IXL | Draw inferences from literary texts

Read the text.

I stepped forward and flicked my wrist. The stone skipped across the water's glassy surface three times before sinking, creating beautiful, concentric rings that folded into each other. The sound of sneakers sliding in gravel startled me, and I crossed my arms as I realized that I was being watched.

"Kyra, you can skip rocks?" I turned to see Olivia behind me. My face grew hot as I casually dropped the rocks I had been holding.

"Yeah, sort of," I mumbled. Olivia was good at everything she tried. When she wasn't winning track medals, she was starring in the school musical or leading the debate club.

"I've never been able to!" Olivia said helplessly. "It looks so cool, though. I wish I could!"

Seeing Olivia's smiling face, I realized that maybe being able to skip rocks wasn't a worthless talent after all. I leaned down and picked up a rock I had dropped, holding it out for her.

"Want to practice?" I asked. Olivia nodded eagerly and joined me at the water's edge. She concentrated, aimed, and threw the rock. It sank immediately with a loud plunk.

"I told you!" she said, laughing.

"It's all in the wrist," I said, standing a little straighter and skipping another stone; that one made it to the middle of the pond. We took turns, giggling with joy when one of Olivia's rocks finally skipped once.

Why does Kyra most likely drop the rocks when she sees Olivia?

Kyra is shy and does not like showing off in front of other people.

Kyra is embarrassed to be seen doing something as basic as skipping rocks.

Kyra despises Olivia and does not want to have to skip rocks with her.

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Learn with an example

question

Read the text.

Edward waited anxiously by his window, peering up and down the village lane. He searched every direction, but only an empty blue sky stretched over the kingdom. Still no birds.

His two younger sisters burst into his room.

"Isn't it here yet?" cried Lily.

"Not yet," sighed Edward, wiping his sweaty hands on his shirt. It was impossible to know exactly when the seer would arrive at each house on Selection Day; it had to deliver a scroll to each of the village's twelve-year-olds.

"I can't wait to find out what your job will be!" beamed Mila.

"Hopefully you'll be a village farmer, just like Father," added Lily, bouncing on her feet. "Then you would get to stay right here with us!"

Edward raised his eyebrows. He had hoped, as many children do, to be chosen to serve the kingdom as a knight. But looking at his eager younger sisters, he felt his stomach drop. The castle was far away, and if he were to be called away to train with Sir Maquette, he doubted that he would be able to return for the fall harvest.

Are Lily and Mila old enough to help Father in the fields? he wondered. And even if they are, what of their education? Would they have to stop going to school if I leave?

A heavy flap of wings shattered his thoughts. An enormous golden hawk soared towards Edward's window, carrying something in its talons: a rolled scroll tied with a blue ribbon and marked with the official seal of the castle.

What is likely true about Edward's obligations to his family?

Edward is responsible for tutoring his younger sisters.

Edward plays a significant role in helping his father with farm labor.

Edward's father has placed a great deal of pressure on him to become a knight.

key idea

Authors don't always tell you everything in a story. As a result, you may need to make

inferences,

or educated guesses, about what happens and why. A good inference combines what the author states in the text with your own background knowledge about how people act or how the world works.

When making an inference, you should be able to support your idea with evidence from the text. You need to look for details that show why your inference is most likely true.

For example, in a story about a girl named Sarah moving to a new town, the following pieces of textual evidence would allow you to make an inference about Sarah's feelings.

Evidence: Sarah glanced from one unfamiliar face to another and started biting her fingernail.

Evidence: "Dad, I'm not sure I can do this," Sarah cried. "The thought of going to school makes my stomach hurt."

Inference: Sarah is nervous about being the new kid at school.

solution

The details in the text support this inference:

green checkmark, Edward plays a significant role in helping his father with farm labor.

The details in the text do not support this inference:

red X symbol, Edward is responsible for tutoring his younger sisters.

Edward wonders whether his sisters would be able to keep going to school if he leaves. This suggests that his sisters receive their education at a school, not from Edward.

red X symbol, Edward's father has placed a great deal of pressure on him to become a knight.

There is no evidence in the text that Edward's father has placed pressure on Edward to become a knight.

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Not feeling ready yet? These can help:

Q.2Identify supporting details in literary texts

B.2Draw inferences from a text

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