Nelson-Denny Reading Test Reading Comprehension: Making Inferences 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: 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?
- They recently completed a major project
- They are deeply absorbed in their work (Correct answer)
- They prefer a sterile work environment
- They have been on vacation
Correct 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.
Question 2: 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?
- She is angry at the interviewer
- She is nervous and anxious about the wait (Correct answer)
- She plans to reschedule the interview
- She is late for another appointment
Correct 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.
Question 3: 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?
- Urban decay
- Suburban sprawl
- Gentrification (Correct answer)
- Industrial growth
Correct answer: Gentrification
The replacement of working-class businesses with boutiques, rising property values, and displacement of original residents are classic indicators of gentrification.
Question 4: 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?
- She is unprincipled and easily bribed
- She responds to political pressure or new evidence (Correct answer)
- She did not understand the bill initially
- She was forced to change her vote by party leadership
Correct 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.
Question 5: 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?
- He developed a new morning hobby
- He is experiencing a significant emotional or physical setback (Correct answer)
- He decided running was unhealthy
- He moved somewhere with bad weather
Correct 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.
Question 6: 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?
- They wanted shareholders to find the layoff news easily
- They are legally required to disclose both items equally
- They intentionally downplayed the layoffs to protect their image (Correct answer)
- They were unaware the footnote placement would be noticed
Correct 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.
Question 7: 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?
- She was not hungry that day
- She was concealing a problem from the group (Correct answer)
- She was expecting an important business call
- She preferred privacy over group meals
Correct 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.
Nelson-Denny Reading Test Reading Comprehension: Making Inferences 2
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?