How does Hamid most likely feel?
Analyze and Evaluate Information and Ideas · TELPAS Grades 4–5 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 text. Then answer the question.
The Empty Desk
When Hamid walked into class on Monday, the desk next to his was empty. Sofia had sat there since the first day of school, and every morning she said hello to him in her loud, cheerful voice.
Ms. Castillo saw him staring at the desk. “Sofia’s family moved to Houston over the weekend,” she said quietly.
Hamid nodded and opened his math book, but he read the first problem three times without understanding it. At recess, he sat on the bench by himself and did not join the kickball game.
When the last bell rang, he walked slowly past Sofia’s desk. A drawing of a cat that she had taped to the corner was still there.
The question
Choose the best answer.
How does Hamid most likely feel?
- glad to have more room at his desk
- angry at Ms. Castillo
- excited about the math lesson
- sad because he misses SofiaCorrect answer
Why “sad because he misses Sofia” is correct
This tests inferring a feeling from a character’s actions. The text never says "sad," but Hamid stares at the desk, cannot concentrate on math, and sits alone at recess instead of playing. Together these clues show he misses his friend. Ask the student which sentences helped them decide.
Why the other answers are wrong
- glad to have more room at his desk — He stares at the empty desk and then cannot focus, which does not sound glad.
- angry at Ms. Castillo — Ms. Castillo speaks kindly to him, and he nods; nothing shows anger.
- excited about the math lesson — He reads the first problem three times without understanding it, so he is not excited.
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.