Ms. Bell - Inferences

Match the following terms to their definitions

• Prior knowledge

• Information based on past experience or understandig

• Text Evidence

• Informed idea or conclusion

• Inference

• Details/clues from printed text

Many breeds of dogs are used for work. In many cultures dogs are used to herd sheep. The dogs keep the flock from being attacked by animals such as wolves. They also keep sheep from wandering off. Sheepdogs are known for their loyalty and gentleness. Based on your reading of the text, you can INFER that:

• Sheepdogs are not very smart dogs.

• There are many breeds of dogs.

• Sheepdogs are gentle and loyal.

• Wolves are afraid of sheepdogs.

They weren't on the hook by the phone and they weren't in her purse. Alison checked the pockets of the jacket she'd worn the day before, but they weren't there either. She looked at her watch and realized she would be late for work if she didn't leave soon.

What was Alison looking for?

• Her Keys

• Her Dog

• Her Car

• Her Ice Cream Shake

Sometimes we have to "read between the lines." Authors don't always tell us everything. We need to use textual evidence and prior knowledge to understand the text better.

• True

• False

Macey's mom noticed that she was squinting as she read her book, which was only a few inches away from her face. She scheduled a doctor's appointment for the next week, and when the doctor said Macey needed glasses, she tried on every single pair in the office. After spending an hour looking at glasses, mom suggested that perhaps she should sleep on it and come back and decide in the morning. Macey agreed, but she kept talking about the pros and cons of each pair all night long.

What can you infer about Macey?

• Macey is upset with her mother.

• Macey does not want glasses.

• Macey has trouble making decisions

• Macey is very excited about getting glasses.

As the teacher lectured the class about how important it was to pay attention, Brian found himself staring out the window again. Suddenly, a little boy came up to the window and peeked in. The boy blew a bubble with his gum and it exploded all over his face and the window. Brian began laughing so hard he fell out of his seat. The rest of the class silently stared at him as the teacher walked to his desk.

What can you infer about how the teacher will react?

• She will help him up and give him a piece of gum.

• She will ignore him and pretend she doesn't see it.

• She will scold Brian for not paying attention in class.

• She will laugh at him because he is on the ground.

In real life, people who can back up an opinion about text with Textual Evidence are taken mo re seriously than people who can only give a reason of "just because".

• True

• False

What is an inference?

• An inference is something that you think is true based on information that you have.

• An inference is directly written in the text.

When reading a passage, it is important to cite text evidence to support your analysis of the most important details and events of a story. In addition to citing text evidence to answer comprehension questions, you can not use text evidence to make inferences.

• True

• False

The room was dark and quiet. We heard Carl and his mother come in the front door talking. I heard two girls in the corner giggle nervously. Another girl told them to be quiet. I hid behind the table where the cake and presents were set out. The tension in the room grew as we waited for them to open the door. Where am I?

• A dinner party

• Church

• A funeral

• A surprise party