How does Mateo feel when his tooth comes out?
Analyze and Evaluate Information and Ideas · TELPAS Grade 2 reading. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.
Reporting category 3: make inferences, draw conclusions, and think about why the author wrote a text and how it is built.
Read the story. Then answer the questions.
Mateo's Loose Tooth
Mateo had a loose tooth. It wiggled every time he ate.
At lunch, Mateo bit into a crunchy apple. Crunch! The tooth came out. Mateo held it up and smiled a big smile with a gap in it.
"Ms. Flores, look!" he said. Ms. Flores gave him a tiny paper envelope. Mateo put the tooth inside and closed it tight.
He put the envelope in his backpack. He could not wait to show his dad after school.
The question
Choose the best answer.
How does Mateo feel when his tooth comes out?
- ExcitedCorrect answer
- Embarrassed
- Angry
- Sleepy
Why “Excited” is correct
The story does not name Mateo's feeling, so the student has to use clues: he smiles a big smile, calls out "look!", and cannot wait to show his dad. Finding clues for a feeling that is not stated is an inference skill. Ask the student, "What did Mateo do that shows how he felt?"
Why the other answers are wrong
- Embarrassed — Mateo smiles and shows the tooth to his teacher. Nothing shows he is afraid.
- Angry — Nothing in the story shows Mateo is mad.
- Sleepy — Mateo is eager to share the news, not tired.
Practice more of this
More reading practice for Grade 2, or see the TELPAS practice test for 2nd 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.