TELPAS Practice

What does the word groaned mean?

Understand Words and Language Structures · TELPAS Grade 3 reading. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.

Reporting category 1: work out what words and phrases mean from context, and understand how sentences and word forms work.

Read the passage. Then answer the questions.

The Flat Tire

On Sunday morning, Alicia rolled her bike out of the garage. She was going to ride to the park with her cousin Mario. But when she sat on the seat, the back tire went flat.

Alicia groaned. Mario would be at the park soon, and she did not know how to fix a tire.

Her neighbor, Mr. Patel, was watering his roses. “I can show you how to fix that,” he said. He found a tiny nail stuck in the tire and pulled it out. Then he helped Alicia cover the hole with a small rubber patch.

Alicia used a pump to refill the tire with air until it was hard again. She squeezed it to check. “It’s fixed!” she said.

Mr. Patel smiled. “Now you know how to do it yourself.” Alicia thanked him and rode off to the park.

The question

Choose the best answer.

Read these sentences from the passage. “Alicia groaned. Mario would be at the park soon, and she did not know how to fix a tire.” What does the word groaned mean?

  • Laughed loudly
  • Made a low, unhappy soundCorrect answer
  • Called out for help
  • Sang a happy song

Why “Made a low, unhappy sound” is correct

This tests using context clues to work out a word’s meaning. Alicia’s tire has just gone flat, her cousin will be waiting, and she does not know how to fix it, so she is upset. A groan is the low sound a person makes when something goes wrong.

Why the other answers are wrong

  • Laughed loudly — Nothing is funny here; Alicia has a problem she cannot fix.
  • Called out for help — She does not call anyone; Mr. Patel offers to help on his own.
  • Sang a happy song — Alicia is not happy at this point in the story.

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.