Explanation
On the SAT Reading section, inference questions assess your ability to draw logical conclusions or make educated guesses based on the information provided in the passage. These questions require you to go beyond what is explicitly stated in the text and use your reasoning skills to make reasonable inferences.
There are three main types of inference questions you may encounter:
- Deduction: Deduction questions ask you to draw a logical conclusion based on information that is explicitly stated in the passage. You must use the given facts or evidence to make a logical inference. These questions often require you to analyze cause-and-effect relationships or make straightforward deductions based on the information provided.
- Speculation: Speculation questions ask you to make an educated guess or prediction based on the information in the passage. You must use the evidence and context clues to make an inference about what could happen next or how a situation may develop. These questions require you to think beyond the immediate information and make reasonable speculations based on the author’s tone, the passage’s purpose, or the trajectory of the narrative.
- Examination: Examination questions ask you to analyze and interpret the author’s viewpoint, purpose, or perspective. You must make inferences about the author’s intentions, beliefs, or attitudes based on the information in the passage. These questions often require you to consider the tone, language, and overall argument of the author to make insightful deductions about their viewpoint.
To answer inference questions effectively, it’s important to carefully analyze the passage, pay attention to details, understand the author’s tone and purpose, and use your logical reasoning skills. Practice identifying the different types of inference questions and applying appropriate strategies to approach each type effectively.