Infer Implied meaning

Ms. H.M.W.N.Herath
ELT 1262-Business English
Department of English Language Teaching
Faculty of Management Studies
 What is inference?
Inference can be defined as the process of making a conclusion
based on the available evidence plus previous knowledge and
experience.

 What is an inferential question?

Inferential questions are often used in reading comprehension
tests. These questions do not have a direct answer within the text
but have answers which may be inferred from clues within the
text.
“Sammy! Sammy! Where are you?"

The woman called it out again and again as she walked

along Lake Street. A bad road for cats. She prayed he hadn't
wandered this far. But it had been nearly two weeks, and
still Sammy hadn't come home.

1. Who was Sammy?

2. How will you describe the woman's relationship with

Sammy? Why?

 
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.
01. Miyasi came out of the washroom with tears in her eyes. She ran down to the
cafeteria and asked the staff if they had any rice. Fortunately for Miyasi, they
did. They filled a red plastic cup about half way with white rice grains and
handed it to Miyasi. Miyasi pulled a damp phone from out of her back pocket and
pushed it into the dry rice grains inside of the plastic cup. She sincerely thanked
the staff of the cafeteria and then went back to class. She felt relieved, but she
was still a little worried.

1. Why is Miyasi upset at the beginning of the passage?

2. How do you know this?
3. Why does Miyasi put her phone in the cup of rice?
4. How do you know this?
5. Why is Miyasi relieved but still worried at the end of the text?
6. How do you know this?
1. Why is Miyasi upset at the beginning of the passage?
Her phone has dropped into water in the washroom

2. How do you know this?

because she is crying as she leaves the bathroom and she tries to fix it immediately.

3. Why does Miyasi put her phone in the cup of rice?

Because she wants to fix her phone.

4. How do you know this?

Because rice is sometimes used to absorb the moisture from wet electronics.

5. Why is Miyasi relieved but still worried at the end of the text?
She is relieved that she has tried to fix her phone but she is worried that the phone
still might not work.

6. How do you know that she is relieved?

Because after putting the phone into rice cup she goes back to the class
02. Krishal ran into his house, slamming the door behind him. He
threw his book bag on the floor and plopped onto the couch. After
six hours of playing video games, he ate some pizza and fell
asleep with a slice on his stomach and his feet on his book bag.
When Krishal came home from school the next day, he was
noticeably upset. He balled up his report card and placed it inside a
food can in the garbage. He then flipped the food can upside down
in the garbage can and arranged loose pieces of trash over it. As
he plopped down on the couch, he let out a sigh and picked up
his controller.

1. Why is Krishal upset?

2. How do you know this?
3. Why does Krishal put the report card in a food can?
4. Was Krishal’s report card good or bad.
5. How do you know this?
1. Why is Krishal upset?
He probably got bad grades.

2. How do you know this?

He balls up his report card and hides it

3. Why does Krishal put the report card in a food can?

He is trying to hide the evidence. He doesn’t want anyone to know.

4. Was Krishal’s report card good or bad.

Report card was probably bad.

6. How do you know this?

Because he plays video games for six hours and sleeps with his feet
on his book bag. He is not even opening the book bag.
03. Amindi sat by the fountain in the park with her head in her
palms. She was weeping mournfully and her clothing was
messy. In between gasps and sobs, Amindi cried out a name:
“Oh... Janith…” And then her cell phone beeped. Her hand
ran into her purse and her heart fluttered. The text message
was from Janith. She opened up the message and read the
few bare words, “I need to get my presents back from you.”
Amindi threw her head into her arms and continued sobbing.

1. What relationship do Janith and Amindi have?

2.Why do you feel this way?
3. Why is Amindi sad?
4. How do you know this?
1. What relationship do Janith and Amindi have?
They are boy friend and girlfriend.

2. Why do you feel this way?

It seems that they are having a break up.

3. Why is Amindi sad?

Because they are breaking up.

4. How do you know this?

Janith wants to get his belonging back.
04. Charuka rolled over in her bed as she felt the sunlight hit her
face. The beams were warming the back of her neck when she
slowly realized that it was a Thursday, and she felt a little too
good for a Thursday. Struggling to open her eyes, she looked up
at the clock. “7.00am,” she shouted, “OMG!” Charuka jumped out
of bed, threw on the first uniform that she grabbed, brushed her
teeth in two swipes, threw her books into her backpack, and then
ran out the door.

1. What problem is Charuka having?

2. How do you know this?
3. Where is Charuka going?
4. How do you know this?
1. What problem is Charuka having?
She is late for school

2. How do you know this?

She jumped out the bed and quickly got ready

3. Where is Charuka going?

To school.

4. How do you know this?

-It seems that she is in a rush to go somewhere. Probably it may
be to the school and the most of the schools start at 7.30 am.
-She grabs the books and put into the backpack.
05. Rayan was looking forward to sleeping over at his friend Kevin's house. Though
they had been classmates for a while, the two had only recently become good
friends. Rayan packed up his sleeping bag, a pillow, and a few of his favorite
toys and games, and then his mom dropped him off at Kevin's. Kevin met Rayan
on the porch and the two did their secret handshake and started playing right
away. First they played pirates in Kevin's tree fort. Next they played ninjas in the
driveway. Then it started getting dark and they went inside of Kevin’s house. As
soon as they walked in the house, Rayan 's eyes starting getting red and itchy. He
saw a big orange cat sitting on the couch. Then he started sneezing
uncontrollably. "I'm sorry, Kevin. It's been a lot of fun, but I have to call my mom.“

1. Why do Rayan 's eyes get red and itchy when he walks into Kevin's house?
2. How do you know this?
3. Why does Rayan want to call his mother?
4. How do you know this?
1. Why do Ryan's eyes get red and itchy when he walks into Kevin’s
house?
He is allergic to cats

2. How do you know this?

Because as soon as he walks into the house, his eyes start
getting irritated, and then he sees the cat, people who are allergic
to cats will display these symptoms when around cats

3. Why does Ryan want to call his mother?

Because he wants to go home

4. How do you know this?

Because he apologizes and because he is having an allergic
reaction
06. “Krish, don't forget your towel!" Mom shouted as she applied
sunblock on the baby. Krish threw the folding chairs in the back of the
minivan and shouted through the garage door, "OK Mom!" He then
ran up and grabbed his towel. "Georgie!" Krish shouted. There was
no response. Mom packed the baby up into the car seat. " Krish, can
you help me with his umbrella?" Krish ran down the stairs, almost
tripping over a chew toy, and then he helped his mother load the
large umbrella in the minivan. "Mom, I can't find Georgie," Krish
said. His mother shrugged and replied, "That’s OK, Krish. He probably
shouldn't come with us anyway.”

1. Where are Mom and Krish going?

2. How do you know this?
3. Who is Georgie?
4. How do you know this?
1. Where are Mom and Krish going?
To the beach

2. How do you know this?

They are applying sunblock, bringing lawn chairs, and
packing a large umbrella. These are items that are used at the
beach.

3. Who is Georgie?
A dog

4. How do you know this?

Krish almost trips over one of his chew toys and mom
seems really don't worry about Georgie’s disappearance
07. As the teacher brought the class back from the washroom, she noticed that Alan
and Emil were nowhere to be seen. She asked the class, "Has anyone seen Alan or
Emil?" Most of the students confirmed that they had not seen them, except for
Rehan, who remained silent while tapping his foot on the floor anxiously. The
teacher noticed this. " Rehan, do you happen to know where your best buddies Alan
and Emil went?" Rehan looked away and said, "Nah, I haven't seen them." The
teacher notified the office of the missing students. An announcement was made over
the PA system and a few minutes later, Alan and Emil returned to class. Both of them
were very sweaty and Emil was carrying a basketball. "Sorry we took so long. We had
to use the bathroom," said Emil. "Yeah," chimed in Alan, "it took longer than we
thought.“

1. What were Alan and Emil doing while they were gone?
2. How do you know this?
3. Why was Rehan acting so strangely?
4. How do you know this?
5. Will the teacher believe Alan and Emil 's story?
6. How do you know this?
1. What were Alan and Emil doing while they were gone?
They were probably playing basketball in somewhere.

2. How do you know this?

They were both very sweaty and Emil was carrying a basketball

3. Why was Rehan acting so strangely?

Because he knew where Alan and Emil went.

4. How do you know this?

Because he began acting very strangely when the teacher started asking where Alan and Emil
went.

5. Will the teacher believe Alan and Emil 's story?

Probably she will not believe Alan and Emil

6. How do you know this?

Because she seems pretty smart. He noticed that they were gone, and she noticed that Rehan
was acting funny. Also Alan and Emil are carrying around a basketball
08. Thanuj walked out of the shopping mall with his arms full of bags and the sun
shining on him. As he approached his car, he started awkwardly feeling around
his pockets with his arm full of bags. He did not find what he was looking for so
he transferred the bags on one arm to the other arm, which already had bags.
Thanuj had a lot of bags on one arm. He still couldn't find what he was looking
for. Now he dropped the bags and plunged both hands desperately into all of the
pockets on his jeans. With a look of despair, Thanuj ran to his car. He tried to
open the door, but it was locked. Then he saw something on the passenger seat
of the car. He stopped looking and pulled his phone out of his pocket.

1. Why does Thanuj get so frantic?

2. How do you know this?
3. What does Thanuj see on the passenger seat?
4. How do you know this?
5. Why is Thanuj getting on the phone?
6. How do you know this?
1. Why does Thanuj get so frantic?
Thanuj realizes that he doesn’t have his car keys

2. How do you know this?

He is checking his pockets over and over again and he can’t get into his car

3. What does Thanuj see on the passenger seat?

His keys

4. How do you know this?

He stops looking for them after he sees them on the seat

5. Why is Thanuj getting on the phone?

He is going to call for help

6. How do you know this?

Because he is locked out of his car and he probably wants to take his new stuff home
09. Shen sat in his seat as the morning bell rang and released a big yawn. He
stretched as the teacher went to the front of the class and began talking, "Good
morning, students! I'll take attendance while you start working on that test that I
promised you." The class let out a collective groan, but Shen ‘s eyes widened. He
began to search through his backpack and pulled out a crumpled notebook with part
of the cover torn off it. He frantically turned the pages, many of which were filled
with just a few words or doodles. The teacher looked directly at Shen as she
said, "OK, class, put your notes away and clear off your desks. It’s test time." Shen
began looking around the room frantically. He saw Rashini sitting next to him. Shen
whispered, “sh sh... Rashini." She turned to him with a scowl. His eyes pleaded
with hers. "Not gonna happen, Shen," Rashini said loudly. This startled Shen and he
jumped in his seat. The teacher looked at Shen again, "No more talking class.”

1. Has Shen studied for the test last night? How do you know this?
2. Why does Shawn suddenly liven up when the teacher announces the test?How
do you know this?
3. What did Shen want from Rashini? How do you know this?
1. Has Shen studied for the test last night?
No he hasn’t

2. How do you know this?

Because he seems surprises that they are having a test about which the teacher
informed them.

3. Why does Shawn suddenly becomes energetic when the teacher announces the test?
Because he is trying to get prepared very quickly

4. How do you know this?

He is searching the notes in the note book

5. What did Shen want from Rashini?

Shen wanted rashini to help him to cheat or to copy in the test

6. How do you know this?

Because he is really unprepared for the test and he jumped nervously after she
loudly responds to his whispers.
10. Brenda reached for the box of tissue. She blew her nose with a thunderous force
and then tried breathing through it again. It was still clogged. She stood up and
got a head rush that almost knocked her back down to the bed, but she regained
her balance. As she tottered over to the phone on her dresser, all of her muscles
ached. She located the contact labeled "Work" and pressed dial. A couple of
rings later, a familiar voice answered the phone, "Happy Fun Land, this is Amelia
speaking. How can I help you?" Brenda moaned, "Oh, Amy, it's Brenda." Amelia
responded with pep, "Hey, Brenda! I can't wait to see you this afternoon." Brenda
grunted and replied, "Yeah, well, actually, I need to talk to the manager.”

1. Why is Brenda moving so slowly?

2. How do you know this?
3. What is Brenda going to talk about with the manager?
4. How do you know this?
1. Why is Brenda moving so slowly?
Because she is sick.

2. How do you know this?

Because she is blowing her nose, getting head rushes, and
aching

3. What is Brenda going to talk about with the manager?

She is going to tell her manager that she is sick

4. How do you know this?

Because she is not in a condition to work and it seems she is
still in her bedroom and not ready to go to the office.