Inferences/Evidence
What is an inference?
Educated guess based on evidence and schema.
What are cause and effect?
Cause is why it happened and the effect is the result/aftermath.
What are context clues?
What is connotation?
What is tone?
Context Clues are words surrounding an unfamiliar word.
Connotation is the feeling or idea a word invokes.
Tone is the way is how the author feels about a topic/subject.
What is central idea and an objective summary?
Central Idea is what a text is mostly about or the overall point the author is trying to make.
An Objective Summary is a factual short retelling of a story.
What is text structure?
Text structure is the way in which an author organizes a text.
What evidence from the text best supports the idea that Alexis Lewis believes young people can make meaningful contributions as inventors?
A. "In the United States, there is no age requirement for filing a patent."
B. "She designed [the travois] to serve Somali refugees, who need to transport their children many miles to camps and hospitals."
C. "I think everybody has a slightly different take on each problem."
D. "Young people can be inventors too, and they bring unique perspectives to the problems they tackle."
D. "Young people can be inventors too, and they bring unique perspectives to the problems they tackle."
What is the relationship between Alexis’s personal experiences and her motivation to invent?
A. Her experiences with world issues led her to invent devices that only benefit her local community.
B. Her knowledge from homeschooling and her mother’s teachings inspired her to create devices with practical humanitarian applications.
C. Her family’s discussions about science made her focus on inventing sports-related devices.
D. Her formal schooling emphasized the importance of making profitable inventions.
B. Her knowledge from homeschooling and her mother’s teachings inspired her to create devices with practical humanitarian applications.
In paragraph 13, Alexis says she likes “things that go boom and shoot.” What is the connotation of this phrase in the context of her invention process?
A. It suggests that Alexis enjoys experimenting in exciting and unconventional ways, adding a playful tone to her approach to inventing.
B. It implies that Alexis is reckless and careless in her work, focusing more on fun than safety.
C. It highlights her interest in dangerous inventions meant for use in emergencies.
D. It emphasizes that her inventions are focused on explosive devices for entertainment.
A. It suggests that Alexis enjoys experimenting in exciting and unconventional ways, adding a playful tone to her approach to inventing.
How does the author develop the central idea that young people can make valuable contributions as inventors?
A. By describing the technical skills young people need to succeed in professional laboratories.
B. By presenting examples of Alexis’s inventions and her advocacy for young inventors.
C. By contrasting Alexis’s inventions with those made by adults in large companies.
D. By listing the many challenges young inventors face in getting their inventions recognized.
B. By presenting examples of Alexis’s inventions and her advocacy for young inventors.
In paragraph 7, Alexis says her inventions are motivated by “one of two things.” What role does this sentence play in the paragraph?
A. It introduces the main reasons behind Alexis’s inventions, setting up the detailed explanations that follow.
B. It summarizes all of Alexis’s inventions, explaining her entire approach to creating new devices.
C. It contradicts her earlier statement about why people invent.
D. It explains the challenges Alexis faces in balancing her motivations with technical skill.
A. It introduces the main reasons behind Alexis’s inventions, setting up the detailed explanations that follow.
Which sentence best supports the inference that Alexis Lewis sees potential in young people’s creativity?
A. "I think if we all work together we can solve a tremendous number of problems."
B. "Inventors are basically anybody and everybody who’s ever tried to solve a problem."
C. "It would show them kids who have already invented."
D. "People think that the inventors of the world are the crazy mad scientists in white lab coats."
C. "It would show them kids who have already invented."
Which distinction does Alexis make between adults and young people in their approach to problem-solving?
A. Adults tend to have more resources for inventing, while young people face more challenges due to limited resources.
B. Adults often view problems as fixed and difficult to solve, whereas young people approach problems with more open-mindedness and creativity.
C. Adults are more skilled in inventing, while young people lack necessary experience to tackle significant issues.
D. Adults encourage young inventors, while young people rarely show interest in inventing.
B. Adults often view problems as fixed and difficult to solve, whereas young people approach problems with more open-mindedness and creativity.
What does the term “humanitarian issue” mean in paragraph 7, and how does it affect the tone of the passage?
A. It refers to environmental problems and gives the passage a scientific tone.
B. It refers to issues related to helping people, contributing to a compassionate and socially aware tone.
C. It refers to economic problems and gives the passage a technical tone.
D. It refers to health problems and makes the passage sound focused on medical topics.
B. It refers to issues related to helping people, contributing to a compassionate and socially aware tone.
Which detail from the text supports the development of the idea that young inventors often approach problems with fresh perspectives?
A. “I don’t mean to put adults down, but when you’ve grown up and you’ve seen the world for a long time, you think it’s one way.”
B. “My mom would always read to the family about various world issues.”
C. “I had the mascot of a local sports team fire a pneumatic cannon into an open window.”
D. “She designed [the travois] to serve Somali refugees, who need to transport their children many miles to camps.”
A. “I don’t mean to put adults down, but when you’ve grown up and you’ve seen the world for a long time, you think it’s one way.”
How does the final sentence in paragraph 9 (“Kids…have the ability to look at something and not think, ‘oh this is a problem that can’t be solved,’ but instead think maybe we’ve been looking at it just a little bit wrong”) contribute to the paragraph’s main idea?
A. It reinforces the idea that kids have a fresh perspective on problem-solving, which Alexis believes is crucial for inventing.
B. It suggests that kids are more experienced than adults at inventing new things.
C. It implies that Alexis finds it easier to invent when she is not influenced by others.
D. It shows that adults are better than kids at inventing because of their experience.
A. It reinforces the idea that kids have a fresh perspective on problem-solving, which Alexis believes is crucial for inventing.
Based on paragraph 9, what textual evidence best supports Alexis Lewis’s view on how age affects problem-solving?
A. "I don’t mean to put adults down, but when you’ve grown up and you’ve seen the world for a long time, you think it’s one way."
B. "I’d say that starting young has had an advantage."
C. "Kids...have the ability to look at something and not think, ‘oh this is a problem that can’t be solved.’"
D. "Kids...have access to videos on any subject."
C. "Kids...have the ability to look at something and not think, ‘oh this is a problem that can’t be solved.’"
How does Alexis’s "Inventing 101" course idea create a connection between her beliefs about young inventors and her vision for education?
A. She believes young inventors need encouragement, so her course would show them examples of other young inventors.
B. She believes inventing should be a required high school class, so her course would introduce technical invention skills to teenagers.
C. She believes adults should only help if they are skilled in inventing, so her course would focus on professional skills for future adult inventors.
D. She believes students are not interested in inventions, so her course would introduce new technology to excite them.
A. She believes young inventors need encouragement, so her course would show them examples of other young inventors.
In paragraph 9, Alexis says, “Adults…think it’s one way.” What is the impact of this phrase on the reader’s understanding of her perspective on problem-solving?
A. It suggests that adults are fixed in their thinking, emphasizing Alexis’s belief that younger people bring fresh, flexible ideas.
B. It implies that adults are experienced, indicating Alexis believes young people should learn from adults.
C. It shows that adults are supportive, suggesting Alexis values their encouragement in her projects.
D. It means that adults are superior in problem-solving, highlighting Alexis’s appreciation for adult expertise.
A. It suggests that adults are fixed in their thinking, emphasizing Alexis’s belief that younger people bring fresh, flexible ideas.
What central idea is highlighted by Alexis’s desire to implement “Inventing 101” classes in schools?
A. Young people need encouragement and support to believe in their ability to invent.
B. Invention classes should be available only to high school students who are serious about science.
C. Young inventors need training to overcome their lack of technical knowledge.
D. Middle school students are too young to understand the challenges of inventing.
A. Young people need encouragement and support to believe in their ability to invent.
How does the sentence “Inventors are basically anybody and everybody who’s ever tried to solve a problem” in paragraph 14 develop a key concept in the text?
A. It reinforces Alexis’s view that inventing is not limited to professionals but is accessible to everyone, especially young people.
B. It implies that inventors are mostly amateurs who work without professional support.
C. It suggests that the most significant inventions come from unexpected places, often by mistake.
D. It criticizes traditional inventors for overcomplicating simple solutions.
A. It reinforces Alexis’s view that inventing is not limited to professionals but is accessible to everyone, especially young people.
Which quote from the text best supports the idea that Alexis’s interest in inventing was encouraged by her upbringing?
A. "My mom would always read to the family about various world issues."
B. "Being homeschooled, I had a lot of free time in which I was encouraged to basically go and do and build almost anything I wanted."
C. "People are stunned when they hear what I’ve done."
D. "It’s not necessarily going to be the collapsible travois...it’s going to be the simple bamboo one."
B. "Being homeschooled, I had a lot of free time in which I was encouraged to basically go and do and build almost anything I wanted."
What connection does Alexis make between her age and her ability to think differently about problems?
A. She suggests that being young allows her to rely on adult guidance rather than try to solve problems alone.
B. She emphasizes that kids’ open-mindedness helps them see possibilities in situations where adults might see only obstacles.
C. She believes young inventors are too inexperienced to make meaningful contributions but should learn from older inventors.
D. She suggests that young inventors are more likely to create toys, while adults focus on useful inventions.
B. She emphasizes that kids’ open-mindedness helps them see possibilities in situations where adults might see only obstacles.
What is the meaning of the phrase “trial and error” as used in paragraph 13, and how does it contribute to the tone of Alexis’s description of her invention process?
A. It means making repeated attempts to improve a design, which adds a determined and experimental tone to her description.
B. It refers to testing things only once, making her process sound simple and easy.
C. It describes using formal scientific tests, adding a strictly professional tone to her invention process.
D. It implies that inventions are successful on the first attempt, making her process sound straightforward.
A. It means making repeated attempts to improve a design, which adds a determined and experimental tone to her description.
What is a central idea of the passage?
A. Inventing should be restricted to professionals with advanced scientific backgrounds.
B. Young people have unique perspectives and abilities that can contribute to solving world problems through invention.
C. Alexis Lewis believes young inventors should focus solely on humanitarian issues.
D. Most young people are unaware of the importance of inventions in everyday life.
B. Young people have unique perspectives and abilities that can contribute to solving world problems through invention.
What is the purpose of the final sentence in paragraph 14, “Inventors are basically anybody and everybody who’s ever tried to solve a problem”?
A. To emphasize Alexis’s belief that inventing is accessible to everyone, not just those with advanced scientific training.
B. To argue that only those with scientific expertise can be considered real inventors.
C. To encourage people to invent only if they have technical knowledge.
D. To limit inventing to people who work in formal labs or have access to resources.
A. To emphasize Alexis’s belief that inventing is accessible to everyone, not just those with advanced scientific training.