Fact Versus Inference

What’s the Difference? Fact: Something known to exist or to have happened. Synonyms include: reality, actuality, certaintyrealityactuality certainty Inference: A conclusion reached on the basis of evidence and reasoning. Synonyms include: deduction, conclusion,deductionconclusion reasoningreasoning, conjecture, speculation,conjecturespeculation guessguess, presumption, assumption,presumptionassumption suppositionsupposition, reckoningreckoning

Example #1 Fact: Julia works at a pet store and owns four cats, a lizard, a dog and a rabbit. Inference: Julia is a pet lover.

Example #2 Fact: Sally arrives at home at 4:30; her mother does not get off of work until 5:00. Sally also sees that the lights are off in their house. Inference: Sally’s mother isn’t home yet.

Example #3 Fact: When the phone rang and Liz picked it up, she was all smiles. Inference: She was pleased to receive the phone call.

You try Fact: A baby makes a face after eating mashed peas for the first time. Inference:

You try Fact: A man runs towards the gate at the airport. Inference:

Fact: Jesse hears knocking at his front door. Inference:

Fact: Terri sees smoke coming from his neighbor’s upstairs window. Inference:

Fact: Jasmine has cake and ice cream and watches her friend, Juan, open presents. Inference:

Fact: Fossils of bones that are larger than any animal alive today have been found in sedimentary rocks. Inference:

Fact: Positive charges are repelled by the nucleus of an atom. Inference:

More than one answer… Fact: Tommy notices his driveway is wet this morning. Inference: OR, a second, less likely inference:

Facts: An girl’s hair is wet after leaving the pool area. Inference: A second interpretation?

Can a fact be true or false? Can facts be interpreted differently on a small scale? On a big scale? Can an inference be true or false? Are some inferences more logical than others? Why?

Fact: A paper moves off a table and floats onto the floor. Which is the most logical inference? #1: The air conditioner kicked in. #2 There’s been an earthquake. #3There’s a ghost in the house.