Inferential Understanding in Nonfiction Passages
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SSAT Elementary Level Reading › Inferential Understanding in Nonfiction Passages
Adapted from A Catechism of Familiar Things: Their History and the Events Which Led to Their Discovery (1881) by the Benziger Brothers.
After bursting from the egg, it becomes a large worm or caterpillar of a yellowish-white color, (which is its first state); this caterpillar feeds on the leaves of the mulberry tree, until, arriving at maturity, it winds itself up in a silken bag or case, called a cocoon, about the size and shape of a pigeon's egg, and becomes a chrysalis, in which state it lies without signs of life. In about ten days it eats its way out of its case, a perfect butterfly, which lays a number of eggs and then dies. In the warmth of the summer weather, these eggs are hatched and become worms, as their parents did at first.
What can you infer about the life of a butterfly?
It is very brief.
It is full of danger.
It is peaceful and long-lasting.
It is full of drama.
It is pointless.
Explanation
When discussing the life of a butterfly the author says "a perfect butterfly, which lays a number of eggs and then dies." It seems as if all a butterfly does is "lay eggs" and "then die." This suggests that it’s life is "very brief" or not very long. The author does not offer any information to suggest that it is dangerous, dramatic, pointless, or peaceful.
Adapted from A Catechism of Familiar Things: Their History and the Events Which Led to Their Discovery (1881) by the Benziger Brothers.
After bursting from the egg, it becomes a large worm or caterpillar of a yellowish-white color, (which is its first state); this caterpillar feeds on the leaves of the mulberry tree, until, arriving at maturity, it winds itself up in a silken bag or case, called a cocoon, about the size and shape of a pigeon's egg, and becomes a chrysalis, in which state it lies without signs of life. In about ten days it eats its way out of its case, a perfect butterfly, which lays a number of eggs and then dies. In the warmth of the summer weather, these eggs are hatched and become worms, as their parents did at first.
What can you infer about the life of a butterfly?
It is very brief.
It is full of danger.
It is peaceful and long-lasting.
It is full of drama.
It is pointless.
Explanation
When discussing the life of a butterfly the author says "a perfect butterfly, which lays a number of eggs and then dies." It seems as if all a butterfly does is "lay eggs" and "then die." This suggests that it’s life is "very brief" or not very long. The author does not offer any information to suggest that it is dangerous, dramatic, pointless, or peaceful.
Adapted from Ten Great Events in History by James Johannot (1887)
The children of Germany and France caught the madness of the hour, and resolved upon a crusade of their own. Inspired by the preaching of a fanatical priest named Nicholas, twenty thousand young boys assembled at Cologne. They came from all ranks of life; the heir of the proud noble marched side by side with the son of the humblest peasant. Sisters, priests, and servants joined the throng, swelling the numbers and adding to the confusion. They stayed in Cologne for several weeks, set back by chaos and disease. Eventually the ill-fated group set off for the Holy Land, but their difficulties were just beginning.
Based on the end of the passage which of these sentences most likely summarizes the fate of the Children’s Crusade?
It ended terribly and tragically
It captured the Holy Land for Christianity
It ended in triumph and glory
The children never left Cologne
It was ended before it began and the children were saved
Explanation
In the last sentence the author says, “Eventually the ill-fated group set off for the Holy Land, but their difficulties were just beginning.” The use of the word “ill-fated” suggests the group would be unlucky and meet a tragic end; the use of the word “difficulties” also suggests a troubled future.
Adapted from Ten Great Events in History by James Johannot (1887)
The children of Germany and France caught the madness of the hour, and resolved upon a crusade of their own. Inspired by the preaching of a fanatical priest named Nicholas, twenty thousand young boys assembled at Cologne. They came from all ranks of life; the heir of the proud noble marched side by side with the son of the humblest peasant. Sisters, priests, and servants joined the throng, swelling the numbers and adding to the confusion. They stayed in Cologne for several weeks, set back by chaos and disease. Eventually the ill-fated group set off for the Holy Land, but their difficulties were just beginning.
Based on the end of the passage which of these sentences most likely summarizes the fate of the Children’s Crusade?
It ended terribly and tragically
It captured the Holy Land for Christianity
It ended in triumph and glory
The children never left Cologne
It was ended before it began and the children were saved
Explanation
In the last sentence the author says, “Eventually the ill-fated group set off for the Holy Land, but their difficulties were just beginning.” The use of the word “ill-fated” suggests the group would be unlucky and meet a tragic end; the use of the word “difficulties” also suggests a troubled future.
Adapted from A Catechism of Familiar Things: Their History and the Events Which Led to Their Discovery (1881) by the Benziger Brothers.
Thebes was an ancient city in Greece, founded by Cadmus, a Phoenician, though of Egyptian parentage. Sailing from the coast of Phoenicia, he arrived in Greece, and built the city, calling it Thebes, from the city of that name in Egypt. The prince is credited with the invention of sixteen letters of the Greek Alphabet. Athens was the capital of Attica, founded by Cecrops, an Egyptian. It was the seat of learning and the arts, and has produced some of the most celebrated warriors, politicians, orators, poets, and sculptors in the world. Since the liberation of Greece from the Ottoman Empire, Athens has been chosen as its capital, and is still a considerable town adorned with splendid ruins of the beautiful buildings it once possessed.
Which of these inferences can most easily be made from this text?
Many Greek cities were founded by Egyptians.
Cadmus died a violent death.
Athens has never been ruled by a tyrant or a foreign power.
Athens was founded before Thebes.
Had Athens never been founded, Thebes would be the current capital of Greece.
Explanation
You are told in this text that Thebes was founded by a man of Egyptian parentage who named the city after a famous city in Egypt. You are also told that Athens was founded by an Egyptian. From this information you can infer that "many" Greek cities were founded by Egyptians. This is not a certain inference, but can be made more reliably made than any of the other answer choices. There is no evidence to support that Cadmus died a violent death or that had Athens never been founded then Thebes would be the current capital. It is not mentioned whether Athens or Thebes was founded first, and you can reasonably infer from the fact that Greece had to be "liberated" from the Ottoman Empire that it has, at least once, been ruled by a foreign power.
Adapted from A Catechism of Familiar Things: Their History and the Events Which Led to Their Discovery (1881) by the Benziger Brothers.
Thebes was an ancient city in Greece, founded by Cadmus, a Phoenician, though of Egyptian parentage. Sailing from the coast of Phoenicia, he arrived in Greece, and built the city, calling it Thebes, from the city of that name in Egypt. The prince is credited with the invention of sixteen letters of the Greek Alphabet. Athens was the capital of Attica, founded by Cecrops, an Egyptian. It was the seat of learning and the arts, and has produced some of the most celebrated warriors, politicians, orators, poets, and sculptors in the world. Since the liberation of Greece from the Ottoman Empire, Athens has been chosen as its capital, and is still a considerable town adorned with splendid ruins of the beautiful buildings it once possessed.
Which of these inferences can most easily be made from this text?
Many Greek cities were founded by Egyptians.
Cadmus died a violent death.
Athens has never been ruled by a tyrant or a foreign power.
Athens was founded before Thebes.
Had Athens never been founded, Thebes would be the current capital of Greece.
Explanation
You are told in this text that Thebes was founded by a man of Egyptian parentage who named the city after a famous city in Egypt. You are also told that Athens was founded by an Egyptian. From this information you can infer that "many" Greek cities were founded by Egyptians. This is not a certain inference, but can be made more reliably made than any of the other answer choices. There is no evidence to support that Cadmus died a violent death or that had Athens never been founded then Thebes would be the current capital. It is not mentioned whether Athens or Thebes was founded first, and you can reasonably infer from the fact that Greece had to be "liberated" from the Ottoman Empire that it has, at least once, been ruled by a foreign power.
Adapted from The Story of Mankind by Hendrik Van Loon (1921)
Early in the tenth century a Viking by the name of Rollo had repeatedly attacked the coast of France. The king of France, too weak to resist these northern robbers, tried to bribe them into "being good." He offered them the province of Normandy, if they would promise to stop bothering the rest of his domains. Rollo accepted this bargain and became Duke of Normandy.
But his children remained interested in conquest. Across the channel, only a few hours away from the European mainland, they could see the white cliffs and the green fields of England. Poor England had passed through difficult days. For two hundred years it had been a Roman colony. After the Romans left, it had been conquered by the Angles and the Saxons, two German tribes from Schleswig. Next the Danes had taken the greater part of the country and had established the kingdom of Cnut. The Danes had been driven away and now (it was early in the eleventh century) another Saxon king, Edward the Confessor, was on the throne. But Edward was not expected to live long and he had no children. The circumstances favored the ambitious dukes of Normandy.
In 1066 Edward died. Immediately William of Normandy crossed the channel, defeated and killed Harold of Wessex (who had taken the crown) at the battle of Hastings, and proclaimed himself king of England.
In another story I have told you how in the year 800 a German chieftain had become a Roman Emperor. Now in the year 1066 the grandson of a Norse pirate was recognized as King of England. Why should we ever read fairy stories, when the truth of history is so much more interesting and entertaining?
Why does the author believe the the situation in England favored the Dukes of Normandy prior to their conquest?
Because the existing King had no children or heirs.
Because England was in a state of disarray.
Because the English military was weak from several exhausting campaigns.
Because the Normans had greater military strength and better tactics.
Because the Battle of Hastings was to be fought on Norman ground.
Explanation
Immediately before the author says “The circumstances favored the ambitious dukes of Normandy,” he says that “Edward the Confessor, was on the throne. But Edward was not expected to live long and he had no children.” This tells you that the author primarily believes that the situation favored the Dukes of Normandy because the current King (Edward the Confessor) had no children to pass on his title to. You could perhaps infer from the author’s description of the various groups who came to control England for a short period of time that the military would be weak from several exhausting campaigns, or that the country was in a state of disarray (chaos), but this requires far more inference than the correct answer which is directly stated.
Adapted from A Catechism of Familiar Things: Their History and the Events Which Led to Their Discovery (1881) by the Benziger Brothers.
After bursting from the egg, it becomes a large worm or caterpillar of a yellowish-white color, (which is its first state); this caterpillar feeds on the leaves of the mulberry tree, until, arriving at maturity, it winds itself up in a silken bag or case, called a cocoon, about the size and shape of a pigeon's egg, and becomes a chrysalis, in which state it lies without signs of life. In about ten days it eats its way out of its case, a perfect butterfly, which lays a number of eggs and then dies. In the warmth of the summer weather, these eggs are hatched and become worms, as their parents did at first.
Why does the author describe the cocoon as "about the size and shape of a pigeon's egg?"
To provide a comparison so that the audience can understand the dimensions of the cocoon
To illustrate the close relationship between butterflies and pigeons
To show how pigeons are a blight on society, whereas butterflies are a blessing
To explain how the hatching process of a caterpillar is very similar to that of a pigeon
To help the audience understand the color of a cocoon
Explanation
The information about the size and shape of a cocoon as being similar to that of a pigeon’s egg is given to help the audience understand the dimensions of a cocoon. The author clearly assumes that to his audience the size and shape of a pigeon’s egg is more familiar than the size and shape of a cocoon. So he is attempting to provide clarity by using a comparison.
Adapted from A Catechism of Familiar Things: Their History and the Events Which Led to Their Discovery by the Benziger Brothers (1881)
Potatoes grew wild in Peru, a country of South America, from where they were transplanted to other parts of the American continent, and afterwards to Europe. The honor of introducing this useful vegetable into England is divided between Sir Francis Drake, in 1580, and Sir Walter Raleigh, in 1586, some crediting it to the former, and others to the latter. It is certain they were obtained from Virginia in the time of Raleigh; they were grown only in the gardens of the nobility, and were considered a great delicacy. They now constitute a crucial article of food in most of the countries of Europe and America; in Ireland, they have long furnished nearly four-fifths of the entire food of the people.
Which of these can be most easily inferred from this passage?
Potatoes were once a luxury item, but are now widely available in many regions of the world.
Potatoes spread from Peru due to the intensive wanderings of the Peruvian people.
Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh were merchants.
England was the first European nation to arrive in Peru.
Peru has a long history of resistance to European interference.
Explanation
Many of these answer choices are true, but only one is directly supported by the text. You might be tempted to answer that “Sir Francis Drake and Sir Walter Raleigh were merchants,” but we do not know this to be true from the text; we only know that they brought potatoes back to England from the New World. They could have been military men. You might also be tempted to answer “England was the first European nation to arrive in Peru,” but we have no evidence to support this and indeed it is not true (the Spanish being the first). The correct answer is “Potatoes were once a luxury item, but are now widely available in many regions of the world.” This is supported by the author’s statement that “they were grown only in the gardens of the nobility, and were considered a great delicacy. They now constitute a crucial article of food in most of the countries of Europe and America.“ If potatoes are a crucial article of food for most people, than they must be a “widely available."
It has often been asserted by modern historians that the Czech Republic ought to be known as the Republic of Bohemia and Moravia. These are the two regions of Europe that constitute the modern Czech country. The problem is that each of these names has a loose association with the short-lived reign of Hitler and the Nazis in what was then called Czechoslovakia. Czechoslovakia was also the name of the country in the Communist Era, until Slovakia voted to separate from the Czech Republic. So it has come to pass that the Czech people are left with a name that is to them, at least, somewhat unsatisfying. Perhaps several generations from now, as the horrors of World War Two fade further from European memory, these other names of the Czech region will once more emerge into prominence.
What can you infer about Slovakia?
It is another country in Europe.
It is a state in the Czech Republic.
It revolted against the Nazis.
It despised the Communist regime.
It is a city in the Czech Republic.
Explanation
The author tells you that Slovakia chose to break away from the Czech Republic and that once the two had been combined under the name of Czechoslovakia. This information should enable you to infer that Slovakia is "another country in Europe."