Read the passage and answer: Maria worked overtime every night that week. She had been promoted just three months earlier and felt determined to prove she deserved the role. As Friday approached, she realized she had not seen her family for more than a few minutes at breakfast all week. Her young daughter had asked twice when Mom would be home for dinner, and Maria had told her 'soon.' That night, looking at the unfinished report on her screen, Maria began to question her priorities. Which of the following can be inferred about Maria?

Inference questions ask what can be reasonably concluded from the passage without being directly stated. The passage shows: Maria works overtime, wants to prove herself in a new role, hasn't seen her family, daughter is asking about dinner, Maria is now questioning her priorities. Inference: she's experiencing tension between work and family — even though the passage never says 'tension' directly. Distractor analysis: 'Does not love her job' — opposite; she's working hard to prove herself; 'About to be fired' — no indication; 'No children' — contradicted by 'her young daughter.' Inference strategy: (1) Stay close to the text — answer must be supported; (2) Don't over-interpret or bring in outside knowledge; (3) Reasonable conclusion from given facts; (4) Eliminate options not supported. Strong inference is one any careful reader would draw; not what's possible but what's most reasonable.