Making Inferences

The Canadian province of Quebec was originally settled by French fur traders. Eventually, cities grew to support the fur trade. As a result, other industries (such as logging) became the main source of income for residents. Based on this passage, you can infer that some residents of Quebec may speak which language?

Carrots are an excellent source of retinol. Retinol is a pure form of vitamin A and is essential for good vision and strong teeth. It is often found in foods such as eggs, liver, and fish. For vegetarians, the best source of retinol is carrots. Based on this passage, what can you infer about the amount of retinol in eggs, liver, and fish?

Emily and Molly both auditioned for a singing role in a musical. Emily landed a spot in the musical, but Molly did not. The reader can reasonably infer:

Tim and Liam both glanced around the room nervously as the teacher handed back the graded tests. The teacher handed Liam his test and smiled. The teacher handed Tim his test and asked, “What happened?” The reader can reasonably infer:

Katie slammed her math textbook closed and crumpled up the piece of paper she was working on. “Ugh!” she said. Based on this passage, what can you infer about Katie?

Trudy looked down; the sound of everyone’s laughter burned in her ears. She felt her face grow warm and knew she was turning red. She wished she could just walk out of the classroom. Based on this description, what can the reader infer?

Casey loved this time of year. She loved the bright red leaves on the trees, piles of leaves on sidewalks, and the decorated pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns showing up on people’s steps and porches. What season can the reader infer it is?

Sammy was promoted from third to fifth grade. The teachers at his school decided he did not have to attend fourth grade at all. The reader can infer:

Jonas loved going to the zoo. He especially loved visiting his favorite animal. He thought its spotted coat was beautiful and found its long, long neck very graceful. He was always amazed when one walked close to him or stretched out to eat the leaves at the top of a tree. The reader can infer that Jonas’s favorite animal is a(n) ____________.

Martin’s little brother looked at the new bike a bit apprehensively. “Are you sure I won’t get hurt?” he asked Martin. Martin replied, “Oh, you might fall once or twice, but you’ll be okay. Just wear your helmet.” Martin’s little brother looked up at him, “And you will hold onto it so it doesn’t fall over?” Martin nodded. From this excerpt, what can the reader infer?

When Sue walked into the house, all of her friends jumped out and yelled “Surprise!” She saw a stack of brightly wrapped gifts on the table, along with a cake with ten candles on it. Colorful balloons were tied to all of the chairs. Based on this description, which of the following is a reasonable inference?

The teacher told the children to clear everything but a pencil from their desks. She then began handing out tests. Thomas look startled. “Wait! Ms. Smith? The test is today? Are you sure? I thought it was tomorrow!” Which of the following statements can the reader infer?

Lauren sat in the lobby of her apartment building watching people come in from the street. Almost everyone who came in was carrying an umbrella. Those who weren’t, she observed, had wet hair and soaking wet coats. The reader can reasonably infer which of the following statements?

Carly and her mom watched the large van truck drive away slowly. Then, they walked through the empty rooms of the house one last time before getting into the car and leaving. The reader can reasonably infer which of the following statements?

Dylan was surprised when he saw Jason come into the classroom with a cast on his arm. He had seen Jason fall off his bike the day before, but he didn’t realize the injury was so serious. Based on this excerpt, which of the following can the reader infer?