Inferring from RC passages!

[lizk89]

Hey,

Could someone please tell me, if I am asked to infer something from the passage, is the correct answer ALWAYS and absolutely provable by the passage. In other words, are inference questions always Must Be True?

Also, when the question stem includes wording such as "could be true" or "most likely" can I rightfully assume that the question is, in fact, a Must Be True question type? Is the answer ever a matter of interpretation about what COULD likely be true? Or is interpretation never the correct route to take?

Thanks!

[Steve Stein]

Hey Liz,

That's a good question, and an important point; anything that can be properly inferred based on the passage can be proven by the passage. The correct answer to an inference question Must Be True according to the information in the passage.

Note, however, that what Could Be True is different from what Must Be True--what must be true is certain, what could be true is merely possible.

Let me know whether that's clear--thanks!

~Steve

[lizk89]

Yes, thanks!