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Grade 9 · Reading & language

Read a contrast between words and actions

Infer implied meaning when dialogue and behavior do not fully match.

8 authored questions + worked example

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Worked example

“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?

Answer & why

Answer: Mara may feel more hurried than her words suggest.

The watch-tapping and repeated glances suggest impatience despite reassuring words.

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All questions

All 8 authored questions for this skill.

Question 1

“There is no need to thank me,” Ben said, smiling when the group read out his name.

Which inference best accounts for both the words and the actions?

  1. Ben clearly resents all thanks.
  2. Ben may still appreciate the recognition.
  3. Ben demands a payment.
  4. The group does not know Ben's name.
A hint

Compare what is said with what the action suggests. Choose a cautious inference supported by both.

Answer & why

Answer: Ben may still appreciate the recognition.

The smile supports appreciation without implying a demand.

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Question 2

“I am ready,” Lena said. She took a deep breath, checked her notes once more, and stepped forward.

Which inference best accounts for both the words and the actions?

  1. Lena has no notes.
  2. A deep breath proves complete fearlessness.
  3. Lena may feel nervous while choosing to proceed.
  4. Lena refuses to take part.
A hint

Compare what is said with what the action suggests. Choose a cautious inference supported by both.

Answer & why

Answer: Lena may feel nervous while choosing to proceed.

The preparation and breath can suggest nerves alongside willingness.

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Question 3

“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?

  1. Mara has proved that time does not matter.
  2. Mara may feel more hurried than her words suggest.
  3. The door is definitely broken.
  4. Mara cannot read the watch.
A hint

Compare what is said with what the action suggests. Choose a cautious inference supported by both.

Answer & why

Answer: Mara may feel more hurried than her words suggest.

The watch-tapping and repeated glances suggest impatience despite reassuring words.

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Question 4

“I wasn't interested in the result,” Jo said. Yet Jo refreshed the results page every few minutes.

Which inference best accounts for both the words and the actions?

  1. Jo's repeated checking suggests interest despite the denial.
  2. The page contains no information.
  3. Jo never checks the result.
  4. The result has certainly been canceled.
A hint

Compare what is said with what the action suggests. Choose a cautious inference supported by both.

Answer & why

Answer: Jo's repeated checking suggests interest despite the denial.

The repeated checking conflicts with the stated lack of interest.

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Question 5

“It is only an old box,” Ravi said, carefully wrapping it before placing it on the highest shelf.

Which inference best accounts for both the words and the actions?

  1. Ravi plans to destroy it immediately.
  2. The box is made of gold.
  3. The care suggests the box has value to Ravi.
  4. Ravi has no attachment to the box.
A hint

Compare what is said with what the action suggests. Choose a cautious inference supported by both.

Answer & why

Answer: The care suggests the box has value to Ravi.

Careful wrapping and storage support value without establishing monetary worth.

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Question 6

“I know this path well,” Kim said, pausing at every junction to examine the map.

Which inference best accounts for both the words and the actions?

  1. Kim has never seen any map.
  2. The statement proves no map is needed.
  3. Every junction is impassable.
  4. Kim's actions suggest some uncertainty about the route.
A hint

Compare what is said with what the action suggests. Choose a cautious inference supported by both.

Answer & why

Answer: Kim's actions suggest some uncertainty about the route.

Repeated map-checking tempers the claim of certainty.

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Question 7

“The speech was nothing special,” Ari said, smoothing its pages and saving them in a labeled folder.

Which inference best accounts for both the words and the actions?

  1. Ari dislikes every written page.
  2. The speech won a national prize.
  3. The speech may matter more to Ari than the words imply.
  4. Ari throws the speech away.
A hint

Compare what is said with what the action suggests. Choose a cautious inference supported by both.

Answer & why

Answer: The speech may matter more to Ari than the words imply.

Preserving and labeling the pages suggests significance, not a proven award.

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Question 8

“I don't mind which design we use,” Nia said, returning the discussion to her own design three times.

Which inference best accounts for both the words and the actions?

  1. Nia may prefer her design more strongly than she admits.
  2. Nia has no design to discuss.
  3. Every design is identical.
  4. The group has already voted unanimously.
A hint

Compare what is said with what the action suggests. Choose a cautious inference supported by both.

Answer & why

Answer: Nia may prefer her design more strongly than she admits.

Repeatedly returning to one option suggests a preference.

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