What does Brandon mean when he says, "A reason to come doesn't matter if they have nowhere to leave the car"?
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
Press play to listen. You can pause, rewind, and replay as often as you like.
Show transcript
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.
What does Brandon mean when he says, "A reason to come doesn't matter if they have nowhere to leave the car"?
- People should leave their cars at home and walk to the downtown area.
- People will not visit a nice park if they cannot find parking.Correct answer
- A park would take away parking spaces that drivers are already using.
- Cars that people leave parked downtown are often damaged or stolen.
Why “People will not visit a nice park if they cannot find parking.” is correct
This asks the student to interpret a reply in an argument. Brandon answers Amy's point that a park gives people "a reason to come." He means that even a good reason will not bring people downtown if they cannot park. The phrase "leave the car" means park it, not abandon it.
Why the other answers are wrong
- People should leave their cars at home and walk to the downtown area. — He is arguing for more parking, not for walking.
- A park would take away parking spaces that drivers are already using. — The lot is empty now, so no parking spaces would be lost.
- Cars that people leave parked downtown are often damaged or stolen. — He says nothing about the safety of cars.
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.