Inferences CAEC

On the social studies test, you’ll often come across questions that ask you to make inferences. In this lesson, we’ll go over what inferences are and how to answer these types of questions effectively.

So, what’s an inference? It’s basically an educated guess based on the information provided. It’s not something that’s directly stated, but by connecting the dots, you can figure out what’s likely being implied. In other words, when you infer something, you’re making an assumption based on the clues you’ve been given.

The key to answering inference questions on the social studies test is to carefully look for clues in the details provided in the passage. These clues will help you figure out what’s not directly said but is strongly suggested.
Let’s start with an example:
John went jogging to the park. He was gone for more than an hour and came back soaked. I was surprised because, at the same time, I was working in the garden and didn’t feel any rain, but I noticed dark clouds on the horizon.
Inference:
It might rain at my place soon. I guess it because John encountered rain at the park, and the dark clouds suggest that rain could be heading my way. The passage doesn’t outright say it’s going to rain, but the details point us toward that educated guess.

Now, let’s look at a sample test question:
You go online and see a few news headlines:
The Chronicle: “Early Voting Period Reduced to Two Days”
The Gazette: “New Holiday Declared on Election Day”
The Bulletin: “Voting by Mail Expanded Nationwide”
The Observer: “ID Requirements for Voting Increased”

Question:
Which of these headlines refers to a government action that would likely result in lower voter turnout than in previous elections?
A) The Chronicle
B) The Gazette
C) The Bulletin
D) The Observer

Let’s break it down:
The correct answer is A) The Chronicle, which mentions that the early voting period is reduced to just two days. Because fewer days to vote means fewer opportunities for people to cast their ballots. This could lead to lower turnout, especially for those who can’t make it to the polls during that shorter window.

Here’s why reducing early voting time impacts turnout:

Fewer Opportunities to Vote: If people are busy on those two days, they might not get the chance to vote at all.
Increased Crowding: Shorter voting periods could lead to packed polling stations, which might discourage some voters.
Impact on Certain Groups: People with irregular work schedules or limited availability are particularly affected.
The other headlines, on the other hand, would likely increase or maintain voter turnout:
Declaring a holiday on Election Day gives people more time to vote.
Expanding voting by mail makes it more convenient.
Increasing ID requirements might deter some voters, but it’s not as direct an impact as reducing voting days.
As you can see, answering this kind of question requires you to infer the correct answer based on the clues in the text.
Making inferences is all about careful reading and using what you know to make educated guesses. Now, let’s try solving a few practice quizzes to build your confidence!

Click anywhere on the flashcard to see the answer. To move to the next question, click on the small arrow at the bottom.