In paragraph 3, the author says the roots spread through the sand "like a net." This helps the reader…
Understand Words and Language Structures · TELPAS Grades 4–5 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.
Sand Dunes on the Texas Coast
Along the Texas coast, many beaches have hills of sand behind them. These hills are called dunes. They may look like piles of sand that the wind blew together, and that is partly true. But dunes also protect the land behind them.
Dunes form when the wind blows dry sand away from the water’s edge. The sand piles up against things such as plants, seaweed, or pieces of driftwood. Little by little, the piles grow taller.
Plants are what hold a dune together. Sea oats and other grasses grow on the dunes. Their long roots spread through the sand like a net and keep it from blowing or washing away.
During a big storm, high waves crash onto the beach. A healthy dune can help block the waves and slow down the water before it reaches roads and houses.
Because dunes are so important, people are asked to stay off them. Walking on a dune crushes the plants, and without plants, the sand can blow away. Many beaches have wooden walkways that let visitors cross over the dunes without stepping on them.
The question
Choose the best answer.
In paragraph 3, the author says the roots spread through the sand "like a net." This helps the reader understand that the roots —
- catch the sand and hold it in placeCorrect answer
- are used by people who go fishing
- have holes so sand can fall through
- grow on top of the sand, not in it
Why “catch the sand and hold it in place” is correct
This tests a simile in an informational text. A net catches and holds things, and the rest of the sentence says the roots "keep it from blowing or washing away." The comparison helps the reader picture roots woven through the sand and holding it together.
Why the other answers are wrong
- are used by people who go fishing — The roots are compared to a net; they are not actual fishing nets.
- have holes so sand can fall through — A net with holes is part of the picture, but the point is that it holds things.
- grow on top of the sand, not in it — The paragraph says the roots spread through the sand, so they are in it.
Practice more of this
More reading 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.