Reading Comprehension Drawing Conclusions and Predictions 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Every morning, Lucia sets out bird feeders filled with sunflower seeds. Within minutes, cardinals and sparrows arrive, and by noon the feeders are empty. She refills them each evening. Question: What can most reasonably be concluded about the birds in Lucia's yard?
- The birds have learned that Lucia's yard is a reliable food source. (Correct answer)
- The birds prefer sunflower seeds to all other foods.
- Lucia's yard has no predators that frighten the birds away.
- The birds migrate south for winter each year.
Correct answer: The birds have learned that Lucia's yard is a reliable food source.
The birds arrive quickly and return daily, indicating they associate Lucia's yard with consistent food availability.
Question 2: Scientists studying a coral reef noted that water temperatures had risen by two degrees over the past decade. In the same period, coral coverage dropped from 60% to 25%, and fish populations declined sharply. Question: What conclusion is best supported by these observations?
- Rising water temperature is likely contributing to the reef's deterioration. (Correct answer)
- Fish populations moved to a cooler reef nearby.
- Coral reefs always decline after ten years.
- Scientists caused damage by studying the reef.
Correct answer: Rising water temperature is likely contributing to the reef's deterioration.
The simultaneous rise in temperature and decline in both coral and fish populations suggests a causal link between warming water and reef health.
Question 3: Marcos studied every night for two weeks before his chemistry exam. He created flashcards, rewrote his notes, and quizzed himself with a partner. On test day he felt calm and prepared. Question: Based on this passage, what can you predict about Marcos's exam result?
- Marcos will likely perform well on the exam. (Correct answer)
- Marcos will fail because he studied too much.
- Marcos's partner will score higher than he does.
- Marcos will forget everything due to test-day nerves.
Correct answer: Marcos will likely perform well on the exam.
Consistent, varied study strategies over two weeks and a calm test-day attitude strongly predict a positive outcome.
Question 4: The village well had provided clean water for decades. This spring, several residents near an abandoned factory reported stomach illnesses, and the well water had an unusual odor. Question: What can be concluded from the passage?
- Contamination from the abandoned factory may have reached the well water. (Correct answer)
- The village residents are not washing their hands properly.
- The well needs to be dug deeper to find cleaner water.
- Stomach illnesses always occur in spring.
Correct answer: Contamination from the abandoned factory may have reached the well water.
The proximity of sick residents to the factory and the change in water quality suggest the factory is a likely source of contamination.
Question 5: A small bookstore in the center of town recently started hosting weekly author readings and a children's story hour on Saturdays. Since then, foot traffic has doubled and sales have increased by 30%. Question: What prediction is most reasonable based on the passage?
- The bookstore will likely continue or expand its community events. (Correct answer)
- The bookstore will close because events cost too much money.
- Customers are buying books only because of discounts.
- The children's story hour will replace adult events entirely.
Correct answer: The bookstore will likely continue or expand its community events.
Because events directly correlated with increased traffic and sales, it is logical that the store would keep or expand what is working.
Question 6: During the drought, the river's water level fell so low that the salmon could no longer swim upstream to spawn. Fishermen reported catching far fewer salmon in subsequent years. Question: What conclusion is supported by the passage?
- The drought reduced salmon reproduction by blocking their spawning route. (Correct answer)
- Fishermen overfished the salmon population during the drought.
- Salmon prefer to spawn in shallow water.
- The drought had no lasting effect on the salmon population.
Correct answer: The drought reduced salmon reproduction by blocking their spawning route.
Unable to reach spawning grounds, salmon could not reproduce, which directly explains the decline reported by fishermen in later years.
Question 7: Every time it rains heavily, the basement of the old community center floods. Volunteers have placed sandbags at the entrance twice this month. The weather forecast calls for the heaviest rainfall of the season tomorrow. Question: What can you most reasonably predict?
- The basement will likely flood again tomorrow. (Correct answer)
- The sandbags will permanently solve the flooding problem.
- The weather forecast will turn out to be wrong.
- The community center will be closed for renovations.
Correct answer: The basement will likely flood again tomorrow.
The established pattern of flooding during heavy rain, combined with an incoming storm heavier than previous ones, makes another flood the most probable outcome.
Reading Comprehension Drawing Conclusions and Predictions 1
Every morning, Lucia sets out bird feeders filled with sunflower seeds.
Within minutes, cardinals and sparrows arrive, and by noon the feeders are empty.
She refills them each evening.
Question: What can most reasonably be concluded about the birds in Lucia's yard?