7 Inferences

Inferences are ideas that are not stated directly. CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences are ideas that are not stated directly. They are conclusions we draw based on things we see, hear, and read. See page 273 in textbook. Conclusions See Hear Read

CHAPTER 7 Inferences Which inference is most logically based on the information suggested by this cartoon? A. The couple is not likely to have a good dining experience at the restaurant. See page 273 in textbook. Answer: A The next slides show and explain the answer. B. The couple will never eat at the restaurant. REAL LIFE ADVENTURES © 2006 GarLanco. Reprinted with permission of UNIVERSAL UCLICK. All rights reserved.

B. The couple will never eat at the restaurant. CHAPTER 7 Inferences A. The couple is not likely to have a good dining experience at the restaurant. The “help wanted” sign indicates that the restaurant is seriously understaffed. See pages 273–274 in textbook. B. The couple will never eat at the restaurant. REAL LIFE ADVENTURES © 2006 GarLanco. Reprinted with permission of UNIVERSAL UCLICK. All rights reserved.

This is a logical inference. CHAPTER 7 Inferences A. The couple is not likely to have a good dining experience at the restaurant. It would be logical, then, to infer that the restaurant cannot provide patrons with a good dining experience. This is a logical inference. See pages 273–274 in textbook. B. The couple will never eat at the restaurant. REAL LIFE ADVENTURES © 2006 GarLanco. Reprinted with permission of UNIVERSAL UCLICK. All rights reserved.

B. The couple will never eat at the restaurant. CHAPTER 7 Inferences A. The couple is not likely to have a good dining experience at the restaurant. See pages 273–274 in textbook. B. The couple will never eat at the restaurant. REAL LIFE ADVENTURES © 2006 GarLanco. Reprinted with permission of UNIVERSAL UCLICK. All rights reserved. The man’s comment that “this isn’t the best time” suggests that he may be willing to try the restaurant once it has solved its staffing problems.

B. The couple will never eat at the restaurant. CHAPTER 7 Inferences A. The couple is not likely to have a good dining experience at the restaurant. See pages 273–274 in textbook. B. The couple will never eat at the restaurant. REAL LIFE ADVENTURES © 2006 GarLanco. Reprinted with permission of UNIVERSAL UCLICK. All rights reserved. Also, experience suggests that it is common for restaurants to change ownership and/or management. This is not a logical inference.

CHAPTER 7 Inferences Which inference is most logically based on the information suggested by this cartoon? C. The restaurant was recently closed for health violations. See pages 273–274 in textbook. Answer: D The next slides show and explain the answer. D. Whoever is running the restaurant is not doing a good job. REAL LIFE ADVENTURES © 2006 GarLanco. Reprinted with permission of UNIVERSAL UCLICK. All rights reserved.

C. The restaurant was recently closed for health violations. CHAPTER 7 Inferences C. The restaurant was recently closed for health violations. See pages 273–274 in textbook. D. Whoever is running the restaurant is not doing a good job. REAL LIFE ADVENTURES © 2006 GarLanco. Reprinted with permission of UNIVERSAL UCLICK. All rights reserved. Experience tells us that good managers are able to hire and retain qualified employees. The “help wanted” sign suggests quite the opposite—that a number of employees have recently quit or been fired.

C. The restaurant was recently closed for health violations. CHAPTER 7 Inferences C. The restaurant was recently closed for health violations. See pages 273–274 in textbook. D. Whoever is running the restaurant is not doing a good job. REAL LIFE ADVENTURES © 2006 GarLanco. Reprinted with permission of UNIVERSAL UCLICK. All rights reserved. The lack of staff, in turn, has caused the couple to decide against dining there. Clearly, this is no way to run a business! This is a logical inference.

C. The restaurant was recently closed for health violations. CHAPTER 7 Inferences C. The restaurant was recently closed for health violations. Nothing in the cartoon suggests that the restaurant was recently closed for health violations. This is not a logical inference. See pages 273–274 in textbook. D. Whoever is running the restaurant is not doing a good job. REAL LIFE ADVENTURES © 2006 GarLanco. Reprinted with permission of UNIVERSAL UCLICK. All rights reserved.

Making inferences Drawing conclusions CHAPTER 7 Inferences Discovering the ideas that are not stated directly in writing is called Making inferences or See page 273 in textbook. Drawing conclusions

In reading, we make logical leaps from information stated directly CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Reading Inferences in Reading In reading, we make logical leaps from information stated directly to ideas that are not stated directly. See page 274 in textbook. Information Stated Directly Ideas Not Stated Directly

CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Reading To make inferences, we use all the clues provided by the writer, our own experience, and logic. Clues Provided Inference Experience Logic See page 274 in textbook.

Below is a sentence you saw in the chapter “Vocabulary in Context.” CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Reading Below is a sentence you saw in the chapter “Vocabulary in Context.” Many of us have ambivalent feelings about our politicians, admiring them but also distrusting them. That sentence does not tell us the meaning of ambivalent, but it does suggest that ambivalent involves both positive and negative feelings. See page 274 in textbook. Thus you can infer from this sentence that ambivalent feelings probably means “mixed feelings,” and you’d be correct.

Read this passage and think about the inferences in it. CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Reading Read this passage and think about the inferences in it. A sociology professor wrote on the board, “A woman without her man is nothing” and, with a smile, asked students to punctuate the sentence correctly. The men all wrote, “A woman, without her man, is nothing.” However, the women wrote, “A woman: Without her, man is nothing.” See page 275 in textbook.

Which inference is logically based on the information provided? CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Reading Which inference is logically based on the information provided? A sociology professor wrote on the board, “A woman without her man is nothing” and, with a smile, asked students to punctuate the sentence correctly. The men all wrote, “A woman, without her man, is nothing.” However, the women wrote, “A woman: Without her, man is nothing.” A. The professor did not believe students could punctuate the words correctly. See page 275 in textbook. Answer: B The next slides show and explain the answer. B. The professor knew there was more than one way to punctuate the words correctly.

Therefore, this is a logical inference. CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Reading A sociology professor wrote on the board, “A woman without her man is nothing” and, with a smile, asked students to punctuate the sentence correctly. The men all wrote, “A woman, without her man, is nothing.” However, the women wrote, “A woman: Without her, man is nothing.” A. The professor did not believe students could punctuate the words correctly. See page 275 in textbook. B. The professor knew there was more than one way to punctuate the words correctly. Since the professor chose the particular sentence and smiled while writing the words, we can conclude that the professor was aware of more than one punctuation possibility. Therefore, this is a logical inference.

This is not a logical inference. CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Reading A sociology professor wrote on the board, “A woman without her man is nothing” and, with a smile, asked students to punctuate the sentence correctly. The men all wrote, “A woman, without her man, is nothing.” However, the women wrote, “A woman: Without her, man is nothing.” A. The professor did not believe students could punctuate the words correctly. Nothing in the passage implies that the professor doubted students’ ability to punctuate the words correctly. This is not a logical inference. See page 275 in textbook. B. The professor knew there was more than one way to punctuate the words correctly.

Which inference is logically based on the information provided? CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Reading Which inference is logically based on the information provided? A sociology professor wrote on the board, “A woman without her man is nothing” and, with a smile, asked students to punctuate the sentence correctly. The men all wrote, “A woman, without her man, is nothing.” However, the women wrote, “A woman: Without her, man is nothing.” C. The professor is not a good teacher. See page 275 in textbook. Answer: D The next slides show and explain the answer. D. Gender differences caused students to read and punctuate the professor’s words differently.

This is a logical inference. CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Reading A sociology professor wrote on the board, “A woman without her man is nothing” and, with a smile, asked students to punctuate the sentence correctly. The men all wrote, “A woman, without her man, is nothing.” However, the women wrote, “A woman: Without her, man is nothing.” C. The professor is not a good teacher. See page 275 in textbook. D. Gender differences caused students to read and punctuate the professor’s words differently. Male and female students had very different responses to the sentence. Gender was the only apparent difference among the students, so we can conclude that it caused the different responses. This is a logical inference.

CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Reading A sociology professor wrote on the board, “A woman without her man is nothing” and, with a smile, asked students to punctuate the sentence correctly. The men all wrote, “A woman, without her man, is nothing.” However, the women wrote, “A woman: Without her, man is nothing.” There is no suggestion in the passage that the professor is a poor teacher. In fact, the professor has chosen a dramatic way to suggest that each sex sees the world from its own point of view. C. The professor is not a good teacher. See page 275 in textbook. D. Gender differences caused students to read and punctuate the professor’s words differently.

Now read this passage and consider the inferences. CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Reading Now read this passage and consider the inferences. A famous psychology experiment conducted by Dr. John B. Watson demonstrates that people, like animals, can be conditioned—trained to respond in a particular way to certain stimulations. Watson gave an eleven-month-old baby named Albert a soft, furry white rat. Each time Albert tried to stroke the rat, Dr. Watson hit a metal bar with a hammer. Before long, Albert was afraid not only of white rats but also of white rabbits, white dogs, and white fur coats. He even screamed at the sight of a Santa Claus mask. See page 276 in textbook.

Which inference is logically based on the information provided? CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Reading Which inference is logically based on the information provided? A famous psychology experiment conducted by Dr. John B. Watson demonstrates that people, like animals, can be conditioned—trained to respond in a particular way to certain stimulations. Watson gave an eleven-month-old baby named Albert a soft, furry white rat. Each time Albert tried to stroke the rat, Dr. Watson hit a metal bar with a hammer. Before long, Albert was afraid not only of white rats but also of white rabbits, white dogs, and white fur coats. He even screamed at the sight of a Santa Claus mask. A. Dr. Watson did not like small children. See page 276 in textbook. Answer: B The next slides show and explain the answer. B. Before the experiment, Albert was not afraid of white rats.

This is a logical inference. CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Reading A famous psychology experiment conducted by Dr. John B. Watson demonstrates that people, like animals, can be conditioned—trained to respond in a particular way to certain stimulations. Watson gave an eleven-month-old baby named Albert a soft, furry white rat. Each time Albert tried to stroke the rat, Dr. Watson hit a metal bar with a hammer. Before long, Albert was afraid not only of white rats but also of white rabbits, white dogs, and white fur coats. He even screamed at the sight of a Santa Claus mask. A. Dr. Watson did not like small children. See page 276 in textbook. B. Before the experiment, Albert was not afraid of white rats. Because Albert tried to pet the rat, it is fair to assume that he wasn’t frightened of the animal. This is a logical inference.

This is not a logical inference. CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Reading A famous psychology experiment conducted by Dr. John B. Watson demonstrates that people, like animals, can be conditioned—trained to respond in a particular way to certain stimulations. Watson gave an eleven-month-old baby named Albert a soft, furry white rat. Each time Albert tried to stroke the rat, Dr. Watson hit a metal bar with a hammer. Before long, Albert was afraid not only of white rats but also of white rabbits, white dogs, and white fur coats. He even screamed at the sight of a Santa Claus mask. We might certainly question the way the baby was used, but the passage doesn’t give enough information for us to infer logically that Watson did not like small children. A. Dr. Watson did not like small children. See page 276 in textbook. This is not a logical inference. B. Before the experiment, Albert was not afraid of white rats.

Which inference is logically based on the information provided? CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Reading Which inference is logically based on the information provided? A famous psychology experiment conducted by Dr. John B. Watson demonstrates that people, like animals, can be conditioned—trained to respond in a particular way to certain stimulations. Watson gave an eleven-month-old baby named Albert a soft, furry white rat. Each time Albert tried to stroke the rat, Dr. Watson hit a metal bar with a hammer. Before long, Albert was afraid not only of white rats but also of white rabbits, white dogs, and white fur coats. He even screamed at the sight of a Santa Claus mask. C. Albert was afraid of unexpected loud noises. See page 276 in textbook. Answer: C The next slides show and explain the answer. D. Albert had been familiar with rats before the experiment.

CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Reading A famous psychology experiment conducted by Dr. John B. Watson demonstrates that people, like animals, can be conditioned—trained to respond in a particular way to certain stimulations. Watson gave an eleven-month-old baby named Albert a soft, furry white rat. Each time Albert tried to stroke the rat, Dr. Watson hit a metal bar with a hammer. Before long, Albert was afraid not only of white rats but also of white rabbits, white dogs, and white fur coats. He even screamed at the sight of a Santa Claus mask. Since the noise is what made Albert afraid of the rat, we have to infer that he was afraid of the noise. C. Albert was afraid of unexpected loud noises. In addition, experience tells us that babies are likely to be frightened of unexpected loud noises. See page 276 in textbook. D. Albert had been familiar with rats before the experiment.

CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Reading A famous psychology experiment conducted by Dr. John B. Watson demonstrates that people, like animals, can be conditioned—trained to respond in a particular way to certain stimulations. Watson gave an eleven-month-old baby named Albert a soft, furry white rat. Each time Albert tried to stroke the rat, Dr. Watson hit a metal bar with a hammer. Before long, Albert was afraid not only of white rats but also of white rabbits, white dogs, and white fur coats. He even screamed at the sight of a Santa Claus mask. C. Albert was afraid of unexpected loud noises. See page 276 in textbook. D. Albert had been familiar with rats before the experiment. The passage gives no clues about Albert’s having previous experience with rats.

Guidelines for Making Inferences in Reading CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Reading / Guidelines for Making Inferences in Reading Guidelines for Making Inferences in Reading 1 Never lose sight of the available information. As much as possible, base your inferences on the facts. See page 277 in textbook.

1 Never lose sight of the available information. CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Reading / Guidelines for Making Inferences in Reading 1 Never lose sight of the available information. For instance, in the paragraph about Watson’s experiment, we are told, “Albert tried to stroke the rat.” On the basis of that fact, we can readily conclude that the baby had no fear of rats. A famous psychology experiment conducted by Dr. John B. Watson demonstrates that people, like animals, can be conditioned—trained to respond in a particular way to certain stimulations. Watson gave an eleven-month-old baby named Albert a soft, furry white rat. Each time Albert tried to stroke the rat, Dr. Watson hit a metal bar with a hammer. Before long, Albert was afraid not only of white rats but also of white rabbits, white dogs, and white fur coats. He even screamed at the sight of a Santa Claus mask. See page 277 in textbook.

BackgroundInformationand Experience CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Reading / Guidelines for Making Inferences in Reading 1 Never lose sight of the available information. 2 Use your background information and experience to help you in making inferences. BackgroundInformationand Experience Available Information Inference See page 277 in textbook.

1 Never lose sight of the available information. CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Reading / Guidelines for Making Inferences in Reading 1 Never lose sight of the available information. 2 Use your background information and experience to help you in making inferences. Experience Babies don’t like unexpected loud noises. See page 277 in textbook. Our understanding and experience with babies, for example, help us realize that babies are frightened of unexpected loud noises.

1 Never lose sight of the available information. CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Reading / Guidelines for Making Inferences in Reading 1 Never lose sight of the available information. 2 Use your background information and experience to help you in making inferences. Experience Babies don’t like unexpected loud noises. See page 277 in textbook. Watson gave an eleven-month-old baby named Albert a soft, furry white rat. Each time Albert tried to stroke the rat, Dr. Watson hit a metal bar with a hammer. Available Information Albert is a baby. Dr. Watson creates unexpected loud noises.

1 Never lose sight of the available information. CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Reading / Guidelines for Making Inferences in Reading 1 Never lose sight of the available information. 2 Use your background information and experience to help you in making inferences. Experience Babies don’t like unexpected loud noises. See page 277 in textbook. Watson gave an eleven-month-old baby named Albert a soft, furry white rat. Each time Albert tried to stroke the rat, Dr. Watson hit a metal bar with a hammer. Available Information Inference Albert was frightened of unexpected loud noises.

1 Never lose sight of the available information. CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Reading / Guidelines for Making Inferences in Reading 1 Never lose sight of the available information. 2 Use your background information and experience to help you in making inferences. 3 Consider the alternatives. Don’t simply accept the first inference that comes to mind. See page 277 in textbook. Instead, consider all of the facts of a case and all the possible explanations.

Inferences in Literature CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Literature Inferences are very important in reading literature. Writers of factual material usually state directly much of what they mean. Factual Material Point directly stated Creative writers, however, often provide verbal pictures that show what they mean. See page 282 in textbook. Creative Material Point must be inferred

A nonfiction writer might write: CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Literature A nonfiction writer might write: A man got angry at the person using a cell phone in the theater. But a novelist might write this: Thomas turned to face the laughing red-haired girl sitting behind him in the theater. A vein on his forehead was throbbing. “Would you mind very much turning off that cell phone?” he hissed. “A few of us are here to actually see the movie.” See page 282 in textbook.

CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Literature Rather than merely stating that Thomas was angry, the author shows the anger with vivid details. Thomas turned to face the laughing red-haired girl sitting behind him in the theater. A vein on his forehead was throbbing. “Would you mind very much turning off that cell phone?” he hissed. “A few of us are here to actually see the movie.” See page 282 in textbook.

To get the most out of literature, you must often infer meanings. CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Literature To get the most out of literature, you must often infer meanings. Your may have inferred, for example, that the laughing girl is insensitive to the rights of others in the theater. Thomas turned to face the laughing red-haired girl sitting behind him in the theater. A vein on his forehead was throbbing. “Would you mind very much turning off that cell phone?” he hissed. “A few of us are here to actually see the movie.” See page 282 in textbook.

CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Literature You could also have concluded that Thomas has probably been waiting a while for her to quiet down, but she has not, and his temper is now boiling. Thomas turned to face the laughing red-haired girl sitting behind him in the theater. A vein on his forehead was throbbing. “Would you mind very much turning off that cell phone?” he hissed. “A few of us are here to actually see the movie.” See page 282 in textbook.

CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Literature Poetry, especially, by its nature implies much of its meaning. Poets often imply their meanings through comparisons. For example, Emily Dickinson begins one of her poems with the following lines: Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul, And sings the tune without the words, And never stops at all . . . . See page 284 in textbook.

Here, Dickinson uses a figure of speech known as CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Literature Here, Dickinson uses a figure of speech known as a metaphor, comparing hope to a singing bird. Hope is the thing with feathers That perches in the soul, And sings the tune without the words, And never stops at all . . . . See page 284 in textbook. The comparison implies, among other things, that hope is a sweet and welcome thing.

Inferences in Tables and Graphs CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Tables and Graphs At the beginning of this presentation, you made inferences about a picture—this cartoon of the couple outside a restaurant: See page 290 in textbook. Other “pictures” that require inferences are tables and graphs.

Tables and graphs combine words with visual representations. CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Graphs and Tables Tables and graphs combine words with visual representations. See page 290 in textbook. To infer the ideas presented in tables and graphs, you must consider all the information presented.

CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Graphs and Tables Steps in Reading a Graph or Table See page 290 in textbook. Following a few simple steps will help you find and make sense of the information in a table or graph.

Inferences in Graphs and Tables / Steps in Reading a Graph or Table CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Graphs and Tables / Steps in Reading a Graph or Table See page 290 in textbook.

It will tell you what the table or graph is showing in general. CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Graphs and Tables / Steps in Reading a Graph or Table See pages 290–291 in textbook. 1 Read the title. It will tell you what the table or graph is showing in general.

What is the title of this graph? CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Graphs and Tables / Steps in Reading a Graph or Table See pages 290–291 in textbook. Answer: Changes in U.S. Work Force, 1900–2010 The next click shows the answer. 1 Read the title. What is the title of this graph?

CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Graphs and Tables / Steps in Reading a Graph or Table See pages 290–291 in textbook. 2 Check the source. At the bottom of a table or graph, you will usually find the source of the information, an indication of the reliability of its material.

What is the source of this graph? CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Graphs and Tables / Steps in Reading a Graph or Table See pages 290–291 in textbook. Answer: Source: Statistical Abstract 2012; James M. Henslin, 2013 The next click shows the answer. 2 Check the source. What is the source of this graph?

3 Read any labels or captions at the top, the side, or underneath. CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Graphs and Tables / Steps in Reading a Graph or Table Label 1 Label 2 Label 3 See pages 290–291 in textbook. 3 Read any labels or captions at the top, the side, or underneath. These tell exactly what each column, line, bar, number, or other item represents.

Which types of work does the graph cover? CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Graphs and Tables / Steps in Reading a Graph or Table See pages 290–291 in textbook. Answer: White-collar, Blue-collar, Farming The next click shows and explains the answer. Which types of work does the graph cover?

CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Graphs and Tables / Steps in Reading a Graph or Table 1 Read the title. 3 Read any labels or captions. 2 Check the source. See pages 290–291 in textbook. Once you have taken the above steps, you are ready to infer from the graph or table whatever information you seek from it.

B. Before 1900, farmers made up the smallest percentage of workers. CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Graphs and Tables See pages 291–292 in textbook. Answer: A The next slides show and explain the answer. Based on the information in the graph, which statement is a logical inference? A. The work force of 1900 was very different from the work force of today. B. Before 1900, farmers made up the smallest percentage of workers.

B. Before 1900, farmers made up the smallest percentage of workers. CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Graphs and Tables Farmers White-collar See pages 291–292 in textbook. At the extreme left side of the graph, which represents 1900, the lowest of the three horizontal lines is for white-collar workers, not farmers. B. Before 1900, farmers made up the smallest percentage of workers.

B. Before 1900, farmers made up the smallest percentage of workers. CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Graphs and Tables Farmers White-collar See pages 291–292 in textbook. At the extreme left side of the graph, which represents 1900, the lowest of the three horizontal lines is for white-collar workers, not farmers. So we can infer that for at least a short time before 1900, white-collar workers probably made up the smallest percentage of the work force. B. Before 1900, farmers made up the smallest percentage of workers.

B. Before 1900, farmers made up the smallest percentage of workers. CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Graphs and Tables Farmers White-collar See pages 291–292 in textbook. At the extreme left side of the graph, which represents 1900, the lowest of the three horizontal lines is for white-collar workers, not farmers. So we can infer that for at least a short time before 1900, white-collar workers probably made up the smallest percentage of the work force. B. Before 1900, farmers made up the smallest percentage of workers. Statement A is not a logical inference.

Statement A is a logical inference. CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Graphs and Tables See pages 291–292 in textbook. Statement A is a logical inference. A. The work force of 1900 was very different from the work force of today. The movement of the three horizontal lines across the graph shows a significant change in the U.S. work force since 1900, with farmers and blue-collar workers decreasing sharply and white-collar workers rising strongly.

CHAPTER 7 Inferences Inferences in Graphs and Tables See pages 291–292 in textbook. The work force of 1900 was very different from the work force of today. Again, we have made a leap from information presented directly to an idea that is not presented directly.

CHAPTER 7 Inferences See page 294 in textbook.