Reading between the lines
Ask and answer questions about key details in literary and informational texts; make simple inferences based on what characters say and do
What a learner can do afterwards
- Answer 'who', 'what', 'where' questions about a text using evidence
- Infer a character's feelings from their actions (e.g. 'She's sad because she's crying')
- Make logical guesses about unstated information using text clues
1 · Read
The story says, 'Ivy ate soup.' You can read that answer. Now read, 'Ivy rubbed her empty tummy.' She may be hungry. The story does not say hungry. You worked it out from a clue. This is an inference. She could rub her tummy for another reason, so say 'may'.
Mia's ice cream fell on the ground. She looked down. Her lip started to shake. How might Mia feel? Sad is a likely answer. Losing her ice cream and her shaky lip fit that feeling. We use both the event and her action.
To answer who, what, or where, look back at the story. Find the words that help. A character may have a name or a description, like 'the girl with red boots.' If no words support an answer, say you cannot tell yet.
Watch what a character does. Crying can mean sad. A big smile can mean happy. Actions are strong clues.
Sam takes an umbrella. He may expect rain. We do not know if rain has started. Clues can help you guess what comes next too. Kim puts batter in a cake tin and opens the oven. She will probably bake it.
Clues can help you find a place, a time, a job, or what happened before. Books to borrow and a desk where you return them may mean a library. Stars outside may mean night. Kneading dough may point to a baker. Flour on someone's hands may mean they were baking. For each guess, ask which clue fits. A blue sleeve adds no clue about baking.
I think Uma wants a drink. She reaches for a cup. Now add, 'Please fill it with water.' That helps the guess. A line about her green socks would not help. Choose the clue about drinking, not just the longest line. A new clue helps when it fits your idea.
Paz held his broken toy and frowned. Later he took it to Dad to mend. He may be upset and still ready to ask for help. Asking for help does not mean his earlier frown never happened. Read both parts before you choose an answer.
Use clues from what characters say and do to answer questions.
Original reading about checking story clues by the dataset authors.
2 · Watch
Take it off screen
Where it sits
Where this leads
24 questions wait behind this lesson, each with its answer explained. Every answer feeds the sky: stars light as they are learned, and dim when it is time to come back.