Make an Inference
On standardized tests with a verbal, reading comprehension or critical reading section, you're going to have to make an inference at some point.
So how do you make an inference? First, you have to know what one is. An inference is an assumption made based on specific evidence. Someone might say to you, "Nice hair," and you make the inference that the person is being rude and is really insulting you because it was said with a smirk. You infer the implied meaning – the meaning not said directly.
Inferences are made by doctors when they diagnose conditions, by FBI agents when they follow clues, by mechanics when they figure out what's wrong with your car.
We infer things all the time. If someone flips us the bird, we might figure out that they're mad at us for some reason. If someone is pushing a stroller, we infer that the person is taking a baby for a walk.
An inference is a guess, but it's an educated one, and you can typically come to only one of a few possible conclusions. For instance, in the cases above, the person flipping the bird may have only been scratching their chin with their middle finger. The person pushing the stroller could have been wheeling around a decrepit dog. Most likely, though, the first guesses were correct.
So let's practice our inferring, shall we? I'm going to give you some statements, and you need to infer what could be the implied meaning of the sentences. I'll do the first two for you. These ones are easy, but we'll warm up with these and then you can try your hand at more challenging picture inferences or political cartoons later.
- I wouldn't eat after that two-year-old if I were you. Make an inference: The two-year-old probably did something gross to the food you were about to eat or has a cold and you could catch it. Something bad will happen to you if you eat it!
- For Valentine’s Day, my fantastic neighbor gave his wife a poem that took him about two seconds to write. Sheesh. Make an inference: My neighbor is not very considerate since he didn't take his time writing the poem.
- A man ran after a retreating bus, waving his briefcase frantically. Make an inference:
- If she died, I wouldn’t go to her funeral. Make an inference:
- Jake almost wished that he hadn’t listened to the radio. He went to the closet and grabbed his umbrella even though he would feel silly carrying it to the bus stop on such a sunny morning. Make an inference:
- Hey? What happened to all the school construction money taken from the taxpayers? It paid for this toilet the money was flushed down. Make an inference:
- As you give a speech in front of a large audience, you realize that people are laughing behind their hands and pointing to the region below your waist. Make an inference:
- No, Honey, I don’t want you to spend a lot of money on my birthday present. Just having you for a husband is the only gift I need. In fact, I’ll just drive my old rusty bucket of bolts down to the mall and buy myself a little present. And if the poor old car doesn't break down, I’ll be back soon. Make an inference:
- A woman walks into a hospital clutching her abdomen and cursing out her husband, who trails behind her carrying a large bag. Make an inference:
- You're driving on the highway, listening to the radio, and a cop pulls you over. Make an inference:
