Nelson-Denny Reading Test Reading Comprehension: Making Inferences 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A passage describes a village where 'the oldest residents still remembered when the river ran clear. Fishing sustained three generations. Now the children had never seen a live fish pulled from those waters.' What inference is most supported?
- Fishing is no longer a popular activity among young people
- Environmental degradation has destroyed the river's ecosystem (Correct answer)
- The village economy has successfully transitioned away from fishing
- Young people prefer to buy fish from markets
Correct answer: Environmental degradation has destroyed the river's ecosystem
The progression from a clear river sustaining generations of fishing to children who have never seen a fish caught there implies severe environmental damage to the ecosystem.
Question 2: A text states: 'The defense attorney asked no questions during cross-examination and presented no witnesses.' In a criminal trial context, what does this most likely imply?
- The defense believed the prosecution's case was strong and airtight
- The defense believed cross-examination would harm their client more than help (Correct answer)
- The defense attorney was unprepared for the trial
- The defendant had instructed the attorney not to participate
Correct answer: The defense believed cross-examination would harm their client more than help
Experienced defense attorneys skip cross-examination when they believe questioning prosecution witnesses would reinforce or emphasize damaging testimony.
Question 3: A passage notes that a popular restaurant 'removed its signature dish from the menu after ten years, citing supply chain challenges.' Three months later, 'the dish reappeared under a slightly different name at a higher price point.' What can be inferred?
- The supply chain issue was fully resolved
- The removal may have been a strategy to reset customer price expectations (Correct answer)
- The restaurant changed its recipe to reduce costs
- Customer demand forced the restaurant to bring back the dish
Correct answer: The removal may have been a strategy to reset customer price expectations
Removing a popular dish and reintroducing it at a higher price suggests the supply chain explanation may have been used to justify a pricing reset.
Question 4: A story describes: 'She had been in the country for only six months but spoke the language almost fluently. She corrected her own grammar mid-sentence and apologized when she mispronounced words.' What does this reveal about her character?
- She had studied the language extensively before arriving
- She is self-critical and holds herself to a high standard (Correct answer)
- She is embarrassed by her foreign accent
- She had received formal language training in her home country
Correct answer: She is self-critical and holds herself to a high standard
Self-correcting grammar mid-sentence and apologizing for mispronunciations reveals a perfectionistic, self-demanding nature rather than simply prior training.
Question 5: A passage reads: 'The CEO attended every product launch personally for fifteen years. This year, she sent a video message instead.' What does this change most likely suggest?
- She is no longer interested in the company's products
- Something significant may have changed in her health, role, or priorities (Correct answer)
- She prefers digital communication over in-person events
- The product launch was considered less important this year
Correct answer: Something significant may have changed in her health, role, or priorities
A fifteen-year unbroken pattern of personal attendance ending abruptly suggests a meaningful personal or professional change rather than simple preference.
Question 6: A text describes: 'The biography painted the general as a decisive military hero, but footnotes cited sources that described him as reckless and indifferent to casualties.' What inference can a careful reader draw?
- The general was universally admired by historians
- The author selectively emphasized favorable accounts while suppressing contradictory evidence (Correct answer)
- The footnotes were added by a different author
- The biography is the most reliable account of the general's life
Correct answer: The author selectively emphasized favorable accounts while suppressing contradictory evidence
Placing contradictory evidence in footnotes while presenting a heroic main narrative suggests the author shaped the biography to favor a particular positive portrayal.
Question 7: A passage states that a country 'increased its education budget by 40% but standardized test scores declined over the following decade.' What is the most reasonable inference?
- Increased funding always improves test scores
- Funding alone is insufficient without effective implementation strategies (Correct answer)
- The tests became significantly more difficult during that period
- Teachers were not given the additional resources allocated
Correct answer: Funding alone is insufficient without effective implementation strategies
A large funding increase failing to improve outcomes implies that money without effective allocation and implementation strategies does not automatically produce results.
Nelson-Denny Reading Test Reading Comprehension: Making Inferences 4
A passage describes a village where 'the oldest residents still remembered when the river ran clear.
Fishing sustained three generations.
Now the children had never seen a live fish pulled from those waters.' What inference is most supported?