Why does Mr. Turner talk about these three symbols before tomorrow’s activity?
Analyze and Evaluate Information in Spoken English · TELPAS Grades 4–5 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 teacher. Then answer the questions.
Texas State Symbols
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Mr. Turner: Every state in our country has symbols. These are things a state chooses to stand for its land and its people. Texas has quite a few, so let's look at three of them.
Mr. Turner: The state flower is the bluebonnet. In the spring, these blue flowers cover fields and roadsides across much of Texas, and many families take pictures sitting among them.
Mr. Turner: The state tree is the pecan. Pecan trees grow naturally along many Texas rivers, and people were gathering pecans for food long before Texas was a state.
Mr. Turner: The state bird is the mockingbird. A mockingbird can imitate the songs of many other birds. Some have even been heard imitating a car alarm or a squeaky gate.
Mr. Turner: Symbols like these were chosen because they are common here and because people are proud of them. Tomorrow, you will pick a symbol for our own classroom and explain why you chose it.
The question
Choose the best answer.
Why does Mr. Turner talk about these three symbols before tomorrow’s activity?
- To show students where bluebonnets grow every spring in Texas
- To test students on facts from last year
- To show why symbols get chosen, before students pick oneCorrect answer
- To explain how pecan trees grow along rivers
Why “To show why symbols get chosen, before students pick one” is correct
This tests the speaker’s purpose. Mr. Turner ends by saying symbols are chosen because they are common and people are proud of them, and then that tomorrow each student will pick a symbol and explain why. The three examples prepare students for that task. Each wrong choice is a single detail from the talk presented as if it were the reason.
Why the other answers are wrong
- To show students where bluebonnets grow every spring in Texas — Where bluebonnets grow is one detail, not the reason for the whole talk.
- To test students on facts from last year — He does not mention a test or anything from last year.
- To explain how pecan trees grow along rivers — Pecan trees by rivers is another detail, not his purpose.
Practice more of this
More listening practice for Grades 4–5, or see the TELPAS practice test for 4th and 5th 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.