Making Inferences

The most common last name in the English-speaking world is Smith, which was taken from the job of working with metals. A silversmith, for example, is someone who works with the metal silver.

It can be inferred from the passage that family names...

• were always taken from the area where a family lived

• were short names

• had little or no meaning

• could be taken from jobs

What is wrong with Carol?

• She is upset because she has been waiting on hold for a long time.

• She is sick and calling in to work.

• She hit her head.

• Her coffee is too hot!

What can you "infer" by reading the passage below?

"I hate the idea of having all those people out there watching me...I just don't like it when I'm around so many people. I wish I just could hide somewhere," whispered Violet.

• Violet can be a mean girl.

• Violet can be somewhat relaxed.

• Violet is probably somewhat shy.

• Violet is afraid of everything.

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.
  

_______ + ________ = Inference

• Background knowledge + Clues from the text

• Background knowledge + Opinion

• A guess without evidence + information from the text

"Justin grabbed the leash and quickly put it around Tooli's neck. He stormed out the door with Tooli coming right behind.

He said, "Hurry up, Tooli. You're always so slow." Justin kept his head down and walked quickly down the road, not speaking to anyone that he saw."

What was true about Justin?

• He was very worried that someone might see him.

• He was angry that he had to walk the dog.

• He was feeling sick and wanted to lie down.

• He was very excited and wanted to hurry.

What has Amy concluded?

• Jessica changed her mind and did not want to meet up to work on the project anymore.

• No one was at Jessica's house.

• Amy changed her mind and decided to go home.

• She went to the wrong house.

Cayden held his father's hand as he crossed the busy parking lot. They walked into a grocery store. Cayden's dad lifted him into the seat of the shopping cart. “Here,”said dad, “You can hold my shopping list.”

You can infer that

• Cayden's dad needs help shopping.

• Cayden's dad does not shop very often.

• Cayden is very young.

Dan sands the wood. Grandpa hums happily as he works on replacing the broken piece.

This suggests that Grandpa...

• is only good at repairing rocking chairs.

• is enjoying doing the work.

• sad the chair broke.

Which dialogue supports the idea that Maddy is proud of the work she has done with her Grandpa?

• "Is this good enough, grandpa?"

• "We're out here, grandma."

• "We did it with our own hands!"

• "Grandma is coming!"