Inference is defined as:

• A. A guess based on personal opinion.
• B. A description of what something looks like.
• C. A conclusion drawn from evidence and reasoning.
• D. A note to remind the reader.

Answer: (C)

Inference means drawing a conclusion from clues and reasoning you find in the text or situation. It relies on evidence plus what you already know to go beyond what is directly stated. It isn’t just a guess based on personal opinion, and it isn’t simply describing what something looks like (that would be an observation). It also isn’t a reminder note.

For example, if a story describes dark clouds, a chilly breeze, and a street that’s slick from rain, you can infer that it has started to rain or will rain soon, even if the author doesn’t say the rain explicitly. This shows using clues plus your knowledge to arrive at a reasonable conclusion.