Making Inferences — Answer Key
Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
1. Fix the sentence:
Lily put on her bathing suit and sunscreen, so she must be going to school.
Corrected: Lily put on her bathing suit and sunscreen, so she must be going swimming.
The corrected sentence is: "Lily put on her bathing suit and sunscreen, so she must be going swimming.". The original sentence "Lily put on her bathing suit and sunscreen, so she must be going to school." contained an error that needed to be fixed.
2. Fix the sentence:
The boy was crying and holding his knee, so he must be laughing at a joke.
Corrected: The boy was crying and holding his knee, so he must have hurt himself.
The corrected sentence is: "The boy was crying and holding his knee, so he must have hurt himself.". The original sentence "The boy was crying and holding his knee, so he must be laughing at a joke." contained an error that needed to be fixed.
3. Fix the sentence:
Mom put candles on the cake and hung up streamers, so it must be bedtime.
Corrected: Mom put candles on the cake and hung up streamers, so it must be a birthday party.
The corrected sentence is: "Mom put candles on the cake and hung up streamers, so it must be a birthday party.". The original sentence "Mom put candles on the cake and hung up streamers, so it must be bedtime." contained an error that needed to be fixed.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. Jake packed his glove, bat, and helmet. He is going to play baseball.
A glove, bat, and helmet are equipment used in baseball. These clues help you infer that Jake is going to play baseball.
2. The flowers were drooping and the soil was dry. They needed water.
Drooping flowers and dry soil are clues that the plants need water. You know from experience that plants wilt without water.
3. Emma was shivering and her teeth were chattering. She felt cold.
Shivering and chattering teeth are physical signs of being cold. These text clues help you infer how Emma feels.
4. The puppy dropped a ball at Ava's feet and barked. It wanted to play.
Dropping a ball and barking are clues that the puppy wants to play. Dogs often bring toys to people when they want to play.
Part C: True or False?
Read each statement. Circle True or False.
1. Making an inference means using clues plus what you already know.
True False
Making an inference means combining text clues with your prior knowledge to understand something not directly stated.
2. If a character is smiling, you can infer the character is probably sad.
True False
Smiling is usually a sign of happiness, not sadness. You would infer the character is happy or pleased.
3. Good readers make inferences while they read a story.
True False
Good readers actively make inferences as they read, using text clues and prior knowledge to deepen their understanding.