Read: 'The community garden transformed the vacant lot on the corner of Fifth and Market. What had been a gathering point for litter now drew families on weekends. Property crime in the three-block radius dropped 18% in the first year. The neighborhood association received its first new member applications in four years.' What can be INFERRED from this passage?

INFERENCE questions require drawing a reasonable conclusion supported by the passage. The passage provides specific evidence: litter area → family gathering place (physical improvement); 18% crime reduction (safety improvement); new association members (community engagement improvement). The INFERENCE is that the garden improved both safety AND community engagement — this is directly supported by the two distinct sets of evidence (crime stats + association membership). Option A (expensive maintenance) — not mentioned at all; inference not supported. Option C (primary cause of all crime) — far too strong; the passage mentions three blocks and one lot, not 'all crime in the city.' Option D (gardens always reduce crime) — the passage describes one instance; inferring a universal rule from one example is logically unsound and goes beyond the evidence. Good inferences are BOUNDED by what the passage actually supports — strong enough to conclude but not so strong they exceed the evidence.