Reading Comprehension Drawing Conclusions and Predictions 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: During the Renaissance, wealthy patrons commissioned paintings to decorate their homes and chapels. Artists who secured a powerful patron received steady income and could focus entirely on their craft. Artists without patrons often struggled to survive. Question: What conclusion can be drawn about the role of patrons in Renaissance art?
- Patrons were essential to the financial survival of most Renaissance artists. (Correct answer)
- Renaissance artists disliked working for patrons.
- Only religious subjects could be painted during the Renaissance.
- Wealthy patrons were always fair to the artists they hired.
Correct answer: Patrons were essential to the financial survival of most Renaissance artists.
The passage directly contrasts artists with patrons (financially stable) against those without (struggling), showing patrons were crucial for survival.
Question 2: Nadia planted tomatoes in a sunny garden bed every year, always harvesting dozens of ripe tomatoes. This year she moved them to a shaded corner of the yard because the sunny bed was needed for flowers. Question: What is the most reasonable prediction about Nadia's tomato harvest this year?
- Her tomato harvest will likely be smaller than in previous years. (Correct answer)
- The tomatoes will grow faster in the shade.
- The flowers will die because they need shade.
- Nadia will stop growing tomatoes permanently.
Correct answer: Her tomato harvest will likely be smaller than in previous years.
Tomatoes thrive in sunlight; moving them to shade breaks the condition that produced her previous abundant harvests, making a smaller yield likely.
Question 3: The town's only grocery store closed last month. Now residents must drive 40 miles to the nearest supermarket. Several elderly residents do not own cars. Question: What can be concluded about the elderly residents in this town?
- Many elderly residents now face difficulty accessing groceries. (Correct answer)
- Elderly residents prefer not to shop for groceries.
- The town will open a new grocery store within a week.
- The distant supermarket will deliver to all elderly residents for free.
Correct answer: Many elderly residents now face difficulty accessing groceries.
Without cars and with the only local store closed, elderly residents who cannot drive 40 miles face a clear barrier to obtaining food.
Question 4: A construction crew began drilling near a century-old bridge last week. Engineers noted new cracks in the bridge's foundation and increased vibrations each day of drilling. Question: What prediction is most supported by the passage?
- Continued drilling will likely cause further damage to the bridge. (Correct answer)
- The cracks were present before the drilling began.
- The bridge will collapse immediately after the next drill session.
- Engineers will approve the drilling to continue indefinitely.
Correct answer: Continued drilling will likely cause further damage to the bridge.
New cracks and increasing vibrations that began with drilling establish a pattern pointing toward escalating structural damage if drilling continues.
Question 5: A theater company announced free Saturday matinees for children under 12. Within two weeks, every Saturday show was fully booked for the next three months. Question: What conclusion is best supported by the passage?
- There is strong demand among families for free children's theater performances. (Correct answer)
- Children prefer Saturday matinees over evening shows.
- The theater company will raise ticket prices next season.
- Adults are not interested in attending the theater.
Correct answer: There is strong demand among families for free children's theater performances.
Booking out three months in two weeks demonstrates that the free children's program meets a large, unmet demand among local families.
Question 6: Last winter, a city removed all the salt bins from its sidewalks to cut costs. The following January, hospital records showed a 35% increase in slip-and-fall injuries compared with the previous year. Question: What conclusion does the data support?
- The removal of salt bins likely contributed to more slip-and-fall injuries. (Correct answer)
- January is always more dangerous than other winter months.
- Hospitals reported the injuries incorrectly.
- People stopped wearing appropriate winter footwear.
Correct answer: The removal of salt bins likely contributed to more slip-and-fall injuries.
The injury spike coincides precisely with the policy change, strongly suggesting that the lack of salt on sidewalks increased dangerous icy conditions.
Question 7: Each time the school cafeteria served pizza on Fridays, the lunch line stretched out the door. On days the cafeteria served fish, over half the students brought lunches from home. Question: What can be predicted about a Friday when pizza is on the menu?
- The lunch line will be very long. (Correct answer)
- Most students will bring lunch from home.
- The cafeteria will run out of fish.
- Students will skip lunch entirely.
Correct answer: The lunch line will be very long.
The established pattern shows pizza days consistently produce long lines, so a future pizza Friday will most likely repeat that pattern.
