Reading Instruction Competence Assessment (RICA) Practice Test

What is required for inferential comprehension?

1. Answers must be directly stated in the text

2. Judging character actions

3. The ability to make inferences or predictions

4. Summarizing chapter events

The correct answer is: The ability to make inferences or predictions

Inferential comprehension involves the ability to go beyond the literal meaning of the text. This skill requires readers to make inferences or predictions based on hints, implied meanings, and the context of the information presented. Unlike literal comprehension, where answers are directly stated in the text, inferential comprehension challenges readers to draw conclusions, understand characters' motives, and connect different ideas or events that may not be explicitly detailed. In this context, making inferences means using clues from the text along with one's own prior knowledge to arrive at a deeper understanding of the content. This includes interpreting characters' actions, emotions, and intentions in ways that are not plainly laid out, thus allowing for a richer and more nuanced interpretation of the material.