Which comprehension level requires readers to use clues in the text and implied information to draw inferences?

Inferential comprehension is the level of understanding where readers go beyond the explicit meaning of the text to interpret and infer information that is suggested but not directly stated. At this level, readers engage with the text by picking up on clues, examining context, and using their background knowledge to make educated guesses about characters’ motivations, events that occur off the page, and the themes that underlie the narrative. This process often involves synthesizing various pieces of information from the text to form a deeper understanding or to draw conclusions that are not immediately apparent.

In contrast, literal comprehension deals with understanding the exact words and facts presented, critical comprehension focuses on analyzing and evaluating the structure and validity of the text, and evaluative comprehension involves making judgments about the text's value or effectiveness. Each of these levels serves a specific role in reading comprehension, but it is inferential comprehension that emphasizes the ability to read between the lines and gain insights through inference-making.