CAEL Reading: Making Inferences 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A passage reads: 'The report was marked confidential and distributed only to senior management.' What can be inferred about the report's content?
- The report contains publicly available information.
- The report likely contains sensitive or strategically important information. (Correct answer)
- The report was prepared by junior staff members.
- Senior management prepared the report themselves.
Correct answer: The report likely contains sensitive or strategically important information.
Restricting distribution to senior management indicates the report contains information deemed too sensitive for general circulation.
Question 2: An academic passage states: 'Indigenous languages in the region were rarely documented until linguists arrived in the 1980s.' What can be inferred about those languages before that period?
- The languages were already extinct by the 1980s.
- Little written record of those languages existed prior to the 1980s. (Correct answer)
- Linguists had studied those languages extensively before the 1980s.
- The speakers refused to teach their languages to outsiders.
Correct answer: Little written record of those languages existed prior to the 1980s.
'Rarely documented until' implies that written or scholarly records were scarce before linguists began their work in the 1980s.
Question 3: A passage notes: 'The emergency room saw a forty percent increase in visits during the heat wave.' What can be inferred about the heat wave's impact?
- The heat wave had no effect on public health.
- The heat wave caused a significant rise in health-related emergencies. (Correct answer)
- The hospital reduced its services during the heat wave.
- Most people avoided going to the hospital during the heat wave.
Correct answer: The heat wave caused a significant rise in health-related emergencies.
A large increase in emergency room visits during the heat wave implies that the extreme heat caused more health problems requiring urgent care.
Question 4: A text reads: 'The committee approved the proposal unanimously, without discussion.' What does this imply about the committee members' views on the proposal?
- The committee had serious reservations about the proposal.
- The committee members were all in strong agreement before the meeting. (Correct answer)
- The proposal was controversial among committee members.
- Committee members did not read the proposal before voting.
Correct answer: The committee members were all in strong agreement before the meeting.
A unanimous vote without discussion suggests members had already aligned on their support for the proposal.
Question 5: A passage describes a scientist who 'published her findings in three peer-reviewed journals and presented at two international conferences.' What can be inferred about her work?
- Her research has not yet been evaluated by other experts.
- Her research has received significant professional scrutiny and recognition. (Correct answer)
- She struggled to find venues willing to publish her work.
- Her findings are not considered credible by other scientists.
Correct answer: Her research has received significant professional scrutiny and recognition.
Peer-reviewed publication and international conference presentations indicate that her work has passed expert review and gained professional visibility.
Question 6: A passage reads: 'The city council voted to delay the transit expansion project, citing insufficient public consultation.' What can be inferred about the council's reason for the delay?
- The council opposed transit expansion entirely.
- The council wanted broader community input before moving forward. (Correct answer)
- The project lacked the necessary government funding.
- Public consultation had already been thorough and complete.
Correct answer: The council wanted broader community input before moving forward.
Citing insufficient public consultation implies the council believed more community engagement was needed before proceeding.
Question 7: A passage states: 'The novel sold modestly at first but became a bestseller after being adapted into a film.' What does this imply about the film's role?
- The film adaptation was critically unsuccessful.
- The film significantly increased public interest in the novel. (Correct answer)
- The novel was already popular before the film was made.
- The film replaced the novel in popularity entirely.
Correct answer: The film significantly increased public interest in the novel.
The novel's sales surge following the film adaptation implies the film introduced the story to a wider audience.
CAEL Reading: Making Inferences 4
A passage reads: 'The report was marked confidential and distributed only to senior management.' What can be inferred about the report's content?