1. Identify Inference Questions: Look for questions or prompts that ask you to infer, suggest, or imply something from the text.

2. Trust the Passage: Focus on the information provided in the text. Trust that the author has given you enough clues to make an inference.

3. Hunt for Clues: Pay attention to details, such as descriptions, actions, and dialogue. These clues can help you understand what is not explicitly stated.

4. Use Background Knowledge: Combine the clues from the text with what you already know from your own experiences or other readings.

5. Narrow Down Choices: If you’re making an inference on a test, eliminate any choices that don’t fit with the clues and your background knowledge.

6. Practice: The more you practice making inferences, the better you’ll become at it¹.

For example, if you read a passage about a character shivering and putting on a coat, you can infer that the weather is cold, even if it’s not directly stated.