Inferences

Mr. Baxter showed up to school with his arm in a sling after winter break. You know he did not leave the state of Washington over break.

Sort the following inferences from most likely to least likely (or most believable to most absurd)

• He hurt himself skiing.

• He just likes the way it looks. It is a new fashion statement.

• He is wearing it to support a student who hurt themselves and is embarrassed to be wearing a sling.

• He hurt himself snorkeling in the Bahamas.

Millions of high school students take Advanced Placement (AP) courses in high school. AP courses are more challenging than other courses and are offered in many subjects including U.S. history, biology, and calculus. Students who pass an AP exam can earn college credit. These tests are scored on a scale of one to five, with one being the best possible score.

What inference can be made based on information in this passage?

• A score of five on the AP exam will probably not earn college credit.

• Advanced Placement courses are abbreviated as AdPla.

• The only AP courses offered in most high schools are U.S. history and biology.

Mr. Farraf wrote his name on the board and told the class, "I'm not only your substitute teacher. I'm also a palindrome."

"You're a palindrome too, Bob," said Whitney.

"I am not!" yelled Bob. His cheeks flushed with pink. "Stop teasing me."

"She's not," explained Mr. Farraf. "A palindrome is a word spelled the same forward and backward."

What inference can be made based on information in this passage?

• Whitney dislikes Bob.

• Mr. Farraff did not know Bob's name was a palindrome.

• Bob was sensitive.

• Bob did not know what a palindrome was.

The school library was under construction. To prepare for it, many books were moved to one side of the gym. Some books were temporarily put in boxes in the basement.

Walter went to the gym to look for the book about tiger attacks. He knew the school had this book because his friend Eddie had borrowed it a few weeks ago. Walter could not find the book on the shelf. The librarian said it was not checked out.

What inference can be made based on information from the text?

• Eddie forgot to return the book.

• The book was in the school basement.

• The library never had a book on tiger attacks.

"Race you to the tree and back!" Sarah said to Symir.

On the count of three, the two were off. Sarah took the lead. From behind, Symir noticed something.

"Sarah! Your shoelace. It's untied!" he shouted between heavy breaths.

"Oh!" Sarah stopped to tie it, and Symir stopped while she did that. When she started to run again, so did he. Sarah won the race.

What inference can be made based on information from the passage?

• Symir waited for Sarah to tie her shoelace so it would be a fair race.

• Symir untied Sarah's shoe before the race so he could beat her.

• Sarah cheated to win the race.

For students who like running, many decide to join their school's cross country team. Cross-country runners compete on an open course that might include sidewalks, grass, or rocky dirt. The courses are generally between one and three miles long. Cross-country is often an autumn sport. Runners wear a vest or t-shirt and shorts. Sometimes they wear special running shoes called spikes.

What inference can be made based on information from this passage?

• Cross-country races are not held indoors.

• A cross-country course is usually no longer than 100 feet.

• Cross-country athletes run the fastest on grass.

A group of people held a conference in 1939 to discuss how children got to school. At that conference, they discussed national standards for school buses and created a special yellow color for them. Its official name is National School Bus Glossy Yellow. They also decided to use black writing on the yellow because that color combination is easy to see in the dim light of early mornings.

What inference can be made based on information from the passage?

• School buses are painted yellow so they will be safer.

• School buses are not visible in dim light.

• School buses have always been painted yellow.

On the first day of 7th grade, Carlos looked over his class schedule.

"Great news," he whispered to his friend, Gina, who was sitting next to him. "It looks like I don't have to take math this year. Do you?"

"Yes. And I'm sure you do too," she replied. "Let me see that."

Glancing at Carlos' schedule, she said, "Very funny. You have algebra every day during 3rd period."

What inference can be made based on information from the passage?

• Gina did not know how to read a class schedule.

• Gina and Carlos are in the same math class.

• Carlos did not know that algebra is a type of math.

You show up to school and see you are the only one wearing your uniform. What is a believable (or most likely) inference you can make?

You show up to school and are the only one wearing your school uniform. What is an absurd (or highly unlikely, yet POSSIBLE) inference you could make?