ELTIS - English Language Test for International Students Inference in Reading Passages Questions and Answers 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A passage states: 'Maria checked her watch repeatedly and tapped her foot as she waited outside the principal's office.' What can you infer about Maria?
- She is relaxed and comfortable
- She is nervous or impatient (Correct answer)
- She is tired and wants to sleep
- She is happy to be there
Correct answer: She is nervous or impatient
Checking a watch repeatedly and tapping one's foot are physical signs of nervousness or impatience.
Making inferences requires readers to combine textual evidence with prior knowledge. The passage describes two behaviors commonly associated with anxiety, impatience, or nervousness.
Question 2: A science text reads: 'As temperatures rose, the ice caps began to recede, and coastal cities implemented new flood protection measures.' What can you infer?
- Coastal cities are at risk from rising sea levels (Correct answer)
- The ice caps are growing larger
- Flood protection is no longer needed
- Temperatures are decreasing globally
Correct answer: Coastal cities are at risk from rising sea levels
If ice caps recede due to rising temperatures and coastal cities need flood protection, sea levels must be rising.
This inference requires connecting a chain of cause and effect. Rising temperatures cause ice caps to melt, raising sea levels, which explains why coastal cities are implementing flood protection.
Question 3: A passage about a student reads: 'Despite having no formal training, Kenji's paintings were displayed in the school gallery alongside works by art students.' What can you infer about Kenji?
- He is an art student
- He has natural artistic talent (Correct answer)
- He copied other students' work
- He does not enjoy painting
Correct answer: He has natural artistic talent
Having work displayed alongside trained art students despite no formal training implies natural talent.
The word 'despite' creates a contrast between Kenji's lack of formal training and the quality of his work. If his paintings are displayed alongside trained students' work, the inference is natural artistic talent.
Question 4: A history text states: 'After the factory was built, the town's population doubled in five years, and three new schools were constructed.' What can you infer?
- The factory caused people to move away
- The factory created jobs that attracted new residents and families (Correct answer)
- The schools were built before the factory
- The town's population decreased
Correct answer: The factory created jobs that attracted new residents and families
Population doubling after a factory was built suggests the factory created employment that attracted new residents.
The sequence is: factory built, population doubled, new schools built. Factories create jobs, jobs attract workers and families. The need for new schools suggests an influx of families with children.
Question 5: A passage reads: 'The library was nearly empty, with only a few students hunched over their books, coffee cups scattered across every table.' What time of year can you infer it might be?
- The beginning of summer vacation
- During exam or finals period (Correct answer)
- The first day of school
- A holiday break
Correct answer: During exam or finals period
Students studying intensely with coffee in a library suggests an exam or finals period.
Several context clues support this inference: students 'hunched over their books' suggests intense studying; coffee cups suggest the need for caffeine during long study sessions; these details paint a picture consistent with exam or finals week.
Question 6: A text states: 'The new student sat alone at lunch for the first week, but by the end of the month, she could be seen laughing with a group of classmates every day.' What can you infer?
- She never made any friends
- She gradually made friends and became socially integrated (Correct answer)
- She preferred eating alone
- She moved to a different school
Correct answer: She gradually made friends and became socially integrated
The contrast between sitting alone initially and laughing with classmates later shows she gradually made friends.
The passage presents two snapshots: Week 1 (alone) versus end of month (laughing with classmates). The word 'but' signals a positive change over time — from social isolation to social integration.
ELTIS - English Language Test for International Students Inference in Reading Passages Questions and Answers 2
A passage states: 'Maria checked her watch repeatedly and tapped her foot as she waited outside the principal's office.' What can you infer about Maria?