Inferencing

The reader can infer that homesteaders had to---

• have large amounts of money

• be young and energetic

• have friends who would help them

• be willing to work hard

Which evidence from the text suggests that many people took advantage of the Homestead Act?

• The United States Congress passed the Homestead Act in 1862. (paragraph 1)

• The law allowed willing men and women to claim 160 acres of free land in the Great Plains. (paragraph 2)

• The Homestead Act remained in effect for over 100 years. (paragraph 5)

• More than 1.6 million claims were approved during this time. (paragraph 5)

Which sentence from the text supports the idea that homesteaders followed specific rules?

• The main purpose of the law was to develop the western territories. (paragraph 1)

• Twenty-one-year-old citizens or immigrants who planned on becoming citizens could take advantage of this law. (paragraph 2)

• Homesteaders had to farm the land, build a home on the land within six months, and agree to live on the land for five years. (paragraph 3)

• The land was difficult to farm, especially since many homesteaders were inexperienced. (paragraph 4)

What does making an inference mean?