What does it mean to make an inference?

Making an inference involves drawing a conclusion by piecing together clues or evidence found within the text. This process requires readers to go beyond just what is literally stated and consider the underlying meanings, implications, or connections provided by the author. For example, if a character is described as shivering and wearing a thin shirt, a reader can infer that it might be cold outside, even if the text doesn’t explicitly state the temperature. This ability to interpret hints allows readers to engage more deeply with the material and understand the themes and motivations within the story.

The other choices focus on practices that do not align with inference-making. Quoting directly limits understanding to the surface level of the text, summarizing the author's opinions encapsulates the author's perspective without interpreting deeper meanings, and stating personal opinions diverges from using textual evidence to derive conclusions.