English: Inference Questions

In an inference question, you get a passage with numbered lines. The question points you to some of those lines, and gives you five answers. You choose the best one.

But the passage never says the answer. If the passage says it, find it. If it only shows it, work it out, from the clues.

In GL's papers inference questions come in passage order, mixed in with questions about what the passage says. The video above and the worked example below work through the same question, with the options in the same order.

The method

Four steps: find the moment, collect the clues, say what they show, prove each option.

Worked example

In this story, Keeping the Light, Grandad keeps a lighthouse. In a storm, he hurts his ankle, so Ada climbs up and keeps the lamp lit all night.

88 … “You kept the light, Ada,” he said.
89 His voice was gruff, but his eyes were shining.

What do lines 88–89 suggest about how Grandad felt?

A. Proud of what Ada had achieved B. Cross that Ada had left him alone C. Glad to be back up in the lamp room D. Worried that the light had gone out E. Jealous that Ada had done his job

1. Find the moment. Pick out the key words in the question. Lines 88 to 89 tell you where to look. How Grandad felt tells you what to find. Then go back to those lines, and read them again.
2. Collect the clues. Look at what Grandad does, says and notices. He says, “You kept the light, Ada.” His voice was gruff. But his eyes were shining.
3. Say what they show. Gruff means rough and low. On its own, that might sound cross. But shining eyes show strong feeling, and his words are all about what Ada did. So he's proud of her. Very proud, even if he tries not to show it.
4. Prove each option. Option A, proud of what Ada had achieved: she kept the light, and his shining eyes show the pride. That's proved. Option B, cross that Ada had left him alone: no words show he's angry. So B is out. Option C, glad to be back up in the lamp room: lines 86 and 87 say he's still in the armchair. So C is out. Option D, worried that the light had gone out: he says the opposite, you kept the light. So D is out. Option E, jealous that Ada had done his job: no words show that either. So E is out. Only one option is left standing, and the words prove every part of it.

Answer: A — Proud of what Ada had achieved (every part proved)

Things to watch out for

1. Likely isn't the same as in the text. A wrong answer often sounds likely. In the example, you could picture Grandad being jealous, because Ada had done his job. But no words in the passage show it, so it's out — however likely.
2. Match the strength, not just the idea. This question asks how people felt about a frozen river. The words show they enjoyed it: crowds poured onto the ice and played games. But one option says they hoped it would stay frozen for ever. No words go that far, so it's too strong. Too strong, or too weak, is still wrong.
3. Right feeling, wrong moment. This question asks why Matthew decided to take a girl home. He does come to like her chatter, but only later in the story, after he has decided. So it can't be his reason. Check it's the moment the question names.
4. Every part of the answer must fit. Look at B again: cross that Ada had left him alone. The second part fits, because she did leave him. But nothing shows he was cross. Half right is still wrong.

Related

• The complete 11+ question-type guide
• English: Finding What the Passage Says — when the passage says it, find it
• English: The Writer's Choices — work out what a writer's words show
• English: Words in Context — find what a word means in this passage

All example questions come from the Brainblox question bank — practise this question type inside 25+ learning games, timed mock exams and focused practice. Brainblox is an independent app: not affiliated with, endorsed by or licensed by any exam board, school or assessment publisher, and it contains no past papers.