A Scientist’s Search for Bigfoot by Tetsuo Fujii
Dr. Jeffrey Meldrum is an Associate Professor of Anatomy and Anthropology at Idaho State
University. He specializes in primate foot structure—a category that includes apes, monkeys,
and humans. His interests also include evaluating footprints that some claim are left by a
mythical North American ape known as Bigfoot.
Meldrum’s laboratory houses more than 200 casts and artifacts relating to Bigfoot. Although
he believes that some samples are hoaxes, others interest him, such as unidentified hair and
unique casts of muscle and foot-bone anatomy.
Explore how to answer this question: “Dr. Meldrum thinks that some samples are hoaxes, but others
interest him. Why is he most likely interested in those other samples?”
Reread the second paragraph. It suggests what Dr. Meldrum thinks, but does not state it directly.
Look for details suggesting why Meldrum is interested in the other samples. One detail is listed
in the second column; write another detail there. Then complete the inference statement.
What You Know + What the Text Says = Inference
• If a scientist is
interested in
something, he or she
might think it has
scientific value.
• A scientist might
keep samples that
could lead to a
discovery.
• “Meldrum’s laboratory houses more
than 200 casts and artifacts relating
to Bigfoot.”
•
Dr. Meldrum is most likely
interested in those other
samples because . . .