Why inference questions are harder
Detail questions give you a fact. Inference questions ask you to reason one step beyond the text. The answer isn't written anywhere — it's the logical conclusion the evidence points to.
The trap: going too far. A good inference is tight. It doesn't require leaps, assumptions, or outside information. It just connects two things the passage already gave you.
How to spot an inference question
Look for these phrases:
- "Which of the following can be inferred?"
- "The passage suggests that..."
- "It can be concluded from the passage that..."
- "The author implies..."
If the question says "inferred," "suggests," or "implies," don't look for a directly stated answer — it won't be there.
Sample passage
The unit had been in the field for eleven days. Supply runs were delayed by road closures. By the time resupply arrived, food stocks had dropped to one day's rations per person.
What can be inferred?
The passage never says the soldiers were hungry or morale was low. But it shows: eleven days out, delayed supply, near-empty food stock. A reasonable inference: the soldiers were in a difficult logistical situation. An overreach: "the mission was a failure" — the passage says nothing about mission outcomes.
The "too strong" trap
Wrong inference answers often contain words like always, never, all, definitely, or only. These absolutes rarely hold up because the passage usually describes a specific situation, not a universal rule.
If an answer choice says "all soldiers require..." but the passage only discusses one unit, that answer is too strong. Eliminate it.
The test: ask one question
For each answer choice, ask: "Does the passage give me direct evidence for this?"
- Yes, with clear support → possible correct answer
- Possibly, but I need outside knowledge → eliminate
- No support at all → eliminate
- Too extreme for what the passage shows → eliminate
Inference questions reward careful, conservative reasoning. The right answer is always the one the passage earns.