How does Monica respond to the problem with Saturday mornings?
Analyze and Evaluate Information in Spoken English · TELPAS Grades 10–12 listening. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.
Reporting category 3: make inferences from what was said, and work out a speaker's purpose, opinion, or what will happen next.
Listen to the job interview. Then answer the questions.
A Job Interview
Press play to listen. You can pause, rewind, and replay as often as you like.
Show transcript
Mr. Brennan: Thanks for coming in, Monica. I see you've never had a paid job before. Why do you want to work at an animal clinic?
Monica: I want to study to become a vet tech after high school, so I'd like to see what the work is really like. Also, I've taken care of my neighbor's dogs for two summers while she travels, so I'm used to feeding schedules and giving medicine.
Mr. Brennan: That's helpful. This job is mostly cleaning kennels and answering the phone, though. Not a lot of time with the animals at first. How do you feel about that?
Monica: That's fine. I figured I'd have to start with the basic jobs. If I do them well, maybe later I can help more with the animals.
Mr. Brennan: Good attitude. Last question: we need someone on Saturday mornings. Is that a problem?
Monica: I have band rehearsal on Saturdays until October, but after that I'm free. Could I start Saturdays in November and work weekday afternoons until then?
The question
Choose the best answer.
How does Monica respond to the problem with Saturday mornings?
- She explains the conflict and offers another schedule.Correct answer
- She says she will quit band rehearsal so she can work Saturdays.
- She asks Mr. Brennan to give the job to someone else.
- She refuses to work weekends at any time during the year.
Why “She explains the conflict and offers another schedule.” is correct
This tests analyzing how a speaker handles a problem. Monica is honest about the conflict but offers a solution: weekday afternoons now and Saturdays starting in November. Recognizing this kind of compromise is useful for both listening and real interviews.
Why the other answers are wrong
- She says she will quit band rehearsal so she can work Saturdays. — She says she has rehearsal until October; she does not offer to quit.
- She asks Mr. Brennan to give the job to someone else. — She asks for a different schedule, which shows she still wants the job.
- She refuses to work weekends at any time during the year. — She offers to start Saturdays in November.
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.