What does it mean to make an inference from a text?

• A. Summarizing the text
• B. Memorizing exact quotes
• C. Identifying the main idea
• D. Drawing a conclusion based on evidence and reasoning beyond what is explicitly stated

Answer: (D)

Making an inference means drawing a conclusion based on evidence and reasoning beyond what is explicitly stated in the text. In a story or article, authors hint at ideas through details, tone, and context. You combine those hints with what you already know to make a reasonable guess about something the text leaves unsaid. For example, if the narrator describes a character slamming a door, muttering, and rubbing their temples, you can infer the character is frustrated or stressed, even if the exact feeling isn’t directly stated. This shows you’re using clues from the text plus your reasoning to reach a conclusion. This differs from simply summarizing, which restates the main events; or identifying the main idea, which is finding the central point the text makes; or memorizing exact quotes, which is about recalling specific words.