Inference

An inference is...

• Text evidence + what you know

• Retelling a text

• Making a guess without evidence

• Information written directly into the text.

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

• What you 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.

Rachel was on her way to volunteer at the animal shelter.  She was very excited!  She really liked dogs.  Her brother was allergic to dogs, however, so she was rarely around them.  Rachel had a lot of fun playing with the puppies, but after her shift, itchy bumps appeared on her arms.
It is likely that:

• Mosquitoes bit Rachel
• Rachel is allergic to dogs, too
• Rachel fell in poison ivy
• Rachel was already sick

As I walked in the door, I was amazed at the beautiful colors and smells. I knew it would be hard to decide what I would buy with my $3. The chocolate truffles looked delicious, but they were expensive. The jelly beans were not only cheaper, but so colorful! With so much to choose from, I knew I would be here a long time. Where am I?

• Gas station
• Candy store
• Grocery store
• Shoe store

Mike had fun hiking in the woods and doing crafts.  He also really enjoyed the campfire sing-a-long and had made a lot of new friends. Still, he was glad that tomorrow he would be going home.
Where is Mike?

• at camp
• at a slumber party
• on a picnic
• in California 

Which sentence suggests that Joanna rode her bike to school?

• Joannaʼs hair was a little messy when she got to school.
• Joanna crossed three streets on her way to school.
• Joanna went four blocks on her way to school.
• Joanna had to put her helmet inside the classroom closet.

Joseph and Caitlin were choosing the players for their teams. It was Caitlin's turn to choose, and only Jason was left. "Jason" Caitlin said with a sigh. 

We can infer that…

• Jason was the best player.
• Caitlin wanted Jason on her team.
• Jason was not a very good player.
• Caitlin had a hard time choosing a team member.

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?

• the bus is late
• his watch is broken
• his watch is cool
• his car is out of gas

Everett held his father's hand as hecrossed the busy parking lot. They walkedinto a grocery store. Everett's dad lifted himinto the seat of the shopping cart. “Here,”said dad, “You can hold my shopping list.”
You can infer that

• Everett had never been to a grocery store
• Everett's dad does not shop often
• Everett's  dad needs help with shopping. 
• Everett is very young

Tim looked out the window. The house looked so lonely. Tim's father put the last suitcase in the trunk and started up the car. Thor, his dog, put his head on Tim's lap, like he understood how  Tim was feeling. "It's okay Thor," he said, "Dad says we will like California." What is happening?

• Tim is sad because his dog doesn't have a house to live in.
• Tim is taking a trip to visit people he doesn't know.
• Tim is taking Thor to live with his grandmother.
• Tim is moving to California with his family.