MAKING INFERENCES

MAKING INFERENCES

To improve your reading comprehension.

What is making inference?

• Making an inference involves using what you know to make a guess about what you don't know or reading between the lines.

• Readers who make inferences use the clues in the text along with their own experiences to help them figure out what is not directly said, making the text personal and memorable.

• Helping students make texts memorable will help them gain more personal pleasure from reading, read the text more critically, and remember and apply what they have read.

Multiple Choice

Sally arrives at home at 4:30 and knows that her mother does not get off of work until 5. Sally also sees that the lights are off in their house.

Sally can infer that her mother is not yet home.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

Julia works at a pet store and owns four cats, a lizard, a dog, and a rabbit.

It can be inferred that Julia is a pet lover.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

When the phone rang and Liz picked it up, she was all smiles.

It can be inferred that she was pleased to receive the phone call.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

Nancy comes home from her date, runs to her bedroom, and slams the door.

You can infer that her date did not go well.

• TRUE

• FALLSE

Multiple Choice

When you enter a house, you see backpacks by the door, small shoes scattered near them. You see an art easel, and a room with a doll house and a toy box.

You can infer that there are children in this family.

• TRUE

• FALSE

Multiple Choice

Your friend walks past you without smiling. Her head is hanging down. She wipes a tear away from her eye, and looks at her report card.

You can infer that your friend did not have good grades on her report card.

• TRUE

• FALSE

How to infer

When we make inferences while reading, we are using the evidence that is available in the text to draw a logical conclusion.

Multiple Choice

The young woman walked a bit hesitantly towards the famous and cozy Italian restaurant. She did not believe the excuse her parents gave her for having to meet her at the restaurant instead of at their house. To make matters worse, she was a bit grumpy because she was still catching up on the sleep that she lost during exam time. She noticed some cars that looked familiar in the parking lot. As soon as she walked through the door, she heard, "Surprise!"

• People she knows are in the restaurant.

• She is probably in high school or college.

• Maybe it's a surprise party.

Multiple Choice

Alexander arrived at his grandmother's house at ten o'clock at night. He saw her car in the driveway and the front door was open. The window was lit with a blue-flickering light.

Alexander can infer that ...

• his grandmother was reading a book.

• his grandmother was watching television.

• his grandmother was sleeping

Multiple Choice

When Joseph walked into the kitchen, he saw muddy paw prints on the floor. His mother's wet coat was hanging on a chair. Below the coat he spotted his mother's rubber shoes. Joseph looked for his dog, Riley. He found Riley, who was soaking wet, lying on the couch panting.

Joseph can infer that ...

• Riley played in the yard during a rainstorm.

• Riley dragged the coat outside.

• his mother took Riley for a walk in the rain.

Multiple Choice

Bill and Jessica were almost done taking turns choosing players for their teams. It was Jessica’s turn to choose, and only Kurt was left. Jessica said, “Kurt.”

We can infer that ...

• Kurt is not a very good player.

• Jessica was pleased to have Kurt on her team.

• Kurt was the best player on either team.

Multiple Choice

The man measures the wood and uses a saw to cut it. He puts the wood in place and hammers nails into it. He continues until the entire wall is built.

What is the man's job?

• designer

• carpenter

• architect

Multiple Choice

The boy found it in the middle of the road on his way home from school. It was very tiny so he picked it up. He fed it food for several weeks. Soon, it grew and got very long.

What did the boy find?

• a cat

• a snake

• a dog

Multiple Choice

The children looked up at the twinkling lights. The background was pitch black. Although the air was a bit cool they didn’t mind. They were busy looking at shapes, designs, and even some streaking lights.

Where were the children?

• stadium

• planetarium

• laboratory

Multiple Choice

The girl sneezed. Her dad felt her forehead and took her temperature. She told him her throat hurt. He pulled the blankets over her. He told her to try to sleep while he called her teacher.

Why did he call her teacher?

• She was sick and would be absent.

• She was on her way to school.

• Her dad could take her to a hospital.

Multiple Choice

The girl showed the lady her ticket. Then she walked down the stairs and found her seat. The players ran onto the field. They got into their positions. The ball went up in the air and the game began.

Where was the girl?

• At a movie

• At a football game

• At a concert