Question 154·Easy·Inferences
Several urban planners studying bicycle‐sharing systems compared the programs in Riverton and Lakeside. In Riverton, usage of the city’s new bike‐share surged within weeks, and data showed a steady rise in paid memberships throughout the year. In contrast, Lakeside’s program lost riders after an initial burst of curiosity, and the city eventually had to subsidize operating costs more heavily than expected.
Taken together, these observations most logically support the inference that introducing a bicycle‐sharing program can ______
Which choice most logically completes the text?
For SAT inference questions, first restate the key facts from the passage in your own words, especially noting contrasts between examples. Then ask, “What overall pattern or idea do these details support?” Before picking an answer, test each choice by asking, “Does the passage clearly support this, or does it go beyond what’s said?” Be especially wary of extreme words like “guarantee,” “all,” “never,” and of choices that introduce ideas (like unrelated side effects) that the passage never mentions.
Hints
Focus on both cities, not just one
Before looking at the answer choices, briefly summarize in your own words what happened in Riverton and what happened in Lakeside. How are the results similar or different?
Look for variation in outcomes
Ask yourself: Do both cities experience the same benefits, or does one city do well while the other has problems? Any correct inference should reflect that pattern.
Watch out for extreme or unsupported claims
For each answer choice, ask: Does the passage actually say or strongly imply this? Be especially careful with words like “guarantee,” “all,” or statements about things (like bike lanes or personal bikes) that are never mentioned.
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what the question is asking
The question asks what inference (a logical conclusion) can be drawn from the observations about the two cities’ bicycle-sharing programs. You must choose the option that is supported by both examples together, not just one.
Summarize what happens in each city
Restate the key details in your own words:
- Riverton: Usage of the new bike-share surged within weeks, and data showed a steady rise in paid memberships all year. This means the program grew strongly and was popular.
- Lakeside: The program lost riders after an initial burst of curiosity, and the city had to subsidize operating costs more heavily than expected. This means the program struggled and needed extra money from the city.
Find the general pattern these examples show
Put the two situations together:
- In one city, the bike-share program attracted more and more paying riders.
- In the other, it did not keep riders and ended up costing the city more money than planned. So, any correct inference must say that results of introducing a bike-share program can differ from city to city, and in some cases cities may need to provide extra financial support.
Match that pattern to the answer choices
Now check each choice against the pattern you found:
- Choices that say the programs always save money or always lead to the same result in every city cannot be right, because Riverton and Lakeside had different outcomes and one city spent more than expected.
- The only option that reflects both (1) strong growth in one city and (2) the need for more financial support in another city is “produce strong rider growth in some cities but require additional financial support in others.”