What does inferencing in reading comprehension allow a reader to do?

Inferencing in reading comprehension is a crucial skill that allows readers to go beyond the literal text and grasp implied meanings. When readers make inferences, they draw on their prior knowledge, context clues, and the subtleties within the text to understand what is not directly stated. This skill enables them to interpret character motivations, underlying themes, and emotional nuances that may not be explicitly expressed in the words. Inference helps readers connect different parts of the narrative, leading to a deeper and more nuanced comprehension of the material, ultimately enriching their engagement with the text.

While understanding explicit meanings focuses solely on what is said directly, identifying the central theme relates to overarching ideas rather than specific details. Summarizing involves condensing information rather than interpreting it. Each of these skills plays an important role in reading comprehension, but the ability to infer is distinctively about reading "between the lines" to access layers of meaning.