Reading: Reading for Inference
B1 Lesson 2: Drawing Simple Conclusions
Listen to the examples and reading passages.
Before You Read 🧠
Key Vocabulary (Click 🔊)
Let's learn these important words for this lesson.
What is an Inference? 🕵️
An inference (or conclusion) is an idea you form by combining facts, or "clues," from a text. The text doesn't tell you directly, but it gives you hints.
Think of yourself as a detective. You find the clues in the text and use them to understand the hidden truth.
Clue 1: The ground outside is wet.
Clue 2: Your friend walks in carrying a closed, wet umbrella.
Conclusion (Inference): It is raining outside. (Your friend never said, "It is raining," but you know it from the clues.)
Reading Passage: Serey's Bad Morning
Read the story. What can you infer about Serey and her morning?
Serey ran into the classroom, her bag hanging off one shoulder. Her hair was wet and her t-shirt was damp. She did not look at the teacher and kept her eyes on the floor. She quickly slid into her seat in the back row and opened her book. Her face was bright red. The teacher, Mr. Ravy, paused his lecture. "Nice of you to join us, Serey," he said, looking at the clock on the wall. The clock showed 8:15 AM. "Class started at 8:00 AM."
Let's Be Detectives: Analyzing the Clues
Let's practice drawing conclusions from the story about Serey.
Clue: "Her hair was wet and her t-shirt was damp."
Conclusion (Inference): It was raining, and she didn't have an umbrella.
Clue: "She did not look at the teacher... Her face was bright red."
Conclusion (Inference): She felt embarrassed or shy about being late.
Clue: "The clock showed 8:15 AM. 'Class started at 8:00 AM.'"
Conclusion (Inference): Serey was 15 minutes late for class.
Practice What You Learned 🎯
Practice Quiz: The Surprise
Read the short story below and answer the questions. Click "Check Answers" when you're done.
When Dara walked into his house, all the lights were off. He thought no one was home. As he turned on the switch, 15 of his friends jumped out from behind the sofa and shouted, "Surprise!" Dara's jaw dropped.
1. What can you conclude is happening in this story?
2. What does the clue "Dara's jaw dropped" tell you?
Key Vocabulary Reference (Click 🔊)
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Inference
An idea or conclusion reached by using evidence and reasoning; reading "between the lines."
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Clue
A piece of evidence or information (a fact in the text) used to solve a puzzle.
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Conclusion
A judgment or decision reached by reasoning (your inference).
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Damp
Slightly wet.
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Embarrassed
Feeling ashamed or shy.
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Jaw dropped
An expression meaning to be extremely surprised.
Your Reading Mission ⭐
Become a News Detective!
- Read a short news story (in English or Khmer) from a local website (like VOA, RFI, or the Phnom Penh Post).
- Find one fact (a clue) in the story.
- Write down the conclusion (inference) you can make from that fact.
Example:
Fact: "The Ministry of Health announced that 5,000 new nurses graduated this week."
Inference: "The government is trying to improve the healthcare system."