Inferences

CRACK! Thunder struck and rain poured.

Max stared blankly out the window, trying to contain his emotions that raged like the weather. He was beginning to lose it. Dropping the kite from his hand, Max broke out into full sobs.

His mother comforted him, "There, there, Max. We'll just find something else to do." She began to unpack the picnic basket that was on the counter and offered him a sandwich.

Max snapped, "I don't wanna sand-mich!"

A flash from the sky lit up the living room. BOOM!

Mom sighed.

Why is Max upset?

• Max hates the kind of sandwiches his mother has prepared.

• Max wanted to be the first to discover electricity, but Ben Franklin beat him to it.

• Max wants to play outside, but it is raining.

• Max is scared of thunderstorms.

CRACK! Thunder struck and rain poured.

Max stared blankly out the window, trying to contain his emotions that raged like the weather. He was beginning to lose it. Dropping the kite from his hand, Max broke out into full sobs.

His mother comforted him, "There, there, Max. We'll just find something else to do." She began to unpack the picnic basket that was on the counter and offered him a sandwich.

Max snapped, "I don't wanna sand-mich!"

A flash from the sky lit up the living room. BOOM!

Mom sighed.

What was Mom planning on doing today?

• Mom planned to take Max on a picnic.

• Mom planned to teach Max about sandwich-making.

• Mom planned to build snowmen with Max.

• Mom planned to fly a kite.

Today was a special day in Ms. Smith's class. Some of the children were walking around the room, some of them were standing in small groups, and some of them were at their desks, putting finishing touches on cardboard mailboxes.

After coloring a cool flame on the side of his racecar mailbox, Bobby hopped off his chair, strutted over to Veronica's desk, and dropped a small white envelope into her princess castle mailbox.

Veronica blushed and played with her hair.

While this was happening, Jimmy was frantically trying to put a small white envelope into everyone's mailbox. After giving one to Ms. Smith, Jimmy pulled out a medium-sized red envelope from his pocket. He blushed and tried to put it in Veronica's mailbox, but it wouldn't quite fit. Jimmy struggled with it for a few seconds and then ran off with the envelope.

Veronica rolled her eyes and popped her gum.

Why is today a special day?

• It is Veronica's birthday.

• It is Halloween.

• The kids are going on a field trip.

• It is Valentine's Day.

Today was a special day in Ms. Smith's class. Some of the children were walking around the room, some of them were standing in small groups, and some of them were at their desks, putting finishing touches on cardboard mailboxes.

After coloring a cool flame on the side of his racecar mailbox, Bobby hopped off his chair, strutted over to Veronica's desk, and dropped a small white envelope into her princess castle mailbox.

Veronica blushed and played with her hair.

While this was happening, Jimmy was frantically trying to put a small white envelope into everyone's mailbox. After giving one to Ms. Smith, Jimmy pulled out a medium-sized red envelope from his pocket. He blushed and tried to put it in Veronica's mailbox, but it wouldn't quite fit. Jimmy struggled with it for a few seconds and then ran off with the envelope.

Veronica rolled her eyes and popped her gum.

Which boy does Veronica like?

• Bobby

• Jimmy

Kyle ran into his house, slamming the door behind him. He threw his book bag on the floor and plopped onto the couch. After six hours of playing Grand Larceny VII, he ate some pizza and fell asleep with a slice on his stomach and his feet on his book bag.

When Kyle came home from school the next day, he was noticeably distraught. He balled up his report card and placed it inside a soup can in the garbage. He then flipped the soup can upside down in the garbage can and arranged loose pieces of trash over it. As he plopped down on the couch, he let out a sigh and picked up his controller.

Why is Kyle distraught (upset, agitated)?

• Kyle's dog ate his homework.

• Kyle earned bad grades.

• Kyle won a competition.

• Kyle has a stomachache.

Kyle ran into his house, slamming the door behind him. He threw his book bag on the floor and plopped onto the couch. After six hours of playing Grand Larceny VII, he ate some pizza and fell asleep with a slice on his stomach and his feet on his book bag.

When Kyle came home from school the next day, he was noticeably distraught. He balled up his report card and placed it inside a soup can in the garbage. He then flipped the soup can upside down in the garbage can and arranged loose pieces of trash over it. As he plopped down on the couch, he let out a sigh and picked up his controller.

Why does Kyle put the report card in a soup can?

• Kyle loves soup and likes to keep things in soup cans.

• Kyle wants to save a trip to the garbage can.

• Kyle goes to culinary (cooking) school.

• Kyle is getting rid of the evidence of his bad grades.

Anastasia sat by the fountain in the park with her head in her palms. She was weeping mournfully and her clothing was disheveled. In between gasps and sobs, Anastasia cried out a name: "Oh... John..."

And then her cell phone beeped. Her hand ran into her purse and her heart fluttered. The text message was from John. She opened up the message and read the few bare words: I need to get my jacket back from you.

Anastasia threw her head into her arms and continued sobbing.

What relationship do John and Anastasia have?

• They are son and mother.

• They are boyfriend and girlfriend.

• They are father and daughter.

• They are brother and sister.

Anastasia sat by the fountain in the park with her head in her palms. She was weeping mournfully and her clothing was disheveled. In between gasps and sobs, Anastasia cried out a name: "Oh... John..."

And then her cell phone beeped. Her hand ran into her purse and her heart fluttered. The text message was from John. She opened up the message and read the few bare words: I need to get my jacket back from you.

Anastasia threw her head into her arms and continued sobbing.

Why is Anastasia sad?

• John broke up with her.

• She really likes the jacket.

• She is scared of the fountain.

• She broke up with John.

Cassie rolled over in her bed as she felt the sunlight hit her face. The beams were warming the back of her neck when she slowly realized that it was a Thursday, and she felt a little too good for a Thursday.

Struggling to open her eyes, she looked up at the clock.

"9:48!" she shouted. "Holy cow!" Cassie jumped out of bed, threw on the first outfit that she grabbed, brushed her teeth in two swipes, threw her books into her backpack, and then ran out the door.

What problem is Cassie having?

• Cassie is learning to tell time.

• Cassie is late for work.

• Cassie is late for school.

• Cassie is listing all of the animals she knows.

Schmidt was looking forward to sleeping over at his friend Winston's house. Though they had been classmates for a while, the two had only recently become good friends. Schmidt packed up his sleeping bag, a pillow, and a few of his favorite toys and games, and then his mom dropped him off at Winston's.

Winston met Schmidt on the porch, and the two did their secret handshake and started playing right away. First, they played pirates in Winston's tree fort. Next, they played ninjas in the driveway. Then, it started getting dark, so they went inside of Winston's house.

As soon as they walked in the house, Schmidt's eyes started getting red and itchy. He saw a big orange cat sitting on the couch. Then he started sneezing uncontrollably. "I'm sorry, Winston. It's been a lot of fun, but I have to call my mom."

Why do Schmidt's eyes get red and itchy when he walks into Winston's house?

• Winston's house is ugly and it hurts Schmidt's eyes.

• Schmidt got dirt in his eyes from playing outside.

• Schmidt is allergic to cats.

• Winston and Schmidt tried the one-chip challenge.