Free Inference & Author's Purpose Practice Questions

1. Passage: The ancient Romans built a vast network of roads that connected their empire from Britain to the Middle East. These roads were engineered with multiple layers of gravel, sand, and stone for durability. Many Roman roads remained in use for centuries after the fall of the empire. Some modern European highways still follow the routes originally established by Roman engineers. Question: The author's primary purpose is to:

• Describe the impressive engineering and lasting impact of the Roman road network
• Argue that modern road construction is inferior to Roman methods
• Explain why the Roman Empire collapsed
• Compare Roman roads with Chinese roads of the same era

2. Passage: The bystander effect means individuals are less likely to help someone in distress when others are present — each assumes someone else will act. A lone witness intervenes far more often than one in a crowd. Training that teaches recognition of this effect increases intervention rates in workplace safety incidents. Based on the passage, what can be inferred?

• Awareness of the bystander effect can help people overcome their tendency not to act in emergencies
• People in crowds are more empathetic than people who are alone
• The bystander effect only occurs in laboratory experiments, not in real life
• Training programs have no measurable effect on intervention behavior

3. Passage: Every year, millions of monarch butterflies migrate from Canada and the United States to central Mexico, traveling up to 3,000 miles. They rely on milkweed plants for food and reproduction. However, herbicide use and land development have drastically reduced milkweed populations across North America. Conservation groups have begun planting milkweed gardens along migration routes. Question: Based on the passage, what can be inferred?

• If milkweed populations continue to decline, monarch butterfly populations will likely decrease as well
• Monarch butterflies can easily switch to other plants if milkweed is unavailable
• Herbicides have no effect on plants that butterflies use
• Monarch butterflies migrate to escape cold winters in Mexico

4. Passage: PPE includes hard hats, safety glasses, gloves, and steel-toed boots. OSHA requires employers to provide PPE at no cost when hazards cannot be eliminated otherwise. Workers sometimes skip PPE because it is uncomfortable or slows them down, yet injuries are significantly more common among those who do not use it consistently. Based on the passage, what can be inferred?

• Improving the comfort and convenience of PPE could increase worker compliance and reduce injuries
• OSHA does not regulate the use of personal protective equipment
• All workplace injuries can be prevented by wearing PPE
• Workers skip PPE primarily because it is too expensive for them to purchase

5. Passage: Lead paint was banned in U.S. residential buildings in 1978 after research linked lead exposure to developmental delays in children. Pre-1978 homes may still contain lead paint under newer coatings. Renovation that disturbs these layers can release lead dust, posing health risks to occupants and workers. Based on the passage, what can be inferred?

• Workers renovating pre-1978 homes should take precautions to avoid disturbing lead paint layers
• All homes built before 1978 have been completely stripped of lead paint by now
• Lead paint was banned because it was more expensive than other paint options
• Lead dust poses no health risk if the paint layers are left undisturbed