What does Diego mean when he says he was "on pins and needles"?
Understand Spoken Words and Language Structures · TELPAS Grades 4–5 listening. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.
Reporting category 1: follow spoken directions and understand words and phrases as they are used in speech. On the real test some of these ask the student to click on a picture.
Listen to the conversation between two students on the bus. Then answer the questions.
The Big Game
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Show transcript
Kayla: Diego, how did your team do in the soccer game on Saturday?
Diego: We won, but just barely. The score was tied until the very last minute.
Kayla: Wow. How did that feel?
Diego: I was on pins and needles the whole second half. I kept looking at the clock.
Kayla: So who scored the last goal?
Diego: Our goalie booted the ball all the way down the field, and Mariana jumped up and headed it into the net. Everybody ran over to hug her.
Kayla: I wish I had been there. Do you play again this weekend?
Diego: Yes, Saturday at nine at Riverside Park. You should come watch.
The question
Choose the best answer.
What does Diego mean when he says he was "on pins and needles"?
- His feet hurt after running the whole game.
- He felt nervous waiting to see what happened.Correct answer
- He was sitting on the bench for the second half.
- He felt sleepy and slow during the game.
Why “He felt nervous waiting to see what happened.” is correct
This tests an idiom heard in conversation. "On pins and needles" means anxious or nervous while waiting for something. The context helps: the score was tied until the last minute, and Diego "kept looking at the clock." Students who take the words literally may choose the answer about sore feet.
Why the other answers are wrong
- His feet hurt after running the whole game. — The phrase is not about pain, even though pins and needles are sharp.
- He was sitting on the bench for the second half. — Nothing says Diego sat out; he is describing how he felt.
- He felt sleepy and slow during the game. — Someone who keeps checking the clock in a close game is not sleepy.
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.