What happened near the San Jacinto River?
Basic Understanding of Spoken English · TELPAS Grades 6–7 listening. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.
Reporting category 2: understand the main points and important details of spoken stories and informational passages, about everyday life and school subjects.
Listen to the lesson.
After the Alamo
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Show transcript
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.
What happened near the San Jacinto River?
- Houston's army made a surprise attack and won.Correct answer
- Santa Anna's army captured Sam Houston.
- Texas leaders signed the declaration.
- The Alamo's defenders were defeated.
Why “Houston's army made a surprise attack and won.” is correct
This tests remembering the main event in a history lesson. Ms. Ramirez says Houston's army caught Santa Anna's soldiers by surprise, the battle lasted about eighteen minutes, and Texas won its independence. The wrong choices are other events from the same lesson, placed in the wrong spot.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Santa Anna's army captured Sam Houston. — It was the other way around: Santa Anna was captured.
- Texas leaders signed the declaration. — That happened at Washington-on-the-Brazos on March 2.
- The Alamo's defenders were defeated. — That happened at the Alamo in early March.
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.