Which statement best describes an inference?

Which statement best describes an inference?

• A. It is a conclusion that is explicitly stated.
• B. It is a reasonable deduction that is not stated.
• C. It is always a fact.
• D. It is the same as a premise.

Answer: (B)

An inference is a conclusion you reach by using clues and reasoning from what you’ve observed, even though that conclusion isn’t directly stated. The best choice captures this by describing it as a reasonable deduction that isn’t stated. For example, if you see someone wearing a raincoat and carrying an umbrella, you might infer that it’s raining or about to rain, even though no one has said so. An inference isn’t guaranteed to be a fact, and it isn’t the same as a premise, which is a statement used to support a conclusion.

An inference is a conclusion you reach by using clues and reasoning from what you’ve observed, even though that conclusion isn’t directly stated. The best choice captures this by describing it as a reasonable deduction that isn’t stated. For example, if you see someone wearing a raincoat and carrying an umbrella, you might infer that it’s raining or about to rain, even though no one has said so. An inference isn’t guaranteed to be a fact, and it isn’t the same as a premise, which is a statement used to support a conclusion.