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LessonsCatch the Flaw

Lesson 12 · English · Making an inference

Step 1 of 4

Find the wrong step

A child following muddy pawprints from an empty treat jar to a dog
Your lessonMaking an inferenceCore

The Missing Moon Treats

A story ends with muddy pawprints leading to an empty treat jar. Pippin the dog is licking crumbs from his nose.

Clue 1
Pawprints end at the jar
Clue 2
Pippin has treat crumbs

Your question

What can the reader reasonably infer?

Lumi’s answer: “The jar probably tipped over before Pippin arrived.”

1

Step 1 of 4

Find the wrong step

Find where the reasoning first breaks

Start with Step 1 and move downward. Choose the first line that stops making sense.

Later lines may be wrong too. Pick the first mistake.

Lumi’s work

These lines form one solution. Read them from top to bottom.

  1. 1

    The story never directly says who ate the treats.

  2. 2

    The pawprints and crumbs are clues connected to Pippin.

  3. 3

    Because the answer is not stated directly, every possible guess is equally strong.

  4. 4

    So the jar probably tipped over by itself.