150 Lae Making Inferences What Is an Inference? Sometimes the topic of a text may not be stated anywhere directly. You must look for clues and try to guess what the passage is about. This is called making an inference, ‘Example: Try to infer what “it” isin this passage. | found It in the middle of the sidewalk on my way home from school one spring ‘morning. It was very tiny and it was hardly breathing when I picked it up. I fed it raw meat and other treats for several weeks. Soon, it became strong and started to hop around. One day, someone left a window open. When I came home from work, I discovered that it had disappeared. What is “10” ‘Underline the ideas in the paragraph which helped you to make this inference. The ability to make inferences is very important in reading. You often need to infer the topic or main idea of a text, the author's opinion, or other information. Inferring missing information ‘There are many situations in real life when you need to make inferences. Below are some ‘exercises based on real situations. ry to use the information that is given to guess what is missing. exerci 1 2 On the nxt page ls postoard trom a tend, The postcard got wet, s0 you coutth’t read the post- ‘mark oF the fst line. Where has your fend gone for her vacation? Who Is with her? Discuss your Inference with ancther student. EE Aloo on the next page laa notice that came Inthe mall. The notice was tom and some words are ‘missing all along the edge. Who ls the notice from? What lst about? Discuss your inferences with another student.There wil) teachers or so the 11th, be ti hoo! officials. Yours sincerely, ft George Bindershan, Principal ime afterwa “stLI. Making inferences from conversations Have you ever overheard part ofa conversation and tried to imagine what it was about? If So, you were making inferences. n the following exercises, you will practice inferring information from short dialogues. if you find words you do not know, skip over them. Look forthe cues that will help you answer the inference questions. ‘need the conversation and try to Infr the answers to the questions bolow. Example: ‘A: Excuse me. Do you live around here? Is this Elm Street? B: No, this is Maple Ave. ‘A; Maple Ave?... Oh, deat. [really don't understand this! 'm looking for Eim St. and | thought this was it. B: No, no. Elm St. isn't anywhere near here. ‘A: But wasn't that the high school back there? B: No, that was the town hall. ‘A: Ob, Then I really am confused. Can you take a look here and show me where 1am? B: Sure. Let’ se... You're over here. See? This s Maple Ave. and here's the high. school. Now, if you want to get to Elm St. you'd better take the bus. L. Who are these people? ‘A visitor from out of town and someone who lives there 2. What are they talking about? “Where they are—the visitor is lst and wants to know where she is on the map 3, Are they men or women? How can you tell? It is impossible to tell. exercine 3 3 Rand the conversation and ifr the anewers tothe questions below Discuss your ferences 152 ‘with another student. ‘A: Why is he taking so long? 'B: He has to get changed, you know. He's got all that make-up to take off ‘A: Well, we've been here forty minutes now. It's cold out here. Are you sure we're at the right door? B: Yes, 'm sure. Come on, Let's not give up now. I've just got to see hm close up. ‘A: They say he's really quite ugly. 1B Oh, no, that’s not true. 've seen him on TV a couple of times. He's got the cutest smile.‘A: Well, I don’t know. ’m just about frozen. If he doesn’t come out in another two minutes, I'm going home. B: Oh, look! Here he comes. Quick, where's your pen?!? 1. Where are these people? 2. What are they doing? 3. Who are they talking about? 4. Are they men or women? How can you tell? exercise ¢ > Read this conversation and infer the answers to the questions below. Discuss your inferences with ‘another student. ‘A: Excuse me, Would you mind turing down the music, please? B: What's that? | said, could you please turn the music down! My whole apartment is rattling! Oh. Is that better? A litle better, Iti after midnight. : Ah, come on. It's still early. I's my birthday, you know, so I asked a few friends over. \: Well, that’s very nice, but I've got to get up early tomorrow. 'B: But its Sunday tomorrow. What do you have to get up for so early? ‘A: That's none of your business. The rules say no nolse after 11:00. So if you're going to continue, I'l have to call the police. B: Oh, allright. Don't get so uptight about it all. |. Where are these people? 2, Who are they? 3. What are they talking about? 4. Ate they men or women? How can you tell? exencioe 5. 2 Read this conversation and inter the answers to the questions below. Discuss your inferences with ‘another student. A: For here or to go? B: Togo, A: Large or small? B: Uh... small, A: Light or black? B: Black. 188(54 A: Sugar? B: Yes, two please, ‘A: Want a bag? B: No, thanks, ‘A: OK, that'll be seventy-five, B: Here you are. A: Bye now. B: Bye. 1. Where are these people? 2. What are they talking about? 3. Are they men or women? How can you tell? exorcise 6 Read this conversation and infer the answers to the questions below. Discuss your inferences with ‘another student. A: So how was it? Terrible ‘A: Really? You were so excited about going. B: [know, but I tell you, I'm glad to be back. ‘A: What happened? B: First of all, there was the weather. It rained every day. Not just alittle, but all day! ‘There we were with these gorgeous beaches and no sun! A: L guess you didn’t get much of a tan, 1B: Look at me! I'm as pale as I was before. ‘A: At least you must have gotten some rest. fest! The second day we were there, my husband got sick. He was sneezing and ‘coughing for three days and nights. And then I caught his cold, I felt just awful for another three days. A: Well, how was the food? B: That was the only nice thing about the whole week. Except that we were too sick to enjoy it half the time. Anything new here in the office? ‘A: Not much. Its been a slow week. |. Where are these people? ‘What is their relationship? ‘What are they talking about? ‘Are they men or women? How can you tell?exorcise 7 2 Read this conversation and infer the answers to the questions below. Discuss your inferences with ‘another studert. Fillit up, please. Regular or Super? Regular ‘Want me to check the oll? No, that’s all right. ‘What about the windshield. Need a cleaning? Sure. Go ahead, ox, \: How much? Ten-fifty. \: Here, put it on my Visa. ‘We don’t take credit cards. ‘No credit cardst Hope I've got the cash. Let's see, let me look in my jacket pocket. No... oh here, that makes ten. I must have another fifty cents on me somewhere. B: Don't worry about it. ‘A: Really, 'm sorry. I thought I could use my Visa. B: That's OK. You can give it to me next time. A: Thanks alot, PER RE RR RR RR Ee 1. Where are these people? 2, What are they talking about? 3. Are they men or women? How can you tell? 155156 Read this conversation and infer the answors tothe questions below. Discuss your lnferences with ‘another student. A: Is this the kind of thing you're looking for? i's hard to tell. You see, she's got very definite ideas. ‘A: How about a nice little item like this? B: Hmmm. You'd think 'd know by now. I mean, it's been thirty-seven years since we ‘married. But every year I have the same problem! Those do look nice, but they're a bit too old-fashioned. She doesn’t think of herself that way, you know. ‘A: Then what about these. They're more classic. 1: No, no. She's not the classic type. Something more modern... Those over there. ‘That's what she'd like. rhe ones with all the colors? We usually sell those to, well... to younger women, B: She's fond of color. Always has been, Says 'm so dull in my business clothes... AA: Shall I gift wrap it? B: No, that’s not necessary. I'l just put the box in my pocket. |. Where are these people? ‘What are they talking about? |. What did “BY put in his pocket? How old is “B°? Making inferences from short stories and plays The authors of novels, stories or plays often do not explain everything about characters or situations. The reader must infer the author's meaning from the descriptions or the dia- Togues. In the following exercises you will practice making inferences about characters and situations. Remember that you do not need to understand every word. Ifyou find words you do ‘not know, skip over them. Read quickly forthe clues that will help you infer the answers tothe questions.