What problem did Marisol have when the puzzle was almost done?

Basic Understanding of Spoken English · TELPAS Grade 3 listening. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.

Reporting category 2: understand the main points and important details of spoken stories and informational passages, about everyday life and school subjects.

Listen to the story. Then answer the questions.

The Missing Piece

Listen to The Missing Piece0:45

Press play to listen. You can pause, rewind, and replay as often as you like.

Show transcript

For her birthday, Marisol got a puzzle with one hundred pieces. The box showed a beach with a red and white lighthouse.

Every afternoon, Marisol worked on the puzzle at the kitchen table. Her little brother, Tony, wanted to help, but she told him he was too little.

After one week, the puzzle was almost done. But there was a hole in the middle of the lighthouse. One piece was missing!

Marisol looked under the table and inside the box. Then Tony walked in and opened his hand. There was the last piece.

Marisol laughed. “Okay, Tony,” she said. “You can put it in. Next time, we will do the puzzle together.”

The question

Choose the best answer.

What problem did Marisol have when the puzzle was almost done?

  • The puzzle box was lost.
  • Tony broke the puzzle.
  • One piece was missing.Correct answer
  • The picture on the box was wrong.

Why “One piece was missing.” is correct

This tests understanding the problem in a story. The narrator says there was a hole in the middle of the lighthouse and “One piece was missing!” The rest of the story is about where that piece was.

Why the other answers are wrong

  • The puzzle box was lost. — Marisol looks inside the box, so it is not lost.
  • Tony broke the puzzle. — Tony does not break anything; he has the last piece.
  • The picture on the box was wrong. — Nothing is said to be wrong with the picture.

Practice more of this

More listening practice for Grade 3, or see the TELPAS practice test for 3rd 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.