Inference
Advanced推論 = 線索 + 常識。
- Inference answers are never stated directly; build them from clues plus common sense.
- Every inference must be supported by the text — guessing alone earns nothing.
- A character's actions, like trembling or weeping, are strong clues to feelings.
文體小知識：Read between lines.
§Text Passage
1She stared at the envelope for a long time before she touched it. The paper was thick and cream-coloured, and the handwriting on it was shaky. Her hands trembled as she turned it over. She had checked the mailbox three times that morning, and each time she had found nothing. Now, at last, it was here.
2She slowly broke the seal with her thumb, afraid of tearing anything inside. Inside was a thin letter, no more than a single page. She unfolded it and began to read. Her eyes moved down the page once, then again. Tears began to roll down her cheeks, first one, then many. She did not try to wipe them away.
3She sat down heavily on the chair by the window. Outside, a bird sang in the mango tree, and a tram rattled along the street below. She did not hear it. In her hand, the letter shook like a leaf in the wind. On the table lay a photo of a young man in a school uniform, smiling at the camera. She read the letter a third time, then held it against her chest.
4Half an hour later, she reached for her phone. Her fingers paused over the screen. Then she typed a short message to a number she knew by heart. The message could not have been simpler: he was coming home in March. Before she sent it, she smiled and cried at the same time. The bird outside had stopped singing, but she did not notice that either.
§Sentence-by-sentence translation Sentence-by-sentence translation
She stared at the envelope for a long time before she touched it.
她望着那個信封，望了很久才伸手去碰。
The paper was thick and cream-coloured, and the handwriting on it was shaky.
信封紙又厚又是米白色，上面的字跡歪歪斜斜。
Her hands trembled as she turned it over.
她翻轉信封時，雙手一直發抖。
She had checked the mailbox three times that morning, and each time she had found nothing.
她那天早上已經檢查過信箱三次，每次都是空的。
Now, at last, it was here.
現在，它終於來了。
She slowly broke the seal with her thumb, afraid of tearing anything inside.
她用拇指慢慢撕開封口，生怕弄破裡面任何東西。
Inside was a thin letter, no more than a single page.
裡面是一封薄薄的信，只有一頁紙這麼多。
She unfolded it and began to read.
她打開那封信，開始讀。
Her eyes moved down the page once, then again.
她的目光由頭到尾掃了一次，又一次。
Tears began to roll down her cheeks, first one, then many.
眼淚開始沿着面頰流下來，起初只是一滴，接着越來越多。
She did not try to wipe them away.
她沒有試着抹走那些眼淚。
She sat down heavily on the chair by the window.
她重重地坐在窗邊那張椅子上。
Outside, a bird sang in the mango tree, and a tram rattled along the street below.
窗外，有隻小鳥在芒果樹上唱歌，下面街上有電車叮叮噹噹地駛過。
She did not hear it.
她完全聽不到。
In her hand, the letter shook like a leaf in the wind.
那封信在她手中顫抖着，好像風中的樹葉。
On the table lay a photo of a young man in a school uniform, smiling at the camera.
桌上放着一張相片，相裡面有個穿校服的年輕人，望着鏡頭笑。
She read the letter a third time, then held it against her chest.
她第三次讀那封信，然後將它攬在心口。
Half an hour later, she reached for her phone.
半小時之後，她伸手拿起手機。
Her fingers paused over the screen.
她的手指在螢幕上面停下來了。
Then she typed a short message to a number she knew by heart.
然後她打了一個短訊，給一個她背到滾瓜爛熟的號碼。
The message could not have been simpler: he was coming home in March.
短訊內容簡單到不得了：他三月會回來。
Before she sent it, she smiled and cried at the same time.
發送之前，她又哭又笑。
The bird outside had stopped singing, but she did not notice that either.
外面的小鳥已經停了唱歌，但她同樣沒有為意。
1Summary 重點摘要
推論 = 線索 + 常識。
2Vocabulary cards Vocabulary
Read between lines.
Suggest indirectly.
Hint.
Surrounding words.
Hint.
Take for granted.
Reasoning.
得出結論。
3Step by step Steps
- ClueCollect the details. Example: she checked the mailbox three times that morning, her hands trembled and she was afraid of tearing anything inside — every action is an emotional clue of a long wait.
- Common senseAdd life experience. Example: a photo of a young man in a school uniform lies on the table, and she holds the letter against her chest — common sense says this letter touches someone she loves.
- InferenceThe author hints but never states. Example: the passage never names the letter's contents, but the message he was coming home in March suggests the letter announces a son returning in March.
- CheckIs it supported by the text? Example: the inference that she is a mother rests on two pieces of evidence — the photo of the young man in uniform plus the message about March. Stack the evidence before you claim.
- Emotion cluesActions reveal feelings. Example: tears roll down her cheeks and she does not wipe them away, and at the end she smiled and cried at the same time — smiling through tears means relief.
- But-signalsWhat follows but or however is often the point. Example: The bird outside had stopped singing, but she did not notice — she is completely absorbed in the good news.
- Answer formatGive stance + evidence + reasonable explanation. Example: The letter probably brings news that her son is coming home, because she trembled with joy and her message says he was coming home in March.
5Worked example Example
The writer never says what the letter is. Use the clues to infer what the letter is about and how the woman is related to the young man in the photo.
- Step 1: Clue one — she checked the mailbox three times that morning and her hands trembled before she dared open the envelope; she had been waiting anxiously.
- Step 2: Clue two — she wept while reading and pressed the letter to her chest; a photo of a young man in a school uniform lies on the table.
- Step 3: Clue three — her message says simply that 'he was coming home in March'.
- Step 4: Clues plus common sense: she is most likely a mother waiting for news of her son away from home.
- Step 5: Check that every inference is supported by the text and nothing is over-read.
- Answer: The text never states what the letter is, but the clues are clear: she checked the mailbox three times, trembled before opening the envelope, wept as she read and pressed the letter to her chest. On the table lies a photo of a young man in a school uniform, and her message announces that 'he was coming home in March'. A reasonable inference is that she is the mother of a son who is away, and the letter, probably from him, says he will return in March — so she smiles and cries at the thought of their reunion. Every step is supported by the text.
6Common mistakes Mistakes
7Quick check Quick check
Q1What is inference?
Q2How?
Q3Imply?
Q4Need?
Q5Inference vs fact?
Q6Use of context?
Q7What is in the envelope?
Q8How does she feel?
Q9Why did her hands tremble?
8Recap Recap
- Inference answers are never stated directly; build them from clues plus common sense.
- Every inference must be supported by the text — guessing alone earns nothing.
- A character's actions, like trembling or weeping, are strong clues to feelings.
- What follows 'but' or 'however' is often the writer's real point.
- Keep inferences reasonable; over-reading is as wrong as having no evidence.