Which statement best describes a well-supported inference?

Which statement best describes a well-supported inference?

• A. It is supported by evidence in the text.
• B. It relies on personal feelings alone.
• C. It ignores the text entirely.
• D. It contradicts the given data.

Answer: (A)

A well-supported inference is a conclusion that rests on evidence found in the text. An inference is what you determine based on clues the author provides plus what you already know about how the world works. For it to be well-supported, there needs to be specific textual evidence—facts, details, or direct statements—that point to that conclusion. If the text describes dark clouds, a damp breeze, and people carrying umbrellas, you can infer that rain is likely coming, and that conclusion is supported by those details. In contrast, making a guess from personal feelings alone isn’t reliable, because it isn’t anchored in what the text actually says. Ignoring the text or contradicting the given information likewise weakens the inference, since there’s no textual support for that conclusion. Look for sentences or details in the passage that directly justify the inference you make.

A well-supported inference is a conclusion that rests on evidence found in the text. An inference is what you determine based on clues the author provides plus what you already know about how the world works. For it to be well-supported, there needs to be specific textual evidence—facts, details, or direct statements—that point to that conclusion.

If the text describes dark clouds, a damp breeze, and people carrying umbrellas, you can infer that rain is likely coming, and that conclusion is supported by those details. In contrast, making a guess from personal feelings alone isn’t reliable, because it isn’t anchored in what the text actually says. Ignoring the text or contradicting the given information likewise weakens the inference, since there’s no textual support for that conclusion. Look for sentences or details in the passage that directly justify the inference you make.