TELPAS listening practice test 2 for 3rd 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 3.
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. Which thing is the teacher talking about?
From “Something Warm”
- A pillow
- A towel
- A blanketCorrect answer
- A jacket
Why “A blanket” is correct
This tests understanding a spoken description of an object. The teacher gives three clues: it keeps you warm in bed, it is big and soft, and you pull it up over your body. Only a blanket fits all three. On the real test the student would click a picture; here the pictures are named in words.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A pillow — A pillow is soft and used in bed, but you rest your head on it; you do not pull it over your body.
- A towel — A towel is for drying off, not for keeping warm in bed.
- A jacket — A jacket keeps you warm, but you wear it, usually outside; you do not pull it over you in bed.
2. What should students do right after they finish their math page?
From “After Math”
- Take out their library book
- Put the math page in the blue basketCorrect answer
- Read quietly at their desk
- Start working on a new math page at their desk
Why “Put the math page in the blue basket” is correct
This tests following a spoken direction that uses order words. After you finish tells the student what has already happened, and the very next step is putting the page in the blue basket. The word then marks the step that comes after that. Students who hold on to the last thing they heard may choose the library book.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Take out their library book — Taking out the library book is the next step after the basket; the word then shows it comes later.
- Read quietly at their desk — Reading quietly is the last thing the teacher asks for.
- Start working on a new math page at their desk — The teacher does not ask for another math page.
3. What does Shelly eat in the morning?
From “Shelly Goes Home”
- LettuceCorrect answer
- Carrots
- Small fish
- Apples
Why “Lettuce” is correct
This is a detail question. Naomi says, “She eats lettuce in the morning.” The detail comes in the middle of a longer turn about the rock and the lamp, so the student has to catch it while more information keeps coming.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Carrots — Carrots are not mentioned in the conversation.
- Small fish — Fish are not mentioned in the conversation.
- Apples — Apples are not mentioned in the conversation.
4. When should Darnell change Shelly’s water?
From “Shelly Goes Home”
- Every morning
- On Friday
- On SaturdayCorrect answer
- On Sunday
Why “On Saturday” is correct
This tests listening for a time detail. Naomi says, “Change her water on Saturday.” The word morning is also in the conversation, but it goes with feeding, so the student has to match each time to the right job.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Every morning — The morning is when Shelly eats lettuce, not when her water is changed.
- On Friday — Friday is not mentioned in the conversation.
- On Sunday — Sunday is not mentioned in the conversation.
5. Why should Shelly’s tank stay away from the window?
From “Shelly Goes Home”
- Shelly might climb out the window.
- The lamp works better in the dark.
- Shelly does not like noise.
- The sun can make her water too hot.Correct answer
Why “The sun can make her water too hot.” is correct
This tests understanding a reason a speaker says out loud. Right after telling Darnell to keep the tank away from the window, Naomi explains, “The sun can make her water too hot.” The reason comes in its own short sentence, so the student must connect it back to the window.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Shelly might climb out the window. — Naomi does not say anything about Shelly getting out.
- The lamp works better in the dark. — The lamp is where Shelly likes to sit; Naomi does not connect it to the window.
- Shelly does not like noise. — Noise is not mentioned in the conversation.
6. How does Darnell most likely feel about taking Shelly home?
From “Shelly Goes Home”
- Upset that it is not his turn
- Very excitedCorrect answer
- Bored with turtles
- Angry at his mom
Why “Very excited” is correct
This asks the student to work out a feeling that is never named. Darnell says “Yes!”, says he has waited all year for his turn, and says he asked his mom about ten times. Those clues together show he is excited, even though he never uses that word.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Upset that it is not his turn — It is his turn; he says yes, he gets to take her home.
- Bored with turtles — Someone who waited all year for a turn is not bored.
- Angry at his mom — His mom said yes; nothing shows he is angry with her.
7. When is picture day now?
From “End of the Day News”
- Tomorrow
- Friday afternoon
- Today
- Next TuesdayCorrect answer
Why “Next Tuesday” is correct
This tests catching a changed plan. Ms. Johnson first says picture day “was going to be tomorrow,” then says it “will now be next Tuesday.” English learners may grab the first day they hear, so the words was going to be and will now be are the key.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Tomorrow — Tomorrow was the old day; it was changed because the photographer is sick.
- Friday afternoon — Friday afternoon is when the lost and found things will be given away.
- Today — Today is the day of the announcement, not picture day.
8. What will happen on Friday to the things left in the lost and found box?
From “End of the Day News”
- They will be given away.Correct answer
- They will be sent back to classrooms.
- They will be moved to the gym.
- They will be used for picture day.
Why “They will be given away.” is correct
This is a detail question. Ms. Johnson says, “On Friday afternoon, everything left in the box will be given away.” The announcement has two pieces of news, so the student has to keep the lost and found news apart from picture day.
Why the other answers are wrong
- They will be sent back to classrooms. — Ms. Johnson does not say the things will go to classrooms.
- They will be moved to the gym. — The gym is not mentioned; the box is next to the front office.
- They will be used for picture day. — Picture day is a separate piece of news and is not on Friday.
9. A student lost a jacket last week. What should the student most likely do?
From “End of the Day News”
- Wait until picture day next Tuesday to look for it
- Ask the photographer about it
- Look in the box by the front office before FridayCorrect answer
- Buy a new jacket at the store on Friday afternoon
Why “Look in the box by the front office before Friday” is correct
This asks the student to apply the announcement to a new case. Ms. Johnson never tells students what to do, but she says the box has jackets in it, it is next to the front office, and things will be given away on Friday. Putting those facts together, a student who lost a jacket should check the box before then.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Wait until picture day next Tuesday to look for it — Picture day is next Tuesday, after the things in the box are given away.
- Ask the photographer about it — The photographer has nothing to do with the lost and found.
- Buy a new jacket at the store on Friday afternoon — The jacket may be in the box, so there is no reason to buy a new one yet.
10. What is the lesson mostly about?
From “How Seeds Travel”
- How to plant a garden
- Why birds like to eat berries
- What dogs do when they play in the grass
- Ways that seeds move to new placesCorrect answer
Why “Ways that seeds move to new places” is correct
This asks for the main idea of a short science lesson. The teacher says, “Here are three ways that seeds move,” and then gives the wind, animal fur, and birds as examples. The right answer covers the whole lesson, while the others name only one example.
Why the other answers are wrong
- How to plant a garden — The teacher does not tell how to plant anything.
- Why birds like to eat berries — Birds and berries are one example, not the whole lesson.
- What dogs do when they play in the grass — The dog is part of one example about seeds with hooks.
11. How does a dandelion seed travel?
From “How Seeds Travel”
- The wind carries it.Correct answer
- It sticks to a dog’s fur.
- A bird eats it.
- It rolls down a hill.
Why “The wind carries it.” is correct
This is a detail question. The teacher says a dandelion seed has soft, fluffy hairs, “so the wind can carry it far away.” Each wrong answer is a different way of traveling from the same lesson, so the student must match the dandelion to the right one.
Why the other answers are wrong
- It sticks to a dog’s fur. — Sticking to fur is how seeds with tiny hooks travel.
- A bird eats it. — Birds eat the seeds that are inside berries.
- It rolls down a hill. — Rolling is not one of the ways the teacher describes.
12. The teacher says the new plants would be crowded. What does crowded mean?
From “How Seeds Travel”
- Very tall and strong
- Hidden away in the dark
- Thirsty and needing water
- Packed too close togetherCorrect answer
Why “Packed too close together” is correct
This tests understanding a word as it is used in speech. The teacher says that if every seed fell under its plant, the plants would be crowded, and that a new place gives them more room. The phrase more room is the clue that crowded means packed too close together.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Very tall and strong — Crowded is about how much space there is, not how tall something is.
- Hidden away in the dark — Crowded does not mean hidden.
- Thirsty and needing water — Water is not part of this part of the lesson.
13. Why does the teacher start the lesson by saying, “Plants cannot walk”?
From “How Seeds Travel”
- To explain why plants grow so slowly
- To tell students not to step on the plants
- To show that seeds must move in other waysCorrect answer
- To teach that animals like dogs and birds can walk
Why “To show that seeds must move in other ways” is correct
This asks why a speaker opens with a certain idea. Because a plant cannot move itself, the rest of the lesson explains how its seeds still get somewhere new: wind, animal fur, and birds. The opening line sets up that problem. The student has to think about how the beginning connects to the rest.
Why the other answers are wrong
- To explain why plants grow so slowly — The lesson does not talk about how fast plants grow.
- To tell students not to step on the plants — The teacher is not giving a rule about plants.
- To teach that animals like dogs and birds can walk — Dogs and birds come up only as helpers that move seeds.
14. Where did Marisol work on the puzzle?
From “The Missing Piece”
- On the floor of her room
- At the kitchen tableCorrect answer
- At the beach
- At school
Why “At the kitchen table” is correct
This is a detail question. The narrator says, “Every afternoon, Marisol worked on the puzzle at the kitchen table.” The word beach is also in the story, but it describes the picture on the box.
Why the other answers are wrong
- On the floor of her room — Her room is not mentioned in the story.
- At the beach — The beach is the picture on the puzzle box, not where she worked.
- At school — School is not mentioned in the story.
15. What problem did Marisol have when the puzzle was almost done?
From “The Missing Piece”
- The puzzle box was lost.
- Tony broke the puzzle.
- One piece was missing.Correct answer
- The picture on the box was wrong.
Why “One piece was missing.” is correct
This tests understanding the problem in a story. The narrator says there was a hole in the middle of the lighthouse and “One piece was missing!” The rest of the story is about where that piece was.
Why the other answers are wrong
- The puzzle box was lost. — Marisol looks inside the box, so it is not lost.
- Tony broke the puzzle. — Tony does not break anything; he has the last piece.
- The picture on the box was wrong. — Nothing is said to be wrong with the picture.
16. Why did Tony most likely keep the last piece?
From “The Missing Piece”
- He wanted a chance to help with the puzzle.Correct answer
- He wanted to hide it and throw it away later.
- He did not like the lighthouse.
- He thought it was a piece of candy.
Why “He wanted a chance to help with the puzzle.” is correct
This asks the student to infer a reason the story never states. Earlier, Tony wanted to help but Marisol said he was too little. Holding the last piece meant he got to finish the puzzle, and Marisol seems to understand this when she lets him put it in and says they will do the next one together.
Why the other answers are wrong
- He wanted to hide it and throw it away later. — Tony shows the piece to Marisol and smiles; he is not trying to get rid of it.
- He did not like the lighthouse. — Nothing in the story says how Tony feels about the lighthouse.
- He thought it was a piece of candy. — Nothing in the story suggests he thought it was something else.
17. What does Coach Ramirez tell Priya to push the ball with?
From “Dribbling Practice”
- Her whole hand
- Her fingertipsCorrect answer
- Both of her feet
- Her knees
Why “Her fingertips” is correct
This is a detail question about advice. The coach says Priya is slapping with her whole hand and tells her to “try pushing it down with your fingertips instead.” The word instead signals the change from the wrong way to the right way.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Her whole hand — Using her whole hand is the mistake the coach notices.
- Both of her feet — This is basketball dribbling; feet are not mentioned.
- Her knees — Knees come up only to show how low to keep the ball.
18. Where will Priya get a ball at recess?
From “Dribbling Practice”
- From the coach’s office
- From her classroom
- From a friend
- From the green binCorrect answer
Why “From the green bin” is correct
This is a detail question. At the end, the coach says, “Take a ball from the green bin.” A detail that comes at the very end of a conversation is easy to miss, so the student has to keep listening until the last line.
Why the other answers are wrong
- From the coach’s office — An office is not mentioned.
- From her classroom — Her classroom is not mentioned.
- From a friend — No friend is mentioned in the conversation.
19. Why does Coach Ramirez tell Priya to walk before she tries running?
From “Dribbling Practice”
- Running is not allowed inside the school gym today
- Walking is a better way to get strong legs
- The bell for recess is about to ring very soon
- Moving slowly makes the ball easier to controlCorrect answer
Why “Moving slowly makes the ball easier to control” is correct
This asks for a reason the coach suggests but does not fully say. Priya’s problem is that the ball bounces away, and the coach says she can run once she can walk “without losing the ball.” So walking first is a slower, easier way to learn control.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Running is not allowed inside the school gym today — The coach says she can try running later, so running is allowed.
- Walking is a better way to get strong legs — The coach is talking about keeping control of the ball, not about getting strong legs.
- The bell for recess is about to ring very soon — The bell is mentioned only for putting the ball back at recess.
20. What are goods?
From “Goods and Services”
- Jobs that one person does to help another person
- Things people make or grow that you can holdCorrect answer
- Money that people use to buy things
- Places where people go to work
Why “Things people make or grow that you can hold” is correct
This tests a key definition from a short lesson. Mr. Turner says, “Goods are things that people make or grow. You can hold them in your hands.” The two new words are taught side by side, so the student has to keep goods and services apart.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Jobs that one person does to help another person — That is what the teacher says a service is.
- Money that people use to buy things — Money is not part of the lesson.
- Places where people go to work — The lesson does not describe goods as places.
21. Which example of a service does the teacher give?
From “Goods and Services”
- A mail carrier bringing lettersCorrect answer
- A basket of peaches from a farm
- A toy truck for a child to play with
- A loaf of bread from the bakery
Why “A mail carrier bringing letters” is correct
This is a detail question. The teacher names a barber cutting hair and a mail carrier bringing letters as services. The other choices are all things the teacher listed as goods, so the student has to remember which list each example was in.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A basket of peaches from a farm — A basket of peaches is one of the teacher’s examples of goods.
- A toy truck for a child to play with — A toy truck is one of the teacher’s examples of goods.
- A loaf of bread from the bakery — A loaf of bread is one of the teacher’s examples of goods.
22. Which of these is a service?
From “Goods and Services”
- A big box of crayons for drawing at school
- A dentist cleaning a child’s teethCorrect answer
- A bag of apples from the store
- A new bike with a red bell
Why “A dentist cleaning a child’s teeth” is correct
This asks the student to use the lesson on a new example the teacher did not give. A service is a job one person does for another. A dentist cleaning teeth is work done for someone, while the other choices are things you can hold.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A big box of crayons for drawing at school — A box of crayons is a thing you can hold, so it is a good.
- A bag of apples from the store — Apples are grown and can be held, so they are goods.
- A new bike with a red bell — A bike is made and can be held, so it is a good.
23. Why did the class earn a party?
From “Our Reading Party”
- They read many books this month.Correct answer
- They won a game at recess.
- They kept the classroom clean.
- They were quiet in the library.
Why “They read many books this month.” is correct
This is a detail question about a reason that is stated. Ms. Garza begins, “You read so many books this month that we earned a party!” The word that links the reading to the party.
Why the other answers are wrong
- They won a game at recess. — No game is mentioned.
- They kept the classroom clean. — Cleaning is not mentioned.
- They were quiet in the library. — The library comes up only because of the stairs on pajama day.
24. What will the class do next Friday?
From “Our Reading Party”
- Have a picnic lunch outside
- Vote for a kind of party
- Have a pajama dayCorrect answer
- Eat lunch in the library
Why “Have a pajama day” is correct
This tests following the result of a vote. Both choices are named, but Ms. Garza then says, “So next Friday will be pajama day.” Students who only remember that a picnic was mentioned may choose it.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Have a picnic lunch outside — The picnic got fewer votes, so the class will not have it.
- Vote for a kind of party — The vote already happened yesterday.
- Eat lunch in the library — The class will walk to the library, but nothing says they will eat there.
25. Why does Ms. Garza ask that the pajamas not be too long?
From “Our Reading Party”
- So nobody trips on the stairsCorrect answer
- So the pajamas stay clean
- So students can play outside
- So the pajamas fit in a backpack
Why “So nobody trips on the stairs” is correct
This asks for a reason the speaker suggests but does not say. Right after the request, Ms. Garza says the class will walk up and down the stairs to the library. Long pajamas could catch under a student’s feet on the stairs, so the request is about safety.
Why the other answers are wrong
- So the pajamas stay clean — Nothing is said about keeping the pajamas clean.
- So students can play outside — The class chose pajama day, not the picnic outside.
- So the pajamas fit in a backpack — Students will wear the pajamas, not carry them.
26. What does Ana mean when she says, “It was a piece of cake”?
From “The Swimming Lesson”
- She ate cake after the lesson.
- Floating was very easy.Correct answer
- Floating was very hard.
- She was hungry after swimming.
Why “Floating was very easy.” is correct
This tests understanding a common spoken expression. A piece of cake means something very easy. Ana answers “No” when Danny asks if floating was hard, and she says she floated all by herself, which supports that meaning.
Why the other answers are wrong
- She ate cake after the lesson. — No food is part of the conversation; the phrase is not about real cake.
- Floating was very hard. — Ana says no when Danny asks if it was hard.
- She was hungry after swimming. — Ana does not talk about being hungry.
27. Which animal is the teacher talking about?
From “A Very Tall Animal”
- An elephant
- A zebra
- A horse
- A giraffeCorrect answer
Why “A giraffe” is correct
This tests understanding a spoken description. A very long neck, long legs, and eating leaves from the tops of tall trees all describe a giraffe. On the real test the student would click a picture; here the pictures are named in words.
Why the other answers are wrong
- An elephant — An elephant eats leaves from trees, but it does not have a very long neck.
- A zebra — A zebra has a short neck and eats grass.
- A horse — A horse does not reach the tops of tall trees.
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.
- TELPAS Scores Explained: Levels, Scale Scores and What They Mean: A TELPAS report gives each of the four domains a level from Beginning to Advanced High, and combines them into a composite rating. From grade 2 there are scale scores as well. Here is what TELPAS scores mean, how the pieces fit together and how to read them.
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.