Why does Rachel say her class would hold a car wash?
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 letter. Then answer the questions.
Letter: A Water Fountain for the Park
Dear Parks Department,
My name is Rachel Harris, and I am in fourth grade at Pine Creek Elementary. I am writing to ask you to put a water fountain in Westside Park.
My friends and I play soccer at Westside Park almost every afternoon. In the summer, it is often more than 95 degrees outside. The closest place to get water is a store three blocks away. Last week, my little brother got so hot and thirsty that we had to stop our game and walk him home.
A water fountain would help everyone who uses the park, not just kids. Every day I see people walking their dogs, grandparents taking walks, and families having picnics. Some fountains even have a small bowl at the bottom for dogs.
I know a water fountain costs money. My class would be glad to hold a car wash to help pay for it.
Thank you for reading my letter. I hope you will think about my idea.
Sincerely, Amira Harris
The question
Choose the best answer.
Why does Rachel say her class would hold a car wash?
- to invite the Parks Department to come wash cars
- to explain why the park needs more parking
- to show that fountains are cheap to build
- to show they are willing to help with the costCorrect answer
Why “to show they are willing to help with the cost” is correct
Rachel expects the reader to worry about cost, so she names that worry and offers a way to help. The student has to read the two sentences together: "I know a water fountain costs money" and the plan for a car wash. Answering a likely objection is a common move in persuasive writing.
Why the other answers are wrong
- to invite the Parks Department to come wash cars — She offers to raise money, not to invite anyone.
- to explain why the park needs more parking — Parking is never mentioned.
- to show that fountains are cheap to build — She says the opposite: "I know a water fountain costs money."
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.