Advanced Placement (AP) English Literature Practice Exam

To infer something means to:

1. Conclude based on reasoning

2. Express a figurative idea

3. Use exaggerated language

4. Create a work of fiction

The correct answer is: Conclude based on reasoning

To infer something indeed means to conclude based on reasoning. This involves taking available information or evidence and using it to draw a logical conclusion that is not explicitly stated. When reading a text, for instance, a reader often combines what is directly presented with their own understanding and experiences to arrive at deeper meanings or implications. This process of inference is central to critical reading and literary analysis, as it allows readers to uncover themes, character motivations, and complexities within the narrative that are not overtly articulated. The other choices present different concepts: expressing a figurative idea relates more to metaphor and symbolism; using exaggerated language pertains to hyperbole; and creating a work of fiction involves storytelling and imagination. While all these options involve aspects of language and composition, they do not accurately capture the essence of what it means to infer.