Reading Comprehension Drawing Conclusions and Predictions 4 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The small coffee shop on Oak Street had long lines every morning. When a large chain café opened next door last month, the coffee shop installed comfortable seating, offered free Wi-Fi, and began hosting local musicians on weekends. Question: What prediction can be made about the coffee shop's strategy?
- The coffee shop is trying to differentiate itself from the chain café to retain customers. (Correct answer)
- The coffee shop is planning to close within the year.
- The chain café asked the coffee shop to add more seating.
- The coffee shop will lower its prices to match the chain.
Correct answer: The coffee shop is trying to differentiate itself from the chain café to retain customers.
Adding seating, Wi-Fi, and entertainment directly after a competitor arrived signals a deliberate strategy to offer experiences the chain cannot easily replicate.
Question 2: Sailors in the 1800s who spent months at sea often developed scurvy — a disease causing bleeding gums and extreme fatigue. Ships that carried limes and lemons on long voyages reported almost no cases of scurvy among their crews. Question: What conclusion is supported?
- Scurvy is likely caused by a lack of something found in citrus fruits. (Correct answer)
- Sailors at sea ate too much food, causing scurvy.
- Scurvy is contagious and spread from sailor to sailor.
- Limes and lemons improved sailors' morale and prevented fatigue.
Correct answer: Scurvy is likely caused by a lack of something found in citrus fruits.
Because scurvy appeared without citrus and disappeared with it, the most logical conclusion is that a nutrient in citrus (vitamin C) prevents the disease.
Question 3: The library's digital borrowing service launched three years ago. Since then, physical book checkouts have declined by 20% each year, while e-book and audiobook downloads have tripled. Question: Based on these trends, what is the most reasonable prediction for next year?
- Digital borrowing will likely continue to grow while physical checkouts decline further. (Correct answer)
- Physical book checkouts will suddenly increase next year.
- The library will close its digital service due to lack of interest.
- E-book and audiobook downloads will decrease.
Correct answer: Digital borrowing will likely continue to grow while physical checkouts decline further.
A consistent three-year trend of digital growth and physical decline gives no reason to predict a reversal next year.
Question 4: A study tracked students who ate breakfast before school and those who skipped it. Students who ate breakfast scored an average of 15% higher on morning tests and reported better concentration. Question: What conclusion is best supported?
- Eating breakfast is associated with better academic performance in the morning. (Correct answer)
- Students who eat breakfast are naturally more intelligent.
- Morning tests are easier than afternoon tests.
- Schools should eliminate morning testing.
Correct answer: Eating breakfast is associated with better academic performance in the morning.
The data directly links breakfast consumption to higher test scores and better concentration, supporting a positive association between the two.
Question 5: Polar bear populations depend almost entirely on sea ice for hunting seals. Satellite data shows Arctic sea ice has shrunk by 13% per decade over the last 40 years. Question: What prediction about polar bears is most reasonable?
- Polar bear populations will likely face increasing pressure as sea ice continues to shrink. (Correct answer)
- Polar bears will quickly adapt to hunting on land.
- Sea ice loss will stop soon because it cannot shrink indefinitely.
- Polar bears will move to Antarctica where ice is more stable.
Correct answer: Polar bear populations will likely face increasing pressure as sea ice continues to shrink.
A 40-year trend of ice loss directly threatens polar bears' hunting platform; unless the trend reverses, their populations will face mounting survival challenges.
Question 6: When the local newspaper published a front-page story about a neglected park, dozens of volunteers showed up the following weekend to clean it up. The mayor's office received 200 calls about the park that week. Question: What conclusion can be drawn?
- Public awareness generated by the article mobilized community action. (Correct answer)
- The volunteers had already planned to clean the park before the article.
- The mayor's office was unaware the park existed before the calls.
- Newspaper articles always cause community projects to succeed.
Correct answer: Public awareness generated by the article mobilized community action.
The timing — volunteers and calls appearing directly after the article — indicates the publication raised awareness that prompted the community response.
Question 7: A new medicine reduced patients' blood sugar levels in a clinical trial. However, 30% of patients also reported significant side effects including dizziness and nausea. Question: What can be predicted about the medicine's path to approval?
- Regulators will likely require further testing to weigh benefits against the side effects. (Correct answer)
- The medicine will be approved immediately because it reduced blood sugar.
- All patients will refuse to take the medicine due to side effects.
- The side effects will disappear once the medicine reaches the market.
Correct answer: Regulators will likely require further testing to weigh benefits against the side effects.
A 30% side-effect rate is significant enough that regulatory bodies would typically demand additional trials before approving such a drug.
Reading Comprehension Drawing Conclusions and Predictions 4
The small coffee shop on Oak Street had long lines every morning.
When a large chain café opened next door last month, the coffee shop installed comfortable seating, offered free Wi-Fi, and began hosting local musicians on weekends.
Question: What prediction can be made about the coffee shop's strategy?