TELPAS reading and writing practice test 2 for 3rd grade
A second reading and writing test, the length of the real one, with new passages and editing 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
- 40 questions covering reading and writing.
- 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.
What this test covers
- Understand Words and Language Structures (12 questions): Reporting category 1: work out what words and phrases mean from context, and understand how sentences and word forms work.
- Basic Understanding of a Variety of Texts (10 questions): Reporting category 2: find the main idea and key details, and follow what happens in stories and informational texts.
- Analyze and Evaluate Information and Ideas (12 questions): Reporting category 3: make inferences, draw conclusions, and think about why the author wrote a text and how it is built.
- Use Standard Grammar, Usage, and Spelling to Edit (6 questions): Reporting category 2: find and fix an error in a short text. On the real test some of these are typed answers or sentence rewrites. Here they are multiple choice so they can be checked.
To work on one part at a time, use the reading practice for Grade 3 and writing 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.
Reading
1. Read this sentence from the passage. “Jenny frowned.” What does the word frowned mean?
From “Jenny’s Triangle”
- Made an unhappy faceCorrect answer
- Laughed out loud
- Jumped up and down
- Nodded yes
Why “Made an unhappy face” is correct
This tests using context to work out a word. Jenny wanted the drums but got a triangle, and right after she frowns she complains, “It only makes one sound.” Those clues show she is unhappy, and a frown is an unhappy face.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Laughed out loud — Jenny is not happy about the triangle, so she is not laughing.
- Jumped up and down — Frowning is something you do with your face, not your body.
- Nodded yes — Jenny is complaining about the triangle, not agreeing.
2. When does Jenny’s triangle play in the song?
From “Jenny’s Triangle”
- At the very start of the song
- Every time that the drums play
- Many times in the middle of the song
- At the end, after the drums stopCorrect answer
Why “At the end, after the drums stop” is correct
This is a detail question. Paragraph 3 says, “Her triangle played only once, at the very end of the song, after the drums stopped.” The student needs all three parts of that detail to rule out the other choices.
Why the other answers are wrong
- At the very start of the song — The triangle does not play at the start.
- Every time that the drums play — The triangle plays after the drums stop, not with them.
- Many times in the middle of the song — The story says the triangle plays only once.
3. Why can everyone in the gym hear the triangle?
From “Jenny’s Triangle”
- Jenny hits it as hard as she can.
- Mr. Parker turns up a microphone.
- The room is silent when she plays it.Correct answer
- Her dad is sitting in the front row.
Why “The room is silent when she plays it.” is correct
This asks the student to connect two details to explain an event. The drums stop, “the room was silent,” and then Jenny taps the triangle. One small sound in a quiet room carries a long way. The story does not say this is the reason, so the student must infer it.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Jenny hits it as hard as she can. — The story says she tapped it, which is a light hit.
- Mr. Parker turns up a microphone. — No microphone is mentioned in the story.
- Her dad is sitting in the front row. — Her dad says he heard her from the back row.
4. What lesson does Jenny learn in this story?
From “Jenny’s Triangle”
- The drums are the best instrument.
- A small part can still be important.Correct answer
- It is better to practice alone.
- A big gym is the best place for a show.
Why “A small part can still be important.” is correct
This asks for the theme of the whole story. At first Jenny is unhappy because the triangle “only makes one sound,” but at the show that one sound is heard across the gym and her dad notices it. Her last thought, “One sound had been enough,” shows what she has learned.
Why the other answers are wrong
- The drums are the best instrument. — The story ends with the triangle being heard, not with praise for the drums.
- It is better to practice alone. — Jenny practices with the band, and the story never compares practicing alone.
- A big gym is the best place for a show. — The gym is only the setting; the story is not about places for shows.
5. Why are prairie dogs called “dogs”?
From “Prairie Dogs”
- They belong to the same family as dogs.
- Their sound is a little like a bark.Correct answer
- They dig holes in the ground like dogs do.
- They live near people on farms and ranches.
Why “Their sound is a little like a bark.” is correct
This is a detail question about a reason that is stated. Paragraph 1 says they got their name “because the sound they make is a little like a dog’s bark.” The first sentence, “Prairie dogs are not really dogs,” warns the reader not to assume the name means they are dogs.
Why the other answers are wrong
- They belong to the same family as dogs. — The passage says they are in the squirrel family, not the dog family.
- They dig holes in the ground like dogs do. — Prairie dogs do dig, but the passage does not give this as the reason for the name.
- They live near people on farms and ranches. — The passage says they live in grasslands, not with people.
6. In paragraph 2, what does the word town mean?
From “Prairie Dogs”
- A place where many people live and shop
- A field of tall grass
- A family of hawks
- A big group of tunnels where prairie dogs liveCorrect answer
Why “A big group of tunnels where prairie dogs live” is correct
This tests a word used in a special way. Most students know town as a place where people live, but paragraph 2 says the prairie dogs’ “big group of tunnels is called a town.” The student has to use the meaning the passage gives instead of the everyday one.
Why the other answers are wrong
- A place where many people live and shop — That is the usual meaning of town, but this paragraph is about prairie dogs, not people.
- A field of tall grass — Grasslands are where the town is, but the town itself is the tunnels.
- A family of hawks — Hawks are animals that hunt prairie dogs; they are in paragraph 3.
7. Why do a few prairie dogs stand up and look around while the others eat?
From “Prairie Dogs”
- To watch for dangerCorrect answer
- To find more grass
- To get warm in the sun
- To greet their family
Why “To watch for danger” is correct
This asks the student to work out the purpose of an action. Paragraph 3 says that if a watcher sees a hawk or a coyote, it barks and all the prairie dogs dive into their holes. The passage does not use the words danger or safe, so the student has to put the action and its result together.
Why the other answers are wrong
- To find more grass — The ones standing up are looking around, not eating.
- To get warm in the sun — The sun is not mentioned in the passage.
- To greet their family — Greeting is described in paragraph 4 and is done by touching mouths, not standing up.
8. What is the passage mostly about?
From “Prairie Dogs”
- How hawks and coyotes hunt for their food
- Why West Texas has so many grasslands
- What prairie dogs are like and how they liveCorrect answer
- How to dig a tunnel with rooms under the ground
Why “What prairie dogs are like and how they live” is correct
This asks for the main idea of the whole passage. The paragraphs cover the prairie dog’s name, its home, how it stays safe, and how it greets family. The right answer covers all of them, while each wrong answer is one small detail or something not explained.
Why the other answers are wrong
- How hawks and coyotes hunt for their food — Hawks are mentioned only once, as an animal prairie dogs watch for.
- Why West Texas has so many grasslands — West Texas is named only as one place prairie dogs live.
- How to dig a tunnel with rooms under the ground — Digging is one detail in paragraph 2, and the passage does not explain how to do it.
9. Where should a student go at 6:30?
From “Science Night”
- To the gym
- To the cafeteria
- To the libraryCorrect answer
- To the back field
Why “To the library” is correct
This tests reading across a row of a schedule. The 6:30 line says to look at bugs with a magnifying glass in the library. Each wrong answer is the place for a different time on the same poster.
Why the other answers are wrong
- To the gym — The gym is for paper rockets at 6:00.
- To the cafeteria — The cafeteria is for floating and sinking at 7:00.
- To the back field — The back field is for the telescope at 7:30.
10. What does a magnifying glass help you do?
From “Science Night”
- Make small things look biggerCorrect answer
- See things that are very far away, like the moon
- Measure how long a bug is
- Catch bugs so they cannot fly away
Why “Make small things look bigger” is correct
This tests knowing a science word. To magnify means to make something look bigger, which is why it is used for looking at bugs. The poster also names a telescope, which helps you see far-away things, so students have to keep the two tools apart.
Why the other answers are wrong
- See things that are very far away, like the moon — That is what a telescope does; the poster uses a telescope for the moon.
- Measure how long a bug is — Measuring length is done with a ruler.
- Catch bugs so they cannot fly away — A magnifying glass is for looking, not catching.
11. Why is the telescope activity on the back field?
From “Science Night”
- The bugs for the library come from the back field.
- The cafeteria is too small for building rockets.
- The gym is closed after 6:00.
- Students must be outside to see the sky.Correct answer
Why “Students must be outside to see the sky.” is correct
This asks the student to infer a reason the poster does not give. Looking at the moon through a telescope means looking at the sky, and you need to be outdoors to do that. The other choices mix up details from the other rows or add facts that are not on the poster.
Why the other answers are wrong
- The bugs for the library come from the back field. — The poster does not say where the bugs come from; the bug activity is in the library.
- The cafeteria is too small for building rockets. — The rockets are built in the gym, and room size is not mentioned.
- The gym is closed after 6:00. — The poster says nothing about the gym closing.
12. What should you do right after you tie the string?
From “How to Make a Pinecone Bird Feeder”
- Find a large pinecone
- Spread peanut butter on the pineconeCorrect answer
- Roll the pinecone in the plate of birdseed
- Hang the feeder from a branch
Why “Spread peanut butter on the pinecone” is correct
This tests following the order of steps. Tying the string is Step 1, and Step 2 is spreading peanut butter with the spoon. The word right in the question means the very next step, not any later one.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Find a large pinecone — You need the pinecone before you can tie the string to it.
- Roll the pinecone in the plate of birdseed — Rolling it in birdseed is Step 3, after the peanut butter.
- Hang the feeder from a branch — Hanging the feeder is Step 4.
13. In Step 2, what does the word scales mean?
From “How to Make a Pinecone Bird Feeder”
- Tools that tell you how much something weighs
- The stiff parts that stick out of a pineconeCorrect answer
- The thin, flat pieces that cover a fish
- Musical notes sung in order
Why “The stiff parts that stick out of a pinecone” is correct
This tests choosing the right meaning of a word that has several. The sentence talks about pushing peanut butter into “the spaces between the scales” of the pinecone, so here scales are the parts that stick out of it. Students who know only the weighing or fish meaning need to use the sentence to pick the right one.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Tools that tell you how much something weighs — Scales can mean tools for weighing, but you cannot spread peanut butter between the parts of a pinecone with them.
- The thin, flat pieces that cover a fish — Fish have scales too, but there is no fish in these directions.
- Musical notes sung in order — A musical scale has nothing to do with a pinecone.
14. Why does the author say to hang the feeder where you can see it from a window?
From “How to Make a Pinecone Bird Feeder”
- So you can watch the birds come to eatCorrect answer
- So the birds can see inside the house
- So the peanut butter stays warm
- So the feeder does not fall down
Why “So you can watch the birds come to eat” is correct
This asks for the reason behind a step. The directions never say why, but Step 5 says to be patient until the birds find the food, which suggests you will be watching for them. Being able to see the feeder from inside lets you do that.
Why the other answers are wrong
- So the birds can see inside the house — The directions are about you watching the birds, not the birds looking in.
- So the peanut butter stays warm — A window does not keep the feeder warm; it hangs outside.
- So the feeder does not fall down — The loop of string keeps the feeder up, not the window.
15. Why does the author begin with a sentence about winter?
From “How to Make a Pinecone Bird Feeder”
- To tell when pinecones fall from trees
- To warn that peanut butter gets hard in the cold
- To describe what birds look like in winter
- To explain why birds may need help finding foodCorrect answer
Why “To explain why birds may need help finding food” is correct
This is an author’s purpose question about an opening sentence. The first paragraph says it can be hard for birds to find food in winter and that a feeder can help them. That gives the reader a reason to follow the steps that come next.
Why the other answers are wrong
- To tell when pinecones fall from trees — The passage does not say when pinecones fall.
- To warn that peanut butter gets hard in the cold — The passage says nothing about peanut butter and cold.
- To describe what birds look like in winter — The passage does not describe how birds look.
16. In paragraph 2, what does the word bruised mean?
From “Jada’s Peaches”
- Very sweet and ready to be eaten right away
- Washed in cold water
- Hurt so that it has a soft, dark spotCorrect answer
- Cut into small pieces
Why “Hurt so that it has a soft, dark spot” is correct
This tests using a context clue that comes right before a word. The sentence before says that after the peach hit the ground, “it had a soft brown spot.” The next sentence names that: it was bruised. Students can look for a description followed by a word that sums it up.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Very sweet and ready to be eaten right away — The peach has a soft brown spot from falling, which is not a good thing.
- Washed in cold water — Nobody washes the peach in the story.
- Cut into small pieces — The peach is not cut in the story.
17. What is Jada’s job at the market?
From “Jada’s Peaches”
- Stacking the peaches in neat rowsCorrect answer
- Picking peaches from the trees
- Taking money from the people who buy peaches
- Carrying baskets to people’s cars
Why “Stacking the peaches in neat rows” is correct
This is a detail question. Paragraph 1 says, “Her job is to stack the peaches in neat rows so people can see the best ones.” The phrase Her job is points straight to the answer.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Picking peaches from the trees — The story takes place at the market, not on the farm.
- Taking money from the people who buy peaches — The story does not say Jada handles money.
- Carrying baskets to people’s cars — Carrying baskets is not mentioned.
18. Why does the boy’s lip start to shake?
From “Jada’s Peaches”
- He is cold from the morning air.
- He is upset that he dropped the peach.Correct answer
- He is trying hard not to laugh at Jada.
- He wants to eat the bruised peach.
Why “He is upset that he dropped the peach.” is correct
This asks the student to infer a feeling from a body clue. A shaking lip is a sign that someone is about to cry, and it happens right after the boy drops and bruises the peach. English learners may not know this clue, so it is worth talking about.
Why the other answers are wrong
- He is cold from the morning air. — The story is set in summer, and nothing says he is cold.
- He is trying hard not to laugh at Jada. — Jada has done nothing funny; she is about to help him.
- He wants to eat the bruised peach. — Jada gives him a new peach, and nothing shows he wants the bruised one.
19. Why does the boy’s mother buy two whole baskets?
From “Jada’s Peaches”
- The peaches are cheaper later in the morning.
- Jada’s dad asks her to buy them.
- Her son dropped two more peaches.
- She is glad that Jada was kind to her son.Correct answer
Why “She is glad that Jada was kind to her son.” is correct
This tests understanding cause and effect in a story. The mother says her son told her about “the kind girl at the peach stand,” and then she buys two baskets. Dad’s line, “Being kind is good for business,” confirms the connection.
Why the other answers are wrong
- The peaches are cheaper later in the morning. — Prices are not mentioned in the story.
- Jada’s dad asks her to buy them. — Dad does not speak to the mother in the story.
- Her son dropped two more peaches. — Only one peach is dropped in the story.
20. What is the queen bee’s job?
From “Honeybees”
- To guard the door of the hive
- To collect nectar from flowers
- To lay eggsCorrect answer
- To feed the young bees
Why “To lay eggs” is correct
This is a detail question. Paragraph 2 says the queen is the mother of the hive and “Her job is to lay eggs.” Every wrong answer is a job the passage gives to the worker bees, so the student has to keep the two kinds of bee apart.
Why the other answers are wrong
- To guard the door of the hive — Guarding the door is a job of the worker bees.
- To collect nectar from flowers — Collecting nectar is a job of the worker bees.
- To feed the young bees — Feeding the young bees is a job of the worker bees.
21. In paragraph 2, the worker bees “guard the door.” What does guard mean?
From “Honeybees”
- Watch over to keep safeCorrect answer
- Open it wide for other bees
- Clean and wash it well
- Build a brand new one
Why “Watch over to keep safe” is correct
This tests knowing a common action word. To guard something is to watch over it and keep it safe. The same sentence lists other jobs, such as cleaning the hive, so the student cannot just pick a job that sounds nearby.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Open it wide for other bees — The bees are not opening the door.
- Clean and wash it well — Cleaning is a different job named in the same sentence.
- Build a brand new one — The bees are not building a door.
22. What do worker bees collect from flowers?
From “Honeybees”
- Honey
- NectarCorrect answer
- Eggs
- Leaves
Why “Nectar” is correct
This is a detail question. Paragraph 3 says worker bees fly from flower to flower “to collect nectar,” and then turn the nectar into honey back at the hive. Students who know that bees and honey go together may pick honey, so the order of events matters.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Honey — The bees make honey back at the hive; they do not find it in flowers.
- Eggs — The queen lays eggs; they do not come from flowers.
- Leaves — Leaves are not mentioned in the passage.
23. Which sentence from the passage best shows that honeybees help each other?
From “Honeybees”
- “The queen bee is the mother of the hive.”
- “Worker bees also fly from flower to flower to collect nectar, a sweet liquid inside flowers.”
- “The honey is food for the bees in winter.”
- “The way she moves shows the other bees which way to fly to find the flowers.”Correct answer
Why ““The way she moves shows the other bees which way to fly to find the flowers.”” is correct
This tests finding evidence for an idea. In the dance sentence, one bee shares what she found so the others can find food too, which is helping. The other sentences are true, but they describe one bee or one thing rather than bees helping each other.
Why the other answers are wrong
- “The queen bee is the mother of the hive.” — This tells who the queen is, not how bees help each other.
- “Worker bees also fly from flower to flower to collect nectar, a sweet liquid inside flowers.” — This describes what a single bee does at flowers, not bees helping one another.
- “The honey is food for the bees in winter.” — This tells what honey is for, not how the bees help each other.
24. When does Valeria write in her journal?
From “A Letter to Tía Rosa”
- Every night before bedCorrect answer
- Every morning before school
- Only on her birthday
- Only on class trips
Why “Every night before bed” is correct
This is a detail question. Valeria writes, “I write in my journal every night before bed.” The other choices use words from the letter, like birthday and trip, so the student has to find the sentence that answers when.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Every morning before school — The letter says night, not morning.
- Only on her birthday — The journal was a birthday gift, but she writes in it every night.
- Only on class trips — She wrote about a trip, but she wrote it at home at night.
25. Valeria says some pages are secret. What does secret mean?
From “A Letter to Tía Rosa”
- Very funny to read
- Easy for anyone to read
- Kept from other peopleCorrect answer
- Lost or missing from the book
Why “Kept from other people” is correct
This tests a common word in context. Valeria will read some pages to her aunt, “But not the pages about my little brother. Those are secret!” The contrast with sharing shows that secret means kept to herself. The journal’s lock and key support this meaning too.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Very funny to read — Valeria does not say the pages are funny.
- Easy for anyone to read — Secret is about who may read something, not how easy it is.
- Lost or missing from the book — The pages are in her journal; they are not lost.
26. What is the main reason Valeria wrote this letter?
From “A Letter to Tía Rosa”
- To ask Tía Rosa to visit in July
- To thank Tía Rosa for the journalCorrect answer
- To tell secrets about her little brother
- To explain how a lock and key work
Why “To thank Tía Rosa for the journal” is correct
This is an author’s purpose question about a letter. Valeria opens with “Thank you for the journal,” and the rest of the letter tells how she uses it. The thank-you is the reason for writing; the other parts support it.
Why the other answers are wrong
- To ask Tía Rosa to visit in July — The visit is already planned; Valeria mentions it but does not ask for it.
- To tell secrets about her little brother — She says those pages are secret, so she is not sharing them.
- To explain how a lock and key work — The lock and key are only a detail about the journal.
27. What does Grandpa mean when he says he is feeling “under the weather”?
From “Sunday Lunch”
- He is standing outside in the rain.
- He is too busy to come.
- He wants to go outside and play.
- He is feeling sick.Correct answer
Why “He is feeling sick.” is correct
This tests understanding an idiom, a phrase that does not mean what its words say. Under the weather means a little sick. Grandpa’s next words, about a sore throat, a cough, hot tea and bed, are the clues.
Why the other answers are wrong
- He is standing outside in the rain. — Grandpa is talking about how he feels, not about the weather outside.
- He is too busy to come. — He stays home to rest, not to do work.
- He wants to go outside and play. — He plans to rest in bed.
28. What did Luis most likely do at recess?
From “After Recess”
- He played a soccer game on a muddy field.Correct answer
- He read a book under a tree.
- He helped plant flowers in the garden.
- He sat on a bench and watched.
Why “He played a soccer game on a muddy field.” is correct
This tests drawing a conclusion from several clues. Muddy sneakers, red cheeks, a soccer ball and “We won!” all point to a soccer game. The text never says he played soccer, so the student must put the clues together.
Why the other answers are wrong
- He read a book under a tree. — Reading would not leave his sneakers muddy, and he is holding a soccer ball.
- He helped plant flowers in the garden. — Mud could come from a garden, but the soccer ball and “We won!” point to a game.
- He sat on a bench and watched. — Sitting and watching would not make his cheeks red and his shoes muddy.
29. In this passage, what does the word ring mean?
From “Grandma’s Ring”
- The sound that a bell makes
- A piece of jewelry worn on a fingerCorrect answer
- A circle drawn on paper
- A group of people standing in a circle
Why “A piece of jewelry worn on a finger” is correct
This tests choosing the right meaning of a word with more than one meaning. The ring is gold with a blue stone, and Grandma slips it “back on her finger.” Those clues show it is jewelry, not a sound or a circle.
Why the other answers are wrong
- The sound that a bell makes — Ring can mean a bell’s sound, but Grandma puts this ring on her finger.
- A circle drawn on paper — Nothing is drawn in the passage.
- A group of people standing in a circle — The ring is something small found in the dirt.
30. What does the word careless mean?
From “The Homework”
- Very careful
- Careful again
- Not carefulCorrect answer
- Full of care
Why “Not careful” is correct
This tests a word ending. The ending -less means without, so careless means without care, or not careful. The story supports it: Adrian left his homework on the floor, and the puppy chewed it.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Very careful — This is the opposite; the ending -less means without.
- Careful again — Again is the meaning of the prefix re-, not the ending -less.
- Full of care — Full of is the meaning of the ending -ful, as in careful.
31. What causes day and night?
From “Day and Night”
- Earth spins, so each side faces the sun in turn.Correct answer
- The sun moves all the way around Earth every day.
- Clouds cover up the sun every night.
- The moon blocks the sun’s light each night.
Why “Earth spins, so each side faces the sun in turn.” is correct
This tests understanding the main point of a science passage. Paragraphs 2 and 3 explain that Earth spins, the side facing the sun has day, and the side facing away has night. The idea that the sun moves around Earth is a common mistake, and the passage says it is not true.
Why the other answers are wrong
- The sun moves all the way around Earth every day. — The passage says the sun only seems to move.
- Clouds cover up the sun every night. — Clouds are not mentioned in the passage.
- The moon blocks the sun’s light each night. — The moon is not mentioned in the passage.
32. In paragraph 1, the sun “seems to come up in the east.” What does seems mean?
From “Day and Night”
- Really does every day
- Looks like it doesCorrect answer
- Never does
- Wants to
Why “Looks like it does” is correct
This tests a word that shows something only appears to be true. The passage says the sun seems to rise, “But the sun is not really moving,” and “It only looks that way.” Those sentences explain seems for the reader.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Really does every day — The passage says the sun is not really moving, so seems cannot mean really does.
- Never does — The sun does appear to come up every morning.
- Wants to — The sun cannot want anything.
33. In paragraph 3, “one side of it faces the sun.” What does faces mean in this sentence?
From “Day and Night”
- Has eyes and a mouth
- Makes a silly look
- Is afraid of
- Is turned towardCorrect answer
Why “Is turned toward” is correct
This tests a word that is usually a noun but is used here as a verb. Faces means is turned toward, and the next sentences contrast it with “faces away from the sun.” Students who know face only as part of the body need the sentence to find this meaning.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Has eyes and a mouth — That describes a face as a noun; Earth does not have one.
- Makes a silly look — Making faces means making silly looks, but Earth cannot do that.
- Is afraid of — Nothing in the passage is about being afraid.
34. When it is daytime where you live, what is most likely true on the other side of Earth?
From “Day and Night”
- It is daytime there, too.
- Earth has stopped spinning there.
- It is nighttime there.Correct answer
- The sun is coming up in the west there.
Why “It is nighttime there.” is correct
This asks the student to apply the passage to a new question. If your side of Earth faces the sun, the other side faces away from it, and paragraph 3 says that side has night. The passage does not answer this exact question, so the student has to reason it out.
Why the other answers are wrong
- It is daytime there, too. — Only the side facing the sun has day; the other side faces away.
- Earth has stopped spinning there. — The passage says Earth is always spinning.
- The sun is coming up in the west there. — The passage says the sun seems to come up in the east.
Writing
35. Read the sentence. The underlined word has an error. In the fall, the [leafs] on our tree turn orange and red. Which word should replace the underlined word?
- leaf
- leafes
- leavesCorrect answer
- leave
Why “leaves” is correct
This tests an irregular plural spelling. Many words that end in f change the f to v and add -es to become plural, so leaf becomes leaves, as half becomes halves. The verb turn, without an -s, also tells us the subject is plural.
Why the other answers are wrong
- leaf — Leaf is singular, but the sentence is about many leaves on the tree.
- leafes — Leafes is not a word; the f changes to v.
- leave — Leave is a different word that means to go away.
36. Read the sentence. The underlined word has an error. Yesterday Ana [drinked] all of her milk at lunch. Which word should replace the underlined word?
- drinks
- drankCorrect answer
- drunk
- drinking
Why “drank” is correct
This tests the past tense of an irregular verb. Yesterday shows the action is in the past, and the past tense of drink is drank, not drinked. English learners often add -ed to every verb, so irregular verbs like drink, sing and swim are worth practicing.
Why the other answers are wrong
- drinks — Drinks is present tense, but yesterday needs the past tense.
- drunk — Drunk needs a helper verb, as in “she has drunk.”
- drinking — Drinking needs a helper verb, as in “she was drinking.”
37. Read the sentence. The underlined word has an error. Of all the kids in my class, Leo is the [taller]. Which word should replace the underlined word?
- tall
- more tall
- most tallest
- tallestCorrect answer
Why “tallest” is correct
This tests choosing between comparing words. Taller compares two people, but “Of all the kids in my class” compares Leo with many people, so the sentence needs tallest. The words of all are the signal to use -est.
Why the other answers are wrong
- tall — Tall does not compare; the sentence compares Leo with the whole class.
- more tall — Short words like tall take an ending, not more.
- most tallest — Most and -est together double the comparison.
38. Read the sentence. The underlined word has an error. [Its] raining, so we will have recess inside today. Which word should replace the underlined word?
- It’sCorrect answer
- Its’
- It
- Is
Why “It’s” is correct
This tests the difference between its and it’s. It’s is short for it is, which is what this sentence needs: it is raining. Its without an apostrophe shows ownership, as in “The dog wagged its tail.” Many writers mix these up, so it is worth saying the sentence with it is to check.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Its’ — Its’ is not a correct English word.
- It — “It raining” is missing the verb is.
- Is — “Is raining” is missing the subject it.
39. Which sentence is written correctly?
- My brother don’t like spinach.
- We was late for the bus this morning.
- My cousins are coming to visit on Saturday.Correct answer
- The birds is singing in the tree.
Why “My cousins are coming to visit on Saturday.” is correct
This is like a sentence-rewrite item: the student has to check each sentence for an error. Only the correct sentence matches its subject and verb, with the plural cousins and the plural verb are. Each of the others pairs a subject with the wrong form of do or be.
Why the other answers are wrong
- My brother don’t like spinach. — One person needs doesn’t: “My brother doesn’t like spinach.”
- We was late for the bus this morning. — We needs were, not was.
- The birds is singing in the tree. — The plural birds needs are, not is.
40. Read the sentence. Every day at recess, my friend and I plays tag on the field. Which word in the sentence has an error?
- day
- playsCorrect answer
- tag
- field
Why “plays” is correct
This is like the first part of a two-part item: find the error before fixing it. The subject is my friend and I, which is two people, so the verb should be play, not plays. Students may hear “my friend plays” and forget that and I makes the subject plural.
Why the other answers are wrong
- day — Every day is correct; it tells how often.
- tag — Tag is the name of the game and is used correctly.
- field — Field is spelled correctly and used correctly.
Read next
- TELPAS Reading and Writing Test: What to Expect and How to Practice: The TELPAS reading and writing test is the second of the two online TELPAS tests for grades 2–12. Students read passages and answer questions, fix errors in sentences, and write three responses of their own, all in one test. Here is how it is built, how it is scored, and how to practice for it.
- TELPAS Writing Test: Rubric, Prompts and Samples: Since spring 2023, TELPAS writing in grades 2–12 has been part of the online reading and writing test, with three written responses and six editing questions. Here is what the writing prompts look like, how the TELPAS writing rubric works, where to find real writing samples, and how to practice.
- 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.
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.