In reading passages, what does an 'inference' refer to?

• A. A direct quotation from the author.
• B. A logical conclusion drawn from evidence in the text, not stated explicitly.
• C. A summary of the text.
• D. The author's opinion about the topic.

Answer: (B)

In reading passages, an inference is a logical conclusion drawn from evidence in the text that isn’t stated outright. You use clues the author provides—like actions, words, descriptions, or events—and combine them with your own background knowledge to understand something the text implies but doesn’t say directly. For example, if a character avoids eye contact, fidgets, and says, “It’s better if nobody knows,” you can infer that the character is nervous or hiding something, even though the word “nervous” isn’t written there.

This differs from a direct quotation, which is when you use the author’s exact words. It also differs from a summary, which restates the main ideas of the text without adding anything new. And it isn’t simply the author’s opinion about a topic; an inference is about what the text suggests beyond the explicit statements, not just what the author happens to think.

A good strategy to infer well is to notice clues about tone, purpose, and cause-and-effect. Then ask yourself what those clues imply about characters’ feelings, motives, or likely outcomes. With practice, you’ll learn to read between the lines and uncover meaning that isn’t written word-for-word.