Informational Text Inferencing

What might be inferred from the fact that insects are on own their own as soon as they are born?

• A. Insects stay with their parents until they are old enough to live on their own.

• B. Insects are able to gather their own food and live on their own as soon as they are born.

• C. Insects eggs have hard shells that contain food for the growing baby inside.

• D. All eggs need to be in water to survive.

Barren-ground caribou are about 4 feet tall at their shoulder and weigh up to 300 pounds. Their short, think bodies help them keep warm in the cold Arctic weather. Their long legs and large hooves are perfect for the long distances they travel every year.

What inference can you make abut barren-ground caribou?

• Barren-ground caribou are tall and chubby.

• Barren-ground caribou are mammals well suited to freezing temperatures.

• Barren-ground caribou are large birds.

• Barren-ground caribou animals travel long distances looking for warm weather.

Scientists say that cats typically ignore music made for humans, and that they become more at ease listening to music imitating purrs and the suckling sounds of kittens nursing . In their experiment, they layered such sounds creating melodies made for feline listening pleasure. These tunes are being used to help calm skittish shelter cats.

What inference can you make from the paragraph?

• Cats enjoy listening to the sounds of other cats more than human music.

• Cats like a specific type of music.

• Music can be used to calm animals down.

• Human music is not good for animals.

Like every trap, the Venus Flytrap contains bait. Sugary nectar covers the leaves. Insects smell the nectar and think that it is meal time. They are right, but they never guess that they are on the menu.

What inference can you make from the paragraph?

• Insects must have nectar in every meal.

• Venus Flytrap restaurant serves insects on the menu.

• Venus Flytraps are used to produce nectar juice.

• Insects are drawn to the smell of nectar.

Huge rockets were built in the 1950s in an effort to reach the outer space. After years of testing, it was time to put a human being inside a rocket. Only a person could tell the rest of the world abut the joy and wonder of seeing the world from space.

What evidence helps you infer that many rockets were launched before a human could ride one?

• Huge rockets were built in the 1950s in an effort to reach the outer space.

• Only a person could tell the rest of the world abut the joy and wonder of seeing the world from space.

• There is no evidence in the text.

• After years of testing, it was time to put a human being inside a rocket.

What does the word infer mean?

• to guess
• to make an educated guess
• to create
• to investigate

What is a good strategy or formula for making an inference?

• main idea + supporting details
• what you know + what the text says
• first sentence + last sentence
• evidence + theme

When information is _____________, you have to draw inferences from the text.

• directly stated
• implied

A robot may be defined as a self-controlled device consisting of electronic, electrical, or mechanical units. More generally, it is a machine that functions in place of a living agent. Robots are especially desirable for certain work functions because, unlike humans, they never get tired; they can endure physical conditions that are uncomfortable or even dangerous; they can operate in airless conditions; they do not get bored by repetition; and they cannot be distracted from the task at hand.

What inference could you make from this text?

• Self-controlled robots do not work well with humans.

• Humans enjoy performing repetitive tasks.

• Robots are advantageous for tasks in the harsh environment of space.

• Working with distracted robots is dangerous.