Reading between the lines
IntroducedA watch and a sigh suggest a feeling
- “Dan checked his watch for the third time and sighed.” Impatience is a reasonable inference: a meaning worked out from clues.
- The text states the action, but it does not state one certain cause. Dan could also be worried about being late; read the surrounding passage.
Stated or implied?
Stated facts are printed on the page; implied ideas are built from clues.
'Inference' means…
Inference = the implied meaning, not the stated one.
Check attitude in the wording
- A writer’s attitude may appear in word choice, contrast and tone. Identify the words that support your answer.
- Strong language can suggest a feeling, but do not label a writer angry from one word without its context.
You find the writer's attitude in…
Word choice can support an interpretation of attitude; read it in the complete passage.
Write one sentence that shows you feel excited — without using the word 'excited'.
Example: 'I can't wait — this is going to be amazing!'
Use context for unfamiliar words
- Context means the surrounding words. In “the deserted bench had no one on it”, the explanation helps with deserted.
- Check the whole sentence and each option. If the meaning remains unclear and a dictionary is permitted for this task, use it; guessing is not always enough.
Guess a new word from its ___ (the words around it).
Context = the surrounding words.
Avoid a leap beyond the evidence
- A fallen sign and weeds suggest poor maintenance. They do not prove that no bus ever stops or that nobody has maintained it for years.
- Choose the interpretation best supported by the passage. A possible explanation is weaker than a directly stated fact.
Match the clue in the text to what you can infer.
These are plausible inferences from the actions, not guaranteed facts. More context can support a different explanation.
Dan checks his watch and sighs. Which answer keeps the inference within the clues?
The actions suggest impatience. The exact delay and earlier journeys are not supplied.
Explain a new clue
- “Mina smiled, then folded the letter carefully into her pocket” may suggest that the letter matters to her. More context is needed to know its news.
- State a supported interpretation and its clue. Avoid inventing names, events or exact causes that the text never gives.
The watch checks and sigh suggest impatience. They do not supply a delay of twenty minutes.
An inference must fit the complete passage. Do not turn a possible feeling into an invented exact cause.
State a supported interpretation and its clue. Avoid inventing names, events or exact causes that the text never gives.