Question 2·Medium·Inferences
In a memo to the school board, the principal notes that a decline in library visits coincided with the rollout of a district-wide digital reading platform. She cautions that checkout statistics may understate students’ reading because the platform logs only completed e-books and not articles, sample chapters, or draft materials. She recommends waiting for midyear survey results that ask students about reading across formats before deciding whether to reduce library hours.
Which inference is most supported by the principal’s memo?
For SAT Reading "most supported inference" questions, first paraphrase the passage in simple terms and identify the author’s main concern and tone (cautious, confident, critical, etc.). Then, test each answer strictly against the text: eliminate choices that add new information, make stronger claims than the passage supports, or contradict the author’s attitude. The correct answer will be a mild, well-supported extension of what is explicitly stated, not a dramatic conclusion or accusation the passage never makes.
Hints
Focus on the principal’s concern
Look closely at what the principal is worried about when she mentions checkout statistics and what the digital platform logs. What problem is she pointing out?
Pay attention to tone and certainty
Does the principal sound like she has already made strong conclusions about students’ behavior or staff performance, or does she sound cautious and interested in gathering more information first?
Connect the recommendation to the inference
She recommends waiting for midyear survey results about reading across formats before reducing library hours. What does this suggest about how confident she is in the current data about students’ reading?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what the question is asking
The question asks for the inference most supported by the principal’s memo. That means you must choose the option that is strongly backed up by the information given, not something that goes beyond or contradicts the text.
Paraphrase the key points of the memo
Restate the memo in your own words:
- Library visits are down, at the same time a digital reading platform was rolled out.
- The principal cautions that checkout statistics and the platform’s logs may not show all the reading students do, because the platform only logs completed e-books and misses other types of reading (articles, sample chapters, drafts).
- She recommends waiting for midyear survey results about reading across formats before deciding whether to cut library hours.
So the principal is worried about how well current data reflect students’ real reading and wants more complete information before acting.
Identify the principal’s attitude and concern
Focus on what the principal seems to believe:
- She thinks the current numbers (checkout stats and platform logs) may understate or miss some reading.
- She is not ready to conclude that students are reading less; instead, she wants more information (the survey about “reading across formats”).
- This shows she is concerned that the way reading is being measured now may be incomplete or misleading.
Test each answer choice against the memo
Now compare each option to the memo:
- One option should match the idea that the current data may not show all reading.
- Any option that claims the principal has already decided something big (like that students barely read, or that staff are to blame, or that she will reduce hours no matter what) must be checked carefully against the text. The memo sounds cautious and uncertain, not decisive or accusatory.
Eliminate choices that add claims the memo never makes, such as conclusions about why visits declined, harsh judgments about staff, or firm plans that ignore upcoming data.
Match the best-supported inference
Choice A says, "The principal believes current metrics do not fully capture students’ reading habits." This directly matches her warning that "checkout statistics may understate students’ reading" and that the digital platform logs only some types of reading, plus her desire to wait for survey results about "reading across formats." The other options introduce conclusions or blame that the memo never states. Therefore, the best-supported inference is A) The principal believes current metrics do not fully capture students’ reading habits.