OAR OAR Reading Comprehension: Inferences Questions and Answers 3

Question 1

A historian writes: 'The treaty was signed in June, yet by September, both nations had doubled their military spending and repositioned troops along the border.' What can you infer about the treaty?

Accepted Answer

It was likely ineffective at reducing tensions between the nations

Answer

It successfully established lasting peace

Answer

Both nations were preparing for a joint military exercise

Answer

The treaty focused on trade rather than military matters

Question 2

A report notes that a pharmaceutical company fast-tracked clinical trials, skipping the typical Phase II testing, and the FDA issued an unusual number of post-market safety warnings for the resulting drug. What inference is most supported?

Accepted Answer

Skipping Phase II testing may have allowed safety issues to go undetected before release

Answer

The drug was unnecessarily delayed by regulators

Answer

The FDA warnings were unrelated to the shortened trials

Answer

Phase II testing is generally considered unnecessary

Question 3

A passage states: 'Although the volcano had been dormant for centuries, seismologists recently detected a series of small earthquakes beneath it, and nearby hot springs have increased in temperature by 12 degrees.' What can you infer?

Accepted Answer

The volcanic system may be showing signs of renewed activity

Answer

The volcano has permanently become extinct

Answer

The earthquakes are unrelated to the volcano

Answer

Hot spring temperatures fluctuate randomly

Question 4

An article mentions that a country banned single-use plastics in 2022, and by 2025, ocean plastic debris measured along its coastline had decreased by only 5%. What can you infer?

Accepted Answer

Other significant sources of ocean plastic pollution exist beyond the country's single-use plastic ban

Answer

The ban was a complete success

Answer

Single-use plastics were never a real problem

Answer

The measurements were taken incorrectly

Question 5

A biography describes how an inventor filed patents in chemistry, electrical engineering, and agricultural science, and corresponded regularly with leading figures in all three fields. What can you infer about the inventor?

Accepted Answer

The inventor was a polymath with expertise spanning multiple disciplines

Answer

The inventor lacked focus and never succeeded

Answer

The inventor copied ideas from other scientists

Answer

Patents in multiple fields indicate fraud

Question 6

A news article reports that a city's public transit ridership increased by 35% after introducing a free-fare program, but overall traffic congestion in the city did not decrease. What can you infer?

Accepted Answer

The free-fare program attracted riders who previously walked or biked rather than those who drove

Answer

Public transit has no effect on traffic congestion under any circumstances

Answer

The congestion data was fabricated

Answer

Fewer people are using public transit than before