Inference Based Questions - 3 | English for CLAT PDF Download

Directions: Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
There was a pile of bills of lading waiting on my desk, and I had to go through them all. Before leaving for lunch I washed my hands. I always enjoyed doing this at midday. In the evening it was less pleasant, as the roller towel, after being used by so many people, was sopping wet. I once brought this to my employer’s notice. It was regrettable, he agreed—but, to his mind, a mere detail. I left the office building a little later than usual, at half-past twelve, with Emmanuel, who works in the Forwarding Department.
Our building overlooks the sea, and we paused for a moment on the steps to look at the shipping in the. harbor. The sun was scorching hot. Just then a big truck came up, with a din of chains and backfires from the engine, and Emmanuel suggested we should try to jump it. I started to run. The truck was well away, and we had to chase it for quite a distance. What with the heat and the noise from the engine, I felt half dazed.
All I was conscious of was our mad rush along the water front, amongst cranes and winches, with dark hulls of ships alongside and masts swaying in the offing. I was the first to catch up with the truck. I took a flying jump, landed safely, and helped Emmanuel to scramble in beside me. We were both of us out of breath, and the bumps of the truck on the roughly laid cobbles made things worse. Emmanuel chuckled, and panted in my ear, “We’ve made it!” By the time we reached Céleste’s restaurant we were dripping with sweat. Céleste was at his usual place beside the entrance, with his apron bulging on his paunch, his white mustache well to the fore.
When he saw me he was sympathetic and “hoped I wasn’t feeling too badly.” I said, “No,” but I was extremely hungry. I ate very quickly and had some coffee to finish up. Then I went to my place and took a short nap, as I’d drunk a glass of wine too many. When I woke I smoked a cigarette before getting off my bed. I was a bit late and had to run for the streetcar.
The office was stifling, and I was kept hard at it all the afternoon. So it came as a relief when we closed down and I was strolling slowly along the wharves in the coolness. The sky was green, and it was pleasant to be out of-doors after the stuffy office. However, I went straight home, as I had to put some potatoes on to boil. The hall was dark and, when I was starting up the stairs, I almost bumped into old Salamano, who lived on the same floor as I. As usual, he had his dog with him. For eight years the two had been inseparable.
Q1: What can be inferred about the narrator's workplace environment?
(a) It is well-maintained and comfortable.
(b) It lacks basic sanitary facilities.
(c) It is often crowded and chaotic.
(d) It is located in a busy industrial area.
Ans: (c)
Sol: The reference to the sopping wet roller towel, which has been used by many, implies a crowded workplace. Furthermore, the chaotic rush to catch a truck and the noisy, bustling environment with cranes and ships allude to a hectic and disorderly setting.

Q2: What does the action of the narrator and Emmanuel chasing the truck suggest about their characters?
(a) They are adventurous and spontaneous.
(b) They are fitness enthusiasts.
(c) They are late for an important meeting.
(d) They are trying to escape from someone.
Ans: (a)
Sol: The impromptu decision to chase and jump onto a moving truck demonstrates a sense of adventure and spontaneity. It reflects their willingness to engage in unexpected and thrilling activities, despite the practical challenges.

Q3: The interaction with Céleste at the restaurant primarily indicates what about the narrator?
(a) He is a regular and well-known customer.
(b) He is unfamiliar with the place.
(c) He prefers a solitary dining experience.
(d) He is a critic of the culinary arts.
Ans: (a)
Sol: Céleste’s sympathetic and familiar approach towards the narrator, coupled with his specific concern for the narrator's well-being, implies that the narrator is a regular and recognized customer at the restaurant.

Q4: What can be deduced about the narrator's lifestyle from his after-work routine?
(a) He leads a socially active and busy life.
(b) He prefers a quiet and solitary existence.
(c) He is dedicated to physical fitness.
(d) He is an enthusiast of the arts.
Ans: (b)
Sol: The narrator’s choice to go straight home to cook and the fact that he spends his evening alone, smoking a cigarette and taking a nap, indicates a preference for a quiet, solitary lifestyle rather than a socially active one.

Q5: What does the narrator's interaction with Salamano and his dog reveal about the neighborhood?
(a) It is a friendly community with close relationships.
(b) It is characterized by transient and superficial connections.
(c) There is a sense of longstanding familiarity among residents.
(d) It is a place where pets are not welcomed.
Ans: (c)
Sol: The mention of Salamano and his dog being inseparable for eight years and the narrator's almost bumping into them suggests a sense of long-term familiarity and stability in the neighborhood. This implies that residents, including the narrator, are accustomed to each other's presence and habits.