Inferencing: What Happened?
The house had been scary enough without all the additions of the actors dressed up as ghosts and monsters.
Where are they? How do you know? How does the writer feel about where they are?
At a haunted house / Halloween / Actors dressed up / House is "scary" / the writer feels scared and does not want to be there.
Rabbits live together in burrows. Their babies are born blind and without fur. Hares live alone above ground. Their babies are born with fur and are not blind. In addition, hares are usually bigger than rabbits.
Hares and rabbits are not the same.
I did not want to transfer schools, but my dad's job moved to another state, so I had no choice.
Change; move from one place/thing to another.
similar + and
realistic (1 synonym, 1 antonym)
synonyms: real, reasonable, practical
antonyms: impractical, unrealistic
Liz was eager to get to her first class. She had practiced so hard over the summer, testing her balance on the bar her dad installed in the basement and perfecting her cartwheel on the soft grass in the backyard.
What type of class is she going to? How do you know? What time of year is it? How does she feel about her class?
Gymnastics / bar, cartwheel / end of summer or beginning of fall, she practiced over the summer for the class / she feels excited
Strong magnets are put into some roller coasters. They are also put at the end of the track. As the coaster approaches the end of the track, the attracting forces of the magnets bring it to a gentle stop.
Some kinds of roller coasters use magnets to make them stop.
The dog was very obedient; he always listened to commands like "sit" and "stay."
Willing to listen to orders or requests.
substitute + so
declare (1 synonym, 1 antonym)
synonym: say, claim, tell, stress, state
antonym: forget, hide, deny, conceal
Jerry and Peter are cousins, but they don't get to see each other much. They live far away from one another. Jerry takes the school bus to school and sees big dusty fields from the window of the bus. Peter takes an underground train to avoid busy traffic on the roads. They may be family, but they live in very different places.
Where do each of the boys live? How do you know?
Jerry lives in a more rural area / countryside - takes bus to school, dusty fields
Peter lives in a more urban area / city - takes subway to school, busy traffic on roads
Solar ovens use energy from the sun. When a family uses a solar oven to cook their food, they do not have to collect wood for fuel or spend money to buy fuel. Solar ovens are a good option for many families in developing countries.
In many developing countries, people are using solar ovens OR solar ovens use energy from the sun, making it a good option for people in developing countries.
My friend insisted that I sleep over tonight to celebrate her birthday, even though I didn't want to.
Demand something; not accepting refusal
authentic + because
I knew the sneakers were authentic because I bought them directly from the company.
unique (1 synonym, 2 antonyms)
synonym: different, rare, exclusive
antonym: common, normal, regular
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.
What was Tony looking for? How do you know? How was he feeling?
Keys / approaching car, looking in pockets / he was feeling anxious because he could not find his keys and had to drive home
When beavers build a dam across a river, they dramatically change the environment. The dam creates a pond or even a lake. Land that was once dry gets covered in water. The new lake becomes a home for birds, fish, and other kinds of wildlife.
Beavers make dramatic changes to the environment.
Now that I'm 16 I'm eligible to get my learner's permit!
Having the right to obtain something
punctual + so
My teacher was always punctual, so it was strange when she was late for class.
adjacent (2 synonyms, 1 antonym)
synonyms: next to, close, nearby
antonyms: far away, across from
The boy found it in the middle of the road on his way home from school. It was very tiny so he picked it up. He fed it food for several weeks. He always wanted a pet, but his parents didn't like animals. Soon, it grew and got very long and he couldn't hide it anymore.
What did the boy find? How do you know? What do you think happens next?
Snake / pet, grew very long / parents tell him he can't keep it
Kangaroos spend most of their time in groups called mobs. Kangaroos communicate with each other with clicks, coughs, hisses, and growls. They also groom each other by picking dirt, insects, and dead skin from each other's fur.
Kangaroos are very social animals.
It took a long time for me to recognize that my friend was deceitful and rarely told the truth.
Someone who manipulates or lies repeatedly.
resolve + because
My best friend and I resolved our argument because we missed each other.
oblivious (2 synonyms, 2 antonyms)
synonym: ignorant, unknowing, unaware
antonym: knowing, attentive, aware