Inferential Questions — Definition

Definition

An inferential question asks for a conclusion supported by a passage even when that conclusion is not stated in the same words. The task is to connect the supplied claims without importing an extra fact.

An inference must be distinguished from a possible explanation: several explanations may fit an observation, while only a narrower conclusion is justified. If every inspected bridge required repair, the passage supports a statement about those bridges; it does not establish the condition of every bridge in the state.

Good inference preserves the author's limits on scope, certainty and causation.