GENERAL ENGLISH 1

Lecturer: Yessy Purnamasari, S.S.,M.Hum. Skill Focus: Reading

Politeknik Negeri
Bandung
Duration: 4x50’ Topic : Making Inferences

Equipment:
White board, board marker, handout, projector, screen, laptop

Objectives: After completing this lesson, students are expected to be able to:
1. make inferences about events using pictures and text;
2. use inferencing skill to understand the text.

Student’s name Date:

Introduction
Writers often do not explain everything to the reader. For example, in stories, the writer may not tell the
reader the time or place. Often readers have to guess these things. This is called making inferences or
“reading between the lines.” Readers frequently need to find small clues that lead them to infer—
understand—things that the author doesn’t explicitly state. They need to use information in the text to
guess other things about the text. For example, you might read: “The waves rushed up around his legs
and he could feel the coarse sand between his toes.” You would then infer that this person was at the
beach.

What is an inference? It's a way of guessing. When you make an inference, you have some information
and you guess more things from that information. You often make inferences in your life. You can make
inferences on the bus, for example. You hear two people talking. You do not know what they are talking
about. But after you listen a little, you can guess what they are talking about. Making inferences is important
when you read. It can often help you understand what you are reading. Good readers, in fact, make
inferences all the time. In these exercises, you can learn to make inferences.

How to Make an Inference

Because there are so many different approaches to inferencing and effective strategies for making an
inference, the best way to practice inferencing is to do it again and again. Unlike other reading
comprehension skills such as understanding vocabulary and identifying the main idea, making an inference
is going to look different for everyone. This is because when it comes to drawing conclusions, there isn't
really a "right answer".
If you are asked a question about a text that you've read thoroughly, just about any inference you make, as
long as it is supported by evidence and answers the question in its entirety, can be considered correct.
When you have mastered every other area of reading comprehension and are following a text closely, you
will find that inferencing comes naturally.

Example
Directions: Look at the picture and answer the question. You must make inferences from the picture!

1. Where are these people? ______________________

2. What are their jobs? __________________________
3. What are they doing? _________________________
4. What are they saying? ________________________
Inferencing Practice
These problems are designed to help you practice making evidence-based conclusions. The first two are
done for you. Check your answers to the rest below (note: there is not a single correct answer to each
question, but rather many possible interpretations).
Remember, inferencing is about reading between the lines. What does the writer of each passage want
you to understand about what's happening beyond what's been written?

1. I wouldn't eat after that two-year-old if I were you.

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 the food.

2. For Valentine’s Day, my fantastic neighbor gave his wife a poem that took him about two seconds
to write. Sheesh.
Inference: My neighbor is not very considerate (and not actually fantastic) because he didn't take his time
writing the poem.

3. A man ran after a retreating bus, waving his briefcase frantically.

Inference: ___________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

4. If she died, I wouldn’t go to her funeral.

Inference: ___________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

5. 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.
Inference: ___________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

6. Hey! What happened to all the school construction money taken from the taxpayers? It paid for
this toilet the money was flushed down.
Inference: ___________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

7. 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.
Inference: ___________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

8. 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.
Inference: ___________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

9. A woman walks into a hospital clutching her abdomen and yelling at her husband, who trails
behind her carrying a large bag.
Inference: ___________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________

10. You're driving on the highway, listening to the radio, and a police officer pulls you over.
Inference: ___________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________________
EXERCISE 1
Directions: Look at the picture and answer the question. You must make inferences from the picture! Work
with another student.

Picture 1

1. Where are these people? ______________________

____________________________________________
2. What are their jobs? __________________________
____________________________________________
3. What are they doing? _________________________
____________________________________________
4. What are they saying? ________________________
____________________________________________

Picture 2

1. Where are these people? ______________________

____________________________________________
2. What are their jobs? __________________________
____________________________________________
3. What are they doing? _________________________
____________________________________________
4. What are they saying? ________________________
____________________________________________

Picture 3

Where are these people? ______________________

____________________________________________
2. What are their jobs? __________________________
____________________________________________
3. What are they doing? _________________________
____________________________________________
4. What are they saying? ________________________
____________________________________________
EXERCISE 2
Directions: Read the following conversations and answers the questions.

Dialogue 1

A: Look at the long line! Do you think we’ll get in?

B: I think so. Some of these people already have tickets.
A: How much are the tickets?
B: Only nine dollars for the first show. I’ll pay.
A: Thanks. I’ll buy the popcorn.

1. Where are these people? _____________________________________________________________

2. What are they talking about? ___________________________________________________________
3. Who are these people? _______________________________________________________________

Dialogue 2

A: This is one of the reasons I hate working in a big city.

B: I know. Every day, it’s the same thing.
A: This is terrible! We may be here all night! I hope we don’t run out of gas.
B: No, I think there’s enough.
A: Let’s turn on the radio. Maybe there’s some good music.
B: Sorry, the radio’s not working.
A: I think I’ll take the train tomorrow!

1. Where are these people? _____________________________________________________________

2. What are they talking about? ___________________________________________________________
3. Who are these people? _______________________________________________________________

Dialogue 3

A: When did this happen?

B: Yesterday. I was playing soccer and I fell down.
A: Can you move it at all?
B: Only a little.
A: Can you walk on it?
B: No. It hurts too much.
A: I think we’ll have to take an X-ray.
B: Will I be able to play in the game tomorrow?
A: I’m afraid not.

1. Where are these people? _____________________________________________________________

2. What are they talking about? ___________________________________________________________
3. Who are these people? _______________________________________________________________
EXERCISE 3
Directions: Read each sentence; then cross one answer choice that is a logical inference based upon that
sentence.

1. Blood cholesterol used to be thought of as a problem only for adults.

(A) Blood cholesterol is no longer a problem for adults.
(B) Only children have a problem with blood cholesterol.
(C) Blood cholesterol affects both adults and children.

2. When apple growers talk about new varieties of apples, they don’t mean something developed
last month, last year, or even in the last decade.
(A) Apple growers haven’t developed any new varieties in recent decades.
(B) Some varieties of apples can be developed in a short time, but others take a long time.
(C) New varieties of apples take many years to develop.

3. In all cultures, gestures are used as a form of communication, but the same gestures may have
very different meanings in different cultures.
(A) No two cultures use the same gestures.
(B) One gesture will never have the same meaning in two cultures.
(C) A person from one culture may misunderstand the gestures used by a person from another culture.

4. Although sheepherding is an older and more beloved occupation, shepherds never caught the
attention of American filmmakers the way cowboys did.
(A) There have been more American films about cowboys than about shepherds.
(B) Films about shepherds were popular before films about cowboys.
(C) Cowboys are generally younger than shepherds.

5. As an architect, Thomas Jefferson preferred the Roman style, as seen in the buildings of the
University of Virginia, to the English style favored by Charles Bullfinch.
(A) The architecture of the University of Virginia was influenced by the Roman style.
(B) Bullfinch was an English architect.
(C) Jefferson preferred to build in the English style of architecture.

6. Even spiders that do not build webs from silk use it for a variety of purposes, such as
constructing egg sacs and nursery tents.
(A) All spiders build webs.
(B) Spiders that build webs don’t build egg sacs or nursery tents.
(C) Silk is used by all spiders.

7. There is more quartz in the world than any one kind of feldspar, but the feldspars as a group are
five times more common than quartz.
(A) One type of quartz is five times more plentiful than feldspar.
(B) Quartz is less common than the feldspars.
(C) The most common type of feldspar is as plentiful as quartz.

8. Illegible handwriting does not indicate weakness of character, as even a quick glance at the
penmanship of George Washington, Franklin D. Roosevelt, or John Kennedy reveals.
(A) Washington, Roosevelt, and Kennedy all had handwriting that was difficult to read.
(B) A person’s handwriting reveals a lot about that person.
(C) The author believes that Washington, Roosevelt, and Kennedy all had weak characters.
EXERCISE 4
Directions: Read the passages. IF the statements following the passages are valid inferences based on
those passages, mark the items “I”. If the statements cannot be inferred from the passage, mark those
items “X”.

Text 1
The term “neon light” was originally applied to a particular type of vapor lamp using the inert, colorless gas
neon. A long tube was filled with neon, which then became luminous at low pressure when an electric
current was passed through it. The lamp then emitted the characteristic reddish-orange light of neon.
Today, the term “neon light” is given to lamps of this general type which may be filled with a variety of
gases, depending on the color that is desired. Argon, for example, is used to produce blue light. Colors
can also be altered by changing the color of the glass tube. The tubes must be quite long in all these lamps
to produce light efficiently. As a result, high voltages are required. Neon tube lamps are not practical for
indoor illumination, but they have found widespread outdoor use in glowing, colorful advertising signs.
______ 1. The inert gas neon is reddish-orange in color.
______ 2. The meaning of the term “neon light” has changed over time.
______ 3. Today’s “neon lights” never actually contain neon.
______ 4. All types of “neon lights” work on the same general principles.
______ 5. When stimulated by electricity, different types of gas may produce different colors.
______ 6. Modern “neon lights: are more efficient than those used in the past.
______ 7. The primary market for neon lights is businesses rather than private households.

Text 2
A legend is a popular type of folk tale. In some ways, legends resemble myths, another type of folk tale.
But myths describe events from antiquity and usually deal with religious subjects, such as the birth of a
god. Legends tell of recognizable people, places and events and often take place in comparatively recent
times. Some legends are based on real persons or events, but many are entirely fictional. The legends of
the superhuman accomplishments of Paul Bunyan and Pecos Bill are imaginary, while the legends about
Washington and Lincoln are mostly exaggerations of real qualities those two presidents had. All societies
have legends. Most legends began as stories about the heroes of a particular region, occupation, or ethnic
group. For example, John Henry was a legendary hero of black Americans, and Casey Jones of railroad
workers. Over time, however, these figures have become national heroes.
______ 8. Both legends and myths can be classified as folk tales.
______ 9. Myths generally take place in comparatively recent times.
______ 10. The stories of Paul Bunyan and Pecos Bill are not true, but they are based on actual people.
______ 11. Legends about Washington and Lincoln are not entirely fictional.
______ 12. John Henry and Casey Jones are today well-known only by small groups of people.
Text 3
Natural flavorings and fragrances are often costly and limited in supply. For example, the vital ingredient
in a rose fragrance is extracted from natural rose oil at a cost of thousands of dollars a pound; an identical
synthetic substance can be made for 1% of this cost. Since the early twentieth century, success in
reproducing these substances has created a new industry that today produces hundreds of artificial flavors
and fragrances.
Some natural fragrances are easily synthesized; these include vanillin, the aromatic ingredient in vanilla,
and benzaldehyde, the aromatic ingredient in wild cherries. Other fragrances, however, have dozens, even
hundreds of components. Only recently has it been possible to separate and identify these ingredients by
the use of gas chromatography and spectroscopy. Once the chemical identity is known, it is often possible
to synthesize them. Nevertheless, some complex substances, such as the aroma of fresh coffee, have still
not been duplicated satisfactorily.
Many of the chemical compounds making up these synthetics are identical to those found in nature, and
are as harmless or harmful as the natural substances. New products must be tested for safety, and when
used in food, must be approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. The availability of synthetic
flavors and fragrances has made possible a large variety of products, from inexpensive beverages to
perfumed soap to used cars with applied “new car odor.”

______ 13. Natural rose fragrance is 100 times more expensive to produce than artificial rose fragrance.
______ 14. Vanillin is easier to synthesize than benzaldehyde.
______ 15. In general, the more components there are in a fragrance, the harder it is to synthesize.
______ 16. Once a substance has been chemically analyzed, it can always be easily synthesized.
______ 17. Only recently has it been possible to satisfactorily synthesize the aroma of fresh coffee.
______ 18. Not all synthetic flavors are harmless.
______ 19. Synthesized substances must be tested for safety only if they are used in food.
______ 20. Synthetic fragrances can be sued to make a used car smell like a new one.
EXERCISE 5
Directions: Read each passage and then respond to the questions. Each question will ask you to make a
logical inference based on textual details. Explain your answer by referencing the text.

Every day 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 the 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 do? _________________________________________________________

How do you know this?

2. Describe Alice: ______________________________________________________________________

What in the text supports your description?

3. What relationship do Paul and Alice have? ________________________________________________

Why do you feel this way?

Crack! Thunder struck and rain poured. Max stared blankly out the window, trying to contain his emotions
that raged like the weather. He was beginning to lose it. Dropping the kite from his hand, Max broke out
into full sobs. His mother comforted him, “There, there, Max. We’ll just find something else to do.” She
began to unpack the picnic basket that was on the counter and offered him a sandwich. Max snapped, “I
don’t wanna sand-mich!” A flash from the sky lit up the living room. Boom! Mom sighed.

4. Why is Max upset? ___________________________________________________________________

How do you know this?

5. What was Mom planning on doing today?

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?

Today was a special day in Ms. Smith’s class. Some of the children were walking around the room, some
of them were standing in small groups, and some of them were at their desks, putting finishing touches on
cardboard mailboxes. After coloring a cool flame on the side of his racecar mailbox, Johnny hopped off his
chair, strutted over to Veronica’s desk, and dropped a small white envelope into her princess castle mailbox.
Veronica blushed and played with her hair. While this was happening, Bartleby was frantically trying to put
a small white envelope into everyone’s mailbox. After giving one to Ms. Smith, Bartleby pulled out a
medium-sized red envelope from his pocket. He blushed and tried to put it in Veronica’s mailbox, but it
wouldn’t quite fit. Bartleby struggled with it for a few seconds and then ran off with the envelope. Veronica
rolled her eyes and popped her gum.

8. Why is today a special day? ____________________________________________________________

What in the text supports your idea?

9. Which boy does Veronica like? _________________________________________________________

What in the text supports your idea?

10. Why did Bartleby run? _______________________________________________________________

What in the text supports your idea?

EXERCISE 6
Directions: You are going to read some reading passages, each with 2-5 questions. For each question,
choose the answer which you think fits best according to the text.

Are you setting up a small business? Worried about the costs of renting office space and employing the
right people?
Rhodes Virtual Office World can help you. With our Basic Office Deal, we can set up a virtual office for
you practically overnight.
We will give your business a professional image and our polite, friendly staff will handle your calls and
present your business in the best possible way. We can provide you with: a professional business
address, a local phone number and we will also handle mail.
For a more personal approach, with the option of forwarding mail and messages to your home address,
don’t hesitate to ask us about our Premier Office Deals.

1. Where is the text from?

a. A message from a business to a current client c. An email from one business worker to another
b. An advertisement for a new business service d. A newspaper article about a new business’s
success

2. What does the service provide?

a. Off-site staff to perform general office duties
b. A site where several businesses can locate their offices
c. Advice on how to make your business more professional
d. Temporary staff for local businesses

3. Which of the following is not included in the Basic Office deal?

a. A polite receptionist c. A professional address
b. A mail-forwarding service d. A telephone-answering service

Dear Helen,
I would like to congratulate you on organizing such an excellent and informative workshop. I know a lot
of people learnt a great deal from it. Can you pass on my thanks to Doctor Friedman for his fascinating
talk on Staff Motivation? I realize how lucky we were that he was able to find the time for us. The
feedback from the staff was very positive. Let’s hope we actually see an improvement in staff motivation
as a result!
By the way, I’m missing my list of addresses of the delegates who attended. Did I happen to leave it in
your office? It’s just that I haven’t seen it since our meeting on Friday.
Thanks again for a great day,
Anne

4. What is the main objective of the message?

a. to inform b. to accuse c. to make a request d. to praise

5. What can be implied about the workshop?

a. All the delegates were staff from the same office. c. It lasted one day.
b. It included several talks. d. Motivation was the only topic discussed.

6. What can be implied about Dr. Friedman?

a. He works in the same office as Anne. c. He is a leading expert on staff motivation.
b. He has a very busy schedule. d. Anne knows him better than Helen does

.7. What has happened to the address list?

a. Anne has lost it. c. Anne has sent it to Helen.
b. Anne has found it. d. Anne has completed it
 Here’s a mouth-watering cookie recipe for you to try at home. You will need two cups each of margarine,
white sugar and brown sugar; four eggs, four cups of flour, 1 teaspoon of baking powder, a pinch of salt
and a cup of milk chocolate chips. First of all, pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Take a large
bowl and cream together the margarine and sugar until they are smooth. Then add the eggs, one by
one. Sift the flour and baking powder into the mixture and add the salt. Finally add the chocolate chips.
Drop spoonfuls of the mixture onto ungreased cookie sheets and bake for eight to ten minutes until the
edges are golden brown. Cool for one hour before eating.
.
8. Which of the following is NOT an ingredient in the recipe?
a. cream b. flour c. eggs d. margarine

9. What must the cook do first?

a. Put the margarine and sugar in a bowl c. Sift the flour
b. Turn on the oven d. Break the eggs

10. Which of the following items is needed to make this recipe?

a. microwave b. sieve c. saucepan d. knife

11. Which of the following ingredients is added last?

a. salt b. baking powder chocolate chips d. eggs

A new ruling which came into effect last week requires some homeowners to purchase new smoke
alarms. The ordinance states that there should be a fire alarm installed in every bedroom of the house,
and these alarms must comply with certain safety standards. Some local residents are displeased at
these new regulations. Gwen Ellis of McKinley says that to meet with the new regulations, she has to
buy five new alarms to replace the ones she installed just six months ago. With fire alarms costing up to
$20 apiece, this is an unwelcome ruling for many people. Fortunately, the McKinley Fire Department is
offering grants for homeowners and will provide and install new fire alarms free of charge. If you have
small children or are older than 65 years of age, you may be eligible for these. The McKinley Fire
Department has 5,000 smoke alarms to give away. To inquire about obtaining a free alarm, or to find
out whether you qualify, call 692-569-0372.

12. Which of the following is true about the new rule?

a. Every house should have five fire alarms.
b. All fire alarms must be of a certain quality.
c. All fire alarms need to first be approved by the Fire Department.
d. All fire alarms must be less than six months old.

13. How much do five fire alarms cost?

a. $20 b. $100 c. $12 d. $4

14. Which of the following people may be able to receive a free fire alarm?
a. an elderly couple c. a woman living alone
b. family of two adults and two teenagers d. a man who owns his own home

15. What does the number 5,000 refer to?

a. the number of people who are eligible for free smoke alarms
b. the number of smoke alarms which need to be replaced in the town of McKinley
c. the number of smoke alarms which have already been installed by the Fire Department
d. the number of smoke alarms which are available free to certain people