Reading Comprehension: Making Inferences Flashcards

A passage states: 'The laboratory had not been cleaned in weeks. Empty coffee cups lined the windowsill, papers covered every surface, and the whiteboard was a tangle of half-erased equations.' What can be inferred about the researchers?

Answer: They are deeply absorbed in their work

The accumulation of clutter and unfinished work on the whiteboard suggests the researchers are intensely focused on ongoing work rather than maintaining order.

A passage reads: 'Maria checked her watch for the third time in five minutes. The interviewer's assistant had assured her it would only be a moment, but that was forty minutes ago.' What does this most strongly imply about Maria?

Answer: She is nervous and anxious about the wait

Repeatedly checking her watch and the long wait beyond the promised time most strongly implies Maria is experiencing anxiety and nervousness.

A text describes a neighborhood: 'New boutiques replaced old hardware stores. Property values tripled in a decade. Long-time residents moved to outlying suburbs.' What process is the passage implying has occurred?

Answer: Gentrification

The replacement of working-class businesses with boutiques, rising property values, and displacement of original residents are classic indicators of gentrification.

A passage notes: 'The senator voted against the bill in committee but reversed course before the floor vote, citing new information from constituents.' What can be inferred about the senator's decision-making?

Answer: She responds to political pressure or new evidence

Citing constituent feedback as the reason for the reversal implies the senator adjusts positions based on political pressure or new input from those she represents.

A story describes: 'He had run every morning for twenty years without fail. Now, the running shoes sat untouched by the door, and he spent mornings staring out the window.' What does this most likely suggest?

Answer: He is experiencing a significant emotional or physical setback

The abrupt abandonment of a deeply ingrained twenty-year routine, combined with passive window-staring, strongly implies depression or a serious physical limitation.

A passage states: 'The company's annual report highlighted record profits but buried the layoff announcement in a footnote on page 47.' What can be inferred about the company's communication strategy?

Answer: They intentionally downplayed the layoffs to protect their image

Placing negative news in a buried footnote while highlighting profits on the cover page is a deliberate strategy to minimize negative attention.

A text reads: 'Though she smiled and said everything was fine, her sister noticed she had barely touched her food and excused herself twice to take phone calls.' What inference is best supported?

Answer: She was concealing a problem from the group

The contradiction between her verbal reassurance and her distracted, withdrawn behavior implies she is hiding a concern from the others.