Why does Ms. Ramirez say that "declaring independence and winning it are two very different things"?
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 lesson.
After the Alamo
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Ms. Ramirez: Yesterday we talked about the Alamo, where the Texan defenders were defeated in early March of 1836. Today, let's look at what happened next.
Ms. Ramirez: On March 2, 1836, while the Alamo was still under attack, Texas leaders met at Washington-on-the-Brazos and signed a declaration of independence from Mexico. But declaring independence and winning it are two very different things.
Ms. Ramirez: For the next several weeks, General Sam Houston's army moved east, away from the Mexican army led by Santa Anna. Many settlers fled east, too, leaving their homes behind. Then, on April 21, 1836, Houston's army attacked Santa Anna's camp near the San Jacinto River in the afternoon, catching the Mexican soldiers by surprise. The battle lasted only about eighteen minutes. Santa Anna was captured the next day, and Texas won its independence.
The question
Choose the best answer.
Why does Ms. Ramirez say that "declaring independence and winning it are two very different things"?
- To explain that Mexico agreed to the declaration
- To show that Texas still had to win a warCorrect answer
- To explain why the declaration was never signed
- To show that the Alamo was a win for Texas
Why “To show that Texas still had to win a war” is correct
This asks about a speaker's purpose. Right after signing the declaration, Ms. Ramirez describes weeks of retreat and then the battle at San Jacinto. Her sentence prepares students for the idea that a document alone did not make Texas independent; it had to be won.
Why the other answers are wrong
- To explain that Mexico agreed to the declaration — The fighting that followed shows Mexico did not agree.
- To explain why the declaration was never signed — She says Texas leaders did sign it on March 2.
- To show that the Alamo was a win for Texas — She says the Texan defenders were defeated at the Alamo.
Practice more of this
More listening practice for Grades 6–7, or see the TELPAS practice test for 6th and 7th grade.
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