What is an inference?

What is an inference?

• A. An idea you derive from clues in the text and your own knowledge; you support it with explicit or implied evidence from the passage.
• B. The exact statement the author makes.
• C. A summary of the passage.
• D. A guess with no basis in the text.

Answer: (A)

An inference is an idea you form by using clues from the text along with what you already know, and you back that idea up with evidence from the passage—whether the author states it directly or hints at it. For example, if a story describes dark clouds, a dropped football, and a character rubbing their eyes, you can infer that a storm is coming or that the character is tired, even though the exact situation isn’t spelled out word for word. The clues and your knowledge support that conclusion. This idea is different from stating exactly what the author says—the explicit statement. It’s also different from summarizing, which is restating the main points, or from guessing without any text clues to support it.

An inference is an idea you form by using clues from the text along with what you already know, and you back that idea up with evidence from the passage—whether the author states it directly or hints at it.

For example, if a story describes dark clouds, a dropped football, and a character rubbing their eyes, you can infer that a storm is coming or that the character is tired, even though the exact situation isn’t spelled out word for word. The clues and your knowledge support that conclusion.

This idea is different from stating exactly what the author says—the explicit statement. It’s also different from summarizing, which is restating the main points, or from guessing without any text clues to support it.