TELPAS listening practice test 2 for 2nd grade
A second listening test, the length of the real one, with new passages and questions that are not on the practice pages, so a student who has practiced gets a fresh try. An explanation follows every question.
Before you start
- 27 questions covering listening.
- Each question is on its own page, and you will see whether you were right straight away, with an explanation.
- There is no timer and no sign-up. Your answers are saved in this browser only, so you can stop and pick it up again on this device.
- Listening questions play recorded audio. A written transcript is available under each one.
What this test covers
- Understand Spoken Words and Language Structures (5 questions): Reporting category 1: follow spoken directions and understand words and phrases as they are used in speech. On the real test some of these ask the student to click on a picture.
- Basic Understanding of Spoken English (15 questions): Reporting category 2: understand the main points and important details of spoken stories and informational passages, about everyday life and school subjects.
- Analyze and Evaluate Information in Spoken English (7 questions): Reporting category 3: make inferences from what was said, and work out a speaker's purpose, opinion, or what will happen next.
To work on one part at a time, use the listening practice for Grade 2.
Answer key: every answer, explained
Take the test first: the answers are here for checking afterwards, or for an adult going over it with a student. Each one says why it is right and why each other choice is wrong. Open a question to see its answer.
Listening
1. What should you click on?
From “A Rainy Day”
- Sandals
- Mittens
- Rain bootsCorrect answer
- Raincoat
Why “Rain boots” is correct
The direction gives two clues: you wear it on your feet, and it keeps your feet dry in the rain. Only rain boots fit both. A raincoat also keeps you dry, so the student has to catch the words "on your feet." On the real test the choices are pictures.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Sandals — Sandals go on your feet, but they are open, so your feet would get wet.
- Mittens — Mittens go on your hands, not your feet.
- Raincoat — A raincoat keeps you dry, but you wear it on your body, not on your feet.
2. Which glass should you click on?
From “Glasses on the Table”
- A glass full of milk
- A glass with ice in it
- A glass with a little water at the bottom
- An empty glassCorrect answer
Why “An empty glass” is correct
The direction never says the word empty; it says "the glass that has nothing in it." The student has to know that these words mean the same thing. Choices b and c are tricky because they have only a little in them, but a little is still something.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A glass full of milk — This glass is full, which is the opposite of having nothing in it.
- A glass with ice in it — Ice is something, so this glass is not empty.
- A glass with a little water at the bottom — A little water is still something in the glass.
3. Ms. Tran says the puzzle was "a piece of cake" for Isabel. What does she mean?
From “The Puzzle”
- It was very easy for her.Correct answer
- It had a picture of a cake on it.
- It was very hard for her.
- She ate cake while she did it.
Why “It was very easy for her.” is correct
"A piece of cake" is an everyday expression that means something was very easy. The words do not mean what they say one by one, so a student who translates word for word may pick a choice about cake. The clues are that Isabel finished by herself and "so fast."
Why the other answers are wrong
- It had a picture of a cake on it. — This takes the word "cake" literally. Ms. Tran never says what the puzzle shows.
- It was very hard for her. — This is the opposite. Isabel finished fast and by herself, so it was easy for her.
- She ate cake while she did it. — No one eats anything. The expression is about how easy the puzzle was.
4. What should students do right after they fill the cup with dirt?
From “Planting Beans”
- Give the seed some water
- Push one seed into the dirtCorrect answer
- Put the cup by the window
- Fill the cup again with more dirt
Why “Push one seed into the dirt” is correct
Ms. Garza gives four steps with order words: first, next, then and last. Right after filling the cup comes "next": push one seed into the dirt. Listening for order words like these is the key to following a teacher's directions.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Give the seed some water — Watering is the third step. It comes after the seed is in the dirt.
- Put the cup by the window — Putting the cup by the window is the last step.
- Fill the cup again with more dirt — The teacher says to fill the cup almost to the top, not to add more dirt after that.
5. Why does Ms. Garza most likely want the cups on the shelf by the window?
From “Planting Beans”
- So the rain can water the seeds
- So the seeds stay cold
- So the plants can get sunlightCorrect answer
- So the students can count the cups
Why “So the plants can get sunlight” is correct
Ms. Garza says where to put the cups but not why. The student has to use what they know: plants need light to grow, and a window lets sunlight in. Working out a reason that is not said is an inference.
Why the other answers are wrong
- So the rain can water the seeds — The cups are inside on a shelf, so rain cannot reach them. The students water them with a spoon.
- So the seeds stay cold — Nothing in the directions is about keeping the seeds cold.
- So the students can count the cups — Counting the cups is not mentioned, and it would not explain why they go by the window.
6. What does Ethan's lunchbox look like?
From “The Missing Lunchbox”
- It is blue.
- It is green with a star sticker.Correct answer
- It is red with his name on it.
- It is green with a dog sticker.
Why “It is green with a star sticker.” is correct
Ethan says, "Mine is green, and it has a star sticker on the top." The student has to remember both details. Choice a is the lunchbox Valeria saw, and choice d gets only one detail right.
Why the other answers are wrong
- It is blue. — The blue lunchbox is the one Valeria saw in the lost and found box. Ethan's is green.
- It is red with his name on it. — Ethan does not say his lunchbox is red or has his name on it.
- It is green with a dog sticker. — The color is right, but the sticker is a star, not a dog.
7. Where does Valeria think Ethan may have left his lunchbox?
From “The Missing Lunchbox”
- On the busCorrect answer
- In the office
- In the lost and found box
- At his house
Why “On the bus” is correct
After she hears the lunchbox is green, Valeria says, "Then maybe you left it on the bus." The student needs to follow the conversation to the end, because the lost and found box is mentioned first but turns out to be wrong.
Why the other answers are wrong
- In the office — The office is where the lost and found box is, but Valeria does not think the lunchbox is there.
- In the lost and found box — The lunchbox in the lost and found box is blue, so it is not Ethan's.
- At his house — Ethan says he had the lunchbox on the bus this morning, so he did not leave it at home.
8. Why does Ethan tell Valeria that his lunchbox is green?
From “The Missing Lunchbox”
- He wants to buy a green one.
- He thinks green is the best color.
- He wants Valeria to look on the bus.
- The lunchbox she saw is not his.Correct answer
Why “The lunchbox she saw is not his.” is correct
Ethan never says "that one is not mine." He says what his lunchbox looks like right after Valeria tells him about a blue one. The student has to understand why he says it: to show that the blue one cannot be his. Working out why a speaker says something is part of the analyze category.
Why the other answers are wrong
- He wants to buy a green one. — Ethan already has a green lunchbox. He is trying to find it, not buy one.
- He thinks green is the best color. — Ethan is describing his lunchbox, not saying which color he likes best.
- He wants Valeria to look on the bus. — Valeria is the one who brings up the bus, after Ethan describes his lunchbox.
9. Why did the kite keep falling down at first?
From “The Fish Kite”
- There was no wind.Correct answer
- The kite was broken.
- Rosa ran too slowly.
- It was raining.
Why “There was no wind.” is correct
The story says, "At first, there was no wind," and then that the kite fell every time Rosa ran. This is a cause-and-effect detail that is stated in the story.
Why the other answers are wrong
- The kite was broken. — The kite was new, and it flies well at the end, so it was not broken.
- Rosa ran too slowly. — The story does not say how fast Rosa ran. The problem was the wind.
- It was raining. — Rain is not part of the story.
10. Why did Rosa's uncle tell her to try again?
From “The Fish Kite”
- Rosa wanted to go home.
- The wind had started.Correct answer
- He fixed the kite for her.
- The sun came out.
Why “The wind had started.” is correct
The story does not say "the wind came back." It says the leaves on the trees began to shake, and then her uncle said, "Try again now." The student has to connect the shaking leaves to the wind that a kite needs. This is an inference from a clue.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Rosa wanted to go home. — Rosa sat and waited. Nothing says she wanted to go home.
- He fixed the kite for her. — The kite was not broken, and the uncle does not fix anything.
- The sun came out. — The sun is not mentioned. A kite needs wind, not sun, to fly.
11. What do bees drink from flowers?
From “Bees and Flowers”
- Rain water from the leaves
- Yellow pollen
- Nectar, a sweet juiceCorrect answer
- Juice from fruit
Why “Nectar, a sweet juice” is correct
Ms. Parker says bees drink a sweet juice from flowers called nectar. Choice b is tempting because pollen is the other new word in the lesson, but pollen is the powder that sticks to the bee's body.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Rain water from the leaves — Rain is not part of the lesson.
- Yellow pollen — Pollen is a yellow powder that sticks to the bee. The teacher says bees drink nectar.
- Juice from fruit — The sweet juice comes from flowers, not from fruit.
12. What does the pollen help the flower do?
From “Bees and Flowers”
- Grow taller
- Make seedsCorrect answer
- Make nectar
- Turn yellow
Why “Make seeds” is correct
Ms. Parker says, "The pollen helps the flower make seeds." The student has to keep the two new words apart: nectar is the bee's food, and pollen helps the flower make seeds.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Grow taller — The teacher does not say pollen makes flowers taller.
- Make nectar — Nectar is already in the flower. The teacher does not say pollen makes it.
- Turn yellow — The pollen is yellow, but it does not change the flower's color.
13. What does Ms. Parker mean when she says, "Bees help plants, and plants help bees"?
From “Bees and Flowers”
- Plants feed bees, and bees help plants make seeds.Correct answer
- Bees and plants both need water to live and grow.
- Bees build their homes inside the biggest flowers.
- Plants and bees both like to be out in the warm sun.
Why “Plants feed bees, and bees help plants make seeds.” is correct
This last sentence sums up the lesson. The student has to put together two earlier parts: flowers give bees nectar to eat, and bees carry pollen that helps flowers make seeds. Pulling ideas together into a conclusion is part of the analyze category.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Bees and plants both need water to live and grow. — Water is not part of the lesson.
- Bees build their homes inside the biggest flowers. — The lesson does not say where bees live.
- Plants and bees both like to be out in the warm sun. — The sun is not part of the lesson.
14. What should a runner do after running around the cone?
From “The Relay Race”
- Sit down on the grass and rest
- Run around the orange cone one more time
- Wait for the coach to say go
- Give the stick to the next runnerCorrect answer
Why “Give the stick to the next runner” is correct
Coach Rivera says to run around the cone, come back, and then give the stick to the next runner. The student needs to follow the steps in order. Passing something to the next person is the main idea of a relay race.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Sit down on the grass and rest — The coach does not tell runners to sit down.
- Run around the orange cone one more time — Each runner goes around the cone once and comes back.
- Wait for the coach to say go — The coach does not say he will call out go. The next runner starts when the stick is in their hand.
15. When can a runner start running?
From “The Relay Race”
- As soon as they see their teammate coming
- When the first runner falls down
- When the stick is in their handCorrect answer
- When the other team is done
Why “When the stick is in their hand” is correct
The coach gives a clear rule: "Do not start running until the stick is in your hand." The word until is the key. Choice a is tempting because it sounds like a smart way to get ahead, but it breaks the rule.
Why the other answers are wrong
- As soon as they see their teammate coming — Starting before you have the stick breaks the coach's rule.
- When the first runner falls down — No one falls down, and the coach says nothing about falling.
- When the other team is done — The teams race at the same time, so no one waits for the other team.
16. Who is the food for?
From “The Food Drive”
- Families who need helpCorrect answer
- The cooks in the school cafeteria
- The teachers
- The class that brings the most cans
Why “Families who need help” is correct
The first part of the announcement says the school will collect food for families in town who need help. The last line, "helping our neighbors," says the same thing in other words.
Why the other answers are wrong
- The cooks in the school cafeteria — The food goes to families, not to the cafeteria or the people who work there.
- The teachers — The teachers are not mentioned in the announcement.
- The class that brings the most cans — The class that brings the most cans gets an extra recess, not the food.
17. Why should students not bring food in glass jars?
From “The Food Drive”
- Jars are too heavy.
- Jars cost too much.
- Families do not like jars.
- Glass can break.Correct answer
Why “Glass can break.” is correct
Ms. Castillo gives the reason right after the rule: "because glass can break." The word because tells the listener a reason is coming, which is a useful clue for English learners.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Jars are too heavy. — The announcement does not say jars are heavy.
- Jars cost too much. — Cost is not mentioned.
- Families do not like jars. — Nothing is said about what families like.
18. Why does Ms. Castillo tell students about the extra recess?
From “The Food Drive”
- She wants them to play outside more.
- She wants classes to bring a lot of cans.Correct answer
- Recess will be shorter on Friday.
- She is telling them it is Friday today.
Why “She wants classes to bring a lot of cans.” is correct
Ms. Castillo does not say why she mentions the prize, so the student has to work out her purpose. A prize for the class with the most cans makes each class want to bring more. Understanding why a speaker says something is part of the analyze category.
Why the other answers are wrong
- She wants them to play outside more. — The extra recess is a prize for bringing cans, not the main point of the announcement.
- Recess will be shorter on Friday. — She says one class will get an extra recess, not a shorter one.
- She is telling them it is Friday today. — The food drive is next week. Friday is the day the prize happens.
19. Where does the moon's light come from?
From “The Moon”
- The moon makes it.
- The stars
- The sunCorrect answer
- Lamps on Earth
Why “The sun” is correct
Mr. Turner says the moon does not make its own light; the sun shines on it, and the moon sends that light back. Many children think the moon glows by itself, which makes choice a tempting.
Why the other answers are wrong
- The moon makes it. — Mr. Turner says the moon does not make its own light.
- The stars — Stars are not part of the lesson.
- Lamps on Earth — Lamps are not part of the lesson. The light comes from the sun.
20. How long does it take the moon to go all the way around the Earth?
From “The Moon”
- About one day
- About two weeks
- About one year
- About one monthCorrect answer
Why “About one month” is correct
Mr. Turner says it takes about one month. All four choices are lengths of time, so the student has to remember the exact one that was said.
Why the other answers are wrong
- About one day — About one day is too short. The teacher says about one month.
- About two weeks — About two weeks is too short. The teacher says about one month.
- About one year — About one year is too long. The teacher says about one month.
21. Why does Mr. Turner say, "And here is a surprise"?
From “The Moon”
- He will tell a fact many people do not know.Correct answer
- He has a surprise present for the whole class.
- He wants to tell them the lesson is over.
- He wants the class to stop talking and listen.
Why “He will tell a fact many people do not know.” is correct
The words "here is a surprise" tell listeners that the next fact may be unexpected: the moon can be seen in the daytime. Most children think of the moon only at night. Understanding why a speaker uses a phrase is part of the analyze category.
Why the other answers are wrong
- He has a surprise present for the whole class. — A surprise can be a present, but here it is a surprising fact, not a gift.
- He wants to tell them the lesson is over. — He still has one more fact to tell after he says it.
- He wants the class to stop talking and listen. — He does not ask for quiet. He is getting ready to share a fact.
22. Where will the class eat lunch on the trip?
From “The Farm Trip”
- At school
- On the bus
- At the farmCorrect answer
- At a restaurant
Why “At the farm” is correct
Henry asks whether they will eat at school, and Ms. Tran answers, "No, we will eat at the farm." The student has to listen to the answer, not just the question.
Why the other answers are wrong
- At school — Henry asks about eating at school, but Ms. Tran says no.
- On the bus — The bus takes them to the farm. They do not eat on it.
- At a restaurant — They bring lunch from home. No restaurant is mentioned.
23. Why does Ms. Tran tell Henry to wear old shoes?
From “The Farm Trip”
- New shoes hurt on long walks.
- The farm can be muddy.Correct answer
- The bus is dirty.
- They will go swimming.
Why “The farm can be muddy.” is correct
Ms. Tran gives the reason after the word because: "the farm can be muddy." Old shoes are ones that are fine to get dirty. Listening for because helps students find reasons.
Why the other answers are wrong
- New shoes hurt on long walks. — Ms. Tran does not say anything about walking or shoes that hurt.
- The bus is dirty. — Nothing is said about the bus being dirty.
- They will go swimming. — Swimming is not part of the trip.
24. What happened to Darnell's new shoe?
From “The New Puppy”
- He lost it at the park after school.
- It got wet in the rain.
- Sofia borrowed it.
- The puppy chewed a hole in it.Correct answer
Why “The puppy chewed a hole in it.” is correct
Darnell says that last night Biscuit chewed his new shoe, and now it has a hole in it. This is a detail question, and the answer is stated directly.
Why the other answers are wrong
- He lost it at the park after school. — The shoe is not lost. Darnell knows it has a hole in it.
- It got wet in the rain. — Rain is not part of the conversation.
- Sofia borrowed it. — Sofia only asks questions. She does not borrow anything.
25. Darnell says, "I couldn't stay mad at him." What does Darnell mean?
From “The New Puppy”
- He stopped being mad at Biscuit.Correct answer
- He was never mad at all.
- He had to stay in his room.
- He was mad all night.
Why “He stopped being mad at Biscuit.” is correct
To "stay mad" means to keep being angry. "Couldn't stay mad" means the anger did not last. Darnell was a little mad, but when the puppy licked his face, he stopped. The word stay here does not mean staying in a place, which can confuse English learners.
Why the other answers are wrong
- He was never mad at all. — Darnell says he was mad "a little," so he was mad at first.
- He had to stay in his room. — This takes the word "stay" to mean staying in a place.
- He was mad all night. — This is the opposite. His anger ended when the puppy licked his face.
26. What can you tell about Darnell?
From “The New Puppy”
- He wants to give Biscuit away.
- He does not like dogs.
- He loves his new puppy.Correct answer
- He is still upset about his shoe.
Why “He loves his new puppy.” is correct
No one says "Darnell loves Biscuit," so the student has to decide what his words show. He shares the news excitedly, and even after the puppy ruins his shoe, he cannot stay mad. Those clues show he loves the puppy.
Why the other answers are wrong
- He wants to give Biscuit away. — Nothing Darnell says shows he wants to give the puppy away.
- He does not like dogs. — Darnell is excited to tell Sofia about his puppy, so he likes dogs.
- He is still upset about his shoe. — Darnell says he could not stay mad, so he is not still upset.
27. Which girl should you click on?
From “At the Pool”
- A girl swimming in the water with her friends
- A girl climbing up the ladder to get out of the pool
- A girl drying off with a towel after her swim
- A girl at the edge of the pool, ready to jumpCorrect answer
Why “A girl at the edge of the pool, ready to jump” is correct
"About to" means something will happen very soon but has not happened yet. The girl who is about to jump is still standing at the edge. Choice a is tempting because it shows the girl in the water, but she has already jumped. Phrases like "about to" are hard for many English learners.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A girl swimming in the water with her friends — This girl is already in the water, so she is not about to jump.
- A girl climbing up the ladder to get out of the pool — Climbing out is what you do after swimming, not before jumping in.
- A girl drying off with a towel after her swim — Drying off with a towel happens after you get out of the pool.
Read next
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- How to Prepare for TELPAS: Practice and Tips by Domain: TELPAS measures English that a student builds over months and years, so there is no shortcut to a higher rating. What preparation can do is make sure the test itself is familiar, so a student's real English shows. Here is what is worth doing, domain by domain.
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This is an independent study resource. It is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or connected to the Texas Education Agency or the official TELPAS program. All questions here are original practice material written to match the published test design.