VARC1000 (Season 1) RC Lesson #9 : Application based questions-1

Summary

This educational video script discusses the concept of inference in reading comprehension. It clarifies that inference involves drawing conclusions based on existing information, not mere speculation. The script provides examples to illustrate how to make valid inferences from passages, emphasizing the need for critical thinking and careful evaluation of information. It also guides viewers on how to discern true inferences from false ones, using the context and details provided in the text.

Takeaways

• 📚 Inference in reading comprehension involves drawing conclusions based on the information provided in the passage, without making guesses or speculations.
• 🔍 The definition of inference is a conclusion drawn from existing information, which should be a valid and true conclusion based on the passage.
• 🤔 Application-based questions require critical reading and thinking to combine information from the passage and draw true inferences.
• 🚫 Inference should not be confused with speculation; it must be a conclusion that can be proven true by the passage's content.
• 🔑 The strategy for answering inference-based questions is similar to other types of reading comprehension questions, focusing on the information in the passage.
• 🌰 Examples provided in the script illustrate how to draw inferences from statements, such as deducing mortality from being human or the likelihood of being right-handed.
• ❌ When evaluating answer choices, eliminate options that contradict the passage or make broad, uncertain claims not supported by the text.
• 🍏 The script uses the analogy of homocysteine levels and stroke risk to demonstrate how to connect information and make valid inferences.
• 📉 The importance of critically evaluating each choice in inference-based questions is emphasized to avoid mistakes and ensure the conclusion is true.
• 🎓 The script touches on the influence of philosophers like Hume, highlighting how their work can be understood in the context of their era.
• 🧐 The final takeaway is the reminder that inference should be based on the passage and should not require additional assumptions beyond what is provided.

Q & A

What are application-based questions in the context of reading comprehension?

Application-based questions are those that require a bit of effort to draw certain information or inferences from the passage. They may ask which position the author is likely to support, or if there is a situation analogous to the one mentioned in the passage, or require understanding the contextual meaning of a word used in the passage.

What is the common misconception about inference in reading comprehension?

The common misconception is that inference should not be mentioned in the passage and is something that is not stated but inferred by the reader. However, the correct understanding is that inference is a conclusion drawn from the information already provided in the passage.

What does the dictionary definition of 'inference' suggest about the information used for inference?

The dictionary definition of 'inference' suggests that it is a conclusion drawn about something by using the information that one already has, which in the context of reading comprehension, is the information provided in the passage.

Why is it important to distinguish between a valid inference and a guess or speculation?

It is important to distinguish between a valid inference and a guess or speculation because a valid inference must be true based on the passage, whereas a guess or speculation may not necessarily be supported by the information provided.

Can you provide an example of a valid inference based on the given statements about humans and mortality?

An example of a valid inference is if the passage states that all humans are mortal and Raj is a human, then one can validly infer that Raj is mortal.

What is the difference between a valid inference and a likely inference, using the example of handedness among humans?

A valid inference would be that if 90% of humans are right-handed and Raj is human, it is likely, but not certain, that Raj is right-handed. A valid inference must be true based on the passage, while a likely inference suggests a probability but is not guaranteed to be true.

How can the concept of inference be applied to a question about homocysteine levels and stroke risk?

Inference can be applied by combining information from the passage about the correlation between high homocysteine levels and stroke risk, and the fact that consuming more folic acid and vitamin B12 can lower homocysteine levels, to infer that higher folic acid intake may reduce the risk of stroke.

What is the key to answering inference-based questions correctly?

The key to answering inference-based questions correctly is to critically read and think about the information given in the passage, combine relevant pieces of information, and draw a true conclusion based on the passage without making assumptions or guesses.

Why is it important to critically evaluate each answer choice when answering inference-based questions?

It is important to critically evaluate each answer choice to ensure that the inference drawn is true and directly supported by the passage, and to avoid making incorrect assumptions or choosing answers that are too broad or not supported by the information given.

How can the strategy used for answering inference-based questions be applied to other types of reading comprehension questions?

The same strategy of carefully analyzing the information in the passage and drawing conclusions based solely on that information can be applied to other types of reading comprehension questions, as the fundamental goal is to understand and interpret the text accurately.

What is the significance of critical reading and thinking in the context of inference-based questions?

Critical reading and thinking are significant in the context of inference-based questions because they allow the reader to combine information from the passage and make a true inference, which may require a deeper understanding of the text and the ability to connect different pieces of information.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Understanding Inference in Reading Comprehension

This paragraph introduces the concept of inference in the context of reading comprehension. It clarifies that inference is not about guessing but about drawing valid conclusions based on the information provided in the text. The speaker uses examples to illustrate how to make inferences, such as deducing that 'Raj is mortal' from the statements 'All humans are mortal' and 'Raj is human.' The importance of distinguishing between true inferences and mere possibilities is emphasized, with the latter often indicated by words like 'likely.' The paragraph sets the stage for a deeper exploration of inference in subsequent lessons.

05:03

🔍 Critical Reading and Inference-Based Questions

The second paragraph delves into the process of answering inference-based questions in reading comprehension. It emphasizes the need for critical reading and thinking to arrive at true conclusions that are supported by the passage. The speaker provides an example involving the correlation between homocysteine levels and stroke risk, illustrating how to combine information from the text to make valid inferences. The paragraph also discusses how to eliminate incorrect answer choices by comparing them with the information given in the passage, highlighting the importance of not making assumptions beyond what is stated.

10:03

🤔 Evaluating Statements for Logical Inference

This paragraph continues the discussion on inference by examining the process of evaluating statements for logical inference from a given passage. The speaker uses a passage about China's challenges and various statements to illustrate how to critically assess each option and avoid mistakes. The focus is on understanding the nuances of the information provided and recognizing when a statement goes beyond what is supported by the text, such as making broad generalizations or assuming details not mentioned in the passage.

15:05

🧐 The Art of Making Accurate Inferences

The final paragraph wraps up the discussion on inference by emphasizing the importance of accuracy and the careful evaluation of options. Using a passage about Hume's influence, the speaker demonstrates how to identify true statements and avoid those that overgeneralize or misinterpret the information. The paragraph reinforces the idea that inference should be based on the text alone, without adding unwarranted assumptions, and that the same principles apply to all types of reading comprehension questions.

Keywords

💡Application Based Questions

These refer to questions that require a deeper analysis of a text, where one must draw inferences or conclusions based on the information provided. In the video's context, application-based questions are contrasted with typical questions, emphasizing the need for critical thinking and the ability to synthesize information from a passage to answer them accurately.

💡Inference

Inference is a conclusion drawn from evidence and reasoning. The video explains that inference in reading comprehension involves using the information from a passage to make a logical conclusion that is not explicitly stated but can be deduced. An example given is if all humans are mortal and Raj is human, one can infer that Raj is mortal.

💡Critical Reading

Critical reading involves evaluating a text carefully, often to identify underlying messages or to discern the author's intent. The script mentions the need for critical reading when dealing with inference-based questions, as it requires combining pieces of information to derive a valid conclusion.

💡Homocysteine

Homocysteine is an amino acid whose high levels in the blood can be an indicator of stroke risk, particularly among people with heart disease. The video uses this term to illustrate how one can infer the relationship between homocysteine levels and stroke risk from a given passage.

💡Folic Acid

Folic acid is a B vitamin that plays a role in the reduction of homocysteine levels. In the script, it is mentioned as a nutrient that can help lower homocysteine levels, thereby potentially reducing the risk of stroke, showing the practical application of inference in connecting health-related information.

💡Vitamin B12

Vitamin B12, like folic acid, is highlighted in the script as a nutrient that can contribute to lowering homocysteine levels. It is part of the discussion on how certain dietary changes can lead to health benefits, specifically in reducing stroke risk.

💡Reading Comprehension

Reading comprehension is the ability to understand and interpret written material. The video script discusses various strategies for answering reading comprehension questions, particularly focusing on inference-based questions and how they relate to the broader skill of comprehension.

💡Empiricism

Empiricism is a philosophical theory that knowledge comes primarily from sensory experience. The script refers to David Hume's radical empiricism as a key to understanding his influence on intellectual culture, emphasizing the historical context of his work.

💡Philosophy

Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental questions about existence, knowledge, values, reason, and language. The video discusses Hume's significant influence on philosophy and how contemporary scientists may make an exception for Hume when they often have little time for philosophy.

💡Contemporary Scientists

Contemporary scientists are professionals in various scientific fields today. The script mentions that despite their limited time for philosophy, many still recognize Hume's contributions, indicating his lasting impact across disciplines.

💡Qualitative Analysis

Qualitative analysis involves the interpretation of data to gain an understanding of underlying reasons, opinions, and motivations. The video uses this concept to discuss how to evaluate answer choices for inference-based questions, ensuring that the conclusions drawn are true and not just speculative.

Highlights

Application-based questions require effort to draw inferences and extract contextual meanings from passages.

Inference is a conclusion drawn using existing information, not mere speculation.

An inference must be a valid and true conclusion based on the passage.

Critical reading and thinking are essential for combining information to draw true inferences.

The strategy for inference-based questions is similar to other reading comprehension questions.

An example illustrates that if all humans are mortal and Raj is human, one can infer that Raj is mortal.

A high level of homocysteine in the blood may indicate a higher risk of stroke among heart disease patients.

Folic acid and vitamin B12 can effectively lower homocysteine levels, potentially reducing stroke risk.

Natural sources of folic acid and vitamin B12 include citrus fruits, tomatoes, vegetables, and grain products.

Inference questions often involve evaluating answer choices against the passage for truthfulness.

An example of a false inference is correlating a decreased risk of stroke with low levels of homocysteine.

China's challenges may be more obvious to outsiders than its own citizens, according to the passage.

Critical evaluation is necessary to avoid mistakes in inference-based questions.

Hume's influence on intellectual culture is significant, including all areas of philosophy and various scientific disciplines.

Hume's philosophy should be understood in the context of the 18th century early modern era.

The key takeaway for inference-based questions is to evaluate whether an option is true based on the passage.

Transcripts

in the in the next series of lessons we

will look at

application based questions when i talk

about application based question these

are questions which

uh we should have to do a little bit of

effort in in figuring out

uh drawing certain information

or or inferences from the passage could

be a question which asked which of the

following the author

is likely to support or the situation

given is there any situation which is

analogous to the situation that is

mentioned in the passage or any

inference that you can draw

there is a word there is there is a what

is a

contextual meaning of the word that is

used there okay things like that

now while solving uh these kind of

question

we tend to believe that we have to do

something very different

from the usual questions actually that

is not the case

so in this lesson to start with we'll

start with inference and i'm going to

talk about basics of inference

right one of the things that happens

with inference that i've heard that

inference should not be mentioned in the

passage it it

is something that is not mentioned in

the passage is something that you infer

i don't understand what that means do

you not mention

somewhere but i have to figure out what

that is that doesn't make any sense

does it so this if you look at the

definition of inference

the inference says from the dictionary

says inference is a conclusion that you

draw

about something by using the information

that you already have wanted

influence the act of drawing conclusion

about something on the basis of

information that you already have

so the only thing so you already have

information that you already have about

it that is basically

your passage

right that's basically a passage the

only addition that i am going to do

uh from the context of reading

comprehension is there that

is a is let me say it's a is it's a true

conclusion

that you draw or or is a valid

conclusion that you are going to draw

or drawing valid or true conclusion it's

not a guess it's not a speculation it

must be true based on this passage

it must be true let me give an example

it's for example if i if i

take two statements if i say that all

humans

are mortal and the second statement says

raj is human

what inference can you draw and i am

sure that he will draw the inference

that raj is mortal

and you would say and you would agree

with me that is true

if these two things are true this one is

true

right let me take another example let me

say that

ninety percentage of humans

are right handed

nine and then you say raj is human

can you draw an inference here that raj

is right handed

would it be true not necessarily

but you can now you can draw the

difference here

that raj is likely

to be right handed

or that word likely should make it okay

so so what is therefore difference all

that is checking is

whether or not something is true let me

let me think of more

examples let's say that if i say that a

is greater than b

can you draw some inference something

that is true yes

if a is greater than b you can draw the

inference that is not

equal to b true absolutely true

you can draw the influence that b is

less than a

yeah so this would be statement which is

true you might say that is obvious

yeah but that's what it is it is true so

if i if i look at

things like let's say another one

let's take another example here if i say

that a

and b are celebrating

their 15th

wedding anniversary

let's say this sunday or somewhere

can you draw a conclusion or inference

the fact that a and b are married

you would say that is obvious but that

would be a true inference

so all that you're checking at the end

of the day with respect to inference

is whether or not something that is true

that's that's what you're checking in

fact every single reading comprehension

question you have to look at the

information

and slow solely the information the

passage and

and draw stuff from there so the same

thing that you did

or the strategy that we have adopted for

other type of question the being

strategy or anything

would apply to influence based question

as well

just that inference based question you

might have to combine couple of

information that is given

in the passage and then take out a true

inference out of it

so that might take a little bit of

critical reading critical thinking

but nevertheless the answer the the the

the option the right answer choice must

be something that is true

let's look at a few example let's look

at this case

okay so the question say which of the

following can be inferred from the

passage

high level of home of an amino acid

called homocysteine found in the blood

may be a strong indicator of stroke risk

among people with heart disease

a new study shows that heart patients

with highest homosexual level are

more than four times as likely to suffer

almost

most common type of stroke when compared

to those lowest homocysteine level

so the basically basically the

information number one is saying

higher the homocysteine level ah

likely higher likelihood of stroke is

high

or conversely lower the homocysteine

level

the likelihood of stroke is low

that's what the information number one

says uh number two

uh even after accounting for other

factors that affects stroke rates and

homosystem levels

studies have shown that homocysteine

levels can be effectively lowered by

consuming more folic acid and vitamin

b12

number two is saying that if you have

folic acid

more more folic acid

and if you have more vitamin uh b12

this this can help in reduction of

homocysteine level

and you already see that there is some

obvious conclusion that you can draw

a reduction homocysteine level then lead

to lower number of uh

likelihood of stroke will be reduced so

higher the for folic acid lowers this

uh risk of stroke so that is combining

these two things

and then it says the natural sources of

these nutrients includes citrus fruits

tomatoes vegetables and grain products

so so

those fruit and vegetable has got those

in the ingredients for more folic acid

and vitamin b12 so you can kind of

connect all of this

and make draw some true inferences okay

let's look at each answer choice and see

what each of them is saying

number one an increased risk of stroke

is correlated with low levels of

homocysteine

the increased risk of stroke is

correlated with low levels of

homocysteine

you will see here that this is inversely

proportional

while the information given says those

are directly proportional

you would then see that this one is

definitely a false answer choice

or something that contradicts what is

given in the passage you eliminate it

next one a discrete decrease the risk of

stroke is correlated with increased

level of folic acid

decreased risk of stroke

increased level of folic acid

we go there yes uh increase folic acid

decrease homocysteine decrease

homocysteine decreases the score

so the increase level of folic acid

decreased level of stroke

that information is something that you

can say is true

based on what is given in the passage so

this should be your right answer choice

we can check the other spell

vitamin b12 contains folic acid

that's weird here it says low consuming

folic acid

and vitamin b12 there seems to be

no specific connection between these two

things apart from the fact that those

things are given

independently to say that one contains

another one

would be something that is alien to the

whole discussion uncertain

therefore we can element that as a

choice as well the fourth one says

stroke is prevented

by ingestion of folic acid prevent it

that is extreme

now with the passage something can be

stopped it's just that likelihood may

reduce

risk may come down so this is an extreme

answer choice this will be incorrect

your answer choice is right and choice

is number two so whatever

uh strategy that we adopted here to

eliminate the answer choice is the same

for all other kind of passages or all

the other kind of questions that we

solved so far so your brain will still

work

so it is not like you have to do

something very different or think very

differently when it comes to an

inference based question

let us look at one more example

here is a passage that is given there

are three statements that is given

and you look at which statement can be

logically infer from the passage ok let

us start with the

passage china's challenges may be more

obvious to outsiders

than it so than it than to its own

citizens

over the last year officials have

portrayed the country are strong enough

to weather the trade war and right uh

slowing chinese economy

yet even as the party remains firmly in

control within the country

there are pockets of descent ranging

from support for the

for the protesters in hong kong to real

criticism finding intellectuals or even

from those within

the party great let's look at each

statement

one thing that you will have to do with

respect to this influence based question

is that you have to critically look at

the statement unlike up now

our main idea questions okay this is a

little more critical you have to go back

and evaluate very carefully these other

choices

so that you don't make any mistake right

let's look at the first one

the awareness of china's challenges may

be

less less noticeable to its citizens

than in non-citizen

what's given here this is from this

first sentence right

can you the first sentence here uh this

sentence here

that's actually saying this china

challenges may be more obvious to

outsiders whatever the channel

challenges

and the word maybe is there the word

maybe is that that is a good one okay

that's good

so we have uh china challenges china

challenges may be

may be pretty good more obvious to our

trader than own citizen this is a

more obvious top trader than owned

citizen this one is saying

less noticeable for citizen and non than

non-citizens

so from here obviously you can uh infer

that is going to be c is going to be

less than o

or in this case would be non-citizen

which is fair so this one

would be something that you can say is

true if a is greater than b

b should be less than a so this one is

fine

second one there are many chinese

citizens that support the protesters in

hong kong

oh there's a word many you have to be

careful with all these

qualifiers many most okay what is given

is

there are pockets of descent ranging

from support for the

producers in hong kong that's a pocket

of descent from pork contamination

can you say that there are many so this

is this is broad

so you can eliminate as a choice number

two number three

chinese party is currently facing

certain challenges it is true that china

is facing challenger

it is also true that the party is facing

challenges

but can you say this particular party

is a chinese party

is there a thing called chinese party in

the passage not mentioned i don't know

the name of this party

but randomly picking a name called

chinese party

or you could say the party that rules

china that could have been a

that would have been okay the current

ruling party of china

that's also facilified okay but you just

call it chinese party

it's like that indian government

is doing a great job the indian party is

doing a great job

what is indian party right so this one

would be something that will be

not true or uncertain in this case

therefore the only thing that you can

infer

is the first one that's it

let's look at the last one here you

realize that

the moral mode you solve is exactly the

same thing that you look at don't

break ahead trying to look at things

that is actually not mentioned i have to

do something extra

no need we look with the same uh

principle that we'll follow i just need

the things to be too based on the

passage right

so let's look at this one hume's

influence on intellectual culture is

massive

this includes all areas of philosophy

and a variety of scientific

disciplines

a poll connected with professional

philosophers

a few years ago asked them to name the

philosopher no longer living

with whom they most identify hume one

by a clear margin in julian back in his

estimation

contemporary scientists who often have

little time for philosophy

often make an exception for hume before

saying

more about hume's permanent relevance we

should go back to the 18th century early

modern context

his influence is due to his radical

empiricism which can't be fully

understood without examining the era

in which he worked and if you actually

look at these answers all of them looks

deceptively uh right ones but are

this thing will still work right

so you have uh

the first one which of the following is

best supported

best supported by the information that

is given in the passage

number one most professional

philosophers identify themselves with

hume

okay whenever you have the word here so

what has happened here

okay a poll this is taken with a poll

conducted with professional philosophers

a few were asked to name the philosopher

no longer living

with whom they must identify who hume

one is a clear margin

please understand this this is limited

to a pole

this is basically a pole that is

conducted and

and that is and this is making a much

more

broader generalized statement this is

the information given is based on the

poll

now this is trying to draw inference for

the entire population

this is too broad that's what is

happening there is based on

pole ok this is not the case

okay and let's look at the second one

hume is an 18th century uh

philosophers okay so one is one you

start looking at

is humor philosopher it says that uh

a poor kind of professional philosophers

uh a few years ago i asked him to name

the philosopher

no longer living hume one so this part

is fine the hume happens to be a

philosopher

this part is fine now the question is is

hume the 18th century philosopher the

18th century is actually mentioned here

okay

before saying more about hume's

permanent relevance

we should go back to the

uh 18th century early modern context

okay so here is saying that to

understand

hume's philosophy we should go back

to 18th century

that's what the tax has been says his

influence is due to his radical imperism

which can't be fully understood without

examining the era in which it worked

without examining the era in which

he worked

so when we combine these two statement

it is kind of obvious

that he actually is hume is an 18th

century philosopher

okay so this is fine

so is he saying that if the problem we

should go back we should we should go

back to the 18th century pre

early modern context his influence due

to his radical which can't be filled

without examining

the era in which he worked so combining

these two statements is very clear that

he is an 18th century philosopher

this is fine countably scientists do not

consider philosophy to be important

in this case what is happening is that

contemporary scientists

have have little time for philosophy

just because they have little

time for philosophy can i say that do

not consider philosophy to be important

just because i have little time

for something doesn't mean that i don't

consider anything important

that is too much of a stress that is not

a true statement that requires a lot of

assumption to be added

okay so this one is too much of a

stretch so this one

is it would be something that won't be

certain

humor has significant influence in

shaping philosophy now this

is a tricky option pretty tricky

in the sense that hume's influence

influence

is massive okay a huge influence on

intellectual cultural message this

includes all areas of

philosophy and hume has influence on

areas of philosophy that is true okay

now the question is does he have an

influence in shaping philosophy

did the philosophy change because of him

what kind of influence

did he have that is not mentioned this

this whole thing by saying that in

shaping philosophy

has narrowed the context

okay talking about the word over shaping

philosophy therefore

this is an uncertain answer choice so

even though this one is slightly

more tricky than the previous one you

you can still apply

the things that we learned so the uh the

the key thing about inference based

question that take away is that

yes inference should be something that

is not explicitly stated

ah must be something that is derived

from the information given to you

that is all fine but but but

my take is don't evaluate option like

that you

simply evaluate the option which says

that something is true

so for example if i say that i've been

teaching for the last

20 years now can you infer that i'm a

teacher

i'm saying i'm i've been teaching last

20 years if you say that no no no i

can't infer it

because it's because because it is not

obvious it's a crazy it is no you can't

infer it

so i'm just saying that don't bother

about whether something is stated not

stated

you just evaluate whether something is

true or not so the same thing

the same thing that we do with respect

other type of reading comprehension

question

applies in this case as well we will see

that by actually

solving certain passages see in the next

lesson