The sun was low in the sky. Kay's body ached. Blisters had formed on her hands. She set the rake down on the big pile of leaves and headed for home.

What can you infer from this passage?

As usual, Jim left for school ten minutes later than he should have. His shoelaces were untied and his backpack was unzipped. He had traveled only one block when he heard his mother shout his name. He looked back and saw her waving his brown bag lunch.

What can you infer from this passage?

Rubin made a mental checklist: Do laundry. Go to supermarket and get groceries. Clean house. Fix hallway light. Change the bed sheets in guest room. Wrap presents. His parents were coming in the morning and he didn't know how he would get everything done.

What can you infer from this passage?

"You don't know what you're missing," Susan shouted into the phone over the loud music of the party.

"Nah, I'm too tired," Tim said.

"Well, suit yourself, but you'll be sorry," Susan replied.

What can you infer from this passage?

Carrie heard footsteps behind her. The hair on the back of her neck stood on end. She began to quicken her pace, hoping that whoever was following her wouldn't notice, but at last she gave in to a run.

What can you infer from this passage?

Ben slammed down the phone. Why did Steve always have to be right? Why didn't he ever listen?

What can you infer from this passage?

By the time Amy arrived at the café, Juan was drinking his third cup of coffee. "I'm so sorry," she called out when she saw him and gestured to her naked wrist where her watch used to be.

What can you infer from this passage?

"This is my last cigarette," Hal said for the millionth time.

What can you infer from this passage?

Joyce straightened the tablecloth and turned the crystal vase so that it caught the light of the setting sun. She placed two wine glasses on the table, dimmed the lights and lit the candles. Dinner was in the oven. All that was left to do was wait. She checked her hair in the mirror one last time and sat down on the couch.

What can you infer from this passage?

With fiction, a good reading strategy is to make predictions about the characters and events in the story. Read the following passage:

Laura was a private eye from a tough neighborhood in Chicago. She wasn't afraid of anything and always kept her cool. In her black leather jacket, wearing her hair pulled back in a tight knot, she prowled the streets like a panther.

What might Laura do if someone threatened her? Click ALL reasonable predictions listed below.

This time around, use your reading skills to predict the outcome of a situation. Read the following passage:

The day of the barbecue got off to a beautiful start. The sun was brilliant and the breeze was gentle. The camp counselors had just finished putting up the tents, when the sky began to darken and the gentle breeze became a wild wind.

Click ALL reasonable predictions listed below.

What is the main idea of this passage?

Adults tend to eat a lot of fast food, and that’s often not a healthy choice. For instance, a typical fast-food bacon cheeseburger with all the trimmings has 790 calories with 39 grams of fat, and a large order of fries has 380 calories and 18 grams of fat. Add a soda, and one meal adds up to more than 1,100 calories.

Parents who have parents to help with childcare are lucky. But the two generations may have very different ways of thinking about the proper way to raise a child. These differences can lead to tension, stress, and family fights.

Which is the main idea?

The traditional household with a stay-at-home mom and working dad has become the exception rather than the rule. Increasingly, Americans are waiting longer to marry and have children, and many are not marrying at all.

Which is the main idea?

People love to make plans: for a dinner party, a vacation, or a big family reunion. But when it comes to planning our financial future, many of us don't know where to start. Fortunately, a little discipline and a sharp pencil are all you need to get on the road to financial security.

Which is the main idea?

Using credit cards is as American as apple pie. Unfortunately, so is debt. The average American over 18 owed more than $10,000 to credit card companies last year. For many of us, the convenience of using charge cards instead of cash makes it easy to spend more than we have.

Which is the main idea?

The cold, probably the most common illness known, has no safe or effective cure. Colds are produced by viruses, in particular a group of viruses called rhinoviruses. Because colds can be caused by different types of viruses, it’s nearly impossible for scientists to find one remedy that kills them all.

Which is the main idea?

In contrast to Western medicine, alternative approaches to healing emphasize the treatment of the whole person: the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of the patient.

Which is the main idea?

For a growing number of kids, an active lifestyle is the exception rather than the rule. The attractions of television, computers, and video games keep children spending far more time sitting at home than running around in the great outdoors.

Which is the main idea?