Skill Training
Reading Skill
MAKING INFERENCES:USING INFORMATION FROM THE TEXT(1)
What is an inference?
An inference is an idea that the writer or speaker does not state openly or directly,but intends you to understand anyway.They imply something through their words.
How to make inferences?
When the writer chooses not to clearly state his ideas,you have to find a single overall picture for details.
Making inferences in reading is a crucial skill that must be mastered for a reader to gain real comprehension.It involves reading the text and recalling prior experiences that are similar to what you are reading.Making inferences can be simple or complex,which depends on your close,careful reading and examination of all evidences.Generally speaking,making inferences is based on the following two steps:
1)having a correct literal comprehension of the words,sentences and ideas which make up the text;
2)giving detailed interpretation of the literal meaning and arriving at a logical conclusion about the writer’s idea.
Example
I saw by the clock of the city jail that it was past 10,so I decided to go to the press immediately.Outside the editor’s door I stopped to make sure my pages were in right order;I smoothed from them out carefully,stuck them back in my pocket,and knocked.I could hear my heart thumping as I walked in.
Which of the following statements can be inferred from this paragraph?
A.The teller of this story has just left the city jail.
B.The storyteller is a newspaper writer by profession.
C.The storyteller is going to show his papers to the editor.
D.The meeting is important for the storyteller.
Explanation
A.This cannot be inferred from the paragraph.We know that the teller just saw the clock of the city jail,not necessarily meaning that he just left the city jail.
B.This cannot be inferred from the paragraph.It just shows he was standing outside of the editor’s door with his pages in his pocket,which does not indicate he is a newspaper writer by profession.
C.This is an inference that can be drawn from the second and third sentences.He stopped to make sure the pages were in right order and smoothed them out carefully,which could imply that he was going to show them to the editor,otherwise he wouldn’t care so much about these pages.
D.This can be inferred from the paragraph.Before showing his pages to the editors,he could hear his heart thumping.We might infer that the teller’s heart thumping was the signal of his nervousness for this meeting which was important for him.
Practice 1
Tommy and John were hot and sweaty as they sat outside the principal’s office.Dirt smeared both of their faces,and they could hear their teacher’s voice as she gave Mr.Jones her account of what had happened.Tommy sneered at John,and John returned the angry glare.As Miss Brown left Mr.Jones’office,the boys hung their heads so they wouldn’t have to look her in the eye.
From this paragraph you can infer that_______________.
A.Tommy and John had disappointed their teacher
B.Tommy and John are sworn enemies
C.the principal,known for being hard on students,and would yell at them both
D.Miss Brown doesn’t want to look at them in their eyes
Read the passage and do the exercises that follow.
Harold Feinstein
[1]Harold Feinstein was born in Coney Island in 1931.He began his career in photography in 1946 at the age of 15 and within four short years,Edward Steichen,an early supporter,had purchased his work for the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art(MoMA).He joined the Photo League at 17 and became a prominent figure in the vanguard of the early New York City street photography scene where he exhibited at Helen Gee’s Limelight Gallery and was a designer for historic Blue Note Records.
[2]In his early 20’s he began teaching in New York City.Former New York Times photocritic A.D.Coleman calls him “one of a small handful of master teachers whose legendary private workshops proved instrumental in shaping the vision of hundreds of aspiring photographers”.
[3]Feinstein is best known for his six-decade engagement with Coney Island.His 1990 show at the International Center for Photography(ICP)entitled A Coney Island of the Heart:Five Decades of Photographs elicited this review from A.D.Coleman:Here is New York School small-camera photography at its best—humanistic,intimate,engaged,almost intrusive.Feinstein is a true photographer’s photographer.
[4]While his Coney Island work has been much celebrated,Feinstein’s breadth and exposure are far greater.His photographs from the Korean War,taken from the perspective of a draftee,offer an intimate look at the daily life of young conscripts from induction,basic training,to the front lines.In addition,he has a large collection of classic street photography,nudes,portraits and still life.Feinstein first began exploring color in the mid 80’s,shooting 35mm photographs of flowers and seashell against the sky.This resulted in a large archive of imagery produced as dye transfer prints.Images from this collection were published in Life magazine and numerous other publications.
[5]In 1998,Feinstein broke new ground as one of the first photographers to utilize a scanner as a camera(a technique now termed scanography).His first book of images using this technique,One Hundred Flowers(2000),is in its third edition and was followed by six other books of large format color digital imagery published by Little,Brown and Company.His seminal work in this arena earned him the Computerworld Smithsonian Award as a pioneer in digital photography in 2000.
[6]In 2011 at the age of 80,he was given The Living Legend Award by the Griffin Museum of Photography.Now 82,he lives in Merrimac,MA with his wife,Judith,his dog Muffin,and his cat Linden.He recently returned to the darkroom after a 12 years’ hiatus,continues to love life and see with the eyes of wonder.
New Words and Expressions
purchase /ˈpɜː（r）tʃəs/ n.&vt.购买
permanent /ˈpɜː（r）mənənt/ adj.永久的；永恒的
prominent /ˈprɒmɪnənt/ adj.突出的；显著的
figure /ˈfɪɡə（r）/ n.人物；数字；图形；身材
legendary /ˈledʒ（ə）nd（ə）ri/ adj.传奇的
aspiring /əˈspaɪərɪŋ/ adj.有抱负的
engagement /ɪnˈɡeɪdʒmənt/ n.婚约；事业
breadth /bredθ/ n.宽度
exposure /ɪkˈspəʊʒə（r）/ n.暴露；曝光
perspective/pə（r）ˈspektɪv/ n.观点；远景
draftee /drɑf'tiː/ n.应征入伍者
nude /njuːd/ n.裸体人像；裸体画
portrait /ˈpɔː（r）trɪt/ n.肖像；描写
intimate /ˈɪntɪmət/ adj.亲密的
archive /ˈɑː（r）kaɪv/ n.档案 vt.把……存档
imagery /ˈɪmɪdʒəri/ n.像；意象
transfer /trænsˈfɜː（r）/ n.&vt.转让；转移
utilize /ˈjuːtɪlaɪz/ n.使用，利用
scanner /ˈskænə（r）/ n.扫描仪
arena /əˈriːnə/n.舞台；竞技场
hiatus /haɪˈeɪtəs/ n.中断；裂缝；空隙
dye transfer 染印
break new ground 开辟新天地
conscript /kənˈskrɪpt/ n.应征士兵 vt.征召
Practice 2
Below is a list of sentences including restatements and inferences related to the passage above.Read the passage carefully and choose the inferences out of restatements.
1.Edward Steichen might have helped building Feinstein’s career in terms of financial aid.
2.Feinstein became famous when he was still very young for his photographs.
3.Feinstein is also renowned as a teacher.
4.His engagement with Coney Island for six-decades makes him one of the best known photographers.
5.While his Coney Island work is well-known,Feinsteins’s work also include a draftee,a boy’s look at army life as a draftee in the Korean War,and an extensive collection of classic street photography,nudes,portraits and still life.
6.Feinstein is very creative and he pioneers to utilize new technique in photograph-taking.Restatements:______________________________;Inferences:______________________________.
Practice 3
Read the passage in more detail and choose the right answer by using the reading skill—making inference.(Note:Do not choose the statement which is right itself or a restatement that cannot be inferred from the text.)
1.Which of the following statements can be inferred about Feinstein’s photograph?
A.Most of his works are black and white with wide collection before the mid 80’s.
B.Many of Feinstein’s works have been published in some famous magazines and publications.
C.Feinstein had been to the Korean War to take photographs of the war scene.
D.Feinstein’s Coney Island work gained popularity and made him renowned worldwide.
2.What can be drawn from the text about Feinstein’s life?
A.Feinstein himself has even served in the army.
B.Feinstein contributes his whole life to photography and would be remembered by many people who love photography.
C.Feinstein is a true photographer’s photographer.
D.Feinstein is one of the pioneer representatives in digital photography.
Reading More
Scan the below QR code,read the passage,and do the practices online.
New Words and Expressions
passion / ˈpæʃn / n.激情；热情；酷爱
shot / ʃɒt /n.照片；镜头
annoying / əˈnɔɪɪŋ / adj.讨厌的；恼人的
rigescent / ˈrɪdʒesent / adj.僵化的；生硬的；刻板的
secure / sɪˈkjʊə（r）/ adj.安全的；有把握的
remote / rɪˈməʊt /adj.遥远的；偏僻的
specific / spəˈsɪfɪk / adj.明确的；详细的
confusion / kənˈfjuːʒn / n.混淆；混乱
random / ˈrændəm /adj.随便的；随意的
awkward / ˈɔːkwəd /adj.尴尬的
selfie / ˈselfi / n.自拍照
potentially / pə'tenʃəli / adv.可能地；潜在地
solo trip / traveling 独自旅行
remote timer 遥控计时器
hit and miss 成功与不成功
go out of one’s way 特意；不怕麻烦
travel buddy 旅行伙伴