Inference / Must Be true

Question 1

What “Clue” makes you suspect inference?

Answer 1

The Passage is a set of facts (without a conclusion)
There’s no paradox

Question 2

An inference can possibly occur or is likely to occur

True or false

Answer 2

False

An inference “Must be true” or is “certain to occur”, given the facts set forth.

It Demands “necessity” not “Possibility”

It must be fully supported by the passage

Question 3

An Inference answer choice that is true in the real world is always correct.

True or false

Answer 3

False

Any answer choice that is plausible but is not fully supported by the passage is INCORRECT

Question 4

Question stems of Inference questions

Answer 4

If the statement above is true, which of the following can be properly inferred/concluded?

if the information above is correct, which of the following must also be true?

IF the statements above are true, which of the following can be properly drawn?

Question 5

Inference is part of which family information model?

Answer 5

First family information model

Where the stimulus is taken as FACTS and no additional information can be brought in.

The answer choices are determined from the stimulus

(Arrow down from stimulus to answer choices)

Question 6

In Inference, an answer choice that adds additional outside info can be correct

True or False?

Answer 6

False

Any inference answer choice that brings in outside info is INCORRECT

Do not bring in information from outside the stimulus (aside from common-sense assumptions)
All of the information necessary to answer the question resides in the stimulus.

Question 7

The 5-step Inference/Must-be-true Execution strategy

Answer 7

1. Carefully read and completely understand the
   passage
   (a) determine that the passage is a set of facts
   (b) Analyse each premise/ statement, then define
   the effect of each statement.
   (Read every word)
   (c) Take a moment to determine what each
   statement adds up to & how each premise
   connects to each other.
   (d) Examine each connection.
   (e) Notice the scope of the passage (limiting words,
   modifiers)
   (f) Be clear on what the passage really said / didn’t
   say (Do not generalise!)
2. Identify what the question is asking of you.
3. Do a mental recap of the passage with scope,
   connections and logical flow in mind before
   jumping to eliminate answer choices.
4. Eliminate “sometimes true”, “could be true”, “definitely not true” options. Leave any option that you are not sure about
5. Select the Final choice that must be true.

Question 8

Broad scope indicators vs Narrow scope indicators

Answer 8

In Must Be True questions you are like the detective Sherlock Holmes, looking for clues in the stimulus and then matching those clues to the answer choices.

Words like “some,” “could,” and “many” encompass many different possibilities and are BROAD SCOPE indicators.

Words like “must” and “none” indicate a NARROW SCOPE indicators.

Question 9

Some

Broad/Narrow scope?

Answer 9

Broad scope

Question 10

Could

Broad/Narrow cope?

Answer 10

Broad scope

Question 11

Many

Broad/narrow scope?

Answer 11

Broad scope

Question 12

Must

Broad/Narrow scope?

Answer 12

Narrow scope

Question 13

None

Broad/Narrow scope?

Answer 13

Narrow scope

Question 14

Common Inference question traps

Answer 14

Test takers will change the modifiers in answer choices to test your attention to detail.

strategy - read carefully and note all modifiers.

Question 15

Primary objectives of Inference/must be true question

Answer 15

What did you read in the stimulus?
What did the stimulus say / did not say?
what do you know on the basis of that reading?

Must Be True questions require you to read text and understand the facts and details that logically follow.

Question 16

Correct answer types of Inference/Must-be-true questions

Answer 16

1. Answers that are conclusions based on the entirety of statements in the passage

2.Answers that are fully supported by small portions of the passage (& paraphrased answers)

3.Answers supported by numerical info throughout the passage

4. answers supported by maths info in small portions of the passage

Question 17

5 Incorrect answer types (Traps) of inference/must-be-true questions

Answer 17

1. Could be true / likely to be true answers
2. Exaggerated answers
3. Answers that present information in the stimulus
   in a distorted way
   
   • Reversed answers eg (if/then..)
   • opposite answers
   • the shell game
4. Answers that bring new info
5. Answers that are true in real world but not
   supported by the passage.

Question 18

Some environmentalists question the prudence of exploiting features of the environment, arguing that there are no economic benefits to be gained from forests, mountains, or wetlands that no longer exist. Many environmentalists claim that because nature has intrinsic value it would be wrong to destroy such features of the environment, even if the economic costs of doing so were outweighed by the economic costs of not doing so.

Which one of the following choices are obviously incorrect

(A) It is economically imprudent to exploit features of the environment.

(B) Some environmentalists appeal to a noneconomic justification in questioning the defensibility of exploiting features of the environment.

(C) Most environmentalists appeal to economic reasons in questioning the defensibility of exploiting features of the environment.

(D) Many environmentalists provide only a noneconomic justification in questioning the defensibility of exploiting features of the environment.

(E) Even if there is no economic reason for protecting the environment, there is a sound noneconomic justification for doing so.

Answer 18

Choices (A) & (E) are obviously incorrect

Because;
the author repeats the opinions of others and never makes an assertion of his or her own.
(A) and (E) make factual assertions
Opinions ≠ Assertions/Facts

When a stimulus contains only the opinions of others, then in a Must Be True question you can eliminate any answer choice that makes a flat assertion without reference to those opinions.

“opinions” in a passage do not let us know the “actual facts” of the situation.

Question 19

Passage : Many boys play ball

Ans choice: Some boys play ball …True or False?

Answer 19

True

If “many” boys play ball, it must be true that at least “some” boys play ball.

Question 20

Inference vs Assumption

Answer 20

1. An assumption is an unstated fact that swerves as a bridge between the premise and conclusion, While an Inference is an unstated conclusion derived mainly from the premise
2. An Assumption occurs before the argument/conclusion, while the argument is being formed. While, an Inference occurs after the argument is complete
3. An assumption must be true in order for the argument to be valid, While an Inference must be true based on the information presented in the argument.

Question 21

Rethinking to Predict the answer is a good strategy

True / False

Answer 21

False

Don’t waste your time rethinking to predict.

Instead, before jumping to the answer choices, try to synthesise and intimately understand the facts as well as how they connect to each other.

Question 22

Inference question require you to look for a main conclusion

True or False

Answer 22

False

You are looking for a choice that says something that must be true given the facts stated in the passage.

Question 22

What strategies should you use when deliberating between the last 2 options in Inference questions

Answer 22

1. The fact test.
2. If you are deliberating between the last 2 options, consider what will happen if each of the choices
   were not true. Would the evidence no longer make
   sense? The answer that conflicts the most with the passage when negated is most likely to be the correct answer.

Question 22

Some of A
All of A

True / Exaggerated

Answer 22

Exaggerated

Some ≠ All

Question 23

Not Guaranteed ≠ Unlikely

True or False?

Answer 23

True

Not guaranteed - Probability < 95%
Unlikely - Probability < 50%

Question 24

Guaranteed = Likely

True or False?

Answer 24

False

Likely - Probability > 50%
Guaranteed - Probability > 95%

Question 25

Sufficient = Necessary

True or False?

Answer 25

False

Sufficient - enough
Necessary - required but not enough

Question 26

has never been ≠ will never be

True / False?

Answer 26

True

The past does not necessarily predict the future

Pay close attention, changes in tense can make an answer to be exaggerated

Question 27

“Except” inference questions strategy

Answer 27

Q_ the following are inferences except…

correct answer - could be true / Must be false

Incorrect answers - must be true

Question 28

Which of the following must not be true?

The correct answer to the question above will be…

Answer 28

correct answer - Must not be true

Incorrect answer- could be true / may be true / must be true

Question 29

List Broad scope indicators

Answer 29

Some
Not all
May
Not always/ Rarely
Many
Probably/ Likely/ Can/ Could
Several
Few

Question 30

List Narrow scope indicators

Answer 30

None
All
Must
Always
Only
Will/ Would
Most
Never
Every
Sole