Year 9 English — Reading between the lines
Work out what a passage implies but does not state outright.
Name: ________________________
1.Read: "By the time the bell rang, only three answers were filled in. Ria kept glancing at the clock." What can you infer?
- a) Ria has run out of time.
- b) The clock was broken.
- c) Ria finished early.
- d) Ria was not in the examination hall.
2.Passage: "Ravi arrived with mud to his knees and a broken bat." Which of these is an inference rather than a stated fact?
- a) Ravi had been playing cricket on a wet field.
- b) Ravi's bat was broken.
- c) There was mud on Ravi's legs.
- d) Ravi arrived.
3.Passage: "Rain drummed on the tin roof. Kavi put down his book, fetched a bucket and placed it under the wet patch on the ceiling." Sort each statement.
Groups: Stated in the passage · Inferred from the passage
- It is raining.
- There is a wet patch on the ceiling.
- The roof is leaking.
- Kavi did not want water on the floor.
4.Read: "Every wall of the small room was covered with certificates and medals." What can you infer about the person who lives there?
- a) They have won many awards.
- b) They dislike sport.
- c) They collect stamps.
- d) They have just moved in.
5.Read: "Nobody answered the bell, and three days of newspapers lay on the step." What is the most likely explanation?
- a) Somebody is at home but asleep.
- b) Nobody has been home for days.
- c) The newspapers arrived this morning.
- d) The bell is broken.
6.Read: "Ammu looked at the empty chair beside her, where her sister always sat, and said nothing for the rest of the journey." What can you infer?
- a) She is angry with the driver.
- b) She is missing her sister.
- c) She has fallen asleep.
- d) She is excited about the trip.
7.Read: "The tickets were sold out within an hour of going on sale." What can you infer?
- a) The event was unpopular.
- b) The event was cancelled.
- c) The event was in great demand.
- d) The tickets were expensive.
8.Read: "She wiped her eyes quickly and turned to the window before anyone could see." Write one word for what she was hiding.
Answer key — Year 9 English — Reading between the lines
- 1. a) Ria has run out of time.
- 2. a) Ravi had been playing cricket on a wet field.
- 3. It is raining. → Stated in the passage; There is a wet patch on the ceiling. → Stated in the passage; The roof is leaking. → Inferred from the passage; Kavi did not want water on the floor. → Inferred from the passage
- 4. a) They have won many awards.
- 5. b) Nobody has been home for days.
- 6. b) She is missing her sister.
- 7. c) The event was in great demand.
- 8.
- tears
- crying
- sadness