Table Comprehension Instructions (Read them carefully)

In this task, we will ask you to make inferences about information presented in a tabular form.

We will show you a table. Using only the table and what you believe most people know about the world, you should write:

  1. One statement that is definitely true,
  2. One statement that may or may not be true, and
  3. One statement that is definitely false.

Things to keep in mind as you write these statements. The examples below expand on these points :

  • Avoid using information that you may know, if you believe that it is not generally known.
    • Don't use names of people or places not mentioned in the table for writing your statements. Also, don't refer to outside sources of information.
  • Write sentences which would require some inference instead of literally restating information from the tables.
    • Please avoid writing trivially false statements that simply contradict information in the table, or make minor changes to numerical values in the table.
  • Your sentences should be self-contained. That is, even if the table were to be removed from the page, your sentences should make sense.
  • Try to use information from different parts of the table in crafting your sentences.
  • Don't use subjective reasoning or using your personal opinion to create the "may be true" sentences.
  • Please write grammatically correct and complete sentences.

The table below and the following examples clarify the instructions.

Thomas Edison
Born
Thomas Alva Edison

(1847-02-11)February 11, 1847
Milan, Ohio, U.S.
DiedOctober 18, 1931(1931-10-18) (aged 84)
West Orange, New Jersey, U.S.
Burial placeThomas Edison National Historical Park
NationalityAmerican
EducationSelf-educated
OccupationInventor, businessman
Years active1877–1930
Spouse(s)
  • Mary Stilwell
    (m. 1871; died 1884)
  • Mina Miller
    (m. 1886; his death 1931)
Children
  • Marion Estelle Edison
  • Thomas Alva Edison Jr.
  • William Leslie Edison
  • Madeleine Edison
  • Charles Edison
  • Theodore Miller Edison
RelativesLewis Miller (father-in-law)

 

  • Write one fact statement that is definitely true based on the information the table.
    Bad Examples Good Examples
    ✘ Avoid: Edison was married to Mina Miller.
    Reason: While this is true, it literally restates information from the table.
    ✔ Preferred: Lewis Miller is the father of Mina Miller.
    Reason:To show that this statement is true, we need to use information from different rows of the table and have an understanding of family relations.
    ✘ Avoid: Edison was an American businessman.
    Reason: While this is true, it literally restates information from the table.
    ✔ Preferred: Edison did not work for about one year before his death.
    Reason: To show that this statement is true, we need to use information from different rows of the table. The years active row and the died rows together lead to this conclusion.
    ✘ Avoid: Edison has several children.
    Reason:While this is true, it literally restates information from the table.
    ✔ Preferred: At least one child of Thomas Edison shared the first name.
    Reason: To show that this statement is true, we need to look over all children of Edision and check their first name.
  • Write one statement that may or may not be true based on the information in the table.
    Bad Examples Good Examples
    ✘ Avoid: Lewis Miller is a very good grandfather to Edison’s children.
    Reason: This statement expresses a subjective/ personal opinion. Here, the table does not commit to whether it is or is not true, but please avoid such statements that express personal opinions.
    ✔ Preferred: Madeleine Edison is the granddaughter of Lewis Miller.
    Reason: Although this may be true, there is no information in the table to prove this claim. We need to use information from different rows of the table. Madeleine Edison may be the daughter of Mary Stilwell, hence not making her Lewis Miller’s granddaughter.
    ✘ Avoid: Edison’s son went to Harvard.
    Reason: While this may or may not be true, this claimit usesd the name of a place not mentioned in the table. While this may or may not be true, this claim uses the name of a place not mentioned in the table.
    ✔ Preferred: One child of Thomas Edison was self-educated.
    Reason: Although this may be true, there is no information in the table to prove this claim.
    ✘ Avoid: Edison was unfaithful to his wives.
    Reason: This statement expresses a subjective/ personal opinion. Here, the table does not commit to whether it is or is not true, but please avoid such statements that express personal opinions.
    ✔ Preferred: Mina Miller has at least two children more than Mary Stilwell with Edison.
    Reason: Although this may be true, there is no information in the table to prove this claim. We need to use information from different rows of the table.

  • Write one statement that is definitely false based on the information in the table. This is different from the "maybe correct" category above because this statement is definitely false.
  • Bad Examples Good Examples
    ✘ Avoid: Edison was born in January and was self-educated.
    Reason: While this is false, it literally contradicts the information from the table despite including information from multiple rows.
    ✔ Preferred: Thomas Edison graduated from an American University.
    Reason: To show that this statement is false, we need to use information from different rows of the table. We know that Edison was self-educated and hence didn’t attend university..
    ✘ Avoid: Edison was married before 1871.
    Reason: While this is false, it literally contradicts the information from the table.
    ✔ Preferred: Edison was married to two women at the same time.
    Reason: To show that this statement is false, we need to understand the timeline implied in the Spouse(s) row.
    ✘ Avoid: Edison is still alive.
    Reason: While this is false, it literally contradicts the information from the table.
    ✔ Preferred: Edison is not commemorated with any historical site.
    Reason: To show that this statement is false, we need to have an understanding that his burial place is a historical site.


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