What does the end of the story show about Ethan?
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 story.
Tamales at Grandma's
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Every December, Ethan's family gathered at his grandmother's house to make tamales. This year, for the first time, she told him he was old enough to help at the big kitchen table instead of just watching.
She showed him how to spread masa on a corn husk with the back of a spoon. Ethan worked fast, piling on thick layers so he could finish more than his cousins. When his grandmother checked his husks, she shook her head and laughed. The masa was so thick that there was no room for the filling, and the husks would not fold closed.
She did not take over. Instead, she placed her hand over his and spread the masa again, slowly, until it was as thin as a tortilla. His next tamale took much longer, but it folded perfectly.
Late in the afternoon, Ethan's little cousin Mateo sat down next to him and reached for a husk. Ethan picked up a spoon and said, "Here, let me show you how Grandma does it."
The question
Choose the best answer.
What does the end of the story show about Ethan?
- He wants to work faster than Mateo.
- He thinks Mateo is too young to help.
- He is ready to pass on what he learned.Correct answer
- He is tired of making tamales.
Why “He is ready to pass on what he learned.” is correct
This asks the student to infer what a character has learned. Ethan offers to show Mateo "how Grandma does it," the same way his grandmother showed him. The story never says he has learned patience or grown up, so the student has to draw that from his actions.
Why the other answers are wrong
- He wants to work faster than Mateo. — He has learned that going slowly works better, and he offers to help Mateo.
- He thinks Mateo is too young to help. — He welcomes Mateo and offers to show him how.
- He is tired of making tamales. — He is still at the table, ready to teach his cousin.
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.