Making Inferences — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. The cashier scanned the items and put them in bags. The family was at the store.
Cashiers and barcode scanners only appear at the checkout counter of a store, where shoppers' purchases are rung up and bagged before they leave.
2. Marco blew on his hot soup before taking a sip. The soup was too hot.
Blowing on food cools it down with a stream of air, so people only do it when something is too hot to eat right away without burning their tongue.
3. The zookeeper tossed fish into the pool and the seal caught them. The seal was being fed.
Seals are fish-eaters, and tossing food for an animal to catch and eat is the everyday meaning of feeding it — exactly what the zookeeper was doing.
4. Hannah covered her ears when the fireworks went off. The noise was too loud.
Covering your ears blocks sound from getting in, so people only do it when a noise hurts their ears — and fireworks are famous for their booming bangs.
5. The artist dipped her brush into red paint and touched it to the canvas. She was making a painting.
A canvas is the special cloth artists use, and brushing paint onto it is literally how a painting is made — those tools and actions go together.
6. Owen looked both ways and pressed the button at the crosswalk. He wanted to cross safely.
Looking both ways checks for cars, and the crosswalk button changes the light to stop traffic — together those two careful steps mean Owen wanted to avoid getting hurt.
7. The coach handed out trophies at the end of the season. The team had done well.
Trophies are awards given for success in a sport, so receiving them at season's end means the team won enough games to earn that recognition.
8. Lily whispered a secret into her best friend's ear. She did not want others to hear.
A whisper is a quiet voice meant to travel only a few inches; people whisper into one person's ear when the message is private and not for anyone else.
9. The dentist asked Ryan to open wide and checked each tooth. Ryan was at a dental appointment.
Dentists are tooth doctors, and the word "dental" describes anything to do with teeth — so an appointment to check every tooth is called a dental visit.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
The boy looked at the night sky through a telescope.
→ He is looking at the stars.
She wants to save money at the store.
The woman clipped coupons from the newspaper.
→ She wants to save money at the store.
Class is about to end.
The dog dug a hole in the yard and dropped a bone in it.
→ It is hiding the bone for later.
He is looking at the stars.
The teacher wrote the homework on the board before the bell rang.
→ Class is about to end.
It is hiding the bone for later.
Telescopes magnify far-away stars, coupons give discounts at checkout, dogs bury food they want to save, and teachers post homework just before the dismissal bell — each clue points to one logical inference.