Finding and interpreting explicit and implicit information
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Explicit information is stated directly in the text. You find it by reading carefully and selecting the exact detail the question asks for.
Read the question first, underline the key word (a person, a place, a feeling), then scan the stated lines or paragraph.
Quote or paraphrase accurately; do not add your own ideas for a retrieval question.
Stated or suggested?
Implicit information
Implicit information is suggested rather than stated. You work it out by inference: reading between the lines using clues in word choice, actions and description.
“Her hands trembled as she folded the letter” may suggest nerves or distress, but cold or another cause is also possible. Interpret the action in its surrounding context.
A good inference is supported by evidence: say what you think, then point to the words that make you think it.
A traveller and a station clock
Synthesis and paraphrase
Synthesis means bringing together information from different parts of one text, or from two texts, to form a new point (for example, how two characters differ).
Paraphrase means putting information in your own words while keeping the meaning. Do this for summary questions rather than copying whole sentences.
Exam technique
Use the line references. For "list four things", give four short, separate points from the stated lines.
Do not waste time on language analysis for a retrieval question; just find and write the facts.
Check that every inference has evidence and that you have not copied irrelevant text.
Words such as “may” or “suggests” can acknowledge uncertainty. Do not infer gender, diagnosis or a definite motive from details that do not establish them.
Slides
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1.What does 'explicit' mean?
Easy
Astated directly
Bhidden
Copposite
Dexaggerated
2.What does 'implicit' mean?
Easy
Astated clearly
Bfalse
Cunimportant
Dsuggested but not stated
3.Read: “The red car stopped outside.” Which question asks for information stated directly?
Easy
AWhat might the weather suggest about the mood?
BWhy do you think she lied?
CWhat colour was the car?
DHow does the writer make you feel sympathy?
4.Which question asks you to infer?
Easy
AHow many children were there?
BWhat does her silence suggest about how she feels?
CWhat time did the train leave?
DWho owned the shop?
5.What is an inference?
Easy
Aa conclusion based on clues in the text
Ba direct quotation
Ca spelling mistake
Da summary of the whole text
6."He checked his watch for the fifth time in ten minutes." What does this suggest?
Easy
Ahe is bored of watches
Bhe is very happy
Che is asleep
Dhe is impatient or anxious
7."The classroom fell silent when the head teacher entered." What can you infer?
Easy
Athe head is a pupil
Bthe room is empty
Cthe pupils respect or fear the head
Dthe pupils like the head
8."Tom's smile never reached his eyes." What does this imply?
Easy
ATom is laughing
Bthe smile is not genuine
CTom is delighted
DTom cannot see
More questions
9."She zipped her coat to the chin and pulled down her hat." What is the most likely setting?
Easy
Acold outdoor weather
Ba hot indoor kitchen
Ca heated indoor swimming pool
Da warm indoor classroom
10.When asked to 'list four things', you should:
Easy
Awrite one long paragraph
Banalyse language
Cwrite your own story
Dgive four separate, short points from the text
11.When answering an inference question, you should:
Easy
Aonly give your opinion
Bignore the text
Cgive a point and support it with evidence
Donly copy the text
12.What does 'paraphrase' mean?
Easy
Acriticise
Bput in your own words
Ccopy exactly
Dmake longer
13.Which is a better inference about the narrator? "I left the lights on all night and checked every window."
Medium
Athe narrator may feel frightened
Bhe is wasteful
Che is a security guard
Dhe is tidy
14.Choose the best inference. "The flat smelt of damp and the curtains were drawn at midday."
Medium
Athe flat is brand new
Bthe occupant is on holiday
Cthe weather is glorious
Dthe description creates a damp, dark interior
15.“Aisha pushed the food around her plate. She had read the same message three times without replying.” Which inference is best supported?
Medium
Ashe is very hungry
Bshe loves the food
Cshe may be preoccupied or troubled by the message
Dshe is delighted
16.Source: “The shopkeeper watched the stranger’s hands and moved the cash box out of sight.” Which response is an inference rather than a directly stated action?
Medium
AThe cash box was moved out of sight.
BThe shopkeeper may be suspicious of the stranger.
CThe shopkeeper watched the stranger’s hands.
DThe shopkeeper moved the cash box.
17.In a synthesis question about two texts, you should:
Medium
Abring together points from both texts
Bonly use one text
Ccopy the first paragraph
Dwrite about your own ideas
18.'Summarise the differences between...' means you should:
Medium
Acopy long quotations
Bdescribe every detail
Cgive your opinion
Dwrite the key differences in your own words
19.Why should you use short quotations as evidence?
Medium
Athe examiner prefers long ones
Bthey are decorative
Cthey are precise and quick to analyse
Dthey fill space
20."The old man gripped the railing, though the steps were clear and dry." What does 'though the steps were clear and dry' suggest?
Medium
Ahe is in a hurry
Bhe is unsteady or fearful
Che is a bully
Dthe steps are slippery
21.In 'The letter lay unopened on the table for three days,' what is implied?
Medium
Asomeone may be reluctant to open it
Bshe is too busy
Cthe letter is blank
Dit is a bill
22.Which response best answers 'What does the writer suggest about the village?': "The village was a cluster of shuttered windows and silent chimneys."
Medium
Ait is busy
Bit is modern
Cit has many shops
Dit seems abandoned or lifeless, shown by 'shuttered' and 'silent'
23.Which is the strongest evidence for 'the narrator feels excluded'?
Medium
A'The laughter was loud.'
B'It was a party.'
C'Everyone laughed and I stood by the door, unnoticed.'
D'The door was blue.'
24.A student answers an inference question with 'He is angry' and no evidence. What is missing?
Medium
Aa conclusion about the author
Brelevant textual evidence linked to the inference
Ca longer introduction
Dmore adjectives
25.A retrieval question has line references. What should you do?
Easy
Aselect the answer from the stated lines
Bread the whole text
Cguess
Dskip it
26.Which phrase shows you are making an inference?
Easy
A'The text says...' only
B'In my opinion the book is boring'
C'The page number is...'
D'This suggests that...'
27.Which verb is best for an inference?
Medium
Ahas
Bis
Cimplies
Dsays
28.What do you do first with any question?
Easy
Acopy the text
Bread the question and underline key words
Cwrite immediately
Dskip the text
29.Explicit information is stated directly in the text.
Easy
True or false?
30.An inference needs evidence from the text.
Easy
True or false?
31.In a retrieval question you should add your own opinion.
Easy
True or false?
32.'Summarise' means copy sections of the text word for word.
Easy
True or false?
33.An implicit idea is always stated in the first paragraph.
Medium
True or false?
34.Which are explicit details in 'Maya, wearing her grandfather's coat, waited at the cold station'?
Medium
AMaya waited at the station
BShe wore her grandfather's coat
CThe station was cold
DMaya felt lonely
EMaya missed her grandfather
35.Which are good ways to support an inference?
Medium
Aquote a key word or phrase
Bexplain what it suggests
Ccopy the whole paragraph
Dlink the evidence to the inference
Eignore the text
36.Read: "Dev stood at the gate, his bag already packed, watching the lights go out one by one in the house he had grown up in." What can you infer about how Dev feels? Support your answer with evidence.
Medium
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