CR-The line between evidence and inferring?

<p>In some practice tests, I sometimes think the pure evidence route in that if a word pops up that was not remotely mentioned in the passage(or the general idea, not the specific word), I disregard it. I see a lot of answer choices that had ideas that weren't mentioned in the passage become the answers. </p>

<p>I know that sometimes you have to infer and think of new ideas, but sometimes it just becomes ridiculous in the case that the answer explanation will say that : there is no evidence or mention of this, or that this is clearly referring to this idea. Usually I like reading these passages, but sometimes these questions CAN go both ways in some sense. </p>

<p>Here's just a small example: a passage about gardens</p>

<p>"she tore down the conventional garden wall, or made it spacious enough to take in the whole of America"</p>

<p>The answer was focusing on the vast American landscape rather than on individual gardens. The way I looked at it, people may have opinions of the landscape of America, and the landscape of America was not mentioned in the passage. I chose the answer that called for more enthusiasm with gardening because going from a confined secluded garden into a public garden for all to see and to communicate with other people(neighbors, this passage talked about taking away fences)is very optimistic.</p>

<p>I remember the question and passage you are talking about. I also had the choices down to D and E, I think those were the two choices, the one with enthusiasm and the right answer. By the way.... I think the word was 'capacious' not 'spacious'. Anyway, basically what the author is saying is that forget about a garden that is enclosed, but think about the whole vast area of america. No where in there is she implying enthusiasm... she's not like " O M G U HAVE TO GARDEN IT SO COOL!" or something like that. Just because of the word 'enthusiasm', i think, the answer is wrong. Anyway, she mentions America which is in the other answer choice and if you think about it, it makes sense.</p>

<p>Uh, you have to consider the passage as a whole first then the paragraph's MI and finally get the essence of the excerpt. Clearly, the essence of the above quote is that vastness is better than "conventional" limitation.</p>