Inferences

1. Inferences Review and Practice

2. The Hare with Many FriendsAn Aesop Fable There was once a hare who had many friends. She thought she was the most popular animal in the entire world! One day the hare heard hounds baying in the distance. Usually, she hurried away at the first sound of a baying dog, but this time she asked herself, “Why should I have to run for my life every time I hear a dog?” She decided her friends could help. She would ask one of them to carry her to safety. The hare asked the horse, “Please, dear friend, will you carry me away from the hounds?” The horse answered, “I wish I could assist you, but I have work to do for my owner.” Next the hare asked the cow for help. The cow answered, “I wish I could help you, but it’s almost milking time.” The goat was busy, too. So were the sheep and the pig. Every animal the rabbit asked for help seemed to be occupied. Even the calf had no time for her. Each one said, “I wish I could help you.” But all of them had some excuse that prevented them from helping her. By this time, the hounds were getting closer. The hare didn’t have any time to spare. She was forced to run for her life. She quickly took off and, luckily, escaped just in time. The moral of this fable is those who have many friends have no friends.

3. The Hare with Many FriendsAn Aesop Fable Which of the following are correct inferences? a. The hounds were also friends of the hare. b. The other animals were not true friends of the hare. c. If the hare had not run off, the hounds might have killed her.

4. Food from the ‘Hood In 1992, students at Crenshaw High School turned a garden into a business. Food from the ‘Hood began as a response to violent Los Angeles riots. One cause of the riots was the verdict in the Rodney King trial, in which an all-white jury acquitted four police officers accused of beating an African American man. The students also saw another reason for the riots: lack of economic opportunity. The students responded by forming their own natural-foods business. A teacher and a volunteer adviser helped them make a plan. In October, the student-owners planted crops in a garden behind the school. By late December, they had donated their first harvest to a neighborhood food bank. The next year, they developed their quarter-acre garden into a business asset. They sold their produce at a local farmer’s market. They also started a line of salad dressings. Half of the profits were used to expand their company. The rest went into a scholarship fund. Today students still learn business skills by managing Food from the ‘Hood. They give one-quarter of their produce to the needy. Their products bring in $250 thousand a year. As students expand the company, they also cultivate their futures. More than 70 students who were once at risk of dropping out have gone on to college.

5. Food from the ‘Hood Which of the following are correct inferences? a. If high school students run a business, it will be profitable. b. No pesticides are used in the Food from the ‘Hood garden. c. Students have developed a line of Food from the ‘Hood products.

6. Johnny Appleseed: The Man and the Legend John Chapman was born in Massachusetts about 1774. He grew up to be a gardener. He planted apple trees in New York and Pennsylvania. In the early 1800s, he carried apple seeds west. He walked the wilderness that would later become Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, and Illinois. When he found a good place for apple trees, he cleared the brush. He planted the seeds in rows. Then he fenced them in. At first he went back east for more seeds. Later he got seeds from the trees he grew. He roamed through the wilderness, tending to his orchards. He traveled on foot, often without shoes. He carried with him a cooking pot. When the first settlers came, Chapman sold his trees for pennies. Sometimes he traded them for used clothes. The settlers called him Johnny Appleseed. Those who moved on west told of the man who sold them the trees. The tale passed down through the generations. More tales were added to the legend. In one tale, Johnny Appleseed slept through a storm with a bear. In another, a rattlesnake tried to bite his foot, but his skin was too tough. In books, he might be shown in clothes that are too big, wearing his pot as a hat. Some of the trees he planted still bear fruit today.

7. Johnny Appleseed: The Man and the Legend Which of the following are correct inferences? a. Chapman planted many apple orchards in several states. b. Chapman was a colorful character that people remembered. c. All of the apple trees in the United States today are a result of Chapman’s work.

8. Letter to Grandma Dear Grandma Louise, How are you this fabulous weekend? I haven’t seen you in a long time, though it’s fun to send you letters. Geoff and I are doing fine and it is a busy month at school. I am writing to ask if you would like to become a sponsor for our bike-a-thon for the seventh grade class trip. My whole class is going to ride their bicycles 20 miles from the old downtown fish docks to Martin Luther King Park. We are asking friends and relatives to donate a specific amount per mile. The more miles I ride, the more money I earn for our class trip. I really hope you want to contribute because it won’t cost you very much and it’s for an excellent cause. None of the students in my class has been to Washington DC and we know it will be an exciting educational experience. We are hoping we can earn enough money to take a weekend excursion. We plan to visit the Lincoln Memorial, the White House, the Capitol Building, and the National Gallery. Our Social Studies teacher, Mr. Reimer, also wants to visit Colonial Williamsburg if there is enough time. Please let me know, immediately if possible, if you want to participate and how much you can pledge per mile. I need to register at least 10 sponsors, and I hope you will be one of them. Let’s talk again soon. I love those hilarious jokes that you send me from Uncle Albert! Love, Megan

9. Letter to Grandma What can you infer about Megan and Grandma? • They do not get along with each other. • They do not live near each other. • Grandma disapproves of Megan riding a bike. • Grandma wants to take Megan to Washington DC.

10. Letter to Grandma Geoff is probably Megan’s – • brother • dad • teacher • cat

11. Letter to Grandma You can tell that Megan is in good physical shape because – • she wants to find at least 10 sponsors • she plans to see several Washington DC landmarks • she is eager to visit Washington DC • she is going on a 20-mile bike ride

12. Lightning Safety Lightning strikes in many parts of the world. Lightning is an electric charge in a thunderstorm that is powerful enough to hurt or kill people. Here are a few basic safety rules to follow if you find yourself in a thunderstorm. First, find shelter. Get inside a building or a car. Don’t stand under a tree. If you’re in a car, stay away from metal surfaces that can conduct electricity. Lightning can strike as far away as 16 kilometers (10 miles) from the center of the storm. Just because lightning and thunder seem far away, you should not assume that there is no danger. Remember that lightning will generally strike the highest place in an area. Don’t climb trees or play outside during a thunderstorm. Golfers are often struck by lightning when they continue to play golf during a thunderstorm. They might think that they aren’t in danger if it isn’t raining. This is not true. The golf clubs can function as lightning rods. If you’re inside, don’t talk on the phone. Lightning can travel through the telephone wires and strike you while you’re talking. Turn off TVs, computers, and other appliances and stay away from them. Water is also a conductor of electricity. Don’t take a shower and stay away from sinks. Practice these basic safety rules and use your common sense to stay safe.

13. Lightning Safety Which of the following are correct inferences? a. It is safer to be in a car than to stand under a tree during a lightning storm. b. A golf club can conduct lightning. c. If it isn’t raining, you’re safe from lightning strikes.

14. The End