NGSSS

Inferences and Conclusions LA .B.L7.3: Determine-main idea or essenlial message in grade-level or higher texts through inferring, paraphrasing, summarizing, and identifying relevant details .

Florida

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In this lesson, you'll learn about making inferences and drawing conclusions. An inference is a guess about something based on information you have been given. When you make an inference while reading, you figure out ideas that the author does not state directly.

You make inferences every day. For example, you infer from the sound of clanging pots and pans in the kitchen that someone is making dinner. You know this because you combine the clue you have- the sound-with what your experience has taught you. You make inferences as you read, too, often without even realizing it.

You can make predictions in a similar way. A prediction is an educated guess about what will happen next or in the future. As you read, you might predict what will happen later in the story. You use the information in the story, along with what you know, to make an informed guess about what will happen. Suppose you're reading a story about a runner who has an important race coming up. She's so confident she'll win that she doesn't train very hard. She even stays up late watching a movie the night before the race. Based on the runner's actions, you would probably predict that she won't do very well in the race.

Similarly, to draw a conclusion, you combine clues from the text with what you already know to make a decision or judgment about something. For example, suppose you're reading about a character named Tyler who takes lunch money and homework from other students. Even if the author never writes, ""TYler was a bully," you would probably conclude that "TYler was a bully based on his actions.

As you read, make inferences and draw conclusions to fill in the gaps of what the author did not say directly. Make sure that there are details in the text to support the inference.

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NGSSS LA.8.1.7.3

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Read this profile of a famous singer. Look for details to answer the question below.

Woody Guthrie

1 Woodrow W ilson Guthrie (1912-1967) was born in Okem ah, Oklahoma. When he was a child , his parents taught him traditional Irish ballads, cowboy songs, and Native American songs. Uprooted by fa mily tragedy, Guthrie took to the open road for the first time at age 16. During the Great Depression , he roamed the Southwest ,. looking for work. To ea rn money, he p layed his guitar and sang.

2 Eventually, Guthrie gained fa me as a folksinger, writing more than a thousand songs. Do you recognize these lyrics from his most famous song?

This land is your land, this land is my land From California to the New York Island From the redwood Jorest to the Gulf Stream waters Tlti s land was made Jar Y Olt and me.

Based on the information in this article, what can the reader conclude about Guthrie's interest in folk music?

~ What does the article say about Guthrie's musical background? Guthrie's parents taught him traditional lrish ballads, cowboy songs, and Native American songs.

~ What do you already know about folk music? It is based on traditional forms of music , such as the kinds of songs Guthrie listened to as a child.

~ How did Guthrie become interested in folk music? Draw a conclusion by putting together what yo u lea rned in the passage and what you already know. Guthrie became interested in folk music by lea rning traditional music.

ANSWER: Guthrie's interest in folk music was sparked by learning traditional music as a child .

W hat is the "land" that Guthrie refers to in his song? E -" = .~ -3 •

Think About It What does the editorial tell you about the school? What can you conclude about the school's condition?

Hint The correct conclusion must be supported by facts in the editorial.

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Read the newspaper editorial. Use the Think About It to guide your reading. Then answer the question. Use the Hint to help you.

A Decision for the School Board

At its meeting tonight, the school board will consider whether to give Newtown Middle School a makeover, with new signs, benches, and landscaping. We strongly favor making these improvements because the school's main entrance has not been changed in twenty years . Cracked sidewalks should be repaired, the driveway should be paved, and shrubs should be planted. Students, teachers, and visitors alike deserve a better gateway to the school. This is the right time to put the "new" back in Newtown.

According to the editorial, Newtown Middle School most likely A has too many students. B needs an addition. C looks run-down. D must close for good .

CORRECT ANSWER Answer choice C is correct.

SUPPORTING DETAILS The editorial favo rs a "makeover" of Newtown Middle School. The writer claims that the sidewalks are cracked, the driveway needs pav ing, and the entrance needs some shrubs. These details, along with what you already know, help you conclude that Newtown Midd le School looks run-down.

INCORRECT ANSWERS A is not correct because the passage does not mention overcrowding. B is not correct because the passage does not say there is a lack of space. D is not correct because the passage suggests fixing up the school,

not closing it.

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Think About It What do the details tell you about the party? How can you tell this is an important occasion?

How does Granny react to the news about her "award"? Why do you think she reacts this way?

How does Granny react when the guests shout "SURPRISE"? Why does she have this reaction?

Read the passage. Use each Think About It to guide your reading.

Surprise! 1 Eva and Petra Vargas had been planning their grandmother's

surpri se party ever since she turned 79. They had assembled a guest list, purchased decorations, ordered a bir thday cake, sent inv itations, and chosen a special spot for the festivities: the town hall .

2 'T he only thing left to do," said Eva, "is to figure out how to get her to the party without giving away the surprise."

3 Finally, the sisters devised a plan; they would tell Granny that she was going to receive a special award at a ceremony on November 11 at 2 P. M. , but when they informed their grandmother of this honor, she frowned and was silent. After a long pause, Granny replied , "That sure is an odd time to have an awards ceremony." A few days later, she told Eva that she wouldn't be able to attend the ceremony because she had to delive r a history lecture on that same day, at the exact same time. There was no way to reschedule it- her lecture was about veterans, and it needed to take place on Veterans Day.

4 "Where's the lecture?" asked Eva, trying to disguise her panic.

5 "It's an odd coincidence, but I'll be speaking at the town hall. My lecture is at two in the community room, so I'm afraid someone will need to stand in for me at the awards ceremony," said Mrs. Vargas.

6 Moving the party to a late r time was the easy pan . Figuring

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out how to get their grandmother to the party without raisi ng her suspicion was harder. They were glad that she had to be at town hall , but they needed to get her to the meeting room on the second floo r. Finall y, Eva and Petra decided to have all of the guests wait outs ide the community room. When she left her lecture, the guesls would surprise her and lead her to the meeting room for her party.

On November 11, the two sisters accompanied Granny to the town o o

hall. Eva stayed with Granny, and Petra went to the "awards ceremony." ';' As Granny left the community room an hour later, a crowd of t

0-50 people shouted "SURPRISE!" Granny smiled and said calmly, "Oh, 3 how nice- a surpri se party." Then they all went to the meeti ng room, where Granny served cake and talked with the guests. Petra and Eva looked a little disappointed, but Granny and her guests enjoyed a marvelous afternoon.

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Hints .

Reread paragraph 1. What conclusion can you draw about the reason for the party?

In paragraph 3, what might explain why Granny acts the way she does? Look for clues and think about what you already know.

Reread paragraph 7. How does Granny behave? Why do you think Eva and Petra were disappointed?

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Will. your partner, shar-e and discuss your- answers and supporting details.

Use the Hint:; to answer the questions below. Circle the letter of each correct answer, and provide supporting details from the passage.

1 Eva and Petra made plans for an elaborate party most likely because thei r grandmother is

A giving an important lecture. B retiring from work.

e moving away from the community.

D celebrating an important birthday.

Supportillg Details: ________________ _

2 How does Granny most likely feel about the special award?

A angry B suspicious

e pleased

D embarrassed

Supporting Deta il s: ________________ _

3 The read er can conclude that Granny

A was thoroughly surprised by the party. B knew about the surprise party in advance.

e cance·led her lecture at the town ha ll.

D planned to receive her award after the party.

Supporti ng Details: _ _ ______________ _

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Read the story "The Mystery of Whitehill Way" before answering Numbers 1 through 5.

The Mystery of Whitehill Way by Melvin Putnam

Millie Robertson always looked forward to spring, when the fruits of her labor were best savored. A devoted gardener, she had a beautiful garden in which daffodils, violets, and lilacs grew. On weekends, she could be found weeding, fertilizing, pruning, and planting.

This year, Millie noticed something curious about her garden. Daffodils popped up behind the potting shed like bright yellow signposts, but she was certain she had planted them on the edges of the flowerbed. Why, no one would ever see them behind the shed! Stranger still, Millie discovered tulips blooming on the gravel path that led up to the house, but she had no recollection of transplanting them. If you walked on the path, you would crush the cup-shaped blooms flat.

"What's going on here?" she asked her neighbor, Margaret. "My daffodils have gone daffy. Look, they're behind the shed, and my tulips are in the path where anyone would trample them ."

"Millie, I think we have a thief-or at least a serious practical joker-in the neighborhood," said Margaret. "1 found stray tulips near my woodpile, and I even spotted some blooming across the street!"

"That's what I'm talking about," said Millie. "Something's very wrong, and all the gardening I did last fa ll was for naught."

As the two neighbors compared notes, Mar-garet cast a suspicious glance at the modern white house down the street. A new family had moved there last month. ''I'll bet those new girls did this," said Margaret angrily, "those little troublemakers!"

Millie was shocked, but it was the only explanation that made sense. She imagined forcefully grilling the parents, as if they were on trial: 0 0 the girls have access to a trowel or other tools? Have they ever come home with dirt 011 their clothes? Did similar incidents occur where they used to live? Millie would have to set them straight about the way things were done on Whitehill Way, the street where Millie had lived for forty years.

And just when Millie had herself thoroughly worked up into an absolute tizzy, the girls and their mother strolled by. "Your garden is absolutely divine," said Mrs. Wilson. "It's obvious how much time and care you put into it."

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•••••••••••••••••••••••••••• Before the opportunity had a chance to pass, Millie seized it like a dog lunging for a chew toy.

"Yes, 1 toil and slave at it all yea r long," she pointed out indignantly. "It 's a shame that some little culprits want to undo all my effort. My daffodils and tulips are in all the wrong places, and my neighbor of 20 years is also being taunted by aggressive tulip removal!"

To Millie's surprise, Mrs. Wilson laughed right out loud. "The same thing happened to me where we used to live," she sa id. Millie's left eyebrow ra ised slightly, her nostril s fl ared, and her eyes narrowed.

"Yes, we finally had to use mesh cages to get them to stop messing with the garden," Mrs. Wilson said. "Nothing really seemed to work, and, naturally, we didn't want to use poison."

Millie's eyes got as round and as large as a sunflower in July. "Poison? For pity's sake, it's only a matter of a few daffodi l bulbs'"

"I know, but it's a terrible shame to waste money and time. After planning where you want your plants, you don't need an industrious squirrel doing whatever it wants with them."

And at that, Millie let out a gigantic sigh. "No, indeed," she sa id with visible relief. "I remember seeing a squirrel digging up the soil last autumn, but 1 thought it was just hiding acorns and black walnuts. 1 suppose it's their instinct-if they happen upon some mouthwatering nuggets, they just can't help them selves. Apparently, my neighbor Margaret also had her bulbs rearranged by Squirrel's Nutty Landscaping this year."

"Well, 1 love your place, even with the squirrel's scattered method of planting," declared Mrs. Wilson.

Millie felt so relieved that the mystery of who disrupted her garden had been solved that she offered to hire the Wilson girls that summer to help her weed. I'll have to tell Margaret, she thought to herself.

The next day, Millie went to the garden-supply store, hardware store, and supermarket to stock up on supplies for next fall. She bought loose plastic mesh, motion-detection sprinklers, and containers of harmless but hot ground red peppers. ''I'll show those squirrels how we do things on Whitehill Way," she sa id defiantly.

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o Based on information in the story, how does Millie most likely fee l about Whitehill Way?

A. She takes pride in living on Whitehill Way.

B. She dislikes her neighbors on Whitehill Way.

C. She wants to move away from Whitehill Way.

D. She thinks too many children live on Whitehill Way.

., Read this excerpt from the story.

A new family had moved there last month. "I'll bet those new girls did this," said Margaret angrily, "those little troublemakers!"

Why does Margaret think the Wilson girls are responsible for moving the flowers?

F. They are unruly children.

G. They are seen with trowels.

H. They are new to the neighborhood.

I. They have a history of playing pranks.

Based on the information in the story, the reader can conclude that

A. Margaret has just met Millie.

B. Margaret is quick to judge other people.

C. Margaret is more forgiving than Millie.

D. Margaret has the nices t garden on the street.

• Read this quotation from Millie.

"Apparently, my neighbor Margaret also had her bulbs rearranged by Squirrel's Nutty Landscaping this year."

In the quotation above, Millie is suggesting that Squirrel'S Nutty Landscaping is

F. what Margaret calls the Wilson girls.

G. a company that repairs damaged landscaping.

H. the garden store where Millie shops for supp lies .

I. Millie's joking name for the neighborhood squirrels.

., Based on information in the story, the reader can conclude tha t

A. children cannot be trusted.

B. squirrels can sometimes be destructive.

C. people should not plant flower gardens.

D. neighbors should mind their own business.

Answer Form

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Number Correct

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