Which term best describes a conclusion drawn from evidence and reasoning rather than explicit statements?

• A. Hypothesis
• B. Conclusion
• C. Inference
• D. Assumption

Answer: (C)

An inference is a conclusion you reach by using evidence and reasoning, not just what is stated outright. It’s about reading between the lines and drawing meaning from clues. For example, if you notice dark clouds and the wind turning cooler, you infer that a storm is likely coming, even though the word “storm” isn’t written anywhere. In reading or problem solving, you routinely infer motives, outcomes, or relationships from hints and data.

A hypothesis, on the other hand, is a tentative explanation or educated guess that you plan to test through investigation. A conclusion is the final judgment you reach after analyzing information, which may be based on data or explicit statements, but it isn’t defined specifically as drawing a deduction from clues. An assumption is something you take as true without sufficient evidence. Because the question emphasizes forming a judgment from evidence and reasoning rather than from explicit statements, inference is the best fit.