Inferences in a Text or Texts
What to know
An inference is a conclusion that follows logically from evidence in the text plus reasonable assumptions-not a guess and not prior knowledge. Questions may ask what a character will likely do next, what the author implies about an issue, or what can be concluded by comparing two passages. For paired texts, identify each author's main claim and attitude first, then note where they agree, disagree, or address different aspects.
Traps
Over-inference is the big one: choices that are plausible in real life but not supported by the passage. Also avoid answers that rely on outside facts, moralize about what characters "should" do, or use absolute language. In paired-passage questions, a choice may be true of only one passage. A related trick is a choice that states a detail rather than the inference requested.
Rule of thumb
For each answer choice, ask: "Where in the text would I point to prove this?" If you cannot cite a line or paraphrase a specific detail, eliminate it. Prefer the most modest, text-supported conclusion.
Worked example: Passage: "Maya checked the clock twice, then reread the same paragraph without turning the page." Question: What is implied? "She is bored by the book" is possible, but the details (clock, no page turn) better support "She is distracted and not absorbing what she reads." The second answer uses both details and stays close to the text.