Which term refers to the action of deducing meaning from clues in a text?

Which term refers to the action of deducing meaning from clues in a text?

• A. Modal Verbs
• B. Evaluative Lexis
• C. Imply
• D. Infer

Answer: (D)

Inferring meaning from clues in a text involves drawing a conclusion based on evidence and hints the author provides, along with your own background knowledge. That active process—taking what’s implied by the wording and piecing together what it suggests—best matches the term infer. If a reader says, “The sky grew dark, the street was slick, and people hurried indoors,” you infer that it’s raining. You’re not simply repeating what’s stated; you’re deriving information that isn’t stated outright from the clues given. Imply describes what the author does when they hint at something indirectly; the reader’s job is to infer. The other options don’t fit because modal verbs deal with possibility or necessity, and evaluative lexis refers to words that express judgments; neither captures the act of drawing conclusions from clues in a text.

Inferring meaning from clues in a text involves drawing a conclusion based on evidence and hints the author provides, along with your own background knowledge. That active process—taking what’s implied by the wording and piecing together what it suggests—best matches the term infer.

If a reader says, “The sky grew dark, the street was slick, and people hurried indoors,” you infer that it’s raining. You’re not simply repeating what’s stated; you’re deriving information that isn’t stated outright from the clues given.

Imply describes what the author does when they hint at something indirectly; the reader’s job is to infer. The other options don’t fit because modal verbs deal with possibility or necessity, and evaluative lexis refers to words that express judgments; neither captures the act of drawing conclusions from clues in a text.