Reading · Both
Reading – Inference & Evidence
Exam reading questions ask what a text says (explicit) and what it suggests (inference). Always back answers with brief evidence from the text.
Explicit vs inference
• **Explicit** – stated directly in the text
• **Inference** – suggested, implied, or can be worked out from clues
Good answers name the idea clearly, then give a short quotation or close reference.
Worked example
The text says a character ‘stared at the floor and said nothing’. What can you infer?
Solution: They may be **shy, embarrassed, guilty or upset** – the silence and avoiding eye contact suggest discomfort. Quote: “stared at the floor and said nothing”.
Using evidence
• Keep quotations **short** (a phrase, not a paragraph)
• Embed them in your sentence where possible
• Explain **how** the evidence supports your point (don’t just drop a quote in)
Practice questions
1. What is inference?
2. Why use short quotations?