You read "From the Land and Back" while you worked on the Rubrics: Multiple Choice section of this course. Remember it is about a farmer and two families who camp on his land with their wagons and stock. Read it again, but this time:

• Read the question first,
• Look for clues about the farmer as you read. One tip that will work for this question is to read the choice answers, considering each one to see if there are clues or hints that make the answer true.

Click on the book icon to the right. Then we'll see what inference we can make from the clues about the farmer in the story. Keep the passage open as we work through this example.

He is reluctant to have visitors stay on his land.
Turn this to a question: Was the farmer reluctant to have visitors stay on his land?

• You might need to check a dictionary for the word "reluctant." Webster's Online and Dictionary.com are both good sources, or keep a dictionary close by when you read! Here it means hesitant or unwilling.

Was the farmer reluctant (unwilling) to have visitors stay on his land?

Find clues in the passage: When the first group of visitors asks if they can stay on the farmer's land for the night, the farmer agrees. The passage says, "The favor readily granted," which means the farmer quickly said "Sure thing," or something like it. He certainly was not unwilling. "Readily" is the opposite of reluctant. If we need further proof, we also read, "Late in the evening, their host strolled down to see if everything was all right, and to pick up any news they might have." A farmer who was unwilling would not do this. This choice has to be NO. We cannot infer the farmer was reluctant because the clue in the story says he readily agreed. Eliminate this answer quickly.

• The farmer says nothing about traveling himself.
• He welcomes the travelers, and listens to them, but does not ask questions about their travels.
• He offers his opinion about the nature of people, but does not ask to go with his visitors.

After reading the selection carefully, we might infer the farmer is content (comfortable, happy) on his farm, because he does not express any interest in traveling. This choice has to be NO also. Eliminate this answer.

He knew the second family before they came to his farm.
Turn this to a question: Are there any clues in the story to indicate he knew the second family before they came to the farm?

What does the story say when the second family shows up at his farm?

• In the fall, another family on the move camped in the orchard. As the farmer talked with them that evening, the conversation was different.

This isn't much to go on. We only know the second family is described as being "on the move." The discussion between the farmer and this family was about moving on and what might occur in the future. It was not about the past, or experiences they had together in the past. There is not even a hint about a past. We can infer the farmer did not know the second family, because there are no clues to indicate he did. This choice has to be NO also. Eliminate this answer.

What does the story say about how he treated his guests?

• From looking for clues for the other answers, we already know that the farmer "readily agreed" the campers could stay on his land. In addition, he went to talk with them at night to see if they were ok. The story says, "Late in the evening, their host strolled down to see if everything was all right, and to pick up any news they might have."
• If the farmer was concerned enough to see if "everything was all right," we can make a smart guess that he cared about the comfort of the campers.

This inference makes sense from beginning to end of the passage. You would show your smart guess and answer YES!