Short passage Inferences
Matt was finishing up the last few bites of his snack when his mom got home from work. She asked how his day was, and then she said, “Get your homework finished quickly because we have been invited to Aunt Sarah’s house for dinner. I told her I would bring the rest of the cake that we did not eat on Sunday.” Matt’s eyes widened, and he looked at the empty snack plate before him.
What can you infer about the snack that Matt just ate?
Matt ate the last of the cake
Craig noticed a strange dog wandering around the neighborhood with a leash hanging
from its collar. What might have happened?
The dog is lost
The baby did not like the food. How would you know?
The baby spits it out, or cries
The tournament was scheduled for June 15th at two o’clock in the afternoon. The rain date was for June 22nd. How do you know the tournament will be held outside?
Because they scheduled a 'rain date', it had to be outside. You don't need a backup rain date if it is indoors.
Many homes were destroyed or severely damaged by a storm. Kendra’s family was lucky. What happened to Kendra’s home?
Her home did not get any damage from the storm.
Marissa had never really liked football, but her friends all wanted to go to the game. So, she reluctantly told Taylor over the phone that she would go. Marissa was putting on jeans and a sweatshirt when her Dad called out, “Hey, ‘Rissa, one of your favorite movies is coming on tonight!” Bummer, thought Marissa, as she put on her shoes. Just then, she heard a crack of thunder and the pitter patter of raindrops. With her shoe still in her hand, she redialed Taylor’s number. What do you infer that Marissa will say to Taylor when she answers the phone?
Marissa will tell Taylor she is not going to the game.
Gino asked the clerk for the jacket in the next size. When the clerk returned, he was
empty-handed. Why?
They are out of that size, or he forgot what size Gino had asked for.
Ted was afraid he would miss his flight. How would you know?
A pickup truck passed in front of Cassie’s house. Those people are moving,” Cassie thought. How did she know that?
There were moving boxes in the back of the truck
Maggie read the schedule and knew she had to take the blue and the orange lines to get to the airport. She went down the steps to the platform. What type of transportation was she taking?
The subway
Pamela’s family was sitting down to eat dinner when the phone rang. Her mother answered, but it was for her father. Pamela could hear him talking. “Does he have a fever? Have you given him any medicines, yet? There is a virus going around, but I don’t want to take any chances. I will meet you at the south entrance.” Pamela’s father came back to the table. “I am sorry, guys,” he said, “I have to go to work now.” He donned his white coat and grabbed his satchel. “I will just take a couple of cookies for the road,” he said, winking at Pamela.
What is Pamela’s father’s job?
He is a doctor
Christine took the potatoes out of the oven, but they were still cold. Why?
She never turned on the oven
No one at the party liked your vegetable dip. How would you know?
It was still on everyone's plate, or the dip bowl is still full at the end of the night.
Ratings tell us about a product or service. Movies are rated to tell us how safe they are for children. What would a rating system for cars tell you?
How safe the cars are
Baby squirrels are born in the summer. The adult squirrels make a nest far out on a branch of a tree. Closer to winter, the adult squirrels make another nest. This one is next to the tree’s trunk. Why do they build this nest in a different place?
So that predators can't see the nest as easily.
A:This is one of the reasons I hate working in a big city.
B: I know. Every day, it’s the same thing.
A: This is terrible! We may be here all night! I hope we don’t run out of gas.
B: No, I think there’s enough.
A: Let’s turn on the radio. Maybe there’s some good music.
B: Sorry, the radio’s not working.
A: I think I’ll take the train tomorrow!
1. Where are these people?
2. What are they talking about?
1. In a car
2. Traffic
Neil opened his suitcase to find he had someone else’s clothes. What might have
happened?
His luggage got switched with someone else's.
Your teacher isn’t coming to school today. How would you know?
You have a substitute teacher
Patients were evacuated to hospitals in nearby cities during the blackout. Why were these patients moved?
Because they need electricity for the patient's machines
Why don't we use as many blankets in the summer?
Because it is hot.
Nerve cells carry messages from your body to your brain. If you cut your finger, nerve cells in your finger tell your brain. Your brain knows the cut is painful and tells muscles to pull your hand away. Why doesn’t it hurt to cut your hair or fingernails?
A police officer directed traffic at the busy intersection. Why?
The stoplights weren't working
Clarice lives a healthy lifestyle. How would you know?
You see her eating healthy foods and exercising
Cheryl’s office is on the 45th floor of the building.
How do you know Cheryl works in a city?
Because they don't have skyscrapers in small towns or the countryside
The students left the museum. They were quiet and their faces were somber. Some were crying quietly. A boy laughed and was quickly hushed. What type of museum might these students have seen?
A Holocaust museum