Inferences

Turner almost wished that he hadn’t listened to the radio. He went to the closet and grabbed his umbrella. He would feel silly carrying it to the bus stop on such a sunny morning.
Which probably happened?

• Turner realized that he had an unnatural fear of falling radio parts.

• Turner had promised himself to do something silly that morning.
  

• Turner had heard a weather forecast that predicted rain.

• Turner planned to trade his umbrella for a bus ride.

Each year during the last week in April, the old man began his garden. He planted tomatoes during the second week in May. He weeded the garden as the plants grew. By the middle of summer, the tomatoes were ready to sell. Many people bought them. They liked his red, ripe tomatoes. By labor Day it was time for the old man to pull up all his tomato plants.

Is the following sentence a fact or an inference?

The tomatoes were not good after Labor Day.

• Fact

• Inference

Rocco dug frantically through his backpack. It has to be here, he thought. How many times had his mother told him not to take his device to school. He searched his locker again without much hope. He knew he was in trouble. What inference can you make about Rocco?

• He is looking for his homework.

• He is looking for his phone.

• He is looking for his lunch.

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?

Many people drink canned drinks.

• Fact

• Inference

What does Inference mean?

• finding details in a story

• Use clues and what you already know to come up with an idea

• Giving a reason for your answer

Which of these is an inference that can be supported by the passage above? Tony was delighted to see the pavement disappearing under the attack of the bulldozers. The more park, the better, he thought. His delight gradually turned to concern, however, when it became clear that the construction workers were also laying the forms for new pavement, much more pavement than had been there before.  
Which of the following can you infer from the passage above?   

• Tony was in the construction business.

• Tony enjoyed spending time in the park.

•  Tony was an avid environmentalist.

• Tony was in the construction business.
  

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

• True

• False

Is the following sentence a fact or an inference? Robin Hood cared about the poor.

• Fact

• Inference

Each year during the last week in April, the old man began his garden. He planted tomatoes during the second week in May. He weeded the garden as the plants grew. By the middle of summer, the tomatoes were ready to sell. Many people bought them. They liked his red, ripe tomatoes. By labor Day it was time for the old man to pull up all his tomato plants.

Is the following sentence a fact or an inference?

He sold tomatoes for a short time.

• Fact

• Inference

What does Inference mean?

• finding details in a story

• Use clues and what you already know to come up with an idea

• Giving a reason for your answer

• Using what I know