2. Making Inferences

3. When you make an inference, you gather clues and come to a conclusion. You make inferences every day. You walk into class and realize something is different. Here’s what goes through your mind. What are inferences? You didn’t see the substitute, and no one told you, but you made an inference based on the clues.

4. Making Inferences You also make inferences when you read. What are inferences? You take information the author puts on a page and combine it with what you already know to make an inference. external knowledge internal knowledge inference + =

5. Making Inferences What are inferences? The external knowledge you get from this passage is that the girl is eating quickly. But why? The girl gulped down the food, barely chewing it before taking another bite. Here’s an example: She could hear the school bus heading toward her house. As you read on, you can infer that the girl is eating fast because she needs to hurry to catch the bus. [End of Section]

6. Making Inferences Why make inferences? Making inferences can help you Making inferences is particularly useful when reading stories with complex characters. comprehend the characters and the conflicts they face. [End of Section] get a deeper understanding from your reading.

7. Making Inferences Tips Ask yourself, “What does the writer tell me about how the character acts or thinks?” “Oh, no! I’ll be late again!” Ellie pulled on a pair of dirty shorts from the pile on the floor. Pawing through her overflowing drawer, she mumbled, “Where is that other sock?” As she mounted her bike, a little voice chirped, “Ellie, can you play with me?” “Not today, Chipper. I’ve got to get to band practice.” She checked her back pocket for her drumsticks. Neighbors waved as she pedaled fiercely down the street. Only once did she stop, to help Mrs. Wills unload a heavy box from her car. “Glad you could make it,” Joe growled as Ellie burst through the door. “You promised to be on time. What happened?”

8. Making Inferences Next, ask yourself, “What do I know about people who act or think this way?” “Oh, no! I’ll be late again!” Ellie pulled on a pair of dirty shorts from the pile on the floor. Pawing through her overflowing drawer, she mumbled, “Where is that other sock?” As she mounted her bike, a little voice chirped, “Ellie, can you play with me?” “Not today, Chipper. I’ve got to get to band practice.” She checked her back pocket for her drumsticks. Neighbors waved as she pedaled fiercely down the street. Only once did she stop, to help Mrs. Wills unload a heavy box from her car. “Glad you could make it,” Joe growled as Ellie burst through the door. “You promised to be on time. What happened?” Tips

9. Making Inferences “Oh, no! I’ll be late again!” Ellie pulled on a pair of dirty shorts from the pile on the floor. Pawing through her overflowing drawer, she mumbled, “Where is that other sock?” As she mounted her bike, a little voice chirped, “Ellie, can you play with me?” “Not today, Chipper. I’ve got to get to band practice.” She checked her back pocket for her drumsticks. Neighbors waved as she pedaled fiercely down the street. Only once did she stop, to help Mrs. Wills unload a heavy box from her car. “Glad you could make it,” Joe growled as Ellie burst through the door. “You promised to be on time. What happened?” Ellie’s room isn’t very neat. She seems disorganized. Ellie plays in a band. Although she’s in a hurry, Ellie takes the time to stop and help a neighbor.

10. Making Inferences “Oh, no! I’ll be late again!” Ellie pulled on a pair of dirty shorts from the pile on the floor. Pawing through her overflowing drawer, she mumbled, “Where is that other sock?” As she mounted her bike, a little voice chirped, “Ellie, can you play with me?” “Not today, Chipper. I’ve got to get to band practice.” She checked her back pocket for her drumsticks. Neighbors waved as she pedaled fiercely down the street. Only once did she stop, to help Mrs. Wills unload a heavy box from her car. “Glad you could make it,” Joe growled as Ellie burst through the door. “You promised to be on time. What happened?” People like Ellie tend to be creative and kind, but not always dependable or punctual. Ellie may need many creative outlets and may have a very busy schedule.

11. Making Inferences You might also ask yourself, “What does the writer tell me about problems the character faces?” “Oh, no! I’ll be late again!” Ellie pulled on a pair of dirty shorts from the pile on the floor. Pawing through her overflowing drawer, she mumbled, “Where is that other sock?” As she mounted her bike, a little voice chirped, “Ellie, can you play with me?” “Not today, Chipper. I’ve got to get to band practice.” She checked her back pocket for her drumsticks. Neighbors waved as she pedaled fiercely down the street. Only once did she stop, to help Mrs. Wills unload a heavy box from her car. “Glad you could make it,” Joe growled as Ellie burst through the door. “You promised to be on time. What happened?” Tips

12. Making Inferences Then ask, “What do I know about that situation or similar situations?” “Oh, no! I’ll be late again!” Ellie pulled on a pair of dirty shorts from the pile on the floor. Pawing through her overflowing drawer, she mumbled, “Where is that other sock?” As she mounted her bike, a little voice chirped, “Ellie, can you play with me?” “Not today, Chipper. I’ve got to get to band practice.” She checked her back pocket for her drumsticks. Neighbors waved as she pedaled fiercely down the street. Only once did she stop, to help Mrs. Wills unload a heavy box from her car. “Glad you could make it,” Joe growled as Ellie burst through the door. “You promised to be on time. What happened?” Tips

13. Making Inferences “Oh, no! I’ll be late again!” Ellie pulled on a pair of dirty shorts from the pile on the floor. Pawing through her overflowing drawer, she mumbled, “Where is that other sock?” As she mounted her bike, a little voice chirped, “Ellie, can you play with me?” “Not today, Chipper. I’ve got to get to band practice.” She checked her back pocket for her drumsticks. Neighbors waved as she pedaled fiercely down the street. Only once did she stop, to help Mrs. Wills unload a heavy box from her car. “Glad you could make it,” Joe growled as Ellie burst through the door. “You promised to be on time. What happened?” Ellie is going to be late getting to band practice— again. Ellie promised her fellow band members that she would be on time.

14. Making Inferences “Oh, no! I’ll be late again!” Ellie pulled on a pair of dirty shorts from the pile on the floor. Pawing through her overflowing drawer, she mumbled, “Where is that other sock?” As she mounted her bike, a little voice chirped, “Ellie, can you play with me?” “Not today, Chipper. I’ve got to get to band practice.” She checked her back pocket for her drumsticks. Neighbors waved as she pedaled fiercely down the street. Only once did she stop, to help Mrs. Wills unload a heavy box from her car. “Glad you could make it,” Joe growled as Ellie burst through the door. “You promised to be on time. What happened?” It’s hard to keep all the promises you make— especially when many people depend on you and you want to please them all.

15. Making Inferences If other characters are involved, ask, “How do others respond to the character? What do these responses show?” “Oh, no! I’ll be late again!” Ellie pulled on a pair of dirty shorts from the pile on the floor. Pawing through her overflowing drawer, she mumbled, “Where is that other sock?” As she mounted her bike, a little voice chirped, “Ellie, can you play with me?” “Not today, Chipper. I’ve got to get to band practice.” She checked her back pocket for her drumsticks. Neighbors waved as she pedaled fiercely down the street. Only once did she stop, to help Mrs. Wills unload a heavy box from her car. “Glad you could make it,” Joe growled as Ellie burst through the door. “You promised to be on time. What happened?” Tips

16. Making Inferences “Oh, no! I’ll be late again!” Ellie pulled on a pair of dirty shorts from the pile on the floor. Pawing through her overflowing drawer, she mumbled, “Where is that other sock?” As she mounted her bike, a little voice chirped, “Ellie, can you play with me?” “Not today, Chipper. I’ve got to get to band practice.” She checked her back pocket for her drumsticks. Neighbors waved as she pedaled fiercely down the street. Only once did she stop, to help Mrs. Wills unload a heavy box from her car. “Glad you could make it,” Joe growled as Ellie burst through the door. “You promised to be on time. What happened?” Chipper asks Ellie to play with him. Ellie’s neighbors wave to her in a friendly way. Joe seems frustrated by her tardiness. Many people depend on Ellie.

17. Making Inferences Finally, combine what the writer says with what you know to make an inference. What can you infer about Ellie? “Oh, no! I’ll be late again!” Ellie pulled on a pair of dirty shorts from the pile on the floor. Pawing through her overflowing drawer, she mumbled, “Where is that other sock?” As she mounted her bike, a little voice chirped, “Ellie, can you play with me?” “Not today, Chipper. I’ve got to get to band practice.” She checked her back pocket for her drumsticks. Neighbors waved as she pedaled fiercely down the street. Only once did she stop, to help Mrs. Wills unload a heavy box from her car. “Glad you could make it,” Joe growled as Ellie burst through the door. “You promised to be on time. What happened?” Tips

18. Making Inferences “Oh, no! I’ll be late again!” Ellie pulled on a pair of dirty shorts from the pile on the floor. Pawing through her overflowing drawer, she mumbled, “Where is that other sock?” As she mounted her bike, a little voice chirped, “Ellie, can you play with me?” “Not today, Chipper. I’ve got to get to band practice.” She checked her back pocket for her drumsticks. Neighbors waved as she pedaled fiercely down the street. Only once did she stop, to help Mrs. Wills unload a heavy box from her car. “Glad you could make it,” Joe growled as Ellie burst through the door. “You promised to be on time. What happened?” Ellie is a thoughtful, energetic person who probably tries to do too much. She tries to help everyone; as a result, she finds it hard to be on time or keep her promises.

19. Making Inferences Use the Strategy As you read the excerpt from “Bud, Not Buddy,” stop at each open-book sign and think about what you have just read. These questions will help you learn how to make inferences as a reading strategy. Combine what’s in the text with what you know. Answer the question. Example [End of Section]

20. Making Inferences Shoot! She stopped at me and said, “Are you Buddy Caldwell?” I said, “It’s Bud, not Buddy, ma’am.” She put her hand on my shoulder and took me out of line. Then she pulled Jerry, one of the littler boys, over. “Aren’t you Jerry Clark?” He nodded. No, she doesn’t know the boys well. She is unsure of their names, and Bud has to tell her that he doesn’t want to be called Buddy. Does this caseworker know Bud or Jerry well? What information in the text helps you make your inference? Use the Strategy

21. Making Inferences Practice the Strategy As you read the selection, a chart like this can help you keep track of what’s in the text (“It Says”) and what’s in your mind (“I Say”). Make your inferences in the “And So” column. QuestionIt Says I Say And So 1. How does Jerry feel when he’s going to live with a new family? He “looked like he’d found out they were going to dip him in a pot of boiling milk.” That look on his face must be awful. I think Jerry must feel terrible.

22. Making Inferences Now, it’s your turn. Fill in the chart as you read a question or think about the questions listed under “Hints for Making Inferences” on page 126 of your textbook. Question It Says I Say And So 1. Have the tough times he’s been through made Bud a tough guy? [End of Section]

23. Making Inferences The End