What is Jacob's main reason for wanting the rule?
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 class discussion.
Community Service Hours
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Ms. Martinez: Today's question is: should every seventh grader have to do ten hours of community service before the end of the year? Jacob, you're for the rule.
Jacob: Yes. A lot of us never see what people in our own neighborhood need. When I helped at the food bank last spring, I found out how many families near our school need help. Ten hours is not very much, and it would show everyone that they can make a difference.
Ms. Martinez: Lauren, you're against the rule.
Lauren: I agree that helping is important. But some students already take care of younger brothers and sisters after school, or have long bus rides home. If service is required, it just turns into one more assignment. I think it should be a choice, and students who do it could get a certificate at the end of the year.
Jacob: But if it's only a choice, the same few students will sign up every time.
Ms. Martinez: Good points on both sides. Let's take a vote.
The question
Choose the best answer.
What is Jacob's main reason for wanting the rule?
- Students do not get enough homework.
- The food bank asked the school for help.
- Ten hours of service would be easy to finish in one week.
- Students would see how they can help their neighbors.Correct answer
Why “Students would see how they can help their neighbors.” is correct
This asks for a speaker's main point in a discussion. Jacob says many students never see what their neighborhood needs and that service would show them they can make a difference. Each wrong choice twists a detail from the discussion, so the student has to keep track of who said what.
Why the other answers are wrong
- Students do not get enough homework. — Homework is Lauren's worry: she says required service would become one more assignment.
- The food bank asked the school for help. — Jacob helped at a food bank, but he does not say it asked the school for anything.
- Ten hours of service would be easy to finish in one week. — He says ten hours is "not very much," but he never mentions a week.
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.