Inferences Worksheet 7 | Reading Activity - Free Printable

Inferences Worksheet 7 – Answers and Explanations

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1. Why is Karen in a hurry?
Answer: Karen is in a hurry because she is trying to catch her flight to JFK.

How do you know this?
The text says, *"She glanced at the clock on the console and darted into the parking lot."* This shows she’s checking the time and rushing. Then, *"Just as she entered the terminal, she heard an announcement over the loudspeaker, 'Final boarding call for flight 205 to JFK...'"* This indicates that her flight is about to close boarding, so she must be late or very close to missing it.

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2. Why does she start walking slowly at the end of the passage?
Answer: She starts walking slowly because she realizes she will miss her flight due to the long security line.

How do you know this?
The text says, *"Karen looked at her ticket and then at the line to get through the security checkpoint, which wrapped around several turnstiles and slithered like a lethargic snake."* The description of the line as "slithering like a lethargic snake" suggests it's extremely long and slow-moving. After seeing this, she *sighed* and walked slowly — indicating disappointment and acceptance that she can’t make it on time.

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3. What is Karen going to do at the customer service desk?
Answer: Karen is likely going to ask for help with her missed flight, such as rebooking or getting a refund.

How do you know this?
After realizing she can't make it to the plane in time (due to the long line), she walks slowly to the customer service desk. This is where people go when they miss flights to change plans. Her sigh and slow walk suggest resignation, implying she knows she’ll need assistance from airline staff.

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4. Why is Brenda moving so slowly?
Answer: Brenda is moving slowly because she is sick.

How do you know this?
The text says, *"She blew her nose with a thunderous force,"* *"It was still clogged,"* *"she got a head rush that almost knocked her back down,"* and *"all of her muscles ached."* These details clearly show she is unwell, physically weak, and struggling to move. The word "tottered" also means to stagger or move unsteadily, further supporting that she is ill.

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5. What is Brenda going to talk about with the manager?
Answer: Brenda is going to tell the manager that she cannot come to work because she is too sick.

How do you know this?
She calls her workplace, "Happy Fun Land," and says, *"Yeah, well, actually, I need to talk to the manager."* Given that she is visibly ill — sneezing, having a clogged nose, muscle aches, dizziness — and is calling in from home, it’s logical to infer she needs to inform her employer that she is unable to work. Her tone ("grunted") and the fact that she doesn’t say she’ll be there reinforce this inference.

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✔ Summary of Inference Skills Used:
- Context clues: Using descriptions of actions and physical states to understand characters’ situations.
- Cause and effect: Linking symptoms (e.g., clogged nose, dizziness) to illness.
- Character motivation: Understanding why someone acts a certain way based on their circumstances.
- Textual evidence: Always citing specific phrases from the passage to support answers.

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