IREAD Making Inferences & Drawing Conclusions 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Jada looked at the thermometer and quickly grabbed her mittens, hat, and scarf. What can you infer about the temperature outside?
- It is warm and pleasant.
- It is very cold outside. (Correct answer)
- It is a hot summer day.
- It is a mild spring morning.
Correct answer: It is very cold outside.
Mittens, a hat, and a scarf are cold-weather accessories, so the temperature must be very cold.
Question 2: A story says a character 'slammed the door and refused to come to dinner.' What inference can the reader make?
- The character is delighted about something.
- The character is upset or angry. (Correct answer)
- The character is very sleepy.
- The character is eager to help cook dinner.
Correct answer: The character is upset or angry.
Slamming a door and refusing to join others are behaviors that suggest the character is upset or angry.
Question 3: To make a strong inference, a reader should use ___.
- only the pictures in the book
- clues from the text and prior knowledge together (Correct answer)
- only what the author directly states
- the back cover summary
Correct answer: clues from the text and prior knowledge together
Strong inferences combine textual evidence with the reader's own knowledge, not just one source alone.
Question 4: Read: 'Carlos studied every night for two weeks. When he got his test back, he grinned from ear to ear.' What can you conclude?
- Carlos did not prepare for the test.
- Carlos likely received a good grade on the test. (Correct answer)
- Carlos forgot to turn in his test.
- Carlos was surprised that there was a test.
Correct answer: Carlos likely received a good grade on the test.
Studying hard and then grinning suggests Carlos did well on his test.
Question 5: A passage describes a boy watching the finishing line with wide eyes as a runner sprints toward it. The boy is biting his nails. What can you infer about the boy?
- The boy is calm and relaxed.
- The boy is tense and anxious about the race. (Correct answer)
- The boy is unhappy the race is happening.
- The boy has no interest in the race.
Correct answer: The boy is tense and anxious about the race.
Wide eyes and nail-biting are signs of tension and anxiety, indicating the boy is nervously watching the race.
Question 6: Which of the following is the BEST definition of 'drawing a conclusion' in reading?
- Copying a sentence from the text word for word
- Using text evidence and reasoning to decide something not directly stated (Correct answer)
- Listing every event that happened in order
- Choosing a favorite part of the story
Correct answer: Using text evidence and reasoning to decide something not directly stated
Drawing a conclusion means using clues and reasoning to arrive at an idea the author did not explicitly write.
Question 7: After reading a nonfiction passage about bees, a student concludes that bees are important to the environment. The passage never directly states this. The student used ___.
- only her imagination
- details from the passage plus what she knows about plants and food (Correct answer)
- the title of the passage alone
- the author's biography
Correct answer: details from the passage plus what she knows about plants and food
Drawing this conclusion requires combining passage details about bees with background knowledge about pollination and food production.
IREAD Making Inferences & Drawing Conclusions 2
Jada looked at the thermometer and quickly grabbed her mittens, hat, and scarf.
What can you infer about the temperature outside?