Nelson-Denny Reading Comprehension: Making Inferences Questions and Answers — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A character in a story, upon receiving a letter, suddenly grows pale, drops the letter, and rushes out of the room without a word. Based on these actions, which of the following is the most logical inference about the letter's contents?
- The letter contained trivial, everyday news.
- The letter announced an upcoming celebration.
- The letter delivered distressing or shocking news. (Correct answer)
- The letter was an advertisement for a new product.
Correct answer: The letter delivered distressing or shocking news.
The character's strong, negative physical and emotional reaction (growing pale, dropping the letter, rushing out) strongly suggests the news was upsetting or shocking. The other options are inconsistent with this observed behavior.
Question 2: Read the following short passage: 'The old sailor squinted at the horizon, his hand shielding his eyes. The wind whipped his grey hair, and he tasted salt on his lips. He noted the dark, heavy clouds gathering in the west and began securing the loose items on the deck.' What can be inferred from the sailor's actions?
- He is preparing to go for a swim.
- He is expecting a storm to arrive soon. (Correct answer)
- He is waiting for another ship to arrive.
- He is getting the boat ready to sell.
Correct answer: He is expecting a storm to arrive soon.
The sailor's observations (dark, heavy clouds) and subsequent actions (securing loose items on deck) are classic preparations for approaching bad weather. These details logically point to the inference that he anticipates a storm.
Question 3: A company memo states: 'Effective immediately, all employees are required to log their work hours using the new 'TimeGuard' software. Manual timesheets will no longer be accepted. This change is being implemented to improve accuracy and streamline the payroll process.' Which of the following can be inferred from this memo?
- The company is planning to reduce its workforce.
- The old system of manual timesheets was potentially inaccurate or inefficient. (Correct answer)
- Employees were unanimously in favor of a new time-tracking system.
- The company recently experienced a major data breach.
Correct answer: The old system of manual timesheets was potentially inaccurate or inefficient.
The memo explicitly states the new system is to 'improve accuracy and streamline the payroll process.' This implies that the previous system (manual timesheets) had issues with either accuracy, efficiency, or both. The other options are not supported by the information given.
Question 4: An inference in reading comprehension is best described as:
- A summary of the main points explicitly stated in the text.
- A personal opinion about the topic of the passage.
- The author's direct statement of their purpose for writing.
- A logical conclusion based on evidence in the text combined with prior knowledge. (Correct answer)
Correct answer: A logical conclusion based on evidence in the text combined with prior knowledge.
Making an inference involves 'reading between the lines.' It is not something directly stated but is a logical deduction the reader makes based on the clues and details provided in the passage, filtered through their own experience and knowledge.
Question 5: After finishing a marathon, a runner is seen walking with a limp and grimacing with each step. A reporter asks her how the race went, and she replies through a tight smile, 'It was a breeze.' What can the reader most likely infer about the runner's statement?
- She is being sarcastic and found the race very difficult. (Correct answer)
- She is genuinely happy and experienced no pain.
- She did not understand the reporter's question.
- She believes she could have run the race much faster.
Correct answer: She is being sarcastic and found the race very difficult.
There is a clear contradiction between the runner's physical actions (limping, grimacing) and her verbal statement ('It was a breeze'). This discrepancy strongly suggests she is using verbal irony or sarcasm to understate the immense difficulty and pain she is experiencing.
Question 6: A passage describes an ecosystem that was once lush and diverse. It then details the recent construction of a large factory upstream on the river that flows through the area. The passage concludes by noting a significant decline in the fish population and the discoloration of the water. Which of the following is the most reasonable inference to draw?
- The local fishermen have been too successful.
- A prolonged drought is the cause of the changes.
- The factory's operations are negatively impacting the river's health. (Correct answer)
- The native fish have migrated to a different river.
Correct answer: The factory's operations are negatively impacting the river's health.
The passage presents a sequence of events: a healthy ecosystem, the introduction of a factory upstream, and a subsequent decline in environmental health (fish population, water color). The logical connection, or inference, is that the new element—the factory—is the likely cause of the negative changes, probably through pollution.
