Inferences
Mia zipped her jacket, grabbed an umbrella, and frowned as thunder rumbled outside.
What can you infer about the weather?
It is raining or about to rain
Some desert plants survive long periods without rain by storing water inside thick stems. Their roots also spread wide across the ground so they can quickly collect water when it rains.
Question:
What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Desert plants need daily rain
B. Desert plants have colorful flowers
C. Desert plants have ways to survive dry weather
D. Desert plants only grow in sand
C. Desert plants have ways to survive dry weather
My brother like to play soccer.
What correction should be made?
Change like to likes
Would you like to help birds in your neighborhood? Placing a bird feeder outside gives birds food and lets you observe them closely.
Question:
Why did the author most likely write this passage?
A. To entertain readers with a story
B. To persuade readers to use a bird feeder
C. To explain how birds fly
D. To describe different bird colors
B. To persuade readers to use a bird feeder
Clouds covered the sky all afternoon, and the wind grew stronger by evening.
Question:
Which word best describes the mood?
A. Cheerful
B. Calm
C. Stormy
D. Silly
C. Stormy
Marcus stood near the diving board, looking down at the water. He stepped forward, then backward, and gripped the railing tightly while other swimmers waited behind him.
Question:
Which detail best supports the inference that Marcus feels nervous?
A. Other swimmers waited behind him
B. He looked down at the water
C. He stepped forward, then backward
D. He stood near the diving board
C. He stepped forward, then backward
Ella practiced her violin every afternoon for two weeks. At first, she missed several notes, but by Friday she played the entire song smoothly for her family.
Question:
What is the most likely reason Ella improved?
A. She bought a new violin
B. She practiced often
C. She played for her family
D. She changed songs
B. She practiced often
(1) Last Saturday, my family planted flowers near the front porch.
(2) We chose red and yellow flowers because they would stand out against the brick wall.
(3) My brother watered each plant carefully after we finished digging.
(4) The dog barked loudly at a passing truck.
(5) By evening, the garden looked bright and colorful.
Question:
Which sentence should be removed because it does not support the main idea of the paragraph?
A. Sentence 2
B. Sentence 3
C. Sentence 4
D. Sentence 5
C. Sentence 4
The first bicycles were much heavier than modern bicycles and had wooden wheels.
Question:
The author’s purpose is mainly to—
A. inform
B. persuade
C. entertain
D. describe feelings
A. inform
Ben reached the finish line last, but he smiled because he had never finished the race before.
Question:
What theme is shown?
A. Winning is everything
B. Trying can be an achievement
C. Racing is easy
D. Smiling means success
B. Trying can be an achievement
Nora checked her backpack three times before leaving the house. She made sure her folder, pencils, and lunch were inside. Before closing the zipper, she added the permission slip her teacher had reminded the class about yesterday.
Question:
What can the reader infer about Nora?
A. She often forgets her supplies
B. She wants to be prepared for school
C. She does not like her teacher
D. She packed after school
B. She wants to be prepared for school
The museum guide explained that fossils can show what plants and animals looked like millions of years ago.
Question:
What does the guide explain?
A. Fossils are easy to find
B. Fossils give information about the past
C. Museums create fossils
D. Animals live in museums
B. Fossils give information about the past
A student is writing about why recess is important.
Question:
Which sentence best adds support for the writer’s idea?
A. Recess happens after math each day.
B. Recess gives students time to move and reset before learning again.
C. Some students wear jackets outside.
D. The playground has two swings.
B. Recess gives students time to move and reset before learning again
Bringing reusable water bottles to school helps reduce plastic waste. A single bottle can replace hundreds of disposable bottles each year. Small choices like this can help protect the environment over time.
Question:
Why did the author most likely write this passage?
A. To entertain readers with a story about school
B. To persuade readers to make an environmentally friendly choice
C. To explain how bottles are made
D. To describe different kinds of plastic
B. To persuade the reader to make an environmentally friendly choice
As the final whistle blew, Jordan bent over with his hands on his knees. A few seconds later, he looked up and smiled when his teammates ran toward him cheering.
Question:
What can the reader conclude about Jordan?
A. His team lost the game.
B. He is disappointed in his performance.
C. Something positive happened at the end of the game.
D. He wants to leave the field quickly.
C. Something positive happened at the end of the game
Tyler stared at the dark clouds through the bus window. He sighed when he remembered the baseball glove sitting by the front door at home.
Question:
Which inference is best supported by the passage?
A. Tyler forgot something important
B. Tyler enjoys riding the bus
C. Tyler dislikes baseball
D. Tyler is going home early
A. Tyler forgot something important
Some animals survive harsh winters by changing their behavior instead of their appearance. Squirrels, for example, gather food during warmer months and hide it in many places before cold weather begins. Even after snow covers the ground, squirrels are often able to remember where they stored food. This helps them find enough to eat when plants and insects are harder to find.
Question:
What is the main idea of the passage?
A. Snow makes it difficult for squirrels to move.
B. Squirrels prepare in advance to survive winter.
C. Plants and insects disappear during winter.
D. Animals change appearance in cold weather.
B. Squirrels prepare in advance to survive winter
(1) Our class visited the nature center last Friday.
(2) A guide showed us how animal tracks can help identify wildlife.
(3) We also learned why some birds migrate during winter.
(4) The bus ride home was quiet because everyone was tired.
(5) I think field trips help students understand lessons better.
Question:
The writer wants sentence 5 to better connect to the paragraph. Which revision works best?
A. Field trips can be exciting and educational experiences for students.
B. I was tired after we returned from the trip.
C. Nature centers are often outdoors.
D. Birds migrate every winter.
A. Field trips can be exciting and educational experiences for students
Long ago, early bicycles were made with large front wheels and much smaller back wheels. Riders had to climb up carefully before moving.
Question:
The author’s main purpose is to—
A. describe a problem
B. persuade readers to ride bicycles
C. inform readers about early bicycles
D. compare bicycles and cars
C. Inform readers about early bicycles
The article includes bold headings such as “Where Hurricanes Form” and “How Storms Gain Strength.”
Question:
Why did the author most likely include these headings?
A. To make the page look colorful
B. To organize information by topic
C. To shorten the article
D. To show the ending first
B. To organize information by topic
By the time the class reached the museum entrance, Marcus had already asked three questions about the dinosaur exhibit. He walked ahead of his group, stopping to read every sign near the entrance while the others gathered around their teacher. When the guide announced that the fossil room would be first, Marcus adjusted his glasses and smiled.
Question:
Which detail best supports the inference that Marcus has a strong interest in dinosaurs?
A. He walked ahead of his group.
B. He adjusted his glasses and smiled.
C. He asked several questions before entering.
D. The teacher gathered the class.
C. He asked several questions before entering
When the town library announced its summer reading challenge, many students signed up right away. Participants earned a sticker for every book they finished, but the grand prize was a chance to choose a new book for the library shelves. By August, nearly every reading log had been filled.
Question:
Which sentence best explains why many students continued reading all summer?
A. The library stayed open every day.
B. Students enjoyed collecting rewards and reaching a goal.
C. The reading logs were easy to complete.
D. The books were shorter in summer.
B. Students enjoyed collecting rewards and reaching a goal
A student is writing about why teamwork matters.
Question:
Which sentence best develops the writer’s idea?
A. Teams sometimes wear matching shirts.
B. Working together allows people to combine ideas and solve problems faster.
C. Some games require teams.
D. A team can have many people.
B. Working together allows people to combine ideas and solve problems faster.
Even turning off unused lights for a few minutes each day can reduce energy waste over time. Families that make small changes often notice lower electricity bills by the end of the month.
Question:
Why does the author include the second sentence?
A. To describe how electricity is measured
B. To give evidence supporting the main point
C. To compare two kinds of energy use
D. To entertain the reader with an example
B. To give evidence supporting the main point
At the end of the race, Maya crossed the finish line behind two runners she had trained with all season. She bent over to catch her breath, then looked up when her coach clapped and nodded.
Question:
What does the coach’s reaction most likely suggest?
A. Maya broke a school rule
B. Maya met an important goal
C. Maya needs to race again
D. Maya started too slowly
B. Maya met an important goal