Drawing Conclusions and Predicting Outcomes

Careful readers interpret what they read; that is they try to explain and to understand ideas brought out by their reading. One way to build your skill at interpreting is to try to draw conclusions from what a writer tells you.

A reading selection gives you information about a topic. Good readers are able to use that information on their own in order to know what to expect next. Paragraphs or larger readings present information to support a topic, but they do not always state all the possible results of the events the writer discusses. In fact, if you must answers questions after your read, those questions often involve conclusions you must draw on your own.

Let's do a simple exercise to get you started on drawing conclusions and predicting outcomes. Which word group from the choices below would you select to complete the following sentence?

If you keep reading books with small print in such dim light,

a. you'll never pass your exam

b. you may not learn the meaning of important words

c. you may strain your eyes

d. you should play some music on the radio

We can reasonably guess that c is the correct ending of the sentence. In fact, the only sound selection we can make from the choices given here is c. We can tell from the word if that writer is setting up conditions that will affect the outcome of the sentence.

Let's do more exercises. Try to determine the outcome for the statements below. Select the best and the most logical ending to finish each sentence.

1. People who do not smoke or drink, who exercise regularly, a nd who eat healthful foods probably

a. feel ashamed about the way they look.

b. feel better than people who don't take care of themselves

c. feel sick more often than people who relax and enjoy life.

d. think that they live boring lives

2. After losing every game this season, the soccer team probably felt

a. happy to have participated in a successful season.

b. mad because all the other teams were probably cheating.

c. disappointed at not being able to play better

d. guilty that they didn't try harder

3. Mariam was absent from class ten times this semester and only handed in one of six assignments. She can expect

a. that the teacher will give her a good grade.

b. that the teacher will give her extra time to complete unfinished work.

c. a failing grade

d. one of her classmates to do the work for her.