RLA Inference and Drawing Conclusions 3

Question 1

Read: "The company's profits rose 12% this quarter, yet it announced layoffs affecting 300 employees." What inference can be drawn about the company's priorities?

Accepted Answer

The company appears to prioritize shareholder returns over employee retention

Answer

The company is struggling financially despite the reported profit numbers

Answer

The layoffs are required by government regulations

Answer

The employees who were laid off were underperforming

Question 2

A passage describes a politician who votes against a bill but later takes credit for the programs it funded. What can be inferred about the politician?

Accepted Answer

The politician is attempting to benefit politically from an outcome they opposed

Answer

The politician changed positions after seeing the bill's positive effects

Answer

The politician misunderstood the bill when casting their vote

Answer

The politician is being transparent about their evolving stance

Question 3

Read: "Studies show students who eat breakfast score higher on morning exams. Schools in the district that introduced free breakfast programs saw test scores rise by 8%." What conclusion is most strongly supported?

Accepted Answer

Ensuring students have breakfast may positively impact their academic performance

Answer

Breakfast is the only factor that affects student exam performance

Answer

Students who eat breakfast are naturally more intelligent

Answer

Free breakfast programs always improve test scores by at least 8%

Question 4

Which of the following is an example of an overgeneralization based on limited evidence?

Accepted Answer

Three students failed the quiz, so the entire class must be struggling with the material

Answer

The experiment was repeated five times, yielding consistent results each time

Answer

The author uses figurative language in the second paragraph to create imagery

Answer

Two of the four council members opposed the resolution

Question 5

Read: "The documentary received rave reviews from critics but earned less than $200,000 at the box office." What can be inferred about the documentary?

Accepted Answer

The documentary appealed strongly to critics but had limited mass-market appeal

Answer

Critics have more refined tastes than the general public on all topics

Answer

The documentary was poorly marketed by the studio

Answer

Critics were paid to give the documentary positive reviews

Question 6

Read: "The scientist published her findings in a peer-reviewed journal, and her experiment has since been replicated by three independent laboratories." What can be inferred about the reliability of her findings?

Accepted Answer

Her findings are likely reliable because they have been independently verified

Answer

Her findings are unreliable because other scientists are trying to disprove them

Answer

Peer review guarantees that the findings are 100% correct

Answer

The independent labs found contradictory results that challenge her conclusions

Question 7

Read: "After the neighborhood park was renovated, nearby home values increased by an average of 7%." What inference is most logically supported?

Accepted Answer

Residents value living near well-maintained public spaces, which is reflected in home prices

Answer

All parks increase property values regardless of their condition

Answer

The renovation cost more than the increase in property values

Answer

Home values in the area would have risen 7% without the renovation