Making Inferences

Making Inferences

Let's improve your reading skills

Making inferences

Making inferences is a comprehension strategy.

Readers need to “read between the lines,” make connections, and draw conclusions about the text’s meaning and purpose.

Making inferences

Making inferences is a comprehension strategy.

Readers need to “read between the lines,” make connections, and draw conclusions about the text’s meaning and purpose.

Making Inferences as You Read

To make inferences from reading, you need to take two or more details from the reading for you to draw a conclusion.

Remember, making an inference is not making a wild guess.

It is making a smart or a logical guess based on the hints/clues presented in the text and also based on your background knowledge.

Why should we make inferences?

Because the information is not explicitly stated in the text or passage. 

Let's look at an example

I want you to read the statements closely

'Jake almost wished that he hadn’t listened to the radio. He went to the closet and grabbed his umbrella even though he would feel silly carrying it to the bus stop on such a sunny morning.'

Now, what can you infer from this description?

Inference: Jake heard from the radio that it was going to rain later in the day but that was hard to believe on a very sunny morning.

source: https://www.thoughtco.com/inference-practice-questions-3211719

Poll

Now let me see, how many of you have thought of these ideas?

• Jake got news from the radio

• it was going to rain

• a real man does not carry an umbrella. It makes him look silly

• Jake listened to the radio and now he is late

Let's look at the clues

'Jake almost wished that he hadn’t listened to the radio. He went to the closet and grabbed his umbrella even though he would feel silly carrying it to the bus stop on such a sunny morning.'

Inference: Jake heard from the radio that it was going to rain later in the day but that was hard to believe on a very sunny morning.

source: https://www.thoughtco.com/inference-practice-questions-3211719

Practice 2. Now let's try another one

Read closely

Q: What relationship do John and Anastasia have?

Anastasia sat by the fountain in the park with her head in her palms. She was weeping and wearing all black. In between gasps and sobs, Anastasia cried out a name: "Oh.. John.." And then her cell phone beeped. Her hand ran into her purse and her heart fluttered. The text message was from John. She opened up the message and read the few bare words, "I need to get my jacket back from you." Anastasia threw her head into her arms and continued sobbing.

source: https://www.ereadingworksheets.com/worksheets/reading/inferences/inferences-worksheet-02/

Multiple Choice

Q1: What relationship do John and Anastasia have?

• Casual friends

• Girlfriend and boyfriend

• Classmates

• Siblings

Multiple Choice

Q2: Why is Anastasia sad?

• John did not turn up for their date

• John wanted to take his jacket back

• John did not call her

• They were breaking up

Q1: What relationship do John and Anastasia have?

Answer: Girlfriend and boyfriend

Let's look at the clues

Anastasia sat by the fountain in the park with her head in her palms. She was weeping and wearing all black. In between gasps and sobs, Anastasia cried out a name: "Oh.. John.." And then her cell phone beeped. Her hand ran into her purse and her heart fluttered. The text message was from John. She opened up the message and read the few bare words, "I need to get my jacket back from you." Anastasia threw her head into her arms and continued sobbing.

Q2: Why is Anastasia sad?

Answer: They were breaking up

Let's look at the clues

Anastasia sat by the fountain in the park with her head in her palms. She was weeping and wearing all black. In between gasps and sobs, Anastasia cried out a name: "Oh.. John.." And then her cell phone beeped. Her hand ran into her purse and her heart fluttered. The text message was from John. She opened up the message and read the few bare words, "I need to get my jacket back from you." Anastasia threw her head into her arms and continued sobbing.

Practice 3: Read the paragraph closely

'Don't believe him? Consider when you go to a restaurant for a meal. Olson says you are twice as likely to choose from the first very top or very bottom of the menu - because those areas first attract your eye. "But if someone asks you why did you choose salmon, you'll say you are hungry for salmon," says Olson. "You won't say it was one of the first things I looked at on the menu." In other words, we confabulate to explain our choice, despite the fact it had already been primed by the restaurant.'

Source: Reading paper, MUET March 2016

Multiple Choice

Q: According to the writer, when someone places an order at a restaurant, the decision

• A was randomly made

• B was guided by attractive visuals

• C was influenced by the restaurant

• D was based on personal preference

Q: According to the writer, when someone places an order at a restaurant, the decision

Answer: C was influenced by the restaurant

Let's look at the clues

Don't believe him? Consider when you go to a restaurant for a meal. Olson says you are twice as likely to choose from the first very top or very bottom of the menu - because those areas first attract your eye. "But if someone asks you why did you choose salmon, you'll say you are hungry for salmon," says Olson. "You won't say it was one of the first things I looked at on the menu." In other words, we confabulate to explain our choice, despite the fact it had already been primed by the restaurant.

Let's recap

What does making an inference mean?

Poll

Do you understand better now what making inferences means?

• Yes

• No

• I m not sure

There will be more practices for you

I'll share the link via telegram group later