Reading Comprehension Drawing Conclusions and Predictions 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The ancient Egyptians built the pyramids as tombs for pharaohs. Each pyramid contained chambers filled with treasures, food, and tools believed to be needed in the afterlife. Elaborate traps were designed to deter grave robbers. Question: What conclusion can be drawn about ancient Egyptian beliefs?
- Ancient Egyptians believed in some form of life after death. (Correct answer)
- Ancient Egyptians feared their pharaohs would return as ghosts.
- The pyramids were built to impress foreign visitors.
- Ancient Egyptians did not believe in preserving wealth.
Correct answer: Ancient Egyptians believed in some form of life after death.
Providing a dead pharaoh with food, tools, and treasures makes sense only if Egyptians believed those items would be used in an afterlife.
Question 2: A farmer noticed that the field nearest the road yielded poor crops while the fields further back produced abundantly. Cars and trucks passed the road continuously throughout the growing season. Question: What conclusion is most reasonable?
- Vehicle emissions or noise near the road may be harming crops in that field. (Correct answer)
- The soil near the road is naturally inferior to deeper soil.
- Farmers should always plant near roads for easier transport.
- The further fields receive more rain than the roadside field.
Correct answer: Vehicle emissions or noise near the road may be harming crops in that field.
The only consistent difference between the poor field and the good fields is proximity to heavy traffic, pointing to traffic-related factors as the likely cause.
Question 3: Ana exercised for 30 minutes every day and ate a balanced diet for three months. At her next check-up, her blood pressure had dropped from high to normal and her cholesterol improved. Question: What prediction can be made if Ana continues her routine?
- Ana's health metrics will likely remain improved or continue to improve. (Correct answer)
- Ana's blood pressure will return to high within a week.
- Ana's doctor will tell her to stop exercising.
- Ana will need more medication despite her improvements.
Correct answer: Ana's health metrics will likely remain improved or continue to improve.
Because the routine produced measurable health improvements over three months, continuing it is likely to sustain or build on those gains.
Question 4: Researchers released a group of wolves into a national park from which they had been absent for 70 years. Within five years, the deer population stabilized, eroded riverbanks recovered, and songbird populations increased. Question: What conclusion is best supported by these changes?
- The wolves' presence created a positive ripple effect throughout the ecosystem. (Correct answer)
- Deer migrated out of the park because they dislike wolves.
- Songbirds arrived because researchers also planted trees.
- Riverbanks recover naturally over any five-year period.
Correct answer: The wolves' presence created a positive ripple effect throughout the ecosystem.
Multiple ecosystem improvements following the wolves' reintroduction indicate that their presence restored a natural balance affecting plants, prey, and other species.
Question 5: Dmitri had not slept well in a week due to a noisy construction project across from his apartment. Each morning he found it increasingly difficult to concentrate at work, and he made several errors on routine tasks. Question: What can be predicted if the construction continues for another week?
- Dmitri's work performance will likely continue to decline. (Correct answer)
- Dmitri will adjust to the noise and sleep normally.
- The construction will end before the week is out.
- Dmitri's employer will not notice any errors.
Correct answer: Dmitri's work performance will likely continue to decline.
A continuing pattern of sleep loss leading to escalating errors suggests that unless the source of disruption stops, performance will deteriorate further.
Question 6: Paleontologists found the fossilized remains of tropical plants in Antarctica. Today, Antarctica is one of the coldest places on Earth, covered almost entirely in ice. Question: What conclusion do the fossils support?
- Antarctica once had a much warmer climate capable of supporting tropical plant life. (Correct answer)
- Tropical plants can survive in freezing temperatures.
- Scientists placed the fossils in Antarctica to study them.
- Antarctica has always been frozen but once had underground heat vents.
Correct answer: Antarctica once had a much warmer climate capable of supporting tropical plant life.
Tropical plants cannot grow in icy conditions; their fossils in Antarctica indicate that the continent was once warm enough to support such vegetation.
Question 7: A city installed bright streetlights in a neighborhood that previously had poor lighting. Over the next year, reported nighttime crimes in that neighborhood dropped by 40%, while neighboring areas with no new lighting saw no change. Question: What conclusion is most supported?
- Better street lighting likely deterred nighttime criminal activity in that neighborhood. (Correct answer)
- Crime decreased throughout the city due to a new police program.
- Criminals moved to the neighboring areas at the same time.
- Residents stopped reporting crimes after the lights were installed.
Correct answer: Better street lighting likely deterred nighttime criminal activity in that neighborhood.
The drop occurred only in the lit neighborhood while nearby unlit areas were unchanged, isolating the lighting as the most likely cause of the decrease.
Reading Comprehension Drawing Conclusions and Predictions 3
The ancient Egyptians built the pyramids as tombs for pharaohs.
Each pyramid contained chambers filled with treasures, food, and tools believed to be needed in the afterlife.
Elaborate traps were designed to deter grave robbers.
Question: What conclusion can be drawn about ancient Egyptian beliefs?