Inferences with Context Clues

What does it mean to make an inference?

• To copy information directly from a text

• To use clues from the text and what you already know to figure something out

• To memorize every word in a story

• To count the number of pages in a book

Read the sentence: "Tom's stomach growled loudly as he stared at the pizza." What can you infer about Tom?

• Tom does not like pizza

• Tom is very tired

• Tom is hungry

• Tom is angry at someone

Read the passage: "Lily walked into the room. Everyone jumped up and yelled. There were balloons and a big cake on the table. Lily's eyes went wide and she smiled." Using context clues, what can you infer is happening in this passage?

• Lily is in trouble and everyone is angry at her

• Lily is at a surprise birthday party

• Lily is visiting a bakery for the first time

• Lily is helping her friends decorate a room

Read the passage: "Jake came home from school and threw his backpack on the floor. He crossed his arms and would not talk to anyone at dinner. Later, his mom heard him crying in his room." Using two context clues from the passage, explain what you can infer about how Jake is feeling and why.

• Jake is happy because he had a great day at school

• Jake is tired because he stayed up too late the night before

• Jake is upset about something that happened, as shown by his crossed arms and crying

• Jake is excited about a surprise he is planning for his family

Read the passage: "Sam looked at the clock and gasped. He grabbed his bag, ran out the door, and did not stop to eat breakfast. He kept looking back at the school bus driving away." Using context clues, what can you infer happened to Sam, and what evidence supports your thinking?

• Sam is excited to go on a field trip and ran to catch the bus early

• Sam woke up late and missed his school bus, as shown by him gasping at the clock and the bus driving away

• Sam forgot his lunch and ran back inside to get it

• Sam decided to walk to school because the weather was nice