How to Answer Inference Questions in Opinion Articles
In our previous lessons, we covered narratives and workplace emails. Today, we tackle a higher-level skill: Opinion Articles. On the CASAS STEPS Reading Test, these passages require students to look past the facts and identify the author’s underlying argument or bias.
Differentiating between objective reporting and subjective persuasion is a core competency. According to the News Literacy Project, identifying “points of view” is essential for modern civic participation and is a key metric in CASAS STEPS Reading Test Level E mastery.
In This Lesson:
- Practice Case Study: The Future of Public Transit
- Answer Key: Distinguishing Fact from Belief
- Advanced Strategy: Persuasive Markers
The Opinion Challenge
Read the following excerpt from a local community “Letter to the Editor.”
The Question: What can be inferred about the author’s point of view regarding the bike lane project?
A. The author believes the project has successfully reduced the city’s carbon footprint.
B. The author feels the project’s negative impact on local businesses outweighs its environmental goals.
C. The author is a city planner who helped design the Main Street project.
D. The author wants the City Council to increase the number of bike lanes in other neighborhoods.
Detailed Analysis
Why Option B is Correct
The correct inference question in every CASAS STEPS Reading Test must be supported by the “tone” of the language. The author uses words like “nightmare,” “vanished,” and “experiments.” By contrasting the “good intentions” with the “reality” for businesses, the author explicitly signals that the economic cost is too high. This is a classic “author intent” question found in the College and Career Readiness Standards for adult education.
Why Other Options Fail
- Option A (Misinterpretation of Detail): The author mentions the carbon footprint, but notes that proponents “claim” this, while the author argues they “ignore the idling cars.” The author is skeptical of the environmental success, not a believer in it.
- Option C (Wrong Perspective): The author refers to city planners as “they” and criticizes their “idealistic experiments.” This distance indicates the author is a concerned citizen or business advocate, not the designer of the project.
- Option D (Opposite Intent): The author calls for the council to “prioritize economic health” over these types of projects. Suggesting more bike lanes would contradict the author’s main argument that the current ones are a “nightmare.”
Advanced Linguistic Markers in Opinion Pieces
To hit the highest scores on the CASAS STEPS Reading Test, students must identify “weighted” adjectives and verbs. In the passage above, look at the phrase “idealistic urban planning experiments.” The word “idealistic” suggests the author believes the planners are out of touch with reality. The word “experiments” implies that the project is unproven and risky.
When students encounter these words, they should ask: “Is the author trying to inform me or convince me?” In an opinion article, the answer is always to convince. Therefore, the correct answer to an inference question will often contain a “value judgment” (e.g., “the project is a failure” or “the impact is negative”).
The “Proponent vs. Opponent” Structure
Opinion articles in CASAS STEPS Reading Tests often mention the “other side” to discredit it. Note how the author says, “Proponents claim…” This is a major clue for CASAS test-takers. Whenever an author says “Critics say” or “Supporters argue,” they are usually about to provide a counter-argument. An inference question might ask: “How does the author feel about the proponents’ claims?” The inference here is that the author finds them “ignorant” or “incorrect” based on the traffic patterns mentioned later.
Teacher’s Strategy: The “Tone Check”
Teach your students to identify “emotionally charged” words in every CASAS STEPS Reading Test. If the words are mostly negative (nightmare, hazard, ignore), the author’s point of view is likely a complaint or a call for change. If the words are positive (innovation, progress, community), the author is likely supporting a project. Identifying the tone is 90% of the work in opinion inference.
Level Up Your Reading Score
Mastering opinion articles is a gateway to higher NRS levels. Next time, we conclude our series with Part 4: Synthesis of Multiple Texts.
Thanks for the tips about how to idenfiy the intention of the author
excellent article