What does the word postpone mean?
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 announcement.
The Assembly
Press play to listen. You can pause, rewind, and replay as often as you like.
Show transcript
Mr. Harris: Good morning, students. Workers are still repairing the gym floor, so we have to postpone this afternoon's assembly. It will not take place today. Instead, we will hold it next Thursday at the same time. Please stay in your sixth period classes this afternoon.
The question
Choose the best answer.
What does the word postpone mean?
- To cancel an event so it never happens
- To move an event to a new room
- To make an event shorter
- To move an event to a later timeCorrect answer
Why “To move an event to a later time” is correct
This tests working out an academic word from what the speaker says next. Right after "postpone," Mr. Harris says the assembly "will not take place today" and will be held "next Thursday at the same time." Those two clues together show that postpone means to put something off until later. A student who hears only "will not take place today" may think it means cancel.
Why the other answers are wrong
- To cancel an event so it never happens — The assembly is not canceled; it will happen next Thursday.
- To move an event to a new room — The time changes, not the place.
- To make an event shorter — Nothing is said about the length of the assembly.
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.