Internet Academy

Reading

	Federal Way Public Schools

Comprehension
Lesson 3

Making Inferences and Predictions

Objectives/Vocab/Tips > Examples: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 > Practice: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 > Self Check

Example 3:

Instruction:

We read "The Sixth Hurdle" earlier when we were working with theme and main idea. Remember that Speed has difficulty getting over the sixth hurdle, his coach advises him to keep practicing, work hard, and do his best, his rival Quentin is fast, his friend Noah encourages him, and Speed finally feels ready to race. As you read the story again, remember that a theme or message of the story is"No one can really beat you if you do your best." Read "The Sixth Hurdle" by clicking on the book icon on the right. Then we'll see what we can infer from the information in the story. Keep the passage open as we work through this example.

The Sixth Hurdle

Question:

Noah said to Speed, "Don't beat yourself." What did he mean?

Remember to:

Read the question before reading the passage.
Read the section carefully where Noah tells Speed, "Don't beat yourself."
Look for clues about Speed before Noah says this. Ask yourself, Why would Noah say that to Speed?
Use information from the text to see if each inference makes sense all the way through the story.

Think:

What are the key words in this question? (Noah, mean, "Don't beat yourself.")
Which choices can you eliminate right away, and which are possibly correct answers?
Remember the "YES, NO, MAYBE" tool.

Remember: Here is another strategy to figure out the best answer (inference) for this question. Review the passage where Noah says, "Don't beat yourself." Start several paragraphs before Noah makes the statement. What are they talking about? Why would Noah give that advice to Speed at that particular point in the story?

Usually the author leaves clues in the situation described or in what the characters say or do. Clues will likely be in paragraphs before to the statement "Don't beat yourself."
Accurate inferences can relate to the theme of the story. In this case, keep the theme in mind: No one can really beat you if you do your best.
Clues might be repeated throughout the story. In other words, the idea might come up over and over.
Think about what "Don't beat yourself" means. Speed must be doing something that is going to limit his ability to win. It must be something he has control over, something he can make a change to if necessary. What is Speed doing that is hurting his chances of "doing his best."

Multiple Choice Answers:

Yes	No	Maybe		Answers
			A.	Speed should practice more often.
			B.	If Speed didn't stop worrying about beating Quentin, he would not run well himself.
			C.	Speed should take better care of his ankle or he wouldn't be able to run the race.
			D.	Speed shouldn't try to run any faster or he would break his own record.

Looks like B is an accurate inference because

it can be supported with clues and information from the story,
it makes sense from beginning to end of the story
it relates to the theme of No one can really beat you if you do your best.
there is nothing in the story to contradict the inference.

Example 4 >>