Which statement best describes how inference is tested in reading?

• A. What can be implied from clues in the text but not stated outright?
• B. What is explicitly stated in a paragraph?
• C. What is the author's birthplace?
• D. What is the publication year?

Answer: (A)

Inference in reading is about understanding meaning that isn’t stated outright by using clues from the text. It means you piece together hints from descriptions, actions, dialogue, and tone to arrive at a conclusion the author doesn’t spell out directly. So the best statement is about what can be implied from clues in the text but not stated outright, because that captures the skill of drawing a conclusion from context rather than just repeating explicit facts. For example, you can infer a character’s mood from how they behave or from the atmosphere of a scene, even if the exact feeling isn’t written word-for-word. In contrast, details that are explicitly stated—things the text says plainly—are about literal understanding, not inference. Facts like an author’s birthplace or the publication year rely on outside information or explicit statements, not on reading between the lines.