Inference

When you 'read between the lines' you {}.

• make an educated guess about things that aren't written down

• look for the very small print in between the lines of a book

• stop and think about each line before you read on

• read two things at once

Answer explanation

When you 'read between the lines' you make an educated guess about things that aren't written down.

It is snowing. Your friend Justina is coming to sleep over. She texts you that she's on her way but will be late. What is the **best** inference you could make?

• Justina is doing her homework

• Justina is babysitting her brother

• Traffic is slow due to the weather

• Justina can't come to your house

Answer explanation

Traffic is slow due to the weather because Justina is on her way but will be late, indicating that the weather conditions are affecting her travel time.

Terrence is camping alone. It is dry and windy out. He falls asleep in his sleeping bag near the blazing campfire. What is the **best** inference you could make?

• There will be a hurricane

• Someone will stop by

• An animal will leap into the flames

• The fire may spread

Answer explanation

The best inference is that the fire may spread due to the dry and windy conditions, posing a potential risk to Terrence while he sleeps near the campfire.

James is standing near the corner when a bus roars by. James yelps and runs after it, waving his arms frantically. The **best** inference you can make is that James:

• is going on a field trip

• is training to run a race

• wanted to ride that bus

• recognized someone on the bus

Answer explanation

James running after the bus and waving his arms frantically indicates he wanted to ride that bus, making it the best inference.

A girl tells you her cat's name is Grumpy Gus. You might infer that the cat:

• is a kitten

• is often in a bad mood

• is large

• is in your backyard

Answer explanation

The correct choice is 'is often in a bad mood' because the name 'Grumpy Gus' implies that the cat is frequently in a bad mood, not necessarily that it is a kitten, large, or in your backyard.

Ben is auditioning for a part in the school play. He's been fine all day, but right before the audition he says he feels sick. You might infer that Ben:

• is nervous about the audition

• is happy about the play

• never gets sick

• is allergic to peanuts

Answer explanation

Ben feeling sick right before the audition suggests he is nervous about the audition, as stress can manifest physically.

Which sentence gives you the best clue about the main idea of this paragraph? Insects are called "bugs" because they bother people. Some bugs are very helpful to farmers and other people. Some farmers buy ladybugs for their farms. Ladybugs eat other insects that eat crops. Farmers want the crops to grow. Some spiders also eat bugs that eat plants. Another bug that helps people is the honeybee. They don't eat plant-eating bugs, but bees pollinate flowers so that they grow. They also make honey, a natural sugar that many people love to eat.

• Insects are called "bugs" because they bother people.

• Some bugs are very helpful to farmers and other people.

• Some farmers buy ladybugs for their farms.

• Another bug that helps people is the honeybee.

Answer explanation

Another bug that helps people is the honeybee.

When you 'read between the lines' you {}.

• make an educated guess about things that aren't written down

• look for the very small print in between the lines of a book

• stop and think about each line before you read on

• read two things at once

It is snowing. Your friend Justina is coming to sleep over. She texts you that she's on her way but will be late. What is the **best** inference you could make?

• Justina is doing her homework

• Justina is babysitting her brother

• Traffic is slow due to the weather

• Justina can't come to your house

Terrence is camping alone. It is dry and windy out. He falls asleep in his sleeping bag near the blazing campfire. What is the **best** inference you could make?

• There will be a hurricane

• Someone will stop by

• An animal will leap into the flames

• The fire may spread