Which is an inferential question about a text?

• A. A question whose answer is stated directly.
• B. A question whose answer is not stated directly but can be concluded from evidence in the text.
• C. A question requiring math calculation.
• D. A question based on personal opinion.

Answer: (B)

Inferential questions require you to read between the lines and use clues in the text to reach a conclusion that isn’t stated outright. The best choice describes an answer that isn’t directly stated but can be concluded from evidence in the text. This is about drawing meaning from hints, implications, and reasoning grounded in what the text shows.

For example, if a story describes a character shivering, pulling their coat tighter, and stepping back from a draft, you can infer that the setting is cold even if the author doesn’t explicitly say, “it is cold.” That kind of deduction relies on evidence within the text.

What you’re not doing with inferential questions is pulling answers from facts that are stated directly, performing a math calculation, or sharing a personal opinion. Those situations involve retrieving stated facts, doing arithmetic, or expressing a viewpoint, respectively.