OLNA OLNA - Online Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Reading: Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A passage states: 'Maria arrived at the station just as the last train pulled away. She slumped onto a bench and stared at the departures board.' What can be inferred about how Maria feels?
- She is relieved the train left
- She is disappointed or frustrated (Correct answer)
- She is excited about waiting
- She is confused about the schedule
Correct answer: She is disappointed or frustrated
Slumping and staring blankly are body language cues that indicate disappointment or frustration at missing the train.
Question 2: A text reads: 'The store shelves were completely bare and a handwritten sign read: Back in two weeks.' What conclusion can you draw?
- The store is permanently closed
- The store is temporarily closed (Correct answer)
- The store ran out of only one item
- The store is under new management
Correct answer: The store is temporarily closed
A 'Back in two weeks' sign combined with empty shelves indicates a temporary closure, not a permanent one.
Question 3: Which reading strategy best helps a reader make an inference?
- Skipping unfamiliar words
- Combining text clues with prior knowledge (Correct answer)
- Reading only the first sentence of each paragraph
- Counting the number of paragraphs
Correct answer: Combining text clues with prior knowledge
Inferences are made by combining what the text states with what the reader already knows from experience.
Question 4: A passage says a character 'checked his phone three times in one minute.' What inference is most reasonable?
- He is bored with his phone
- He is anxiously expecting a message (Correct answer)
- He is recharging his phone
- He is playing a game
Correct answer: He is anxiously expecting a message
Repeatedly checking a phone in a short span typically signals anxiety or eager anticipation of a response.
Question 5: A text describes a neighborhood where 'many shops are boarded up and weeds grow through the footpaths.' What conclusion can be drawn?
- The neighborhood is thriving economically
- The neighborhood has experienced economic decline (Correct answer)
- The neighborhood is being rebuilt quickly
- The neighborhood has strict gardening rules
Correct answer: The neighborhood has experienced economic decline
Boarded-up shops and unmaintained footpaths are classic signs of economic decline and neglect.
Question 6: When drawing a conclusion from a text, a reader should ensure the conclusion is:
- Based on personal opinions alone
- Supported by evidence from the text (Correct answer)
- More dramatic than what the text suggests
- Taken from a different source
Correct answer: Supported by evidence from the text
Valid conclusions must be grounded in evidence from the text rather than unsupported personal opinion.
OLNA OLNA - Online Literacy and Numeracy Assessment Reading: Making Inferences and Drawing Conclusions 1
A passage states: 'Maria arrived at the station just as the last train pulled away.
She slumped onto a bench and stared at the departures board.' What can be inferred about how Maria feels?