4.1 Evidence and Inference Worksheet

When the coach announced the team, Harper clapped for everyone else. “It’s fine,” she said, smiling quickly. But later, in the bathroom, Harper stared at her reflection and swallowed hard. She splashed cold water on her face and whispered, “Next time.” On the way out, she paused to watch the team practice and took notes in her phone.

Before the choir solo, Ben kept touching the paper in his pocket where the lyrics were written. He hummed one line under his breath, then stopped and listened to his own breathing. When his teacher called his name, Ben’s knees felt wobbly. He stepped forward anyway and lifted his chin.

For weeks, the class practiced a short play. On performance day, the final curtain closed and the audience clapped. Most students ran to find their families. But Tori stayed behind. She picked up stray costume pieces, stacked the chairs, and swept glitter into a pile. When her teacher asked why she wasn’t leaving, Tori said, “I want the stage to look ready for the next class.”