Making Inferences in Fiction
This worksheet helps sixth-grade students practice making inferences based on textual evidence in fictional stories.
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Making Inferences in Fiction
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Read each passage carefully and answer the questions that follow by making inferences based on the text. Remember, an inference is an educated guess based on clues in the story and your own background knowledge.
Passage 1: The Old House
The old house stood at the end of a winding dirt road, its windows like vacant eyes staring out from under heavy, sagging brows of eaves. A thick layer of dust coated everything inside, and the air hung heavy with the scent of mildew and forgotten memories. Cobwebs, delicate and intricate, draped themselves across doorways, catching the faint shafts of sunlight that pierced the grimy panes. In the kitchen, a single chipped teacup sat on the counter, next to a faded newspaper dated twenty years ago.
1. What can you infer about the current state of the old house?
It is well-maintained and recently renovated.
It is abandoned and has been empty for a long time.
A family just moved in and is still unpacking.
It is a museum open to the public.
2. What clues in the passage led you to your inference about the house?
Passage 2: Maya's Secret
Maya clutched the worn leather-bound book to her chest, her eyes darting around the classroom. When Mr. Harrison announced it was time for silent reading, she quickly slid the book under her desk, pulling out her assigned textbook instead. During recess, while her friends played tag, Maya found a quiet corner behind the old oak tree and opened the forbidden pages, a small smile playing on her lips.
3. What can you infer about Maya's feelings towards the worn leather-bound book?
She is bored by it and finds it uninteresting.
She is excited about it but knows she shouldn't be reading it.
She is frustrated with the book and wants to put it away.
She is proud of the book and wants to share it with everyone.
4. Why do you think Maya hides the book and reads it in secret?
Passage 3: The Storm
The wind howled outside, rattling the windows violently. Rain lashed against the glass, and every few seconds, a brilliant flash of lightning illuminated the darkened room, followed by a deafening roar of thunder. Sarah huddled under her blanket, pulling it tighter around her, her small dog whimpering softly at her feet.
5. You can infer that Sarah is enjoying the storm.
True
False
6. What evidence from the passage supports your answer to question 5?