Inference

1. An inference is . . .

• Text evidence + what you know

• Retelling a text

• Making a guess without evidence

• Information written directly into the text

2. When making an inference, the most important thing is . . .

• What you already know about the topic

• The topic of the text

• The characters in the text

• Being able to prove your inference using evidence from the text.

3. Inference Riddle: I come from a cane. You might say I make things really sweet! I can be white or brown, or in a powder like snow.

• I am sugar

• I am honey

• I am snow

• I am cake

4. Inference Riddle: You can plant me. You can pick me. You can pop me or make me into bread.

• I am a flower

• I am gum

• I am corn

• I am wheat

5. Mr. Martin looked at his watch. Then, he took a bus list out of his bag and looked at it for a moment. A few minutes later, he looked at his watch again and sighed. Why does Mr. Martin keep looking at his watch?

• his watch is cool

• his watch is broken

• his bus is late

• his car is out of gas

6. “Larry, as your boss, I must say it’s been very interesting working with you,” Miss Valdez said. “However, it seems that our company’s needs and your performance style are not well matched. Therefore, it makes me very sad to have to ask you to resign your position effective today.” What was Miss Valdez telling Larry?

• She would feel really bad if he decided to quit.

• He was being fired

• He was getting a raise in pay.

• She really enjoyed having him in the office.

7. Before the 1800's people didn't have right or left shoes. They had shoes of just one shape that they used for both feet. When people first saw right and left shoes, they laughed. They called them "crooked shoes." "What a silly idea," they said. You can tell that shoes, before 1800:

• were pretty

• didn't look alike

• didn't fit very well

• were made to fit each foot of a person

8. The explorers were hiking to the highest ridge of the volcano to collect data for science. Beads of sweat were dripping down their bodies as they walked higher and higher. Finally they reached the top and started collecting the samples for their research. Without warning the ground beneath them started to tremble powerfully. “It’s erupting!” they screamed, “RUN!” They sped down the volcano as a dark grey cloud spewed from above. Ash and rock started to rain down on them as they raced towards safety. A thunderous BOOM sounded and they could feel the heat of the lava behind them. They sprinted down until they reached the helicopter. Up, up, up into the air they went. They made it! We can infer that . . .

• the hikers were looking for an adventure

• the hikers were very confident

• the hikers suspected the volcano was going to erupt

• the hikers are scientists

9. Every day after work Paul took his muddy boots off on the steps of the front porch. Alice would have a fit if the boots made it so far as the welcome mat. He then took off his dusty overalls and threw them into a plastic garbage bag; Alice left a new garbage bag tied to the porch railing for him every morning. On his way in the house, he dropped the garbage bag off at the washing machine and went straight up the stairs to the shower as he was instructed. He would eat dinner with her after he was “presentable,” as Alice had often said. What can we infer?

• Paul is dirty

• Alice likes things neat

• Paul does the same thing every day

• Alice doesn't mind if things are messy

10. Kyle ran into his house, slamming the door behind him. He threw his book bag on the floor and plopped onto the couch. After six hours of playing Grand Larceny VII, he ate some pizza and fell asleep with a slice on his stomach and his feet on his book bag. When Kyle came home from school the next day, he was noticeably distraught. He balled up his report card and placed it inside a soup can in the garbage. He then flipped the soup can upside down in the garbage can and arranged loose pieces of trash over it. As he plopped down on the couch, he let out a sigh and picked up his controller. What can we infer?

• Kyle is a good student

• Kyle play video games

• Kyles was upset about his grades

• Kyle likes soup