LET’S TRY ONE
“Take all the time you need,” Mara said, tapping her watch and glancing repeatedly at the door.
Which inference best accounts for both the words and the actions?
Mara may feel more hurried than her words suggest.
The watch-tapping and repeated glances suggest impatience despite reassuring words.
Learning steps & teaching tips
Infer implied meaning when dialogue and behavior do not fully match.
- Read the entire text before comparing the choices.
- Compare what is said with what the action suggests. Choose a cautious inference supported by both.
- Choose the best-supported answer. Reread the explanation and identify the words that justify it.
Try it together
Write a new two- or three-sentence example. Ask a partner to explain an answer using evidence from your text.
Compare what is said with what the action suggests. Choose a cautious inference supported by both.