Drawing Conclusions
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ISEE Lower Level: Reading Comprehension › Drawing Conclusions
What can be concluded about young archerfish?
They are taught how to hunt by their parents.
They prefer to eat different insects than adult archerfish do.
They must learn their special hunting technique over time.
They can shoot water jets farther than adult fish.
Explanation
The passage states that young archerfish are 'clumsy and miss the mark' and that they 'must practice to become expert marksmen.' This supports the conclusion that their hunting skill is not innate but must be learned and developed over time through practice.
At the community center, a jar of donation coins sat on the counter. On Saturday afternoon, the jar looked lighter than usual. Ms. Rivera noticed the lid was still screwed on tightly. She also saw a narrow line of coins on the floor, as if they had rolled. A volunteer said the jar had been moved to wipe the counter. Later, Ms. Rivera found the jar behind a stack of flyers. The jar was tipped sideways, but the lid had not been opened. She checked the counter camera, which showed a gust of wind from the open door. The wind knocked over a tall flyer stand, which bumped the jar. Coins spilled, and a volunteer quickly swept them into a cup. The volunteer forgot to pour them back. Which statement best summarizes the conclusion of the passage?
The coins spilled by accident and were not returned yet.
The jar was empty because no one donated that day.
Someone stole the coins by opening the jar lid.
Ms. Rivera hid the jar to test the volunteers’ honesty.
Explanation
This question tests ISEE Lower Level reading comprehension skills, specifically the ability to draw a conclusion supported by passage details. Drawing a conclusion involves synthesizing information from the text to make a logical inference. It requires careful attention to key details that guide the reader toward an understanding that is not explicitly stated. In this passage, details such as the camera showing wind knocking over a flyer stand that bumped the jar, coins spilling out, and a volunteer forgetting to pour swept coins back work together to support the conclusion that the coins spilled by accident and were not returned yet. Choice B is correct because it accurately reflects the logical outcome based on these details, showing an understanding of how the sequence of accidental events explains the missing coins. Choice A is incorrect because it overlooks the fact that the lid remained tightly screwed on and misinterprets the situation as theft, leading to a common error where students might jump to suspicious conclusions without considering all evidence. To help students master this skill, encourage them to identify and underline key details in a passage that contribute to the main idea or outcome. Remind them to distinguish between details that are central to the conclusion and those that are merely descriptive.
On Monday, Mr. Ortiz placed a jar of colored pencils on his desk. By Wednesday, the blue pencil was missing. He asked the class to check backpacks and desks. No one found it. On Thursday, he noticed tiny blue marks on the class sign-in sheet. The marks looked like short, straight lines. During art time, Mr. Ortiz watched quietly. Tessa used a blue pencil, but she had brought her own set. Jordan borrowed a blue pencil, then returned it. Liam did not draw at all. Near the end, Mr. Ortiz saw Ava carefully outlining letters on a poster. She pressed hard, making the same short, straight lines. When the bell rang, Ava hurried to put supplies away. A blue pencil slipped from her folder and rolled under the table. Ava froze, then whispered that she had taken it to finish the poster. What is the most logical conclusion based on the passage details?
Jordan took the pencil because he borrowed supplies often.
Liam took the pencil because he avoided art time.
Ava took the pencil to use on the class poster.
Tessa took the pencil because she liked the color blue.
Explanation
This question tests ISEE Lower Level reading comprehension skills, specifically the ability to draw a conclusion supported by passage details. Drawing a conclusion involves synthesizing information from the text to make a logical inference. It requires careful attention to key details that guide the reader toward an understanding that is not explicitly stated. In this passage, details such as the blue marks on the sign-in sheet matching Ava's outlining technique, the blue pencil falling from Ava's folder, and her admission of taking it work together to support the conclusion that Ava took the pencil to use on the class poster. Choice B is correct because it accurately reflects the logical outcome based on these details, showing an understanding of how the evidence points directly to Ava's specific purpose. Choice C is incorrect because it overlooks the fact that Tessa had her own blue pencil set and misinterprets the evidence by focusing on color preference rather than the actual clues. To help students master this skill, encourage them to identify and underline key details in a passage that contribute to the main idea or outcome. Remind them to distinguish between details that are central to the conclusion and those that are merely descriptive.
Based on the passage, it is reasonable to conclude that archerfish live in places where...
the water is very deep and dark.
plants and trees grow along the water's edge.
insects are scarce and difficult to find.
there are very few other fish to compete with.
Explanation
The passage states that the archerfish hunts for 'insects resting on leaves or branches hanging over the water.' This detail strongly supports the conclusion that the archerfish's habitat must include vegetation along the banks of the water.
The passage suggests that the different parts of a cactus...
are very similar to the parts of plants found in a rainforest.
have changed over time to look more beautiful.
are most useful to desert animals as a source of food.
all work together to help the plant survive with limited water.
Explanation
The passage describes how the spines reduce water loss, the stem stores water, and the roots quickly absorb rainwater. Each description relates to the central challenge of surviving in a dry environment. This allows the reader to conclude that all these specialized parts work together for the common purpose of water conservation.
It can be concluded that the Pony Express stopped operating because...
it cost too much money for most people to send a letter.
a new technology made it no longer the fastest option.
it was too dangerous for the young riders who participated.
the horses were not fast enough to deliver the mail on time.
Explanation
The passage states the Pony Express's 10-day delivery was a 'record at the time' but that the telegraph could send a message in 'minutes.' The service ended right when the telegraph was completed. This strong connection in timing supports the conclusion that the new, much faster technology made the Pony Express obsolete.
The passage suggests that the relay system was a key part of the Pony Express's success because it...
made it possible for heavier packages to be carried.
ensured that the mail was always carried by a fresh, fast horse.
gave the riders a chance to rest every 10 to 15 miles.
allowed one rider to learn the entire trail very well.
Explanation
The passage describes riders 'changing to a fresh horse' at relay stations and new riders taking over after 75 miles. The purpose of this system was to maintain high speed 'day and night.' From this, one can conclude that the relay system was crucial because it prevented horses (and riders) from getting tired, ensuring the mail always moved as quickly as possible.
What is the most reasonable conclusion to draw from this passage?
The neighbors on Elm Street disliked each other before the garden was built.
Mr. Henderson did all of the planting and watering in the garden himself.
The garden provided the neighbors a reason to interact and connect.
Growing vegetables is much easier than growing flowers like sunflowers.
Explanation
The passage contrasts the neighbors' past behavior ('used to just nod') with their current behavior ('now stop to chat,' 'share vegetables,' 'sharing her gardening tips'). This change directly supports the conclusion that the garden served as a common interest that brought people together and fostered a stronger community connection.
It is reasonable to conclude that a scientist could identify different firefly species in the dark by...
watching their unique patterns of flashing.
observing the overall brightness of their lights.
seeing how high they are able to fly in the air.
measuring the amount of heat their light produces.
Explanation
This question tests your ability to make logical inferences from passage details. When you see "it is reasonable to conclude," you need to connect information from the text to reach a logical conclusion.
The passage provides the key evidence: "Each species of firefly has its own unique flashing pattern, like a secret code" and fireflies "communicate with other fireflies of their own kind" by "blinking in a specific rhythm." Since each species has a distinct flashing pattern that serves as identification among fireflies themselves, a scientist could logically use these same unique patterns to distinguish between species, even in darkness when other visual features aren't visible.
Choice A is correct because the passage directly states that each firefly species has its own unique flashing pattern, making this a reliable identification method for scientists.
Choice B is wrong because the passage doesn't mention that different species have different brightness levels—only that they have unique flashing patterns, not varying intensities.
Choice C is incorrect because the text specifically states that firefly light is "cold light" that "produces almost no heat." If there's virtually no heat produced, measuring heat wouldn't help distinguish between species.
Choice D is flawed because the passage focuses entirely on the fireflies' bioluminescence and communication through light patterns. Flying height isn't mentioned as varying between species or being relevant to identification.
Remember: inference questions require you to connect stated facts to reach logical conclusions. Look for information the passage directly provides, then think about what that information logically implies.
The passage suggests that the main reason fireflies flash their lights is to...
help them see where they are going in the darkness.
create warmth for themselves on cooler summer nights.
communicate important messages to one another.
scare away all other kinds of flying insects.
Explanation
The passage states that fireflies 'send signals to one another' and that flashing is used to 'warn away predators, to attract a mate, or to defend its territory.' All of these are forms of communication. This supports the conclusion that communication is the primary purpose of their light.