What does Tyler mean when he says, "I'm on the fence about it"?
Understand Spoken Words and Language Structures · TELPAS Grades 6–7 listening. The correct answer, and the reasoning behind it.
Reporting category 1: follow spoken directions and understand words and phrases as they are used in speech. On the real test some of these ask the student to click on a picture.
Listen to the conversation.
Soccer Tryouts
Press play to listen. You can pause, rewind, and replay as often as you like.
Show transcript
Isabel: Tyler, are you trying out for the soccer team next week?
Tyler: I'm on the fence about it. I love playing, but practice is every day after school, and I'd have to quit art club.
Isabel: Well, tryouts aren't until Thursday, so you still have time to think about it.
The question
Choose the best answer.
What does Tyler mean when he says, "I'm on the fence about it"?
- He plans to sit and watch the tryouts.
- He has not made up his mind yet.Correct answer
- He is sure that he will make the team.
- He got hurt climbing over a fence.
Why “He has not made up his mind yet.” is correct
This tests a common idiom. Being "on the fence" means being undecided, as if sitting on a fence between two sides. Tyler explains the two sides right away (he loves soccer, but he would have to quit art club), and Isabel says he still has time to think about it, which confirms he has not decided.
Why the other answers are wrong
- He plans to sit and watch the tryouts. — Nothing is said about watching; Tyler is deciding whether to try out himself.
- He is sure that he will make the team. — He is not sure about anything yet; he is still weighing soccer against art club.
- He got hurt climbing over a fence. — This is the literal meaning of the words; there is no real fence.
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.