Reading STAAR Prep - Inference

Making Inference in Literary Texts

STAAR Prep

Inferences

When you read a story, you might ask yourself questions such as, "Why did she do that?" Readers must often make educated guesses, or inferences, to understand literary texts.

STAAR Strategy

On the test, you will see items that ask you to make inferences about literary passages. Here are the steps you can follow to respond to items like this.

Steps:

• #1: Read the passage and question.

• #2: Read each answer choice.

• #3: Re-read the passage, underlining relevant details.

• #4: Evaluate the evidence you have underlined.

• #5: Cross out answer choices that are not supported by any evidence.

• #6: Choose the answer that is fully supported by the evidence.

Read the following:

1 "I don't know what we're goin' to do," said Aunt Maria Crooker. She sat in a large arm-chair and held in her lap a bowl of sugar and butter that she was creaming. Aunt Maria filled up the chair from arm to arm, for she was very portly; she had a large, rosy, handsome face and she creamed with such energy that she panted for breath.

2 "Well, I don't know, either," rejoined her sister, Mrs. Lennox. "I can't go to the store with my lame foot, that's certain."

3 "Well, I know I can't," said Aunt Maria, with additional emphasis. "I haven't walked two mile for ten year, an' I don't believe I could get to that store and back to save my life."

Read the following question and answers:

From the passage, the reader can infer that --

a. neither sister will go to the store

b. the sisters will decide to make the cake without raisins

c. Mrs. Lennox is worried about her sister's health

d. Mrs. Lennox thinks Aunt Maria should go to the store

Multiple Select

Which of the following are supported with evidence?

• neither sister will go to the store

• the sisters will decide to make the cake without raisins

• Mrs. Lennox is worried about her sister's health

• Mrs. Lennox thinks Aunt Maria should go to the store

Read the text titled "from The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate"

Annotate for: figurative language in paragraph 4 and theme throughout

Multiple Choice

The details in paragraph 1 help the reader infer that --

• Calpurnia is an avid reader ad writer of letters

• the editor of the newspaper is ignorant

• the editor of the newspaper does not read letters from the readers

• Calpurnia thinks logically and acts on her observations

Reason

You can infer that Calpurnia thinks logically. She reasons that knowing the temperature in the shade would be useful to the newspaper's readers. The text also shows that she acts on her observations when she writes to the author.

Multiple Choice

In paragraph 2, the author helps the reader understand that most children in Fentress do not have many possession mainly by --

• stating that the silk ribbon used to make the medallion was very valuable.

• describing the medallion as a very desirable prize

• stressing that many kids were very lonely

• describing the sudden increase in insect activity

Reason

Calpurnia describes the prize as "elegant" and "much-coveted" despite it being made from scraps.

Multiple Choice

The author uses figurative language in paragraph 3 to show that the family feels --

• terrified

• annoyed

• attacked

• puzzled

Reason

The ants are compared to an army. The family feels that they must "[take] up arms" against their attack.

Multiple Choice

Calpurnia decides not to tell Viola to leave the ants alone because Calpurnia --

• feels sorry for them

• knows Viola hates them

• wants to study them

• finds them in her food

Reason

Calpurnia states that she thought about asking Viola to leave the ants alone but "reconsidered" after finding them in the egg salad.

Multiple Choice

In paragraph 8, the word chivvied means --

• bothered

• punished

• carried

• discouraged

Open Ended

What is one context clue from the text to support the answer?

Reason

The words "with sticks" and "out of boredom" indicate that the boys are bothering the dogs.

Multiple Choice

Which of these is a theme expressed in this selection?

• Animals should be treated with respect and kindness

• Living through difficult conditions builds strong character.

• Nature is remarkable to those who take time to observe it.

• People often treat girls less fairly than they treat boys.

Reason

Calpurnia is rewarded with interesting sights and experiences as she takes more care in observing the world around her.