What can the reader tell about Abuela?
Analyze and Evaluate Information and Ideas · TELPAS Grade 3 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 passage. Then answer the questions.
Tamale Day
Every December, Daniela’s family makes tamales at her abuela’s house. This year, Daniela was finally old enough to help.
Abuela showed her how to spread the masa on a corn husk. “Not too thick,” Abuela said. “Thin, like butter on toast.” Daniela’s first one was lumpy, and the masa slid off the side. Her cousin Mateo laughed, but Abuela just handed her another husk.
Daniela tried again. She went slowly and pressed the masa flat with the back of a spoon. Her uncle added the meat, and her mom folded each tamal and stood it up in the big pot.
By evening, the whole kitchen smelled like corn and chile. Daniela counted the tamales she had helped make. There were thirty-two. “Next year,” she said, “I want to learn how to fold them, too.”
The question
Choose the best answer.
What can the reader tell about Abuela?
- She is patient when Daniela makes a mistake.Correct answer
- She thinks Daniela is too young to help.
- She wants to finish the tamales very fast.
- She is angry that Mateo laughed.
Why “She is patient when Daniela makes a mistake.” is correct
This tests making an inference about a character from her actions. When Daniela’s first tamal goes wrong, Abuela does not scold her; she “just handed her another husk.” That quiet second chance shows patience.
Why the other answers are wrong
- She thinks Daniela is too young to help. — Abuela shows Daniela how to help, so she thinks Daniela is old enough.
- She wants to finish the tamales very fast. — Nothing shows Abuela rushing; she lets Daniela go slowly.
- She is angry that Mateo laughed. — The story does not show Abuela reacting to Mateo at all.
Practice more of this
More reading 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.