Fiction Inference

When you make an inference, you make your best guess. You combine clues from a text with your background knowledge to draw a conclusion. You can also make an inference about something in the world around you.

Read the following passage.

Ellen felt the warm sunlight hit her face. She rolled over in bed, feeling unusually well-rested. But she knew it was a weekday. When she blinked her eyes and saw "9:00am" on the clock, she shouted, "Oh nooo!" So she jumped out of bed, dressed as fast as she could, brushed her teeth in a flash and grabbed her backpack on the way out of the house.

What can you infer from the passage?

• Ellen is going to the store to buy toothpaste.

• Ellen is at the beach.

• Ellen had trouble sleeping last night.

• Ellen slept longer than usual and is late.

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Inferencing can also be used to learn the meaning of a word you don't recognize. A good reader infers the meaning of a word from context clues.

Read the following passage.

The cat padded into the room. She looked so carefree, ignoring our loud conversation as she settled into the fireplace, purring happily. She was so relaxed that we all stopped talking to watch her. Finally, Nora shook her head, and the spell was broken. "What were we fighting about again?" she asked, and the argument resumed.

Which detail from the passage helps you infer the meaning of the word "carefree"?

• "'What were we fighting about again?" she asked..."

• "Finally, Nora shook her head, and the spell was broken."

• "She was so relaxed that we all stopped talking to watch her."

• "The cat padded into the room."

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You can use details and evidence from the text to make inferences about a story's plot, characters, setting, tone and mood.

Read the following passage.

Julio looked down, regarding his shadow, which was long under the high noon sun. Squinting, he wondered where everyone was. He looked around but saw only a group of prickly cacti standing at attention. His mind began to race. Sweat trickled in small streams down his neck. Was the temperature rising? How much hotter could it possibly get? "Water," through Julio. "I'll try to find some water." Clearing his throat, he began to walk east, clouds of dust swirling around his feet.

Which detail from the passage provides the best evidence that the story takes place in a desert.

• "Squinting, he wondered where everyone was."

• "Was the temperature rising? How much hotter could it possibly get?"

• "His mind began to race."

• "Julio looked down..."

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We make inferences every day in real life. How? We look at details around us and draw conclusions.

Imagine that you look out the window and see people wearing heavy coats, hats, and gloves. These people are shivering and sipping hot coffee, too. Based on these details, what is the best conclusion to draw?

• There is a sale on coffee at the grocery store.

• The weather is cold.

• These people are attending a fashion show.

• These people are very upset.

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We make inferences when reading fiction or informational text.

Read the following passage.

A new report came out about teens and cell phones. Teens use cell phones mostly to access the internet, share photos and send messages. Teens spend the most time sending messages. They send more messages to friends than to family members.

What can you infer from this passage?

• Teens never use cell phones to record videos.

• Teens spend less time on cell phones sharing photos than they do sending messages.

• Teens' family members never return their messages.

• Teens don't enjoy accessing the internet on cell phones.

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