OSSLT - Ontario Secondary School Literacy Making Inferences from Text Questions and Answers 2

Question 1

A character checks the clock repeatedly, taps their foot, and glances at the door. What can you infer?

Accepted Answer

The character is anxiously waiting for someone or something

Answer

The character is bored and wants to sleep

Answer

The character enjoys watching time pass

Answer

The character is lost and looking for an exit

Question 2

A passage describes a small town where 'the main street shops had their lights off by 6 PM, and the only sound was the wind sweeping through empty parking lots.' What can you infer?

Accepted Answer

The town is experiencing economic decline or has a small population

Answer

The town is bustling and thriving

Answer

The town has a strict curfew

Answer

The shops are closed for a holiday

Question 3

A letter to the editor states: 'If we continue to ignore the crumbling infrastructure of our schools, we will pay a much higher price in the future.' What is the writer implying?

Accepted Answer

Delaying repairs now will lead to greater costs later

Answer

Schools should be demolished

Answer

The writer wants to raise taxes immediately

Answer

Schools are in perfect condition

Question 4

A poem describes a river that 'once carried canoes full of laughter' but now 'crawls through concrete channels, grey and silent.' What can you infer about the theme?

Accepted Answer

The poem mourns the loss of natural beauty and human connection

Answer

The poem celebrates urban development

Answer

The poem is about the joy of canoeing

Answer

The poem describes a river that has always been grey

Question 5

A character says 'I'm fine,' but the narrator describes them gripping the armrest so tightly their knuckles turn white. What should the reader infer?

Accepted Answer

The character's words contradict their body language, suggesting they are not fine

Answer

The character is genuinely fine

Answer

The character has a medical condition

Answer

The narrator is unreliable

Question 6

An informational text states: 'The polar bear population in Hudson Bay has declined by 30% over the past two decades, coinciding with a significant reduction in sea ice coverage.' What inference can be drawn?

Accepted Answer

The decline in sea ice is likely contributing to the population decline

Answer

Polar bears prefer to live on land

Answer

The population will recover on its own

Answer

Sea ice changes have no effect on wildlife