Name: ______
Making Inferences 1
Directions: Read each passage and then respond to the questions. Each question will ask you to make a logical inference based on textual details. In each box put the fact from the text + your prior knowledge about that = your inference.
Everyday after work Paul took his muddy boots off on the steps of the front porch. Alice would have a fit if the boots made it so far as the welcome mat. He then took off his dusty overalls and threw them into a plastic garbage bag; Alice left a new garbage bag tied to the porch railing for him every morning. On his way in the house, he dropped the garbage bag off at the washing machine and went straight up stairs to the shower as he was instructed. He would eat dinner with her after he was “presentable,” as Alice had often said.
1. What type of job does Paul work? ____He works outside and gets dirty at his job.
How do you know this?“muddy boots” and “dusty overalls” + mud is outside and he is dirty when he comes home = he works outside and
has a dirty job
2. Describe Alice: ______
What in the text supports your description?3. What relationship do Paul and Alice have? ______
Why do you feel this way?Valerie opened up the letter from the military department. She felt the pit of her stomach drop to the bottom of the earth before she even opened it. She knew it was news about John. As she read the first line, she thought of all of the lunches she had packed him and all the nights she tucked him in his bed and warded off the nighttime monsters. The man carrying the flag put his hand on her shoulder. She thought of the day that John signed up for the military. Her tears wet the letter. She stopped reading after the first line.
4. What does the letter say? ______
How do you know this?5. What is Valerie’s relationship to John? ______
What in the text supports your description?“Tommy!” Mom called out as she walked in the front door. “Tommy,” she continued shouting, “I sure could use some help with these groceries. There was still no reply. Mom walked into the kitchen to put the grocery bags down on the counter when she noticed shattered glass from the picture window all over the living room floor and a baseball not far from there. “I’m going to kill you, Tommy!” Mom yelled to herself as she realized that Tommy’s shoes were gone.
6. What happened to the window? ______
How do you know this?7. Why did Tommy leave? ______
What in the text supports your description?Ruby sat on the bed she shared with her husband, holding the letter. There was something thrilling and, at the same time, terrifying about the letter. Taking a deep, thoughtful breath, Ruby read the letter yet again, reassuring herself that, at least in one person’s eyes, she did have what it takes to reach her goals. After all these years of waiting and summoning her courage, scrimping and saving, was she finally going to take the opportunity she had been denied those many years ago? Ruby tucked the letter back under the mattress. No, today wasn’t the day to tell Max. She had to wait until just the right moment; a good day when Max was full of smiles and hope and good humor. Maybe once spring arrived, carrying with it the promise of sunshine and more work, she would muster the courage to approach her husband.
8. Why does the letter mean so much to Ruby? ______
What in the text supports your idea?9. Why doesn’t Ruby tell Max about the letter? ______
What in the text supports your idea?Point of View
Directions: Read each passage and decide what point of view it is. Write down why it is that point of view. Use your notes!
1. The banging on my door reverberated within my skull like a giant church bell in an empty hall. I groaned and rolled onto my stomach, pulling the pillow over my head.
Which point of view is this?
Why?
2. “As they followed Charlie through the crowded maze, Jake felt an odd excitement building inside him—or was it fear? He tried to grab Sophie’s hand, but she slapped him away. He had promised Grandpa he’d look after her. A pang of guilt stabbed him. He should have at least left a note for Grandpa.”
Which point of view?
Why?
3. Nate leaned back in his seat and put his hands behind his neck. He saw Marika raising her hand. Nate didn’t know that she always had her hand up because her parents keep pressuring her to get straight “A”s.
She feels she must work to stand out in class for them. Behind Nate, Sam looked at a globe.
Which point of view?
Why?