Reading: Inference & Implied Meaning
B1 Lesson 1: Reading Between the Lines
Before You Read 🧠
Key Vocabulary
Understanding these ideas will help you become a reading detective.
How to Make an Inference 🕵️♂️
Making an inference is like being a detective. You take clues from the text and combine them with what you already know about the world to figure out the full story. Just follow this formula:
Example 1
Sokha looked at the clock on the wall. He quickly put his books in his bag, ran out of the house, and started pedaling his bicycle as fast as he could.
- Text Clues: He looked at the clock, moved quickly, ran, pedaled "as fast as he could."
- Background Knowledge: People hurry like this when they are afraid of being late.
- Inference: Sokha is probably late for school or an appointment.
Example 2
The student looked at her exam results and a huge smile spread across her face. She immediately took out her phone to call her parents.
- Text Clues: She saw her exam results, she had a "huge smile," she immediately called her parents.
- Background Knowledge: People smile and share news with family when something good has happened.
- Inference: She did very well on her exam.
Practice Being a Detective 🎯
Quiz: What Can You Infer?
Read the short text and make an inference to answer the question.
"The sun was a fiery red as it touched the horizon over the sea. The fishing boats, which had been out all day, were slowly returning to the river mouth in Kampot. The lights on the riverfront cafes began to turn on one by one."
What can you infer from this text?
- A. A storm is coming.
- B. It is early morning.
- C. It is evening, around sunset.
→ Answer: C. The clues are the sun touching the horizon (sunset), boats returning after being out "all day," and cafe lights turning on.
Key Vocabulary Reference
- Inference A conclusion you make based on clues in the text and your own knowledge.
- Implied Meaning A meaning that is suggested by the writer but not said directly.
- Context Clues The words and situations in a text that help you figure out hidden meanings.
- Background Knowledge Everything you already know about the world from your life experiences.
Your Reading Mission ⭐
Practice Your Inference Skills!
Read the short situations below. For each one, write down one logical inference.
- The restaurant was full of people, but nobody was eating. All the plates on the tables were empty. Everyone was looking at their phones.
- My friend walked into the room wearing a new shirt. He kept looking in the mirror and smiling. He asked me three times, "Do you like my shirt?"
What can you infer about each situation?