Question

Mma Ramotswe had a detective agency in Africa, at the foot of Kgale Hill. These were its assets: a tiny white van, two desks, two chairs, a telephone, and an old typewriter. Then there was a teapot,in which Mma Ramotswe - the only private lady detective in Botswana - brewed redbush tea. And three mugs - one for herself, one for her secretary, and one for the client. What else does a detective agency really need? Detective agencies rely on human intuition and intelligence, both of which Mma Ramotswe had in abundance.

• A. But there was also the view, which again would appear on no inventory.
• B. No inventory would ever include those, of course.
• C. She had an intelligent secretary too.
• D. She was a good detective and a good woman.
• E. What she lacked in possessions was more than made up by a natural shrewdness.

Hint:

Always check the paragraph’s concluding sentence — it often contains the key evaluative statement that answers inference questions.

Answer 1

Answer: (E)

The paragraph ends by noting that detective agencies rely on intuition and intelligence — both of which Mma Ramotswe had in abundance. This indicates that her skills compensated for her lack of material possessions, matching the sentiment of option (5).