5.6.f

Making Inferences

To infer is to make a guess based on evidence, or clues.

Be a Detective!
When you read or look at a text, look for clues that give you more information. Because of what you already know, you can tell more than what the words tell you.

boy reaching hand into bag another boy laughing

David and Cameron are best friends, but sometimes David’s sense of humor can be a little annoying, even to Cameron. Yesterday, David put a brown paper bag in Cameron’s locker. He put a note on it that said, “A delicious surprise for you! From David.” Cameron was very excited. He hoped it was a homemade treat from David’s mom. She was a great baker. Cameron reached into the bag . . .

There is a homemade treat from David's mom in the bag.

David is playing a joke on Cameron.

There is not a homemade treat from David's mom in the bag.

Evidence:

David is laughing in the picture.

Sometimes, David's sense of humor annoys Cameron.

If David is playing a joke, it's unlikely that what Cameron hopes to be in the bag (a homemade treat from David's mom) is what's in the bag.

Tory woke up with a headache. He pulled the sheets over his head to protect his eyes from the bright sunlight streaming through the blinds his mother had just opened. Why had he stayed up so late last night playing video games? Now, he was going to be late for the soccer match this afternoon, and he was so tired! It would be easy for the opposing team to get the ball past him and into the net. He needed to start going to sleep earlier even when it wasn’t a school night.

It is very early in the morning, on a school day.

Tory has slept in late.

It is a day when there is no school.

Tory is going to be late for school.

Tory is a goalie for his soccer team.

Evidence:

Bright sunlight is streaming through the blinds.

Tory had stayed up late playing video games.

He was going to be late for his afternoon soccer match.

Evidence:

Tory thinks to himself that he needs to go to sleep earlier even when it's not a school night.

His mom did not wake him up earlier.

Evidence:

Tory is so tired that he worries that it would be easy for the opposing team to get the ball past him and into the net.

Soccer goalies defend the goal from the other team kicking the ball into it and scoring.

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Go to the next page to practice making inferences.

Making Inferences

Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS): 5.6.f

make inferences and use evidence to support understanding;

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