How to Make an Inference in 5 Easy Steps

How to Make an Inference in 5 Easy Steps We all have to take those standardized tests where youre presented with a large passage of text and must work your way through the multiple-choice problems that follow. Most of the time, youll get questions asking you to find the main idea, determine the authors purpose, understand vocabulary in context, figure out the authors tone, and, the topic at hand, make inferences. For many people, understanding how to make an inference is the toughest part of the reading passage, because an inference in real life requires a bit of guessing. On a multiple-choice test, however, making an inference comes down to honing a few reading skills like these listed below. Read them, then practice your new skills with the inference practice problems listed below. What exactly is an inference? Step 1: Identify an Inference Question First, youll need to determine whether or not youre actually being asked to make an inference on a reading test. The most obvious questions will have the words suggest, imply or infer right in the tag like these: According to the passage, we can reasonably infer...Based on the passage, it could be suggested that...Which of the following statements is best supported by the passage?The passage suggests that this primary problem...The author seems to imply that†¦ Some questions, however, will not come right out and ask you to infer. Youll have to actually infer that you need to make an inference about the passage. Sneaky, huh? Here are a few that require inferencing skills, but dont use those words exactly. With which of the following statements would the author most likely agree?Which of the following sentences would the author most likely use to add additional support to paragraph three? Step 2: Trust the Passage Now that youre certain you have an inference question on your hands, and you know exactly what an inference is, youll need to let go of your prejudices and prior knowledge and use the passage to prove that the inference you select is the correct one. Inferences on a multiple-choice exam are different from those in real life. Out in the real world, if you make an educated guess, your inference could still be incorrect. But on a multiple-choice exam, your inference will be correct because youll use the details in the passage to prove it. You have to trust that the passage offers you the truth in the setting of the test and that one of the answer choices provided is correct without stepping too far outside the realm of the passage. Step 3: Hunt for Clues Your third step is to start hunting for clues – supporting details, vocabulary, characters actions, descriptions, dialogue, and more – to prove one of the inferences listed below the question. Take this question and text, for example: Reading Passage: The widow Elsa was as complete a contrast to her third bridegroom, in everything but age, as can be conceived. Compelled to relinquish her first marriage after her husband died in the war, she married a man twice her years to whom she became an exemplary wife despite their having nothing in common, and by whose death she was left in possession of a splendid fortune, though she gave it away to the church. Next, a southern gentleman, considerably younger than herself, succeeded to her hand, and carried her to Charleston, where, after many uncomfortable years, she found herself again a widow. It would have been remarkable if any feeling had survived through such a life as Elsas; it could not but be crushed and killed by the early disappointment of her first grooms demise, the icy duty of her second marriage, and the unkindness of her third husband, which had inevitably driven her to connect the idea of his death with that of her comfort. Based on the information in the passage, it could be suggested that the narrator believes Elsas prior marriages to be:A. uncomfortable, but well-suited to ElsaB. satisfactory and dull to ElsaC. cold and damaging to ElsaD. awful, but worth it to Elsa To find clues that point to the correct answer, look for descriptions that would support those first adjectives in the answer choices. Here are some of the descriptions of her marriages in the passage: †¦she became an exemplary wife despite their having nothing in common†¦Ã¢â‚¬ ¦after many uncomfortable years, she found herself again a widow.†¦the icy duty of her second marriage and the unkindness of her third husband which had inevitably driven her to connect the idea of his death with that of her comfort. Step 4: Narrow Down the Choices The last step to making a correct inference on a multiple-choice test is to narrow down the answer choices. Using the clues from the passage, we can infer that nothing much was satisfactory to Elsa about her marriages, which gets rid of Choice B. Choice A is also incorrect because although the marriages certainly seem uncomfortable based on the clues, they were not well-suited to her as she had nothing in common with her second husband and wanted her third husband to die. Choice D is also incorrect because nothing is stated or implied in the passage to prove that Elsa believed her marriages to be worth it in some way; in fact, we can infer that it wasnt worth it to her at all because she gave away the money from her second husband. So, we have to believe that Choice C is the best – the marriages were cold and damaging. The passage states explicitly that her marriage was an icy duty and her third husband was unkind. We also know that they were damaging because her feelings had been crushed and killed by her marriages. Step 5: Practice To get really good at making inferences, youll need to practice making your own inferences first, so start with these free inference practice worksheets.

Finance slp 02 pc quote web Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words

Finance slp 02 pc quote web - Essay Example As Wal Mart has a beta coefficient of 0.1467 it implies that the stock generally follows market movements. It also shows the relatively less risk it carries relative to the market (Levinson 2006). However, recognizing the theory of risk and return, the gains in investing in Wal Mart’s stocks is proportional to the risk involved in holding the stock. Since the stock generally carries less risk than the entire market, it also gains less relative to it. When investors put their fund in stocks, they expect to have financial gain from it. The cost of equity is the return that stockholders require for a specific stock that they hold. Using the Capital Asset Pricing Model, Wal Mart’s cost of equity can be computed as: Using the yield to maturity of US bonds maturing in one year (4.5%) as the risk free rate and the difference between the return of the market and risk free rate as 6.5%, the cost of equity of Wal Mart is 5.45% computed as ( 4.5% + 0.1467 (6.5%)). Two other stocks in my portfolio are Nike and Fed Ex which have beta coefficients of 0.8244 and 0.8418. When taken altogether, the average beta coefficient of my portfolio is 0.6043 ((0.8244 + 0.8418 + 0.1467)/3). Using the assumption above, the cost of equity is 8.42% (4.5% + (0.6043) (6.5%). Looking at the beta of the chosen business organizations, it becomes apparent that it can still be diversified. All of the beta coefficients are positive and less than one which means that they are carry less risk and are generally less volatile than the market (Keown et al 2005). I can try to further diversify the portfolio by getting a stock whose beta coefficient is more than 1 in order to shoulder more risk which in turn generates more returns (Keown et al 2005) . It will also be logical to carry a stock whose performance is negatively correlated to the market. This stock will have a negative beta

Business Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 35

Business - Essay Example The success of Apple Inc. is characterized by innovativeness, acquisitions, and product diversification. Apple Inc. is a company that has grown to a multinational with a great reputation across the world. In its path, innovation strategies, product diversification, and acquisitions have contributed greatly to its success. Apple Inc stands on the philosophy of â€Å"think different† which means the company is focused on innovation (Apple Inc, 2014). Apple has been consistent in the development of its products; they have embraced changes in several occasions hence developing products that have hit the market by storm. Another strategy the company has adopted is diversification. When the company was started, its sole mandate was to develop and sell personal computers. However, over time the company has diversified shifting from this role to that of developing and selling consumer electronics such as mobile gadgets, televisions, and iPods among others. The strategy utilized by Apple Inc is the differentiation strategy. Apple Inc. has developed various mechanisms to have a superior brand that differentiates itself from the competitors. The company’s innovativeness, leadership, and ability to embrace diversification of products characterize these strategies. In the electronic industry, Apple Inc. has created a respectable brand that people have confidence with. It has attracted technology enthusiasts and those in need of certain aspects in electronics. Creating an impressive brand promotes customers’ loyalty and presents psychological benefits to them. By remaining innovative and establishing new products that are unique from those of the competitors, the company is able to foster customer retention and hence brand loyalty. Various information systems are likely to give the company a competitive advantage over the rest. Such include the ability to use the social media platforms to market and create product awareness.

Martin Luther Kings Religous Beliefs Essay Example for Free

Martin Luther Kings Religous Beliefs Essay Martin Luther King lived from 1929 to1968 in America, there was much discrimination against black people. Even though slavery had been abolished in 1869, most black people still lived in poverty. Black people earned half the amount white people earned and many could not vote. Martin Luther King was Black American Christian who believed that god made everyone equal. Because of his Christian beliefs he worked towards equal rights through non-violent protests; his beliefs being that there was never an excuse for violence as that doesn`t express the love of god just hatred. King followed in his father and grandfathers footsteps by becoming a pastor in 1954 in a Baptist church in Montgomery. Following Rosas Parks protest through refusing to move from her seat on the bus to give it to a white person, he became involved in the civil rights movement. Mixing the Christian idea of perfect love (Agape) with St. Thomas Aquinas` philosophy that an unjust law in the eyes of God is immoral, and therefore, not a law. King said in his letter from Birmingham Jail that, â€Å"an individual who breaks a law that conscience tells him is unjust and who willingly accepts the penalty of imprisonment in order to arouse the conscience of the community over its injustice, is in reality expressing the highest respect for the law. † Furthermore his campaign of nonviolent protest and civil disobedience began to take shape. After Rosa Parks was arrested for refusing to move from her seat to allow a white person to sit down, King decided it was time to start acting and after calling a meeting, where it was decided for all black people to stop using the buses. This was called a bus boycott. After 381 days with buses being virtually empty (costing the company lots of money), the government passed a law to state that it was illegal to segregate black people from white people on the buses. This was a victory for King and his beliefs in non-violent direct action. King believed that the Good Samaritan parable was a prime example of how we should treat each other equally. In the parable a Jew is beaten, mugged and left for dead. A priest, a Levite both cross to the other side of the road when the see him. However when a Samaritan sees him he helps him and pays for accommodation and care for him despite Jews and Samaritans despising each other. This parable showed you should love each other as neighbours despite religion or race. King demonstrated how you should stick up for your dreams, follow your beliefs and how violence isn`t needed to achieve your goal. His work made life in America better for everybody, his message to black and white people caused them to think and change the way things were being done.

Comparing Beloved and Night Essay -- comparison compare contrast essay

Comparing Beloved and Night  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The two novels I am writing about are "Night" by Elie Wiesel and "Beloved," by Toni Morrison.   Beloved tells about slavery and an ex-slave mother's struggle with a past which is projected as the haunting of her people.   It tells the story of Sethe, a mother compelled to kill her child, rather than let the child live a life of slavery.   Toni Morrison uses ghosts and the supernatural to create an enhanced acceptance of the human condition and the struggled survival of the Black American.  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   The novel is set in Ohio in the 1880's.   The Civil War had been won, slavery had been abolished, however, the memories of slavery still remain.   Although the story itself is fictional, the novel is based on   real events.  Ã‚   The events are based on the trial in Cincinnati of Margaret Garner, who with her husband, and seventeen other slaves (Kentuckian) crossed the Ohio where they supposedly found safe shelter.     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   When it was discovered that they had been pursued and surrounded, and her husband overpowered, Margaret knew that any hope of freedom was   in vain.   She refused to see her children taken back into slavery.   Without delay, Margaret quickly took hold of a butcher's knife which was laid on a table and cut the throat of her young daughter.   She then attempted to kill her other children as well, then herself, but she was overpowered and held back before she could follow through.   She was arrested and put on trial on the grounds that the child she killed was the legal property of the owner.  Ã‚  Ã‚     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   In Beloved, when a new proprietor takes over Sweet Home (the slave farm), Sethe, escapes the brutal beatings she now endures in an attempt to go from Kentucky to Ohio.   When the pr... ...took   part in the holocaust had no other choice.   They had families to take care of and home lives just like the rest of   us.   For example, I believe that many of the soldiers who took part in the Holocaust were forced through military responsibility or face   treason or death.   These soldiers have   to live with themselves knowing they killed millions of innocent people.   When an order is given, an order must be carried out.   Many soldiers had no choice, but to kill, or be killed.     Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   We are all human beings.   We all have feelings, and families whom we love.   Sometimes the force behind the brutality is too powerful to disobey, and people (soldiers, the white man, the Americans and Hiroshima, etc., etc.) have no choice but to obey,   or face the consequences.   In the military you don't question an order; you just do it (as in Othello and Billy Budd).        

The Count of Monte Cristo and King Lear

It is man’s path to struggle with his destiny and writers have long written about such a battle in a man’s inner soul. In the works of Alexandre Dumas and William Shakespeare such a battle is best described in their comparable works, â€Å"The Count of Monte Cristo† and â€Å"King Lear†. It is the purpose of this paper to present either novel, and the main male protagonists in the stories and pit them against each other as well as have them share in their twined destiny of faults, failures and eventual redemption.Dumas weaves a story about a man, Edmond Dantes whose life becomes entangled in another man’s vengeance and is subsequently doomed to life imprisonment. These actions are out of the protagonist’s control as he is neither aware of the person for whom the letter is intended that he is carrying to Paris (it is actually supposed to be given to Bonapartist father) nor of the rival against him, Danglars. It would thus appear as though Dant es is allowing his destiny to be overtaken from his free will.In Shakespeare’s â€Å"King Lear† Lear also allows to be a rather flotsam figure on his own path, being lead this way and that, not from a guidance of reason but by happenstance, bad luck, and fate. Blindness is recognized in the play by Lear’s grotesque nature and how he cannot stand to see the world, or kingdom he created. In King Lear’s distrust of his daughters he one by one makes himself disowned by them I prithee, daughter, do not make me mad. I will not trouble thee, my child; farewell.We'll no more meet, no more see one another. But yet thou art my flesh, my blood, my daughter; Or rather a disease that's in my flesh, Which I must needs call mine. Thou art a boil, A plague sore, an embossed carbuncle In my corrupted blood. But I'll not chide thee. Let shame come when it will, I do not call it. I do not bid the Thunder-bearer shoot Nor tell tales of thee to high-judging Jove. Mend when th ou canst; be better at thy leisure; I can be patient, I can stay with Regan, I and my hundred knights.† (Shakespeare II. iv. 1514). Blindness is a factor in either author’s tale. For Dumas, he allows his character to remain faithful to himself but also he makes him blind to the events and circumstances surrounding him. Dantes is sent to prison, but it is in prison where he finds Abbe Faria, who teaches his about philosophy, languages, music, history, and it is in this knowledge that Dumas allows the hero to gain self confidence that he would not have otherwise come to had he not been imprisoned.It seems that either author depends a great deal upon unusual circumstances and luck (either perceived as good or bad luck) to progress the plot forward for the characters. Both characters have to face where their loyalties lie, or where the people’s loyalties lie who surround them. In â€Å"King Lear† the focus of the married daughters who are proven to be evil and usurpers of their fathers power while the younger daughter, the innocent unmarried one proves to be the only supporter King Lear has although he blindingly distrusts her from act one.The theme of â€Å"King Lear† is suitably that of loyalty from the female caste whether in faithfulness or disloyalty. With the theme of loyalty there must also be a theme of vengeance as these two factors often walk hand in hand. It is proper for Dantes to want to seek vengeance on an unjust act done to him out of jealousy from Danglars. Although it takes Dantes nine years for his plan to put into action, it takes Lear merely three acts for his vengeance to take shape on Cordelia’s life and Lear’s blindness. For, what is the purpose of having a protagonist who does not learn anything?Lear learns of his mistakes with distrusting his daughter Cordelia and by trusting his other daughters- therefore, because he was blind to this distrust in a metaphorical sense he must be made blind p hysically in order to find redemption for his actions. Dumas takes a different approach in his protagonist’s story. Dumas gives Dantes an education as well as a treasure but the idea of vengeance swallows any joy he may have gleaned from his newly found position in life as the Count of Monte Cristo. It is with a heavy heart (after finding out about his father’s death) that Dantes goes to Marseilles and then on to other European cities.Despite this occupying thought of revenge, Dantes does manage to try and save Caderousse, but is unable to help the man because Caderousse's greed is his downfall. Although he is given two chances of redemption from Dantes he falls into a life of crime and is killed. Both authors need to have progression, change or punishment in their works in order for the reader to find the humanity in the protagonists, for, without their humanity Dantes’ revenge would be a fool’s errand and Lear would not have blinded himself after seeing the error of his ways.The parallels of greed in political power (another form of the grotesque in Shakespeare’s play) are presented in how Goneril and Regan seek political power by their ability to strip the King of all his train of followers, by rejecting the King’s title, and turning him out into the storm, â€Å"†¦entreat him by no means to stay† (III. 1. 297). Also, Edmund has high political aspirations by allowing Gloucester to be blinded for his own political gain, â€Å"Hang him instantly [Regan]†¦Pluck out his eyes [Goneril]† (III. 7. 4-5), and he usurps Edgar’s legitimate title as the future Earl of Gloucester.Furthermore, Kent and Edgar both lose their nobility, the Earl of Kent is banished for his honest defense of Cordelia, and Edgar loses his claim to nobility through the deceit and trickery of Edmund. Political greed was also seen with Caderousse as well as Dantes’ other enemies who have grown wealthy and more corrup t since he has been in prison. Both author’s hinge their characters on the edge of redemption and give them each a scenario in which they can either grasp this ultimate gift and be free of blame or hate, or they can become criminals of love and honor.The authors are the same in this account, they allow their protagonists to find their redemption: For Lear, it is blindness, for Dantes it is shown in the mercy he gives to his enemy Danglars. In their redemption either man finds love again: Cordelia’s for her father Lear and Haydee for Dantes. Bibliography Dumas, Alexandre. â€Å"The Count of Monte Cristo†. Penguin Classic. 1992. Shakespeare, William. â€Å"King Lear†. Penguin Classic. 1998.

George W - 1136 Words

George W. Bush September 20, 2011 Address to Congress On September 11, 2001 the American nation was shaken with news of a terrorist attack on the World Trade Center towers in New York City. Fear and panic commandeered the spirits of American citizens as they awaited to hear if their loved one had perished, if another attack had been planned for somewhere else in the United States, and how their nation would rise from the ashes to face another tomorrow. Not only had their nation been attacked, but also the true measure of their freedom had been questioned. In times like these, the American people put their faith in their president. They rely on his leadership to instruct them on what to do next. This essay explores the context surrounding†¦show more content†¦As seen in the previous paragraph, his approval ratings following the 9/11 attacks skyrocketed which led to a conservative shift after September 11 (Huddy, Leonie, and Standly Feldman). People continued to put their supp ort in Bush and therefore were eagerly awaiting any information or inspiration he might have to give. His opponents were the terrorists and the 10% of Americans that did not approve of him. He referenced the terrorists briefly in his 9/11 address, however demands for the release of U.S captives and for the terrorists to turn in their leaders and themselves were explicitly stated in the September 20 address (Bush, George W.). Bush also had to try and get the support of the mere 10% of Americans who did not approve of him at this time (Presidential Approval Ratings--George W. Bush). It is difficult to sway an opinion when the person(s) are already against him. Bush had to address the fear the American people still had of a potential third attack. Over two-thirds of New York citizens feared that another attack could happen at any moment (Kleinfeld, and Connolly Marjorie). George W. Bush went into the address hopeful that the American people would be ready to launch a war on terrorism a nd to fight with such tenacity as to eradicate terrorism. Going into the September 20, 2001 Address to Congress, President Bush had the perfect equation to have a vastly successful speech. The country and most of Congress supported him and was prepared to listen and agreeShow MoreRelatedGeorge W Bush961 Words   |  4 Pagescharismatic president George W. Bush served his time as the president of the U.S. from 2001-2009. George grew up as the eldest of 6 kids (two sisters, 3 brothers) unfortunately one of his sisters died of leukemia when she was a child. George always was enthusiastic, he was quiet the athlete! He was in football, baseball, rugby, basketball was the head cheerleader! George started presidency fairly young, he was voted class president in 7th grade. Once finished high school George chose to take afterRead MorePresident George W. 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When this event occurred everyone had been unaware and continuing their daily activities only to be stopped by this life changing news. The president at the time was George W. Bush. Doing day to day activities like the rest of us, he was reading to a second grade class that bright Tuesday morning. Upon hearing about the news, he was utterly shocked along with the rest of America. At approximately 8:40 p.m., which is around