Final answer:
Inferrence is the process of drawing conclusions from evidence, and in this scenario, it's suggested that the dog ate the cookies, with 'deduced' or 'concluded' being synonyms for 'inferred'.
Step-by-step explanation:
It can be inferred that the dog ate the cookies off the plate based on the given information. This inference is drawn from various clues such as the delicious scent of freshly-baked cookies, the presence of the dog, and perhaps evidence such as crumbs on the floor or the dog's guilty behavior. The synonym for 'inferred' in this context could be deduced or concluded. The process of inference involves piecing together these clues to arrive at a logical explanation for an observation or a set of facts.
Occam's razor suggests that the simplest explanation is often the correct one. Therefore, inferences are made based on the principle that the simplest scenario, in which the dog ate the cookies, is more likely than a convoluted one involving another animal. For example, assuming that a different dog entered and exited the home to eat the bread would add unnecessary complexity to the explanation when the evidence sufficiently points to the dog in question.