9 original Inferences questions, easiest first. Complete the text with the conclusion it most logically forces. Answer them all, then submit once to see every answer explained.
Economists studying two neighboring towns with nearly identical demographics found that the town which introduced a small business tax credit for new storefronts saw a measurable increase in occupied downtown retail space, while the comparison town, which did not introduce the credit, saw no similar increase over the same period.
Which choice most logically completes the text?
D — introducing a small business tax credit may translate into increased downtown retail occupancy.. The tax credit in one town corresponded with a measurable increase in retail occupancy not seen in the otherwise similar comparison town, suggesting a link between the credit and downtown occupancy—matching choice D.
Researchers studying a species of migratory eel found that individuals fitted with small acoustic tags consistently took longer to complete their downstream migration than untagged individuals of the same population, monitored via underwater listening stations.
Which choice most logically completes the text?
B — the acoustic tags themselves may be affecting the eels' swimming performance.. A consistent difference in migration duration specifically among tagged eels compared to untagged eels of the same population suggests the tagging equipment itself may be influencing the outcome being measured—matching choice B.
Economists studying two neighboring towns with nearly identical demographics found that the town which adopted a four-day work week for municipal employees saw a measurable increase in local small-business revenue on the extra day off, while the comparison town, which kept a standard five-day schedule, saw no similar increase on any day.
Which choice most logically completes the text?
B — giving workers an additional day off may translate into increased local economic activity.. The extra day off in one town corresponded with a measurable local revenue increase not seen in the otherwise similar comparison town, suggesting a link between the schedule change and local economic activity—matching choice B.
Economists studying two neighboring towns with nearly identical demographics found that the town which introduced free public Wi-Fi in its downtown area saw a measurable increase in foot traffic and dwell time at local cafes, while the comparison town, which did not introduce free Wi-Fi, saw no similar increase.
Which choice most logically completes the text?
B — offering free public Wi-Fi may translate into increased local economic activity at nearby businesses.. The Wi-Fi program in one town corresponded with a measurable increase in cafe foot traffic and dwell time not seen in the otherwise similar comparison town, suggesting a link between the program and local economic activity—matching choice B.
Researchers studying a species of migratory bird found that individuals fitted with tiny GPS trackers consistently arrived at breeding grounds several days later than untracked individuals of the same population, monitored via other, non-invasive methods.
Which choice most logically completes the text?
B — the GPS trackers themselves may be affecting the birds' migratory performance.. A consistent delay specifically among tracked birds compared to untracked birds of the same population suggests the tracking equipment itself (e.g., added weight or drag) may be influencing the outcome being measured—matching choice B.
Researchers studying a species of migratory bat found that individuals fitted with small radio transmitters consistently roosted for shorter periods at each stopover site than untagged individuals of the same population, monitored via acoustic detectors.
Which choice most logically completes the text?
A — the radio transmitters themselves may be affecting the bats' roosting behavior.. A consistent difference in roosting duration specifically among tagged bats compared to untagged bats of the same population suggests the tagging equipment itself may be influencing the outcome being measured—matching choice A.
Researchers studying a species of migratory shorebird found that individuals fitted with small satellite tags consistently spent more time resting at each stopover site than untagged individuals of the same population, monitored via aerial photography.
Which choice most logically completes the text?
B — the satellite tags themselves may be affecting the birds' energy levels or flight performance.. A consistent difference in resting time specifically among tagged birds compared to untagged birds of the same population suggests the tagging equipment itself may be influencing the outcome being measured—matching choice B.
Researchers studying a species of migratory salmon found that individuals fitted with small tracking chips consistently took longer to navigate a series of upstream obstacles than untagged individuals of the same population, monitored via underwater cameras.
Which choice most logically completes the text?
D — the tracking chips themselves may be affecting the salmon's swimming performance.. A consistent difference in navigation time specifically among tagged salmon compared to untagged salmon of the same population suggests the tagging equipment itself may be influencing the outcome being measured—matching choice D.
Economists studying two neighboring towns with nearly identical demographics found that the town which introduced a subsidized public bike-share program saw a measurable increase in foot traffic at local small businesses along the bike routes, while the comparison town, which did not introduce the program, saw no similar increase.
Which choice most logically completes the text?
B — introducing a bike-share program may translate into increased local economic activity near its routes.. The bike-share program in one town corresponded with a measurable local foot-traffic increase not seen in the otherwise similar comparison town, suggesting a link between the program and local economic activity—matching choice B.
Score:
Every question above is now marked up: the correct answer is highlighted, any wrong option you picked is flagged, and each explanation is open.
No. Every question here is original, written to the College Board's published Digital SAT Reading & Writing specification for the Inferences skill. No retired or copyrighted College Board material appears anywhere on this site.
Inferences gives you a passage ending in a blank, usually after a phrase like "therefore" or "this suggests that", and asks which choice most logically completes it. The answer is not stated in the passage, but it must follow from the passage alone.
Read to the blank and finish the thought yourself before looking at the choices. Then apply one test to each choice: could this be false while everything in the passage is true? If yes, it is not the inference. The correct answer is usually the most cautious of the four, because it is the only one the text fully guarantees.
No, and deliberately so. This drill is 9 Inferences questions back to back; a real Reading & Writing module is 27 questions in 32 minutes drawn from all eleven skills. Use a drill to fix one weakness, then take a full module to practice the real thing.
No. The SAT has no penalty for a wrong answer — a blank and a wrong guess both score zero — so answer every question, including the ones you have to guess.