What does the grandfather mean when he says, "The watch was never the gift"?
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 story. Then answer the questions.
A Story
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Show transcript
When Isaac was fifteen, his grandfather gave him an old pocket watch that no longer worked. Isaac was disappointed. He had hoped for money for new shoes.
"Take it to Mr. Larson on Main Street," his grandfather said. "Ask him to show you how to fix it. Don't let him fix it for you."
For three Saturdays, Isaac sat at the back of the small repair shop. Mr. Larson showed him how to open the case, how to clean each tiny gear, and how to use tweezers without losing the screws. On the third Saturday, the watch started ticking.
Isaac ran home to show his grandfather. The old man listened to the ticking, nodded, and handed the watch back.
"The watch was never the gift," he said.
The next month, Mr. Larson offered Isaac a part-time job.
The question
Choose the best answer.
What does the grandfather mean when he says, "The watch was never the gift"?
- He wants Isaac to give the watch back to him.
- He plans to buy Isaac a better gift later.
- The real gift was what Isaac learned.Correct answer
- The watch was too old to be worth any money.
Why “The real gift was what Isaac learned.” is correct
This tests understanding of a theme stated through a character's words. The grandfather planned for Isaac to learn, not just to own a watch, and the job offer at the end shows the value of that learning. The student must interpret the line, not just repeat it.
Why the other answers are wrong
- He wants Isaac to give the watch back to him. — He hands the watch back to Isaac, so he is not asking for it.
- He plans to buy Isaac a better gift later. — Nothing in the story suggests another gift.
- The watch was too old to be worth any money. — The value of the watch is not the point he is making.
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.