Inferences and Conclusions — Answer Key
Part A: Fill in the Blank
Write the missing word or number on each line.
1. The school bus was late and the streets were covered in snow. You can infer there was a storm.
A late bus and snow-covered streets are strong clues that a storm hit, because heavy snow slows traffic and delays buses.
2. Maria brought a cake, candles, and party hats to school. She was probably celebrating a birthday.
A cake with candles and party hats are classic birthday party items, so Maria is most likely celebrating someone's birthday.
3. The dog sat by the door with his leash in his mouth. He wanted to go for a walk.
A dog sitting by the door holding its leash is clearly asking to go outside for a walk, since dogs learn that leashes mean walk time.
4. The teacher wrote "Excellent work!" on Priya's paper. Priya probably did very well on the assignment.
Teachers write "Excellent work!" when a student has done a great job, so Priya clearly performed very well on the assignment.
5. The parking lot was full and music came from inside the building. An event was happening.
A packed parking lot and music coming from inside suggest that a special event is taking place, because ordinary days do not draw that many visitors.
6. Nathan yawned three times during the movie. He was probably feeling tired.
Yawning repeatedly is a well-known sign of tiredness, so Nathan was most likely feeling tired during the movie.
7. The grocery bags were overflowing with food. The family was probably preparing for a large gathering.
Overflowing grocery bags mean far more food than a regular meal, so the family is likely preparing for a large gathering with many guests.
8. The swimmer dried off and wrapped herself in a towel immediately after leaving the pool. The air was probably chilly.
Drying off and wrapping up in a towel right away suggests the air felt chilly, because warm air would not make a swimmer rush to cover up.
9. Every student in the class raised a hand to volunteer. They must be excited about the project.
When every single student volunteers, it shows strong enthusiasm, so the class must be excited about the project.
Part B: Matching
Match each item on the left to the correct answer on the right.
1. Match each item to its correct answer.
Anita read every book on the summer reading list before July.
→ Anita is an eager and dedicated reader.
Grandpa enjoys making people smile.
The goalkeeper dove and blocked three penalty kicks in a row.
→ The goalkeeper has quick reflexes and skill.
The scientist is thorough and careful.
Grandpa told the same joke and laughed harder each time.
→ Grandpa enjoys making people smile.
Anita is an eager and dedicated reader.
The scientist repeated the experiment five times to check her data.
→ The scientist is thorough and careful.
The goalkeeper has quick reflexes and skill.
Correct matches: Anita read every book on the summer reading list before July. → Anita is an eager and dedicated reader.; The goalkeeper dove and blocked three penalty kicks in a row. → The goalkeeper has quick reflexes and skill.; Grandpa told the same joke and laughed harder each time. → Grandpa enjoys making people smile.; The scientist repeated the experiment five times to check her data. → The scientist is thorough and careful..