There are more inferential comprehension questions on the Regents' Reading Test than any other type. So you will definitely want to work on your inference skills before taking the test. These questions often contain words like infer, implies, conclude, most likely, best, seems, appears. Here are some examples from the first practice test in your white book:
Item #3. This text most likely appeared in Franklin's _____.
Item #4. The character Gout can best be described as _____.
Item #24. The writer implies that a costume designer must ____.
Item #27. Which statement best describes the differences between Naturalists and Realists?
Item #28. A Naturalist who becomes seriously ill would most likely respond that ____.
Item #52. The author seems to be most concerned about the _____.
Don't waste time trying to find answers to these questions in the passage. You will only find clues, not answers that are directly stated.
The following exercises from the Townsend Press website will give you practice using your inference skills. (Find a comfortable level at which to start and try to work your way up.)
Level 2 Implied Main Idea Exercise 1
Level 2 Implied Main Idea Exercise 2
Level 3 Implied Ideas/Central Point Exercise1
Level 3 Implied Ideas/Central Point Exercise 2
Level 4 Implied Main Ideas/Central Point Exercise 1
Level 4 Implied Main Ideas/Central Point Exercise 2
Level 5 Implied Main Ideas Exercise 1
Level 5 Implied Main Ideas Exercise 2