Read the passage and answer: When Maria opened her small bakery, she worried no one would come. But word spread about her fresh bread, and soon a line formed outside every morning. Within a year, she had to hire three additional employees. What can be inferred about Maria's bakery?

Inference requires drawing a conclusion from the clues. The details — word spreading, a line forming every morning, and needing to hire three more employees within a year — together imply the bakery became successful and popular. The passage never says 'the bakery succeeded' in those words, but growth in customers and staff clearly points to success. The other options are either contradicted (it failed) or not supported (location, only bread). Combine the positive signs to infer that the bakery thrived.