English Test: Inference from a Library Notice
The following notice appears on the door of a public library in a small town. 'From Monday 3 June, the library will no longer accept cash for fines. Borrowers must pay by mobile money or at the municipal office. This change follows an internal audit that found N$12,400 in cash receipts could not be matched to borrowing records. The library regrets any inconvenience. Borrowers with outstanding fines are encouraged to settle before 30 June; after that date, borrowing privileges will be suspended. The librarian thanks the Friends of the Library for donating 200 books last month. The reading room will remain open during the change.' A borrower says: 'They are accusing us of stealing because a few people handled cash badly. And why mention donated books? It makes no sense.'
1. What can the borrower reasonably infer from the notice about the reason for the change? What can she not reasonably infer?
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She can infer that the library has a cash-control problem: N$12,400 in receipts could not be matched to records. She can also infer that the library wants to reduce cash handling and is giving borrowers until 30 June to settle. She cannot reasonably infer that borrowers are being accused of stealing. The notice says the audit found unmatched receipts, not that borrowers failed to pay; the problem could be recording, reconciliation, or staff handling. The phrase 'a few people handled cash badly' is her interpretation, not the notice's claim. The notice's purpose is procedural, and it does not name or blame borrowers.
2. The borrower says the mention of donated books 'makes no sense'. Is the sentence irrelevant, or does it perform a function? Explain.
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It is not relevant to the fine policy, but it performs a public-relations function. The notice contains two unwelcome messages: no cash and possible suspension. Closing with the donation reminds readers of the library's community support and ends on a positive note. It may soften the notice and maintain goodwill with users and donors. However, the placement is awkward: a reader looking for information about fines may see the donation as a non sequitur. A clearer structure would separate the policy change from general library news, for example under a heading 'Library news'. The sentence is not illogical, but its position makes it feel like a distraction.
3. Rewrite the first two sentences so that the notice states the rule, the reason, and the date in a neutral tone. Then explain one change you made.
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Possible rewrite: 'From Monday 3 June, the library will accept fine payments only by mobile money or at the municipal office; cash will no longer be accepted. The change follows an internal audit that found N$12,400 in cash receipts could not be matched to borrowing records.' The rewrite puts the rule first and the reason second, so a reader knows what to do before reading why. It replaces 'must pay' with 'will accept ... only', which describes the procedure rather than addressing the borrower as an offender. It keeps the audit figure because it is the concrete reason, but it does not add blame. The date remains at the start of the sentence, where it is easy to find.