Which statement best describes Brandon's position?
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 discussion. Then answer the questions.
A Class Discussion
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Ms. Robinson: The city council has asked our civics class for student opinions on one question. The city owns an empty lot downtown, next to the library. One plan is to turn it into a parking lot. The other is to make it a small park with trees and benches. Amy, you're first.
Amy: I support the park. Downtown has almost no shade, and in summer the sidewalks are brutal. Students already walk to the library after school, and right now there's nowhere to sit outside. A park would make people want to spend time downtown, and that helps the businesses too.
Ms. Robinson: Brandon?
Brandon: I understand wanting shade. But the reason people don't come downtown is that they can't park. My mom drives around for ten minutes every time she goes to the library, and she's not the only one. If people can't park, they won't come at all, and then a park won't help anybody.
Amy: But more parking just brings more cars. A park gives people a reason to come in the first place.
Brandon: A reason to come doesn't matter if they have nowhere to leave the car.
The question
Choose the best answer.
Which statement best describes Brandon's position?
- Shade does not matter to any of the people who visit downtown.
- Parking is the bigger problem, so the lot should be used for cars.Correct answer
- The city should build a small park and a parking lot side by side.
- The library should offer more after-school programs for students.
Why “Parking is the bigger problem, so the lot should be used for cars.” is correct
This asks the student to sum up a speaker's opinion. Brandon first grants a point ("I understand wanting shade") and then turns with "But" to his real claim: people do not come downtown because they cannot park. Students who stop listening at the first sentence may think he agrees with Amy.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Shade does not matter to any of the people who visit downtown. — He says he understands wanting shade; he just thinks parking matters more.
- The city should build a small park and a parking lot side by side. — He argues for one plan, not for both.
- The library should offer more after-school programs for students. — He does not talk about library programs.
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.