Inferences - SAT Reading & Writing

Tone provides context for interpreting details. Author's attitude shapes how readers should interpret evidence.

Implies. Suggests indirect meaning, unlike direct statements.

He ignored the warning. 'Despite' shows contrast, suggesting he disregarded the caution.

It generalizes beyond the passage’s specific scope or context. Such choices overextend the passage's claims, making them invalid as they exceed the supported evidence's limits.

The change likely reduced dissatisfaction. The sharp decline in complaints post-change implies the policy addressed issues, reducing overall discontent.

It must be strongly supported by specific text evidence. Ensures inferences are grounded in the passage, preventing reliance on external assumptions or overgeneralizations.

Character's actions and dialogue. Actions and speech reveal underlying reasons for behavior.

Critical thinking. Requires analyzing and evaluating evidence to draw conclusions.

Imply. 'Imply' means to suggest indirectly, requiring inference to understand.

An explicit statement. Directly stated information requires no inference or interpretation.

It may be factual generally, but the passage does not justify it. Highlights that correct inferences must stem directly from the passage, not from general truths lacking textual backing.

Speculation. Lacks adequate textual evidence to support the conclusion.

The room was recently painted. Fresh paint smell indicates recent painting activity.

Because. Introduces explanations for why something occurred or exists.

The letter contained good news. Smiling while reading typically indicates positive content.

She might be disappointed or bored. Sighing while closing suggests negative reaction to content.

Maya is anxious about being late. Her excessive preparations imply underlying worry about punctuality, based on the described behaviors.

Personal bias. Personal opinions can distort objective textual analysis.

Inference question. Keywords like 'inferred' or 'implied' signal inference questions.

It was a hot day. Rapid melting typically occurs in high temperatures.

The character might be anxious or nervous. Restless movement typically indicates emotional discomfort or unease.

He is likely impatient or in a hurry. Repeated time-checking suggests urgency or time pressure.

The occupants may be asleep or away. Dark, quiet homes typically indicate no current activity inside.

Therefore. Signals a logical conclusion drawn from preceding evidence.

What is implied by the text. Focuses on unstated meanings rather than explicit statements.

She prepared for rain by taking an umbrella. Shows cause-effect relationship and logical response to weather.

The critic thinks the movie improves toward the end. 'Uneven' suggests inconsistency, while praising the end implies progression, supporting an inference of improvement.

The scientist is cautious about making strong claims. Emphasizing preliminaries and replication indicates restraint in interpreting data, avoiding unsubstantiated conclusions.

A supported conclusion drawn from textual evidence, not directly stated. Distinguishes inferences as logical deductions from explicit text, requiring evidence-based reasoning rather than direct quotes.

Use diction and context to infer stance; avoid personal reaction. Focuses on textual cues like word choice to determine tone objectively, ensuring inferences align with evidence.

It uses absolute or intense language not warranted by the evidence. Extreme wording like 'always' or 'never' often lacks sufficient textual support, making the choice an overstatement.

Inductive reasoning. Uses specific examples to form general conclusions.

Connecting text details to prior knowledge. Combines what's stated with what you already know to draw conclusions.

Drawing a conclusion based on evidence and reasoning. Combines textual clues with logical reasoning to reach unstated conclusions.

It flips cause/effect, comparison direction, or who believes what. This pattern distorts textual relationships, leading to incorrect inferences by inverting the passage's intended logic.

A logical conclusion based on evidence and reasoning. Combines text clues with reasoning to reach unstated conclusions.

Inference explains what the text implies now; prediction adds future events. Inferences derive from current textual implications, while predictions extend to hypothetical future outcomes beyond the evidence.

Perhaps. Indicates possibility without certainty or confirmation.

Locate the relevant lines and restate them in your own words. Paraphrasing helps uncover implied meanings by clarifying the text's underlying ideas without adding external information.

It relies on facts not provided or implied by the passage. These choices introduce information external to the text, violating the rule that inferences must be passage-based.

He is likely upset despite his words. Nonverbal cues contradict his statement, implying hidden distress through behavioral evidence.

Sufficient evidence from the text. Valid inferences must be supported by textual proof.

A supported conclusion drawn from textual evidence, not directly stated. Distinguishes inferences as logical deductions from explicit text, requiring evidence-based reasoning rather than direct quotes.

He is likely upset despite his words. Nonverbal cues contradict his statement, implying hidden distress through behavioral evidence.

The scientist is cautious about making strong claims. Emphasizing preliminaries and replication indicates restraint in interpreting data, avoiding unsubstantiated conclusions.

The change likely reduced dissatisfaction. The sharp decline in complaints post-change implies the policy addressed issues, reducing overall discontent.

The critic thinks the movie improves toward the end. 'Uneven' suggests inconsistency, while praising the end implies progression, supporting an inference of improvement.

Maya is anxious about being late. Her excessive preparations imply underlying worry about punctuality, based on the described behaviors.

Use diction and context to infer stance; avoid personal reaction. Focuses on textual cues like word choice to determine tone objectively, ensuring inferences align with evidence.

It flips cause/effect, comparison direction, or who believes what. This pattern distorts textual relationships, leading to incorrect inferences by inverting the passage's intended logic.

It relies on facts not provided or implied by the passage. These choices introduce information external to the text, violating the rule that inferences must be passage-based.

It uses absolute or intense language not warranted by the evidence. Extreme wording like 'always' or 'never' often lacks sufficient textual support, making the choice an overstatement.

It generalizes beyond the passage’s specific scope or context. Such choices overextend the passage's claims, making them invalid as they exceed the supported evidence's limits.

It may be factual generally, but the passage does not justify it. Highlights that correct inferences must stem directly from the passage, not from general truths lacking textual backing.

Inference explains what the text implies now; prediction adds future events. Inferences derive from current textual implications, while predictions extend to hypothetical future outcomes beyond the evidence.

Locate the relevant lines and restate them in your own words. Paraphrasing helps uncover implied meanings by clarifying the text's underlying ideas without adding external information.

It must be strongly supported by specific text evidence. Ensures inferences are grounded in the passage, preventing reliance on external assumptions or overgeneralizations.

Character's actions and dialogue. Actions and speech reveal underlying reasons for behavior.

Inference question. Keywords like 'inferred' or 'implied' signal inference questions.

Connecting text details to prior knowledge. Combines what's stated with what you already know to draw conclusions.

The character might be anxious or nervous. Restless movement typically indicates emotional discomfort or unease.

Imply. 'Imply' means to suggest indirectly, requiring inference to understand.

Tone provides context for interpreting details. Author's attitude shapes how readers should interpret evidence.

The occupants may be asleep or away. Dark, quiet homes typically indicate no current activity inside.

A logical conclusion based on evidence and reasoning. Combines text clues with reasoning to reach unstated conclusions.

Perhaps. Indicates possibility without certainty or confirmation.

Critical thinking. Requires analyzing and evaluating evidence to draw conclusions.

Personal bias. Personal opinions can distort objective textual analysis.

What is implied by the text. Focuses on unstated meanings rather than explicit statements.

Therefore. Signals a logical conclusion drawn from preceding evidence.

Inductive reasoning. Uses specific examples to form general conclusions.

The letter contained good news. Smiling while reading typically indicates positive content.

An explicit statement. Directly stated information requires no inference or interpretation.

It was a hot day. Rapid melting typically occurs in high temperatures.

Implies. Suggests indirect meaning, unlike direct statements.

Because. Introduces explanations for why something occurred or exists.

She prepared for rain by taking an umbrella. Shows cause-effect relationship and logical response to weather.

The room was recently painted. Fresh paint smell indicates recent painting activity.

Speculation. Lacks adequate textual evidence to support the conclusion.

Textual evidence and prior knowledge. Combines what's written with reader's background understanding.

He ignored the warning. 'Despite' shows contrast, suggesting he disregarded the caution.

She might be disappointed or bored. Sighing while closing suggests negative reaction to content.

He is likely impatient or in a hurry. Repeated time-checking suggests urgency or time pressure.

Sufficient evidence from the text. Valid inferences must be supported by textual proof.