Evidence is the exact phrase from the passage that proves your inference. A strong answer states the inference, quotes the shortest useful words, then links the two in one sentence.
This lesson follows distinguishing a stated detail from an inference. It belongs to reading and evidence.
What makes evidence exact?
Exact evidence is copied straight from the passage, kept as short as possible, and clearly points to the inference. If the inference loses its support when you remove the quotation, the quotation is doing its job.
Worked example: a student before a test
Here is an original passage.
அருண் தேர்வுக்கு இரண்டு வாரங்களுக்கு முன்பே பாடங்களைப் பட்டியலிட்டான். ஒவ்வொரு நாளும் ஒரு பாடத்தை மட்டும் படித்துவிட்டு, மாலையில் அதைப் பற்றி ஐந்து கேள்விகள் எழுதினான். தேர்வு நாளன்று அவன் அமைதியாகத் தேர்வு அறைக்குள் நுழைந்தான்.
In English: Arun listed his subjects two weeks before the test. Each day he studied one subject only, then in the evening wrote five questions about it. On test day he entered the exam room calmly.
Question. What kind of student is Arun? Support your answer.
Step 1: the inference. அருண் திட்டமிட்டுப் படிக்கும் மாணவன். Arun is a student who studies with a plan.
Step 2: the evidence. “இரண்டு வாரங்களுக்கு முன்பே பாடங்களைப் பட்டியலிட்டான்”, which means he listed the subjects two weeks before.
Step 3: the link. He began preparing well ahead and organised the subjects in advance, which shows planning.
Put together, the answer is a short paragraph: inference, quotation, link.
The mistake that costs marks
The common slips are quoting the whole passage or quoting a line that does not prove the point.
| Evidence offered | Problem | Verdict |
|---|---|---|
| The whole first two sentences | Too long; the key words are buried | Trim it |
| “அமைதியாகத் தேர்வு அறைக்குள் நுழைந்தான்” (entered calmly) | True, but it shows calm, not planning | Wrong evidence |
| “இரண்டு வாரங்களுக்கு முன்பே பாடங்களைப் பட்டியலிட்டான்” | Short and shows planning ahead | Exact |
The middle row is the trap. A quotation can be correct about the passage and still not prove your particular claim.
Check yourself
Using the same passage, suppose the inference is that Arun checks what he has understood. Choose the exact evidence and write the link.
Answer
Evidence: “மாலையில் அதைப் பற்றி ஐந்து கேள்விகள் எழுதினான்” (in the evening he wrote five questions about it).
Link: Writing questions on the day’s subject tests whether he can recall and explain it, so he is checking his own understanding.
The line about listing subjects would not do, because it shows planning, not checking.
What to study next
The next skill is explaining a word from its surrounding context. When you are ready, use the reading and evidence practice set.
To have a teacher read your evidence choices, see online one-to-one SPM Bahasa Tamil tuition.