Tackling Inferential Questions

Inferential Questions

What is it?

How can we tackle such questions?

What does inferring mean?

To infer means to draw a conclusion on the basis of evidence and reasoning

Inference is not...

• Stating the obvious

• Repeating what is easily seen

• Making a prediction

An inference is a conclusion you draw based on the evidence available

Requirements for Inferential Questions

• Look for clues in the text, then make certain deductions based on these clues

• Read between the lines to figure out what the writer is implying or suggesting

• Check the mark weightage of the question. This will decide the amount of detail necessary for the answer.

How do you know it is an inferential question?

• “What do you think...?”

• “What is so surprising about…?”

• “Suggest a reason why…”

• “Why might it be difficult to…?”

Steps to answer inferential questions

1. Identify key words in the question.

2. Locate/pick out clues from the passage. 

3. Read between the lines in the passage. Try to guess what the author implies or suggest based on the clues or lines detected. 

4. Write out answer.

Multiple Choice

What can you infer from this image?

• Merlion's temperature is high

• It is very sunny in Singapore

• Singapore struggles with climate change issues

Multiple Select

As a large portion of the population consists of Muslims, there are also many Halal food options in eating places here. They are suitable for Muslims and one will know that an eatery sells Halal food items by looking for a sign written in Arabic. This sign is usually displayed at the entrance of the shop.  

Why do you think the Arabic sign is displayed at the entrance of the shop?

• Because all Muslims can understand Arabic

• So that Muslims will be assured that the food sold is Halal-certified before entering the shop

• To signal that the shop sells Halal-certified food items

• Because Muslims prefer Arabic food

Open Ended

What is this cartoon trying to say?

Read the following extract carefully

Every Friday morning without fail, a dead body would be found in the same bed in this hospital. Nobody knew why, so a doctor went undercover to find out more. He observed a cleaner entering the room at 8 am for the weekly vacuum cleaning. However, this room only has one electrical plug at the corner which was used for the life support machine, next to the bed where the dead body would be found. The cleaner was all smiles and nonchalantly plugged out the cable for the life support machine so he could plug his vacuum cleaner and cheerfully greeted the doctor undercover good morning, while the doctor panicked and called the nurses in for a quick medical intervention. This left the cleaner bewildered.

Multiple Select

Why was the cleaner bewildered by the response of the undercover doctor? Select all the correct answers.

• He did not know the seriousness of his actions

• He was afraid of the response of the undercover doctor

• He did not expect such a response from the undercover doctor

• He was surprised that the undercover doctor panicked just because he started vacuuming

Multiple Select

What does the word nonchalantly mean? Select all the correct answers.

• Innocently

• Casually

• Sneakily

• Surprisingly

Multiple Choice

The cleaner believed he did not do anything wrong. The following would support this, except for one. Which one is it?

• He greeted the doctor undercover good morning

• He nonchalantly plugged out the machine

• He was all smiles

• He knew all along that he plugged out the life support machine