7.2: Reading Skills- Inferring Information

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What Does Inferring Mean?

When you infer something, you understand it from the reading, even though the writer does not exactly say it. The meaning is understood from the reading, but the exact words are not used. Look at these examples.

Example A

Maggie: I can’t believe it! The alternator on my truck died, and I had to get it fixed. It cost me $600! I had to put it on my credit card. I guess I won’t be buying any new clothes for a while.

What do we know for sure from this statement?

The alternator on Maggie’s truck stopped working.
It cost $600 to repair it.
Maggie paid for the repairs with her credit card.
Maggie doesn’t plan to buy new clothes for a while.

What can we infer from the statement?

Maggie’s truck is old. (She doesn’t tell us this, but we can assume this because alternators on new vehicles do not usually stop working.)
The repairs were not covered by her insurance. (She paid for it herself, using her credit card.)
Maggie does not have $600 in the bank. (She says she “had to” use her credit card.)
Maggie wants to buy new clothes. (She cannot now do this.)

Maggie does not tell us any of this information, but we can guess that these statements are true. These pieces of information are called inferences.

Example B

Ben: I got a raise! I’m now making $25 an hour. This will make a big difference to my life. I can finally pay some bills and buy my kids new hockey equipment. I guess I’ll put up with this job a while longer.

What do we know for sure from this statement?

Ben got a pay raise to $25 an hour.
The raise will make a big difference to his life.
He wants to use the extra money to pay bills and buy hockey equipment for his children.
He is planning to stay in his current job for a while longer.

What can we infer from the statement?

Ben was making much less than $25 before. (This raise will make a “big difference” to his life.)
Ben was behind in his bill payments. (He can “finally” pay his bills.)
Ben’s kids enjoy hockey. (He is buying hockey equipment for them.)
Ben doesn’t really like his job. (He will “put up with” it for a while longer.)

You Try It!

Go back to Reading 1: You Weren’t Born to Pay off Debt and Die. Which of the following pieces of information can you infer about the author, Cait Flanders? Hint: You can infer five of the following statements. The other five cannot be inferred (they are either wrong, or we don’t have enough information).

Cait …

1. _____ has been in debt.

2. _____ is disappointed that she has not gone bungee jumping.

3. _____ was addicted to drinking beer.

4. _____ is satisfied with very few possessions.

5. _____ enjoys tattoos.

6. _____ has studied financial planning at college.

7. _____ is not a wealthy person.

8. _____ enjoys spending her free time in the mall.

9. _____ thinks rich people are happier than poor people.

10. _____ is a thoughtful person.