Draw Inferences in Comprehension Worksheet

Inference Skills

One of the skills you need to develop when completing a reading comprehension is 'inference'.

You can think of 'inference' as meaning to 'read between the lines'.

You have to look very carefully at the different phrases and language the author has used.

You can then make a judgement or opinion about a situation or a character described.

When you infer something from a text, you become a detective looking for clues to build up a picture of the plot, characters and meaning.

Sometimes the clues are easy to find, sometimes subtle and sometimes scattered throughout the text.

Example:

'Eleanor stared at the terrarium, she could see no movement in the glass tank, which was full of cobwebs and foliage.'

Question: What type of creature lives in the terrarium and how do you know?

Answer: A spider lives in the terrarium; I know this because the author describes the cobwebs that the spider has made.

In this activity, there will be some questions that will require manual marking, the questions will be based on different extracts of texts.

In order for you to practise how to answer comprehension questions using inference, you will need to be able to put your answer into your own words, using evidence from the text.

Buzz lifted the old, antique coin to his lips and gave it a quick, ritual kiss.

Then he pushed it deep into his pocket. It was time to get ready to face the day ahead.

He began to plough through the huge mound of clothes on the floor in his bedroom.

Why do you think Buzz kissed the old coin?

Because he loves it

Because someone told him to

For good luck because it is a lucky pendant

Because he likes to before he gets dressed

Buzz lifted the old, antique coin to his lips and gave it a quick, ritual kiss.

Then he pushed it deep into his pocket. It was time to get ready to face the day ahead.

He began to plough through the huge mound of clothes on the floor in his bedroom.

Which phrase shows that Buzz's room was messy?

Buzz lifted the old, antique coin

The huge mound of clothes on the floor

Harry sauntered across the luscious, green grass happily, thinking about which ice-cream to buy from the nearby shop.

Then, he suddenly froze, something large and orange lept out onto his path, it was Ginger Bob, his neighbour's bad-tempered cat.

Harry could honestly say he was constantly in a perpetual state of war with this creature!

Can you use evidence from the text to describe how Harry feels when he sees Ginger Bob?

Harry sauntered across the luscious, green grass happily, thinking about which ice-cream to buy from the nearby shop.

Then, he suddenly froze, something large and orange leapt out onto his path, it was Ginger Bob, his neighbour's bad-tempered cat.

Harry could honestly say he was constantly in a perpetual state of war with this creature!

Write one word from the text that shows Harry and Ginger Bob aren't ever on good terms.

Sometimes, as part of comprehension, you may be given a picture and asked to draw an inference from it.

What has this person jumped out of? Use evidence from the picture to support your answer.

Sometimes, as part of comprehension, you may be given a picture and asked to draw inference from it.

Describe where this person has set up camp using evidence from the picture (try to add detail about the time of day, weather, what the person is doing etc.)

Read the following descriptions of character feelings and then, using inference, match each appropriately with the most suitable emotion.

Column A	Column B
Joseph was rolling around laughing, with tears str...	Rage
James tore his work into several pieces and marche...	Annoyance
Mr Smith stood with his arms folded and frowned as...	Sheer joy

Reuben was really struggling with his Maths homework, he had to crack several, difficult equations before the morning.

He asked his Dad for help but unfortunately, he was too busy so he decided to look on the internet for some help.

What did Reuben do when his Dad said he was too busy to help? Insert the relevant quote into the box below.

Decided to e-mail his Maths teacher for guidance

Decided to look on the internet for some help

The girl stepped out of her house and opened her colourful, robust umbrella.

What can you infer from this sentence?

The lifeguard quickly jumped up from his seat overlooking the swimming pool and angrily blew his whistle.

What can you infer from this sentence?

ANSWERS

Question 1

Buzz lifted the old, antique coin to his lips and gave it a quick, ritual kiss.

Then he pushed it deep into his pocket. It was time to get ready to face the day ahead.

He began to plough through the huge mound of clothes on the floor in his bedroom.

Why do you think Buzz kissed the old coin?

CORRECT ANSWER

For good luck because it is a lucky pendant

EDDIE SAYS

Buzz must've had an important day ahead as he usually kissed his lucky pendant for good fortune before an important event. It's quite common for someone to have a lucky charm/object that they believe can bring them good luck.

ANSWERS

Question 2

Buzz lifted the old, antique coin to his lips and gave it a quick, ritual kiss.

Then he pushed it deep into his pocket. It was time to get ready to face the day ahead.

He began to plough through the huge mound of clothes on the floor in his bedroom.

Which phrase shows that Buzz's room was messy?

CORRECT ANSWER

The huge mound of clothes on the floor

EDDIE SAYS

The fact the author states that Buzz had a 'huge mound of clothes on his floor' shows that his room is messy and there are a fair few items that haven't been put away! For this type of question, remember to source evidence directly from the text.

ANSWERS

Question 3

Harry sauntered across the luscious, green grass happily, thinking about which ice-cream to buy from the nearby shop.

Then, he suddenly froze, something large and orange lept out onto his path, it was Ginger Bob, his neighbour's bad-tempered cat.

Harry could honestly say he was constantly in a perpetual state of war with this creature!

Can you use evidence from the text to describe how Harry feels when he sees Ginger Bob?

CORRECT ANSWER

EDDIE SAYS

The fact Harry froze when he saw Ginger Bob means he was shocked to see the cat and not particularly pleased about the meeting! Harry also says that he is in a 'perpetual state of war with the creature', which shows he does not get on with the cat.

ANSWERS

Question 4

Harry sauntered across the luscious, green grass happily, thinking about which ice-cream to buy from the nearby shop.

Then, he suddenly froze, something large and orange leapt out onto his path, it was Ginger Bob, his neighbour's bad-tempered cat.

Harry could honestly say he was constantly in a perpetual state of war with this creature!

Write one word from the text that shows Harry and Ginger Bob aren't ever on good terms.

CORRECT ANSWER

Perpetual

EDDIE SAYS

The word 'perpetual' in the phrase 'perpetual state of war' shows that Harry and Ginger Bob aren't ever on good terms! 'Perpetual' means constant, therefore, the two characters are constantly in some form of disagreement with one another.

ANSWERS

Question 5

Sometimes, as part of comprehension, you may be given a picture and asked to draw an inference from it.

What has this person jumped out of? Use evidence from the picture to support your answer.

CORRECT ANSWER

EDDIE SAYS

This person must have jumped out of an aeroplane or helicopter; we know this as they are using a parachute to glide through the sky.

ANSWERS

Question 6

Sometimes, as part of comprehension, you may be given a picture and asked to draw inference from it.

Describe where this person has set up camp using evidence from the picture (try to add detail about the time of day, weather, what the person is doing etc.)

CORRECT ANSWER

EDDIE SAYS

This person has set up camp in a remote place, a field, we can tell because the picture only shows the tent and nature. It is nighttime as it is starting to go dark and the sun is setting. The weather is good as the sky is clear, without clouds. The camper looks as though he/she is returning to their tent after a walk as they are wearing a bag and carrying a hiking stick.

ANSWERS

Question 7

Read the following descriptions of character feelings and then, using inference, match each appropriately with the most suitable emotion.

CORRECT ANSWER

Column A	Column B
Joseph was rolling around laughin...	Sheer joy
James tore his work into several ...	Rage
Mr Smith stood with his arms fold...	Annoyance

EDDIE SAYS

This question shows that a character's action can give clear clues about how they feel. If we look for keywords that describe character feelings, it can greatly aid us in understanding a text.

ANSWERS

Question 8

Reuben was really struggling with his Maths homework, he had to crack several, difficult equations before the morning.

He asked his Dad for help but unfortunately, he was too busy so he decided to look on the internet for some help.

What did Reuben do when his Dad said he was too busy to help? Insert the relevant quote into the box below.

CORRECT ANSWER

Decided to look on the internet for some help

EDDIE SAYS

Reuben 'decided to look on the internet for some help' with his Maths homework. You're making great progress!

ANSWERS

Question 9

The girl stepped out of her house and opened her colourful, robust umbrella.

What can you infer from this sentence?

CORRECT ANSWER

EDDIE SAYS

This sentence suggests that it was a rainy day as the girl opened her umbrella in order to stay dry.

ANSWERS

Question 10

The lifeguard quickly jumped up from his seat overlooking the swimming pool and angrily blew his whistle.

What can you infer from this sentence?

CORRECT ANSWER

EDDIE SAYS

This sentence suggests that someone in the swimming pool was doing something they shouldn't! Perhaps they were running around the side of the pool or dangerously jumping in, either way, the lifeguard blew his whistle to stop the behaviour. The fact the lifeguard is blowing his whistle angrily, suggests there isn't an emergency but rather, someone is breaking the swimming pool rules. Great work, you've completed another activity! How about attempting another one so you feel super confident?

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