Read realistic fiction
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. Be sure to base your inferences on details in the story.
Learn with an example
Read the story.
The Accountant Breaks the Ice
‘Alexis will be here any minute, Mum!’ Mariela called, coming into the living room.
Mariela’s younger sister, Tina, stood on a chair, wearing a sparkly scarf and singing into a spatula. Tina stopped to ask, ‘Excited for your playdate?’
‘It’s not a playdate! It’s a friend visiting,’ Mariela said.
Mum came in and held out her hand to Tina. ‘May I have your microphone, please?’ she said, reaching for the spatula. ‘Mariela, I’m making brownies in case you and Alexis need to break the ice.’ Mum believed food had the power to make friendships grow.
‘Brownies mean it is a playdate!’ Tina cried.
Mariela took a deep breath and replied, ‘Alexis is a new friend I just met. She hasn’t had the chance to get to know us, so—’
‘Want me to help?’ Tina asked eagerly.
Mariela shuddered to imagine Tina shouting to Alexis, Me and Mariela love dressing up and playing ponies! Mariela told Tina, ‘Actually, it would be nice if you could be less silly. Maybe you could try to act more grown-up.’
The doorbell rang, and Mariela ran to greet Alexis. When Mariela took a step back to let Alexis in, she almost knocked Tina over.
‘Let’s go upstairs, Alexis,’ Mariela said quickly, scooting around Tina.
The girls sat in Mariela’s bedroom, and Mariela tried to think of things to talk about. They compared notes about secondary school, which didn’t take long. Then, they talked about films. Then, they sat in silence. Mariela thought of Tina and her friend Frankie. Those two had so much to talk about that they often spoke at the same time. A heaviness settled in Mariela’s chest.
Finally Mariela suggested, ‘I think my mum made brownies. Do you want some?’
‘Sure,’ Alexis said, rising quickly.
In the kitchen, Tina was sitting at the table with an old leather briefcase. She nodded at Alexis, turned back to the briefcase and snapped it closed. ‘Whew, that was a hard job,’ she said.
Mariela felt her face start to turn red as she grabbed two plates. Could she get Alexis safely back upstairs before Tina did something too silly?
Alexis was watching Tina. ‘You seem pretty busy,’ she told the younger girl.
‘I certainly am,’ Tina answered as she rattled the briefcase, which seemed to contain her marble collection. ‘I’m a count-it,’ Tina continued. ‘I count things for my work, you know, and it’s quite tiring, I must say.’ She sighed in a world-weary way and leaned back in her chair.
Alexis and Mariela met each other’s eyes. Alexis’s lips trembled as she held back a smile. ‘Does your mum work as an accountant?’ she asked Mariela softly.
Mariela nodded. Tina gave the briefcase another rattle. Alexis covered her mouth with her hand as Mariela grinned and led her upstairs with the brownies.
Sitting and giggling on the bedroom floor, Alexis reached for a brownie. She grinned at Mariela, saying, ‘Your sister is so funny! I love it! She reminds me of my little brother. You wouldn’t believe the absurd games he invents . . .’
Two hours flew by. When Alexis’s father arrived to pick her up, the girls made plans to meet the next weekend.
Afterwards, Mariela found Tina in the kitchen, sorting marbles. ‘So, how are the numbers looking, madam?’ Mariela asked. She nodded seriously as Tina explained.
Look at paragraphs 6 through 8 Why does Mariela tell Tina to act grown-up?
- She wants Alexis to think Tina is older than she actually is.
- She thinks that Tina needs to make more friends at school.
- She is worried that Alexis will think she and Tina are too babyish.
- She believes Tina needs to help their mother more at home.
In paragraph 6, Mariela explains that Alexis is a ‘new friend’ whom she doesn’t know well yet. This suggests that Mariela wants Alexis to like her.
In paragraph 8, Mariela worries that Tina will tell Alexis about the childish games they
enjoy.
She probably believes that Alexis does not like these games.
Mariela probably wants Tina to act grown-up so that she will not talk about childish things. So, you can guess that Mariela is worried that Alexis will think Tina and Mariela are too babyish.
Read the story.
Ari’s Answer
Briiiiing! Ari pressed the ‘off’ button on the alarm clock and rolled out of bed. It was five o’clock in the morning, time to take care of the cows. Ari pulled on a pair of shorts and hurried outside.
At the barn, his classmate Daya was yawning and rubbing her eyes. Ari took a deep breath, enjoying the smell of fresh hay. Daya shook her head at him and complained, ‘I don’t understand how you can smile so early in the morning.’
Ari just laughed and grabbed a bucket to feed the animals.
Ari couldn’t imagine life outside of his kibbutz, his farming community in rural Israel. Here he went to classes, did chores and shared meals with his neighbours. In the summers, he and his friends camped and fished in wild places around the kibbutz.
After milking the cows, Ari ate a quick breakfast in the community centre and then headed home to practise violin before school. He wanted to work on a difficult part of the music he’d be playing with the community band.
‘Ari, my boy,’ said a familiar voice behind him. He looked around to see Mr Elias, his music teacher, smiling. ‘I hear there may be some good news from the music school. You should be getting a letter soon.’
‘Morning, Mr Elias! Thanks for the heads-up!’
Ari had been playing the violin for four years. His parents were surprised at his interest because they thought their son only liked sports. But Ari practised violin every day. He had become such a fine player that Mr Elias said there was nothing more that he could teach Ari.
Last month, Mr Elias had taken Ari to audition for a music school in the city of Jerusalem, three hours away. The school was wonderful, and Ari had felt nervous playing for the teachers there. He didn’t know whether he had played well enough to get in. But even worse, if he did get in, he didn’t know what he’d do. Studying in Jerusalem would mean leaving home and living with his uncle in the city. How could he leave?
He remembered something his mother had said. ‘It’s your decision. Even if you get into the school, you don’t have to go,’ she had told him. ‘But you have a gift for music, and I’d love to see you use it.’ Ari hadn’t decided yet, because he’d figured he wouldn’t get in. But what did Mr Elias mean about good news?
Back at home, Ari tried to focus on his practicing. Over and over, he landed the high note in the difficult part. He closed his eyes, imagining himself performing this piece on a large stage. The notes soared, the crowd clapped and he bowed, soaking in the magic of the music.
Opening his eyes, he glanced out the window and spotted Daya walking to school, same as every day. Every day, everything is the same, he thought with a sigh. He remembered Mr Elias telling him, ‘The music school is where you belong.’
He opened the front door and almost ran into a man. It was a messenger holding a large envelope with Special Delivery stamped in red. Had the school accepted him? Ari’s heart leaped, and suddenly he knew what he wanted.
Look at paragraphs 2 through 4. How does Ari probably feel about his life on the kibbutz?
- Ari wishes he could sleep later in the morning.
- Ari is tired of taking care of the cows every day.
- Ari dislikes living so far away from the city.
- Ari feels very comfortable in this place.
In paragraph 2, Ari is smiling and enjoying himself. Paragraph 4 states that Ari ‘couldn’t imagine life outside of’ his community. This suggests that he feels at home there and is not looking for a change. It also states that Ari spends all of his time on the kibbutz, doing everything with other community members.
So, you can guess that Ari feels very comfortable on the kibbutz.
let’s practice!
Read the story.
Just Being There
Mark and Ivan sprinted down the street, racing each other from the school bus to Mark’s house. Both boys had tried out for their school’s football team, and the results were supposed to be posted promptly at three o’clock. Dropping their backpacks by the door, the boys dashed to Mark’s computer, where Mark logged on to the school website. The list was up! He scrolled down, located his name and pumped his fist. ‘Yes!’ he cried with glee.
Ivan, who’d been peering over Mark’s shoulder, didn’t respond, and Mark turned to face him. The hurt, confused expression on Ivan’s face caused Mark to spin back around. Scanning the list, line by line, he searched for Ivan’s name on the computer screen.
When he reached the end of the list, Mark felt like he’d been punched in the stomach. ‘This isn’t fair,’ he sputtered.
Ivan just shrugged.
‘Let’s go back to school and talk to Mr Montgomery,’ Mark insisted. ‘Or I know—ask your parents to set up a meeting with the headmistress. Maybe if Ms Sanchez understands how much you want it, she’ll make Mr Montgomery give you another chance.’
Shaking his head, Ivan shoved his hands in his pockets. ‘If I didn’t make it, I didn’t make it,’ he said gloomily.
Oh no, Mark thought. Is Ivan going to cry? Desperately, Mark changed his approach. ‘The school doesn’t know what it’s doing,’ he said fiercely, pacing back and forth. ‘They’ve never reached the championship, or even the playoffs!’
Ivan stared silently at the computer screen, and Mark suddenly noticed his desktop’s background was a photograph of the previous year’s World Cup football champions. Mark hurried to shut down his computer so Ivan wouldn’t have to look at it. Frustrated, Mark took a deep breath.
‘At least you get to sleep in on Saturdays, instead of waking up early for practice,’ he told Ivan. ‘Right?’
No answer. Mark wished he could cheer people up the way Ivan could.
Even back in kindergarten, Ivan had been an expert at it; in fact, that was how they’d become friends in the first place. The first day of kindergarten, Mark had been horribly homesick, and he’d started crying during break. It was so embarrassing! The other kids all attempted to comfort him, crowding around him and saying, ‘I’ll push your swing!’ ‘Want to hear a riddle?’ ‘Don’t cry!’ But the chaotic swirl of shouts only made Mark feel more upset and alone. Eventually, the other kids drifted away, and only Ivan remained. He plonked down beside Mark, gently offering to keep him company until he felt better. Ten minutes later, they were having a swinging competition.
Remembering it now, Mark felt peaceful. For several minutes, he stayed silent, and then he said, ‘This must feel really awful.’
Ivan finally turned away from the screen, looked at Mark and nodded. ‘Yeah. It does.’
Mark nodded. ‘We don’t have to talk to Mr Montgomery. We can just hang out until you feel better.’
The friends sat in comfortable silence for a while. Then Ivan took a deep breath, wiped his eyes with his sweatshirt sleeve and stood. ‘Let’s go play some basketball,’ he suggested. ‘I’ll probably feel better when I beat you.’ He grinned a little.
Mark stood, too. ‘You mean when I beat you,’ he replied. Ivan laughed, and they headed outside to the garage, where Mark grabbed the basketball. He flung it upwards.
‘Thanks,’ said Ivan, leaping to snatch the ball out of the air. He twirled it on his finger and glanced at Mark. ‘Seriously, thanks.’