Making Inferences
Author's Purpose
Main Idea
Text Structure
Text Feature
100
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?
What is French?
100
You should eat ice cream because it is so good. You can choose from many flavors. You can eat it in a bowl or in a delicious cone.
What is the author’s purpose?
What is persuade?
100
Can animals guess the weather? Groundhog Day is a custom based on the idea that they can. In early February, people start wondering how much longer winter will last. An old story says that groundhogs give us the answer on February 2. They say that if a groundhog leaves its hole on Groundhog Day and sees its shadow, it will go back underground to sleep more. That means there will be six more weeks of winter. If there is no shadow, the groundhog stays above ground. People believe this means spring is near.
what is the main, or central, idea?
some people believe that groundhogs can tell when winter will end.
100
Why does a sunflower move throughout the day? The flower's face, or blossom, follows the sun as it moves across the sky. This happens because the stem below the blossom grows unevenly. The west side of the stem grows fast in the morning. As a result, the blossom turns toward the sun in the east. The east side of the stem starts growing faster than the west during the afternoon. So, by sunset, the flower is facing the sun in the west.
cause and effect
100
Now, read the information under the headings. What causes cheese curds to form in the milk? 
Rennet
200
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:
Tim did not do well on his test.
200
Joey looked around the house. He could not find his toy plane anywhere. He searched outside and still could not find it. Joey saw his dog Pal playing with his toy plane in his doghouse.
What is the author’s purpose?
What is entertain?
200
Jellyfish can be found in oceans around the world. Box jellyfish, named for their square shape, are found mainly off the coast of Australia. These beautiful animals are so clear that you can see through them. They look pretty and graceful. Don't be fooled, though! While box jellyfish may be pretty, they are quite dangerous. Box jellyfish have tentacles, or long arms, covered by stinging cells. These cells contain a deadly poison that can kill prey within minutes. A few types of box jellyfish have poisons that can even kill humans.
what is the main, or central, idea?
The box jellyfish may be beautiful animal, but can be deadly.
200
In some ways, amphibians and reptiles are alike. They are both cold-blooded, meaning they can't control how hot or cold they are. But there are important differences between them. Reptile skin feels hard or bony, while amphibian skin is softer. Also, amphibian eggs usually hatch in the water. Frogs, for instance, are amphibians that start out as swimming tadpoles. Snakes, on the other hand, are reptiles. Most reptiles spend their whole lives on land.
compare and contrast
200
Now, read the text around the key words. Which type of food are wild goats most likely to eat?
berries
300
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? about Trudy?
Trudy is embassassed.
300
Crayfish live on every continent except Africa and Antarctica. There are 200 species of crayfish in North America.
What is the author’s purpose?
What is inform?
300
Crows are much more clever than you might think. For example, crows actually make their own tools. They do this by bending wire or making sticks sharp. Crows have also been known to remember people's faces. This can help them warn other crows about people who might hurt them. Crows also make changes to fit in with a group. For example, when a crow moves from one group to another, it might change the way it caws. It does this to better match the sounds that the crows in the group make.
What is the main, or central, idea?
Crows are very smart birds
300
Riding a bike is a great way to get around. However, it can also be dangerous. You may have to bike on busy roads with lots of cars. Here are a few suggestions for ways to stay safe while biking. First, wear a helmet. Helmets prevent thousands of head injuries every year. If you ride at night, use blinking lights on your bike so that drivers can see you. Also, some roads have bike lanes to help bikers travel safely. Use bike lanes when you can.
problem and solution
300
Now, read the captions. What did Joe DiMaggio do before becoming a baseball player? 
He sold newspapers
400
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-olanterns showing up on people’s steps and porches.
What season can the reader infer it is?
What is Fall?
400
My favorite pasta is chicken alfredo. This pasta dish smells delicious and is very creamy from the alfredo sauce.
What is the author's purpose?
what is describe
400
Rabbits and hares are part of the same animal family. They both have long ears, short tails, large eyes, and strong teeth. Because they look so similar, rabbits and hares are often mistaken for each other. However, even though rabbits and hares look alike, they have different habits. Rabbits live in large family groups. On the other hand, hares mostly live alone. Rabbits live in underground tunnels and will run underground to hide. In contrast, hares live above the ground. The two animals even eat different kinds of foods. Rabbits like soft foods like grass, while hares prefer harder foods such as bark.
What is the main, or central, idea?
Rabbits and hares may look alike, but they are actually quite different.
400
If you go to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, you might visit the Liberty Bell. The first thing you'll notice is that it's huge! It weighs more than two thousand pounds. It's also historic. It was made more than 250 years ago. The Liberty Bell rang for many important events. In fact, some say it may have rung to announce the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It doesn't ring today, though. The bell cracked in 1846. You can see the large crack running all the way through it. Still, it's an important piece of American history.
descriptive
400
Now, read the text around the key words. How many people went to California to find gold during the Gold Rush? 
90,000 people
500
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):
What is a giraffe?
500
Today, I woke up early to get a headstart on the day. I brushed my teeth and hair in the bathroom. Then, I headed to my closet to get dresses for the day.
what is the author's purpose?
what is explain
500
Worker bees gather nectar from flowers. Nectar is a sweet liquid that bees use to make honey. As they gather nectar, bees do another important job, too. They carry tiny grains of pollen from one part of a flower to another. Sometimes they carry pollen from one flower to another. As a result, the plants are able to grow new seeds and fruit. Bees carry pollen to many different kinds of plants, including many that people eat. So, our food supply would be hurt without bees. We depend on bees for food like peaches, pears, and apples.
what is the main, or central, idea?
Bees are important because they help plants grow many foods we eat.
500
To grow carrots, you begin by getting the dirt ready. Break it up so it's nice and loose. Now you can plant the seeds. Make an even row of seeds. Cover them with a thin layer of dirt. Then, water and wait. Before long you'll see little bits of green sticking up. Next, make sure your carrots have enough space to grow. Pull out any weeds. You can also pull up some carrots if they are too crowded. Finally, in two months or so, your carrots will be ready to eat.
sequence of events or chronological order
500
Why would the author include the photographs?
To show us two types of gemstones found in Arizona.