Making Inferences

What statement about inferencing is CORRECT?

• An inference is not based on any evidence

• An inference is based only on what the text says

• An inference always turns out to be right

• An inferences requires you to use clues

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.

_______ + ________ = Inference

• Background knowledge + Clues from the text

• Background knowledge + Opinion

• A guess without evidence + information from the text

Michael and Seth are on their way to Benson State Park. They like to go to the park on weekends during the winter. They like to skate on the frozen lake. Every day, the park ranger checks the ice on the lake. If it is safe to skate, she puts up a sign that says, TODAY THE ICE IS SAFE. If it is not safe to skate, she puts up a sign that says, TODAY THE ICE IS NOT SAFE. Michael and Seth are at the park. They read the sign for today, and then put on their skates.
The reader can conclude that...

• Today is Saturday.

• Today is a safe day for skating.

• The park ranger likes her job.

• Michael and Seth like cold weather.

"Clues" you see or read in the text are called?

• Background knowledge

• Text evidence

• A guess

An inference is not directly stated in the text.

• True

• False

Splat! " Oh, rats!" thought Katie as she stooped to clean up the gooey, runny mess.

"I hope we have another one. " She looked in the fridge and pulled out the carton. "One Left! Breakfast wasn't ruined after all."

What do you infer Katie cleaned up?

• milk

• eggs

• pancakes

• butter

"Ouch!" Lucy had fallen again! She shivered and picked herself back up. Then she spotted her older sister Sarah, gliding backwards. She was so graceful. Sarah made everything look so easy.

What do you infer Lucy is doing?

• Swimming

• Ice Skating

• Horse Back Riding

• Dancing

Mr. Hutchinson handed back the written reports. Ian smiled when he saw the gold star on the top of his paper.

"For our next project," Mr. Hutchinson announced, "you will be asked to read your reports aloud to the class." Ian began to tremble, and his heart sank to his feet.

Based on the text, which sentence is more likely to be true?

• Mr. Hutchinson is Ian's favorite teacher

• Ian feels nervous to read his report

Johnny had soccer practice and then swimming lessons. It was late when he got home so he went straight to bed without studying for his math test the next day. You can tell that......

• Johnny will get a good grade.

• Johnny will ace the test.

• Johnny will probably fail his math test.

• Johnny will study during the test.