Inferences
What is The difference between implicit meaning and explicit meaning?
The implicit meaning is what the author or writer implies but does not directly say. Explicit meaning is what the author or writer clearly says
What is the function of rhetorical appeals?
A rhetorical appeal is a strategy an author, speaker, or writer uses to persuade an audience.
Technological innovation rarely transforms society through a single breakthrough; rather, change emerges through a sequence of interdependent decisions made by individuals responding to shifting conditions. Early in the development of artificial intelligence, researchers focused primarily on computational efficiency, believing that increased processing speed alone would yield intelligent systems. However, as limitations became apparent, a new emphasis on data-driven learning reshaped the field. This shift was not accidental. Influential scientists argued that without expansive datasets, algorithms would remain rigid and ineffective. Their advocacy prompted institutions to prioritize data collection, which in turn accelerated both capability and ethical concern. As AI systems grew more integrated into daily life, policymakers entered the discourse, responding to public unease about privacy and automation. These regulatory efforts altered the trajectory of development, forcing companies to balance innovation with accountability. Ultimately, the evolution of artificial intelligence reflects not only technological progress but also the cumulative impact of ideas, actions, and constraints imposed by human judgment over time.
What was the initial focus of early artificial intelligence researchers?
Computational efficiency
The prefix (Un-) means?
not, opposite of
Passage
When the cashier announced the total, Marcus hesitated, then slowly slid one item aside. He avoided eye contact, nodded quickly, and stuffed the receipt deep into his pocket before leaving the store.
Question:
What can be inferred about Marcus’s situation, and which detail most strongly supports that inference?
Inference: Marcus is likely trying to avoid paying for one of the items or is embarrassed/shy about his purchase.
Supporting Detail: “Marcus hesitated, then slowly slid one item aside. He avoided eye contact…”
Explanation: His hesitation and avoidance suggest concealment or discomfort.
Dr. Ramirez, a cardiologist with more than two decades of clinical experience, addressed the audience at the global health symposium. “Cardiovascular disease persists as the preeminent cause of mortality worldwide,” she asserted, referencing comprehensive studies indicating a 25% escalation in incidence over the past decade. “Consider the families devastated by illnesses that could have been mitigated, the children bereft of parents prematurely,” she continued. “Through the disciplined adoption of merely thirty minutes of daily exercise and incremental dietary modifications, each individual can significantly diminish their susceptibility.” Her tone, measured yet urgent, imbued the hall with both authority and a palpable concern for the audience’s well-being.
Which rhetorical appeal is primarily conveyed when Dr. Ramirez emphasizes her “more than two decades of clinical experience” as a cardiologist?
Ethos=The credibility of the author (Consider what expertise they have that makes them reliable)
Technological innovation rarely transforms society through a single breakthrough; rather, change emerges through a sequence of interdependent decisions made by individuals responding to shifting conditions. Early in the development of artificial intelligence, researchers focused primarily on computational efficiency, believing that increased processing speed alone would yield intelligent systems. However, as limitations became apparent, a new emphasis on data-driven learning reshaped the field. This shift was not accidental. Influential scientists argued that without expansive datasets, algorithms would remain rigid and ineffective. Their advocacy prompted institutions to prioritize data collection, which in turn accelerated both capability and ethical concern. As AI systems grew more integrated into daily life, policymakers entered the discourse, responding to public unease about privacy and automation. These regulatory efforts altered the trajectory of development, forcing companies to balance innovation with accountability. Ultimately, the evolution of artificial intelligence reflects not only technological progress but also the cumulative impact of ideas, actions, and constraints imposed by human judgment over time.
Which idea is developed across multiple stages of the passage?
A) Technological progress in AI is driven by a combination of human decisions, ethical considerations, and societal influence over time.
B) Early AI research focused exclusively on creating machines that could replace human workers.
C) Policymakers have little impact on the development of new technologies.
D) AI systems are limited only by the speed of their computational hardware.
A) Technological progress in AI is driven by a combination of human decisions, ethical considerations, and societal influence over time.
The prefix (mis-) means?
wrong, badly
The trophy gathers dust
on a shelf too high to reach.
He doesn’t look up anymore—
only forward,
laces tighter than before.
What does the poem suggest about the speaker’s attitude toward past success, and how do the images support that inference?
Inference: The speaker has moved past pride in previous achievements and is focused on future goals.
Supporting Detail: “The trophy gathers dust…only forward, laces tighter than before.”
Explanation: Dust on the trophy and the emphasis on moving forward symbolize letting go of past accomplishments.
Dr. Ramirez, a cardiologist with more than two decades of clinical experience, addressed the audience at the global health symposium. “Cardiovascular disease persists as the preeminent cause of mortality worldwide,” she asserted, referencing comprehensive studies indicating a 25% escalation in incidence over the past decade. “Consider the families devastated by illnesses that could have been mitigated, the children bereft of parents prematurely,” she continued. “Through the disciplined adoption of merely thirty minutes of daily exercise and incremental dietary modifications, each individual can significantly diminish their susceptibility.” Her tone, measured yet urgent, imbued the hall with both authority and a palpable concern for the audience’s well-being.
Which rhetorical appeal is employed when she states, “Consider the families devastated by illnesses that could have been mitigated, the children bereft of parents prematurely”?
Pathos= Appealing to emotions of the audience
The clock did not accuse him at first.
It only marked the hours he ignored—
meetings postponed, letters unsent,
a promise folded carefully into a drawer.
Each morning, he tightened his tie
as if restraint itself were virtue.
When the factory gates finally closed,
the silence was louder than the machines.
He stood among men who had learned
too late that patience can resemble consent.
At home, his daughter practiced speeches
for a future he once said would come.
Now the clock insists.
Not with sound, but with weight.
Time, he learns, is not neutral—
it sides with those who act
and indicts those who wait.
Which sequence of events is most essential to understanding the poem’s critique of delayed action?
The tightening of the tie → the closing of the factory → the daughter’s speeches
In the sentence below, what does inimical imply about the relationship described?
"The treaty stipulated conditions that were inimical to the interests of smaller nations, effectively limiting their autonomy in decision-making."
A) The conditions were unclear, leaving the interests of smaller nations uncertain.
B) The conditions were supportive and beneficial to the interests of smaller nations.
C) The conditions were neutral, having little effect on the interests of smaller nations.
D) The conditions were harmful or opposed to the interests of smaller nations.
D) The conditions were harmful or opposed to the interests of smaller nations.
Researchers conducted an experiment to see how sound might affect plant growth. They placed identical plants in the same soil, light, and water conditions but exposed each group to different sound frequencies for several hours a day. Surprisingly, some plants grew taller and developed more leaves than others, even though nothing else in their environment had changed. The researchers noted that the plants never physically interacted with the sound source, yet the differences persisted. They wondered whether vibrations or other subtle effects of the sound could be influencing growth, and they planned further studies to investigate.
Question: What hypothesis could explain this outcome, and what additional evidence would be needed to support your inference?
Hypothesis: Certain sound frequencies may influence plant growth, possibly through vibration or stress-response mechanisms.
Explanation: The observed differences suggest a non-obvious factor (sound) affecting growth, but further testing is required to confirm causation.
In Alone Together, Sherry Turkle argues that digital technologies, though designed to connect people, often deepen isolation by reshaping how individuals relate to one another. She notes that many—particularly younger users—carefully manage their identities through screens, favoring the efficiency and emotional control of digital communication over the uncertainty of face-to-face interaction. Social media and messaging create a sense of closeness that can conceal emotional distance, as the ability to edit responses replaces the spontaneity of real conversation. Turkle warns that this reliance on “buffered” intimacy encourages withdrawal from genuine emotional risk, weakening empathy and diminishing the depth of presence required for meaningful human connection.
How does Turkle’s argument leverage kairos—the opportune moment—to enhance the persuasiveness of her critique about digital communication?
A) She emphasizes the novelty of digital tools, arguing that their popularity makes this critique timely and urgent, encouraging readers to reflect on their current habits before the consequences of isolation deepen.
B) She uses historical examples of past communication methods to show that humans have always struggled with connection, suggesting that digital communication is just another phase in a long continuum.
C) She appeals primarily to pathos by invoking nostalgia for face-to-face interactions, without connecting this to the present moment or cultural context.
D) She focuses on abstract philosophical questions about human nature that are disconnected from contemporary technological trends, making her argument timeless rather than timely.
A) She emphasizes the novelty of digital tools, arguing that their popularity makes this critique timely and urgent, encouraging readers to reflect on their current habits before the consequences of isolation deepen.
The clock did not accuse him at first.
It only marked the hours he ignored—
meetings postponed, letters unsent,
a promise folded carefully into a drawer.
Each morning, he tightened his tie
as if restraint itself were virtue.
When the factory gates finally closed,
the silence was louder than the machines.
He stood among men who had learned
too late that patience can resemble consent.
At home, his daughter practiced speeches
for a future he once said would come.
Now the clock insists.
Not with sound, but with weight.
Time, he learns, is not neutral—
it sides with those who act
and indicts those who wait.
Which statement best explains how the poem develops its theme through the interaction of individual choice and broader events?
A. Broader events overpower individual agency
B. Individual choices are irrelevant in the face of time
C. Personal inaction allows external events to determine outcomes
D. External events excuse the individual’s lack of response
C. Personal inaction allows external events to determine outcomes
In the sentence below, what does obfuscate most nearly mean?
The politician’s elaborate rhetoric seemed designed to obfuscate the core issues, leaving constituents uncertain about the practical implications of the policy.
Confuse, obscure, not make clear
Eleanor wandered the abandoned railway station, her steps stirring motes of dust in the waning light. The benches, worn smooth by countless strangers, bore silent witness to journeys begun and ended. She paused beside a shattered clock, its hands frozen at midnight, and considered the letters pinned to the bulletin board, yellowed with age. Each envelope seemed to whisper stories she would never hear, lives intersecting briefly before vanishing into obscurity. Outside, the wind carried the faint clatter of a distant train, but Eleanor remained rooted, caught between the pull of departure and the weight of memories that refused to loosen their hold.
What does the passage imply about Eleanor’s emotional state and her perspective on the passage of time? Analyze the author’s use of symbolism and support your rationale with specific evidence from the text.
The passage implies that Eleanor is reflective and caught between nostalgia and indecision, feeling both drawn to the past and hesitant about moving forward. The frozen clock symbolizes her perception of time as halted, emphasizing her inability to leave memories behind. The “letters…yellowed with age” and the “benches, worn smooth by countless strangers” suggest a deep awareness of lives and experiences that have passed, highlighting her contemplative state.
Santiago, a young Andalusian shepherd, stood before the old king of Salem, who declared that when a person deeply desires something, all the universe conspires to help achieve it. Though Santiago had little worldly experience, the king spoke with calm authority, offering two stones—Urim and Thummim—as tools for interpreting omens. Santiago was unsure whether to sell his flock and pursue this dream of buried treasure in Egypt, but the king’s words carried weight beyond mere opinion: they hinted at ancient wisdom guiding human destiny. As Santiago traveled, he encountered both hardship and insight. In Tangier, a thief stole his money, forcing him to work for a crystal merchant, where he learned patience and the value of perseverance. Through each challenge, Santiago wrestled with fear and doubt but continued to believe that his quest had meaning, grounded in both his heart’s yearning and the lessons imparted by those he met along the way.
Which rhetorical appeal does the passage primarily use when the king of Salem speaks with calm authority about the universe conspiring to help Santiago?
Ethos—because the king’s wise, authoritative voice builds credibility (Also consider that through the king's life experience, he is knowledgeable and trustworthy to provide sound information)
Mitosis is not a single act of division but a precisely ordered sequence of stages through which a cell ensures the accurate transmission of genetic material. During prophase, chromatin condenses into visible chromosomes, and the mitotic spindle begins to form as the nuclear membrane dissolves. This structural reorganization enables the cell to prepare for separation. In metaphase, chromosomes align along the cell’s equatorial plane, a configuration that reflects the culmination of earlier preparations and ensures equal distribution. The process advances in anaphase, when sister chromatids are pulled apart by spindle fibers, transforming potential division into irreversible separation. Finally, telophase restores cellular organization as nuclear membranes reform and chromosomes decondense, signaling the completion of nuclear division. Throughout mitosis, each stage depends upon the successful execution of the previous one; disruption at any point compromises genetic stability. Thus, mitosis exemplifies how sequential biological events collectively sustain cellular continuity.
Why is metaphase positioned as a critical transitional stage in the author’s sequence of events?
A) Because it marks the condensation of chromatin into visible chromosomes and the formation of the mitotic spindle.
B) Because it aligns chromosomes along the cell’s equatorial plane, ensuring that the separation in anaphase occurs accurately and that genetic material is equally distributed.
C) Because it is the final stage where nuclear membranes reform and chromosomes decondense, signaling the completion of division.
D) Because it initiates the irreversible separation of sister chromatids without relying on previous stages.
B) Because it aligns chromosomes along the cell’s equatorial plane, ensuring that the separation in anaphase occurs accurately and that genetic material is equally distributed.
Rydra Wong, the protagonist of Samuel R. Delany’s
1966 novel Babel-17, is a poet, an occupation which,
in Delany’s work, is not _______: nearly a dozen of
the characters that populate his novels are poets or
writers.
Which choice completes the text with the most
logical and precise word or phrase?
A) infallible
B) atypical
C) lucrative
D) tedious
B) Atypical