Question 62·Medium·Inferences
Public libraries often debate whether eliminating overdue fines increases book circulation. In Harbor City, administrators credited a 2023 extension of evening hours for a 30% rise in checkouts that year. However, monthly records show that the sharpest rise began in March, immediately after the library ended overdue fines, whereas evening hours were extended in July; moreover, branches that did not alter their hours experienced checkout increases similar to those that did. Taken together, these observations suggest that _____
Which choice most logically completes the text?
For "most logically completes the text" questions, treat the final sentence as a mini-argument: list the concrete evidence (especially timing and comparisons) and then choose the option that restates the single conclusion that evidence best supports. Eliminate choices that (1) flip the relationship the evidence implies, (2) claim something stronger than the passage warrants, or (3) introduce an attractive but unsupported alternative explanation.
Hints
Look for what contradicts the administrators’ claim
After the administrators credit extended hours, the passage says "However" and then gives details meant to challenge that explanation.
Use timing as evidence
Which change happens right before the sharp rise (March), and which change happens later (July)?
Use the branch comparison
If changing hours caused the rise, what would you expect to see at branches that didn’t change hours? Compare that expectation to what the passage says.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify what the blank must do
The blank completes a conclusion: "Taken together, these observations suggest that _____." So the correct choice must summarize what the timing and branch comparisons collectively imply, not introduce a new topic.
Extract the two key observations
The text provides two main pieces of evidence:
- Timing: the sharp rise began in March, right after overdue fines ended; hours were extended later, in July.
- Comparison across branches: branches that did not change hours still had increases similar to those that did.
Both observations weaken the claim that extended hours drove the increase.
Draw the most supported inference
If extended hours were the main driver, the biggest rise would be expected after the July change and mainly at branches with the new hours. Instead, the rise aligns more closely with the March fine-policy change and appears even where hours stayed the same, so ending fines is the more likely driver.
Select the choice that matches that inference
The option that best matches this evidence-based conclusion is:
the elimination of overdue fines was more likely responsible for the checkout increase than the hour extension.