be substituted directly.
The failed rise suggests the two ingredients behave differently in the baking process and are not direct substitutes.
Question 5: A passage says: 'The museum that once attracted thousands of visitors a week has seen attendance drop to a few hundred since free parking was removed.' What conclusion is best supported?
- The museum's exhibits became less interesting.
- The removal of free parking significantly reduced visitor attendance. (Correct answer)
- The museum raised ticket prices at the same time.
- Visitors prefer newer museums in the area.
Correct answer: The removal of free parking significantly reduced visitor attendance.
The timing of the attendance drop directly after removing free parking strongly suggests parking cost is deterring visitors.
Question 6: A text reads: 'Children who read at least 20 minutes a day consistently score higher on vocabulary tests than those who do not.' What inference is most logically supported?
- Children who read are naturally smarter.
- Regular reading practice is likely a factor in stronger vocabulary development. (Correct answer)
- Vocabulary tests only measure reading habits.
- Twenty minutes is the maximum reading time needed for any benefit.
Correct answer: Regular reading practice is likely a factor in stronger vocabulary development.
A consistent correlation between daily reading and higher vocabulary scores supports the inference that reading contributes to vocabulary growth.
Question 7: A sign outside a restaurant reads: 'Under new management.' A diner who visited before notices lower prices and a new menu. What can you reasonably infer?
- The restaurant is permanently closed.
- The new management has made changes to pricing and offerings. (Correct answer)
- The food quality has necessarily gotten worse.
- The old staff was fired for poor performance.
Correct answer: The new management has made changes to pricing and offerings.
New management combined with observable changes in prices and menu items supports the inference that the new owners have restructured the restaurant.
BSEP Inference and Drawing Conclusions 5
A passage reads: 'After the bridge was repaired, traffic times across town dropped by an average of 15 minutes.' What is the most reasonable inference?