Making Inferences
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?
Making Inferences
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?
