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SSAT Upper Level Verbal

Critical Reading and Inference

Learn Critical Reading and Inference in SSAT Upper Level Verbal from the production AIPH study guide.

Study guide topics

Vocabulary FoundationsAnalogies and RelationshipsContext Clues in SentencesComplex Analogy PatternsNuanced Vocabulary and Word RootsCritical Reading and InferenceBuilding a Daily Reading HabitUsing Vocabulary in ConversationSolving Real-World Problems with AnalogiesProcess of EliminationUsing Context to Your Advantage

Advanced Topics

In a nutshell: Critical reading means understanding what’s stated and what’s implied.

## Reading Between the Lines The SSAT verbal section rewards students who can read carefully and make logical guesses (inferences) about what the author means but doesn't say directly. ### Skills for Critical Reading - **Identifying Main Ideas:** Find what the author is really saying. - **Recognizing Author’s Tone:** Is the passage happy, sad, angry, or neutral? - **Making Inferences:** Use clues to figure out information that isn’t stated. ### Inference in Real Life Inferences help you understand stories, news, and even people’s moods.

Examples

  • When a character shivers and pulls on a jacket, you can infer it’s cold.
  • If the author uses words like 'dismal' and 'gloomy,' you can infer a sad mood.
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