Inference & deduction

Reading between the lines to work out unstated meaning from clues in text

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Try each question. If you're stuck, leave it and come back. The answer key is on the last page.

1
Read: 'Lily slammed her book shut and stormed out of the room, kicking the door frame on her way out.' How is Lily feeling? A) Angry and frustrated B) Excited and happy C) Scared and worried D) Bored and tired
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2
Read: 'The old man sat alone on the park bench, watching children play. He smiled sadly and touched the empty space beside him.' We can infer that the old man misses someone. We can infer that the old man misses someone. A) True B) False
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3
Read: 'Mia checked her watch for the fifth time. She peered down the street, stood on tiptoe, then sat back down with a huff.' What is Mia doing? A) Waiting for someone who is late B) Trying to find a lost item C) Exercising at the bus stop D) Watching a parade go past
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4
Read: 'Tom shivered and pulled his coat tighter.' What can we infer? A) Tom is hot. B) Tom is cold. C) Tom is angry. D) Tom is happy.
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5
Read: 'Dad opened the envelope slowly. His eyes widened and he let out a whoop, lifting Mum off her feet in a hug. "Pack your bags!" he shouted.' What was in the envelope? A) Good news, probably about a holiday or trip B) A bill that needs paying C) Bad news about his job D) A letter from school about his child
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6
Read: 'The streets were deserted. Every shop had its shutters down. In the distance, the stadium roared with thousands of voices.' We can infer that people are at the ___ instead of in town. We can infer that people are at the ___ instead of in town.
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7
Read: 'Mrs Chen pushed her glasses up her nose and peered at the essay. She circled several words in red and wrote something in the margin.' We can infer that Mrs Chen is a chef. We can infer that Mrs Chen is a chef. A) True B) False
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8
Read: 'Year 6 filed silently into the hall. Rows of single desks stretched across the floor, each with a sharpened pencil placed precisely in the centre. Mr Harris stood at the front with a stopwatch.' What is about to happen? A) A test or exam B) A school assembly C) An art lesson D) A parents' evening
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9
Read: 'Sara stared at the screen, her finger hovering over the 'send' button. She read the message one more time, deleted a sentence, then added it back. Finally, she shut the laptop without sending anything.' Sara is feeling ___. Sara is feeling ___.
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10
Read: 'The house had been beautiful once. Now ivy swallowed the windows and the garden gate hung from a single hinge. A faded "For Sale" sign lay face-down in the weeds.' We can infer that nobody has lived here for a long time. We can infer that nobody has lived here for a long time. A) True B) False
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Answer key

Inference & deduction · for parents and teachers

1
Angry and frustrated
Lily's actions - slamming, storming, kicking - all suggest anger and frustration. The text never says 'angry' directly, but we can infer it from her behaviour.
2
True
The 'sad smile' while watching children and touching the 'empty space' suggests he is remembering someone who used to sit with him. He misses their company.
3
Waiting for someone who is late
Checking her watch (repeatedly), peering down the street (looking for someone approaching), and huffing (annoyed) all suggest she is waiting for someone who has not arrived on time.
4
Tom is cold.
Shivering and pulling on a coat suggest Tom is cold.
5
Good news, probably about a holiday or trip
The excited reaction (whoop, lifting Mum) and 'pack your bags' strongly suggest good news about going somewhere - likely holiday tickets, a competition win, or similar.
6
stadium
The empty streets and closed shops contrast with the roaring stadium, telling us everyone has gone to watch whatever event is happening there.
7
False
Mrs Chen is clearly a teacher, not a chef. The evidence: reading an essay, circling words in red, and writing in the margin are all things teachers do when marking.
8
A test or exam
Silent entry, single desks (to prevent copying), prepared pencils, and a stopwatch (for timing) all point to an exam or test situation.
9
nervous
Sara's hesitation (hovering, re-reading, deleting then adding back, and ultimately not sending) shows she is nervous or uncertain about the message. She cannot commit to sending it.
10
True
Multiple clues point to long-term abandonment: ivy covering windows (takes years), a broken gate, and a faded for-sale sign lying in weeds. All these suggest prolonged neglect.