What policy are the students debating?
Basic Understanding of Spoken English · TELPAS Grades 10–12 listening. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.
Reporting category 2: understand the main points and important details of spoken stories and informational passages, about everyday life and school subjects.
Listen to the debate. Then answer the questions.
A Class Debate
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Ms. Robinson: Our topic today is the proposed policy that phones must stay in lockers for the whole school day, including lunch. Elijah, you're arguing for it. Go ahead.
Elijah: Thanks. Right now phones are supposed to be away during class, but everyone knows that doesn't really happen. Teachers spend time every period asking people to put them away. If phones are in lockers all day, that argument just disappears. And at lunch, people would actually talk to each other instead of scrolling.
Ms. Robinson: Elena, your response.
Elena: I agree that phones in class are a problem. But this policy punishes everyone for what some students do in class. A lot of us use lunch to check our work schedules or text our parents about who's picking up our little brothers and sisters. Those aren't small things. I'd support a policy that's strict during class but leaves lunch alone.
Elijah: But if lunch is allowed, people will just keep them in their pockets and take them out in class.
Elena: Then enforce the rule that already exists. Taking away lunch doesn't fix a problem in third period.
The question
Choose the best answer.
What policy are the students debating?
- Allowing phones in class for school assignments
- Keeping phones in lockers all day, even at lunchCorrect answer
- Taking phones away from students who are late
- Banning phones from the school building entirely
Why “Keeping phones in lockers all day, even at lunch” is correct
This tests understanding of the topic, which Ms. Robinson states at the start: phones 'must stay in lockers for the whole school day, including lunch'. The 'banning from the building' choice sounds similar but changes an important detail.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Allowing phones in class for school assignments — No one proposes allowing phones in class.
- Taking phones away from students who are late — Lateness is not part of the debate.
- Banning phones from the school building entirely — The phones would stay in lockers, which are inside the building.
Practice more of this
More listening practice for Grades 10–12, or see the TELPAS practice test for 10th–12th grade.
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.