Inferences Non Fiction

It isn't pretty to look at, but bird poop plays an important role in plant growth. Birds that eat berries end up pooping out berry seeds, which helps the plant grow somewhere far from its parent plant. It is important that these seeds be dropped far away from their parent plant. If several seeds fall next to an existing plant, they have less chance of growing because they have to share space with the adult plant. The adult plant often shades the seedling from the sun, which means the small plant may not get enough sunlight. Birds help prevent this problem by dropping seeds far away from the parent plant.

What is the main idea of this text?

• An adult plant may prevent a young plant from getting enough sunlight.

• Birds help begin new life for plants by eating and pooping seeds.

• Too many seeds dropped in one area may not grow healthy plants.

• Bird poop is not pleasant to look at.

It isn't surprising to see people chewing gum, but what might be surprising is that people have been chewing gum since ancient times. Scientists have found birch bark with teeth marks in it that has led them to believe that people were chewing gum 5, 000 years ago. The ingredients in gum , however have undergone many changes. In the 1800's a popular material named Chicle was used to make gum. Modern gums are made with different materials including wax and rubbers.

What is the main idea?

• People like to chew gum more now than they used to.

• Scientists have concluded that people have been chewing gum since ancient times.

• While people have enjoyed chewing gum for a long time, the materials used to make gum have undergone changes

• Chicle was used to make gum in the 1800's.

Julia Butterfly Hill climbed a giant Redwood tree on December 10, 1997. She stayed in the tree which was located in Northern California for two years. Many people helped her by bringing her food and supplies. She did not come down until the logging company promised to never cut the tree down.

What is the main idea of the text?

• The logging company did not cut the tree down.

• Julia Butterfly Hill lived in a giant tree for two years to keep it from being cut down

• The tree was located in Northern California

• Many people helped her by bringing her food and supplies.

Some types of roller coasters use magnets to make them stop. Strong magnets are put into both the coaster and the end of the track it is on. As the coaster approaches the end of the track, the attracting forces of magnets bring it to a gentle stop. Not all coasters use magnets, though. The fastest coaster named Formula Rossa reaches speeds of 149 mph but does not use magnets to stop it.

What is the main idea of this text?

• Roller coasters can be fun

• Roller coasters stop at the end of the track

• Some coasters use magnets as a way to make them stop.

• The fastest coaster can reach speeds of 149 mph.

After traveling for more than eight months through space, Curiosity, the NASA Land Rover, landed on planet Mars on August 5, 2012. Curiosity has six wheels and seventeen cameras, as well as other research equipment. Its mission is to explore the planet and send the information it gathers back to Earth.

What is the best summary of the passage above?

• Mars is the smallest planet in the solar system.

• NASA's Land Rover named Curiousity landed on Mars to gather information.

• Curiosity, the Land Rover cost 3 million dollars to build.

• It has six wheels and seventeen cameras to take pictures.

The ice cream cone was invented in 1904. It all started at the St. Louis World Fair when an ice cream vendor ran out of dishes for his ice cream. A man named Ernest Hamwi was selling waffles in the booth next door. He helped his neighbor out by making cone shaped waffles to hold the ice cream. The rest, they say is history!

What is the summary for this text?

• The World's Fair was held in St. Louis every year.

• The ice cream cone was invented in 1904

• Ice cream is a delicious treat

• They ran out of ice cream at the World Fair.

Stars are in the sky. Long ago, people used the stars to know how to get to different places. They did not have clocks like we do today. Sailors used the stars to know where to sail. People used to places that stars are at in the sky to help them know when to plant seeds.

What can you infer from the passage?

• Stars were too big in the sky

• Stars were better long ago

• Stars were very important to people.

Tags

CCSS.RI.4.1

CCSS.RI.4.2

CCSS.RL.4.1

CCSS.RL.4.2

Soil can be put into different groups based on the characteristics of each type. Soils are categorized based on the size of their particles. Particle size affects how much water a soil can hold. Loam is soil that has mostly sand and silt which allows water to filter quickly. It contains a smaller amount of clay which holds water. Loam is often thought of as the best type of soil for growing crops.

What can you infer about Loam soil from the text?

• It contains more particles than silt soil.

• It enables enough water to reach the roots.

• It can break down minerals.

• This type of soil does not help plants grow.

"You've never had Hot Fries? They are the best!" Red powder covered Isaiah's fingers as he popped yet another chip into his mouth. "Come on, you have to try them" Todd made sure he had plenty of water nearby. Unlike Isaiah, Todd rarely ate spicy food, but decided to give them a try. He popped one chip into his mouth. "Whoa! It burns!" Todd began to guzzle his glass of water. He decided spicy food was not for him.

Which sentence from the passage helped you infer that Todd did not enjoy the spicy food?

• He popped the chip into his mouth.

• Todd began to guzzle his glass of water.

• Todd decided to give the chips a try.

• Isaiah's fingers were covered in red powder.

Tags

CCSS.RL.4.1

Earth's surface is always changing. Changes happen on earth all of the time, and they occur in the ocean and on land. Wind crumbles rocks and soil. Tectonic plates are pushed together and collide, causing volcanoes to form. Hot magma rises and pulls the plates apart causing volcanoes to erupt. Both of these things change the way earth looks. Lava forms islands in the ocean.

Based on the text, what can you infer?

• Volcanoes are powerful.

• Changes only happen on earth’s surface.

• Lava is the only thing that causes changes on earth.

• Tectonic plates help form volcanoes.