Inference Question Trainer: Master the Hardest RC Type
Inference questions trip up even strong readers. Practice three distinct types — reading between the lines, author’s implied view, and logic extension — with AI-generated questions and trap analysis.
Why Inference Questions Are the Hardest RC Type
Every competitive exam — CAT, GMAT, GRE — has a question type that separates scorers from top scorers. That type is inference questions. While detail questions point you to specific lines and main idea questions test your overall grasp, inference questions demand something harder: drawing a conclusion the passage supports but never directly states.
The difficulty comes from two sources. First, you need to synthesize information across multiple sentences or paragraphs. Second, the answer must be logically supported by the text without being explicitly mentioned — a narrow sweet spot between what’s stated and what’s assumed.
Most test-takers fail inference questions because they either pick answers that go too far beyond the text (overinference) or pick answers that merely restate what’s already explicit (underinference). The sweet spot is one logical step beyond the text — no more, no less.
The 3 Inference Types You’ll Face
Type 1: Reading Between the Lines — These questions ask what’s implied by the passage. The author doesn’t say it directly, but the evidence points clearly in one direction. Signal phrases: “The passage implies that…”, “It can be inferred…”, “The author suggests…”
Type 2: Author’s Implied View — These ask what the author believes based on how they present information. Watch for qualifiers (“merely,” “surprisingly”), contrast signals, and the relative space given to competing arguments.
Type 3: Extending the Logic — These ask you to apply the passage’s reasoning to a new scenario. If the author argues X leads to Y in context A, what would happen in context B? This requires extracting the rule from the example, then applying it elsewhere.
Before selecting an inference answer, ask: “Can I point to specific lines that support this?” If you can’t, you’ve overinferred. If the lines say exactly what the answer says, you’ve underinferred. The right answer is always one step — and only one step — beyond what’s stated.
Continue to Timed Practice Simulator (C071) for speed training.
Frequently Asked Questions
Master the Hardest Question Type
365 passages with inference questions at every difficulty level. Detailed explanations show exactly how to find the one-step-beyond answer.
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