OSSLT Making Inferences from Text 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A memoir passage reads: 'My grandmother kept every birthday card she ever received, bound with elastic bands and sorted by year, in a shoebox under her bed.' What can readers infer about the grandmother?
- She did not trust banks and hid valuables under her bed.
- She placed great sentimental value on personal connections and memories. (Correct answer)
- She had too many belongings and needed to organize them somewhere.
- She planned to sell the cards at a future date.
Correct answer: She placed great sentimental value on personal connections and memories.
Carefully preserving and organizing birthday cards over many years implies she treasured the relationships and memories they represented.
Question 2: A short story includes this line: 'The coach looked at the scoreboard, then at the bench, then at the scoreboard again — and said nothing.' What is most likely implied?
- The coach is satisfied with how the game is going.
- The coach is at a loss and does not know how to respond to the situation. (Correct answer)
- The coach is signalling secretly to a player on the field.
- The coach has lost interest in the outcome of the game.
Correct answer: The coach is at a loss and does not know how to respond to the situation.
Repeatedly looking between the scoreboard and the bench without speaking suggests the coach is struggling to find a response or solution.
Question 3: An informational text states: 'Countries that invested heavily in early childhood education in the 1980s now rank among the highest in adult literacy rates.' What can be inferred from this information?
- Adult literacy rates are determined solely by natural ability.
- Early investment in childhood education can produce long-term literacy benefits. (Correct answer)
- The 1980s policies had no meaningful effect on today's populations.
- High adult literacy rates are caused only by economic prosperity.
Correct answer: Early investment in childhood education can produce long-term literacy benefits.
The correlation between past early-education investment and present high literacy rates implies a long-term positive effect.
Question 4: A graphic novel panel shows a character smiling widely in the foreground while, in the background, her reflection in a window shows a frown. What is the artist implying?
- The character's window reflection is distorted by poor glass quality.
- The character is hiding her true feelings behind a public smile. (Correct answer)
- The character is happy but concerned about the weather outside.
- The character is looking at someone else's reflection.
Correct answer: The character is hiding her true feelings behind a public smile.
Contrasting a public smile with a private frown visible in a reflection is a classic visual technique for showing emotional concealment.
Question 5: A passage reads: 'The rescue dog pressed itself into the corner whenever a door slammed, and would not eat if strangers were in the room.' What can readers infer about the dog's past?
- The dog was raised in a calm, well-socialized environment.
- The dog likely experienced fear or stress in its previous situation. (Correct answer)
- The dog prefers indoor spaces to outdoor environments.
- The dog has a medical condition that affects its appetite.
Correct answer: The dog likely experienced fear or stress in its previous situation.
Fear responses to loud sounds and the presence of strangers suggest the dog developed these reactions in a stressful or threatening past environment.
Question 6: An article notes: 'The city unveiled its new transit plan to widespread applause — until residents noticed that none of the new routes served the north end.' What can be inferred about the initial applause?
- Residents fully understood all aspects of the plan before applauding.
- The applause was based on incomplete understanding of the plan's full scope. (Correct answer)
- North-end residents were not present at the announcement.
- The transit plan was later revised to include the north end.
Correct answer: The applause was based on incomplete understanding of the plan's full scope.
Applause that fades once residents notice a major gap implies the initial approval was given without full information.
Question 7: A short story ends with: 'She placed the acceptance letter face-down on the kitchen table and went to tend the garden her mother had planted thirty years ago.' What can be inferred about the character's decision?
- She is excited and celebrating her acceptance by doing something she loves.
- She is conflicted and seeking comfort in a connection to her roots before deciding. (Correct answer)
- She has already decided to reject the offer and is moving on.
- She plans to show the letter to her mother when she comes inside.
Correct answer: She is conflicted and seeking comfort in a connection to her roots before deciding.
Placing the letter face-down and retreating to her late mother's garden suggests she is wrestling with a difficult choice and seeking emotional grounding.
OSSLT Making Inferences from Text 5
A memoir passage reads: 'My grandmother kept every birthday card she ever received, bound with elastic bands and sorted by year, in a shoebox under her bed.' What can readers infer about the grandmother?