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Inference Test

Total questions: 15

Worksheet time: 27mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

The small Vermont town had no direct warning about the hurricane moving northward up the East Coast. All of the weather reports had focused on the impact that the storm would have on states to the south, like New York, New Jersey, and Virginia. However, the storm took an unexpected turn and moved inland instead of out to sea.

Joseph had lived through plenty of winter blizzards, but he had never seen or experienced a storm as severe as this one. The rain poured down so heavily that he could barely see across the yard to the big red barn beyond the house. The intense wind surprised him most. There were reports that it had reached speeds of more than 70 miles per hour. Joseph lay awake for much of the night listening to the howling wind outside.

When Joseph stepped onto the porch the next morning, he was shocked to see how much debris had been left behind—piles of branches, smashed garbage cans, and broken boards from the tree house he had built with his grandfather many years ago.


What can the reader infer from the passage above?

a)

In Vermont, winter blizzards cause more damage than hurricanes.

b)

Hurricanes hardly ever cause damage as far north as Vermont.

c)

The damage in New York was much more severe than in Vermont.

d)

The people of Vermont did not expect damage from the hurricane.

2.

One of the smallest states, Hawaii has a total area of around 6,459 square miles nearly all of which is accounted for by eight main islands: Hawaii, Maui, Molokai, Lanai, Oahu, Kauai, Niihau, and Kahoolawe. Many of the islands are the exposed peaks and submerged mountains of a chain of lava dome volcanoes. The state's two main active volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Kilauea, both on the island of Hawaii, erupt occasionally on a small scale, usually accompanied by minor earthquakes.


Which of the following can the reader infer from the passage above?

a)

Hawaii is home to many of the world's finest golf courses.

b)

Hawaii is a popular vacation spot.

c)

Hawaii is known as the Aloha State.

d)

The landscape in Hawaii has many varied elevation levels.

3.

It's no surprise that exercise enhances energy. The physical challenge primes your body. Blood sugar is more readily converted to fuel. Greater amounts of oxygen are supplied to your cells. Fight-or-flight hormones are released. Instead of leaving you depleted, exercise invigorates. One way to get the body going is an early morning or late afternoon exercise routine. It's perfect for a pick-me-up.


What can the reader infer from this paragraph?

a)

Although beneficial, exercise can be dangerous.

b)

The author is a fitness instructor.

c)

Exercising is an essential part of any person's day.

d)

The author probably exercises to enhance his/her energy level.

4.

Juan began mowing lawns for money last summer. He started mowing at the beginning of May. It was spring, it rained often and continued through the summer, and the lawns on Juan's block grew fast. He was able to mow lawns all summer, and he made some good money! This year was completely different. The weather did not cooperate. Most of Juan's customers told him that he did not need to mow as often. By the end of the summer, Juan made less than half of what he made the year before.


Which of these statements is supported by the paragraph?

a)

There was less rain this summer than last summer.

b)

This was a much colder summer than last summer.

c)

There was less wind this summer than last summer.

d)

This was a much hotter summer than last summer.

5.

Crude oil is perhaps the most useful and versatile raw material that has become available for exploitation. By the mid-1980s, worldwide production was 53.4 million barrels a day. The world's reserves of crude oil add up to about 700 billion barrels, over half of which are in the Middle East. It is likely that some additional discoveries will be made of new reserves in coming years, and new technologies will be developed for more efficient recovery from known resources. Many experts believe that the supply of crude oil will probably extend into the 21st century, but probably not much longer.


Which of the following can the reader infer from the passage above?

a)

You can become rich by discovering oil.

b)

The price of oil fluctuates wildly and is totally unpredictable.

c)

New energy sources will be necessary in the future.

d)

Burning crude oil causes pollution.

6.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a preacher and a civil rights leader. He was born in 1929 and died in 1968. In 1963, he organized the March on Washington which brought more than 200,000 people together. In 1964, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

In 1968, he was shot and killed in Memphis by an assassin's bullet on the balcony of the motel where he was staying. James Earl Ray was convicted of his murder.


Which of the following can the reader infer from the passage above?

a)

Memphis is a very dangerous city.

b)

Martin Luther King, Jr. was a major political figure in the 1960s.

c)

Dr. King was a great public speaker.

7.

Thomas Jefferson was born in western Goochland County, Virginia. In 1760 he entered the College of William and Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. He later studied law and was reasonably successful as a lawyer, but his main source of income came from farming his land. In 1767 Jefferson began work on his mountaintop estate, Monticello, near what is now Charlottesville, Virginia. He designed the mansion himself.


Which of the following can the reader infer from the passage above?

a)

Jefferson was a man with many experiences.

b)

Thomas Jefferson was born in western Goochland County, Virginia.

c)

Jefferson was the third president of the United States.

d)

Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence.

8.

Offshore drilling is a method to increase oil production. Drilling rigs are installed, operated, and serviced on an offshore platform in water up to several hundred meters deep; the platform either floats or has legs planted on the ocean floor. Offshore drilling has made possible the development of a significant additional reserve of petroleum.


Which of the following can the reader infer from the passage above?

a)

Offshore drilling has decreased oil production.

b)

Offshore drilling requires a significant operating effort.

c)

Offshore drilling has increased the price of oil.

d)

Offshore drilling is very common in the Great Lakes.

9.
The launch of the space shuttle Atlantis has been postponed while NASA evaluates a problem with the new robot arm on space station Alpha. The arm will be used to carry out the installation of a new U.S.-built airlock on the space station.

What can you infer from this paragraph? 
a)
The robot space arm is critical to the space shuttle's mission.
b)
The robot arm was poorly constructed.
c)
The space shuttle experiences frequent launch delays.
d)
The space program is very expensive.
10.
 From news reports about Russia, you may think that the Kremlin is a large building in Moscow. Actually, there are many kremlins in Russia. Kremlin means "fortress" in Russian. In Moscow the Kremlin is not one building but many buildings inside a walled yard. 
 You can tell that Moscow's Kremlin probably.....
 
a)
is never visited by news reporters.
b)
is the only one in Russia.
c)
is a large building in Russia.
d)
was originally a fortress.
11.
 “Larry, as your boss, I must say it’s been very interesting working with you,” Miss Valdez said. “However, it seems that our company’s needs and your performance style are not well matched. Therefore, it makes me very sad to have to ask you to resign your position effective today.”
What was Miss Valdez telling Larry?   
a)
She would feel really bad if he decided to quit.
b)
He was being fired.
c)
He was getting a raise in pay.
d)
She really enjoyed having him in the office.
12.
Every four years, February has an extra day.  When this happens, it is called Leap Year.  But even with the extra day, February is still the shortest month of the year.  Some months, like June and November, have 30 days.  Other months like March and August, have 31 days. 
It is likely that:
a)
February has longer days
b)
February has less than 30 days
c)
February has more than 31 days
13.
Tim looked out the window. The house looked so lonely. Tim's father put the last suitcase in the trunk and started up the car. Thor, his dog, put his head on Tim's lap, like he understood how  Tim was feeling. "It's okay Thor," he said, "Dad says we will like California." What is happening?
a)
Tim is sad because his dog doesn't have a house to live in.
b)
Tim is taking a trip to visit peolpe he doesn't know.
c)
Tim is taking Thor to live with his grandmother.
d)
Tim is moving to California with his family.
14.

1. Leonardo Da Vinci was born in Italy in 1452. Besides being a great artist, he is well-known for his many inventions. He kept notes on all of his ideas. Among his notes were designs for a parachute, a diving suit and a flying machine similar to today’s helicopter.


From this paragraph, you can infer that:

a)

Da Vinci was not very talented.

b)

Da Vinci was just a great artist.

c)

Da Vinci painted the “Mona Lisa”

d)

Da Vinci was a well-known inventor.

15.

Ryan was looking forward to sleeping over at his friend Robert's house. Though they had been classmates for a while, the two had only recently become good friends. Ryan packed up his sleeping bag, a pillow, and a few of his favorite toys and games, and then his mom dropped him off at Robert's. Robert met Ryan on the porch and the two did their secret handshake and started playing right away. First they played pirates in Robert's tree fort. Next they played ninjas in the driveway. Then it started getting dark and they went inside of Robert's house. As soon as they walked in the house, Ryan's eyes starting getting red and itchy. He saw a big orange cat sitting on the couch. Then he started sneezing uncontrollably. "I'm sorry, Robert. It's been a lot of fun, but I have to call my mom."


Which clue lets the reader know Ryan is probably allergic to cats?

a)

Robert sees a big orange cat sitting on the couch

b)

Ryan begins to sneeze.

c)

Ryan's eyes get red and itchy, then he starts sneezing

d)

Robert is allergic to cats, too.