STAAR Inferences

MAKING INFERENCES

When you combine your own experience and information from a text or picture to draw a conclustion that is NOT DIRECTLY STATED in the text, you are making an INFERENCE.

Why are we asked to make inferences?

• Authors do not always state the information directly

• They give clues and expect the readers to figure out what is implied

• They want the readers to use details and form a conclusion

What does inference look like in the STAAR test?

• Which line demonstrates ...

• Why does the author conclude by ...

• In this paragraph the author uses a simile to show...

• What can you conclude from paragraph 5....

• These are just a few question styles.

Multiple Choice

What is the first step readers must take to draw an inference?

• Put the pieces together in a logical way to produce a reasonable conclusion

• Think about what they already know from their own experience in the real world

• Look for clues in the text

Multiple Choice

When making an inference, the most important thing is...

• What you know about the topic
• The topic of the text
• The characters in the text
• Being able to prove your inference using evidence from the text.

Multiple Choice

Tiffany held her breath as her teacher returned the math test the class had taken last week.  Tiffany had not studied very hard or long for the test, and she was worried about her grade.  Her teacher handed Tiffany her test.  Tiffany groaned and put her head down on her desk.
It is likely that:

• Tiffany earned a bad grade on the test
• Tiffany received a good grade on the test
• Tiffany is tired
• Tiffany is angry at her teacher

Multiple Choice

What happened?

• He tripped over his shoe string.
• He was rushing and stumped his toe on the door stopper. 
• His arms were too full.
• He slipped on the wet floor.

Multiple Choice

I arrived early for my appointment. The place was busy and smelled of chemicals. I found a place to sit and wait. The lady next to me had a towel around her head. I heard a blow dryer in the distance. It was loud over the music that was playing. Where am I?

• The hair salon
• A restaurant
• At school
• At the doctor

Multiple Choice

Braedon sat in the empty classroom and stared at the floor. It was 4:30pm and school had been over for half an hour, but he still had to sit there. He could over hear his teacher talking to the principal in the hallway about what had happened during class. He put his head in his hands and sighed.
What may the reader best infer from the passage?

• The principal and the teacher are making fun of Braedon.
• Braedon is in detention because he had acted out in class.
• The teacher is getting paid extra to oversee detention.
• Braedon is proud of his poor behavior.

Multiple Choice

I have feathers. I also have wings but I don't fly. I love to swim in icy water. Who am I?

• Ostrich

• Derek

• Chicken

• Penguin

Multiple Choice

I am an insect. If you touch me, I might bite you! I make tunnels under the ground. I love to come to your picnic.

Who am I?

• Grasshopper

• Ant

• Caterpillar

Multiple Choice

Choose the picture that best supports the following text:

My legs trembled as I sat down in the small seat. The bars came over my shoulders, and I grasped them. As soon as I began moving, my eyes gew wide and I let out a scream.

Multiple Choice

In your daily life, you can make inferences about people by observing their behavior.

• true
• false

Multiple Choice

Tim looked out the window. The house looked so lonely. Tim's father put the last suitcase in the trunk and started up the car. Thor, his dog, put his head on Tim's lap, like he understood how  Tim was feeling. "It's okay Thor," he said, "Dad says we will like California." What is happening?

• Tim is sad because his dog doesn't have a house to live in.
• Tim is taking a trip to visit peolpe he doesn't know.
• Tim is taking Thor to live with his grandmother.
• Tim is moving to California with his family.

Multiple Choice

As I walked in the door, I was amazed at the beautiful colors and smells. I knew it would be hard to decide what I would buy with my $3. The chocolate truffles looked delicious, but they were expensive. The jelly beans were not only cheaper, but so colorful! With so much to choose from, I knew I would be here a long time. Where am I?

• Gas station
• Candy store
• Grocery store
• Shoe store

Multiple Choice

Which sentence from the selection supports that the computer was not working properly?

• Rita took three hours to finish her homework.
• Ritaʼs homework was not finished.
• Rita had to write out her story instead of typing it.
• Ritaʼs homework was not done correctly.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence suggests that Joanna rode her bike to school?

• Joannaʼs hair was a little messy when she got to school.
• Joanna crossed three streets on her way to school.
• Joanna went four blocks on her way to school.
• Joanna had to put her helmet inside the classroom closet.

Multiple Choice

Which sentence supports that Jack is feeling sleepy?

• Jack went to bed late because he was at a birthday party.
• Jackʼs eyes were droopy and his eyelids felt really heavy.
• Jack put his head down on the desk.
• Jack was not paying attention to the lesson.