Making Inferences

Spiders belong to a group of animals called arachnids. They come in all shapes, sizes and colors. All spiders have eight legs, but they have different numbers of eyes--two, four, six or eight. And even though no spiders have wings, all of them have fangs.

From this paragraph, you can infer that-

• Spiders are dangerous

• Spiders are not insects

• Spiders use their legs to catch food.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.1

Wolves live in family groups called packs. They have thick fur to help them live in any type of climate. Wolves usually give birth to four to seven live pups in a litter. Female wolves nurse their young until they're old enough to eat solid food. The whole pack helps in raising the pups.

From this paragraph, you can infer that:

• Wolves are hunters

• Wolves only live in cold climates

• Wolves are mammals

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.1

CCSS.RI.4.2

In the Middle Ages, you could blame someone in your town for committing a crime. The "criminal" could then challenge you to prove his guilt or innocence. If you lost the fight, you were charged as a liar and the "criminal" was believed to be innocent. If you won, the "criminal" was believed to be guilty.

From this paragraph, you can infer that:

• Crime laws were unfair in the Middle Ages

• Fighting is a good way to decide guilt or innocence

• Most people lied about crime.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.1

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.1

In training to be a knight a boy was expected to study hard and learn good manners. He was taught to play musical instruments, sing and recite poetry. He also studied reading, writing, geometry and strategy games. Another knight would then teach the boy to shoot a bow and arrow, fight with a sword and ride a horse.

From this paragraph, you can infer that:

• All boys wanted to become knights

• Knights had a well-rounded educaiton

• Knights were loyal to the king

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.1

CCSS.RL.4.2

Leonardo da Vinci was born in Italy in 1452. Besides being a great artist, he is well-known for his many inventions. He kept notes on all of his ideas. Among his notes were designs for a parachute, a diving suit and a flying machine similar to today's helicopter.

From this paragraph, you can infer that-

• Da Vinci was a man ahead of his time.

• Da Vinci was a better artist than he was an inventor

• Da Vinci painted the "Mona Lisa"

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.1

CCSS.RI.4.2

Millions of acres of tropical rain forest have been destroyed. Many animals and people lose their homes when the rain forest is cut down. Today, people are destroying the forests so quickly that the animals are unable to adapt. Many of these animals, such as the leopard, need miles and miles of untouched rain forest in order to live.

From this paragraph you can infer that:

• The destructions of rain forests is hurting animals that live there

• The rain forest is being destroyed by animals

• The destruction of rain forests is slowing down

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.1

CCSS.RI.4.2

In 1620, the Pilgrims set sail on the Mayflower for the long, perilous journey to America. Many passengers feared for their lives during the powerful thunderstorms. They only had enough food for a few short months. What would happen to them if they were blow off course? It was a time of great concern for everyone on board.

From this paragraph, you can infer that:

• The word perilous means "joyful"

• The word perilous means "simple"

• The word perilous means "dangerous"

Tags

CCSS.L.4.4A

CCSS.RL.4.1

CCSS.RL.4.4

William Shakespeare was a very prolific writer. By the time of his death at 52 years of age, he had written an amazing number of plays and poems--37 plays, 154 sonnets and two long, narrative poems. No other writer of his time produced as many high-quality works as Shakespeare.

From this paragraph, you can infer that:

• The word prolific means "old"

• The word prolific means "productive"

• The word prolific means "smart"

Tags

CCSS.L.4.4A

CCSS.RI.4.4

CCSS.RL.4.4

In the England of Shakespeare's time, going to the theater was a popluar activity. To let people know what kind of play was being performed, the theater raised a colored flag. A black flag meant tragedy, a white flag meant comedy and a red flag meant history. People passing by the theater on Saturday afternoons always heard lots of laughter.

From this paragraph, you can infer that:

• The flag flown on Saturdays was red

• The flag flown on Saturdays was black

• The flag flown on Saturdays was white.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.1

Jackie Robinson did something nobody had ever done before. He was the first African-American to play on a Major League Baseball team--the Brooklyn Dodgers. Robinson had to deal with racism all over the country. But, whenever things got difficult, his courage and determination kept him going.

From this paragraph, you can infer that-

• Jackie Robinson is a great figure in history

• Jackie Robinson played many different sports

• Jackie Robinson is in the Baseball Hall of Fame

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.1

CCSS.RI.4.2