Inference Questions

Question 1

The Correct Answer

Answer 1

The Correct answer must be true based on the facts. If an answer could be true sometimes but not true at other times times, that option is not the correct answer.

The correct answer must only reference the facts presented in the premise. Incorrect answers will be tempting because they are true in the real world, but not supported by the premise.

An inference is NOT the main conclusion of an argument. An inference needs to be made from the facts presented in the premise.

The correct answer is not merely NOT FALSE, but it must be supported by the premises

Question 2

Negating Answer Choices

Answer 2

The choice that, when negated, conflicts the most with the premise is probably the correct answer.

Question 3

Common Trap Answers

Answer 3

1. An answer choice that could be true or is likely to be true
2. An answer that provides information from the premise in a distorted fashion (The correct answer will sometimes use different words to discuss the same ideas. Trap answers will use similar words to discuss different ideas).
3. An answer that seems to be supported by the premise but depends on other outside information
4. An answer that is true in the real world but not supported by the premise

Question 4

Key Words that might push answers out of proportion

Answer 4

Some vs Most - Some means one or more, Most means more than half

Not guaranteed means probably of less than 100% and unlikely means probability less than 50%

Sufficient means enough, necessary means required

Question 5

Correct Answers

Answer 5

Answers that are conclusions based on the entirety of what’s said in the passage

Answers that are fully supported by small portions of the passages

Answers that are supported by numerical information located throughout passages

Answers that are supported by mathematical information located in small portions of passages