READING MODULE - Making Inferences

By: Dr. Elsa L. Gabriel

Illustrator: Andrew N. Gabriel

Introduction

This module focuses on developing your skills in making inferences and drawing conclusion. It is composed of five
reading texts with corresponding questions to develop your inferring skills. It is divided into two parts: Feel the Pic and
Reading Texts. These activities are aids to develop basic reading and inferring skills.

Objectives:

After doing the activities in this module, you would be able to:

a. make an inference about the text read.

b. demonstrate that strong inferences are based on thoughts or ideas from the reader’s preexisting knowledge
as well as details from the text.
c. Introduce/ make inferences during the lesson draws students’ attention to the idea that inferences require
both details from the text and ideas from the students’ own knowledge base.

Making Inferences

INTRODUCTION TO INFERENCING SKILLS

A good reader develops an interpretation of what is happening in a story, while being careful that the interpretation is
logical and realistic. Making educated guesses or conclusion drawn by the readers based on the available facts and
information (Boyd & Saccoman, 1994).

INFERENCE. WHAT IS IT?

 Subtle suggestions expressed without direct statement; reading between the lines and looking for the implied
meaning in words and actions.

 A reasoned guess about what you don’t know made on the basis of what you do know.

 An inference is not stated directly; it is implied.

METHODS OF INFERENCES

Drawing Conclusions: Using hints as well as facts to make a logical deduction from both stated ideas and unstated
assumptions.

Prior Knowledge: Having the right background knowledge needed to grasp the details that are frequently implied
rather than directly spelled out.
FEEL THE PIC is an activity that helps you to make inferences based on the picture and the text. The picture will
serve as a hint or clue to answer the question after reading the text.

Feel the Pic #1

In the middle of a lesson, Lannie accidentally dropped her book onto the floor. It landed very loudly, and everyone
turned at her. Liz stared looked down her desk silently. Liz is
a. Grateful
b. Embarrassed
c. Excited

Feel the Pic #2

It was raining hard and David could not go outside. He stayed in his room sadly look at the window. David is
a. Gloomy
b. Happy
c. Friendly
Feel the Pic #3

A resident from Bay travelled to Manila by bus. She hurriedly stepped into the restaurant and sat at the first row.
One disabled person arrived but no seat was available. The Bayeña offered her seat and stood until she reached her
destination. She is
A. Courteous
B. Brave
C. Shy

Feel the Pic #4

Jana always comes to school with a smile. She frequently approach and greet every person that comes along her
way. At home, she always hugs and kiss her family. She is
a. Annoying
b. Joyful
c. Loud
READING TEXT #1
SKILL: Inferring Character Traits

Before Reading
Vocabulary Building

As you read the text, you may bump with difficult words or unfamiliar words. You may use some clues and
other signals to reveal the meaning of the words. With this, you would be able to smoothly read and understand the
text you are reading.
Match the italicised words in A with the correct meaning in B.
A B
She showed me gratitude for the help I gave her in doing her assignment a. thankfulness
His attitude compensates for his lack of skill. b. reward/pay
The disabled young man’s perseverance allowed him to complete the marathon. c. determination

Reading the Lines

Dina Aldemita was born in San Isidro, Bay, Laguna and lived there through her teenage years. Growing up with
strong family values of the traditions of the Bayeños, Dina is exposed to a culture within Laguna about sacrifice and
hardwork. "One thing that we Bayeños, particularly the San Isidro residents, have taught us is the value of education. It
is an old tradition. And the drive to succeed—my culture says that each person must work very hard together and that
is essential to success, which is very important to compensate the sacrifices of the parents which farming is the
primary source of living. And we have support from family that keeps us going when things are difficult. Sometimes
perseverance can make the difference between success and failure." She moved to the Manila when she went to
college. After she finished college, he stayed connected to his family in Bay. He returned to San Isidro at least once a
year. But he made his home and career in her hometown showing her gratitude to her family. She became a business
leader and now opening job opportunities to fellow Bay residents.

Reading between the Lines

Directions: Choose the best answer for each question

1. What is a trait that is valued in the Bayeños culture?
a. hardworking
b. close family ties
c. creative
d. culture
2. What is a trait that Dina showed in his career?
a. hardwork
b. creativity
c. perseverance
d. education
3. What is a trait that Dina showed in starting his business?
a. individuality
b. family
c. leadership
d. community
4. What is a trait that the Bayeños group help other residents to develop?
a. responsibility
b. productive
c. enrich
d. diversity
Reading beyond the Lines

5. Write your own answer to this question.

How do you figure out what a person’s character traits are?
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READING TEXT #1
SKILL: Inferring Character Traits

Before Reading
Vocabulary Building

As you read the text, you may bump with difficult words or unfamiliar words. You may use some clues and
other signals to reveal the meaning of the words. With this, you would be able to smoothly read and understand the
text you are reading.
Match the italicised words in A with the correct meaning in B.

1.It's a clever idea, but will it work? a. wise

2.It was a fierce battle. b. violent
3.A spider uses its web to catch prey or small insects. c.net/trap

Reading the Lines

It was a sunny day in the grassland. The lion had slept well. It was fierce when it hunted. But today it was not hungry
yet. It would hunt for food later in the day. Right now, all it wanted to do was relax. It stretched out and watched the
grass. Then it noticed a spider. The spider was climbing on a plant. Then the spider jumped to the next plant and left a
string between them. It was making a web. The lion watched for a while. “How clever you are,” it said to the spider.
How did you learn to do that?
The spider said, “My mother showed me how to do this. I learned from her. And I have taught my children. How to
make webs.”
The lion watched a while longer. Then it asked the spider, “But why do you do that when you could just grab your
food, the way I do?” “I am just a small animal. I cannot run fast. So I do not eat insects that run. I cannot fly. I eat flies.
So with my web I can catch them.”
The lion said, “Could you make me a web that could catch an animal for me to eat? Then I would not have to run after
them either.” The spider thought about that. At first she thought the lion was joking. But he was not. “I can’t do that,”
she said. My web can catch a fly. But it could not catch a big animal. And you could not live by eating flies.” Just then a
fly flew into the spider’s web. She went to get it. She wrapped it up for her children. Then she went back to spinning
more of the web.
The lion was very selfish. It was jealous of the spider. It did not have to work hard for its food. And it would not help
him get his food. So it slapped at the spider web and broke it. But the spider jumped onto the lion’s back. And it bit the
lion. “Now you will remember me,” said the spider as she hopped of and into the grass. “Think before you are mean to
another animal. We are all special. And some of us may be small but very smart.” The lion tried to scratch its back but
could not reach the spider bite. It itched for days. The lion remembered the smart spider for a long time.
Text Source: Adapted from public domain Anansi fables by CUE©2009
Reading between the Lines

Directions: Choose the best answer for each question

1. What is a trait of the lion that is literally stated?
a. lazy
b. fierce
c. angry
d. mean
2. What is a trait of the spider that is stated literally and that the spider shows?
a. insect
b. web-maker
c. clever
d. bite
3. What is a trait of the lion that you infer from the statement “Could you make me a web that could catch an animal
for me to eat”?
a. old
b. tired
c. lazy
d. jealous
4. What is a trait of the spider that you infer?
a. brave
b. worried
c. fast
d. kind

Reading beyond the Lines

5. Write your own answer to this question.

When you read a story, how do you figure out what a character’s traits are?
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