SAT Inferences
Complete a text with the conclusion that most logically follows from the information given.
Also known as: most logically completes the text, logical conclusion questions.
Key ideas
- The blank is the conclusion of an argument: find the premises.
- Correct answers are well supported, never extreme.
- Watch for "therefore", "so" and "this suggests" before the blank.
Trace the argument
Inference texts usually present a puzzle or comparison and leave the conclusion blank. Restate the facts in order, then ask: What do these facts together imply?
Eliminate overreach
Wrong answers often go further than the evidence ("proves", "always") or bring in outside information. The right answer is the most cautious statement the facts guarantee.
Worked examples
Example 1 · A simple inference
Researchers found ancient pollen of a plant that grows only in warm climates in layers of a lake bed now in a cold region. This suggests that ______
- Step 1.The plant needs warmth; its pollen was deposited there.
- Step 2.So the region was once warmer.
Answer: the region's climate was once warmer than it is today.
Example 2 · Avoiding the extreme
If one study finds an effect in mice, can we infer it works in humans?
- Step 1.No, the text would only support a cautious claim about the mice.
Answer: Pick the cautious conclusion.
Common mistakes
- Choosing a conclusion that requires outside knowledge.
- Choosing an extreme claim (always, proves).
- Repeating a premise instead of drawing the conclusion.
Try it yourself
Original practice questions. Your answer is checked instantly.
Which choice most logically completes the text?
Which choice most logically completes the text?