Inference 101
Jake and Time sat quietly next to each other, each thinking his own thoughts. Suddenly, the pole Jake was holding loosely in his hands jerked so hard, he nearly dropped it. "You got one!" exclaimed Time excitedly. "Reel him in slowly."
What did Jake have? How do you know?
A fish, because you use a pole to catch a fish and reel it in.
What is the topic of this passage?
They are building a new school near my house. Every day I watch the workers drive huge tractors and push a ton of dirt. They have big cranes that help them place tall beams in the ground. The workers build walls using bricks. Every day it looks more and more like a school. Mom says I will go there in the fall.
Getting/building a new school.
It was her 16th birthday and she was so excited! She ran out the front door and saw the huge ribbon tied around her present. It was so awesome! It even had a sunroof just like she wanted.
What did the girl get for her birthday? How do you know?
She got a car and the clues are it's her 16th birthday, it was outside, and it had a sunroof.
A girl dragged her towel and tube on the road as she walked home from the swimming pool because she was too tired to carry it. She had swam really hard. The next time she went swimming, she went to get her tube and it was flat.
Why do you think it was flat?
Because she has to drag it down the road.
What is an analogy?
An analogy is a comparison between two things, typically for the purpose of explanation or clarification.
Jane knew she had to make this shot. The whole game depended on her. She dribbled the ball and threw it. She closed her eyes and hoped she made it!
What game is the girl playing? Is the score of the game close?
Basketball, the score is close because she said that she knew she needed to make this shot.
Summarize this paragraph:
Just as "Peanuts" seems to have absorbed so much of the popular culture which preceded it, the comic strip has had a profound influence on the society and culture of its own time. "Peanuts" affects and inspires our daily lives, and not simply because we can open our daily newspapers and find it there without fail (for over 14,000 days now without interruption—one of the few certainties in a world beset by unsettling changes). "Peanuts" has become an integral part of the history of American culture through its influence in so many areas of our life and society.
The comic strip, Peanuts, has a great influence on our present-day culture
You went to school late because you had a dentist appointment. You showed up to your classroom and no one was there. Then you looked at the clock and saw it was around noon and then your tummy growled.
Where do you think your classmates were?
At lunch because it is 12 oclock and your stomach growled.
"Troy stuttered, blushed and shook as he addressed the crowd." He had spent hours preparing for what he would say. He held his speech in his hand. He was up against last years student council president.
What can you infer about Troy from this statement?
He is running for class president and he is about to give his speech in front of his classmates. He is very nervous.
Life is like a race. The one who keeps running wins the race, and the one who stops to catch a breath loses.
What two things are being compared in this analogy?
Life is compared to a race
As the boys sat outside the principal's office, with torn shirts and muddy faces, they knew they were in trouble. Fighting was strictly against the rules. They would be so embarrassed to call their parents and tell them what they had done.
What would they have to tell their parents? Why were the boy's dirty? Why are the boy's at the office?
They were fighting outside during recess and had been sent to the office for the offense.
What is this selection mainly about?
Someday we will all have robots that will be our personal servants. They will look and behave much like real humans. We will be able to talk to these mechanical helpers and they will be able to respond in kind! Amazingly, the robots of the future will be able to learn from experience. They will be smart, strong, and untiring workers whose only goal will be to make our lives easier.
Someday we will have robots that will be our personal servants.
Your sister was gone for three days on a snowboarding trip. You missed her so bad. You woke up and saw her sitting on the couch. Her leg was propped up and had a big pink cast on it.
What do you think happened?
She broke her leg on the snowboarding trip.
The sun was low in the sky. Kay's body ached. Blisters had formed on her hands. She set the rake down on the big pile of leaves and headed for home.
What can you infer from this passage?
Kay had worked a long time raking leaves. The clues are her body aching, blistered had formed on her hands, and she used a rake.
They crowded very close about him, with their hands always on him in a careful, caressing grip, as though all the while feeling him to make sure he was there. It was like men handling a fish which is still alive and may jump back into the water.
What two things are being compared in this analogy?
The man is compared to a fish.
Lauren worried when she handed her mom her envelope. She carefully watched mom looking over the paper, and a feeling of relief swept over her and a smile spread across mom's face. Mom said "let's go get ice cream to celebrate!"
Why was Lauren worried? What paper was mom looking at? Why does mom want to go get ice cream?
She wasn't sure her grades were what her mom had expected. She was looking at her report card. Her mom was very proud of Lauren's grades.
What is this passage mostly about?
Peter's parents bought a new carpet for the lining room. Now, he has to take his shoes off when he enters the house. He's also not allowed to eat or drink in the living room any more. Peter's furry dog isn't allowed to play ball in there either. When his parents got the new carpet, there were lots of new rules.
Peter's parents made new rules so that the new carpet stays clean.
We watched as the engines roared, but they remained still. They were all lined up in a straight line waiting to accelerate. Each believing that they could win. A man stood close to the track waving a flag and off they went.
Where are they at? How do you know?
They are at the races. The clues are the engines roared, waiting to accelerate, each believing they could win, and the man with the flag.
As usual, Jim left for school ten minutes later than he should have. His shoelaces were untied and his backpack was unzipped. He had traveled only one block when he heard his mother shout his name. He looked back and saw her waving his brown bag lunch.
What can you infer from this passage? What are the clues?
Jim is disorganized and forgetful. The clues are his shoe laces were untied and his back pack unzipped. His mom had to call him back to get his lunch that he had forgotten.
Read from some humbler poet,
Whose songs gushed from his heart,
As showers from the clouds of summer,
Or tears from the eyelids start.
What things are being compared in this analogy?
Poetry (songs) are compared to rain showers or tears
Rachel climbed under the covers and got out her flashlight. she snuck out her book and began to read. Before she knew it, the clock read 11pm! As she heard her mom walking toward her room, she quickly turned off her light and pretended to snore. Why did Rachel use a flashlight? How did Rachel feel about what she was reading? Why did she pretend to snore?
She didn't want her parents to know that she was awake past her bedtime. She couldn't wait to see what happened next in her book.
What is the passage mostly about?
There is a village on an island near Scotland. it was built out of stone. A storm covered in in sand 4,000 years ago. It stayed covered until 1851. Then another storm blew the sand away. The village looked just like it did 4,000 years ago.
About a village that's been covered in sand for 4,000 years.
My palms are sweating, my heart is racing, and my pencil broke. I raise my hand hoping not to disrupt anyone else. I look at the clock and time seems to be racing by. I have to do my best!
Where am I ? What am I doing?
In the classroom taking an important test.
He walks in the door toting his heavy backpack and waits in line to get his pass. Then, he is moving in and out of all the people as he makes his way to his destination. The room is empty as he hurriedly puts his things away.
Where is the boy? What can you infer after reading this?
He is late for school. Some of the clues are getting the tag, his back pack, and the room being empty.
The white mares of the moon rush along the sky
Beating their golden hoofs upon the glass Heavens.
What two things are being compared in this analogy?
The moon is compared to horses