Making Inferences — Answer Key
Part A: Fix the Sentence
Each sentence has an error. Rewrite it correctly on the line.
1. Fix the sentence:
The boy put on his cleats and grabbed his soccer ball, so he must be going to the library.
Corrected: The boy put on his cleats and grabbed his soccer ball, so he must be going to play soccer.
Cleats and a soccer ball are gear used on the field, not in a library where you only need books, so the smart inference is that he is heading to play soccer.
2. Fix the sentence:
The girl blew out the candles on her cake, so it must be a regular school day.
Corrected: The girl blew out the candles on her cake, so it must be her birthday.
Candles on a cake that you blow out are a birthday tradition; people do not bake cakes with candles for ordinary school days.
3. Fix the sentence:
Grandpa put on his reading glasses and opened a thick book, so he must be cooking dinner.
Corrected: Grandpa put on his reading glasses and opened a thick book, so he must be reading.
Reading glasses and an open book are clear clues for reading; cooking would mean pots, pans, and ingredients, not eyewear and a novel.
Part B: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. The audience clapped loudly after the last song. They enjoyed the concert.
An audience watching live songs and clapping when they end is the picture of a concert — that loud applause is how listeners say they loved the music.
2. Mom set out plates, forks, and napkins on the table. The family is getting ready to eat.
Plates hold food, forks pick it up, and napkins clean your hands and mouth — together those three items only get set out before a meal.
3. The fire truck raced down the street with its siren on. There might be a fire.
Fire trucks turn on sirens and race only when there is an emergency they need to put out, and the name itself tells you what they are built to fight.
4. Tyler kept looking at the clock during class. He was probably bored.
When something interests you, time flies and you forget about the clock; checking the time over and over usually means you wish class would end soon.
Part C: True or False?
Read each statement. Circle True or False.
1. When you infer, you use clues in the text plus your own experience.
True False
Inferring is like detective work — the author drops clues and you mix them with what you already know about life to figure out what is happening.
2. If a character is frowning and stomping, you can infer the character is calm.
True False
Frowning faces and stomping feet are body-language clues for anger or frustration; a calm person would be smiling or moving quietly instead.
3. Authors sometimes leave clues so readers can figure things out on their own.
True False
Good writers don't always tell you everything — they hide hints in actions and details so readers can think and discover the meaning themselves.