Describe, Identify, Explain & Infer

If you are asked to describe something, you must ____________ .

• compare and contrast
• draw a conclusion
• give details about it
• analyze evidence

When you infer, you always_________.

• draw a conclusion based on facts
• justify your stance
• identify the main idea
• create a summary

If a test question asks you to explain why the author included paragraph 3 in the passage, they want you to_________ ?

• list the details in paragraph 3
• include important and relevant details that support your reasons
• find or recognize whatever the question is asking for
• make an educated guess

Question: It's your birthday and your mom won't let you come home till 6 p.m. Your friends have been whispering and smiling a lot lately. What can you ____________?  

Answer: My mom and friends are likely throwing me a surprise party.

• explain
• describe
• identify
• infer

Question: ___________ why many people believe that the results of World War I led to World War II. 

Answer: Some historians argue that the Treaty of Versailles was too harsh on Germany that helped Hitler to rise to power. 

• explain
• describe
• identify
• infer

Question: ______________ the grammatical error in this sentence: 
Dolphins are beautiful, they are my favorite animal. 

Answer: There should not be a comma between the two clauses. Instead, there should be a period or semicolon.

• explain
• describe 
• identify
• infer

Question: __________ Huck Finn's personality. 

Answer: Huck is smart. For example, to escape his violent father, he faked his own death in a clever scheme. His relationship with Jim also shows that he is caring.

• explain
• describe
• identify
• infer

If you were asked to describe the clothing of the person sitting next to you. You might say that his shirt is ___________ .

• short sleeved with blue and yellow stripes
• his tiger shirt because today is a pep rally day
• the shirt that he thought he lost last week
• covered up by his jacked because he probably spilled something on it

Identify the funniest show on television today.

• I love pink unicorns like the one on the show we watched last night.
• Family Guy is the funniest show on TV today.
• I don't watch TV because I have to too much work to do in the afternoons.
• I think we like TV so much because it allows us to escape real life.