Question 83·Medium·Inferences
At the start of the school year, a town’s transit agency introduced a bus line connecting three high schools with the central library. The bus ran every 15 minutes and stopped directly in front of each school. Within weeks, student ridership grew so much that on some afternoons the buses reached capacity, leaving students waiting at stops. In response, the agency added two extra buses to the line during the afternoon rush. As a result, the agency most likely ______
Which choice most logically completes the text?
For SAT completion and inference questions like this, first identify the problem described, then the action taken "in response," and finally infer the most direct and reasonable result of that action. Look for the choice that (1) clearly connects back to the stated problem, (2) follows logically from the action described, and (3) does not introduce new, unsupported details or contradict basic logic; eliminate any answer that adds new information, changes the scenario, or reverses the cause-and-effect.
Hints
Locate the cause-and-effect relationship
Reread the sentences that begin with "Within weeks" and "In response." What problem is being described, and what specific action did the agency take because of that problem?
Think about what more buses actually do
When extra buses are added to a crowded route during the busiest time, what changes for the people waiting at the stops?
Check for new or contradictory information
Eliminate any choices that talk about things the passage never mentions (like changing the route) or that go against common sense about what adding buses would require.
Match the answer to the original problem
The correct choice should clearly connect back to the issue of high ridership and buses reaching capacity, not introduce a different issue.
Step-by-step Explanation
Identify the main problem in the passage
Focus on the sentence: "Within weeks, student ridership grew so much that on some afternoons the buses reached capacity, leaving students waiting at stops." This tells you the specific problem: the buses are full, and some students cannot get on and are left waiting.
Notice the agency’s response to that problem
The next sentence says, "In response, the agency added two extra buses to the line during the afternoon rush." The phrase "in response" connects the action (adding buses) directly to the earlier problem (buses at capacity and students left behind). Adding buses means there is more space available for riders.
Infer the most logical result of adding extra buses
Ask yourself: if there are more buses on the same busy route at the busiest time, what happens to the original problem? More buses mean more total seats and often more frequent service, so fewer students should be left behind at stops because of full buses. Now choose the answer choice that states this result clearly and does not add new, unsupported information.
Match your inference to the answer choices
Choice A says the agency "reduced the number of students unable to board during busy times." This directly matches the situation: the original problem was students unable to board full buses, and adding extra buses would reasonably reduce that problem. The other choices either contradict the passage or introduce new ideas, so A is the correct answer.