Grade 8 Making Inferences Worksheets 2024 - Free Printable

Problem: Making Inferences about the Volcano Scenario

The worksheet asks you to make inferences based on the provided story about explorers hiking up a volcano and experiencing an eruption. Below are the questions and their solutions with explanations.

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#### Question 1: How do you think the explorers felt when they noticed the volcano erupting?

Answer:
The explorers likely felt fear, panic, and urgency when they noticed the volcano erupting.

Explanation:
- The text states that the ground started trembling powerfully, which is a clear sign of volcanic activity.
- The explorers screamed, "RUN!" This indicates a sense of immediate danger and the need to escape quickly.
- They describe the eruption as a "dark grey cloud spewing from above," with ash and rocks falling around them, and the heat of lava behind them. These details suggest a life-threatening situation, causing fear and urgency.
- Their actions—sprinting down the volcano and rushing into the helicopter—show desperation and a strong desire to survive.

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#### Question 2: Why do you think beads of sweat were dripping down their bodies?

Answer:
The explorers were sweating because they were exerting physical effort while hiking up the volcano, and the environment was likely hot and humid.

Explanation:
- The text mentions that the explorers were hiking to the highest ridge of the volcano. Hiking uphill requires significant physical exertion, which causes sweating.
- Volcanic environments are often warm or hot due to the geological activity beneath the surface. The heat could have contributed to the sweating.
- The fact that they were collecting samples for research suggests they were working hard, which would also lead to sweating.

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#### Question 3: How do you think the explorers initially arrived at the volcano?

Answer:
The explorers likely arrived at the volcano by helicopter, as indicated by the mention of a helicopter in the story.

Explanation:
- The text explicitly states that the explorers sprinted down the volcano and then "up, up, up into the air they went" to reach the helicopter. This implies that the helicopter was used to transport them back to safety.
- Given the remote and potentially inaccessible location of a volcano, helicopters are commonly used for such expeditions, especially for scientists or researchers who need to access difficult terrain.

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Final Answers:

1. How do you think the explorers felt when they noticed the volcano erupting?
- Answer: Fear, panic, and urgency.
- Inference Explanation: Their screams ("RUN!") and desperate actions (sprinting down the volcano) indicate these emotions.

2. Why do you think beads of sweat were dripping down their bodies?
- Answer: Physical exertion from hiking and the hot, humid environment of the volcano.
- Inference Explanation: Hiking uphill and the natural heat of a volcanic area would cause sweating.

3. How do you think the explorers initially arrived at the volcano?
- Answer: By helicopter.
- Inference Explanation: The presence of a helicopter in the story and the difficulty of accessing a volcano suggest this mode of transportation.

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Final Boxed Answers:

1. Fear, panic, and urgency.
- Inference Explanation: Their screams and desperate actions indicate these emotions.
2. Physical exertion from hiking and the hot, humid environment of the volcano.
- Inference Explanation: Hiking uphill and the natural heat of a volcanic area would cause sweating.
3. By helicopter.
- Inference Explanation: The presence of a helicopter in the story and the difficulty of accessing a volcano suggest this mode of transportation.

Final Answer:
\boxed{
\begin{array}{l}
1. \text{Fear, panic, and urgency.} \\
2. \text{Physical exertion from hiking and the hot, humid environment of the volcano.} \\
3. \text{By helicopter.}
\end{array}
}