Final answer:
Making inferences involves using evidence from a passage to draw conclusions not directly stated in the text. It requires a careful analysis of details and understanding the context, while also considering potential biases and alternative explanations.
Step-by-step explanation:
To make inferences from reading material, a reader uses evidence from the text to draw a logical conclusion that is not explicitly stated within it. It involves analyzing the accumulation of evidence within a passage to formulate a reasonable judgment. For instance, in the context of a student being asked about the implications of the Industrial Revolution on children, they would need to examine the details provided in the historical passage and infer how these details suggest the experiences of children during that period.
For exercises like inferring whether a man running after a bus likely missed it, or surmising the cause of someone's laughter during a speech might be due to something amiss with one's attire, these scenarios ask the reader to pull from context clues and previous understanding of social behaviors. In literature, such as the referenced "The Five Orange Pips," a reader could infer the fate of the Lone Star based on preceding events and information provided in the story without needing a direct statement from the author.
When concluding from implied information, one must consider whether a conclusion is based on necessary or contingent connections and understand that bias can affect one's interpretation, as seen in the example about faulty reasoning with Jean's response to a test. It is crucial to evaluate alternative conclusions and maintain a critical eye for potential bias that may influence the validity of the inference.