Science
Some plants close their leaves when touched. Scientists believe that this reaction may protect the plants from insects and other animals that eat them.
What can be inferred about these plants?
A. They cannot survive without insects.
B. Their reactions may help them avoid being eaten.
C. They use insects to move their leaves.
D. Their leaves are always closed.
B. Their reactions may help them avoid being eaten.
Many early civilizations developed near rivers. Rivers provided water for drinking and farming and could also be used for transportation.
What can be inferred about rivers?
A. They made agriculture more difficult.
B. They discouraged people from forming communities.
C. They contributed to the development of early societies.
D. They were used only for transportation.
C. They contributed to the development of early societies.
Students who regularly reviewed their notes tended to remember information longer than students who studied only the night before an examination.
What can be inferred?
A. All students remember information equally.
B. Students should never study before an exam.
C. Reviewing information regularly may improve memory.
D. Studying the night before is always successful.
C. Reviewing information regularly may improve memory
Before smartphones became common, people often used separate devices for taking photographs, listening to music, and communicating.
What can be inferred about smartphones?
A. They combine functions that were previously performed by different devices.
B. They cannot be used for communication.
C. They replaced computers completely.
D. They are used only for photography.
A. They combine functions that were previously performed by different devices.
Trees absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and release oxygen during photosynthesis. Forests therefore play an important role in Earth's carbon cycle.
What can be inferred about forests?
A. They contribute to processes that affect atmospheric gases.
B. They increase carbon dioxide in every situation.
C. They do not affect the atmosphere.
D. They produce no oxygen.
A. They contribute to processes that affect atmospheric gases.
Penguins have a thick layer of fat under their skin. They also have dense feathers that trap air close to their bodies. These characteristics help them survive in very cold environments.
It can be inferred that the penguins' bodies are adapted to:
A. hot environments
B. living without food
C. cold temperatures
D. flying long distances
C. cold temperatures
The city was built near a large river and became an important center for trade. Merchants traveled by boat to exchange goods with people from distant regions.
Why did the city's location probably help its development?
A. It was difficult to reach.
B. The river facilitated trade.
C. The city had no agricultural land.
D. Merchants avoided using boats.
B. The river facilitated trade.
People often remember information more easily when they connect new ideas to things they already know.
What can be inferred about previous knowledge?
A. It prevents people from learning.
B. It can help people understand new information.
C. It is unnecessary for learning.
D. It makes new information less memorable.
B. It can help people understand new information.
Online courses allow students to access lessons from different locations. However, students who have difficulty managing their time may struggle to complete assignments without a fixed classroom schedule.
What can be inferred?
A. Classroom learning requires no time management.
B. Online courses never include assignments.
C. Students cannot study online from home.
D. Online learning may require strong time-management skills
D. Online learning may require strong time-management skills
In cities with few trees, summer temperatures can be higher because there is less shade and less cooling from vegetation.
What can be inferred?
A. Trees always make cities hotter. .
B. Planting trees may help reduce temperatures in some urban areas
C. Cities do not need vegetation.
D. Shade increases temperatures.
B. Planting trees may help reduce temperatures in some urban areas
Unlike most mammals, bats are active primarily at night. Many species use echolocation to locate objects in the darkness. They produce sounds and listen for the returning echoes.
What can be inferred about echolocation?
A. It helps bats navigate when visibility is limited.
B. It allows bats to communicate only during the day.
C. It makes bats unable to see.
D. It is used by all mammals.
A. It helps bats navigate when visibility is limited.
In the nineteenth century, railroads expanded rapidly across many countries. Before rail transportation became common, moving goods over long distances could take weeks or months.
What can be inferred about the development of railroads?
A. They probably made transportation faster.
B. They made long-distance travel impossible.
C. They were used only by farmers.
D. They replaced all forms of transportation immediately.
A. They probably made transportation faster.
In one study, participants performed a difficult task in a quiet room. Another group performed the same task while several conversations were taking place nearby. The second group made more errors.
What can be inferred from the study?
A. Conversations may interfere with concentration.
B. Difficult tasks should always be done in groups.
C. People work better with background conversations.
D. Quiet environments make people less productive.
A. Conversations may interfere with concentration.
Modern translation software can process thousands of words in a short period. Nevertheless, human translators are still often needed when a text contains cultural references, humor, or ambiguous expressions.
What can be inferred?
A. Translation software has completely replaced human translators.
B. Human translators may be especially useful when meaning depends on context.
C. Computers cannot translate any language.
D. Cultural references are easy for computers to understand.
B. Human translators may be especially useful when meaning depends on context.
Plastic can remain in the environment for many years. As a result, reducing the amount of plastic waste can help decrease the amount of material that accumulates in landfills and natural environments.
What can be inferred?
A. Plastic is always environmentally harmless.
B. Plastic disappears immediately.
C. Landfills contain no plastic.
D. Reducing plastic use could have environmental benefits.
D. Reducing plastic use could have environmental benefits.
Researchers placed two groups of plants in different environments. One group received natural sunlight, while the other received artificial light. After several weeks, the plants exposed to natural sunlight generally grew more quickly.
What can be inferred from the experiment?
A. Artificial light always kills plants.
B. Plants cannot grow indoors.
C. Natural sunlight may support plant growth more effectively.
D. All plants need exactly the same amount of sunlight.
C. Natural sunlight may support plant growth more effectively.
Some ancient cities were surrounded by large walls. Historical evidence suggests that these structures required considerable time and labor to construct.
What can be inferred about these cities?
A. They probably had organized systems for construction.
B. They had very small populations.
C. They did not have leaders.
D. Their inhabitants never worked together.
A. They probably had organized systems for construction.
Researchers observed that people were more likely to continue exercising when they recorded their progress and set specific goals.
What does the passage suggest?
A. Recording progress may encourage people to maintain a habit.
B. Exercise is unnecessary when people have goals.
C. People should avoid setting goals.
D. Recording progress makes exercise more difficult.
A. Recording progress may encourage people to maintain a habit.
Many companies now store information digitally rather than keeping large numbers of paper documents. This allows employees to search for information quickly, but it also means that companies must protect their digital systems from unauthorized access.
What can be inferred?
A. Digital storage provides benefits but also creates security concerns.
B. Companies no longer need to protect information.
C. Paper documents are impossible to lose.
D. Digital information cannot be searched.
A. Digital storage provides benefits but also creates security concerns.
Some coastal communities have built barriers to reduce damage from flooding. However, these structures can be expensive to construct and maintain.
What can be inferred?
A. Barriers are expensive everywhere.
B. Flooding damages coastal communities.
C. Flood barriers can provide protection but also involve costs.
D. Coastal communities need protection.
C. Flood barriers can provide protection but also involve costs.
Some desert animals are active only during the cooler parts of the day. For example, certain animals remain underground during the hottest hours and come out in the evening. This behavior reduces their exposure to extreme temperatures.
What can be inferred about these animals?
A. They have no way to control their body temperature.
B. Their behavior helps them cope with the desert climate.
C. They cannot survive during the evening.
D. They prefer living underground permanently.
B. Their behavior helps them cope with the desert climate.
During periods of drought, agricultural communities sometimes moved closer to reliable sources of water. Archaeological evidence shows that some settlements became smaller or disappeared completely during prolonged dry periods.
What can be inferred about the relationship between climate and human settlements?
A. Climate conditions could influence where people lived.
B. Humans were unaffected by changes in climate.
C. Drought always increased population size.
D. People avoided areas with water.
A. Climate conditions could influence where people lived.
When faced with several choices, people sometimes spend so much time comparing the options that they have difficulty making a final decision.
What can be inferred?
A. Having more choices always makes decisions easier.
B. Too many options can sometimes make decision-making more difficult.
C. People never compare different options.
D. Decisions are always made quickly.
B. Too many options can sometimes make decision-making more difficult.
Artificial intelligence systems can analyze large amounts of information much faster than humans. However, their results depend partly on the information used to train them.
What does the passage imply?
A. AI systems always produce correct results.
B. The quality of the training information can affect AI results.
C. Humans cannot analyze information.
D. AI systems do not use information.
B. The quality of the training information can affect AI results.
Scientists have observed that certain bird species have changed the timing of their migration as temperatures have changed. Birds that traditionally arrived in an area at a particular time may now arrive earlier in some years.
What does the passage suggest?
A. Birds migrate every year.
B. Changes in temperature can influence animal behavior.
C. Temperature has no relationship with migration.
D. All birds migrate at exactly the same time.
B. Changes in temperature can influence animal behavior.