Which option best reflects an inference about intent or motive in a text?

• A. Inferring what the author intends to suggest that is not directly stated
• B. Inferring the exact publication date
• C. Inferring the author’s preferred color
• D. Inferring the author’s likely intent or motive behind a statement

Answer: (D)

Inferring intent or motive means deducing why the author wrote or said something, using clues like tone, purpose, and word choices in the text. The best option directly asks you to determine the author’s likely intent or motive behind a statement, so it aligns with reading for why the statement was made and what the author is aiming to accomplish. The idea of figuring out what the author intends to suggest that isn’t directly stated touches on implied meaning, which is related but not as direct a target as identifying motive. The publication date and the author’s color preference are factual details unrelated to motive, so they don’t fit this kind of inference.