Question

impressive though it was, the pony express lasted for only 18 months. it was soon replaced by new telegraph systems that could relay messages almost instantly.
match each inference to the text evidence that best supports it.
inference | text evidence
--- | ---
riding on horseback allows people to take less popular but more direct routes. | \impressive though it was, the pony express lasted for only 18 months. it was soon replaced by new telegraph systems that could relay messages almost instantly.\
telegraphs could deliver communications much more quickly than horseback riders. | \to meet this need, russell, majors, and waddell designed the pony express, a mail delivery service that relied on mounted riders rather than stagecoaches, covered wagons pulled by horses.\
the pony express was not the first mail delivery service that relied on horses. |
ot only could riders travel faster than stagecoaches, they also had no need to rely on roads.\

Explanation:

1. For the inference "Riding on horseback allows people to take less popular but more direct routes", the text evidence "Not only could riders travel faster than stagecoaches, they also had no need to rely on roads" supports it. Since not relying on roads implies they can take routes not dependent on established (popular) roads, i.e., less popular but more direct.
2. For the inference "Telegraphs could deliver communications much more quickly than horseback riders", the text evidence "Impressive though it was, the Pony Express lasted for only 18 months. It was soon replaced by new telegraph systems that could relay messages almost instantly" supports it. The telegraphs relaying messages instantly (compared to Pony Express which took time) shows telegraphs are faster.
3. For the inference "The Pony Express was not the first mail delivery service that relied on horses", the text evidence "To meet this need, Russell, Majors, and Waddell designed the Pony Express, a mail delivery service that relied on mounted riders rather than stagecoaches, covered wagons pulled by horses" supports it. The fact that it was designed as an alternative to other horse - based (stagecoaches, covered wagons pulled by horses) services implies it's not the first horse - based mail service.

Answer:

• Inference: Riding on horseback allows people to take less popular but more direct routes; Text Evidence: "Not only could riders travel faster than stagecoaches, they also had no need to rely on roads."
• Inference: Telegraphs could deliver communications much more quickly than horseback riders; Text Evidence: "Impressive though it was, the Pony Express lasted for only 18 months. It was soon replaced by new telegraph systems that could relay messages almost instantly."
• Inference: The Pony Express was not the first mail delivery service that relied on horses; Text Evidence: "To meet this need, Russell, Majors, and Waddell designed the Pony Express, a mail delivery service that relied on mounted riders rather than stagecoaches, covered wagons pulled by horses."