Inferences

Bill and Sid collect cans. They sell the cans to a recycling center. Lately business has been so good that they have divided their work in half. Bill's area includes a park where teams play baseball every day. Sid collects cans from the office buildings and stores.

Is the following sentence a fact or inference?

Bill and Sid earn more money now than when they started.

• Fact

• Inference

Many books and movies have been written about the story of Robin Hood. Robin Hood was a folk hero who robbed rich and gave what he took to the poor. Robin Hood is said to have lived in Sherwood Forest. He lived with a band of merry men. Many people have tried to prove he was a real person. But so far no one has been able to show that he really lived.

Is the following sentence a fact or an inference?

No one can prove that Robin Hood really lived.

• Fact

• Inference

Braedon sat in the empty classroom and stared at the floor. It was 4:30pm and school had been over for half an hour, but he still had to sit there. He could over hear his teacher talking to the principal in the hallway about what had happened during class. He put his head in his hands and sighed.
What may the reader best infer from the passage?

• The principal and the teacher are making fun of Braedon.

• Braedon is in detention because he had acted out in class.

• The teacher is getting paid extra to oversee detention.

• Braedon is proud of his poor behavior.

When Tommy came back into the kitchen, Katie and her farther were still cleaning up from lunch. "Dad," said Tommy, "do you know where I can find the-" He trailed off, realizing that he couldn't mention wrapping paper. He would give the surprise away, and Tommy would hate to ruin the surprise before he had to.
What will the speaker most likely do next?

• Ask Katie for the wrapping paper.

• Ask Dad to find he wrapping paper.

• Not wrap the presents.

• Go an search for the wrapping paper by himself.

To make an inference, we use evidence from the text, and our prior knowledge. 

• Yes

• No

Many books and movies have been written about the story of Robin Hood. Robin Hood was a folk hero who robbed rich and gave what he took to the poor. Robin Hood is said to have lived in Sherwood Forest. He lived with a band of merry men. Many people have tried to prove he was a real person. But so far no one has been able to show that he really lived.

Is the following sentence a fact or an inference?

Robin Hood is a popular story.

• Fact

• Inference

Frank loved to play tennis, and he was on the tennis court every day. Frank could hit the ball very hard. He was a good player. One day he met his friend Jim for a game of tennis. Jim had just started playing tennis. After the game Frank said, "I will help you with your shots, Jim."

Is the following sentence a fact or inference?

Jim was not a good tennis player.

• Fact

• Inference

In the story of 'The Tortoise and the Hare', the hare is confident he will win the race because he is much faster than the tortoise. However, he takes a nap during the race and loses. What can we infer from this story?

• A) Slow and steady wins the race.

• B) Napping is bad for races.

• C) The hare is lazy.

• D) The tortoise is faster than the hare.

In a classroom, students are reading a book about space. The teacher asks, 'What can we infer about the size of the universe based on the book?' What is the most likely inference?

• A) The universe is small and easy to explore.

• B) The universe is vast and largely unexplored.

• C) The universe is shrinking.

• D) The universe is only as big as our solar system.

A character in a novel is described as having a collection of umbrellas, raincoats, and waterproof boots. What can we infer about the character?

• A) The character lives in a dry climate.

• B) The character dislikes rain.

• C) The character is prepared for rainy weather.

• D) The character is a fashion enthusiast.