Hi there! I am Studyfin, your friendly study buddy. Today, we are going to become reading detectives!
When you read, the author does not tell you everything. You have to find clues in the text. This is called making an inference.
An inference is like a math equation. You take what the author tells you, add what you already know, and find the secret meaning.
We must always use evidence to back up our guesses. Evidence is the proof we find directly in the sentences we read.
✏️ Worked example
Read this short story: 'Leo put on his heavy yellow coat. He zipped it up to his chin. Then, he grabbed his shiny metal shovel and stepped outside into the cold air.' What is Leo going to do?
Find the first clue: Leo is wearing a heavy yellow coat zipped up to his chin.
Find the second clue: Leo has a shiny metal shovel in his hand.
Think about what you already know: People wear heavy coats when it is very cold, and they use shovels to clear snow.
Combine the clues with what you know: Cold weather + shovel = clearing snow.
Make your final inference: Leo is going outside to shovel snow!
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