Name: ___________________________________
Implicit vs. Explicit Details
Explicit Textual Evidence – Something that is stated directly in the passage.
Example: It was a bright and beautiful day.
Implicit Textual Evidence – Something that is not stated directly, but readers can understand it
because of clues in the text.
Example: As Eva awoke from slumber, the warm yellow sun shone through the window and the
faint chirps of birds filled the air.
Explanation: In both examples, readers know that it is a beautiful day. However, in the second
example, it does not tell the reader that it is a beautiful day, instead, the reader has to assume that
it is a beautiful day based on the clues and details from the text.
Directions: Read the passage below and then answer the questions.
Rainbows after Rain by Emily Gray
On a dark, cold day in December, Anna gets off the bus stop and begins the journey to
her house. Because Anna lives on the border of the town, it typically takes her 20 minutes to get
home. As she walks, she hears loud rumbles coming from the sky and notices the gray clouds
that are now covering the sun. Anna wants to quicken her trip before getting caught in the middle
of the bad weather so she decides to text her sister to see if she could get a ride. He sister quickly
texts back with, “sorry, im busy. ttyl”. Anna sighs at the response but she’s not surprised. Her
sister has never helped her in the past and it’s shocking that she even texted back at all. Up
ahead, Anna sees a flash of lightening and it begins to pour. Heading to the nearest dry area, she
sees a tall man her age who seems to be doing the same. He smiles and waves at her, welcoming
her to the space. He observes Anna’s wet hair and annoyed demeanor. He opens his bag and
pulls out a small umbrella.
“Here” he says, handing Anna his umbrella. She smiles, unsure whether to take it or not, but
decides to grab it when he takes a step closer. “My ride will be here in just a minute so I don’t
really need it,” he adds.
“Thanks,” she replies, grabbing the umbrella from his hand. She begins walking away protected
from the rain and already feeling drier. She thinks about how kind the man was to offer his
umbrella. She hopes that she will see him again.
1.) Write an implicit detail from the story that shows the state of the weather.
Answer the questions below using complete sentences.
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2.) Write an explicit detail from the story that shows the state of the weather.
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3.) Do you think that Anna has a good relationship with her sister? Why or why not? Use
text evidence from the story and identify whether this evidence is explicit or implicit.
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4.) Identify whether the detail explicitly or implicitly shows that the man is nice.
Detail from the text Implicit or Explicit?
“He smiles and waves at her, welcoming her to
the space”
“‘Here’ he says, handing Anna his umbrella”
She thinks about how kind the man was to offer
his umbrella.
5.) Which statement is the best inference based on the explicit and implicit details from the
text?
Answer the questions below using complete sentences.
a. Anna is worried about her next trip home.
b. Anna is thankful for the umbrella.
c. Anna only took the umbrella so that she could get away from the stranger.
d. Anna felt love at first sight when she saw the man.
6.) In the space below, create an inference about what you think might happen next in the story.
What clues lead you to believe that this is what will happen? (This is opinion-based question so
there are no right or wrong answers. You will receive credit based on how well you explain your
inference)
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Answer the questions below using complete sentences.
ANSWER KEY – Do not print or share without
deleting first
1.) Write an implicit detail from the story that shows the state of the weather.
“As she walks, she hears loud rumbles coming from the sky and notices the gray clouds that are
now covering the sun”
2.) Write an explicit detail from the story that shows the state of the weather.
“On a dark, cold day in December”
3.) Do you think that Anna has a good relationship with her sister? Why or why not? Use text
evidence from the story and identify whether this evidence is explicit or implicit.
Based on the story, readers can assume that Anna does not have a good relationship with her
sister because she is not surprised when her sister can’t help her out when she really needs it.
This is an implicit detail because it does not directly tell us that they do not get along but when
Anna signs after seeing what her sister texts back, we know that they do not have a very good
relationship.
4.) Identify whether the detail explicitly or implicitly shows that the man is nice.
Detail from the text Implicit or Explicit?
“He smiles and waves at her, welcoming her to Implicit
the space”
“‘Here’ he says, handing Anna his umbrella” Implicit
She thinks about how kind the man was to offer Explicit
his umbrella.
5.) Which statement is the best inference based on the explicit and implicit details from the
text?
Answer the questions below using complete sentences.
e. Anna is worried about her next trip home.
f. Anna is thankful for the umbrella.
g. Anna only took the umbrella so that she could get away from the stranger.
h. Anna felt love at first sight when she saw the man.
6.) In the space below, create an inference about what you think might happen next in the story.
What clues lead you to believe that this is what will happen? (This is opinion-based question so
there are no right or wrong answers. You will receive credit based on how well you explain your
inference)
Answers will vary, but students could explain that she will walk home using the umbrella and get
home dry. Students may also make an assumption that she will look for the man who helped her
or go back the next day to say thank you and return the umbrella.
