Make an Inference
Is this a good Inference?
What Happens Next?
Double or Nothing
100
Jim stomped through the front door after school and tossed his book bag on the floor. He ran up the stairs to his bedroom and slammed his bedroom door. Jim flung himself on the bed and put his pillow over his head. He was never going to talk to Pete again!
Why is Jim upset?
-Pete did something to hurt his feelings
100
Inference: Man saves a drowning boy
-Bad Inference-
The clues do not show that the boy is drowning
100
What Happens Next?
-Boat tips over
-Boat crashes into people
-Boat stops before it crashes into people
100
"I'm home!" Earl shouted as he walked in the door. His wife Gail came bounding down the stairs. She hadn't seen him since he had left to go on his silly fishing trip two weeks ago. "I missed you, Husband. Did you catch anything?" Gail reluctantly asked, knowing that Earl was not a very good fisherman. Earl scratched his head and responded, "You're not going to believe what I'm bringing home." Earl unzipped a cooler and pulled out several perfectly filleted salmon steaks. "Wow, Earl, I didn't know that you could fillet a fish like that." Earl looked around the room a little bit and scratched his head, "Uh, yeah, Jeff taught me how." Gail looked at him suspiciously. "Well, let me help you unpack." As Gail was helping Earl unpack his truck, she found a receipt from the grocery store. It was dated from that morning. What she saw was both disappointing and unsurprising.
What did Gail find on the receipt?
The clues hint that Earl bought the fish from the store and hid the receipt
200
What are the children doing?
-They are watching a video
-They are video calling someone
-They were asked a question
200
Inference: A group of children rob a house after school
-Bad Inference-
There are no clues that the children are robbing the house
200
Brenda reached for the box of tissue. She blew her nose with a thunderous force and then tried breathing through it again. It was still clogged. She stood up and got a head rush that almost knocked her back down to the bed, but she regained her balance. As she tottered over to the phone on her dresser, all of her muscles ached. She located the contact labeled "Work" and pressed send. A couple of rings later, a familiar voice answered the phone, "Happy Fun Land, this is Deidra speaking. How can I help you have a happy fun day?" Brenda moaned, "Oh, Deidra, it's Brenda." Deidra responded with pep, "Hey, Brenda! I can't wait to see you this afternoon." Brenda grunted and replied, "Yeah, well, actually, I need to talk to the manager."
What happens next?
-Brenda calls out sick from work
-Brenda tells her manager that she is sick
200
Inference: This man is robbing the store
-Bad Inference-
-The clues do not show the man stealing or breaking anything
-He is wearing a construction vest and might be there to fix the glass
300
Gloria was driving around the neighborhood in her pajamas. Every block or so she'd stop the car, hold her head out of the door, whistle, and call out "Candy! Candy! Come here girl!" Then she'd start the car again and slowly drive another block or two, looking around from left to right. Curtis sat in the passenger seat. He was looking around too, but he held his head low. "How many times have I told you to make sure that you shut and lock the door after you come in?" Gloria reprimanded Curtis. Curtis sighed. He felt bad enough without her blaming him.
Who is Candy and what are Gloria and Curtis doing?
-Candy is a pet or daughter
-Gloria and Curtis are looking for her because she got outside
300
Tony walked out of the shopping mall with his arms full of bags and the sun shining on him. As he approached his car, he started awkwardly feeling around his pockets with his arm full of bags. He did not find what he was looking for so he transferred the bags on one arm to the other arm, which already had bags. Tony had a lot of bags on one arm. He still couldn't find what he was looking for. Now he dropped the bags and plunged both hands desperately into all of the pockets on his jeans. With a look of despair, Tony ran to his car. He tried to open the door, but it was locked. Then he saw something on the passenger seat of the car. He stopped looking and pulled his phone out of his pocket.
Inference: Tony lost his wallet
-Bad inference-
The clues from the passage show that Tony lost his keys
300
One Friday night Ben planned to see a movie with his friends. It was the newest action movie and he had wanted to see it for weeks. On his way to the theatre, Ben stopped at the store to get some snacks. He picked out three candy bars and then realized he didn’t have any money with him. Ben looked at his watch, he was going to be late for the movie if he didn't hurry. Ben stuffed the candy bars in his pocket and rushed to leave the store. Right as he was walking out the door, Ben felt a hand on his shoulder and heard a man say, “Let’s go call your parents, young man."
What happens next?
-Ben runs and escapes so he can make it to the movie in time
-Ben turns himself in and misses the movie
300
Katherine glanced at her watch again, realizing that only six minutes had gone by since the last time she had checked it. It was astonishing how slowly time passed when waiting; she felt like a massive bundle of nerves, excitement, and anticipation. Her job interview was scheduled for two o'clock in the afternoon, approximately three minutes from now, and somehow those minutes like an eternity. While waiting, Katherine continued to practice her responses to some of the questions she expected to face during the upcoming interview. She wanted to make a good impression on the interviewer and planned to highlight her strengths and work experience, while admitting to a few flaws, as her guidance counselor at high school had advised her to do. Finding the perfect balance between confidence and humility was the key to getting hired, the counselor had said, and Katherine planned to walk out of the interview as an employed student.
Why does time seem to go slow for Katherine?
a. She is eager to complete the interview and go home
b. She is worried she will forget the answers she practiced
c. She is concerned she will be late returning to school
a. She is eager to complete the interview and go home
-The clues show that she is confident and knows what to say
400
As soon as Caleb walked into the shop, he began to sneeze. The little shop was lined with cages full of furry little creatures or feathery ones, as well as colorful fish in their bubbling blue glass tanks. A woman wearing glasses and a worried look stepped from behind the counter. Caleb said hello, but then he sneezed once more. And sneezed again--and again. Each time he sneezed, the animals in their cages seemed to shake with agitation. Before Caleb could grab a shopping cart, the woman in the glasses asked him if he could please come back another time.
Why did the woman ask Caleb to leave?
-Caleb's sneezing was bothering the animals
400
With an exasperated sigh, Ingrid searched one more time for her science report. She looked under the dinner plate with the rotten pieces of chicken. She flipped through a stack of old magazines and a bundle of school newspapers. She even moved two piles of dirty sweat clothes and a shopping bag full of old DVDs. Why was it so hard to find things in her room.
Inference: Ingrid's room is too small
-Bad inference-
The clues show that Ingrid's room is too dirty or unorganized, not small.
400
When Mrs. Robinson saw Ralph walk into her clothing store, she greeted him by name. Mrs. Robinson took Ralph by the arm and led him to a table stacked with new sweaters. Soon she was holding up a red sweater and nodding her head and smiling. Ralph, who had come in only for a pair of socks, started nodding his head along with her. "Not bad," he said, as he reached for his wallet.
What happens next?
-Ralph will buy the red sweater
-Ralph will buy the red sweater and the socks
400
"William, don't forget your towel!" Mom shouted as she applied sunblock on the baby. William threw the folding chairs in the back of the minivan and shouted through the garage door, "OK Mom!" He then ran up and grabbed his towel. "Georgie!" William shouted. There was no response. Mom packed the baby up into the car seat. "William, can you help me with his umbrella?" William ran down the stairs, almost tripping over a chew toy, and then he helped his mother load the large umbrella in the minivan. "Mom, I can't find Georgie," William said. His mother shrugged and replied, "That's OK, William. He probably shouldn't come with us anyway."
Who is Georgie?
The clues hint that Georgie is a pet