Making

Inferences
 I can…
➢ Identify and define what an inference is.
➢ Make inferences using textual evidence.
➢ Explain why making inferences is an
important reading comprehension skill.
If you could have dinner with
any fictional character, who
would it be and why?
If you could only eat one
food for the rest of your life,
what would it be?
Shelton was getting hungry. He went to
the kitchen where his mom was carefully
putting long, thin noodles into a pot of
boiling water. In another pot, she was
heating red sauce.
Bob came home from school one day. He happily
opened the cookie jar. It was empty! He saw some
crumbs leading to the living room. When he
entered the room, his little sister, Megan, looked up
at him and smiled. She had crumbs all over her
face.
What is an
inference?
An inference is drawing a conclusion from
evidence. You can think of inferring as
making educated guesses based on what
you know and what a source tells you.
1. John hears a smoke alarm next door and smells
burnt bacon.
2. Jennifer hears her mailbox close, and her dog is
barking.
3. Norman sees cookie crumbs on the floor and
chocolate around his son's mouth.
Anastasia sat by the fountain in the park with her head in her
palms. She was weeping mournfully, and her clothing was
disheveled. In between gasps and sobs, Anastasia cried out a
name: “Oh... John…” And then her cell phone beeped. Her
hand ran into her purse and her heart fluttered. The text
message was from John. She opened up the message and read
the few bare words, “I need to get my jacket back from you.”
Anastasia threw her head into her arms and continued sobbing.
Cassie 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. “9:48,” she shouted, “Holy cow!”
Cassie jumped out of bed, threw on the first outfit that she
grabbed, brushed her teeth in two swipes, threw her books
into her backpack, and then ran out the door.
Mystery
Solvers: The
Inference
Expedition
➢In Mystery Solvers, students will be divided into teams and
presented with a series of intriguing mysteries to solve.
➢Each team will carefully examine provided clues, discuss
possible solutions, and make inferences to uncover the truth
behind each mystery.
➢After analyzing the clues, teams will formulate their conclusions
and prepare to present their findings to the class.
Mystery Scenario 1: The Missing Diamond Necklace
Background:
Mrs. Evelyn Sinclair, a wealthy socialite, hosted a lavish dinner party
at her mansion last night. Among her prized possessions was a rare
and valuable diamond necklace, passed down through generations.
However, when Mrs. Sinclair went to retrieve the necklace this
morning, it was missing from its display case in her bedroom. There
were no signs of forced entry, and the security cameras didn't capture
any suspicious activity.
Clues:
➢ A broken window latch in the conservatory suggests a possible
point of entry.
➢ One of the guests, Mr. Jonathan West, was seen lingering near
the display case during the party.
➢ A strand of long, blonde hair was found caught on the latch of
the display case.
➢ Mrs. Sinclair's housekeeper reported hearing strange noises
coming from the conservatory late at night.
 Considering the various clues provided, what logical deductions
can be made to narrow down the list of suspects and potential
motives for the theft of Mrs. Sinclair's diamond necklace?

In analyzing the progress of the investigation so far, what

insights have been gained about the dynamics between the
suspects, the significance of the clues, and the overall
complexity of the case?
Mystery Scenario 2: The Poisoned Wine
Background:
At a wine-tasting event hosted by the renowned sommelier, Marcel
Duval, tragedy struck when one of the guests, Mr. Edward Harrington,
collapsed after drinking a glass of wine. He was rushed to the
hospital, where doctors determined he had been poisoned. The wine
bottle in question had been part of Duval's private collection, and its
contents were meant to impress the attendees with their rarity and
quality.
Clues:
➢ An empty vial labeled "cyanide" was found hidden in a nearby
bush.
➢ Ms. Isabella Santos, a rival sommelier, was seen arguing with Mr.
Harrington earlier in the evening.
➢ The poisoned wine bottle had been tampered with, as traces of
cyanide were detected in the glass but not in the rest of the wine.
➢ Mr. Harrington had recently come into a substantial inheritance,
leading to speculation about potential motives for his poisoning.
Given the provided clues and circumstances surrounding Mr.
Harrington's poisoning, what logical deductions can be
made to identify the perpetrator and unravel their motives?

Based on the available evidence and suspects, what are the

most plausible theories regarding how and why Mr.
Harrington was poisoned?
Mystery Scenario 3: The Vanishing Heirloom Painting
Background:
The prestigious Westfield Museum recently acquired a valuable
heirloom painting, "The Lady in Blue," which was donated by the
esteemed Worthington family. However, just days before the unveiling
ceremony, the painting disappeared from its display in the museum's
grand gallery. Security footage showed no signs of a break-in, and
the museum's security system had not been breached.
Clues:
➢ A distinctive paintbrush, with traces of blue paint matching the colors used
in "The Lady in Blue," was found discarded in a nearby janitor's closet.
➢ Ms. Penelope Worthington, a distant relative of the family, had expressed
displeasure at the painting being donated to the museum instead of being
kept within the family.
➢ The security guard on duty during the night of the disappearance reported
hearing strange noises coming from the gallery but found nothing amiss
upon investigation.
➢ A mysterious note was left behind at the scene, cryptically hinting at the
painting's whereabouts.
 In light of the clues provided and the circumstances
surrounding the disappearance of the heirloom painting,
what logical deductions can be made to narrow down the
list of suspects and uncover the truth behind the theft?

Is there any evidence to suggest tampering or manipulation

of the museum's security system or protocols? If so, how
can you say so?
Mystery Scenario 4: The Missing Ring
Background:
Mrs. Smith, a wealthy socialite, hosted a lavish dinner party at her mansion
last night. Among her guests was Mrs. Johnson, a close friend known for her
admiration of Mrs. Smith's expensive jewelry collection. During the party, Mrs.
Smith was wearing her prized diamond ring, a family heirloom worth
thousands of dollars. However, when Mrs. Smith went to retrieve the ring this
morning, it was missing from her jewelry box. The only people with access
to the mansion during the night were the dinner party guests and the
household staff.
Clues:
➢ Mrs. Johnson was observed admiring Mrs. Smith's diamond ring during
the dinner party.
➢ The household staff reported that they did not notice any unusual
activity during the night, and all doors and windows were securely
locked.
➢ Mrs. Johnson left the party early, citing a sudden headache as the reason
for her departure.
➢ A single set of muddy footprints was found leading from the mansion's
back entrance to the garden.
 Given the provided clues and circumstances surrounding the
disappearance of Mrs. Smith's diamond ring, what logical
deductions can be made to determine who may be responsible
for its theft?

Considering the relationships and interactions between Mrs.

Smith, Mrs. Johnson, and other guests at the dinner party, what
insights can be gleaned to assess motives and opportunities for
the theft of the diamond ring?
Mystery Scenario 5: The Missing Laptop
Background:
Mr. Brown, a college professor renowned for his groundbreaking
research, left his office to attend a crucial department meeting. Upon
his return, he was shocked to discover that his laptop, containing
vital research data crucial for an upcoming presentation, was missing
from his desk. The office door was securely locked during his absence,
and only a select few trusted colleagues had access to the room.
Clues:
➢ The janitor, Mr. Smith, reported seeing a suspicious-looking individual
loitering near the office entrance shortly before Mr. Brown's return.
Despite attempts to confront the individual, they vanished before Mr.
Smith could identify them.
➢ One of Mr. Brown's colleagues, Dr. White, was observed leaving the
office area with a large bag just before the meeting commenced. Dr.
White appeared hurried and avoided making eye contact with others,
raising suspicions about the contents of the bag and their intentions.
 In analyzing the interactions and behaviors of individuals with
access to Mr. Brown's office, what patterns or anomalies can be
identified that may aid in narrowing down the pool of suspects
in the investigation of the missing laptop?

Given the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of Mr.

Brown's laptop, what potential motives could individuals with
access to his office have for stealing it, and how might these
motives inform the investigation? Explain.
Assignment:
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.
Sarah hurried through the bustling city streets, clutching her umbrella
tightly as rain poured down relentlessly. She glanced at her watch,
realizing she was already late for her meeting with Mr. Johnson, the
CEO of a prestigious company. Dodging puddles and weaving through
the crowd, Sarah's mind raced with thoughts of the important
presentation she had prepared. Suddenly, she spotted a taxi with its
light on, signaling that it was available. Without hesitation, she
dashed across the street and hailed the taxi, eager to reach her
destination as quickly as possible.
1.What can you infer about Sarah's attitude towards her meeting with Mr.
Johnson?
2.Based on Sarah's actions and surroundings, what inference can you make
about the importance of the presentation she prepared?
3.What inference can you draw about the weather conditions based on Sarah's
use of an umbrella and the presence of puddles?
4.Considering Sarah's decision to hail a taxi despite being late, what inference
can you make about her sense of urgency or priorities?
5.Given Sarah's behavior in the passage, what inference can you make about
her level of determination to attend the meeting with Mr. Johnson?
 The room was dimly lit by a single flickering candle, casting eerie
shadows on the walls. Maria sat huddled in the corner, clutching a
tattered blanket tightly around her shivering frame. Her eyes darted
nervously around the room, scanning for any sign of movement.
Outside, the wind howled mournfully, rattling the windowpanes and
sending chills down Maria's spine. She strained her ears, listening
intently for any sound that might indicate she was not alone in the
abandoned house.
1.What inference can you make about Maria's feelings or state of mind based
on her actions and the description of the room?
2.Based on the description of the room and the outside environment, what
inference can you draw about the atmosphere and setting?
3.What inference can you make about Maria's situation based on her use of the
tattered blanket and her reaction to the wind?
4.Considering Maria's behavior of scanning the room and listening intently, what
inference can you make about her sense of fear or apprehension?
5.Given the description of the abandoned house and Maria's actions, what
inference can you make about the potential dangers or threats she perceives?