Question 8·Medium·Inferences
To reconnect two neighborhoods separated by an aging elevated freeway, the city of Riverton removed a one-mile segment and replaced it with a tree-lined boulevard and a linear park. Before demolition, critics predicted paralyzing congestion. In the six months after removal, traffic counts showed vehicles dispersing onto parallel streets, ridership on bus routes through the corridor rose by 8%, and sensors indicated that average peak-hour commute times stayed within two to three minutes of pre-removal levels. Weekend foot traffic in the park surged, and shops along the corridor reported a 12% increase in weekend sales, though the transportation director cautioned that a citywide arts festival overlapped with the study period. The city added no new parking but expanded bus-only lanes and bike-share docks near the corridor.
Which inference is most strongly supported by the information in the passage?
For inference questions in SAT Reading & Writing, first underline or note key factual details, especially numbers, trends, and any cautions or limitations the author gives. Then test each answer by asking, “Must this be true or very likely true given only what I read?” Eliminate choices that go beyond the text with extreme words (like “eliminated,” “solely,” “throughout the city”) or that add new information (like future plans) not mentioned in the passage. The correct answer will be the one that makes a modest, reasonable conclusion that fits closely with multiple specific details from the passage.
Hints
Focus on what changed after the freeway was removed
Look closely at the data given for the six months after removal: traffic patterns, bus ridership, commute times, foot traffic, and sales. Which of these changes could reasonably lead to a careful conclusion?
Watch out for extreme or absolute language
Pay attention to words like "eliminated" and "solely" and phrases that talk about the entire city or definite future plans. Ask yourself if the passage really supports something that strong.
Look at the bus and parking information together
The passage mentions that bus ridership increased, bus-only lanes were expanded, and no new parking was added. What might these details, taken together, suggest about how some people are traveling through the corridor now?
Separate correlation from proven cause
For the mention of increased sales and the arts festival, think: does the passage prove one clear cause, or does it suggest there might be multiple factors?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what the question is asking
The question asks for an inference that is most strongly supported by the passage. That means the correct choice will not be stated word-for-word, but it must be clearly suggested by the given information without going beyond it.
Extract key details from the passage
List the main facts:
- A one-mile segment of elevated freeway was removed and replaced with a boulevard and park.
- Critics predicted paralyzing congestion.
- After removal:
- Traffic dispersed onto parallel streets.
- Bus ridership through the corridor rose by 8%.
- Peak-hour commute times stayed within 2–3 minutes of previous levels.
- Weekend foot traffic and weekend sales went up, but a citywide arts festival also occurred during the study period.
- The city added no new parking but expanded bus-only lanes and bike-share docks.
Test each answer choice against the passage
Go through the choices and ask, “Do we have clear support for this?”
- Some choices may overgeneralize (talk about the entire city when the passage talks about just the corridor).
- Some may make too-strong cause claims (using words like "eliminated" or "solely").
- Some may describe future plans or ideas the passage never mentions.
Eliminate clearly unsupported or extreme statements
Check for reasons to eliminate:
- If a choice claims a change happened “throughout the city,” but the data is only about the corridor, it goes too far.
- If a choice says something happened “solely” because of one cause, but the passage mentions another possible factor, that’s not supported.
- If a choice talks about future plans (like rebuilding the freeway) with no mention of that in the passage, it’s unsupported.
Connect the remaining idea to specific evidence and choose the best inference
One choice lines up with several specific details: bus ridership in the corridor rose by 8%, the freeway was removed, and the city expanded bus-only lanes while adding no new parking. Together, these facts strongly suggest that some people who previously drove are now using buses instead, which matches choice A) Some former drivers likely switched to public transit after the freeway was removed.