GMAT Verbal: Reading Comprehension Inference 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A passage describes a CEO who "declined to comment on the merger rumors." What can reasonably be inferred?
- The merger is definitely happening
- The CEO confirmed no merger exists
- The passage does not establish the merger's status (Correct answer)
- The CEO opposes the merger
Correct answer: The passage does not establish the merger's status
Declining to comment provides no information confirming or denying the merger.
Question 2: The author notes that "unlike its competitors, the firm reinvests most profits into research." What is implied?
- Competitors reinvest less into research (Correct answer)
- The firm has no profits
- Competitors do no research at all
- The firm pays the highest dividends
Correct answer: Competitors reinvest less into research
"Unlike its competitors" implies competitors reinvest comparatively less into research.
Question 3: A passage states: "The findings hold only under controlled laboratory conditions." What inference is best?
- The findings apply everywhere
- Real-world applicability is uncertain (Correct answer)
- The lab results were fabricated
- Field tests confirmed the findings
Correct answer: Real-world applicability is uncertain
Holding only in the lab implies uncertain applicability outside it.
Question 4: An author writes that a tradition "persists despite official discouragement." What does this imply?
- Officials actively promote the tradition
- The tradition has strong popular support (Correct answer)
- The tradition has disappeared
- There is no official position on it
Correct answer: The tradition has strong popular support
Persisting against official discouragement implies enduring popular support.
Question 5: The passage says: "Profits rose, though largely due to a one-time asset sale." What can be inferred about ongoing profitability?
- Core operations may not be the source of the rise (Correct answer)
- Operations are highly profitable
- The asset sale was a loss
- Profits will keep rising annually
Correct answer: Core operations may not be the source of the rise
A one-time asset sale driving profits implies core operations may not explain the rise.
Question 6: An author observes that "the survey reached only homeowners." What inference follows about the results?
- Results represent all residents equally
- Renters' views may be underrepresented (Correct answer)
- All respondents were renters
- The survey was invalid
Correct answer: Renters' views may be underrepresented
Surveying only homeowners implies renters' perspectives may be underrepresented.
Question 7: A passage notes a policy "achieved its short-term goals at the expense of long-term stability." What is implied?
- The policy failed immediately
- There was a trade-off between near and far terms (Correct answer)
- Long-term stability improved
- The policy had no short-term effect
Correct answer: There was a trade-off between near and far terms
Gaining short-term goals while sacrificing long-term stability implies a trade-off.
GMAT Verbal: Reading Comprehension Inference 3
A passage describes a CEO who "declined to comment on the merger rumors." What can reasonably be inferred?