Why do the directions say to hang the feeder near some bushes?
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 directions. Then answer the questions.
Make a Pinecone Bird Feeder
In winter, birds have a harder time finding seeds and insects to eat. You can help them with this easy project.
You will need: one large, open pinecone, a piece of string about as long as your arm, a plastic knife, vegetable shortening or sunflower seed butter, birdseed, and a paper plate.
Step 1: Tie the string tightly around the top of the pinecone. Leave a long tail of string so you can hang the feeder later.
Step 2: Use the plastic knife to coat the pinecone with shortening. Push it into the spaces between the scales, so the seeds will have something to stick to.
Step 3: Pour birdseed onto the paper plate. Roll the pinecone in the seed until it is covered all over.
Step 4: Hang your feeder from a tree branch near some bushes. Birds like to eat in places where they can quickly hide if a cat or a hawk comes near.
Step 5: Watch from a window. It may take a few days for the birds to find your feeder, so be patient!
The question
Choose the best answer.
Why do the directions say to hang the feeder near some bushes?
- so the feeder will not fall on the ground
- so the bushes will get some of the seeds
- so the birds can hide quickly if they need toCorrect answer
- so people cannot see the feeder from inside the house
Why “so the birds can hide quickly if they need to” is correct
The reason is in step 4, but the student has to connect "near some bushes" with "where they can quickly hide." The sentence does not say the word bushes twice, so the reader must infer that the bushes are the hiding place.
Why the other answers are wrong
- so the feeder will not fall on the ground — The string holds the feeder up; the bushes do not.
- so the bushes will get some of the seeds — The bushes do not need seeds.
- so people cannot see the feeder from inside the house — Step 5 says to watch the feeder from a window.
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.