Drawing conclusions in reading is best described as:

• A. Using prior knowledge to guess the ending
• B. Combining several pieces of information to make an inference
• C. Repeating text exactly as written
• D. Summarizing the main idea in one sentence

Answer: (B)

Drawing conclusions in reading means using clues from the text along with what you already know to figure out something the author doesn’t state directly. This is best described as combining several pieces of information to make an inference. You look for details, actions, and hints, and then connect them with your background knowledge to determine what’s likely true, what a character is thinking, or what a situation implies. For example, if a character avoids eye contact, mutters a hurried goodbye, and leaves quickly, you can infer they’re upset or hiding something—information not stated outright but supported by multiple clues. It’s not simply guessing how a story will end based on a single clue; it’s a reasoned conclusion drawn from multiple clues. It’s also different from repeating text word-for-word or from just summarizing the main idea in one sentence, which restates information rather than drawing a new meaning from evidence.