Read science fiction with illustrations
Key notes:-
Sometimes authors don’t explain everything that you need to know in a story. So, you may need to make guesses, or inferences, about what happens and why. Making inferences will help you understand the whole story, even the things that the author doesn’t say openly.
Learn with an example
🔥Read the first part of the story.
Just Hats
Gil flopped into an office chair. ‘I can’t believe we’re here on a Saturday!’ he groaned.
Gil and Lacey were spending the afternoon at Mum’s new workplace, Just Hats. ‘Don’t worry,’ Mum said. ‘We won’t be here long. I’m just finishing up an important project. You’re not going to believe this: I’m designing these new hats that—’
Lacey rolled her eyes and opened her book. Gil slid onto the floor, pretending to fall asleep.
Mum sighed. ‘Look, not everyone can repair time machines like Uncle Rob or create alien walkie-talkies like Jen’s mum. But my job is still pretty cool. These hats aren’t just hats. They—’
‘Mum, I know you’re excited about your new job,’ Lacey interrupted, looking up from her book. ‘It’s just that hats are, well, sort of . . .’
‘Boring,’ Gil said.
Mum shrugged. ‘Sometimes things are the opposite of what they seem.’
🔥What is Mum likely trying to tell Gil and Lacey?
- Her job actually has nothing to do with hats.
- She doesn’t like working as a hat designer.
- Hats are more exciting than time machines.
- The hats she designs are not ordinary.
Think about these details from the story:
- Mum thinks that Gil and Lacey will be surprised by the hats she is designing.
- Mum says the hats aren’t ‘just hats.’
- When Gil says that hats are boring, Mum replies that sometimes things are the opposite of what they seem.
The opposite of boring is exciting, so if Mum’s hats are the opposite of what they seem, there is probably something exciting about them. Since she says that they aren’t ‘just’ hats, there is probably something more to them.
So, you can guess that Mum is trying to tell Gil and Lacey that the hats she designs are not ordinary.
🔥Read the first part of the story.
Secrets of the Astro–Swamp
Once again, nothing had grown in the greenhouse. Shane hurried through his chores, refilling planters and sweeping the floor. Then he zipped up his spacesuit and left for the astro-swamp, his secret place on planet Prolifico. As he walked, he kicked up the sparkling soil.
Dad had once believed this soil would grow fruits and vegetables five times faster than the soil on Earth. Full of excitement, he’d moved to Prolifico with Shane, built a greenhouse and run hundreds of tests. For months now, Dad had raced eagerly to the greenhouse each morning, only to find pots of glittering, plantless soil. In the past week, Dad had started talking about returning to Earth.
When they’d first arrived, Dad had given Shane seeds to run his own experiments. A few days ago, Shane had dumped them into the astro-swamp. He wasn’t interested in experiments anymore. What was the point? Nothing from Earth grew here.
🔥Why has Shane’s dad started talking about returning to Earth?
- He wants to share the results of his work with other scientists.
- He knows that Shane misses his friends back on Earth.
- He wants to return to Earth to share the food he has grown.
- He believes that his plant experiment on Prolifico is failing.
Think about these details from the story:
- Shane’s dad used to be excited about his experiments.
- For months, he has tried to grow plants, without any success.
- More recently, he has started to talk about returning home to Earth.
Returning to Earth would mean giving up on the experiment to grow plants on Prolifico. People sometimes need to give up on a large project or idea if it turns out that it doesn’t work.
So, you can guess that Shane’s dad has started talking about returning to Earth because he believes that his plant experiment on Prolifico is failing.
Read the first part of the story.
Android Asteroids
Android Asteroids was supposed to be the coolest video game ever.
For days, my friend Yasmin had been begging me to play. But the weather was warm and sunny, and the air was filled with the smell of sea salt. I kept suggesting that we explore the beach or go biking instead. Then, one day, I finally gave in.
‘Isn’t this awesome, Mila?’ Yasmin asked, her voice echoing in my headset. We were standing on a rocky asteroid inside the game world, surrounded by dark, starry skies. Yasmin was talking with a tall, shiny android named Barnaby.
‘Yeah!’ I said, trying to sound excited, even though I thought it was silly to be talking to some human-like robot thing that wasn’t even real. ‘So . . . how do we travel to the next asteroid?’
Yasmin didn’t answer. I turned to where her character had been standing, but she was gone. ‘Um . . . Yasmin?’
What is most likely the reason that Mila keeps suggesting outdoor activities instead of playing Android Asteroids with Yasmin?
- Mila thinks that Yasmin’s video game might be dangerous.
- Mila would rather spend time playing with her own robot.
- Mila doesn’t like playing video games as much as Yasmin.
- Mila prefers to do activities alone instead of with friends.
Think about these details from the story:
- For days, Mila suggests other activities instead of playing Android Asteroids.
- When the girls finally play the game, Mila tries to make herself sound excited.
- Mila finds it silly when Yasmin talks to a character in the video game.
When people find an activity silly, or only pretend to be excited about it, it usually means they don’t enjoy the activity very much.
So, you can guess that Mila doesn’t like playing video games as much as Yasmin.
let’s practice!
Read the first part of the story.
Secrets of the Astro-Swamp
Once again, nothing had grown in the greenhouse. Shane hurried through his chores, refilling planters and sweeping the floor. Then he zipped up his spacesuit and left for the astro-swamp, his secret place on planet Prolifico. As he walked, he kicked up the sparkling soil.
Dad had once believed this soil would grow fruits and vegetables five times faster than the soil on Earth. Full of excitement, he’d moved to Prolifico with Shane, built a greenhouse and run hundreds of tests. For months now, Dad had raced eagerly to the greenhouse each morning, only to find pots of glittering, plantless soil. In the past week, Dad had started talking about returning to Earth.
When they’d first arrived, Dad had given Shane seeds to run his own experiments. A few days ago, Shane had dumped them into the astro-swamp. He wasn’t interested in experiments anymore. What was the point? Nothing from Earth grew here.