Loudoun County Public Schools / Overview



Making inferences and drawing conclusions

Name__________________

*Sometimes, when you're reading, you need to make inferences or draw conclusions.

This means that the information is never clearly stated.

*On any reading test, you'll probably see questions that ask you to infer, make an inference, or draw a conclusion. These all mean the same thing.

*You have to find clues in the passage and use your own background knowledge in order to answer the question.

When making an inference, use the KIS strategy.

[pic]

[pic] Key Words

[pic]Infer

[pic]Support

How to use KIS

1. Underline key words.

2. Make inferences based on the key words.

3. Use your background knowledge to support your answers.

Practice Using the KIS strategy.

1. What a long elevator ride it was! Lu and Seth couldn’t wait to see the view through the wire fence. The wind was blowing through their hair as they looked down. The cars on the street looked like toy cars. What an amazing city it was!

Underline key words.

Make your inference- where were they? ____________________________________

Support using background knowledge. _____________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________________

2. Frankie could hear the people’s screams from a long distance. She could hear terror and excitement in the screams. A brief moment of silence would be followed by full-force screams. Frankie could also hear what she thought might be the rattle of chains.

Underline key words.

Make your inference- what could be going on? _____________________________

Support using background knowledge. _____________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

3. The kids were allowed to be here without their parents, but they were told to whisper. Computers were set up by the information desk. The kids looked at some magazines, listened to CDs, and read books. By using a special card, they were able to borrow items.

Underline key words.

Make your inference- what kind of place is this? __________________________

Support using background knowledge. _____________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

Read the following interview with Kristen Stewart. You will have to make inferences in order to answer the questions that follow.

Kristen Stewart is not afraid of intense roles, including Jodie Foster's daughter in “Panic Room,” the protagonist in “Speak,” and a troubled teen in “The Messengers.” This month, “In the Land of Women” opens with Kristen playing a teen dealing with high school and peer pressure.

In “In the Land of Women,” you are a painter, but what are

your real-life hobbies?

I read a lot of books, and I'm a writer. That's what I'm mainly into. I just love putting the words together. I'm really in love with words. I play guitar; I love going to shows. I'm kind of a homebody.

What is your favorite book?

I actually have two. I just finished Cannery Row by John Steinbeck, which was really intense. The other is The Stranger by Albert Camus, that was heavy.

You've worked with Jodie Foster and now Meg Ryan. How were those experiences?

So different. I was little when I worked with Jodie, so I wasn't taking notes. Just being around someone like that for months when you're so young and such a sponge ... she probably affected the way I work.

Jodie doesn't take things too seriously, she just acts. I mean, of course, she thinks about it, but Meg takes things very seriously - in the best way. You can tell she really cares about her work a lot, and that's really important.

What is your relationship with your mother like? Will your new movie help mothers and daughters better understand each other?

I'm really lucky, because I have a picture-perfect relationship with my parents. But I definitely see my friends in Lucy and her mom's relationship, I feel like that dynamic is very typical. This movie will open people's eyes.

How do you choose roles?

It's always different. The movies I've been interested in have been because of the prospect of working with the filmmaker and a certain director. Sometimes I'll do a movie because there are one or two scenes I really want to do, something that's different. I think it's important to do movies that are worth watching, something that makes you think.

What advice would you give others interested in acting?

If there is anything you really want to do, you have to give it a shot. Otherwise you're going to hold onto it forever and just regret it. You should have no regret.

People always ask actors for advice and it's like wow, you're asking us? I don't know how enlightening we can be. We're just people.

By Margo A., Calabasas

1. After reading the interview, do you think Kristen Stewart prefers going out with her friends or staying home? ______________________________________________________

2. According to the interview, what type of relationship do you think the character (that Kristen plays in a movie) Lucy has with her mom?

_______________________________________________________

3. Do you think that Kristen thinks she is a reliable source to give people advice? __________ Why or why not? __________________________

4. What does Kristen mean when she says, “when you're so young and such a sponge”? ________________________________________________

5. If Kristen wasn’t an actor, what profession do you think she would most like to have?

a. Singer

b. Author

c. Teacher

d. Doctor

Let’s practice. Answer each question. Remember, they won’t give you the answer in the passage. You have to make an inference!!

1. Turner almost wished that he hadn’t listened to the radio. He went to the closet and grabbed his umbrella. He would feel silly carrying it to the bus stop on such a sunny morning.

Which probably happened?

a. Turner realized that he had an unnatural fear of falling radio parts.

b. Turner had promised himself to do something silly that morning.

c. Turner had heard a weather forecast that predicted rain.

d. Turner planned to trade his umbrella for a bus ride.

2. “Larry, as your boss, I must say that it’s been very interesting working with you,” Miss Valdez said. “However, it seems that our company’s needs and your performance style are not well matched. Therefore, it makes me very sad to have to ask you to resign your position effective today.”

What was Miss Valdez telling Larry?

a. She would feel really bad if he decided to quit.

b. He was being fired.

c. He was getting a raise in pay.

d. She really enjoyed having him in the office.

3. Bill and Jessica were almost done taking turns choosing players for their teams. It was Jessica’s turn to choose, and only Kurt was left. Jessica said, “Kurt.”

We can infer that…

a. Kurt is not a very good player.

b. Jessica was pleased to have Kurt on her team.

c. Kurt was the best player on either team.

d. Jessica was inconsiderate of Kurt’s feelings.

“Mending” by Judith Viorst

A giant hand inside my chest

Stretches out and takes

My heart within its mighty grasp

And squeezes till it breaks.

A gentle hand inside my chest,

With mending tape and glue,

Patches up my heart until

It’s almost good as new.

I ought to know by now that

Broken hearts will heal again.

But while I wait for glue and tape,

The pain!

The pain!

The pain!

4. The poem is probably about…

a. a woman.

b. a man.

c. a broken heart.

d. heart surgery.

5. It can be inferred that the subject of the poem…

a. is in a lot of physical pain.

b. enjoys arts and crafts.

c. is a good friend.

d. has had a broken heart before.

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