What is Inference in the GED RLA? And Why Is It Important?

In the GED Reasoning through Language Arts (RLA) test, one of the most frequently asked questions is: “what is inference?” Inference in reading is a logical conclusion you draw based on clues in the text, NOT just a random guess or personal opinion.

Inference = Text + Clues + Logic

Let’s look at a basic example: “The girl closed her umbrella and ran toward the bus stop, her shoes splashing in the puddles.”

The text never says it’s raining, but you can infer that it is. Why? 

Because of the clues: umbrella, puddles, and splashing

How Inference Questions Appear in GED RLA

Inference questions in the GED RLA can take many forms. Here are the common patterns found in both fiction and non-fiction:

• “What can be inferred about the character/author/situation?”
• “Which statement is best supported by the passage?”
• “The author implies that…”
• “What does the phrase/sentence suggest?”

4 Steps to Crack Inference Questions in the GED RLA

Step 1: Find the Context

To determine an inference in reading, look at the sentence or paragraph the question mentions. Then, read a few lines before and after it.

Ask yourself:

• Who or what is being talked about?
• What’s happening or how are they feeling?

Step 2: Spot clues

Once you know where to look, find the clues that show what’s not said directly.

Look for:

• Actions → character’s body language or behavior
• Word choice → specific words that show emotions or opinions 
• Contrasts → the tone change, or when the character says/does one thing but feels another

Step 3:  Interpret the Clues

Now that you’ve found the hints, put them together and ask:

“What does this suggest?”

This is where a good, well-supported inference in the GED RLA test is made. Make sure your conclusion fits everything you’ve read, not just one small detail.

Step 4: Eliminate options

Finally, look at the answer choices carefully and cross out what doesn’t fit.

Avoid tricky options:

• Off-topic → mention ideas not in the passage
• Too literal → repeat the text without adding insight
• Too extreme → add strong opinions, emotions, or “always/never” words

Inference Examples   

Question #1

“He laughed when his friends teased him, but his smile disappeared the moment they looked away.”

What can be inferred about him?

1. He will never talk to them again because he’s deeply traumatized. 
2. He hides his hurt feelings.
3. He laughs and finds the joke funny.

Answer Key

Step 1:  Find the Context

Who or what is being talked about? → A man’s reaction to being teased by a group of friends. 

What’s happening or how are they feeling? → The man was teased. At first, he laughed with it, but his smile faded when the friends looked away. 

Step 2: Spot clues

Contrast → The man does one thing but feels another, which is laughing and smiling while his true feeling on the inside is hurt or sadness. 

Step 3: Interpret the clues

Inference: He was pretending to laugh and smile, but he actually felt hurt.

Step 4: Eliminate options

1. He will never talk to them again because he’s deeply traumatized. → ❌Too extreme
2. He hides his hurt feelings. → ✅ Well-supported  
3. He laughs and finds the joke funny. →❌Too literal 

Question #2 : Practice: Excerpt from The Necklace by Guy de Maupassant (1884)

When Madame Loisel returned the borrowed necklace, her friend received it with a smile that seemed both kind and puzzled. “You have been gone so long,” she said lightly. Mathilde, pale and trembling, could only nod before hurrying away.

As she walked home, her husband asked, “Did she notice anything?” Mathilde shook her head. “No,” she whispered, “she didn’t notice… anything.”

What do Mathilde’s actions “trembling, nodding, and hurrying away” imply about her psychological state?

1. She feels pressured and afraid of discovery. 
2. She is simply cold from the weather.
3. She is very embarrassed to see an old friend.
4. She is excited about something her husband said.

Answer Key

Step 1:  Find the Context

The sentence in the question mentions: “Mathilde, pale and trembling, could only nod before hurrying away.”

Who or what is being talked about? → Mathilde Loisel and her friend

What’s happening or how are they feeling? → Mathilde returned the borrowed necklace to her friend after a long time, pale and trembling, and hurriedly left. 

Step 2: Spot Clues

• Actions: trembling, could only nod, hurried away, whispered → physical behaviors that show stress and a desire to leave.
• Word choice: pale → distress, trembling → fear/anxiety, whispered → secrecy
• Contrast: The friend’s “kind and puzzled” smile vs Mathilde’s “pale and trembling” behavior 

Step 3: Interpret the Clues

Put the clues together and ask: What do these behaviors and words suggest?

Inference: Mathilde is under pressure and afraid that her friend might notice and find out about the fake necklace. 

Step 4: Eliminate Options

1. She feels pressured and afraid of discovery. → ✅ Well-supported
2. She is simply cold from the weather. ❌ Off-topic
3. She is very embarrassed to see an old friend. ❌ Too extreme
4. She is excited about something her husband said. ❌ Contradicted by evidence

By following these 4 simple steps, you can uncover hidden meanings quickly and confidently. Moreover, keep in mind that making an inference is not guessing, but it’s text, clues, and logic all combined. Once you master that, you’ll not only understand what is inference, but also score higher but also read everything with sharper insight.