How does Ethan respond to Rosa's argument?
Analyze and Evaluate Information in Spoken English · TELPAS Grades 6–7 listening. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.
Reporting category 3: make inferences from what was said, and work out a speaker's purpose, opinion, or what will happen next.
Listen to the class discussion.
Phones at Lunch
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Ms. Nelson: Today's question is: should students have to put their phones away during lunch? Rosa, you're for the rule. Go ahead.
Rosa: I think phones should be put away. At lunch, half of my table is looking at a screen instead of talking. Lunch is the only time all day when we can just sit and talk with our friends, and phones take that time away.
Ms. Nelson: Ethan, you're against the rule.
Ethan: I see Rosa's point, but lunch is our free time. Some students use their phones to text their parents about getting picked up, or to finish a reading for class. A rule for everyone punishes the students who use their phones responsibly.
Rosa: But those things can wait twenty-five minutes. And if there's an emergency, you can always go to the front office.
Ethan: Maybe. But what if we tried something in between? Phones could be allowed for the first ten minutes of lunch, and then they go away.
Ms. Nelson: Interesting. Let's hear what the rest of the class thinks.
The question
Choose the best answer.
How does Ethan respond to Rosa's argument?
- He says phones should also be allowed in classes, not just lunch.
- He says that no one talks at lunch anyway.
- He agrees with her completely and changes sides.
- He admits she has a point but suggests a middle option.Correct answer
Why “He admits she has a point but suggests a middle option.” is correct
This asks the student to evaluate how a speaker answers an argument. Ethan begins with "I see Rosa's point," gives his own reasons, and finally proposes "something in between": phones for the first ten minutes only. The student has to recognize both the partial agreement and the compromise.
Why the other answers are wrong
- He says phones should also be allowed in classes, not just lunch. — Ethan talks only about lunch, not class time.
- He says that no one talks at lunch anyway. — He never claims this; he gives other reasons for phones.
- He agrees with her completely and changes sides. — Ethan still argues against a rule for everyone.
Practice more of this
More listening practice for Grades 6–7, or see the TELPAS practice test for 6th and 7th 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.