Inference 101
Jake and Tim sat quietly next to each other by the lake. 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?
Jake had a fish.
Clues: You use a pole to fish; a fish jerks on a pole when you catch one; reel it in.
Kody packed his swim trunks, snorkels, and sand bucket. Mom packed the sunscreen, and towels. They couldn't wait to get to their sunny destination and relax.
Where are they going? How do you know?
The Beach
Clues: Swim trunks; snorkels; Sand bucket; Sunscreen; Towels
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?
A car.
Clues: 16th birthday; Ran out the door; Huge ribbon tied around it; Sunroof
You walk into a room and this is what you see: a missing bird, an empty birdcage, and a happily purring cat.
What happened? What are the clues?
The cat ate the bird.
Clues: Empty birdcage; Happily purring cat; the missing bird
Your background knowledge. What you know before you pick up a book.
Which word goes with this definition?
Schema
Jane knew she had to make this. She had to make a 3-pointer to be 1 point ahead of the other team. The whole game depended on her. She dribbled the ball and threw it. She closed her eyes and hoped she made it! Swish! The crowd goes wild!
What game is Jane playing?
Are the scores close?
How do you know?
Basketball
Yes
Clues: make this shot; whole game depended on her; dribbled the ball
Dad tapped his fingers on the table. His stomach growled as he looked at his watch. Mom fiddled with her straw and watched the food at the other table. The kids were fighting and whining. There was a loud, crashing noise and suddenly the waiter appeared and said, "I'm so sorry!"
Where are they? What happened? How do you know?
At a restaurant. The waiter dropped their food.
Clues: Dad's stomach growled; Mom watched food at other table; Loud crashing noise; Waiter apologized.
When they entered the gate, the woman gave them a wristband. They looked around at all the rides and shops and couldn't decide which one to go to first. Their mom yelled, "Look, there's Mickey!" They saw his mouse ears from a mile away.
Where are they? How do you know?
Disney World or Disneyland
Clues: Wristband, Rides and shops; Mickey; Mouse ears
Troy stumbled, blushed and shook as he spoke to the crowd. He had spent hours preparing what he would say. He held his speech in his hand. He was up against last year's student council president.
Why was Troy giving a speech? How did he feel? How do you know?
Troy was running for student council president.
Troy was nervous.
Clues: Giving a Speech; Blushed and shook as he spoke; Up against last year's president.
Factual information that helps the reader understand
Which word goes with this definition?
Detail
As the boys sat outside the principal's office, with torn shirts and bruised faces, they knew they were in trouble. The security guard sat between the boys to keep them apart. What they did was strictly against the rules. When their parents find out, they'll be in even more trouble.
Why were the boys sent to the office? How do you know?
The boys were fighting.
Clues: torn shirts and bruised faces; security guard had to keep them apart; they broke the rules.
Julie and her mom were at the department store. Julie really wanted new lipstick but her mother said she couldn't get any today. Julie's mom went to the clothing section while Julie stayed by the makeup. When it was time for them to leave, Julie was nervous. She was clutching her purse tightly hoping not to set off the alarms.
Why was Julie nervous? How do you know?
Julie stole the lipstick.
Clues: Julie was nervous; Clutching her purse tightly; Hoped she didn't set off alarms.
Elizabeth was so proud of her garden. She planted the seeds early in the spring and watered the plants every morning. Last Friday, Elizabeth's mom called and asked her to come over for the week because she was feeling sick. When Elizabeth came back home, her plants were bent and drooping.
Why were the plants drooping? How do you know?
She had not watered them for a week.
Clues: Elizabeth watered plants every morning; She went to her mom's house for a week and couldn't water them.
Rick had been training hard all summer. It was his sophomore year and he wanted to make the varsity football team! Two days after tryouts, the coach posted the list by the boys' locker room. When Rick saw the list, he smiled and said, "Yes!"
How did Rick feel? Why did he feel that way? How do you know?
Rick felt happy; excited; proud
Because he made the team.
Clues: Training all summer; Wanted to make varsity football team; Saw the list; Smiled and said, "Yes!"
An educated guess or conclusion made from facts and observations
Which word goes with this definition?
inference
Lauren worried as she handed her mom the paper from the school. She carefully watched her mom looking over the numbers on the paper. Lauren was relieved when she saw a smile spread across her mom's face. Mom said, "let's go get ice cream to celebrate!"
What paper was Lauren's mom looking at?
How do you know?
Report Card
Clues: Lauren was worried; mom smiled as she looked at it; Lauren was relieved; Let's go get ice cream to celebrate.
Lots of white flakes fell from the sky and covered the roads. Lucy woke up and crawled out of bed to peek out the window. She immediately turned on the news. Her eyes lit up and she smiled when she saw her school listed. Then she crawled back to bed and threw the covers over her head.
What did Lucy find out when she saw the news? How do you know?
Snow Day or School was closed because of the snow.
Clues: Lots of white flakes fell from the sky; She turned on the news; She saw her school listed; She went back to bed.
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? How do you know?
Race Track
Clues: Engines roared; lined up in a straight line'; Believe they can win; Close to the track waving a white flag; Off they went.
As usual, Jim left for school ten minutes later than he should have. His shoelaces were untied and his backpack was unzipped as he ran down the street. He had only gone one block when he heard his mother shout his name. He looked back and saw her waving a brown bag.
What did Jim forget? How do you know?
His lunch.
Clues: Backpack meant he was going to school; Brown bag
Said or written in a direct way
Which word goes with this definition?
Explicit
Rachel climbed up the ladder. She got more and more nervous with every step she took. She finally reached the top, walked out on the board, and looked way down into the deep blue. Her friends had dared her, but could she do it?
What was Rachel afraid to do? How do you know?
Jump off the high diving board.
Clues: Climbed the ladder, walked out on the board; looked way down into the deep blue.
"Ooooohhh, Aaaaahh!" said the boys. As another one sparkled in the sky, they jumped up with excitement. "Boom! Boom!" They waited patiently for the grand exit when all the colors zoomed across the sky and loud noises filled the air. Afterwards, they gathered their belongings and walked to their car.
Where were they? How do you know?
A fireworks show.
Clues: Boom; Colors in the sky; Noises filled the air.
I should have studied harder. My palms are sweating; my heart is racing; and my pencil broke! I raised my hand, hoping not to disrupt the other students. I looked back and forth from the clock to my paper. Time seemed to be racing by. I had to do my best!
What am I doing? How do you know?
Taking a test or quiz.
Clues: Should have studied harder; Sweaty palms; Heart racing; Pencil broke; Disturb other students; Time raced by: Had to do my best
John overslept. When he woke up and saw the clock, he jumped out of bed and scrambled around the house trying to clean himself and get dressed quickly. He grabbed his suitcase, got in the car, and sped to the airport! Five minutes after getting to there, John was disappointed.
Why was he disappointed? How do you know?
John missed his flight.
Clues: Overslept; Grabbed his suitcase; Sped to the Airport; Disappointed
Implied or suggested NOT directly stated
Which word goes with the definition?
implicit