ISEE Lower Level Quiz: Drawing Conclusions

The archerfish is a true hunter of the water. Instead of chasing its prey, it uses a special trick. It swims just below the surface and looks for insects resting on leaves or branches hanging over the water. Once it spots a target, the archerfish takes aim. By pressing its tongue against a groove in the roof of its mouth, it forms a narrow channel. Then, with a powerful squeeze of its gills, it shoots a jet of water with amazing accuracy. The force of the water knocks the unsuspecting insect off its perch and into the water, where the archerfish can quickly gobble it up. Young archerfish are not as skilled; their first few shots are often clumsy and miss the mark. They must practice to become expert marksmen.

What can be concluded about young archerfish?

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?

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?

The archerfish is a true hunter of the water. Instead of chasing its prey, it uses a special trick. It swims just below the surface and looks for insects resting on leaves or branches hanging over the water. Once it spots a target, the archerfish takes aim. By pressing its tongue against a groove in the roof of its mouth, it forms a narrow channel. Then, with a powerful squeeze of its gills, it shoots a jet of water with amazing accuracy. The force of the water knocks the unsuspecting insect off its perch and into the water, where the archerfish can quickly gobble it up. Young archerfish are not as skilled; their first few shots are often clumsy and miss the mark. They must practice to become expert marksmen.

Based on the passage, it is reasonable to conclude that archerfish live in places where...

Making a stop-motion animated film is a task that requires incredible patience. Unlike a regular movie that captures live action, a stop-motion film is built one picture at a time. The filmmaker creates small models or puppets and a miniature set. To make a character walk across the screen, the filmmaker moves the puppet's leg just a tiny bit and takes a picture. Then, they move it another tiny bit and take another picture. This process is repeated hundreds, or even thousands, of times. When all the pictures are played back in rapid succession, it creates the illusion of movement. A single minute of film can take weeks of this painstaking work to complete.

It can be concluded from the passage that a person who makes stop-motion films must be very...

Making a stop-motion animated film is a task that requires incredible patience. Unlike a regular movie that captures live action, a stop-motion film is built one picture at a time. The filmmaker creates small models or puppets and a miniature set. To make a character walk across the screen, the filmmaker moves the puppet's leg just a tiny bit and takes a picture. Then, they move it another tiny bit and take another picture. This process is repeated hundreds, or even thousands, of times. When all the pictures are played back in rapid succession, it creates the illusion of movement. A single minute of film can take weeks of this painstaking work to complete.

What does the passage suggest about the difference between creating a stop-motion film and a live-action film?

The desert is a land of extremes, with scorching sun and very little rain. For a plant to survive here, it must be an expert at finding and saving water. The cactus is a perfect example. Instead of wide leaves that would lose a lot of water to the dry air, most cacti have sharp spines. These spines not only protect the plant from thirsty animals but also help reduce water loss. The cactus's thick, waxy stem is where it stores water for long, dry periods. Its roots are also special. They don't go deep but spread out wide just under the surface, ready to soak up any rain that falls before it can evaporate.

The passage suggests that the different parts of a cactus...

In 1860, before the telegraph line crossed the American West, delivering a letter from Missouri to California could take a month by stagecoach. The Pony Express was created to do it faster. It was a relay system of young, lightweight riders on fast horses. A rider would gallop for about 10 to 15 miles, changing to a fresh horse at a relay station. After riding about 75 miles, a new rider would take over the mail pouch, called a mochila. This continued day and night, in all weather. The Pony Express could deliver a letter in about 10 days, a record at the time. Yet, it only lasted for about 18 months. Just as it was becoming famous, the transcontinental telegraph was completed, which could send a message in minutes.

It can be concluded that the Pony Express stopped operating because...

In 1860, before the telegraph line crossed the American West, delivering a letter from Missouri to California could take a month by stagecoach. The Pony Express was created to do it faster. It was a relay system of young, lightweight riders on fast horses. A rider would gallop for about 10 to 15 miles, changing to a fresh horse at a relay station. After riding about 75 miles, a new rider would take over the mail pouch, called a mochila. This continued day and night, in all weather. The Pony Express could deliver a letter in about 10 days, a record at the time. Yet, it only lasted for about 18 months. Just as it was becoming famous, the transcontinental telegraph was completed, which could send a message in minutes.

The passage suggests that the relay system was a key part of the Pony Express's success because it...

Last spring, the empty lot on the corner of Elm Street was filled with weeds and trash. This year, it is full of life. Thanks to Mr. Henderson, it has become a community garden. He organized meetings, and soon, families from the neighborhood were signing up for their own small plot of land to plant. The Patels are growing tomatoes and spicy peppers. Young Leo is proudly watching his sunflowers grow taller than he is. Mrs. Gable, who has lived on the street for fifty years, is sharing her gardening tips with the new family next door. People who used to just nod as they passed each other now stop to chat about the weather, share vegetables, and admire each other's work.

What is the most reasonable conclusion to draw from this passage?

On a warm summer evening, you might see tiny, flashing lights dancing in the twilight. These are fireflies, which are not flies at all, but a type of beetle. The light they produce is called bioluminescence, and it's created by a chemical reaction inside their bodies. This 'cold light' produces almost no heat. Fireflies control their flashes to send signals to one another. Each species of firefly has its own unique flashing pattern, like a secret code. A firefly might flash to warn away predators, to attract a mate, or to defend its territory. By blinking in a specific rhythm, they can communicate with other fireflies of their own kind.

It is reasonable to conclude that a scientist could identify different firefly species in the dark by...

On a warm summer evening, you might see tiny, flashing lights dancing in the twilight. These are fireflies, which are not flies at all, but a type of beetle. The light they produce is called bioluminescence, and it's created by a chemical reaction inside their bodies. This 'cold light' produces almost no heat. Fireflies control their flashes to send signals to one another. Each species of firefly has its own unique flashing pattern, like a secret code. A firefly might flash to warn away predators, to attract a mate, or to defend its territory. By blinking in a specific rhythm, they can communicate with other fireflies of their own kind.

The passage suggests that the main reason fireflies flash their lights is to...

Maya was cleaning out her grandfather's attic when she found a dusty, wooden box. Inside, nestled in soft fabric, was a beautiful, old compass made of brass. The needle still pointed north. Tucked underneath was a small, leather-bound journal. The first entry was dated 1948. She read about her grandfather, as a young man, taking a long journey on a ship across the sea. He wrote about navigating by the stars and using his trusty compass when the sky was cloudy. He described new cities and people he met. Maya had only known her grandfather as a quiet man who loved his garden. She sat for an hour, reading the journal, the compass resting in her hand.

After reading the journal, Maya most likely concluded that...

Liam and Chloe were partners for the school science fair. Their project was to build a small volcano that could erupt. For two weeks, they worked in Liam's garage. Liam, who loved art, spent hours carefully sculpting the mountain out of clay and painting it to look realistic. Chloe, who loved chemistry, researched different chemical reactions. She tested several combinations of baking soda and vinegar, measuring carefully to find the perfect mix for the biggest, foamiest eruption. On the day of the fair, their volcano was a huge success. When they poured the liquid in, red foam bubbled up and flowed down the sides, just as they had planned.

The passage suggests that the volcano's eruption was successful because...

The Statue of Liberty, a famous symbol of freedom in New York Harbor, was not made in America. It was a gift to the people of the United States from the people of France in 1886. The French sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi designed the statue, but creating something so enormous was a major challenge. The statue's outer layer is made of thin copper sheets, thinner than two pennies stacked together. To support these sheets, French engineer Gustave Eiffel—the same man who would later design the Eiffel Tower—created a strong internal iron skeleton. The finished statue was taken apart into 350 pieces, packed in crates, and shipped across the Atlantic Ocean to be reassembled in its new home.

One can conclude from the passage that the Statue of Liberty was sent to America in pieces because...

Last spring, the empty lot on the corner of Elm Street was filled with weeds and trash. This year, it is full of life. Thanks to Mr. Henderson, it has become a community garden. He organized meetings, and soon, families from the neighborhood were signing up for their own small plot of land to plant. The Patels are growing tomatoes and spicy peppers. Young Leo is proudly watching his sunflowers grow taller than he is. Mrs. Gable, who has lived on the street for fifty years, is sharing her gardening tips with the new family next door. People who used to just nod as they passed each other now stop to chat about the weather, share vegetables, and admire each other's work.

The passage suggests that before the garden was created, the empty lot...

Before the invention of the radio or telephone, sending messages over long distances was a difficult task. Soldiers in wartime, for example, needed a reliable way to communicate. For centuries, they turned to a surprising helper: the carrier pigeon. These birds have a remarkable natural ability called a 'homing instinct,' which allows them to find their way back to their home nest from very far away. A small, lightweight message would be placed in a tiny canister and attached to the pigeon's leg. The bird would then be released and would fly directly home, delivering its vital information. Even during major battles with loud noises and chaos, these birds would bravely fly through danger to complete their mission.

From the passage, one can conclude that carrier pigeons were especially valuable during wartime because...

Maya was cleaning out her grandfather's attic when she found a dusty, wooden box. Inside, nestled in soft fabric, was a beautiful, old compass made of brass. The needle still pointed north. Tucked underneath was a small, leather-bound journal. The first entry was dated 1948. She read about her grandfather, as a young man, taking a long journey on a ship across the sea. He wrote about navigating by the stars and using his trusty compass when the sky was cloudy. He described new cities and people he met. Maya had only known her grandfather as a quiet man who loved his garden. She sat for an hour, reading the journal, the compass resting in her hand.

The passage suggests that the compass was important to Maya's grandfather because...

The desert is a land of extremes, with scorching sun and very little rain. For a plant to survive here, it must be an expert at finding and saving water. The cactus is a perfect example. Instead of wide leaves that would lose a lot of water to the dry air, most cacti have sharp spines. These spines not only protect the plant from thirsty animals but also help reduce water loss. The cactus's thick, waxy stem is where it stores water for long, dry periods. Its roots are also special. They don't go deep but spread out wide just under the surface, ready to soak up any rain that falls before it can evaporate.

Based on the information in the passage, one can conclude that...

Before the invention of the radio or telephone, sending messages over long distances was a difficult task. Soldiers in wartime, for example, needed a reliable way to communicate. For centuries, they turned to a surprising helper: the carrier pigeon. These birds have a remarkable natural ability called a 'homing instinct,' which allows them to find their way back to their home nest from very far away. A small, lightweight message would be placed in a tiny canister and attached to the pigeon's leg. The bird would then be released and would fly directly home, delivering its vital information. Even during major battles with loud noises and chaos, these birds would bravely fly through danger to complete their mission.

The passage suggests that a carrier pigeon's 'homing instinct' is...