To make an inference from a text means to draw a conclusion based on clues the author provides, even if the information isn't stated directly. It's about "reading between the lines." The TABE (Tests of Adult Basic Education) Reading section will test your ability to do this.

How to Make an Inference

Making an inference is a two-step process:

1. Use the Text Clues: Look for hints, facts, details, and descriptions in the passage. These clues are the evidence you'll use to support your conclusion.

2. Use Your Prior Knowledge: Combine those clues with what you already know from your own experiences or general knowledge.

By putting the text clues and your knowledge together, you can arrive at a logical conclusion that isn't explicitly written in the passage.

Example

• Text: "The boy's shoes were scuffed, and his uniform was wrinkled. He dropped his backpack by the front door and went straight to the refrigerator for a snack."

• Inference: You can infer that the boy has just come home from school.

• Reasoning: The text clues (scuffed shoes, uniform, backpack) combined with your knowledge about what students wear and do after school lead to this conclusion.

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• More Examples --->

  • Example 1: Character's Emotions

  • Text: "She slammed the door shut, and the teacup rattled in its saucer. The corners of her mouth turned down as she glared at the ringing phone on the table."

  • Inference: You can infer that the woman is angry or upset.

  • Reasoning: Her actions (slamming the door, glaring) and facial expression (mouth turned down) are clues that indicate a negative emotion.

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  Example 2: Setting

  • Text: "The air was heavy and thick with the scent of damp earth and blooming jasmine. Mosquitoes buzzed near the porch light, and the rhythmic croaking of frogs filled the night."

  • Inference: You can infer that the setting is a warm, humid, and possibly tropical place.

  • Reasoning: The text's sensory details—the scent of jasmine, the presence of mosquitoes, and the sound of frogs—are all clues pointing to a hot and damp climate.

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  Example 3: Cause and Effect

  • Text: "He spent the entire night studying for the math exam. The next morning, he yawned his way through breakfast and struggled to keep his eyes open on the bus ride to school."

  • Inference: You can infer that he is tired because he stayed up late studying.

  • Reasoning: The text states that he studied all night, and it then describes the effects of this action: yawning and struggling to stay awake.

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Questions on the TABE might ask you to infer a character's feelings, a cause for an event, or a likely outcome of a situation.