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
telegraphs could deliver communications much more quickly than horseback riders.	\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.\

| 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 about horseback riding using direct, less popular routes, the text evidence notes riders didn't need roads, which supports using non-standard direct paths.
2. The inference about telegraphs being faster matches the text stating the Pony Express was replaced by telegraphs that relayed messages almost instantly.
3. The inference that the Pony Express wasn't the first horse-reliant mail service is supported by the text mentioning it was designed as an alternative to horse-pulled stagecoaches/covered wagons, which were earlier horse-based mail options.

Answer:

• Riding on horseback allows people to take less popular but more direct routes. → "Not only could riders travel faster than stagecoaches, they also had no need to rely on roads."
• Telegraphs could deliver communications much more quickly than horseback riders. → "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."
• The Pony Express was not the first mail delivery service that relied on horses. → "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."