NBT NBT Academic Literacy: Inference and Implied Meaning 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Read the passage: "The committee met for three hours. By the end, the chairperson had stopped taking notes and the members sat in silence as the proposal was tabled." What can be inferred about the meeting?
- The meeting ended without a clear resolution (Correct answer)
- The members enthusiastically supported the proposal
- The chairperson forgot to bring writing materials
- The meeting was scheduled to last three hours
Correct answer: The meeting ended without a clear resolution
The silence and the chairperson stopping note-taking imply frustration or stalemate, suggesting no clear outcome.
Question 2: Passage: "Despite having submitted her portfolio six weeks ago, Maya had not received any response from the gallery. She refreshed her inbox repeatedly, then closed her laptop and stared at the ceiling." The author implies that Maya is:
- Anxiously awaiting a response that feels delayed (Correct answer)
- Indifferent to whether the gallery contacts her
- Confident that her portfolio will be accepted
- Frustrated that her laptop is malfunctioning
Correct answer: Anxiously awaiting a response that feels delayed
Repeatedly refreshing her inbox and then staring at the ceiling signals anxiety and growing hopelessness about the delayed response.
Question 3: Passage: "The documentary was screened in twelve countries and translated into nine languages. The director declined all interview requests and donated all proceeds to an environmental fund." What can most reasonably be concluded about the director?
- The director values the film's cause more than personal recognition (Correct answer)
- The director is unaware of the film's international success
- The director found the translation process burdensome
- The director expects a larger financial return from the fund
Correct answer: The director values the film's cause more than personal recognition
Declining interviews and donating proceeds suggests the director prioritises the environmental message over fame or profit.
Question 4: Passage: "The lecture hall filled rapidly. Students who had previously skipped Friday classes arrived early, carrying fresh notebooks." What does this suggest?
- The Friday lecture is unusually significant or closely connected to upcoming assessments (Correct answer)
- Students enjoy Friday lectures more than those on other days
- The lecturer usually does not allow late entry
- The hall is smaller than usual on Fridays
Correct answer: The Friday lecture is unusually significant or closely connected to upcoming assessments
Students who normally skip class arriving early with fresh notebooks implies an important assessment or high-stakes content is expected.
Question 5: Passage: "After the merger announcement, the CEO gave a brief statement praising 'exciting synergies' before leaving without taking questions." The CEO's behaviour most likely implies:
- Reluctance to be scrutinised about the merger's details (Correct answer)
- Strong confidence in answering questions about the merger
- A scheduled time constraint preventing the Q&A session
- Satisfaction that staff welcomed the merger announcement
Correct answer: Reluctance to be scrutinised about the merger's details
Using vague language like 'synergies' and leaving without questions suggests avoidance of scrutiny regarding potentially controversial details.
Question 6: Passage: "The village had not seen rain in four months. The river that once divided the market from the school was now a cracked mud path children crossed barefoot without pausing." The author implies which of the following?
- The drought has become so normal that it no longer alarms the community (Correct answer)
- Children are careless about their safety when crossing water
- The school has relocated due to the drought conditions
- Villagers are pleased that the river no longer separates the market
Correct answer: The drought has become so normal that it no longer alarms the community
Children crossing the former riverbed 'without pausing' suggests the absence of water has become unremarkable — normalised hardship.
Question 7: Passage: "Professor Adeyemi's textbook had been used in universities across the region for two decades. When asked about a new edition, she smiled and said she was 'still thinking about it.'" What is most likely implied by Professor Adeyemi's response?
- She is in no rush to update the textbook despite its age (Correct answer)
- She has already completed the new edition but withheld this information
- She is uncertain whether the textbook has been useful to students
- She plans to retire before a new edition becomes necessary
Correct answer: She is in no rush to update the textbook despite its age
A non-committal smile and vague reply after two decades suggests she is comfortable with the status quo and not prioritising an update.
NBT NBT Academic Literacy: Inference and Implied Meaning 1
Read the passage: "The committee met for three hours.
By the end, the chairperson had stopped taking notes and the members sat in silence as the proposal was tabled."
What can be inferred about the meeting?