Concept 1

Draw a reasonable inference supported by what the text states and implies.

Core Idea

A reasonable inference connects what the passage directly states to a conclusion the text supports—without adding outside assumptions.

Understanding

Inference = short bridge. One side is what the passage says; the other is the conclusion it clearly supports.

Stay inside the text. If you need outside knowledge, extra assumptions, or a phrase like "maybe" or "could be," the bridge is too long.

Check: the best answer is usually the smallest claim the evidence can force.

Step by Step

  1. Read the full passage and identify the main claim or finding.
  2. Locate the key details—numbers, comparisons, cause-effect relationships—that the passage presents as fact.
  3. For each answer choice, ask: does the passage give me direct evidence for this, or am I adding something?
  4. Eliminate choices that go beyond the text, even if they sound reasonable in real life.
  5. Select the choice that connects most tightly to what the passage actually states.

Misconceptions

  • Confusing "could be true" with "is supported by the text"—the SAT rewards the tightest inference, not the most interesting one.
  • Bringing in outside knowledge (e.g., something you learned in biology class) to justify a choice the passage doesn't support.
  • Picking an answer because it restates a detail from the passage without actually completing the logical gap the question asks about.
Question

Worked Example

A team of marine biologists studied coral reefs in the Pacific Ocean over a 15-year period. They found that reefs located near coastal cities experienced a 40% decline in species diversity, while reefs more than 200 kilometers from any major population center showed no significant change. The researchers noted that the nearshore reefs were exposed to agricultural runoff and industrial discharge, conditions absent at the remote sites. Based on these findings, the researchers concluded that ______

Select an answer to see the explanation