Inferences
In kindergarten children learn to write with thick pencils. These big pencils are easy to hold. These big pencils also have thick lead. This lead does not break easily.
Later, children learn to write with pens. Ink cannot be erased. Ink smears. Many children get ink all over the paper and all over themselves.
It is likely that:
a. Small children have a hard time using pens.
b. The ink used in schools is always blue.
c. Older students never write with pencil.
d. Teachers prefer children to use pens.
a. Small children have a hard time using pens.
What is the main idea of the paragraph?
a. Tina does not like to get letters.
b. Tina writes letters often.
c. Tina gets a lot of mail.
d. Tina used to write letters a lot.
b. Tina writes letters often.
There are ten hens in the barn. They are good hens. They lay eggs every day. They each have a nest. Sometimes they make a lot of noise.
What is the theme of the paragraph?
a. Hens and roosters lay eggs.
b. All farmers have hens.
c. Ten hens lay eggs.
d. Hens make noise in the house.
c. Ten hens lay eggs.
Pete ran in a race at school. Five other people ran in the race. Pete was the fastest runner. He won the race.
CAUSE: Pete was the fastest runner.
What was the EFFECT?
a. Five people ran with Pete.
b. Pete won the race.
c. The race was at school.
d. They will race again.
b. Pete won the race.
Text 1:
The princess from Egypt is wearing a beautiful necklace. This necklace is made of the most beautiful glass beads. Some women with the princess are wearing necklaces with colored stone beads shaped like flowers and fruits. A little girl standing near the princess is wearing a robe with many small beads on it.
Text 2:
Airplanes are helping farmers. They bring the food the farmers grow to far away cities. After 1950, airplanes began to carry more of the food. The fruits and vegetables are put on planes. The plane carries them to stores all over the country. Stores far away can get the fruits and vegetables in a few hours.
Which sentence is a fact?
a. Wearing beads will make you beautiful.
b. Some beads are shaped like fruits.
c. Everybody wears beads.
d. There were not beads in Egypt.
b. Some beads are shaped like fruits.
. “I’ll trade you,” said Brian.
“No,” answered Sherry. “You always bring cheese. I don’t like cheese.”
“Well, then, I’ll give you my apple if you give me your banana,” said Brian.
Sherry looked at Brian’s apple. It was bright red and looked delicious. Sherry liked apples. But she also liked bananas! She looked at her banana and then Brian’s apple.
“Okay,” said Sherry. “I’ll trade.”
It is likely that:
a. Brian forgot his lunch.
b. Sherry had a peanut butter sandwich.
c. It is lunch time at school.
d. Sherry always trades with Brian.
c. It is lunch time at school.
Jenny has a horse. It lives in the barn. Jenny feeds it in the morning. She rides it after school. Jenny is happy to be with her horse.
What is the main idea of the paragraph?
a. To tell how to take care of horses.
b. To show that Jenny is a good rider.
c. To tell that Jenny does not like horses.
d. To tell about Jenny’s horse.
d. To tell about Jenny’s horse.
Ron likes to go for walks in the woods. He sees many animals in the woods. Ron learns a lot from watching the animals. He knows what each animal likes to do. Sometimes Ron takes pictures of the animals.
What is the theme of the paragraph?
a. Ron lives next to the woods.
b. The animals belong to Ron.
c. Ron knows much about the woods and the animals.
d. The animals are friendly.
c. Ron knows much about the woods and the animals.
Lorraine was lost in the big city. She was not afraid, though. She asked a policeman to help her. He showed her the way home.
EFFECT: A policeman helped Lorraine.
What was the CAUSE?
a. The policeman was not afraid.
b. The city was very big.
c. Lorraine was lost.
d. Lorraine asked for help.
c.Lorraine was lost.
Text 1:
The princess from Egypt is wearing a beautiful necklace. This necklace is made of the most beautiful glass beads. Some women with the princess are wearing necklaces with colored stone beads shaped like flowers and fruits. A little girl standing near the princess is wearing a robe with many small beads on it.
Text 2:
Airplanes are helping farmers. They bring the food the farmers grow to far away cities. After 1950, airplanes began to carry more of the food. The fruits and vegetables are put on planes. The plane carries them to stores all over the country. Stores far away can get the fruits and vegetables in a few hours.
How does the farmer get some of his food to the store?
a. In a car
b. In the mail
c. In a train
d. In an airplane
d. In an airplane
There were not many books in America two hundred years ago. Each classroom had one or two books. Everybody used the same book. It was called a hornbook.
The hornbook was a big sheet of paper. The paper was put on a piece of wood, then covered with a thick piece of horn. The horn came from a cow. You could see through the horn. The horn kept the paper from tearing.
It is likely that:
a. You could buy a hornbook today at the bookstore.
b. Covering a sheet of paper with horn made it last a long time.
c. Each classroom had a cow in it two hunderd years ago.
d. Children learn better using hornbooks.
Covering a sheet of paper with horn made it last a long time.
Tom could not find his coat. He did not know where he put it. He looked all over the house. The coat was new. He must find it.
What is the main idea of the paragraph?
a. Tom gets a new coat.
b. Tom can’t find his coat.
c. Tom doesn’t like his coat.
d. Tom’s coat is warm.
b. Tom can’t find his coat.
Sally likes to paint. She likes the pretty colors. She draws a picture first. Then she uses her paints. She gives her pictures to her mother.
What is the theme of the paragraph?
a. Sally does not paint well.
b. Painting is fun.
c. Sally paints a picture.
d. Sally’s mother is a good painter.
b. Painting is fun.
Alan and Carol like to skate. They go ice-skating in the winter. In the summer, it is too warm to ice-skate. Alan and Carol roller-skate in the summer.
EFFECT: Alan and Carol roller-skate in the summer.
What was the CAUSE?
a. It is too warm to ice-skate.
b. They do not like to ice-skate.
c. The go ice-skating all winter already.
d. They like roller-skating better.
a. It is too warm to ice-skate.
Text 1:
The princess from Egypt is wearing a beautiful necklace. This necklace is made of the most beautiful glass beads. Some women with the princess are wearing necklaces with colored stone beads shaped like flowers and fruits. A little girl standing near the princess is wearing a robe with many small beads on it.
Text 2:
Airplanes are helping farmers. They bring the food the farmers grow to far away cities. After 1950, airplanes began to carry more of the food. The fruits and vegetables are put on planes. The plane carries them to stores all over the country. Stores far away can get the fruits and vegetables in a few hours.
What is the theme of this paragraph?
a. Vegetables will spoil.
b. Airplanes were invented in 1950.
c. Airplanes help farmers get their food to stores.
d. Farmers don’t like airplanes.
c. Airplanes help farmers get their food to stores.
Mrs. Presky is the school crossing guard. Each morning she helps the children cross the street. She knows all the children. She knows which grades they are in. Mrs. Presky asks about their report cards. She listens to their jokes. She tells the children funny stories. She always helps a crying child. Every morning and afternoon, Mrs. Presky is there to help.
It is likely that:
a. Mrs. Presky is really old.
b. There are too many cars on the street.
c. Mrs. Presky likes children.
d. Mrs. Presky does not like her job.
Mrs. Presky likes children.
Bears love to eat honey. They like it because it is sweet. Bears look for honey in the woods. They climb trees to get it. They will eat all the honey they find.
What is the main idea of the paragraph?
a. Bears like honey.
b. Bears like to eat candy.
c. Bears like to catch bees.
d. Bears climb trees.
a. Bears like honey.
Ann likes to jump rope with her friends. She can jump fast. She can do some tricks. Ann likes to jump rope a lot. She is the best jumper in school.
What is the theme of the paragraph?
a. Ann does not like to jump.
b. Ann is a good rope jumper.
c. Everyone likes to jump rope.
d. Ann makes good grades.
b. Ann is a good rope jumper.
The wolf sniffed the air. He smelled the smoke from the town. He knew that the town was not far away.
CAUSE: The wolf could smell smoke.
What was the EFFECT?
a. He smelled the air.
b. The smoke came from town.
c. He knew the town was not far away.
d. The wolf was scared.
a. He smelled the air.
Text 1:
The princess from Egypt is wearing a beautiful necklace. This necklace is made of the most beautiful glass beads. Some women with the princess are wearing necklaces with colored stone beads shaped like flowers and fruits. A little girl standing near the princess is wearing a robe with many small beads on it.
Text 2:
Airplanes are helping farmers. They bring the food the farmers grow to far away cities. After 1950, airplanes began to carry more of the food. The fruits and vegetables are put on planes. The plane carries them to stores all over the country. Stores far away can get the fruits and vegetables in a few hours.
Why is it good for food to get to the store fast?
a. It will stay fresh.
b. It will be warm.
c. It will be large.
d. It will be thrown out.
a. It will stay fresh.
Brenda was the first one out the door. She ran to the playground. She grabbed the swinging tire and sat in it. She rocked back and forth. Then Jason said he would like a turn on the tire. Brenda gave up the tire and ran to the gym set. She climbed up the bars. She climbed all through the gym set.
“Whee!” shouted Brenda.
It is likely that:
a. Brenda does not like Jason.
b. Brenda likes to play outdoors.
c. Brenda does not like the playground.
d. Brenda is in middle school.
b. Brenda likes to play outdoors.
Jack has a new teacher. She is very pretty. Her name is Mrs. Smith. Mrs. Smith teaches the children many things. Jack is happy with his teacher.
What is the main idea of the paragraph?
a. Mrs. Brown is the new teacher.
b. No one likes Mrs. Smith.
c. The new teacher is mean.
d. Jack likes his new teacher.
d. Jack likes his new teacher.
Dave likes to play ball. He plays with his friends often. He likes to bat the ball. He likes to catch the ball too. Dave is a good ball player.
What is the theme of the paragraph?
a. Dave can catch and bat.
b. Dave does not like to bat.
c. All boys must play ball.
d. No girls can play ball.
a. Dave can catch and bat.
The man wore a hat and a black coat. He did not want us to see him. He tried to hide behind a post.
EFFECT: The man hid behind the post.
What was the CAUSE?
a. He was wearing a black coat.
b. He did not want to be seen.
c. He was in a play.
d. He did not want to wear a hat.
b. He did not want to be seen.
Text 1:
The princess from Egypt is wearing a beautiful necklace. This necklace is made of the most beautiful glass beads. Some women with the princess are wearing necklaces with colored stone beads shaped like flowers and fruits. A little girl standing near the princess is wearing a robe with many small beads on it.
Text 2:
Airplanes are helping farmers. They bring the food the farmers grow to far away cities. After 1950, airplanes began to carry more of the food. The fruits and vegetables are put on planes. The plane carries them to stores all over the country. Stores far away can get the fruits and vegetables in a few hours.
What is the main idea of this story?
a. A little girl is wearing a robe.
b. In Egypt, many people wear beads.
c. The necklace is beautiful.
d. Egypt has a princess.
b. In Egypt, many people wear beads.